Networked Research

Decolonising Peace Education in Africa for locally contextualised knowledge and values 

Research Aims 

DEPA, through a combination of multi-disciplinary international collaboration and participatory design processes, is widening access to quality peace education, enabling groups on either side of conflict to explore local knowledge and values of peace. It is also enhancing the role of education in building future peace by connecting and comparing findings from different partners and country contexts and creating education resources that a diverse range of organizations from international agencies, governments, civil society, and academia can use to support and complement peace education curricula. Ultimately, the project is developing context-sensitive pedagogic content and delivery design to enable peace educators for use among individuals aged 16-35. 

Research Objectives 

Networking  

• To build interdisciplinary research capacity at scale across a range of ODA recipient countries by producing high-quality research outputs, engagement events and teaching materials 
• Four Proof of Concept projects have scoped the validity of Arts and Humanities methodologies in societies facing conflict 
• Building on existing knowledge in partner countries 
• Fostering knowledge exchange and developing partnerships. 
   

Research design and data collection 

Through processes of co-design and co-production, the DEPA project is: 

• Establishing a network of researchers across Africa to refine a conceptual and methodological framework that explores the meanings and mechanisms of peace in different contexts 
• Completing Proof-of-Concept projects in each of the partner countries using Arts and Humanities methods to learn from local peace practices 
• Developing teaching materials that can be used in peace education across Africa 
• Connecting and comparing these projects, methodologies, and outcomes across partner countries 
• Drawing lessons to improve understanding intersectionality of conflict across different contexts 
   

Providing funding based on DEPA interest 

The success of the initial Proof-of-Concept projects paved the way for additional funding through the Network Plus Awards, allowing the DEPA project to extend its geographical and methodological reach by awarding funding to further projects across Africa based on DEPA interest. 

More details about all DEPA projects can be found on the Projects Page