Central Africa
Research Programme Management of natural resources

Concept

The aim of the research is to contextualise the multi-layered relationship between conflict and natural resources and illustrate what the different stakeholders have done so far to respond to the challenges they were confronted with. Natural resources represent both a problem and an opportunity for developing countries, specifically on the African continent. A problem because they were and in some cases still are a direct source, an indirect source or means for conflict. Recent cases include: Côte d’Ivoire, Sierra Leone, Angola, and the Democratic Republic of Congo. Even when those states are no longer in conflict, the failing management of natural resources is an illustration of the underlying structural fragile nature of the states concerned. However, natural resources also provide an important opportunity for social and economic development.

During the last decade a number of important initiatives have been developed with involvement from key stakeholders: governments both in Africa and the rest of the world, international organisations, the corporate sector and civil society organisations. However, most of these initiatives remain voluntary and often lack disciplinary power.

Questions that are inter alia addressed are: What is the state of play of these initiatives? What are their blind spots and how can they be addressed and improved? What is the way forward for the international community?

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