News and Events – Welcome to the Official IRDP website

IRDP work on youth volunteerism engagement

Emmanuel — Thu, 28 May 2020 14:25:03 +0000

The Institute of Research and Dialogue for Peace (IRDP) as a peace building channel, has always been driven by a high passion to educate and involve youth as a future country leading generation in every possible sector but most especially creating in them a spirit of volunteerism.

Rwanda just as other developing African countries is still progressing in finding solutions of different problems such as illiteracy, poverty, malnutrition, education problems, gender-based problems…

Youth being the highest percentage of the total population of Rwanda, it is very important that to assure a better improved standardized future youth have to take action in the development of the country and in solving the problems the country is still facing with.

IRDP has been working with the government, other non-governmental associations and on its own to facilitate and engage young people in volunteerism through dialogues, trainings, field works and community services.

IRDP YOUTH CLUB VOLUNTEERING IN COMMUNITY SERVICE TO CONSTRUCT A HOUSE OF A VULNERABLE CITIZEN

After being given a training, IRDP Youth club based at the University of Rwanda in Huye started volunteerism activities in Huye district where they construct houses for vulnerable citizens, educating street children through arts and theater.

IRDP Director Dr Eric Ndushabandi Educating youth on their expected role in peace building and Volunteerism during an Art Dialogue organized by Ndabaga Impact

YOUTH VOLUNTEERISM DIALOGUE ORGANISED BY IRDP

During this dialogue, Youth were talked o their expected role in civic engagement and spirit of volunteerism and they were given an opportunity to share their ideas and ask questions.

After this training, the trained group is now active in their communities engaging themselves in different Volunteering activities such as country communal works, volunteering in teaching illiterate citizens how to read …

Kigali Debate on Decentralization, Local Engagement and Citizen Participation

Emmanuel — Tue, 03 Mar 2020 10:09:40 +0000

The Institute of Research and Dialogue for Peace(IRDP), with Friendrich-Ebert-Stiftung Rwanda (FES) On this Thursday, 27^th of February 2020,from 11am-2pm / at IRDP Office, held the second debate on the topic: ”decentralization, local engagement and citizen participation:which role can civil society organizations (CSOs) play ensure inclusive development.

IRDP and FES together invited members of parliament, MINALOC, Civil Society Organizations(e.g. Transparency International, Rwanda Women’s Network etc) Academia’s, youth activists, NGOs, Experts and Media to discuss this topic.

IRDP

At the beginning of the event,in his presentation, the director general in charge of territorial administration and good governance, MINALOC, Bob Gakire, explained the Rwandan decentralization policy in general and how the Rwandan administration was involved through different stages. he gave different examples of the various reconstruction of provinces, districts, sectors and cells which already happened in Rwanda to improve civic engagement,democratic elections, community participation,performance in service delivery and accountability.

The Director General in charge of territorial administration and good governance, MINALOC, Bob Gakire

With the collaboration of the local government, civil society organizations and community members, were working together to use all available economic opportunities from the local level to contribute to the local economic development.

The discussant, Dr Peter J. Mugume, Lecturer, researcher and coordinator at the center for conflict management of the University of Rwanda, he highlighted decentralization as a multi faced policy to achieve economic development, service delivery, implementation of other policies from the central government to local government.

The discussant, Dr Peter J.Mugume, Lecturer, researcher and coordinator at the center for conflict management of the University of Rwanda

The audience were recommending that IRDP and FES has to expand dialogues to engage more people,to continue supporting CSO, to recognize the CSO work and their contribution to the development,to involve the CSOs in consultations at district level.

IRDP

Healing Our Communities: Promoting Social Cohesion in Rwanda,FINAL REPORT October 2019

Emmanuel — Mon, 17 Feb 2020 09:28:04 +0000

Healing Our Communities: Promoting Social Cohesion in Rwanda was carried out by a partnership
of Karuna Center for Peacebuilding, Aegis Trust, Healing and Rebuilding Our Communities, and
Institute of Research for Dialogue and Peace.
This “People to People” reconciliation activity was funded through USAID’s Conflict Mitigation
and Reconciliation Programs and Activities (Global Reconciliation Fund). The original period of
performance was July 14, 2016 through July 13, 2018. USAID generously offered a cost extension
for a third year, with some activities modifications, and subsequently granted a no-cost
extension, bringing the project closing date to October 31, 2019.
The project was active in Western, Southern, Northern, and Eastern provinces. It took place in 16
communities within Nyamasheke, Karongi, Rubavu, Gisagara, Gakenke, Gicumbi, Kirehe, and
Bugesera Districts.

Healing-Our-Communities-Final-Report

Mobile Arts for Peace (MAP) Concept Note

Emmanuel — Tue, 05 Mar 2019 17:37:42 +0000

MAP is a practice-as-research project supported by the Global Challenges Research Fund (GCRF) through the Arts and Humanities Research Council (AHRC) as part of a larger project entitled Changing the Story: Building Inclusive Societies with and for Young People in 5 Post-Conflict Countries. The aim of MAP is to work with young people, educators, cultural artists and civil society organisations to inform the National Curriculum Framework in Music, Dance and Drama in Rwanda. Championed by Dr. Eric Ndushabandi from the Institute of Research and Dialogue for Peace and Dr. Ananda Breed from the University of Lincoln, MAP is working alongside partners including the Rwanda Education Board, Aegis Trust, Kwetu Film Institute, Sana Initiative, and Hope and Homes for Children to design and deliver project activities. MAP activities include a curriculum workshop with cultural artists to inform the methodology, a training of trainers with educators to adapt the methodology to local and regional contexts, and a youth camp to train young people as facilitators and to work alongside the adult educators to develop drama clubs and to integrate the methodology into schools. In 2018, MAP was launched in the Eastern Province of Rwanda working with five schools, ten cultural organisations, twenty-five educators, and ten young people to design and deliver the MAP methodology. Following the training events, youth and adult trainers extended the training to an additional 62 educators and 526 young people. Due to follow on impact funding through the AHRC follow on impact fund, MAP will extend to the other four out of five provinces in 2019 with an anticipated reach to 25 additional schools, 100 educators and 40 youth facilitators who will train an estimated additional 250 educators and 2,000 young people; potentially reaching thousands more through curriculum resources.

