The Humanitarian-Development-Peace nexus recognizes conflict as a threat multiplier to climate change and seeks to integrate conflict sensitivity into policies and actions around natural resources. Competition for natural resources in dryland areas often leads to conflict between host communities and displaced people. The Doing No Harm While Doing Good:  Climate and Conflict Sensitivity in Dryland Humanitarian Projects policy brief evidences this fragility of ecosystems in humanitarian settings through a thorough review of three innovative projects implemented by FAO, CGIAR and CARE, consultations with Think Tank organizations in Africa and Middle East and practitioners on the ground. It argues that humanitarian interventions should both address and redress the environmental impact of displaced populations and protection of dryland natural resources must be seen as a vital part of programme implementation and aims to provide decision makers with potential ways in which the Humanitarian, Development and Peace Nexus can be implemented in relief activities in dryland ecologically fragile environments.

Key Messages

Natural resources are frequent sources of conflict, and their protection cannot be treated as an optional extra when it comes to humanitarian interventions. Environmental protection should be seen as a key part of any humanitarian approach. Displaced people impact the local environment and compete with the host community for scarce natural resources, which may make them a target for violence.

Financing peacebuilding in humanitarian and development projects requires a sound understanding of the local context, including an environmental assessment. This will ensure that interventions receive the required amount of financing, facilitate flexible management, and enhance staff commitment to a peacebuilding approach with environmental benefits.

Environmental data should thus be collected at the beginning of any humanitarian project and monitored throughout. Humanitarian actions in providing for displaced people should conduct a baseline environmental assessment or screening of local fuelwood, land, water, and other resources as appropriate. This recommendation is costly, but necessary for human protection and to promote climate change resilience.

Actions to promote peace within humanitarian interventions can be implemented whether or not a project has an explicit peace component. Staff training for peace promotion, along with local knowledge and collaboration, can lead to flexible and responsive actions by humanitarian actors that build bridges between communities without being explicitly designated as conflict resolution measures.