Ifeoluwa Olawole is a political scientist and the Director of Research for Peace and Governance at Mercy Corps, where she leads a global research portfolio on conflict, political behavior, democracy, and governance, as well as intersecting themes such as climate, localization, and resilience. Her work spans several regions and focuses on how peacebuilding and governance interventions can reduce violence and strengthen trust, accountability, and community resilience in fragile and conflict-affected settings.