Advancing Environmental Peacebuilding in Practice (A Path to Ottawa Event)

Jan 29, 2026 | ConnexUs
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Environmental peacebuilding offers a systems-informed framework to address the complex linkages among the environment, conflict, and fragility. While natural resources can fuel conflict, they also present powerful entry points for peacebuilding. As the field matures, there is growing momentum to reflect on its direction: What gaps persist? What new priorities are emerging? How can we deepen integration across silos and sectors, and who is already leading the way?

The session will transition into an introduction of systems analysis and participatory planning tools developed with global practitioners to support analysis of and action within the environment-conflict nexus. Ruth Rhoads Allen (CDA) and Roselyne Onunga (Local Capacities for Peace Intl) will frame and offer case insights from East Africa and actionable lessons for policy and practice.

Session participants will then join the discussion on enabling factors, barriers, and visions for the field’s future in which participants can share examples from their experience. The exchange will generate insights for a blog post, integrating anonymized audience input gathered through Q&A and interactive tools.

Speakers: 

  • Moderated by Annika Erickson-Pearson (ECCP), brief remarks by funders and practitioners shaping the environmental peacebuilding agenda.
  • Kelsey Coolidge (Jubitz Foundation) will present findings from a recent field-wide stocktaking, highlighting key gaps and opportunities. Subsequent panelists will build on this analysis by showcasing frontier initiatives.
  • Elise Doumergue (World Bank) will offer insights from Defueling Conflict: Notes from the Field (Fall 2025), spotlighting tools and lessons learned on strengthening the evidence base around the peace-positive co benefits of environmental initiatives.

Learn more about ConnexUs. 

Please join us for this Path to Ottawa event on January 29, 2026, from 8 am to 9:30 am EST. 

Register for the event here.