UNHCR: Access the resource here.

The Sustainable Land Management and Environmental Restoration (SuLMER) is a low-cost, integrated effort to manage watersheds, prevent flooding, stabilize slopes and provide for gardens in Cox Bazar. 

This is a 3-year multi-sectoral watershed management project aiming to improve ecosystem wellbeing for communities living around water systems (such as rivers and streams) in the Rohingya refugee camps. It restores water networks using nature-based solutions such as stream excavation, bank protection, slope stabilization, revegetation, and plant-based water treatment, benefitting hundreds of families who now experience a safer, healthier and more habitable environment surrounding their households. 

CGIAR conducted an assessment of the UNHCR-implemented project in the camps. Initial results highlighted the overall positive impact of the project, including on pollution, flooding and site planning, with recommendations for better addressing vulnerabilities in the community and scaling up for expanded implementation. 

The high level of exposure to climate hazards, high levels of vulnerability, and lack of livelihood options for refugees in Rohingya camps means that scaling up this project is key.

Tropenbos International: Access the resource here.

Showcasing how women's organizations in Monteverde Indigenous Territory are influencing territorial planning.

Search for Common Ground: Access the resource here.

Promoting stabilization and resilience in border areas through social and economic infrastructure adapted to climate change.

UNHCR: Access the resource here.

Minawao camp in Cameroon’s Far North region hosts over 80,000 refugees who have fled violence linked to the Boko Haram insurgency in neighbouring Nigeria. In an arid region already badly affected by climate change, the refugees’ arrival accelerated the desertification process as the few surrounding trees were cut down for firewood. The price of wood rose, causing conflicts with host communities, and women and girls were forced to walk long distances into the bush to collect wood, exposing them to sexual violence. 

Since 2016, UNHCR has undertaken several initiatives in collaboration with partners (state services: MINEPDED, MINFOF, MINEE and NGOs: LWF, ADES, JRS), to address this situation and restore vegetation cover – which in turn improves the living conditions of refugees in Minawao camp and members of the host community. 

In 2017, UNHCR and the Lutheran World Federation (LWF) launched a unique programme, “Make Minawao Green Again” in 2018, aimed at reversing deforestation in the camp and surrounding villages. Refugees received training on how to use “cocoon technology”, developed by Land Life Company, to give seedlings the best chance of survival in the harsh environment. This involves burying a doughnut-shaped water tank made from recycled cartons that surrounds the plant’s roots and feeds it using a string that connects to the young shoot.  The seedlings grown with cocoon technology have a 96% survival rate, compared to 88% for those with the ordinary technique.

Since the beginning of the project, over 550,000 seedlings have been grown in the nursery and planted on more than 1000 hectares in 7 years. While the camp had been almost deforested, this project has helped to repair the vegetation cover. The trees are now providing enough shade for families to grow crops, something that was not possible previously.

Paid for by a $2.7 million donation from the Dutch Postcode Lottery, the programme is part of the Great Green Wall initiative which aims to grow an 8,000-kilometre continent-wide barrier to combat land degradation, desertification and drought in the Sahel. It also contributes to peaceful co-existence between the refugees, who have already fled conflict and insecurity, and their host communities.

Concern Worldwide (lead of the Consortium), International Rescue Committee and Search For Common Ground: Access the resource here.

The programme aims to strengthen the resilience of communities affected by forced displacement, climatic hazards and community conflicts in Eastern Chad in the short, medium and long term. The programme will help to improve the living conditions and resilience of indigenous populations, refugees and returnees in host areas, through support for inclusive local development, in order to minimise the factors contributing to tension between communities, instability and the risk of increased forced displacement and conflict.

International Rescue Committee: Access the resource here.

Sustainable Cotton Production and Land Restoration project in Lake Chad Province, in partnership with the Circular Bioeconomy Alliance. Restoring degraded land, improving biodiversity, water management, soil health, rural livelihoods and tackling social exclusion.

Tropenbos International: Access the resource here.

Details efforts to foster environmental collaboration and knowledge exchange in the Solano region.

Tropenbos International: Access the resource here.

Describes mediation processes rooted in customary conflict resolution to rebuild trust and enhance forest governance.

Tropenbos International: Access the resource here.

Discusses the role of customary leaders (Abogerebs) in peacebuilding among Tigray and Afar communities.

Tropenbos International: Access the resource here.

Explores strategies to mitigate conflicts related to cocoa farming in Ghana's High Forest Zone.

International Rescue Committee: Access the resource here.

