Crossroads: Managing intersecting risks of conflict, violence, disasters and climate change
Organizer: GIZ, UNDP, ODI, IFRC, ICRC, EU
| In many countries of AFR, MENA and EAP, communities are affected by both natural hazards, the impacts of climate change and protracted crisis associated with fragility, conflict and violence (FCV). Furthermore, risks of violence and natural hazards tend to compound each other. Fragile and conflict-affected contexts represent the locations most in need of support, as vulnerability to natural hazards are highest in contexts where capacities to cope are insufficient. For example, recent assessments in conflict affected counties of Kenya indicate that extreme events, particularly droughts, contribute to violent conflict when it negatively impacts people’s livelihoods, displaces people and increases migration in vulnerable and natural resource-dependent contexts. Just as different risks can reinforce each other, mechanisms to address disaster and conflict can potentially be mutually reinforcing. Experiences in disaster recovery processes show that in practice the tunnel vision of relevant communities that should cooperate and synergize does not happen sufficiently, i.e. disaster and risk management institutions are not sensitive enough to unresolved or potential conflicts; and environmental and climate change related institutions do not necessarily interact with DRR responsible institutions. Neither do policies in the three fields: climate change, disaster risk management/reduction, and peacebuilding/conflict prevention. And yet, the impacts are significant, on economies, livelihoods, and lives: 58% of disaster deaths occurred in the top 30 fragile states. Climate change is further complicating this picture. A number of humanitarian and development agencies have been struggling with these issues for some time and are interested in sharing knowledge and co-developing solutions that can be applied at the operational level. Building upon a series of dialogues that have been taking place—thus far, this session aims to explore ongoing approaches in several country experiences to address the intersection of DRM/CCA/FCV, engage more practitioners (both humanitarian and development) working in the FCV space, and contribute to a community of practice on this issue. Specifically, this session will discuss practical approaches to both address disaster and climate risk management in FCV contexts and explore how conflict prevention/peace building can contribute to disaster and climate resilience. |
Speakers:
Katie Peters , Senior Research Fellow
Karim Soumana, Diplomat. Niger Security Council 2020-21 Expert
Karin Janz, Forest Landscape Restoration (FLR), Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ)
Florence Pichon, Climate and Disaster Risk Researcher, World Bank
Dr. Catherine-Lune Grayson, Policy Advisor – Policy and Humanitarian Diplomacy Division, ICRC
Isabelle Granger, Legislative advocacy coordinator at the IFRC
Margaret Arnold, Social Development Advisor, World Bank