The DAC-UN Dialogue brings together members of the OECD Development Assistance Committee (DAC) and adherents from the United Nations (UN) to operationalise the DAC Recommendation on the Humanitarian-Development-Peace (HDP) Nexus. Through regular meetings, knowledge products and co-ordinated advocacy, this partnership bridges institutional divides to foster more coherent responses in contexts facing the highest fragility.
The DAC–UN Dialogue: Turning the Humanitarian-Development‑Peace Nexus into action
Abstract
Contexts facing conflict or high levels of fragility require integrated responses that bridge humanitarian, development and peace efforts. In practice, institutional silos, divergent mandates, separate funding streams and diverging ways of working often fragment responses, undermining their effectiveness and impact. The 2019 DAC Recommendation on the Humanitarian-Development-Peace Nexus (HDP Nexus), hereafter “the DAC Recommendation”, established a common policy framework, but operationalising it at global and country levels remains challenging. DAC members and UN Adherents to the DAC Recommendation established the DAC-UN Dialogue on the HDP Nexus as a structured platform to align approaches, share lessons and jointly advocate for more coherent action.
The DAC-UN Dialogue, established in 2020 following the opening of the DAC Recommendation for adherence by UN entities, supports implementation and exchange of experiences across policy and field contexts. The Dialogue is a unique convening platform that brings together the 34 DAC members and associates with 11 UN Adherents around HDP nexus approaches. Key features of the Dialogue include:
Regular engagement around the HDP nexus. Annual in-person meetings bring together headquarters and field practitioners for focused dialogue and action planning. Quarterly online meetings provide updates, help share country examples and identify opportunities for joint advocacy.
Discussions articulated around three thematic workstreams on (1) financing, (2) evidence development and (3) strengthening the peace dimension, designed to complement the work of the DAC’s International Network on Conflict and Fragility (INCAF).
Thematic sessions and country spotlights with a focus on priority topics such as financing in contexts facing high fragility, strengthening the peace pillar and advancing solutions to displacement.
Peer learning activities to document practice, lessons learnt and replicable approaches, for example through a compendium of Nexus approaches in politically constrained settings with examples from Belgium in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Germany in East Africa, the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) in Afghanistan and joint collaborations between the UN with International Finance Institutions (IFIs).
The DAC-UN Dialogue has helped turn the DAC Recommendation that focuses on policy commitments into co-ordinated analysis, financing approaches and country-level engagement. It has strengthened sustained collaboration between DAC members and UN Adherents by connecting global level policy discussions to country practices and by facilitating knowledge sharing and capacity development.
At the global level, regular meetings and thematic workstreams have helped shift the Dialogue from information exchange towards practical collaboration and system alignment. Annual meetings have built trust, improved political alignment and supported joint problem-solving. The Dialogue has also reinforced collective advocacy and agenda-setting by co-ordinating inputs to global processes, including ahead of the Fourth International Conference on Financing for Development (FfD4). It has allowed DAC members, UN Adherents, IFIs and the private sector to work beyond institutional boundaries.
At country and regional level, the Dialogue has promoted joint analysis and structured country dialogues. Examples include Financing Landscape Analyses in Lebanon and the Recovery and Resilience Financing Platform launched at FfD4, which is advancing country-level analysis starting with Somalia. In 2024, the annual meeting contributed to stronger Nexus co-ordination in Ethiopia. In 2025, it helped partners align priorities and reinforced the link between policy dialogue and operational delivery in a changing global context. National or regional level leadership of Nexus co-ordination in response to forced displacement in Ethiopia, Chad and Uganda has enabled system-level investments and planning rather than parallel project responses. It has also reinforced collaboration with the deployment of Nexus advisers within Resident Coordinators’ Offices and the establishment of regional co-ordination mechanisms.
The Dialogue has strengthened knowledge sharing through practical reference materials and joint knowledge products to provide replicable models and support both internal and external policy advocacy, while strengthening alignment between DAC members, UN Adherents and partners, including IFIs. The guidance on financing across the Nexus (due in 2026) aims at improving the coherence and effectiveness of funding approaches in contexts facing high fragility.
The annual in-person meetings have proven critical in translating the Dialogue from a knowledge-sharing platform into a driver of concrete collaboration and system alignment.
A central outcome is the Nexus Academy, hosted by UNDP since 2021 with support from Germany, Japan, Korea and Spain. The Academy has scaled up capacity development, facilitating knowledge exchange and learning to accelerate operationalisation of the HDP Nexus approach and promote complementary action that addresses root causes and reduces need in crisis contexts. By April 2026, the Academy had delivered 16 multistakeholder cohorts, reaching 706 participants from 93 various UN Adherents, bilateral partners, and local and international organisations across 45 countries. It has also provided tailored support to multilateral, regional and national organisations.
Regular engagement backed by dedicated capacity sustain momentum in a shifting international environment. Effective Nexus co-ordination depends on a shared understanding of the approach, sustained commitment and dedicated personnel such as Nexus focal points or advisers. These elements are critical to convene actors, maintain momentum and translate commitments into action.
Coherent financing remains critical. More flexible, context-specific financing and stronger engagement with IFIs and the private sector are essential to support integrated HDP Nexus approaches.
Joint analysis builds common understanding. Shared context and risk analysis helps bridge institutional divides and supports more coherent programming, although data-sharing constraints remain a challenge.
National ownership is non-negotiable. Progress is strongest where Nexus co-ordination is nationally led and owned, and external support reinforces rather than substitutes existing systems. The placement of Nexus advisers and country-level dialogues has proven effective in anchoring approaches within national structures.
The “P” requires deliberate attention. Integrating peace outcomes as explicit and measurable objectives requires sustained and deliberate effort in complement to conflict sensitivity.
Pragmatic messaging matters. In a contested global environment, it is essential to clearly articulate the strategic and practical value of the HDP Nexus to maintain political and financial support.
UNDP, Nexus Academy, https://www.undp.org/crisis/academy/nexus.
OECD, DAC Recommendation on the Humanitarian-Development-Peace Nexus (2019): https://legalinstruments.oecd.org/en/instruments/OECD-LEGAL-5019.
OECD (2025), “The State of Fragility in 2025” in States of Fragility 2025, OECD Publishing, Paris, https://doi.org/10.1787/81982370-en.
OECD (2025), “Engaging in contexts facing highest fragility”, Development Co-operation TIPs • Tools Insights Practices, OECD Publishing, Paris, https://www.oecd.org/en/publications/development-co-operation-tips-tools-insights-practices_be69e0cf-en/engaging-in-fragile-contexts_b67a279f-en.html.
OECD (2023), Report on the implementation, dissemination and continued relevance of the DAC Recommendation on the Humanitarian-Development-Peace Nexus, International Network on Conflict and Fragility (INCAF), Development Co-operation Directorate, https://one.oecd.org/document/DCD/DAC/INCAF(2023)1/FINAL/en/pdf.
OECD (2022), The Humanitarian-Development-Peace Nexus Interim Progress Review, OECD Publishing, Paris, https://doi.org/10.1787/2f620ca5-en.
More In Practice examples from DAC members are available on Development Co-operation TIPs • Tools Insights Practices.
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