Sustaining engagement and impact in conflict-affected contexts through the World Bank–ICRC partnership

This non-paper reviews the lessons learned from the World Bank-ICRC partnership to date and suggests ways to improve delivery in fragility, conflict and violence (FCV) contexts under the 21st International Development Association replenishment in order to prevent the formation of humanitarian and development “deserts”. It focuses in particular on three action areas: sharing knowledge to build a deeper understanding of the dynamics and toll of armed conflict; better navigating the complexities of de facto governments and situations where there is no government in power; and increasing support and impact for the hardest-to-reach affected people. It also explores the issue of managing the visible and hidden transaction costs of partnering in FCV contexts.