In a two-year climate adaptation and peacebuilding project, International Alert worked with communities and governments in Kenya and Nigeria experiencing the connected challenges of climate change, natural resource scarcity and violent conflict.
The project sought to make climate adaptation policies and action more effective, inclusive and conflict-sensitive to meet the needs of communities. As part of the work, we focused on empowering marginalised groups, like women and youth.
Our approach
In Nigeria, the project worked with local organisations to support the development of Local Peace and Adaptation Plans that brought together divided communities to find sustainable livelihood alternatives and peaceful solutions to frequent disputes over natural resources.
In Kenya, International Alert advocated for integrating a climate security perspective and community priorities in county, regional and national policy-making on climate action and supported local mechanisms for the peaceful and sustainable management of natural resources. The project has shown exciting promise for the climate sector to adopt a peacebuilding lens in adaptation programmes. By improving communities’ ability to adapt their livelihoods and peacefully manage resource-based conflicts, as well as promoting conflict-sensitive national and local policy-making, our work has shown how organisations can successfully improve climate action in conflict-affected settings.
We have been working on the interlinkages between climate change and conflict for more than 20 years through research, analysis and programming. This project saw us deliver that expertise, alongside our commitment to empowering marginalised groups, in new ways.
Project resources
You can find out more about the project here:
- Read our summary report
