Collaborating for Change: Research and Action on the Environmental Impacts of Conflict in Africa (A Path to Ottawa Event)

Mar 26, 2026 - Mar 27, 2026
Canterbury Christ Church University

Please join us for this Path to Ottawa event between March 26th and March 27th from 10am to 4pm UTC with a break between 1pm and 1:45pm UTC for lunch each day. This is a hybrid event, hosted at the Canterbury Christ Church University and online. 

Please see the event description below. 

Although Africa is the continent most affected by armed conflict globally, there remains a significant gap in research examining the environmental consequences of warfare across the region. Environmental degradation caused by conflict – including the destruction of ecosystems, contamination of resources, and disruption of sustainable livelihoods – often goes undocumented and unaddressed, limiting the capacity of affected communities to respond effectively. This 2-day hybrid workshop will showcase and build upon the work of the Armed Conflict and Environment Research (ACER) programme, an emerging global research hub based at Canterbury Christ Church University. ACER brings together a network of key stakeholders from conflict-affected regions – including researchers, postgraduate students, and community representatives – to advance understanding of the environmental dimensions of war. The session will feature brief presentations by ACER researchers and partners, along with other attendees engaged in related work. These will be followed by interactive group discussions aimed at identifying collaborative opportunities and practical next steps for advancing research and action in this critical field.

Workshop Objectives:

  1. To highlight the current research gaps and emerging findings on the environmental impacts of armed conflict in Africa.
  2. To present ACER’s collaborative model for building research capacity in conflict-affected contexts.
  3. To facilitate dialogue among researchers, practitioners, and community stakeholders on best practices for developing real-world, locally grounded environmental solutions.
  4. To explore opportunities for international collaboration, funding, and knowledge exchange.

The link to register is TBC.