Post-Conflict Peacebuilding and Natural Resource Management Project: A Global Initiative

Transcription

1 Post-Conflict Peacebuilding and Natural Resource Management Project: A Global Initiative Senior Analysts; Annica Waleij*, Birgitta Liljedahl, Louise Simonson * annica.waleij@foi.se

2 Outline Introduce the global research programme on natural resources and peacebuilding Present author s contribution to the project

3 Why a need for dedicated research on natural resources and conflict/peacebuilding? 40%-60% of internal conflicts linked to natural resources over the past 60 years While only 50% of peace agreements in contained natural resources provisions, all major peace agreements since 2005 have. 5 peacekeeping mandates have directly addressed natural resources. Of the 45 OECD listed fragile states in 2011, 91% contain transboundary waters or globally significant biodiversity hot spots. 80% contain high-value resources of global economic significance.

4 Growing political attention The UNSG in 2010 called for the UN and member states pay attention to natural resource ownership, control and allocation as a key part of peace building strategies NATO strategic concept of 2010 acknowledges that key environmental and resource constraints have the potential to significantly affect NATO planning and operations 2011 World Bank World Development Report also addressed the security and natural resources nexus

5 And yet there is a major policy and knowledge vacuum The international community has understood that natural resources is a key component of conflict and peacebuilding but knowledge on which approaches work is limited. KEY CHALLENGE: How to avoid the perils while capitalizing on the peacebuilding potential they offer? The post-conflict period is critical for reforming resource governance. Must get initial reforms right to avoid locking in bad policies and concessions terms for a long time.

6 Research partnership established on postconflict peacebuilding and natural resources To fill the gap between policy and practice, 4 institutions partnered in 2008 to establish a new global research programme Objective: to collect 20 case studies to develop evidence-based best practice and policy guidance on post-conflict peacebuilding and natural resources. Call for proposals in 2009, nearly 300 submissions received. Six donors

7 Six key research questions 1. What are the various ways in which natural resources support peacebuilding priorities (in particular economic recovery)? 2. What are the main perils to avoid and main opportunities to capture regarding natural resources? 3. How is natural resource management in post-conflict settings different? 4. What are the most common natural resource management priorities in the immediate aftermath of conflict? 5. What approaches and incentives can be used to promote good natural resource governance in post-conflict settings? 6. How can international assistance in conflict-affected settings be made more effective?

8 The largest research programme undertaken on natural resources and post-conflict peacebuilding Findings presented in six thematic books (Earthscan 2012) plus a seventh, overarching book (Cambridge University Press 2013) drawing upon experiences in 61 countries/ territories (1) High-value natural resources; (2) Land; (3) Water; (4) Resources for livelihoods; (5) Assessment and restoration of natural resources; (6) Governance; (7) Synthesis Volume 225 authors from 50 countries; academia, international organizations, government ministries, private sector, and; the military

9 For more information about the Post-Conflict Peacebuilding and Natural Resource Management Project, contact: David Jensen, UN Environmental Programme Carl Bruch, Environmental Law Institute

10 FOI contrubution; three inter-related papers Environmental stewardship in peace operations: The role of the military Crime, credibility, and effective peacekeeping: Lessons from the field Medical and environmental intelligence in peace operations and crisis management

11 1. Environmental stewardship in peace operations: The role of the military Argues reasons for reducing the environmental bootprint of peace support operations Protecting the health and well-being of deployed troops Reducing the environmental impact of the mission, and thereby improving relations with local communities Reducing direct costs (e.g., for fuel) and potential costs (e.g., for cleanup of contaminated land) Where appropriate, assist the local population to move sustainably toward the next phase of the post-conflict period. Delivering on the UNSC mandate (e.g. MONUSCO, UNMIL)

12 Environmental life cycle considerations Post deployment - Develop system for lessons learned Redeployment - Site closure - Transfer records Planning - Environmental intelligence and initial analysis Pre-deployment - Environmental Assessment - Annex to OPLAN - Training Rotation of Forces/ Transfer of authorities - Transfer environmental responsibilities and information Deployment - Environmental Management Plan - Due Diligence Main source: USA/SWE/FIN Environmental Guidebok for Military Operations

13 Overall conclusions The military has valuable expertise in e.g. the areas of logistics, intelligence, and new tools/technologies However, tasks needs to be Clearly defined to avoid mission creep Matched with existing troop expertise and/or capacity Coordinated with civilian authorities to avoid unintended consequences Nevertheless within a defined role, the military can help determine how the overall operation is perceived and facilitate a successful transition to civil authorities.

14 2. Medical and environmental intelligence in peace operations and crisis management Environmental Intelligence can be used in support of both military and civilian activities. It can also be utilised in early warning i.e. anticipating future events, weak signals detection and trends analysis. In Sweden, environmental intelligence is carried out within the framework of the Swedish Armed Forces (SwAF) medical intelligence subset. Whereas medical intelligence is clearly define, environmental intelligence however is not.

15 Impact vs Vulnerability Assessments Impact Assessment Motivation: how bad are the risks? Attempt to predict impacts Careful attention to modeling future exposure Capacities not emphasized Focus on a single stress Recent experience not directly relevant Treatment of adaptation is ad hoc, afterthought Vulnerability Assessment Motivation: what would reduce risks? Investigate causes of vulnerability Careful attention to social causes of vulnerability Capacities to respond using sensitivity analyses Multiple stresses considered Recent experience with hazards, stresses used as analogues Treatment of adaptation central

16 Environmental Vulnerability Assessments Environment and conflict / crime relations Institutional capacity Natural resources and environmental changes Cultural and historical resources Socio-economy and livelihood issues

17 Conclusions and recommendations Environmental intelligence should be performed as an iterative process in a life cycle approach to highlight critical environmental aspects.. There is a need for a greater flow of information among different actors to assess cumulative environmental impact of all activities to develop an agreed upon definition of environmental intelligence to establish environmental indicators to be mainstreamed into decision making for creating multi actor platform for mission specific information sharing and cumulative environmental assessments for consistent evaluation and exchange of experiences and lessons learned from performed operations between main actors to identify knowledge gaps

18 3. Crime, credibility, and effective peacekeeping: Lessons from the field When it goes wrong Cases where peacekeepers have been involved in the exploitation and illegal trade of natural resources (e.g. Sierra Leone, DRC and Afghanistan) How to make it right? Consider MoU:s with TCCs/TCNs to clarify their legal obligation to investigate and prosecute peacekeepers Establish a mechanism to investigate cases of peacekeepers involvement Encourage Member states to investigate, prosecute, and discipline guilty troops

19 How to make it right cont. Establish mandatory pre-deployment and in-theatre training and awareness campaigns to instill environmental stewardship Environmental awareness training MONUC (civilian and military) Environmental awareness training UNMIS (civilian and military) Environmental training, UNMIS (civilian and military) Making the right choice is often a matter of awareness, attitude, and training- greed is a human trait!!

20 Overall: tools for improvement Urgent need for standards for environmental information systems and for data sharing Collect and transform lessons observed/ heard, to true lessons learned Horizon scanning and Environmental intelligence as an iterative process throughout the life cycle of a mission Assessment tools can improve foresight capacity and interoperability Due diligence, oversight and supervision is paramount Improved training and awareness campaigns

21 Questions?