Doing Business in Conflict Zones

Develop the skills to plan for business success in conflict zones

In many conflict-affected parts of the world, there’s an enormous amount of untapped business potential. But with unpredictable and dangerous environments, business investments are often deterred, meaning communities lose out and the economic drivers of conflict can be exacerbated.

On this three-week course presented by Dr Aisha Ahmad, you’ll develop the tools to make sense of the challenges and opportunities of doing business in a conflict-affected part of the world, gaining practical insights on how to plan for success.

Discover how conflict can affect informal economies

To understand how business works in countries affected by violent conflict, you first need to place these economies in their appropriate social and historical context.

The first week of this course will allow you to explore the idea of a civil war economy. With an ‘on the ground’ view, you’ll learn how to work safely and effectively in these hostile business environments.

Examine the challenges of investing in a conflict zone

In countries with high levels of corruption, not only can state bureaucracy be frustrating, but you also need to consider the relationships communities have with the state and its rules.

You’ll look at the challenges and opportunities of investing in a new business venture in a conflict zone. Through this, you’ll see how a business venture can affect, transform, and contribute to the existing ecosystem of the conflict zone.

Stress test your business plans through red teaming

In the final week, you’ll learn about red team exercises, recreating some of their key elements to stress test your business plans.

By the end of this course, you’ll have the skills to spot vulnerabilities in business plans for conflict zones and discuss how you can adapt to mitigate some of the risks.

This course is designed for anyone working or volunteering for an organisation engaged in a conflict-affected environment.

It will also be useful if you’re studying a related subject such as political science, public policy, or international business studies.

This course is designed for anyone working or volunteering for an organisation engaged in a conflict-affected environment.

It will also be useful if you’re studying a related subject such as political science, public policy, or international business studies.

• Recognize the risks and calculate the costs involved in launching a business venture in an active conflict zone.
• Critically assess how a business venture might inadvertently affect, transform, and contribute to conflict dynamics on the ground.
• Develop creative problem-solving skills to adapt to challenges facing businesses in conflict zones.
• Practice “stress testing” a business plan before implementation, using a modified version of a tool called a “red team” exercise.