Impact of Conflict on Pastoral Communities' Resilience in the Horn of Africa: Case Studies From Ethiopia, Kenya and Uganda

FAO has commissioned a regional study on the impact of conflict on the resilience of pastoral communities and on their coping strategies, which is being undertaken through case studies of three 'pastoral conflict' sites in Kenya, Uganda and Ethiopia. The study shall demonstrate how conflict impacts on the opportunistic use of pastures and other strategic pastoral resources, especially when it renders such resources inaccessible to some or all pastoral groups, denying communities the opportunity to use the specific resources thereby increasing pressures on other resources that are accessible, and which are then effectively overused and degraded - thereby engendering even more conflict. The study also seeks to establish and analyze the ripple effects of primary conflict on other areas, resources and communities that support the population and their livestock once access to primary resources are hampered and/or restricted. It shall demonstrate and map the interrelated nature of conflict in the pastoral areas and its effects in the overall resilience of the said population, and make the case of a holistic approach in addressing the challenges to their livelihoods. Read more

People's Peacemaking Perspectives: West Africa: Policy Brief

In West Africa, conflicts have often had a sub-regional impact or spilled over to neighbouring countries through ethnic relations, allegiances and economic interests across borders, movements of fighters between conflicts, or the mass influx of refugees fleeing violence. Findings and recommendations in this brief aim to inform the EU's analysis and programming by presenting the reflections of local people and their state and non-state representatives on some of the key challenges facing countries in the region. Read more

Dealing with complexity in peace negotiations:

The Juba peace talks that commenced in July 2006 between the Government of Uganda and the Lord’s Resistance Army (LRA) offered the best opportunity to end their conflict since the outbreak of LRA violence in the 1980s. Current strategies and policies to bring peace acknowledge that there are no purely military solutions. However, since the Juba talks collapsed in December 2008 and the conflict spread into neighbouring countries, there has been little appetite for renewed talks. This paper focuses on the lessons that need to be learnt from the Juba peace talks. Read more