Reconciliation in Progress Methodology and Initial Findings from a Project to Map and Analyze Reconciliation Programming

Reconciliation in Progress Methodology and Initial Findings from a Project to Map and Analyze Reconciliation Programming

Wednesday, March 4th
2:00pm - 3:30 
Conference Room 5183 

Please join us for a presentation and panel discussion on this project, what it aims to achieve, its methodology, and preliminary findings, and how they might inform the work of the peacebuilding community. Presentation by Lili Cole, Senior Program Officer and Director of the Reconciliation Research Strand at the US Institute of Peace’s Center for Applied Research on Conflict and Kelly McKone, Research Consultant of the Reconciliation Research Strand at the US Institute of Peace’s Center for Applied Research on Conflict. George Mason University School for Conflict Analysis and Resolution Professors Sara Cobb, Karina Korostelina and Leslie Dwyer will respond to the presentation. 

About the project:

Finding the strategies needed to overcome the enormous obstacles on the path of reconciliation will require concerted, coordinated efforts by individuals, non-governmental organizations, and governments to critically assess efforts aimed at mending the social fabric of war-torn societies. However, before looking for the next steps, it is important to step back and assess what work is currently being done, how reconciliation is being conceptualized, and, where possible, how organizations are measuring the impact of their work. To fill this critical knowledge gap, the Center for Applied Research on Conflict (ARC) at the United States Institute of Peace (USIP) is spearheading a project mapping initiative to provide a snapshot of the work being done on reconciliation around the world and to offer guidance on the direction of the next steps to bridging theory with practice. Research questions: How are organizations conceptualizing “reconciliation”? What strategies are organizations using to promote reconciliation? What are the theories of change underpinning the different program intervention strategies? How are organizations measuring their success? We welcome feedback to help inform the project report that Kelly McKone is currently writing, as well as ideas on where the project can lead in terms of future applied research and engagement with practitioners.