Activities

1 Networking visits

The co-directors and a representative from RVI will conduct reciprocal research networking visits to the UK and Kenya. During these visits, we will discuss the progress made by the network, present current research at the host institution; and meet with the wider team of network members and with relevant academics, practitioners and policymakers present in the country. During these visits, we will also develop concrete plans for future research collaboration particularly on collaborative research proposals. The programme of the visits will be prepared by the hosting institution in consultation with the visitors to ensure that the time is used effectively.

In addition, to maximise the engagement with other members of the network we cover the cost of hosting and visiting other members of the network. Preference for funding will be given to researchers from DAC countries and early career researchers and we will ensure adequate gender representation. These networking visits will aim to develop closer relationships between members of the network and sharing knowledge and skills. Applicants for this funding should submit a case for support to the network manager and co-directors and provide a report at the end of each visit. Benefits to DAC countries and tangible outputs and deliveries must be clear in these proposals.

2 Cross Regional Knowledge Sharing & Networking Engagement Event

We will organise a large networking research (travel permitting). The aim of this event is to bring stakeholders from the policy world and practitioners and academics together and to develop a relationship between the different partners, explore areas of common interests and discuss potential joint research collaboration and next steps. This will be done through an open a call for participation for this event among the network members and we will select the members to fund based on expertise, range of methods and level of engagement with the network. We will ensure gender representation and a balanced participation between participants from the Global South and Global North and the participation of early career researchers in this event. We are aiming to come up with concrete ideas on collaborative research funding proposals targeting particularly GCRF funding, sharing expertise on research methodologies and potential collaboration on research publications.

3 One two-day academic conference

This conference will be organised at the start of year two. The conference will bring together a range of academics, practitioners and policy makers to discuss the key themes on gender and responding to violent extremism. We will also encourage participation of PhD students and early career researchers in the conference and will ensure gender equitable representation in the conference. Selected articles from the conference will be published in two special issues.

4 Roundtables

A minimum of ten roundtables will be organised by RVI and USIU in Nairobi, Leeds University in the UK and by other network members’. The roundtables will involve local organisations, academic researchers and policymakers. The roundtables will be live streamed and/or podcasted on our website. Network members from the global south may apply for reasonable funding support towards the cost of hosting a roundtable.

5 A Project Bulletin

A regular bi -monthly ‘Bulletin’ – facility for network members to share and exchange information on meetings, funding calls, recent publications, call for papers, on-going research, job opportunities, and relevant events, managed by RVI, will be sent to our mailing list.

6 A Webinar Series

The project will deliver a series of webinars arranged as a regular event using the Zoom webinar platform or other institutionally available webinar platforms. The use of webinars will allow for discussion, debates and sharing knowledge between the different network members and participants located across the globe. We will also use the webinar as a training and learning tool to facilitate knowledge exchange in terms of research methods and skills and to increase the capacity of researchers from the global south and early career researchers to apply for research funding and to publish in academic journals.