Working Papers Knowledge for What: Policy Research on Conflict Prevention and Peace-Building September 12-14, 1999 Pocantico Conference Center of the Rockefeller Brothers Fund Rapporteurs' Notes On September 12-14, 1999, the Center on International Cooperation at New York University, the International Peace Academy, and the Peace Implementation Network of the Fafo Institute for Applied Social Science sponsored a workshop to discuss the state of the art and application of policy research in conflict prevention and peace-building. Participants included representatives from academia, research institutions, foundations, non-governmental organizations, donor governments, and intergovernmental agencies. The objective of the meeting was three-fold: to examine frankly the purpose and role of research in relation to official conflict management policies; to identify opportunities for more effective collaboration among researchers, with the objective of greater coherence in setting and carrying out a research agenda; and to explore ways that research in this field might increase its practical relevance and policy impact. The workshop was structured to address three themes in successive breakout and plenary sessions. The first topic, "Research for What?," focused on the purposes of policy research, both explicit and implied; the respective roles of independent and "in-house" research efforts; and obstacles to as well as opportunities for linking research and policy communities more effectively. The second topic, "Setting the Agenda," assessed the role of different actors and forces in shaping the research agenda. The third topic, "From Research to Action," explored measures that might leverage high-quality research to greater practical effect, including the possible creation of a consortium or network uniting researchers, policymakers, and practitioners. The document outlines some of the major points that emerged from these discussions. Download a pdf of the entire document