This tool has been designed to assist practitioners to identify significant problem areas that have the potential to lead to violent conflict in a given country. It can be applied in particular, though not exclusively, to countries where tensions are apparent, but where there is not yet a major crisis. The CIAS tool has been devised within the framework of the approach of the European Commission to peace-building and conflict prevention. In particular, it is firmly based on the methodology and definitions as set out in the Commission's ‘Practical guide on peace-building and conflict prevention'. To ensure that the tool is accessible to a wide range of desk officers who may not be deeply familiar with peace-building and conflict prevention matters, a quantitative methodology has been included. However, this methodology is meant only as a guide. It should not be seen as substituting the irreducible ingredient of human judgement.