This paper supports policymakers and practitioners working in fragile and conflict-affected border areas, providing recommendations for enabling peaceful change. It presents five major findings from analysis generated by the XCEPT programme’s Local Research Network, on civil war, militancy, illicit economies and crime, mass displacement, and other dynamics of conflict and instability. Drawing on a rich catalogue of research, over 80% of which was led or co-led by researchers local to the study regions, this paper explains how the political economy of border areas shapes and is shaped by cycles of violence and instability. Practical guidance for future programmes, policy, and research is included for each of the five findings.