Natural Resource Disputes
In addition to its engagement in peace processes, PILPG has 30 years of experience training civilians, civil society, and other parties on the substance and skills needed to most effectively represent their delegation’s interests in an international peace negotiation. This page offers resources on approaching natural resource-based disputes during a peace process. Scroll through this page for: Background Reading, Educational Material & Interactive Tools.
This section offers background reading including the Natural Resources chapter from Dr. Paul R. Williams’ Lawyering Peace book. The chapter explores the development of peace agreement provisions relating to extractive natural resources, addressing conundrums regarding the ownership, management and associated revenue of extractive natural resources that parties face during peace negotiations. Additionally, this page includes a paper on the topic of natural resources in Sudan, its role in the conflict that broke out in April 2023, and considerations for approaching the issue during future peace talks.
Background Reading
Educational Materials
This section includes a link to a mini lesson on the topic of negotiating natural resource management and related issues. The lesson is available in Arabic, Amharic, English, and Ukrainian.
Interactive Tools and Resources
The following negotiation simulations on natural resources in Myanmar (Burma) and the Democratic Republic of Congo, offer opportunities to put the knowledge acquired from this page on natural resource management to the test. While the simulations relate to specific contexts, conducting such an exercise will help individuals in developing the skills necessary to successfully negotiate natural resource management, ownership, and revenue allocation, beyond the context of the simulations.
