Challenges in the design of a research and development programme on conflict and cooperation over natural resources - Conflicts Over Natural Resources in the Global South - page 203

of working along a linear process, replacing this instead with a process that starts with
stakeholder engagement, external communication, testing the first research questions
and developing visuals to raise awareness. and in doing so involving a broader set of
stakeholders in early stages of the project.
We conclude from the initial overview of progress made that the design of the
CoCooN programme, through its eight design principles, has already led to promising
signs of new types of internal project dynamics and new emerging forms of knowledge
management and research intertwined with development outputs. However, in this
initial phase, most project teams are still mainly inward-looking. Most attention goes
to issues such as team-building, internal communication, fine-tuning, and developing
joint research methodologies and tools.
The following can be highlighted as the main challenges that we see ahead:
1 Development of new research forms, especially short loops that provide knowledge
and respond to demands by policy-makers at a short notice
2 Developing research approaches that provide relevant development results (e.g.
by undertaking pilots, testing new practices, setting in place information systems,
etc.)
3 Flexible management of projects, in terms of research priorities (to respond
to new opportunities and changes in local demand) and management (internal
communication and additional funding)
4 Ways of improving engagement by policy levels and understanding the policy pro-
cesses that we aim to influence, both for more concrete demand articulation and
uptake of project results
5 Ways to develop wider communication and knowledge sharing (in a cost-efficient
way)
6 Internal learning linked to (results generated by a) cost-effective monitoring (both
on results and management processes)
7 Communication and stakeholder engagement that are not last steps in a linear
process of conducting research, but instead are cross-cutting issues within multiple
project loops.
We expect that sharing experiences and lessons learned, especially between and
beyond the projects, will be intensified in the near future. This will contribute to the
development of innovative knowledge, research and innovation approaches in this
difficult and delicate field of study.
REFERENCES
Frerks G. 2007. Linking Environment and Conflict Building Blocks for a Knowledge, Innova-
tion and Research Strategy. Prepared for the BuZa-NWO workshop on Conflict & Natural
Resources, The Hague - 3 October. NWO/WOTRO, The Hague, Netherlands.
Ministry of Foreign Affairs. 2006. Knowledge, Innovation and Research Strategy (KOS),
Environment, Water and Poverty Reduction. Ministry of Foreign Affairs, The Hague, the
Netherlands.
Netherlands Organisation for Scientific Research (NWO / WOTRO). 2006. WOTRO Strategy
Plan 2007-2010. NWO/WOTRO, the Hague, Netherlands.