South and South East Asia

A study in the peer review journal Science out this week claims to show evidence of the links between a warming climate and increased violence. But case study research from International Alert on community resilience in fragile contexts in South Asia guards against such generalisations and shows that local dynamics and nuances are critical.

Given the nature of pervasive violence, peacebuilding needs to throw its net wider, to encompass all kinds of pervasive violence in society as part of its remit. This means that peacebuilding organisations should work more deliberately on other types of organised violence and in a sense rethink peacebuilding – focusing not only on conventional conflict settings, but also targeting unconventional types of conflict. This paper examines the challenges and opportunities for peacebuilders in responding to criminal groups in conflict environments. This is part of our Peace Focus series.

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On 5 July International Alert, in partnership with the National Judicial Academy, Forum for Women Law and Development and Legal Aid and Consultancy Centre, launch

After continued support from International Alert, the Lahore University of Management Sciences (LUMS) in Pakistan has joined the UN Global Compact (UNGC).

International Alert convenes an expert roundtable, Building resilience – building peace, in Kathmandu on Monday 8 July. It’s the culmination of two and half years of research on the impact of climate change on local communities in Bangladesh, India, Nepal and Pakistan. I can’t be there, so we recorded four minutes to camera as my contribution to the day's events.

International Alert’s latest research, produced in collaboration with the South Asia Network for Security and Climate Change (SANSaC), looks at the relationship between the environment and security in South Asia.

This study is one of a series of regional studies which aim to present evidence of the interactions between environmental, social, political and economic risks at the local level in South Asia. Drawing on field research and consultations with policymakers, practitioners and academics, this case study looks at the dimensions of local resilience and the reasons for vulnerability and non-adaptation in two districts, Thatta and Badin, in Sindh province.

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This study is one of a series of regional studies which aim to present evidence of the interactions between environmental, social, political and economic risks at the local level in South Asia. Drawing on field research and consultations with policymakers, practitioners and academics, this case study seeks to identify obstacles to and opportunities for interventions to build resilience to interlinked environmental and security risks in fragile, post-conflict contexts in Nepal.

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This study is one of a series of regional studies which aim to present evidence of the interactions between environmental, social, political and economic risks at the local level in South Asia. Drawing on field research and consultations with policymakers, practitioners and academics, this case study looks at the dimensions of local resilience in two communities living around Chilika Lake in Odisha, the biggest brackish water lake in India.

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This study is one of a series of regional studies which aim to present evidence of the interactions between environmental, social, political and economic risks at the local level in South Asia. Drawing on field research and consultations with policymakers, practitioners and academics, this case study seeks to identify obstacles to and opportunities for interventions to build resilience to interlinked environmental and security risks among vulnerable communities in Bangladesh.

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This is the executive summary for a series of regional studies which aim to present evidence of the interactions between environmental, social, political and economic risks at the local level in Bangladesh, India, Nepal and Pakistan. It is based on the findings from desk and field research which looks at the root causes of vulnerability and non-adaptation in fragile contexts, and at the opportunities for strengthening resilience to combined risks of climate change and conflict.

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This report examines how forestry projects under the Reducing Emissions from Deforestation and Degradation (REDD+) initiative affect pre-existing structures of power, economy, fairness, safety and wellbeing in Brazil, Indonesia and Uganda, and how they may exacerbate pre-existing conflicts over land and resources. The report also looks at how REDD+ funds could provide the opportunity to diversify livelihoods, encourage sustainable development and enhance the adaptive capacity of local populations in the face of a changing climate.

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On 15 May, International Alert partnered with the International Peace Institute (IPI) to present findings on environmental change and security at a roundtable event at IPI in New York.

International Alert recently participated in the fifth national conference of the UN Global Compact Pakistan Local Network (UNGCPLN), held in Peshawar, Pakistan.

In November 2012, four young second generation British Sri Lankan doctors travelled to Sri Lanka to learn about healthcare issues on the island. The trip was part of International Alert’s diaspora project, which is funded by the British High Commission in Colombo.

Meera Chindooroy, Project Support Officer, South and Southeast Asia Programme

mchindooroy@international-alert.org

Tue, 19/03/2013

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