TOOL T-27 | Assessment | Module 7: Conflict Assessment & Mapping

Do No Harm Assessment

WHEN TO USE Before implementing any significant response to an escalated concern, conflict intervention, or engagement activity in a high-tension context.

How to Use It

1. Describe the proposed response or intervention specifically.

2. For each potential harm category, assess the likelihood and severity.

3. If significant risks are identified, revise the intervention before implementation.

4. Document the assessment and attach to the response plan.

Purpose

To identify how proposed responses or interventions may inadvertently worsen conflict dynamics, harm vulnerable groups, or create new tensions, before implementation. Interventions designed with good intent can have harmful unintended effects if conflict dynamics are not analyzed first.

Field Rationale

In several contexts, well-intentioned interventions (bringing opposing parties to a joint meeting, announcing project changes publicly before all affected groups had been individually informed) inadvertently worsened dynamics.