Workshop ‘Natural Resource Management and Conflict’

Strategic Support activity 2007- Sustainable Environment

Executing organisation: DGIS-DMW and NWO

The theme Environment and Conflict is an important issue for both the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (Buza-DGIS) and NWO. It is one of the priority issues at DGIS-DMW within their ‘Knowledge and research Strategy’. Within NWO, ‘Environment and Conflict’ has been identified as a sub theme of ‘Conflict and Security’, one of the NWO themes in which WOTRO participates. As such, WOTRO and DGIS would like to join forces and investigate the possibility of jointly formulating a research and knowledge programme, focussed and based on stakeholders’ interests. In doing so, it is considered of the utmost importance to thoroughly investigate the problem, including the stakeholder environment and national and international policy framework.

About 30 participants from the public, private and civil sector and a restricted number of scientific researchers will investigate the issues at stake during a one day workshop, where they will define the general outline of such a programme. This outline should include clear demand articulation (policy questions, knowledge gaps, opportunities for possible scientific research questions) and preconditions for safeguarding ownership, capacity development and good management (instrument, processes and procedures). A discussion paper will be drawn up prior to the meeting, based on findings in policies and practice and making use of case studies.

These activities should enhance synergy in research policy and execution and should provide focus and direction for a new knowledge and research programme, initiated and coordinated by NWO and to be elaborated during autumn 2007.