South-to-south exchanges in understanding and addressing natural resource conflicts

Abstract

Conflicts over natural resources affect millions of people in developing countries. Because they vary in terms of context, intensity, interactions between parties, and local and international implications, natural resource conflicts have different potential for transformation. Exchanges that involve communication, learning, and network development between individuals or groups in different countries within the Global South, what we call south-to-south exchanges, may have the potential to enhance capacities in addressing natural resource conflicts. Yet these types of interactions between parties in different southern countries that influence natural resource conflicts receive little consideration, although they may help in transforming conflicts, developing capacity, and contribute to resilience. CoCooN and CCMCC initiatives were designed to contribute to evidence-based policy development and practices in developing countries and an important aspect of this may be the potential to influence and enhance South-to-South communication, learning, and networks. We examine south-to-south exchanges within the 13 CoCooN and CCMCC projects to identify situations that led to these exchanges and better understand their value. We are interested in the amount and types of south-to-south exchanges and broadly look for patterns and insights that would contribute to better exchanges in the future.