Benjamin Miller TrustWorks Global

Benjamin Miller

Senior Advisor

Ben Miller’s work centers on the social and political impacts of investment and private sector business operations in fragile and conflict-affected contexts. He focuses in particular on the application of conflict-sensitivity and conflict risk mitigation in practice in the context of specific investments and business operations; and on approaches to policy, assurance, and engagement that foster the operationalization of conflict sensitive approaches to business operations.

Over his career, Ben has contributed substantially to public knowledge of conflict sensitive business, having developed several tools for practitioners and published on a range of topics relating to business, conflict, and peace. Ben has worked with companies in the extractive industries, construction, fast moving consumer goods, renewable energy, and commercial agriculture, has completed professional field assignments in more than 25 countries in Latin America, Africa, and Asia. He is currently working on a research project on the interaction between SMEs and violence in urban settings.

For 11 years, Ben worked in the Responsible Business Practice Area at CDA Collaborative Learning Projects, leading CDA’s work with the private sector for several years. Ben’s work at CDA included: leading collaborative learning projects on “business and peace” and business operations in the presence of illegal armed groups; managing CDA’s partnerships with companies; performing asset-level conflict sensitivity and conflict risk assessments; developing practical analysis and implementation tools for extractive industries companies; and representing CDA in the Voluntary Principles Initiative. Ben also published and presented widely on a range of issues related to business, fragility, and conflict.

As an independent consultant, Ben has worked for a range of clients, including NGOs, multi-national corporations, consortia of companies, multi-sector initiatives, think tanks, and DFIs.

Ben holds a Master’s in Social Anthropology from the University of Chicago and a Bachelor’s in the same field from Harvard University.

 

Regional Specialization

Global

Thematic Specialization

Conflict-sensitive business operations, business in fragile and conflict-affected states, heightened human rights due diligence, conflict risk mitigation, illegal armed groups, stakeholder engagement and community relations, the private sector and peace, governance.

Selected Publications

  • The Voluntary Principles Initiative’s Conflict Analysis Tool for Companies. (2022)
  • A Distinction with a Difference: Harm Avoidance and Conflict Mitigation in Business Operations in Fragile Contexts.” London: International Alert. (2021)
  • “What COVID-19 Has Taught Us About Doing Business During a Crisis: Takeaways from a Survey of Business Leaders and Managers in Seven Global Cities.” Harvard Business Review. With the Working Through Violence research team. (2021)
  • Business and Peace: It Takes Two to Tango, Berlin: Arbeitsgemeinschaft Frieden und Entwicklung (FriEnt). (2020)
  • “Practicing Business and Peace? Considerations Overheard in the Field,”. In Jason Miklian, Rina Alluri, and John Katsos (eds.), Business, Peacebuilding, and Sustainable Development, New York: Routledge. (2019)
  • A Seat at the Table: Possibilities and Limitations of Private Sector Peacebuilding. CDA Collaborative Learning. (2018)
  • “ISAGEN y el Proyecto Río Amoyá-La Esperanza; Tolima, Colombia.” Cambridge: CDA Collaborative Learning and Fundación Ideas para la Paz. (2016)
  • “Tipiel y La Ciudadela Educativa; Barrancabermeja, Colombia.” Cambidge: CDA Collaborative Learning and Fundación Ideas para la Paz. (2016)
  • “Field Visit Report; Operator: Total E&P Bolivie.” CDA Collaborative Learning. (2016)
  • “Business and Armed Non-State Actors: Dilemmas, Challenges, and a Way Forward,” in The Journal of Business, Peace, and Sustainable Development. (2014)
  • “How Do Our Operations Interact with the Environment?” In Management in Complex Environments: Questions for Leaders, edited by Brian Ganson. Stockholm: International Council of Swedish Industry. (2013)
  • “Field Visit Report; Operator: Total E&P Bolivie.” CDA Collaborative Learning. (2013)
  • “Field Visit Report; Operator: Total E&P Nigeria.” CDA Collaborative Learning. (2013)
  • Preventing Conflict in Exploration; a Toolkit for Explorers and Developers. With the Prospectors and Developers Association of Canada and World Vision Canada. (2013)