New methods for stakeholder dialogues in conflicts over natural resources

In order to effectively prevent conflicts around resources such as water and fish stakeholder engagement is an important key. adelphi and WorldFish supported stakeholders in Cambodia, Uganda and Zambia to develop a conflict-sensitive method which was presented in Berlin on 8th July.

While the role of natural resources in conflict is now well researched, gaps still exist in the implementation of research findings in concrete measures for development cooperation. Therefore, on behalf of the Federal Ministry of Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ) adelphi and its partner World Fish Center explored the role of resource governance in preventing conflicts around aquatic resources like water and fish, by emphasizing the importance of collective actions.

From 2011-2014, adelphi and WorldFish Center worked in the project "Strengthening Aquatic Resource Governance" (STARGO) together with government officials, local community leaders and civil society representatives to build resilience of poor rural producers on Lake Victoria (Uganda), Lake Kariba (Zambia) and the Tonle Sap Lake (Cambodia).

On 8th July 2014, adelphi presented the outcomes of STARGO and discussed them with experts from the development sector in Berlin. Ultimately, STARGO helped (1) to increase community voices in private sector investment decisions, (2) to secure access rights for marginalized households in the face of competition, (3) to strengthen community-based co-management of fisheries, (4) to protect lake resources, and (5) to improve sanitation.

The STARGO project has produced a series of short videos, policy briefs, case study reports, as well as a manual and tool kit on how to run a conflict-sensitive stakeholder engagement process. Please find all of these under www.coresilience.org.