ECCP: Policy meetings, USAID debrief, and art event next week
Some dates for your calendar + a roundup of helpful resources
Dear Colleagues,
It feels a bit unnatural to start emails this month with “I hope this email finds you well,” given everything going on. Nonetheless, I genuinely do hope this email finds you well or OK.
I’m writing today with a number of invitations to upcoming discussions, as well as some relevant and timely resources. Before I start, a few reminders:
We are working on mapping out the community. It would be so helpful to have a current snapshot of where community members are based, the types of sectors they are working in, and the expertise they hold. Can you give us 5 minutes of your time to fill in this brief survey? The deadline for the survey has been extended to this Friday 21 February 2025.
Nous sommes en train de dresser la carte des membres de la communauté selon leur expertise et localisation. Nous avons besoin de 3 à 5 minutes de votre temps pour nous parler de vous ! Merci de répondre à cette enquête avant le 21 février : https://forms.gle/E18L8Ezam7U27JSz7
Our next ECCP Monthly Meeting will be held next week on Tuesday 25 February at 14h CET on zoom. You’ll find the zoom link on our 2025 Activities page at the bottom with the calendar: https://www.ecosystemforpeace.org/2025.
Come to the ECCP’s first-ever online Arty Party.
We will have the first-ever online ECCP Arty Party next week on Tuesday 25 February from 18-19h30pm CET. It'll be an open and warm space to share art that inspires you, and make art together, and laugh a lot. Whether you'd like to experience the art or contribute to the Community Sharing Space, you are most welcome.
You’ll find the zoom link on our 2025 Activities page at the bottom with the calendar: https://www.ecosystemforpeace.org/2025.
Our policy working groups are kicking off.
This year, we’re starting the year with three policy working groups. Our working groups are open, so please feel free to come and go as you are able.
Our Peace@COP30 (climate change) and Peace@CBD/WCC (biodiversity) policy working groups will come together on Thursday 27 February at 15h CET for a joint reflection space to debrief COP29, COP16, and where they converge/diverge. From that meeting, the two policy working groups will split back into individual meetings from March onwards.
Note: Both groups have an individual sub-mailing-list where more detailed information is regularly shared. You can sign up here: Peace@COP30 and Peace@CBD/WCC.
In case you missed it, ECCP members Sudha Kottillil and Shruthi Kottillil, Global Youth Biodiversity Network (GYBN) and Natalia Chan, Saferworld wrote a very helpful piece in October 2024: COP16 and COP29: Opportunities to address intersecting crises with a peace-responsive lens. If you're aware of other pieces that address conflict / peace in both processes, let me know! I'll be glad to circulate.
Finally, our new Climate and Security policy working group met for the first time last week. (Notes linked here.) The group is exploring where to start their collaboration, and interested individuals are encouraged to complete this poll by Friday 21 February. You can also sign up for the sub-mailing-list here.
We also have two active discussion groups: a debrief space on the USAID changes & a decolonization discussion group.
We also have two discussion groups on topics not directly linked to policy processes.
We had an initial debrief space on the USAID changes (no notes available) exactly one week ago. Many who attended that meeting have requested a second session, which we will hold on Monday 24 February from 15h30-17h CET. You’ll find the zoom link on our 2025 Activities page at the bottom with the calendar: https://www.ecosystemforpeace.org/2025.
In particular, the group would love to explore (1) coping strategies from local, national, and international actors, and (2) models of solidarity, whether structural or related to funding. A community member shared this helpful Q&A on USAID itself.
On a related note, CEOBS and EnPax are hosting ‘Reflections on the new and evolving paradigm of the humanitarian-environmental sector’, an online event on Monday 10 March at 16h CET. Ahead of the event they are requesting those in the sector to fill in a questionnaire to capture the current state of play.
Finally, if you attended our ECCP debrief last week, please take a moment to give feedback on the structure so that we can better meet your needs next week!
Separately, our community also has an active discussion group on decolonization. Notes from the February meeting are linked here, and the next discussion will be held on Monday 3 March at 15h CET. The group has opted to take a learning stance over the coming weeks, digging into different resources and building a solid foundation of understanding. You’ll find the zoom link on our 2025 Activities page at the bottom with the calendar: https://www.ecosystemforpeace.org/2025.
Here are some resources that might interest you.
As usual, please send in any relevant resources that you’d like shared across the community! This week, we had:
MEL resource: If you’re trying to figure out ways to measure peace and well-being, you may be inspired by this resource from the UC Possibility Lab. (linked here)
Opinion: Why conflict mineral narratives don’t explain the M23 rebellion in DR Congo (linked here)
Microgrant: Peace Starts Here microgrant opportunity - deadline extended to 28 February (linked here)
Report: Nature-based Solutions for Peace: Emerging Practice and Options for Policymakers (linked here)
Job: GPPAC is looking for a Climate-Sensitive Peacebuilding Project Coordinator to join them in The Hague - deadline 28 February (linked here)
Publication: Women’s Civil Society Organizations: Key Partners for Gender-Transformative Disaster Response (linked here)
Training: The Summer School in Water Governance: Framework and Negotiations will be held in Geneva this June/July - application deadline 28 February (linked here)
That wraps things up for us this week. As usual, if you have ideas, questions, or requests, please don’t hesitate to be in touch with me at aericksonpearson@gmail.com!
I look forward to seeing some of you online next week, and in the meantime, encourage you to keep taking care of yourselves and one another.
With my warmest wishes,
Annika