Dr Alistair Sim, trustee at Seek Peace, talks about the need for, and potential impact of, Seek Peace’s research project with Churches.
Our research project 2024-2027
Innovations in faith-based peacebuilding: widening research and testing into effective evidence-led approaches for churches and Faith Based Organisations.
Timeline of activities
Year 1: 2024-25
Work with our existing partners to build the foundations of the study, the method and empirical approach.
Explore three new regions beyond West Africa and invite expressions of interest to partner with us in the study (potential regions: Northern Ireland, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Cyprus or Rwanda).
Year 2: 2025-26
Develop monitoring, evaluation and learning frameworks with three new partner ministries.
Work with five ministry research partners to track relevant outputs and outcomes and collect project data.
Compile preliminary outcome analysis and share with partner organisations for review and feedback.
Year 3: 2026-27
Launch the Community of Practice (COP) with key staff from five ministry partners involved in the study.
Work at the inter-partner level to facilitate participatory research analysis in the COP.
Draw out consistent themes and trends across the different regions, ministries and contexts.
Write up and disseminate learnings through peer reviewed journals, speaking engagements and conferences and through publishing a handbook for church denominations, faith non-profits and donor ministries.
Our aim
The overall aim of the project is to contribute to this impact: churches and faith based organisations around the world being better able to understand and overcome barriers to peacebuilding and as a result becoming more effective in participating in their communities’ efforts to build sustainable peace.