Limpopo case: the role of research in conflict over natural resources; informing resettlement negotiations in Limpopo National Park, Mozambique

Abstract

Working in a tense political climate with a village to be resettled from a national park in Mozambique, this research looked for a way to be relevant to the complex situation at hand. The objective of the research at the outset was to improve post-resettlement food security. While intending to carry out a formal cycle of action research focused on agricultural practices, the research found its niche in contributing to negotiations of post-resettlement conditions between park staff and village residents. Working interactively with multiple actors, the researcher inquired about and presented information that could increase leverage in negotiations for the village residents while maintaining a balanced perspective about the challenges and limitations encountered by other actors in the process. Although the tangible influence of the research on the outcome of negotiations was subtle, we believe that untraceable consequences may have been more profound. Lessons learned include firstly, an understanding that the process of research can potentially contribute more to problemsolving than polished research results. This potential contribution is dependent on investing in relationships with key actors and being present to witness, document, inquire about and support the process as opportunities arise. Secondly, our experience suggests that research is more likely to bring about change if it is explicitly socially-engaged, interdisciplinary, well-grounded with actors on multiple levels and coupled with information intermediation. Finally, in the type of conflictive context common in landscape development, we suggest that the role of the researcher differs from that in a non-conflictive setting. In the context of conflict, the potential for the researcher to contribute to social change hinges on managing a balancing act between actors in conflict and the researcher, tailoring the research to the people, culture and specificities of each situation, and exploring creative modes of interaction.