Madariaga - College of Europe Foundation

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Natural resources and the environment play a crucial role as driving or supporting factors in conflict, especially in Africa, where a large proportion of African society remains generally dependent on the environment and natural resource endowments. Climate change is set to intensify competition over and access to natural resources, with potentially grave implications for international security.

Yet natural resource dynamics remain either ignored, when the analysis of conflicts are oversimplified, or masked by the complexity of a conflict, while it might a critical cause or contributor. As a result policy interventions do not address these critical issues.

These dynamics have to be considered in depth, both with a view of generating a deeper understanding of conflicts in Africa and in an effort to develop policy interventions aimed at tackling the link between natural resources and conflicts on the continent.

Efforts also need to be made to turn the often perceived "curse" of natural resources into a "blessing", instead impacting positively on the continent's growth with enhanced infrastructure, better governance policies and well-managed ownership rights.

Understanding the mismanagment of natural resources are key for both African countries and institutions as well as for the EU, especially as the EU is committed to Africa's economic development and building its own capacities for early warning and conflict prevention.

Through research and events the Madariaga - College of Europe Foundation is committed to helping the EU engage in developing its preventative strategies regarding natural resources.

Events

Natural Resources and Conflict Prevention in Africa

Tuesday, 22 September 2009

The Madariaga - College of Europe Foundation and the African Centre for the Constructive Resolution of Disputes (ACCORD) organised a Roundtable in Addis Ababa, at the United Nations Conference Centre on Natural Resources and Conflict Prevention in Africa. The event was organised with the support of the European Commission’s services.

Read the Report in English. 

Read the Report in French.