UNEP Partners with KOFF Swisspeace to Deliver Training on Prevention and Resolution of Natural Resources Conflicts

Nov 14, 2013 | UNEP

Geneva – Access, distribution and management of natural resources including land, renewable or non-renewable resources have often been an important driver of violent conflicts. The United Nations estimates that since 1950, 40 percent of all intrastate conflicts have had a link to natural resources, and that this link increases the risk of conflict relapse within the first five years after a peace agreement.

Recognizing the importance of natural resource management for conflict prevention and more effective peacebuilding, UNEP’s Environmental Cooperation for Peacebuilding programme partnered with KOFF Swisspeace to deliver training on the prevention and resolution of natural resource conflicts. The training took place from November 6th-8th and was organized by the Center for Peacebuilding (KOFF) at Swisspeace as part of its 2013/2014 Training Series. The training included participants from organizations such as Caritas, Helvetas Swiss Intercooperation, the Society for Threatened Peoples, Peace Watch Switzerland, as well as members of the Swiss Expert Pool for Civilian Peacebuilding, amongst others. The training was delivered as part of UNEP’s commemoration of the International Day for Preventing the Exploitation of the Environment in War and Armed Conflict which takes place every year on November 6th.

This course provided participants with an appreciation of the complex relationships between natural resources, conflict, and peacebuilding, illustrated by case studies from around the world. Training participants learned to analyze the root causes and effects of natural resource conflicts, identified different approaches for their mediation and resolution, and developed strategies for conflict prevention and peacebuilding over natural resources. All of the guidance materials used are available at www.environmentalpeacebuilding.org/.