With the annual Africa summit of the World Economic Forum (WEF) in Cape Town this week, one of many issues up for discussion relates to the potential of the private sector to assist with development in fragile and conflict-torn settings.

The private sector used to consider human security only when it hits the bottom line, but corporates and investors are now encouraged to see themselves as part of society, and to think more intelligently and responsibly about how violence affects development, stability, and prosperity...