UDSM, ICGLR Deepen Partnership to Drive Peace and Policy Solutions in the Great Lakes Region
By Donald Boneka, CMU
The University of Dar es Salaam (UDSM) and the International Conference on the Great Lakes Region (ICGLR) have pledged to strengthen collaboration in research, policy development and capacity building to address some of the region's most pressing challenges, including conflict, forced displacement, climate change and governance.
The commitment emerged during a meeting at UDSM that brought together officials from the ICGLR Secretariat, academics, researchers and postgraduate students to explore how universities can play a greater role in advancing regional peace and sustainable development through evidence-based research.
Speaking during the meeting, Dr. Ronald Seba of the ICGLR Secretariat in Kampala said universities are indispensable partners in generating knowledge that informs policy and delivers practical solutions to complex regional challenges.
"Higher learning institutions have the expertise needed to produce evidence-based solutions on issues such as forced displacement, governance, conflict prevention, economic integration and climate change. Stronger collaboration between academia and regional institutions is essential for translating research into effective policies," he said.
Dr. Seba encouraged UDSM researchers and students to actively participate in regional research initiatives, policy dialogues and collaborative projects aligned with the ICGLR's five strategic pillars for peace, protection, inclusion and sustainable development.
UDSM’s multidisciplinary expertise
Prof. Opotuna Kweka, the Research Chair of Forced Displacement at UDSM said the University's multidisciplinary expertise positions it to make a significant contribution to regional policymaking.
"The challenges facing the Great Lakes Region are interconnected and require collaborative research across disciplines. UDSM has the capacity to generate practical knowledge that supports evidence-based decision-making and sustainable development," he said.
Also speaking, ICGLR Director of Social Affairs, Ms. Flaviana Charles, emphasized that lasting peace depends on addressing social development issues alongside security concerns.
"Universities have a strategic role in producing research that responds to the needs of communities and supports inclusive policies, particularly for women, youth, refugees, internally displaced persons and host communities," she said.
Participants agreed to expand cooperation through joint research projects, academic exchanges, policy dialogues, knowledge-sharing initiatives and capacity-building programmes aimed at strengthening regional integration and evidence-based policymaking.
The partnership underscores UDSM's growing role as a regional centre of excellence, leveraging research and innovation to contribute to peace, sustainable development and policy solutions across the Great Lakes Region.