Ownership and inequalities: exploring UNEP’s Environmental Cooperation for Peacebuilding Program

Abstract The question of ownership—that is, who is included and excluded from policy processes—has become one the most pressing issues in global discourse on peace conflict. While research shows that inclusion domestic actors critical to success, broader international processes often neglect these actors. Focused environmental peacebuilding—the sustainable management natural resources post-conflict settings—as an emerging area, this article employs qualitative content analysis (QCA) study four core reports United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP)’s Environmental Cooperation for Peacebuilding (2008–2015). results reveal framing peacebuilding documents contributes power inequalities being reinforced. reports’ language suggests that, overall, UNEP favors ownership peacebuilding. By contrast, local actors—both state non-state—appear be considered a risk context resource management. This discusses implications lack practice.