Increasing the Size of the Pie

“Increasing the size of the pie” is the idea of expanding the available resources or options for all parties involved in a conflict, rather than simply trying to divide up an existing, fixed set of resources or land.

In other words, increasing the size of the pie means finding ways to create new opportunities, resources, or benefits that can be shared by all parties in a conflict, rather than focusing solely on dividing up existing resources in a way that may satisfy some parties but not others.

For instance where herders and farmers have different claims to use the same piece of land and water sources for their crops and seasonal herd movements this can create issues.

The idea of increasing the size of the pie can help to shift the focus away from zero-sum thinking- that one party's gain must come at the expense of another's loss. Instead, we can actually help to grow the slice of the pie so that everyone benefits and there is motivation to collaborate.

For instance:

• Negotiating access to infrastructure like water points and markets mean more produce and more opportunities to exchange different goods between the different groups so they can get more money for their produce and reduce wastage.

• Besides making everyone wealthier, these infrastructure points offer common meeting grounds between groups, increasing interactions and communication between them helping to further reduce conflicts.

• Advisory groups can help farmers and herders to agree migration routes that work for everyone, avoiding damaging farmers' crops while ensuring herders' animals have access to water points. This way they have more produce to sell when it comes to the market.

• Another indirect way conflict resolution can grow the size of the pie is by opening up the area to development assistance from international groups and governments.

Overall, increasing the size of the pie can be a useful tool for conflict resolution and peacebuilding, as it encourages parties to think creatively and work together to find solutions that benefit everyone involved.