First tested in Guatemala, our approach applies Google AI-enabled forecasting tools combined with local forecast and weather data. Working hand-in hand with local partners, building on their intimate knowledge of local livelihoods and sharing IRC’s technical expertise and access to forecast data, together we develop rapid contingency plans that enable us to target communities and households with early warning messages and cash so they are prepared when hazards strike.

Tropenbos International: Access the resource here.

Highlights how participatory mapping incorporating traditional landmarks helps prevent land disputes.

The FAO-led “Strengthening Climate Resilience of Vulnerable Agriculture Livelihoods in Iraq’s Rural Communities” (SRVALI) project has received a $29.25 million grant from GCF, with a total project value of $38.95 million. This six-year project starting in 2025 aims to increase water-use efficiency, promote climate-resilient farming, and empower women as agents of change in their communities. SRVALI targets climate-related water and food security issues in the arid regions of Karbala, Muthanna, and Najaf, where agriculture is the primary livelihood. Key initiatives include climate-adaptive infrastructure, improved irrigation, and solar power for farms. The project will bring over 121,000 hectares under climate-resilient management, benefiting approximately two million people, including jobs for internally displaced persons and equal benefits for women. Beyond immediate impacts, SRVALI promotes sustainable development by collaborating with Iraqi ministries and universities to incorporate climate-resilient practices into national policy, scaling up adaptation efforts across Iraq and the region.

International Alert: Access the resource here.

This paper presents insights and learning from recent work in northern Kenya and Central Asia addressing the links between climate, (in)security, conflict and natural resources. Here we share our reflections on how a peacebuilding organisation can work effectively on climate adaptation andnatural resource conflicts.

Saferworld: Access the resource here.

IMARA is a seven-year partnership programme – funded by the Swedish International Development Cooperation Agency (Sida) – which aims to increase the resilience of vulnerable households to climate change-related shocks. The project is taking place in eight counties in Kenya’s arid and semi-arid lands (ASAL).

International Alert: Access one resource here, access one resource here, and access one resource here.

This paper presents lessons from Powering Peace Through Climate Action, our project funded by Irish Aid. Within it, we placed communities affected by climate change and natural resource-related conflicts in the driving seat of integrated climate action and peacebuilding approaches and activities. We worked with local communities in Kenya and Nigeria to develop practical solutions to their challenges, and in doing so, generate learning that informs wider policy and practice. The paper demonstrates how integrating peacebuilding approaches into climate programming can contribute to more effective, needs-oriented and environmentally and socially sustainable responses to climate security risks.

International Alert: Access the resource here.

As peacebuilders, we see day in and day out how climate change isn’t just altering landscapes – it’s reshaping conflict. Nowhere is this more evident than in the Kenya-Ethiopia borderlands, where prolonged droughts, floods and erratic rainfall are turning competition for water and pasture into cycles of violence between the Turkana, Dassanech, and Nyangatom communities.

Mercy Corps: Access the resource here.

The Building Bonds of Trust report examines the role of local conflict resolution committees (CRCs) in promoting social cohesion and reducing violence in central Mali. It focuses on the importance of trust-building and collaboration among diverse community groups as essential components of peacebuilding in a region marked by deep social fractures and climate-induced pressures. The report highlights the effectiveness of CRCs in providing accessible, culturally appropriate, and cost-effective mechanisms for resolving disputes over resources, land, and livestock.

Key activities discussed in the report include the establishment of CRCs, collaboration with other peace and security actors, promoting gender inclusivity, and supporting youth engagement in conflict management. These committees play a critical role in fostering dialogue, reducing tensions, and preventing conflict by addressing the root causes of disputes. By strengthening the capacity of local actors to manage conflicts and adapt to changing environmental conditions, the program aims to build long-term resilience and stability in vulnerable communities.

International Organization for Migration (IOM)

The project strengthened climate resilience and peaceful natural resource management in northern and central Mali by partnering with local NGOs and regional pastoralist networks. Key results include participatory mapping of transhumance routes, training sessions on conflict resolution, and the designation of 40 local sentinels to support early warning systems. These efforts enhanced community capacity to manage climate-related risks and resource-based conflicts.

Mercy Corps: Access the resource here.

The Weathering Change report by Mercy Corps explores the critical link between climate change adaptation and conflict prevention in the fragile context of Mali, particularly in the Mopti and Ségou regions. The report highlights how climate stressors like erratic rainfall, prolonged droughts, and increased competition for natural resources exacerbate pre-existing conflicts, undermine livelihoods, and threaten food security. It emphasizes that effective climate adaptation not only addresses environmental challenges but also mitigates conflict by reducing resource competition, promoting cooperation, and strengthening local governance.

