SHALOM-SCCRR DEPARTMENT OF RESEARCH.
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INTRODUCTION
Shalom-SCCRR’s peacebuilding and development work is always informed by rigorous empirical research on the dynamics of inter-communal (ethnic and religious) conflicts in the IGAD region. The organization has conducted research on the underlying-root causes of conflicts across 21 communities engaged in inter-communal conflict in Eastern Africa. In order to keep on updating the existing stock of knowledge in regards to the changing trends of conflicts, and, adjusting its intervention strategies in program areas, Shalom-SCCRR is continuously conducting research on the various dimensions of these conflicts. The organization’s guiding principle in this regards is that “conflict transformation and peacebuilding work cannot bear the desired impact without having credible and verifiable data/information about the conflict environment to be transformed.” For Shalom-SCCRR, research and intervention in peacebuilding processes are two critical sides of the same coin.
Herein are a sample of eleven (11) papers depicting disaggregation of Shalom-SCCRR’s peacebuilding and development interventions in the cycles of inter-communal and inter-group conflicts in rural hinterlands and urban areas in the IGAD region. The first (1) paper depicts intergroup conflict driven by urban political economy’s elites seizing upon ignorance together with pervasive lack of decent livelihoods on the part of settlements, and manipulating them to achieve or advance their self-interested goals. The second (2) paper takes a look at the apparent atrophying of traditional (indigenous) mechanisms of conflict management. The third (3) paper considers the impact of attacks and counter attacks –that is, revenge conflict– on the lives of antagonistic parties.
The fourth (4) paper points out the limitation of multi-stakeholder approach to managing inter-communal conflict stemming from disputed ownership/control of natural resources. The seventh (7) and tenth (10) papers give the reader exposure to the dynamics of inter-communal conflicts over agricultural land, the ownership of which is a historical function of government’s flawed land policy practices. Paper number nine (9) considers peripheralization of inter-communal social cohesion, yet it is one of the important values which are functional for peacebuilding.
Today in governments’ circles, academicia, and some civil society organizations, climate change is undoubtedly a topical issue. Peacebuilding and development projects – Shalom-SCCRR’s work included – cannot change climate; even as it cannot be denied that some human activities have consequences which affect climate. What the projects can change are the effects of climate. Paper number (5) addresses Shalom-SCCRR’s proposed strategy of contributing to addressing one of the effects of climate change, namely building the Sahel Great Green Wall to stop the Sahel Desert from moving southwards. The ever fluctuating water levels in Lake Turkana is partly an effect of climate change. The dynamics in regards to climate change and inter-communal conflict are given in paper number eleven (11). Paper number six (6) and number (8) are similar in their thrust. The former gives stakeholders’ contribution to peacebuilding process that is, ceasing of manifest violence through negative peace to positive peace, while the latter exemplifies actual (on-the-ground) initiatives and activities of bringing about positive peace by Shalom-SCCRR.
By Prof. Wanakayi K. Omoka, PhD,
Shalom-SCCRR’s Director of Research.
