We are using technology to support research on Promoting peaceful pastoralism. This work, as part of the UK aid-funded Cross-Border Conflict, Evidence, Policy and Trends (XCEPT) research programme, seeks to better understand the changes to cross-border pastoral movements in Africa – in particular, as a result of environmental change – and the implications these have for peace and security. Working in collaboration with local researchers, and pastoralist and climate experts, we are combining field research with satellite data and analysis, and Geographic Information System mapping. Together, these methods track changes in patterns of pastoralist movement, rainfall, vegetation, urban development and land usage.
While The Voices of Syria initiative harnessed the power of digital technologies to highlight the perspectives of Syrian refugees. This work in Lebanon and Jordan was funded by the Robert Bosch Stiftung.
For three years in a row Conciliation Resources EU assisted the European External Action Service (EEAS) to convene its Community of Practice on Peace Mediation through its Framework Contract on Conflict Prevention and Mediation Support. In 2020 and 2021, the meetings took place virtually through an Open Space Technology platform that enabled hundreds of peace mediation practitioners from around the world to connect, exchange views and co-create a truly unique event.
In different geographic regions we have also used digital spaces to bring people from either side of a conflict divide together. For example, partners we work with from both the Pakistan-administered and Indian-administered parts of Jammu and Kashmir, created an online platform to share information about the COVID-19 pandemic, helping prevent the spread of misinformation and building trust.
Conciliation Resources is part of the cyber mediation network, which brings together the EU, UN and civil society organisations working in the realms of mediation and digitalisation, to share experience, insight and expertise.