The South Asia CPP Programme received £9.9m in the 2008/2009 financial year to address the causes of conflict across the region.  The fund focuses on the four major conflicts (Afghanistan-Pakistan, India-Pakistan, Nepal and Sri Lanka), where UK interests are most at stake and where we can make a significant, positive difference.  
Within those conflicts, the South Asia CPP fund has 4 objectives:

Background

According to the Human Security Report, Central and South Asia is the most conflict-affected region in the world.  The risk of instability and violent conflict in Pakistan, particularly along the border with Afghanistan, is high and affects many of the UK’s top strategic priorities.  

The current situation

The situation in Kashmir remains extremely fragile, with recent increases in cross-border militant infiltration, a series of cease-fire violations across the Line of Control and widespread violent protests in Indian-administered Kashmir.  

The conflict in Sri Lanka has got worse since the abrogation of the cease-fire at the beginning of 2008, with the Government intensifying the military campaign against the LTTE.  

In contrast, the situation in Nepal has improved.  With the elections in 2008 paving the way for improvements in good governance, democracy, human rights, rule of law and regional stability.

Objectives

The strategy we have adopted in South Asia takes a regional approach to long-term conflict prevention and resolution, based on a set of cross-cutting drivers of conflict and regional peace-building capabilities.  

The South Asia CPP Programme has four objectives (below) which flow from the high-level targets set out in the shared DFID/FCO/MOD Public Service Agreement (PSA) on Conflict.  Wherever possible, specific interventions will also try to promote respect for human rights, encourage more effective international engagement (especially on the part of the EU, G8, SAARC, UN and World Bank) and develop UK capabilities.  

Objective 1 - Build capacity in governance, particularly in security and the rule of law.

Objective 2 - Minimise social and political exclusion, by supporting representative national institutions and civil society.

Objective 3 - Encourage and facilitate dialogue between opposing parties at all levels.

Objective 4 - Reduce access to illegal and uncontrolled arms and funding as a driver of regional conflict.

Aims

Accordingly, the Programme will focus mainly on:

• increasing the capacity of Afghanistan-Pakistan to govern the border areas, reducing popular support for the insurgency, improving our (and key international’s) understanding of Pushtun political dynamics, encouraging better relations between Afghanistan and Pakistan, and restricting access to funding for militants; 
• supporting the Composite Dialogue and promoting confidence-building measures between India and Pakistan;
• supporting DDR/SSR, supporting an inclusive constituent assembly process, promoting respect for human rights and shoring up the UN in Nepal; and
• reforming the security sector in Sri Lanka, improving human security and human rights, and laying the foundations for the next peace by encouraging political dialogue and enhancing our strategic partnership with international partners

We shall also be looking to maximise our impact by concentrating on a relatively small number of highly strategic activities.  

How is the fund managed?

Posts in Colombo, New Delhi, Islamabad, Kabul and Kathmandu are responsible for generating tri-departmentally (FCO/DFID/MoD) agreed project proposals.  These proposals are sent to London to incorporate the views of the Programme Manager and relevant geographical desk officer before going live.

Applications for funding / procedure / deadline

Bids to the South Asia CPP Programme should be made on the concept form and submitted to the Programme Manager via the relevant Strand Manager.

Sri Lanka Projects

Saferworld

To reduce armed violence and conflict in Sri Lanka through promoting people centred and accountable approaches to Small Arms and Light Weapons control and Security Sector Development.

British Council

Improving the quality of Tamil and English language skills for the Sri Lankan security forces.

Foundation for Co Existence

Strengthening human security through promoting peace and coexistence committees at district level, while engaging with civil society and stakeholders of the conflict on the issue of a negotiated settlement.

The Asia Foundation

Establish and strengthen sustainable mechanisms that protect vulnerable citizens in Sri Lanka’s Eastern, Central, and Uva Provinces. In the long run, project activities will build the capacity of key institutions (civil society organizations, the police, and mediation boards) to play a constructive role in mitigating conflict and lay the groundwork for a political solution to the ethnic conflict by creating more just, accountable public institutions.

UNICEF

Protection of children in conflict affected areas through the strengthening of monitoring and reporting mechanism and support system for prevention and response to victims of child rights violations

NDI

Project Title: Multi Sector Dialogue, Consensus and Capacity Building on Constitutional Reform for Conflict Prevention.

Partner: National Democratic Institute (NDI)

Period: Oct 2008-Sept2010

Project Outline:

Through this project, NDI proposes to enhance political parties, local governments’ and other stakeholder groups’ understanding of and participation in current constitutional reform discussions. This dialogue will contribute to the national reform process towards an equitable negotiated settlement of the ethnic conflict.

NDI will seek to promote constructive dialogue amongst political parties at the district level through multi-party round table discussions addressing national and local concerns. They will work with local government to develop public policy recommendations and present position papers to Parliament, Ministries and national party leaderships. Through town hall meetings, pubic debates and the development of local language resources, NDI will seek to engage other key stakeholder groups. Ultimately, NDI’s goal is to facilitate links between Track 3 and Track 1, and feed local opinions and concerns into higher level processes.