Natural Resource Conflict Transformation Program has been in operation since December 2008, since then, the program is continued and running in the fifth phase (April, 2018-March 2020). The program is implemented in financial and technical support of The McConnell Foundation (TMF). The first phase of the program (NRCTP-I) was effective from December 2008 to November 2010 and contributed to human resource development to work in the areas of natural resource conflict transformation process and good governance. Similarly, the second phase of the program (NRCTP-II) starting from December 2010 to January 2013 produced more local level facilitators through seven phases modular training and mobilized in field level in mitigating the occurrences of conflicts and transforming conflict in a constructive way. For the continuation of peace building movement, the program continued as “Implementing and Deepening Practice Phase-III” to transform natural resource-based multi-stakeholder conflict cases through capacity building and mobilization of the local, regional and central project team from February 2014 to January 2016. Similarly, “Anchoring the Web” Phase-IV program has been implemented from February 2016 to May 2018 to contribute to sustainable peace by enabling better relationships through transformation of multi-stakeholders conflict cases. With the same objective, Natural Resource Conflict Transformation Program Phase-V “Partnerships for Peace” (April 2018 to March 2020) is going on at the moment.
“Conflict transformation is a way of looking as well as seeing.”
John Paul Lederach
Many traditional methods are implemented in our society to resolve conflicts since time immemorial. Some major methods that conflicting parties seek are legal procedures, police force, administrative efforts, or religious means. However, these methods of dealing with conflict are only content-centred, so even when certain agreements are made, and conflict is seen to be resolved it resurface again. Therefore, natural resource conflict transformation process seeks to find a permanent solution to the conflict through dialogue among multi-stakeholder conflicting parties ultimately ending years of bitterness into a harmonious relationship. Conflict transformation is a relationship-centered process to promote constructive change in society. Natural resource conflict transformation process consists of different steps in sequence with several field level meetings and discussions potrayed in the mountain pathway picture. Conflicting parties themselves are responsible for the transformation of the conflict in this process where facilitators only act as a mediator and assist in reaching win-win situation among the conflicting parties.
