Background

The Albertine Rift straddles Uganda, Rwanda, the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), Burundi and Tanzania, and is one of the most biodiverse and ecologically unique regions of Africa. The area has also been the site of some of the world’s most violent conflicts in recent history. Unsurprisingly, this turbulent context has presented conservationists working in the area with a range of risks and challenges. Conservation activities have both been affected by armed conflict, as well as, on occasion, themselves contributing to tensions and conflict. However, if properly planned and implemented, conservation work can provide a basis for cooperation and peace-building, and if integrated into post-conflict reconstruction strategies, can also play an important role in an area’s recovery.

Our contribution

To implement this project, CDC joined a consortium of conservation and development organisations led by the International Institute for Sustainable Development, that together had significant experience of addressing conflict situations in development contexts, integrating conservation and development, as well as hands-on conservation work in the Albertine Rift. With funding from the MacArthur Foundation, the project developed an understanding of the fundamental interactions between conservation and conflict, and determined how best conservation organisations and protected area authorities can effectively address the root causes of conflict, minimise the risk of their activities exacerbating conflict, and maximise opportunities for peace building. This involved extensive fieldwork to better understand the conservation and conflict context in which these organisations are operating, training staff in conflict analysis, as well as conducting numerous stakeholder consultations to elucidate the links between conservation, conflict and peace.

The project resulted in the production of a practical, hands-on manual specifically targeted at conservation practitioners that provides guidance on the process of integrating conflict sensitivity into their activities. The CSC Manual can be downloaded here.

Customer