The general objective of the research support is geared towards understanding blockages to peace and specifically focuses on:

(i) Understanding why effective accountable and inclusive institutions have not been built in conflict-affected or post-conflict societies
(ii) Understanding the dynamics of blockages to peace construction with a primary focus on factors, actors, internal and external dynamics, including the reasons for not implementing peace deals
(iii) Examining factors that hinder peace at the local, national and regional levels. What these obstacles are, where they come from and how they can be overcome? Hence, the research aims to contrast the local and narratives of the factors that foster direct and structural violence
(iv) Establishing a post-conflict studies network comprised of universities in the network

The project aims to develop research capacity in all partner universities through supporting PhD students, and post-doc peace researchers in their research projects. To this end, the project will provide financial support and training that will help researchers improve their research capacities; create opportunities and platforms for researchers to expand their researches and networking through workshops aimed at strengthening skills and knowledge that enable researchers to disseminate research findings to continental and international audiences.

As such, the specific objectives of the project are to:

1. Strengthen the capacity of partner universities to effectively and efficiently support peace research in Africa
2. Supporting graduate students and researchers in their research efforts/projects
3. Facilitate opportunities and platforms for researchers to expand their research networks
4. Enhance knowledge sharing through dissemination of findings of undertaken research to different stakeholders.