Evidence-to-Action Framework for Strengthening Intergroup Cohesion in Divided Societies

Marine Gassier, Meltem Ikindji and Patrick John Barron

No 210995, The Social Policy and Labor Discussion Paper Series from The World Bank

Abstract: Deep divisions between social groups, rooted in long-standing social, economic, and institutional foundations, slow development, weaken institutions, and can unravel years of progress. This paper sets out a framework for strengthening intergroup cohesion in divided societies and offers practical guidance for development teams. It synthesizes findings on five intervention modalities with proven impacts (collaborative contact, intergroup dialogue, perspective taking, mediation training, and edutainment) and guides practitioners on matching each to context. Effects across rigorous evaluations are consistent but modest, pointing to incremental rather than transformative change. Drawing on case studies from Sub-Saharan Africa, the Middle East, and beyond, the framework offers diagnostic tools, illustrative indicators, and operational guidance for embedding cohesion activities into projects and tracking results over time.

Date: 2026-06-04
References: Add references at CitEc
Citations:

Downloads: (external link)
https://documents.worldbank.org/curated/en/0995355 ... 2ef-5cf8ac18f3f0.pdf (application/pdf)
Our link check indicates that this URL is bad, the error code is: 404 Not Found (https://documents.worldbank.org/curated/en/099535506042628344/pdf/IDU-61400ff0-cedb-4ec9-92ef-5cf8ac18f3f0.pdf [302 Found]--> http://documents1.worldbank.org/curated/en/099535506042628344/pdf/IDU-61400ff0-cedb-4ec9-92ef-5cf8ac18f3f0.pdf [301 Moved Permanently]--> https://documents1.worldbank.org/curated/en/099535506042628344/pdf/IDU-61400ff0-cedb-4ec9-92ef-5cf8ac18f3f0.pdf)

Related works:
This item may be available elsewhere in EconPapers: Search for items with the same title.

Export reference: BibTeX RIS (EndNote, ProCite, RefMan) HTML/Text

Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:wbk:hdnspu:210995

Access Statistics for this paper

More papers in The Social Policy and Labor Discussion Paper Series from The World Bank 1818 H Street, N.W., Washington, DC 20433. Contact information at EDIRC.
Bibliographic data for series maintained by Aaron F Buchsbaum ().