Climate Change and P/CVE (Preventing and Countering Violent Extremism) Policy: Strengthening Knowledge Systems in Kenya and Beyond
Funder
British Academy
Project Team
Total value of project
£149,828
Collaborators
Coventry University (Lead)
Fathima Azmiya Badurdeen, Technical University Mombasa
Wilson Ndenyele, Technical University Mombasa
Duration
31 March 2025-31 March 2026
Project Overview
In Kenya, as in many ODA countries, climate change and violent extremism (VE) are pressing societal challenges. There is growing consensus concerning the need for policy and practice to reflect the intersection between the two: climate change worsens security issues including VE, while VE hinders efforts to address climate change. However, efforts to make P/CVE climate-sensitive and climate policy VE-sensitive have been limited.
This project aims to bridge this gap and address the challenge of bringing evidence from the two fields together by co-designing a pilot policy and research process to strengthen knowledge systems in both fields.
The process includes four phases: 1) exploring policymakers' understanding and evidence needs through policy workshops and an online international survey, 2) piloting research in Kenya informed by Phase 1 to bridge evidence gaps, 3) presenting findings and co-designing with policymakers next steps towards an integrated policy and evidence approach, and 4) generating written outputs and working with international policymakers to assess broader applicability and replicability.
Project Objectives
The project has four objectives:
- To co-ordinate a policy-dialogue process, with sub-national/national P/CVE and climate adaptation policymakers, to understand the evidence requirements for climate sensitive P/CVE and VE-sensitive climate policy, and develop a research and engagement strategy tailored to those requirements.
- To deliver a pilot research and engagement project based on the above strategy.
- To co-design with policy stakeholders an outline of ‘next steps’ towards integrated P/CVE and climate adaptation policy, critically reflecting on the research evidence and engagement process.
- To examine the applicability and replicability of this approach beyond Kenya through consultation with a global network of policymakers.
Impact statement
The project will: (1) advance theoretical and practical understanding of how to foster evidence-informed policy planning that spans discrete but intersecting policy fields; and (2) advance the state-of-the-art in the policy fields of P/CVE and climate adaptation within Kenya and beyond.
