Environmental Peacebuilding Association Issues Call for Interest Groups

Jun 19, 2018

Following an initial membership drive, the Environmental Peacebuilding Association is now establishing Interest Groups. Interest Groups are formally designated and approved entities that provide Association members with venues for organizing a range of activities around their shared interest in specific topics (e.g., gender, water, law, climate change, etc.). Interest Groups are expected to promote the general mission of the Association and to operate in accordance with its rules of conduct.

While different Interest Groups are likely to undertake different activities, it is expected that they will generally provide a venue for sharing knowledge and expertise and offer networking and mentoring opportunities. 

The Association is encouraging Interest Groups to focus initially on assessing what we know about particular issues, taking stock of the evidence base and developing an agenda for further research and action.  This will likely entail organizing panels, webinars, and other events as well as preparing technical papers and other publications. Interest Groups will likely constitute a group of experts that can be contacted for information by individuals and groups outside the Association, such as journalists and educators.

If you are interested in participating in, leading, or co-leading an Interest Group, please email membership@environmentalpeacebuilding.org. We expect to build the Interest Groups over the summer, and start delivering webinars and other events in the autumn.  Initially, the Association is likely to focus on Climate Change, Gender, Law, and Water, but we are also receptive to other suggestions.  For example, some members have expressed interest in Monitoring & Evaluation, Disasters, and Extractive Resources.  The Association will establish Interest Groups as it is able to identify a critical core of members to lead and energize the groups.

The Association now includes more than 100 people from 35 countries.  If you are not yet a member, please consider joining the premiere professional organization for people working at the intersection of environment, conflict, and peace (more information at http://www.environmentalpeacebuilding.org/membership).  If you are a member, please let your friends, colleagues, and others know about the benefits of joining!