New Study: Resource Management & Conflict Prevention

Annabelle Houdret and Meike Westerkamp researched the potentials for conflict and cooperation over natural resources, using Lake Albert – the border between Uganda and the Democratic Republic of Congo – as an example for the EU project “Initiative for Peacebuilding” (IfP).

Clashes between the two countries have regularly occurred in the last few years. Recent discoveries of oil and oil drilling have only exacerbated the situation further, especially over the border lines. The authors demonstrate in their analysis that despite high tension, conflict prevention and sustainable resource management are possible and formulate concrete recommendations for development cooperation. One of the best ways to achieve this is through local partner dialogues as they will strengthen and extend cross-border cooperation. Additionally, Adelphi is working on an early detection tool that prevents environmental and water conflicts, which will be presented in a pilot training in late 2010.