Publication

This working paper addresses the need to conceptualize resilience thinking as part of humanitarian and development theory and policy as a transformative process. It demonstrates this need by using case studies of water service delivery projects that incorporate key attributes of resilience in post-conflict countries in Sub-Saharan Africa. Using this evidence to explore three focal questions commonly raised in the literature, the conclusion is drawn that if efforts which employ the resilience concept fail to transform the underlying causes of vulnerability, the concept is of little benefit in these contexts and may undermine peacebuilding efforts.