As part of the process of developing the CSC manual, the techniques and approaches outlined in the draft are being tested for a variety of conflict settings and scenarios in the Virunga-Queen Elizabeth protected area complex. [...] However, due to limited resources, it is also important that this analysis is focused on priority conflicts of significance to the people living in the target ecosystem and of relevance to achieving the long-term conservation objectives of the organisation. [...] In some cases, the escalation or exacerbation of a conflict is no longer attributable to the original cause but to the inter-party conflicts and the “war economies” that has subsequently emerged and generated a life of their own. [...] This important dimension of the conflict analysis was done in three stages; firstly, each working group identified the parties involved in the specific conflict scenario, secondly, the relationships between these parties were mapped out, and finally, the capacities of the key parties in the conflict were characterised. [...] Firstly, the identification of common interests, fears, and needs between the parties; secondly, the identification of existing resources and capacities that can be built upon to address the conflict; and finally, the missing capacities that CARE REPA might be in a position to strengthen.