Natural Resources and Conflict: A Guide for Mediation Practitioners
Publisher: United Nations Department of Political Affairs and United Nations Environment Programme
Author(s): Michael J. Brown, Alex Grzybowski, David Jensen, and Josie Lianna Kaye
Date: 2015
Topics: Dispute Resolution/Mediation, Gender
Countries: Afghanistan, Canada, Congo (DRC), Ethiopia, Guatemala, India, Indonesia, Israel, Jordan, Mali, Mauritania, Mozambique, Nigeria, Papua New Guinea, Senegal, Sudan, Timor-Leste
This report bridges the gap between the technical and political aspects by providing a much needed conflict resolution framework for disputes that center on natural resources.
It can be applied in localized or transboundary conflicts, as well as natural resource disputes that arise in the context of broader peace negotiations. This mediation guide
distills decades of experience in natural resources dispute resolution into an easy-to-access format for mediation practitioners.
As a starting point, it offers a structured methodology for mediating natural resource conflicts, which is divided into four phases: assessment; pre-negotiation
preparedness; negotiation; and, implementation. Against this framework, the guide also examines sector-specific challenges that may arise when mediating conflicts
over extractive resources, land, or water, and provides guidance on intervention strategies for natural resources in the broader context of peace negotiations.
The guide culminates with seven key messages for improving the practice of mediating disputes over natural resources.