Phil Vernon

Phil Vernon is an independent international peacebuilding and development consultant who has worked in the sector since 1985, and was Director of Programmes at International Alert from 2004 to 2017.

What’s it all about, Oxfam?

We should seize this opportunity to re-examine the future of foreign aid.

By Phil Vernon

/ 20 Feb 2018

Peace writ large: peacebuilding works, but we may need to shout about it more

On International Peace Day, a new report showcases the positive cumulative effect of peacebuilding initiatives, even when conflicts worldwide and the people killed or suffering are on the increase.

By Phil Vernon

/ 21 Sep 2017

Sustaining peace

Half of all peace deals fail within five years. This is how you make them work.

By Phil Vernon

/ 5 Jul 2017

The swing of the democratic pendulum is slow and long

We haven’t yet figured out how to replace political parties with some other vehicle for democratic participation.

By Phil Vernon

/ 23 Dec 2012

Development is history looking forwards

Ten ideas for lobbying David Cameron as co-chair of the post-2015 Millennium Development Goals High Level Panel

By Phil Vernon

/ 16 May 2012

A scorecard from Busan: did the High Level Forum contribute to aid effectiveness in conflict-affected countries?

The high ambition of getting global agreement tends to lead to an unambitious convergence on the least demanding positions and commitments. How did Busan fare?

By Dan Smith and Phil Vernon

/ 13 Dec 2011

What will success at Busan look like for conflict-affected countries?

The wording of the Outcomes Document from the Fourth High Level Forum on Aid is largely agreed, and reflects much of the new thinking on aid: statebuilding and peacebuilding; human security; transparency and results. But it fails to reflect the huge challenge of promoting and supporting developmen

By Dan Smith and Phil Vernon

/ 8 Nov 2011

Moving beyond the Millennium Development Goals: A more honest conversation?

It is critically important that the heads of state attending the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) Summit consider the best way to support the complex and difficult process of making sustainable human progress in poorer countries. Those working within the development sector who know that the cur

By Deborrah Baksh and Phil Vernon

/ 9 Sep 2010

Peacebuilding in Burundi: how peace transitions can work

International Alert supports a series of small post-conflict initiatives in Burundi. And some of the values that motivate these are also dear to the liberal hearts of the international community. A reply to Oliver Richmond’s ‘Liberal Peace Transitions’.

By Phil Vernon

/ 19 Nov 2009

Overseas development aid: is it working?

This is a good moment for taking a step back and asking ourselves whether we would call today’s overseas development aid policy and practise successful – successful, that is, in providing sufficient impetus to overcome the strong forces worldwide that keep people poor

By Phil Vernon

/ 9 Nov 2009