Key interventions highlighted in the report include the use of climate-resilient seeds, forage diversification, pastoral calendars, and mobile agricultural micro-insurance. These initiatives aim to reduce the vulnerability of communities to climate shocks while simultaneously fostering peace through local conflict resolution mechanisms, such as conflict resolution committees (CRCs) and land commissions (COFOs). By integrating traditional knowledge and innovative adaptation strategies, the program seeks to build resilient communities capable of withstanding the twin pressures of climate change and conflict.

PBF in Mauritania: Supporting local and community capacities to prevent and manage conflicts and disasters linked to climate change in Guidimakha -- Since November 2022, a two-year peacebuilding initiative funded by the UN Peacebuilding Fund (PBF) and implemented by IOM, FAO, and ILO has helped strengthen local capacities for climate-sensitive conflict prevention and disaster risk management. With a budget of USD 3 million, the project focuses on reinforcing community resilience - starting with the people themselves. The Guidimakha region, rich in agropastoral potential, is grappling with the rising impacts of climate change. Transhumance patterns and resource scarcity have deepened longstanding tensions between herders and farmers - disputes that often erupt with little warning. The most visible sign of the transformation enabled through this programme is the revitalization of 44 village committees, active across 40 localities. These grassroots bodies have become trusted intermediaries between local communities, government authorities, and development partners. Village committees are playing an increasingly central role in land governance, early warning systems, and conflict management, especially between herders and farmers (namely through the identification of transhumance corridors and investments in making them climate resilient). In 2023, 16 committees handled 101 local disputes, resolving 82 - an 81.2% resolution rate. In 2024, the resolution rate climbed to 98%, with 95 out of 97 conflicts successfully mediated. The vast majority of these were related to resource-based tensions, such as land boundaries and the use of natural resources. Beyond mediation, committee members act as educators - raising awareness on responsible resource management, such as water preservation and sustainable land use. Today, committees are integrated into local governance structures, coordinating with authorities on contingency stock management, bushfire and flood response, broader disaster preparedness, and local development. They’ve become a backbone for resilience, rooted in tradition but geared toward the future. In the face of growing climate threats and social pressure, village committees stand as pillars of peace, resilience, and social cohesion - a model of what can be achieved when solutions are driven by those most affected.

UNHCR: Access the resource here.

UNHCR has led the construction of hundreds of climate-resilient shelters for displaced people and their host communities in Mozambique.

In the Maratane Refugee Settlement, Nampula province, Mozambique, UNHCR provides climate-resilient shelters that are better equipped to withstand extreme weather events, such as cyclones and severe winds. Some 50% of the shelters distributed in 2024 are reserved for vulnerable women's groups, who were prioritized after initial protection assessments. As well as providing these shelters to refugees in Maratane – most of whom had fled conflict, violence and insecurity in neighbouring countries – UNHCR plans to expand the project to the host community.

The Climate Resilient Shelters project in Nampula is emblematic of UNHCR’s strategic shift from reactive humanitarian interventions towards longer-term, sustainable responses, and research has shown that concrete shelters contribute significantly to household resilience. 

The project also demonstrates the importance of working more deeply with communities facing conflict and climate hazards to bridge humanitarian, development, and peacebuilding objectives.

UNHCR: Access the resource here.

Mozambique continues to grapple with large-scale internal displacement due to ongoing armed conflict in the northern regions (some 850,000 remain internally displaced within Mozambique). The climate crisis further exacerbates the situation, with frequent extreme weather events such as cyclones and floods becoming increasingly intense and destructive, with significant damage caused each time a cyclone hits. Displaced people, who are among the most vulnerable communities, are also often among the hardest hit. 

In Mozambique, the Protection Cluster, led by UNHCR, has been actively engaged in cyclone preparedness efforts in IDP sites. It has partnered with the Mozambique Disaster Risk Reduction Agency (from its Portuguese acronym “INGD”) in order to ensure integration of protection and human rights principles (protection mainstreaming) of the Government’s preparedness and response plans. Concretely this has meant piloting “protection principled” evacuation simulations, trainings on protection and related themes (GBV, disability inclusion, child protection, PSEA and identification of persons with specific needs) to regional focal points and local disaster risk reduction committees at the village levels in most impacted provinces. The partnership also included the elaboration of protection sensitive early warning messages, guide on protection for managers of evacuation centers and working jointly on referral pathways.

The Cluster has developed protection mainstreaming checklists and protection-sensitive early warning messages, including in local languages, which are disseminated via radio: 

• Protection Radio Messages to Communities [CLICK] – available in both Portuguese and English  

• Messages to those managing transit/evacuation centers [CLICK] – available in both Portuguese and English

International Rescue Committee: Access the resource here.

