🌱 Ecological Threat Report 2024 released, Global Round Up, Ukraine Summit, IEP Ambassadors


This month, we bring you insights from our latest research & updates on our global initiatives	View in browser

IEP Newsletter — October 2024

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Welcome to the October 2024 edition of the Institute for Economics & Peace newsletter. This month, we bring you insights from our latest research, updates on our global initiatives, and inspiring stories from our global network of IEP Ambassadors. We invite you to explore how the Institute continues to drive positive change through data-driven analysis and innovative peace-building strategies. First up, we take a look at the key findings from the latest Ecological Threat Report.

LATEST RELEASE

Water investment key to averting global conflict surge

Accelerating ecological degradation is becoming a critical multiplier of global conflict. Without immediate action, water scarcity, food insecurity, and climate change threaten to ignite new conflicts, particularly in already fragile regions.

The Ecological Threat Report 2024 reveals a challenging reality: 1.3 billion people currently live in countries facing severe ecological threats, a number projected to surge to 2 billion by 2050. Yet amid these sobering statistics lies an often-overlooked solution: water management.

The relationship between ecological degradation and conflict is not merely theoretical. In Africa's Sahel region, which accounts for just 6.8% of the continent's population but 16% of its conflict deaths, we see this dynamic play out daily. However, IEP’s research reveals that water scarcity – often blamed for such conflicts – is less about resource availability, and more about governance and infrastructure.

Please click below to download the PDF report. To request a media interview, please contact us using the form here.

Download the report

📉 ECOLOGICAL THREAT REPORT 2024 — BY THE NUMBERS

27: Number of ecological hotspot countries facing extreme risks and low resilience

1.3BN: People currently living in high-risk ecological threat zones

2050: Year when at-risk populations could surge to 2 billion people

1.8%: Sub-Saharan Africa's irrigated farmland - the world's lowest rate

$15B: Annual investment needed for water and agriculture improvements

50%: Potential increase in Sub-Saharan African food production with proper investment

Discover the research

IEP AMBASSADORS: LOCAL HEROES, GLOBAL IMPACT

Elsie Fonyi Foletia: This Cameroon-based IEP Ambassador is championing peace and sustainability in the Bimbia-Bonadikombo Community Forest. Foletia's work involves using the Positive Peace Framework to address economic pressures and environmental challenges holistically, fostering harmony between the forest and its surrounding communities.

Read Elsie’s story here.

Sameer Asefi: A climate advocate from Afghanistan, Asefi is using Positive Peace principles to address environmental challenges and promote resilience in Kabul. His initiative to plant climate-resilient crops and educate neighbors about Positive Peace is particularly crucial in Afghanistan, a country grappling with decades of conflict, ecological threats, and climate change impacts.

Read Sameer’s story here.

PARTNERSHIPS: GLOBAL ROUND UP

IEP continues to advance its mission through strategic collaborations and capacity building training initiatives:

Philippines - IEP conducted Positive Peace training for government officials in Manila, strengthening our relationship with the Philippine government and local leaders. Discussions are underway to expand various projects.
Indonesia - Rotary International and IEP hosted the Oceania Activators Training, empowering attendees to address urgent regional challenges, such as the existential threat of rising sea levels to Pacific Island communities.
Cambodia - The "Seed of Peace" training program, organised with Women Peace Makers, brought together diverse participants to learn essential skills in conflict resolution, peace leadership, and positive peace.
United States - IEP collaborated with the Peace Makers Coalition and community representatives in Chicago to explore peace-building strategies. A key initiative proposed was a youth boxing program to engage local youth and provide access to social services.
Australia - We partnered with the National Rugby League Community to deliver two Youth Peace Leadership Programs, introducing students to concepts of respect and harmony through the eight Pillars of Positive Peace.

Discover IEP Partnerships & Training

BRUSSELS OFFICE

IMPACT FORCE SUMMIT, KYIV

IEP's Director of Europe & MENA, Serge Stroobants, recently participated in the Impact Force Summit in Kyiv, addressing Ukraine's critical need for resilience.

Highlights included a focus on strengthening comprehensive societal resilience, the official signing of an MoU between IEP and Impact Force, and new connections established with Ukrainian government.

CONSULTING: LATEST PROJECTS

IEP is a trusted advisor leveraging economic, financial, and attitudinal data to drive international development with unparalleled expertise:

We recently launched the second edition of the Multilateralism Index, a collaboration between the International Peace Institute and IEP. The Index reveals that states remain engaged in the global multilateral system even as it increasingly struggles to address the crises it faces.
With the Global Community Engagement and Resilience Fund, we examined resilience programs in Ukraine, exploring links between Positive Peace, resilience, and conflict prevention.
In partnership with the UN Environment Programme, we developed the Climate, Peace and Security Barometer for Northern Central America, offering insights on climate change, security, and resilience for El Salvador, Guatemala, and Honduras.
Our participation in the Geneva Water Hub and World Water Week 2024 generated important discussions on water security and peace.

Discover the IEP Consulting Practice

NAIROBI OFFICE

YMCA ACCELERATOR SUMMIT, MOMBASA

IEP's Director of Southern Africa, Dan Odaba, recently participated in the global YMCA Accelerator Summit in Mombasa.

The Summit gathered 500 delegates from 120 countries to advance Vision 2030's four impact pillars and explore partnerships, including the integration of IEP's Positive Peace Framework.

VISION OF HUMANITY

Vision of Humanity is our publishing platform with more than 2.5M visitors each year. It provides analysis, data, and editorial through a lens of peace, security and development.

UN AWARD

Institute for Economics & Peace Awarded 2024 United Nations Day Honour

IEP has been recognised for our pioneering work in peace research and its alignment with UN principles of universal peace and security. The United Nations Day Honour is a recognition awarded annually to individuals or organisations that exemplify the values and goals of the United Nations.

MULTILATERLISM INDEX

Participation in the Multilateral System Remains High as Performance Drops

The report reveals a contradiction: while participation in the multilateral system has largely held steady, its effectiveness in addressing global challenges has declined. The latest Multilateralism Index provides valuable insights into current global cooperation.