Economy and Peacebuilding

Oil, business and borders

The unblended Ugandan cocktail

Photo by International Alert/SWORD ImagesDuring the past three months, International Alert has been working with local partners in Uganda to understand the challenges facing local communities in the country’s fledgling oil region.

Bernard Atuhaire - Senior Research and Communications Officer, Uganda
Fri, 30/08/2013

Private and public security in Nepal

Businesses call for greater transparency and accountability

NBI President Padma Jyoti and Secretary of Home Affairs Nabin K.Ghimire speaking at a national conference organised by International Alert and NBI on 18th January 2013We are helping businesses in Nepal to raise awareness of the security challenges they face.

Ramji Neupane - Director of Programmes
Tue, 20/08/2013

Red Flags for companies

New iPhone app provides guidance on working in high-risk areas

Download the Red Flags app here

We have launched a free iPhone app to warn businesses about the risks of them being implicated in human rights abuses in high-risk areas. Download the app here.

Desislava Stoitchkova - Senior Programme Officer
Wed, 31/07/2013

Mining in Africa

How to mitigate risks in areas affected by conflict

Platinum mine, South Africa, 2007. Photo by LianeGreeffLast month International Alert participated in the conference 'Sharing the benefits of the commodity boom', organised by Mining on Top: Africa in partnership with the Commonwealth Business Council and UK Trade and Investment.

Zahed Yousuf - Senior Programme Officer
Fri, 26/07/2013

Corporate responsibility in Pakistan

Alert helps Lahore business school sign up to global principles

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

Aurangzeb Haneef - National Project Coordinator, Pakistan
Thu, 11/07/2013

Trans-Ingur/i economic relations: A case for regulation (English)

Natalia Mirimanova
June, 2013
International Alert
62 pages
London, UK
978-1-909578-18-0

This study is the third part of a series analysing economic relations across the Georgian-Abkhaz conflict divide, which appraises the potential of mutual economic interest as a basis for conflict transformation. The conceptual question at the centre of this research is whether economic incentives can facilitate conflict transformation by cementing mutual interest and interdependence, and whether a provisional legal framework, which would make economic activities across the conflict divide regulated and transparent (and, therefore, risk-free), would create a new impetus for peace talks.

This study is the third part of a series analysing economic relations across the Georgian-Abkhaz conflict divide, which appraises the potential of mutual economic interest as a basis for conflict transformation.

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Natural resources in a conflict context

A blog by our Secretary General

Oil extraction in Uganda. Photo by International Alert/SWORD ImagesFor a developing country facing high poverty levels, a growing population with high expectations despite a poor revenue base and weak institutions, but with an abundance of natural resources, exploiting them looks like the path to glory. Experience from a range of countries shows that, to put it mildly, it's not so straightforward.

Missing the poorest for the trees?

REDD+ and the links between forestry, resilience and peacebuilding
Tobias F. Dorr
Adriaan B. Heskamp
Ian B. Madison
Katherine D. Reichel
May, 2013
International Alert
52 pages
London, UK

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.

This report examines how forestry projects positively and negatively affect pre-existing structures of power, economy, fairness, safety, and wellbeing in Brazil, Indonesia and Uganda.

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Curse or cure?

Natural resource management in Liberia

On 15-16 May, International Alert co-hosted a conference in Monrovia on natural resource management in Liberia.

Fri, 31/05/2013

Oil in the Great Lakes

Uganda and DRC discuss oil and gas exploration

As oil and gas exploration gathers pace on Uganda’s northwestern border with the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), efforts are being made to minimise conflicts among border communities and ensure that the border remains tension-free.

Bernard Atuhaire - Senior Research and Communications Officer, Uganda
Thu, 30/05/2013

Revolutions of aspiration and expectation

Opportunities for building peace in Arab transition states

Protestors oppose Mubarak verdicts, Tahrir Square, Egypt, 2012. Photo by Lorenz KhazalehPolitical transitions from autocracy to democracy are a dangerous time. Risks of conflict are high as new regimes struggle to build or rebuild vital institutions and manage public expectation for rapid change – both political and economic.

Rebecca Crozier – Head of Development, Emerging Programmes
Wed, 29/05/2013

Is mining a development industry?

A blog by our Director of Programmes

Phalaborwa Mines, South Africa. Photo by Roman Betik, 2012In an earlier post I wrote about how mining companies have evolved to take into account the needs of their host communities.

Fri, 03/05/2013

Peace on the frontier

How businesses are promoting peace in Pakistan's tribal areas

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

Aurangzeb Haneef - National Project Coordinator, Pakistan
Mon, 29/04/2013

Oil, governance and livelihoods

The impact of oil exploration in Uganda’s oil-rich Albetine Graben

Last week we launched a new report, Governance and livelihoods in Uganda’s oil-rich Albertine Graben.

Robert Esuruku – Head of Research, Uganda
Wed, 03/04/2013

Governance and livelihoods in Uganda's oil-rich Albertine Graben

International Alert
March, 2013
International Alert
60 pages
London, UK
978-1-906677-38-1

This study was commissioned by International Alert and the Democratic Governance Facility in March 2012. It was carried out in the Albertine Graben, where oil exploration activities are ongoing. The study was conducted within the framework of the Harnessing the Potential of Oil to Contribute to Peace and Development in Uganda project, which is currently being implemented by International Alert and its partners.

This report measures the degree and quality of change in the livelihoods of the communities in Uganda's Albertine Graben region, where oil exploration is taking place.

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