Country specific case studies: Niger here. Pakistan here. South Sudan here. Syria here.  They've also been translated into Arabic, Spanish, and French

This report examines disruptions in seed systems within agropastoral communities affected by climate change and conflict. It proposes systems-based recommendations to strengthen seed security, aiming to build resilience in these vulnerable regions.

International Organization for Migration (IOM)

The project supported the development and distribution of seven gender- and climate-responsive Community Peace and Development Plans (CPDPs) in Hela and Southern Highlands. Key achievements include government-led reconciliation efforts that resolved a three-year tribal conflict and enabled IDP returns. The CPDPs now serve as strategic tools for guiding peacebuilding, community development, and inclusive planning with local authorities and partners.

International Organization for Migration (IOM)

The primary focus of the action was to reduce environmentally induced displacement and conflict in Hirshabelle State through a holistic approach involving tangible investment in natural resource infrastructure, pragmatic innovations for water and energy capture, livelihood opportunities in the agro-pastoral sector, and reforestation. This support has harnessed the most relevant and locally appropriate social structures, bolstered informal and formal institutions, and built on existing community initiatives. The project achieved its overarching objective through a highly participatory and community-driven approach, leveraging methodologies like Community-Based Planning (CBP) to build community awareness, capacity and infrastructures to cope with environmentally induced conflicts.

BRCiS Consortium: Access the resource here.

BRCiS (Building Resilient Communities in Somalia) is a humanitarian Consortium that takes a holistic approach to supporting Somali communities in developing their capacities to understand and manage hazards and shocks so that they can build a better future for themselves.

FAO

“Ugbaad” (meaning “hope” in Somali), a seven-year, $95 million project to build resilience in the agricultural sector, which started end of 2024. This initiative represents the largest GCF-funded climate investment led by the FAO. The Ugbaad project seeks to support Somalia’s rural communities by promoting sustainable land management, improving water access, and introducing climate-resilient farming practices. Plans include restoring over 50,000 hectares of degraded land, training 86,000 farmers and pastoralists in climate-smart agriculture, and rehabilitating vital infrastructure such as irrigation canals and rural roads. Directly benefiting 1.2 million people, with an additional 973,000 indirectly impacted, Ugbaad aims to increase food production, reduce dependence on imports and aid, and bolster food security. Ugbaad will further contribute to peacebuilding and sustainable development by strengthening governance, improving climate information systems, and fostering community involvement, creating a model for resilience in other fragile regions.

PBF project in Pibor, South Sudan: Local Solutions to Build Climate Resilience, Advance Peace and Stability in Pibor

Partners: FAO, UN Women, IOM, and CEPO (Community Empowerment for Progress Organisation)

In Pibor, South Sudan, a Peacebuilding Fund (PBF) project has been addressing climate security and food security challenges by reducing the negative impact of climate shocks on existing conflict dynamics (running from 2023 to 2026). At the time of implementation, devastating floods had displaced communities, destroyed vegetable gardens, and restricted access to markets, worsening food insecurity. Additionally, long-standing rivalries among the Lango, Kurunen, and Guzule groups - driven by power struggles, pride, and the presence of small arms - contributed to violence and instability. Water and pasture disputes further intensified competition among livestock herders during the dry season. The project has managed to foster inclusion and social cohesion by uniting different age-sets across various Bomas (village-level administrative units), helping to reduce tensions. FAO has played a key role in improving food security by supporting livestock health through vaccination, introducing fish preservation techniques, and providing essential agricultural inputs. Training in vegetable farming has enabled families to boost their incomes, meet basic needs, and even invest in livestock or small businesses, fostering economic resilience. Moreover, by training Community Animal Health Workers (CAHWs) from both the Lango and Kerunen age-sets, the project has ensured inclusive livestock vaccination efforts, preventing exclusion-related tensions. Vaccination days have also served as neutral spaces for interaction, promoting dialogue and cooperation. Furthermore, early warning and early action training has equipped community members with the skills to identify and address risks, enhancing preparedness and local conflict resolution mechanisms. Through these integrated efforts, the project has strengthened food security, mitigated climate-induced conflict, and contributed to lasting peace and stability in Pibor.