Monitoring and evaluation through surveys, participatory observation and interviews with participants and stakeholders has evidenced that MAP: a) significantly contributed to learning processes; b) empowered adult and youth trainers with public speaking skills; c) increased the academic performance of students; d) improved communication and relations between students and parents; and e) enabled participants to identify and address community-based issues.

MAP provides training and skill building in Music, Dance and Drama alongside the development of safe, inclusive and progressive spaces for dialogue, active listening, and shared problem solving for peacebuilding. We are working directly with Sana Initiative to integrate mental health awareness and support during all activities. The partnership and co-investigation with IRDP will provide a link between the drama clubs and school initiatives with community-based dialogue groups.

MORE: Concept Note MAP (AB 21 2 19)

Mobile Arts For Peace – Stakeholder Meeting

Emmanuel — Tue, 05 Mar 2019 17:25:00 +0000

Mobile Arts For Peace – Stakeholder Meeting (Download PDF)

MAP Stakeholder pict

Intrafamily conflicts (2)

Emmanuel — Mon, 04 Feb 2019 13:46:24 +0000

Intrafamily conflicts (2)

CROP INTENSIFICATION PROGRAM (CIP) CITIZEN’S SATISFACTION SURVEY – 2018

Emmanuel — Mon, 04 Feb 2019 13:24:39 +0000

CROP INTENSIFICATION PROGRAM (CIP) CITIZEN’SSATISFACTION SURVEY – 2018 (Downloadable PDF File)

CROP INTENSIFICATION PROGRAMME (CIP) SATISFACTION SURVEY-2017

research — Fri, 07 Sep 2018 16:06:38 +0000

Rwanda remains a largely agricultural country, and agriculture remains the backbone of the Rwandan economy (MINAGRI, 2006). Agriculture in Rwanda is the main economic activity as it provides employment to about 72% of the labor force, contributes to about 33% of the Gross Domestic Product (GDP), meets 90% of the national food needs, and generates more than 70% of the country’s export revenues (Bizoza, 2015). About 81 % of all households in the country depend on agriculture. Rural areas accommodate nearly 83 % of all households in the country, and 87% of rural households depend on agriculture (NISR, 2014). In addition to this, the majority of those households practice subsistence agriculture. Rwandan agriculture is mainly based on small-scale family farming units (with an average plot size of 0.75 hectares), concentrating their activities on production for household consumption and local market exchange (Ansoms, 2010). Given the importance of the agricultural sector and the specific challenges it faces, the GOR undertook important reforms and put in place important policies and programs since the beginning of this decade. These included those related to the land use and management, such as, the National Land Policy, the Land law, and related programs and strategies.

This document reports the findings of a study commissioned by the Institute of Research and Dialogue for Peace (IRDP), under the auspices of programme objectives in contributing to the Rwandan objective of promoting citizens’ participation and accountable governance, with the financial support of Ikiraro Cy’Iterambere Project.

CROP INTENSIFICATION PROGRAMME (CIP) SATISFACTION SURVEY-2017

Partenariat entre IRDP et Université Saint-Louis – Bruxelles (USL-B)

research — Fri, 04 May 2018 19:23:23 +0000

Ce jeudi 3 mai, Dr. Eric Ndushabandi, Directeur de l’Institut de Recherche et de Dialogue pour la Paix à Kigali (Rwanda) (IRDP), et Dr. Bertrand Hamaide, Vice-Recteur aux Relations internationales de l’Université Saint-Louis – Bruxelles (USL-B), ont signé un accord de coopération entre les deux institutions.

Cet accord vise à établir une coopération institutionnelle dans les domaines de l’enseignement et de la recherche scientifique. Il vient prolonger l’histoire déjà belle de coopération universitaire entre l’USL-B et les pays d’Afrique des Grands Lacs et plus particulièrement le Rwanda. Eric Ndushabandi a d’ailleurs obtenu son titre de docteur en Sciences politiques et sociales en 2013 en nos murs dans le cadre d’un programme interuniversitaire avec la région des Grands Lacs.

À travers ce nouveau partenariat supervisé par Emmanuel Klimis, chercheur au Centre de Recherche en Science politique (CReSPo), l’IRDP et l’USL-B entendent poursuivre cette tradition.

Public Lecture

research — Wed, 21 Mar 2018 08:16:48 +0000

BEYOND TRAUMA? NOTES ON A WORD, A FRAME, AND A DIAGNOSTIC CATEGORY

The Institute of Research and Dialogue for Peace (IRDP) in Collaboration with Studies in Historical Trauma and Transformation, Stellenbosch University (South Africa), the Centre for Ethics (University of Zürich), and Violence, Injury and Peace Research Unit (University of South Africa), has the honor to invite you to a Public Lecture and Discussion with Professor Nancy Rose Hunt (Professor of History & African Studies, University of Florida), which will take place on Thursday 5^th April 2018 from 17:30 – 19:30 at IRDP’s Conference Room, Gisozi, Kigali.