UK and Colombian researchers working together for sustainable peace

12 Nov 2018 12:23 PM

Ten new research projects announced by UK Research and Innovation (UKRI) will address issues facing Colombia’s transition from conflict to peace.

Areas of focus include:

• How to ensure the participation of vulnerable and marginalised groups so their interests and abilities are represented, and that they can influence the country’s development
• How to ensure reconciliation between previously conflicting elements of society
• Exploring the role of education in developing entrepreneurial capacity, skills and creativity for all age-groups in a post conflict landscape 

The projects, launched by UKRI in partnership with Colombia’s Administrative Department of Science, Technology and Innovation (Colciencias) has been funded with £2.8 million through the Newton Fund. UK researchers will collaborate with colleagues in Colombia on projects designed to promote peaceful and inclusive societies for sustainable development using the arts, humanities and social sciences.

Professor Andrew Thompson, UKRI Champion for International and Executive Chair of the Arts and Humanities Research Council (AHRC), said: "These projects will contribute to a more just and peaceful world, enabling us to assess the causes and effects of long term conflict and promote sustainable development by starting a dialogue based on understanding and respect. It is heartening to see, in the Colombian context, research projects that take fresh approaches to tackling development challenges. As well as being insightful in themselves, I hope they will also open up new corridors of research practice within the arts, humanities, and social sciences."

Dr Eduardo Rojas Pineda, Colciencias Director of Research Development, said: "This initiative promotes the consolidation of a scientific community across different research areas and the promotion of the transference of knowledge in ways that will contribute to the economic and social development of Colombia in collaboration with UKRI. These are internationally competitive, transformative and high-quality collaborative projects which address a broad range of areas related to peace transitions in Colombia."

The new projects, being led by UKRI's AHRC and Economic and Social Research Council, address a broad range of areas relating to post-conflict transitions in Colombia.

The partnership is an example of UKRI's vision that international collaboration is key to ensuring world-leading research and development, and global challenges require global solutions, across nations and disciplines. Find out more about our international work by following the hashtag #UKRIGlobal on Twitter.

For more information on the projects, see the UKRI website.