Environmental Collaboration and Conflict Resolution - course series and teaching network at the University of Eastern Finland
The project contributes to the implementation of Finland’s National Action Plan 2021–2024 on Youth, Peace, and Security and the Africa Action Plan of the Ministry of Education and Culture. The project promotes national and international networking and builds new partnerships and strengthens existing ones.
The partners in the project are currently
- College of Business Education (CBE), Tanzania
- Makerere University, Uganda
- Pan African Institute for Governance, Humanities and Social Sciences (hosted at the University of Yaoundé II), Cameroon
- UEF School of Applied Educational Science and Teacher Education, Finland
- University of Jyväskylä, Finland
- Aalto University, Finland
- Akordi OY, Finland
- North Karelia Biosphere Reserve (Man and the Biosphere Programme UNESCO), Finland
- Portland State University, National Policy Consensus Center, the USA
The course series address conflicts related to the management and governance of natural resources and nature conservation. The courses include conceptualization of environmental collaboration as well as provide practical methods for conflict resolution. The courses include the examination of theoretical frameworks, conflict cases, and exercises on the development of collaboration, mediation, and consensus-building skills.
In 2022, two courses were conducted within the framework of the project. The first course was held in August at the University of Eastern Finland. The course addressed conflicts related to the governance and management of natural resources and the environment. The course aimed to understand environmental collaboration concepts and conflict resolution strategies. The course was complemented by a site visit to explore and reflect on conflict resolution and collaboration related to hydropower energy production in North Karelia, Finland. The second course was held in October, in Mafinga, Tanzania. The course aimed to introduce the collaborative approach and discuss how collaboration between multiple actors could mitigate land and forest-related disputes in Tanzania. The course was illustrated by a field excursion to small-scale private forest plantations and meetings with local actors.
Read more about the previous courses that were conducted in 2020, and 2018.
More information about the project is available here. For inquiries contact Denis Dobrynin, the project coordinator ([email protected]).