Relationships and Resources: Environmental Governance for Peacebuilding and Resilient Livelihoods in Sudan
Publisher: UNEP
Date: 2014
Topics: Governance, Livelihoods
Countries: Sudan
The links between natural resources and violent conflict are complex. This is particularly true for Darfur where any one episode of violence may relate to a number of grievances operating at different levels. These can be politically motivated, such as the conflict between rebel groups and the government at the national level or may occur more at the local level relating to control of land and natural resources. Regardless of the driver, violent conflict has a fundamental impact on natural resources as well as systems of environmental governance.
These impacts have important implications for stability and peace in Darfur. Indeed, the Doha Document for Peace in Darfur calls for a new “framework for equitable access for various users of land and water resources”. Based on this need, the report argues that developing such a framework requires an approach that includes both technical work to restore degraded natural resources and rebuild new forms of environmental governance and political work capable of establishing a shared vision, resolving conflicts and advancing new forms of governance. This report describes practical experiences undertaken by UNEP and numerous partners in government and civil society between 2007 and 2014 to support Darfur’s own efforts to develop new inclusive and participatory approaches to environmental governance.