Re-integrating former members of armed groups into communities is a growing global policy challenge.In places like northeastern Nigeria, where the extremist group Boko Haram is active, the combination of large-scale campaigns of violence against civilians and radicalization by insurgent groups leads to intense anger and increases mistrust and wariness that members have been irrevocably changed.  Innovations for Poverty Action (IPA) is supporting research that examines if these barriers can be overcome to pave the way for reintegration.

From April 16-19, IPA participated in a Data Validation Workshop organized by Kenya's National Commission for Science, Technology, and Innovation (NACOSTI), the government agency mandated to regulate and assure quality in the science, technology and innovation sectors.Under the theme of “Effective Reporting for Quality Research and Development in Kenya," the workshop focused on implementing a research annual reporting template for Kenya's registered research institutions.IPA Kenya Operations Coordinator, Pauline Mwatsuma, spoke at the event.