It tends to use the concept of “difficult partnerships” to refer to situations in which “governments and state structures lack capacity – and in some cases, the political leadership – to deliver public safety and security, good governance and poverty reduction to their citizens” and where, as a result, genuine development cooperation and real partnerships are difficult to construct.ii Many donors [...] For instance, both documents underscore the importance of conducting a sophisticated analysis of each development context that includes an examination of the power relations, and social and political tensions that are often at the root of weak governance and violent conflict. [...] Like DFID’s policy paper, the report calls for a sophisticated understanding of the complex causes of and dynamics behind instability, and outlines a number of recommendations for operationalizing international commitments to prevent conflict and coordinate responses to crises. [...] The LAP could be an incubator for learning about ways of supporting women reformers in the state, the private sector and civil society, and supporting the provision of social services aimed at the different needs of poor women and men. [...] For example, on the basis of UN Security Council Resolution 1325 (2000), UNIFEM has championed the integration of gender analysis into conflict programming, the use of gender-disaggregated data in UN early warning systems, programs to protect women and children in conflict situations, measures to promote women’s participation in peacemaking and peacebuilding, promoting gender equality in justice s