Climate Sensitive Programming for Sustaining Peace

Sep 28, 2022 - Oct 26, 2022 | United Nations System Staff College
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Climate change is considered to be one of the greatest global threats to peace and security in the 21st century. While there is no direct causal link between climate change and conflict, growing evidence reveals that climate-related risks can exacerbate conflict dynamics. Converging with other shocks and pressures to threaten the stability of states and societies, the impacts of climate change inhibit peace by undermining human security and increasing other drivers of conflict and fragility. Risks of instability will increase if institutions and governments are unable to absorb or manage climate-related stresses. This is why it is essential that interventions for peace and security are based on a comprehensive analysis of climate-related security risks and adopt an integrated framework. Conflict and climate sensitivity thereby contribute to sustainable adaptation and peacebuilding approaches.With the ‘Sustaining Peace’ agenda, the UN Secretary-General has placed conflict prevention at the top of the agenda. The agenda reflects the recognition that conflict is fueled by a variety of overlapping factors, including climate change, and the acknowledgment of the international community of this systemic complexity. To this end, the United Nations is taking steps towards a long-term approach to sustaining peace; ensuring that climate security concerns are taken into account and mainstreamed across its analysis and programming for peace-building.By combining mixed methodology webinars, entailing expert exposés and group work participants will learn how to analyse climate-related security risks and adopt a climate-sensitive lens for peacebuilding programming. Based on a partnership between the think tank adelphi and UNSSC, the course will assist practitioners in identifying entry points for integrated climate adaptation and peacebuilding programming (e.g. natural resources access and management, climate resilient livelihoods, climate and conflict sensitive adaptation). The course will also elaborate on climate-sensitive approaches which help to advance social cohesion, gender equality, inclusive governance systems to overcome exclusion and marginalization.ObjectivesUpon successful completion of this programme, participants will gain a first understanding of:

  • The different methodologies, techniques and tools to analyze climate-related risks; 
  • The translation of climate-and fragility risk assessments into integrated climate adaptation and peacebuilding programming; 
  • Priorities, entry points and change paths based on conflict- and climate-sensitive analyses;
  • Participatory, gender- and conflict-sensitive methodologies and programmes, accounting for climate risks.
 Course methodologyThis course is delivered entirely online, in partnership with the think tank adelphi and offers the opportunity to engage in a dynamic learning experience by combining learner-centered design principles, through live webinar sessions, led by subject experts. The course will utilize carefully chosen publications and real cases from different UN settings via stimulating presentations, participatory discussions and small-group exercises. Experts will share experiences and good practices from a practitioner perspective. The course will also use different interactive virtual tools for which no previous knowledge is needed.The weekly moderated webinars are conducted in a Zoom online platform. Participants need a computer (or mobile device), a reliable internet connection and either headset with microphone to connect to the audio through the computer, or a telephone. We will send instructions for Zoom access to registered participants and recommend that you download the application and test your access in advance. Target audienceUnited Nations staff from the Secretariat, agency, funds and programmes and partners working on sustaining peace, through political analysis, good offices, mediation and conflict-sensitive programming.The course is open to non-UN personnel. Participants in previous courses entailed UN practitioners, representatives of civil society organizations, government institutions, international organizations, academia, etc.Cost of participation$1,000