A Novel Framework for Measuring Peacebuilding Co-Benefits from Sustainable Production Systems in Conflict-Affected Areas

The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) 6th assessment report affirms that actions to reduce greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions have great potential to enhance peacebuilding outcomes. Yet, there is no agreed theoretical framework to assess how sustainable land-use systems, such as cocoa agroforestry systems, might influence peacebuilding and climate-change mitigation. To fill this research gap, this paper proposes an assessment framework that incorporates climate action and peacebuilding agendas to evaluate the contributions of cocoa production systems in concrete case studies. We surveyed a sample of 922 smallholder cocoa producers located in territories affected by armed conflict in Colombia. By using principal components analysis (PCA) and a hierarchical clustering of principle components (HCPC), we categorized them on typologies based on their socioeconomic characteristics and agricultural management strategies. We operationalized the framework using indicators from the survey to analyze the variations among typologies. Our results suggest that sustainable cocoa production systems, i.e., agroforestry implemented with organic fertilization, along with prescribed post-harvest practices and irrigation, positively influence (1) agricultural production through increased yields and (2) peacebuilding through reduced conflict over the use of natural resources and the creation of spaces for cooperation and dialogue, which is consistent with public policies promoted in Colombia.