About

Women and girls play important roles in the management of natural resources worldwide. In fragile and conflict-affected settings, women are particularly likely to be dependent on natural resources for their livelihoods, and to be the primary providers of water, food and energy for their families and communities.

For example, women make up 65 percent of the agricultural labor force in conflict-affected countries and approximately 30 percent of artisanal miners (see Unlocking the Peacebuilding Potential).

Major shocks, such as conflict and climatic disasters, can pose particular challenges to women's natural resource-based roles and livelihoods, with trickle-down impacts on community welfare. At the same time, these shocks often change prevailing social dynamics in ways that can lead to new opportunities for women's economic and political activity, and engagement in mediation and conflict resolution.

While there has been a gradual increase in the number of women taking part in peace processes since the adoption of UN Security Council Resolution 1325 on Women, Peace and Security, many barriers remain in ensuring that they have the opportunity to engage substantively and the capacity to influence key outcomes.

Interventions around natural resources, environment and climate change provide significant opportunities to empower women politically and economically, and to strengthen their contributions to peace. Yet opportunities related to climate and natural resources remain underutilized in peace and development programming.

This web platform seeks to bring together practitioners, researchers, policymakers, and other actors to share resources on programming and research at the intersection of gender, natural resources, climate change, and peace, by serving as:

• A virtual resource center that shares lessons learned, case studies, and guidance accumulated through the Joint Programme;
• A platform that allows for exchanges between partners and stakeholders through a Community of Practice around these issues; and
• An advocacy and awareness-raising tool that provides access to inspiring stories, video documentaries, photographs, and other materials.