Women and Natural Resources: Unlocking the Peacebuilding Potential

Around the world, over half a million people die violently every year – more than one per minute. Inequality in accessand benefit-sharing from natural resources is a major driver of conflict. As the global population continues to rise and the demand for resources continues to grow, there is significant potential for violent conflict to intensify in coming decades. In addition, climate change is exacerbating these risks and posing new threats to men, women, boys and girls in many parts of the world.

As primary managers and users of natural resources in many conflict-affected contexts, women have a key role to play in building peace. However, they remain largely excluded from owning land, benefiting from resource wealth or participating in decision-making about resource management. Excluding women is clearly a missed opportunity. Indeed, peace and development will only be achieved when both men and women in conflict-affected and fragile societies access and benefit from natural resources in an equitable and sustainable way.

As countries, regional groups and the international community work to define a new framework for development beyond 2015, it is clear that new approaches to international assistance, conflict prevention and peacebuilding are needed to ensure that the most vulnerable are not left out.

This joint policy report by the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP), the United Nations Entity for Gender Equity and the Empowerment of Women (UN Women), the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) and the United Nations Peacebuilding Support Office (PBSO) analyzes how women’s empowerment and the sustainable use of natural resources can be pursued together to help build lasting peace. Written for policy-makers and practitioners, it aims to contribute to a broader discussion about development challenges in peacebuilding contexts.

Thirteen years after the adoption of UN Security Council resolution 1325 (2000), investment in women as agents of change in post-conflict recovery remains inadequate. With this report, UNEP, UN Women, UNDP and PBSO invite the international community, national governments and civil society to close this critical gap. We must ensure that peacebuilding efforts fully include women, especially when it comes to managing natural resources.