US-Japan Joint Symposium on "Natural Resource Management for Peacebuilding and Statebuilding"

The United States and Japan are two of the largest sources of bilateral assistance to countries seeking to rebuild after conflict. Decades of experience illustrates the need for more effective approaches to post-conflict peacebuilding and diplomacy. Natural resource management offers as-yet underutilized approaches for peacebuilding.

This joint symposium celebrates the development of the book “Harnessing Natural Resources for Peacebuilding: Lessons from U.S. and Japanese Assistance” by the research project of ELI-GIF-University of Tokyo, while introducing recently-initiated JICA-RI research project on land and property problems in post-conflict situations.
Drawing upon analyses by U.S. and Japanese researchers and practitioners of projects from Afghanistan, Iraq, the Philippines, Timor-Leste, and elsewhere, the ELI-GIF-University of Tokyo volume identifies lessons and opportunities for how natural resource-management programs can strengthen U.S. and Japanese peacebuilding initiatives.
Researchers from the JICA-RI project will join the discussion by introducing their perspectives and analyses particularly on land and property issues. Though the JICA-RI project is only at the early stage, their initial findings and the mutual discussion with presenters will deepen the understandings on the problems and broaden the scope of participants in both projects.

Practitioners, researchers, students and others interested in the topic are invited to a conversation as the contributors to the book discuss lessons for development and security practitioners on the roles of natural resource management in conflict and peacebuilding; lessons on conflict dynamics and power structures in post-conflict situations; and, development challenges in post-conflict natural resource management programs.

Part 1: Land and Property Problems in Post-Conflict Statebuiding and Economic Development

Session 1. Land and Property Problems in Post-Conflict and Conflict-Affected Settings （Chair: Mikiyasu Nakayama, Univ. of Tokyo）

- Road infrastructure reconstruction as peacebuilding priority in Afghanistan: Negative implications for land rights: Mourad Shalaby
- Counternarcotics efforts and Afghan poppy farmers: Finding the right approach: David M. Catarious
- Demobilization, reintegration, and natural resources in Afghanistan: Mami Sato
- Discussion: Land and property problems in post-conflict statebuilding and economic development, with special reference to case studies in Africa: Shinichi Takeuchi (JICA-RI)
- Open Discussion

Session 2. Land and Property Problems in Post-Conflict Statebuilding and Economic Development (Carl Bruch, ELI)
- U.S. bilateral assistance to Liberia: Forestry as the cornerstone to Peacebuilding:Lisa Goldman
- Building peace through sustainable forest management in Asia: Jennifer Wallace
- Assistance to Natural Resource Management and Community Reconstruction in Post-Conflict East Timor: Naori Miyazawa
- Comments: Kiyoko Furusawa (Tokyo Women’s Christian University)
- Comments: Ryutaro Murotani (JICA-RI)
- Open Discussion

Part II. Harnessing Natural Resources for Peacebuilding: Lessons from U.S. and Japanese Assistance

Session 1: Introduction and Project Overview (Chair: Shinichi Takeuchi)
- US-Japan Joint Research Project: Carl Bruch (ELI)

Session 2-1: Learning from Actual Experiences (Chair: Shinichi Takeuchi)
- Improving natural resource governance and building peace and stability in Mindanao, Philippines: Maria Zita Butardo-Toribio
- Infrastructure and peacebuilding in Sri Lanka: Mikiko Sugiura
- Redevelopment of inland water transport for post-conflict reconstruction in southern Sudan: Mikio Ishiwatari
- Open Discussion

Session 2-2: Learning from Actual Experiences (Chair: Ryutaro Murotani)
- Post-Conflict Agriculture Restoration in East-Timor: Haruka Satoh
- Linking demining to post-conflict peacebuilding: A case study of Cambodia: Nao Shimoyachi-Yuzawa
- Natural resources, post-conflict reconstruction, and regional integration: Carl Bruch
- Open Discussion

Session 3: Panel Discussion - Toward better natural Resources management in post conflict countries -

(1) Moderator: Carl Bruch (ELI)
(2) Panelists:
1. Ilona Coyle (ELI)
2. Mikiyasu Nakayama (University of Tokyo)
3. Mikio Ishiwatari (World Bank, ex-JICA Senior Advisor)
4. Shinichi Takeuchi (JICA-RI)
5. Marcal Gusmao (National University of East Timor)

To apply for the symposium, please click the button below (Application deadline: October 24). Please note that we may close the applications before the deadline in case we reach the quorum.

Mr. Ueno/ Ms. Yamashita, E-Mail: ditas-rsunit@jica.go.jp, Tel: +81-(0)3-3269-2959 Fax: +81-(0)3-3269-2054