• Conflict analysis results in an understanding of the context and the multidimensional, multilayered and multifaceted nature of conflict in the country/area where the peacebuilding intervention is taking place.
• This understanding of the conflict context enables to develop the right intervention focus: It enables identifying what needs to be stopped, what positive forces need to be supported, who could drive a positive change process and how that could be done.
• In turn, due to a lack of conflict analysis (or only a partial analysis), a misunderstanding of the conflict context could lead to irrelevant or in the worst case counter-productive engagement in peacebuilding.
• Doing conflict analysis on local level, including the involvement of local actors, is important for the development of strategies on the side of external actors, so that bad international responses without connection to local realities are avoided.

You are working in an area where there have been inter-community conflicts for a long period. In particular, community Saxonia and community Thuringia have exchanged hostilities and occasional outbreaks of violence have occurred over time. The issue at stake seems to be a piece of fertile land that was originally shared by both communities, but later solely occupied by Saxonia. Thuringia has in recent years often tried to destroy the harvest of the community – with often quite serious effects. This conflict has been lingering over generations and you want to assist both communities in a dialogue process in order to find a solution to a situation that is negatively affecting both. Conflict analysis here can be a tool to provide evidence-based information on the conflict situation and history (including causes). When collecting data and evidence, the views of both communities have to be taken into account, and representatives from both communities could use a joint conflict analysis to create a common understanding of the situation and the perspectives of the other side. From there, solutions to the current situation can be explored and negotiated.

• Doing thorough analysis takes time - time that it scarce for many practitioners. [This also means that the benefits of taking the time to do it need to be clearly understood.]
  
• Conflicts evolve in dynamic ways and data collected for the analysis might be already "outdated" when the conflict analysis report has been written. [This implicates that conflict analysis is - or should ideally be - a continuous exercise.]
• There is a risk that due to time-constraints and already ongoing engagement, practitioners expect conflict analysis - or interpret the analysis - in a way that fits there ongoing engagement.
• Sudden triggers can sometimes become more critical than long-time trends or "roots" of the conflict. Conflict analysis could be in such cases be unimportant to understand the triggers.
• In conflict situations, there are often challenges connected to data collection. The tense security situation might not allow local data/information gathering. Also, information collected from different actors naturally also reflects their position in the conflict and is not necessarily neutral. Attitudes and "hidden" interests of conflict actors are not easily observed and understood.