A team of experts “gathered for a workshop that brought a number of renowned writers, professors, lecturers and human right activists from Rwanda, Kenya Burundi, Uganda and Tanzania” (the five member countries of the East African Commuinty) to Arusha, Tanzania, on May 6 -8 to develop a research Agenda for the Nyerere Centre for Peace Research through a consultative and collaborative approach, reports blogger Joseph Adero Ngala. The Centre was co-founded by Arcadia University and the East African Community.

“The Deputy Secretary General Political Federation Hon Beatrice Kiraso in her opening remarks welcomed the participants drowned from the East African countries. In her maiden speech she informed the workshops participants that the vision of East Africa Community is to have a peaceful, secure and politically united East Africa,” continues Ngala.

“She noted further that the Treaty underscores peace and security as pre-requisites to social and economic development within East Africa community and vital to the achievement of the objective of the community. She underlined the importance and relevance of peace and stability to all the four stages of integration and emphasized that without peace and stability, all the remarkable achievements of regional integration cannot be sustained. Kiraso informed the workshop that the overall objective of Nyerere centre for Peace Research (NCPR) is to provide the East African Community with relevant and timely research, training and information that contribute to deepening and widening of integration in areas of Peace and security, good Governance and foreign policy coordination.”

The Nyerere Centre for Peace Research is a joint effort of the East African Community (EAC) and Arcadia University that provides an academic resource to the member states of the EAC. Engaging in policy research and analysis, data collection and training, the Centre will support decision-makers, Civil Society Organisations and the community to build capacity and promote the peaceful settlement of conflict in the region. Projects and programmes link theory and practice and carry out basic and applied research on issues relevant to peace building and conflict resolution.