In conflicts where the power balance is highly skewed, strengthening the competence of weaker actors is key to successful conflict transformation. This was the conclusion of the third Latin American Forum on the Transformation of Environmental and Resource Conflicts held in Quito, Ecuador from 21-22 February. The Forum was organized by InWEnt, the German Development Service (DED), Futuro Latinoamericano Foundation (FFLA), PLASA, Friedrich Ebert Foundation and Simon Bolivar University, and was attended by 160 experts, representatives of governmental organizations, indigenous peoples' representatives and development organizations. Enhancing competency involves more than just organizing seminars, as Marvin Fonseca (CoopeSoliDar) illustrated by taking up the conflicts over the exploitation of marine resources in Costa Rica. In his view, stable, long-term relationships based on solidarity are a prerequisite for acquiring the competencies necessary for successful conflict transformation. Other speakers highlighted the lacunae in imparting relevant competencies, such as obtaining access to important information, strengthening ethnic identities, organizational development and process planning.

The third Latin American Forum provided significant conceptual and practical inputs for strengthening competencies in conflict transformation processes. At the same time, however, it pointed to new questions. How can the imbalance between the “teachers” and those being “taught” be levelled so as to achieve a process of solidarity and mutual learning? In what way can previously coexisting indigenous conflict resolution mechanisms and "occidental" methodologies be used for developing innovative forms of conflict transformation? Which impact measurement methodology can be applied to competence-enhancing processes?

The organizers have set up a virtual discussion forum to facilitate continuation of the debate between the regional groups. The forum provides access to interviews with experts and downloads of presentations. A compilation of papers of the third Latin American Forum on Environmental and Resource Conflict Transformation will also soon be published. (Volker Frank, DED)

The forum can be accessed at

http://www.ffla.net/foros/index.php

 

Published in: ECC-Newsletter, April 2008