Life Cycle

Conflict affects human development in numerous ways, impacting the life circumstances of generations exposed to violence and of generations to come. While the economic and political costs of conflict are well understood, the human development repercussions have not been adequately discussed.

ESCWA is conducting a series of studies on the effects of conflict over the life cycle, to identify how exposure to conflict alters the life circumstances of those exposed to violence. These studies also identify investment and mitigation priorities across the region. They put the individual at the centre of the analysis to understand how recent conflicts in the Arab region have affected human development. By concentrating on the effects of conflict on several critical periods of life, the studies provide evidence of the effects of conflict exposure in infancy, early childhood, childhood, and the transitions into adulthood. 

Our approach

ESCWA is conducting a series of studies on the effects of conflict over the life cycle, to identify how exposure to conflict alters the life circumstances of those exposed to violence. These studies also identify investment and mitigation priorities across the region. They put the individual at the centre of the analysis to understand how recent conflicts in the Arab region have affected human development. By concentrating on the effects of conflict on several critical periods of life, the studies provide evidence of the effects of conflict exposure in infancy, early childhood, childhood, and the transitions into adulthood. 

Our partners

United Nations International Children's Emergency Fund (UNICEF) 

United Nations Population Fund 

Our activities

The series comprises three publications, as follows: 

1. Impact of Conflict from Childhood to Adulthood - Evidence for the Arab Region: Trends and Impacts in Conflict Settings Issue No. 5 

2. Impact of Conflict on Child Marriage and Adolescent Fertility 

3. Impact of Conflict on School to Work Transitions