As global crises increase in number, duration, and complexity, COVID-19 promises to further decimate local economies, erode public trust, and upend social networks in conflict-affected settings. To secure better outcomes for populations already facing protracted humanitarian need, Mercy Corps' new paper, Towards Resilience: Advancing Collective Impact in Protracted Crises, calls for a fresh approach. We urge foreign assistance — humanitarian, peace, and development — to align behind a resilience agenda, and pursue collective action in three areas:

- Rapid, real-time analysis of risk factors that drive and perpetuate fragility;
- Support to local market and social systems to strengthen sources of resilience; and
- Short-term violence prevention paired with efforts to transform the structural drivers of conflict.

To guide the adoption and application of a resilience agenda, we recommend the following:

- Ensure greater coherence of international responses by adopting and holding aid actors accountable to shared metrics of success.
- Shift the assistance bias away from direct delivery and toward working through and in support of local market and social systems.
- Ensure peacebuilding expertise and funds are part and parcel of the design and delivery of humanitarian and development investments in conflict-driven crises.
- Allow for greater flexibility in mandates and approaches across funding streams.