Taking Action into Their Own Hands: Lessons from Transboundary Community-Based Cooperation across the Middle East

Date & Time
Jun 18, 2026 | 14.00 - 15.30

Participants
Chair: Asaf Zohar, Trent University (Canada)
Suleiman Halasah, University of Oxford (Jordan)
Rina Kedem, Arava Institute for Environmental Studies (Israel)
Peter Schwartzstein (United States)

The unprecedented escalation of climate and political instability underscore the need for transboundary communities to seek novel approaches to fostering cooperation and mitigating conflict. This roundtable contributes to the ongoing conceptual development and practice of transboundary community-based cooperation initiatives in the context of ongoing, chronic conflict. We examine case studies involving Jordanian and Israeli communities from both sides of Wadi Arava, and Nile-side and Tigris-area Communities. These case studies demonstrate how these communities are pursuing innovative pathways to strengthening the adaptability of transboundary cooperative initiatives, especially when national governments fail to provide needed leadership and assistance.

Based on insights gained from these case studies, we critically examine how transboundary community-based development can be applied to contexts of ongoing violent conflict in ways that further community sustainability and peacebuilding, and invite participants to share wise practices on the challenges and opportunities of engaging in this work during times of active violent conflict.