Operating in Insecure Environments

Abstract

Conditions of severe political, economic and physical insecurity, often underpinned by weak governance and high levels of poverty and inequality, continue to blight the lives of millions of people around the world. The poor are particularly vulnerable to the ravages and costs of conflict, natural and economic disasters, repression, corruption, market distortions and externalities, weak legal and regulatory frameworks, and inadequate public institutions. Such conditions not only undermine their immediate security and human rights. They also limit access to the basic services, resources and economic opportunities that help to lift people out of poverty and to improve prospects for longer-term resilience and security at the level of both individual households and nations. Furthermore, in today's interdependent world, persistent poverty and insecurity in one nation or set of nations has the potential to undermine prosperity and security in others, especially neighbors in the same region, but even on a global basis.