Funded by IPA’s Peace and Recovery Program and in collaboration with IPA Kenya, Search for Common Ground, and local partners, researchers are conducting a pilot study of an intervention in Kenya to improve cooperation between women civil society leaders and women security actors in preventing and countering violent extremism.

Women civil society leaders in Kenya are uniquely positioned through their social networks to detect and prevent radicalization and extremist recruitment. Nonetheless, women face several barriers to cooperating with the state on preventing and countering violent extremism (PCVE), including mistrust of security actors, lack of knowledge about how to engage with the state, and perceptions that the security sector is not inclusive of women.

In collaboration with IPA Kenya, Search for Common Ground, and local partners, researchers are conducting a pilot study—consisting of a small-scale randomized evaluation and qualitative interviews—to address the persistent challenge of limited cooperation between civilians and state security institutions in PCVE. Taking place in four counties of coastal Kenya, the intervention will include structured learning and exchange sessions between women civil society leaders and women security actors, designed to break down barriers and promote cooperation in PCVE.

Results will be available in 2027 and will inform a future full-scale evaluation.

Implementing Partner