Generating empirical evidence, informing policy, building regional capacity, and fostering multi-stakeholder dialogue to promote conflict mediation and prevent violent extremism.
The overall objective of SACMEP is to generate empirical evidence, inform policy and practice, build regional capacity, and foster multi-stakeholder dialogue to promote conflict mediation practices and prevent violent extremism in the SADC region.
Southern Africa is at a crossroads. The perception of the region as an ‘island of peace’ is collapsing under two interconnected crises: the expansion of violent extremism from Mozambique to the DRC, and the persistent failure of mediation in entrenched governance conflicts. Responses are reactive, securitized, and rely on imported models that ignore local drivers.
Generate, consolidate, and disseminate robust empirical data and actionable research on violent extremism and mediation dynamics in Southern Africa, transforming regional peace and security policies from reactive crisis management to proactive, evidence-based prevention.
Strengthen regional capacity for mediation and context-specific P/CVE strategies, positioning the organisation as a trusted advisory resource to SADC member states, civil society, and regional actors.
Establish a digital knowledge hub providing open-access research and thought leadership on mediation and violent extremism, actively countering conflict multipliers and disinformation across traditional and digital media ecosystems.
Function as a coordinating node for a regional ecosystem of researchers, mediators, and policymakers, fostering collaboration and ensuring a unified, strategic approach to conflict and extremism prevention.
Workstream 01
We provide the data-driven analytical support that strengthens SADC's mediation instruments. Instead of mediators walking in blind, we equip them with real-time conflict mapping, actor profiling, and analysis of disinformation, enabling proactive and inclusive peace processes.
Workstream 02
We end the reliance on ill-fitting, unconnected counter-terrorism models. We generate context-specific research on what actually drives radicalization in Southern Africa — from socio-economic grievances to governance deficits — and co-develop proactive, community-sensitive prevention strategies.