Peace-informed development planning: Aligning human security, infrastructure investment, and conflict sensitivity in fragile states post-conflict societies

In the aftermath of violent conflict, fragile states face the dual challenge of rebuilding social cohesion and stimulating economic recovery through sustainable development. Traditional development planning models, often emphasizing infrastructure expansion and economic growth, frequently overlook the underlying causes of conflict and fail to prioritize human security. Peace-informed development planning offers a transformative framework by integrating conflict sensitivity, local resilience, and inclusive governance into investment and infrastructure strategies. This approach aligns development priorities with peacebuilding objectives, ensuring that state-building efforts do not unintentionally exacerbate existing tensions or fuel new grievances. At the broader level, peace-informed planning demands a reorientation of donor policies, international frameworks, and national development agendas to account for the dynamic realities of post-conflict societies. It leverages participatory methods and conflict analysis to identify potential triggers of instability, enabling planners to mitigate risks proactively. Infrastructure investments, when designed through a peace-informed lens, become tools for reconciliation—connecting divided communities, creating equitable access to resources, and fostering trust in public institutions. Narrowing the focus, this paper highlights case studies from countries such as South Sudan, Afghanistan, and Sierra Leone to demonstrate the operationalization of peace-informed strategies. It examines how integrating human security indicators—such as access to justice, social inclusion, and livelihood restoration—into planning cycles enhances both short-term stability and long-term resilience. The paper concludes with policy recommendations for governments, development agencies, and NGOs on mainstreaming peace-informed approaches into post-conflict reconstruction frameworks. By aligning infrastructure investment with the principles of conflict sensitivity and human-centered security, peace-informed development planning lays the foundation for enduring peace and inclusive growth in fragile contexts.