PBF project in Gedaref State, co-led by IOM and FAO: Strengthening the Security - Climate Nexus in Gedaref, Sudan

Partners: FAO, IOM, Gedaref University, Berghof Foundation, Soilwatch, Deltares, 3ei/ISDC

In Gedaref State, southeastern Sudan, a USD 5 million Peacebuilding Fund (PBF) project co-led by IOM and FAO is addressing the interconnected challenges of climate change, fragility, and conflict through an integrated, community-based approach (running from 2022 to 2025). Recognizing the environmental stressors as both a cause and amplifier of local tensions, the project seeks to enhance peace and stability by implementing climate change adaptation and disaster risk reduction strategies that are conflict-sensitive and peace responsive. Operating in a region marked by chronic poverty, underdevelopment, and increased pressures from refugee influxes and border insecurity, the initiative is focused on two main outcomes: strengthening local conflict resolution mechanisms and resource management to prevent disputes, and deploying renewable energy solutions alongside environmental rehabilitation to build resilience. By engaging communities in inclusive analysis and planning around local hazards and vulnerabilities, the project not only aims to address immediate risks but also to foster long-term peacebuilding in one of Sudan’s most marginalized and fragile contexts.

Tropenbos International: Access the resource here.

Details training programs aimed at equipping local leaders with conflict resolution skills in the Saamaka landscape.

UNHCR: Access the resource here.

The project “Building climate resilience in the landscapes of the Kigoma region of Tanzania” is funded by the Green Climate Fund (to the tune of $19 million) to UNEP, who are collaborating with the Government of Tanzania and UNHCR. 

The Kigoma region is host to a large population of refugees, with the settlements located in areas where the surrounding ecosystems are being degraded – in part due to population growth, unsustainable agricultural practices, and deforestation. Climate change further increases the pressures on these landscapes and the climate vulnerability of both host and displaced communities.

As such, the project uses nature-based solutions and ecosystem restoration for climate resilience and adaptation - focusing on landscapes that host populations who have largely been displaced by conflict. It aims to benefit 1.2 million people, with 15,000 farmer households benefitting from climate-resilient agriculture, and improving and conserving 42,000 hectares of agroecological ecosystems. The integrated landscape approach will include climate-resilient land use planning, forestry, agriculture, water use efficiency, flood and soil erosion control and policy interventions, and will bring co-benefits for displaced and host communities – thereby contributing to peaceful coexistence.

The project was launched in Kigoma on 15 May 2025.

Tropenbos International: Access the resource here.

Highlights community-led initiatives to protect forests, reduce human-wildlife conflicts and prevent conflicts arising from resource use.

Tropenbos International: Access the resource here.

Describes efforts to build trust between Indigenous Peoples and local communities for sustainable forest governance.

UNHCR: Access the resource here.

Yemen continues to face one of the world's most complex humanitarian emergencies and enduring conflict, overlaid by escalating climate shocks. More than 4 million Yemenis remain displaced, living in informal settlements often established in geographically exposed areas, such as dry riverbeds (wadis), floodplains and unprotected slopes. Over 570 IDP sites, hosting people who have been displaced by conflict, are situated in high-risk flood zones. Seasonal flash floods, happening on a recurring basis, compound the vulnerability of populations already at risk. Entire shelters are inundated. Livelihoods and stored food are destroyed. Children are disproportionately affected by waterborne diseases and psychosocial trauma. 

Preparedness cannot wait for peace. As such, Yemen Al-Khair for Relief and Development (YARD), in collaboration with UNDRR, UNHCR and the Yemen Shelter/CCCM Cluster conduct disaster risk reduction in areas hosting people who have been displaced by conflict. For example, at the Al-Mahzam Al-Sharqi IDP site, they designed and excavated a 2.5-kilometre engineered flood diversion channel, building earthen and stone barriers around the site to redirect flood water away from residential areas. Across multiple districts, they have constructed transitional shelters, and carried out structural rehabilitation of flood-damaged homes and preventive maintenance of shelter infrastructure – all in close coordination with local authorities and displaced communities. They also establish community-based risk reduction committees, training members on early warnings, hazard mapping, and how to maintain the flood mitigation infrastructure. 

YARD’s interventions have laid the foundations for sustainable, community-driven risk reduction in conflict-affected areas. They build the resilience of people who have been displaced by conflict, and of their host communities, and ensure community engagement and ownership. In the words of YARD’s Executive Director: “Yemen's rains will return, as will its floods. But in Al-Mahzam and other camps, people are no longer helpless. Instead, they are now agents of their own protection.

International Organization for Migration (IOM)

The project improved water security, sustainable agriculture, and community resilience in Tarim District by upgrading water infrastructure, including flood protection and irrigation systems, safeguarding over 3,300 hectares of farmland. Women Water User Groups and Conflict Resolution Committees were formed, strengthening inclusive natural resource management. Efforts towards these goals include a planned hybrid solar solution, the establishment of a pesticide testing lab, farmer training, and Cash-for-Work programs supporting sustainable agriculture and income generation.