SEE LINKS BELOW FOR CONFLICT BRIEFS
CONFLICT ENVIRONMENTS – EASTERN AFRICA
Briefing Paper No. 1:
A Conflict Analysis of Nairobi’s Informal Settlements
TITLE:
YOUTH AND LOCAL LEADERS CONFLICT IN NAIROBI’S INFORMAL SETTLEMENTS: AN ANALYSIS OF THE ROLE PLAYED BY UNEQUAL ACCESS TO OPPORTUNITIES AND EXISTING MITIGATION MEASURES
Link: https://shalomconflictcenter.org/briefing-paper-no-1/
Briefing Paper No. 2:
An Analysis of Turkana-Dassenach Conflict
TITLE:
DIMINISHING ROLE OF TRADITIONAL MECHANISMS IN THE MANAGEMENT OF PASTORALIST CONFLICT: AN ANALYSIS OF THE TURKANA DASSENACH CONFLICT
Link: Briefing Paper No 2: An Analysis of Turkana Dassenach Conflict
Briefing Paper No. 3:
An Analysis of Samburu-Gabra Conflict
TITLE:
IMPACT OF PERSISTENT ATTACKS ON INTER-COMMUNAL RELATIONS IN PASTORALIST COMMUNITIES IN KENYA: AN ANALYSIS OF SAMBURU-GABRA CONFLICT
Link: Briefing Paper No 3: An Analysis of Samburu-Gabbra Conflict
Briefing Paper No 4:
An Analysis of Turkana-Pokot Conflict
TITLE:
MULTI-STAKEHOLDER APPROACH IN THE MANAGEMENT OF NATURAL RESOURCE-BASED INTER-COMMUNAL CONFLICT ALONG TURKANA-WEST POKOT BORDERLINE: THE MISSING LINK
Link: Briefing Paper No 4: An Analysis of Turkana-Pokot Conflict
Briefing Paper No. 7:
An Analysis of Luo-Nandi Conflict, Kenya
TITLE:
PERSISTENT INTER-ETHNIC HOSTILITY AND ITS IMPACT ON SOCIO-ECONOMIC LIVELIHOOD ALONG KISUMU-NANDI BORDERLINE
Link: Briefing Paper No. 7: An Analysis of Luo-Nandi Conflict, Kenya
Briefing Paper No. 10:
An Analysis of the Land and Boundary Related Disputes in Nakuru County
TITLE:
AN ANALYSIS OF THE LAND AND BOUNDARY RELATED DISPUTES IN NAKURU COUNTY
Link: BRIEFING PAPER NO. 10: AN ANALYSIS OF THE LAND AND BOUNDARY RELATED DISPUTES IN NAKURU COUNTY
Briefing Paper No. 9:
An Analysis of Turkana-Samburu Conflict
TITLE:
AN ASSESSMENT OF INTER-COMMUNAL COHESION: AN ANALYSIS OF TURKANA-SAMBURU CONFLICT
Link: Briefing Paper No. 9: An Analysis of Turkana-Samburu Conflict
Briefing Paper No. 5:
A Proposal by Shalom-SCCRR for Conflict Transformation around the Building of the Sahel Great Green Wall
TITLE:
BUILDING THE SAHEL GREAT GREEN WALL IN THE FACE OF LOCALIZED/CROSS-BORDER CONFLICT: HOW SHALOM-SCCRR’s PEACEBUILDING METHODOLOGY CAN BEAR ON THE CONFLICT
Briefing Paper No. 11:
Climate Change, Lake Turkana and Inter-Communal Conflicts in the Ilemi Triangle Region
TITLE:
CLIMATE CHANGE, LAKE TURKANA AND INTER-COMMUNAL CONFLICTS IN THE ILEMI TRIANGLE REGION: A CRITICAL ANALYSIS
Briefing Paper No. 6:
Shalom-SCCRR’s Approach for Stakeholder Engagement in Eastern Africa Region
TITLE:
SHALOM-SCCRR’s APPROACH FOR STAKEHOLDER ENGAGEMENT CONTRIBUTING TO CONFLICT TRANSFORMATION AND PEACEBUILDING PROCESSES IN EASTERN AFRICA REGION
Link: Briefing Paper No. 6: SHALOM-SCCRR’s APPROACH FOR STAKEHOLDER ENGAGEMENT IN EASTERN AFRICA REGION.
Briefing Paper No. 8:
Shalom-SCCRR Contributing to Post-Conflict Reconstruction in South Sudan and Sudan
TITLE:
SHALOM-SCCRR CONTRIBUTING TO POST-CONFLICT RECONSTRUCTION IN SOUTH SUDAN AND SUDAN THROUGH CONFLICT TRANSFORMATION ADVOCACY AND EDUCATIONAL DEVELOPMENT PROJECTS
