On 12 August 2016, the Rift Valley Forum hosted the launch of a report by the United States Institute of Peace (USIP) on Community Resilience to Violent Extremism. 

This new report, based on research conducted in collaboration with Sahan Africa, examines how violent extremism is spread through localized conflicts and how extremist groups manipulate grievances to mobilise support and gain traction. The international community and national governments have difficulty in responding to such small-scale and diverse conflicts. The study provides insights into these local conflict dynamics, and describes the strategies and actions taken by communities in Nairobi and Mombassa in preventing and managing violent extremism.

The report argues that identifying community capacities and their successful strategies for managing violence, can provide the evidence-base for targeted support to vulnerable communities and successful programmes to prevent violent extremism.
 

Moderator

Fauziya Ali
President, Women in International Security

Panelists

Rahim Muhammed
USIP

Matt Bryden
SAHAN Africa

Scofield Yoni Muliru
Researcher, Conflict/M&E Specialist

Andia Kisia
SAHAN Africa