Arcadia University, in conjunction with the East African Community (EAC) and the American Graduate School in Paris, France, collaboratively relaunched the Nyerere Centre for Peace Research (NCPR) on Feb. 6 in the United Republic of Tanzania. The Centre continues the vision of peace, freedom, unity, equality, and democratic transformation through education and community action of its namesake, Julius Nyerere.

The Centre, originally co-founded in 2006 following a grant approved by the University, is a joint effort that promotes a peaceful and prosperous East Africa and provides an academic resource to member states of the EAC: the Democratic Republic of the Congo, the United Republic of Tanzania, and the Republics of Kenya, Rwanda, South Sudan, Uganda, and Burundi.The Centre is located at “the Princess Margaret House,” a culturally historic building donated by the EAC and located at the site of their headquarters in Arusha.

The Centre is charged with providing research, training and online courses in peace and conflict resolution. NCPR is an international and regional resource for all members of the EAC, providing a hands-on academic resource to the members of the EAC through engagement in policy research and analysis, education and training programs to support decision makers, civil society organizations, and the community to build capacity and promote peaceful settlement of conflict. The Centre also supports connecting theory to practice through basic and applied research on issues relevant to peacebuilding and conflict resolution in the region and forums for dialogue on peace and conflict resolution.

Graduate students in the International Peace and Conflict Resolution (IPCR) program at Arcadia have the opportunity to study and work at the Centre. Additionally, the Centre will house academic programming, such as coursework leading to an MA in International Peace and Conflict Resolution and experiential learning opportunities, and host scholars conducting peace research. It will also serve as a neutral site for peace practitioners and negotiators from across the EAC.

Warren Haffar, PhD, director of the University’s IPCR program, Allyson McCreery, MA, associate director of IPCR, and Amy Widestrom, PhD,  associate professor of Politics & Government and chair of the Department of Historical & Political Studies at Arcadia, were in Tanzania with Hon. Dr. Peter Mathuki, Secretary General of the EAC, and Amb. Dr. Kipyego Cheluget, Executive Director of NCPR, for the ribbon-cutting ceremony.

“Since the re-launch on 6 February 2023, the Centre has become known to political leaders at the highest levels across the member nations of the EAC and Regional Ambassadors/ Diplomats,” said Dr. Widestrom. 

McCreery noted that “This is an incredible opportunity for students from IPCR, AGS, and EAC member states to collaborate on peace research and related academic pursuits.” 

Dr. Haffar highlighted that “of all fields of study, peace and conflict resolution is a precursor for all subsequent good to happen in our communities. The mix of programming at the Centre will help to ensure that the next generation of leaders has as much in their toolbox for peace as is generally the case for war.”  

IPCR is excited to be partnering with the EAC and AGS in Paris to train our next generation of peace practitioners and work to document and develop processes of peace in the region.

IPCR is a two-year MA program that combines one year of academic coursework with one year of field research and internships at institutions around the world, including the Nyerere Center for Peace Research. For more information on IPCR to apply to the program, please visit our website.