SIPRI, together with its partners the West Africa Network for Peacebuilding (WANEP) and the Danish Refugee Council (DRC), has launched the book Madrasas, State Regulation and Governance in West Africa: A Comparative Perspective. The book was developed through the Research & Action for Peace (REcAP) Network, in collaboration with researchers from across West Africa.
Edited by Dr Luqman Saka and Dr Kaderi N. Bukari, the book focuses on the diversity of madrasa systems in West Africa and their role in promoting inclusive, quality education for long-term conflict prevention. The edited volume brings together contributions from researchers in Benin, Côte d’Ivoire, Gambia, Ghana, Mali, Niger and Nigeria. While examining national regulatory and governance frameworks surrounding Islamic schools, the case studies examine the role of colonization in the marginalization of these institutions and the role of non-state actors in funding and promoting their development. The research stresses the need for balanced state oversight that acknowledges the social importance of Islamic education while supporting the development of appropriate governance models.
The book is available in English and French, with both versions accessible here.
Complementing the book, the REcAP Network has produced a series of working papers and policy briefs that focus on a range of issues central to peace and security in West Africa. These publications address topics ranging from human security and the impact of reductions in official development assistance in different contexts to the dynamics of violent extremism and existing community mechanisms to counter these threats. The papers address urgent topics for the region, such as disaster preparedness in countries affected by climate change and the lives of populations under blockades imposed by armed groups.
These publications are available in English and French, with both versions accessible here.
Research & Action for Peace Network
The REcAP Network, implemented by SIPRI’s Sahel and West Africa Programme in cooperation with WANEP and the DRC, served as a regional platform for exchange and dialogue between research and field actors, as well as for knowledge production in support of conflict prevention and peacebuilding in West Africa and the Lake Chad Basin. The platform facilitated dialogue among existing expert networks, researchers, think tanks, civil society, implementing partners, regional organizations and governments, and was active in 18 countries across the region.