Prof. Gituro Wainaina, the convener of this conference,
Dr Thomas Ombati, the Chair, Department of Management Science and Project Planning,
Members of the Conference organizing committee,
Distinguished participants, experts and presenters,
Good morning…and for those following us online…good afternoon and good evening… depending on where you are.
Once again, my name is Brig (Rtd) Dr Robert Kabage, the Chief Executive Officer of Mashariki Research and Policy Centre, a non-profit, interdisciplinary and independent research think tank that promotes evidence-based policymaking to address Eastern Africa’s socio-economic, governance, and security challenges. Through research, policy dialogues, and strategic partnerships with regional players like the AU, the EASF, IGAD and EAC, MRPC bridges the gap between research and practice. It fosters cooperation, economic integration, and sustainable development, offering stakeholders a platform to share insights and shape the region’s future. MRPC’s focus on practical solutions and inclusive engagements makes it a vital player in driving regional progress and resilience.
I am sincerely humbled to address you today, a gathering of eminent researchers and practitioners from government, private sector, industry, academics and non- state actors. I take note of the overarching theme of this conference, which is focused on ‘Project Management for Resilience, Sustainability and Prosperity of Communities’, indeed a timely and relevant conversation in our current context.
By way of my opening reflections, some of my remarks will speak in part to the recently adopted ‘Pact of the Future’…an Inter-Governmentally, Negotiated, Action Oriented Pact for the Future….that was adopted at the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) recently…(Sept 2024). This ambitious resolution, was passed by 193 member states and speaks to important commitments made at the United Nations level that have relevance to communities at different scales.
The ‘Pact of the Future’ makes critical pledges towards achieving the United Nation’s Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), including the Paris Agreements and its related aspiration to climate change. Other concerns from this ‘Pact’ speak to interventions meant to respond to root causes of conflicts in the peace and security domain…an area at the core of my key note this morning… and enhancing human rights commitments. These discussions are therefore linked to the sustainability of communities that we are concerned with today.
Before getting into the substance of my talk today, let me build further a context that we have to contend with as we work broadly on thematics around resilience, sustainability, and prosperity of communities. The present world is experiencing what has been termed a ‘poly crisis’ …a complex situation where multiple interconnected crisis converge and amplify each other, resulting in a big predicament that is difficult to resolve. This term is attributed to the French theorist Edgar Morin who lived between 1921-2021. He coined this term to refer to a series of interlinked crises then, in economics, politics, geopolitics and the environment, which then go ahead to produce tough circumstances for the world.
Looking at our world today, we see similar situations…with surges in global inflation, the climate crisis, the debt burden, the weakening of the multilateral system and the breakdown of a rule based world order system and its aftermath…..such as the rise of wars to include the Russia – Ukraine war, Israel-Hamas War, and the latest Israel-Hezbollah confrontation.
Whereas some of these unfolding crises may be far from Africa, they have profound implications for the future of peace and security in the continent. They may for instance inspire terrorist movements operating in this region such as Al-Shabaab, the Islamic State and the Boko-haram, among others to launch attacks in pursuit of their positioning around these conflicts.
My key note address today focuses on peace and security in Africa and its impact on sustainable development of communities. I wish to start my remarks by submitting that the peace and security landscape in Africa has experienced what Mary Kaldor in her book ‘New Wars, Old Wars: Organized Violence in a Global Era’ discussed. In her thesis, she argued that wars were changing at several fronts….to include the rise of non-state actors in conflicts, the rise of identity conflicts, intra-state conflicts and resource based motivated conflicts.
In this context, the peace and security landscape in Africa has been complex and evolving, shaped by a number of factors, among them colonial legacies, internal conflicts, social economic shocks and external interventions. It is characterized by varied threats, to include the ever- present state fragility in countries like Ethiopia, Sudan & South Sudan, terrorist menace and military coups in the Sahel region; in Mali, Burkina Faso and Niger, violent extremism and terrorism threats in West Africa from the Boko Haram group and similar threats from Al-Shabaab in the Eastern Africa region, in Somalia and neighboring countries like Kenya.
Other threats include resource contestations and ethnic tensions in countries like the DRC, international syndicates involved in transnational crimes in Libya, climate change effects in Somalia and Mozambique, governance deficits in Central Africa Republic and humanitarian crisis from displacements and refugeeism in Ethiopia occasioned by the Tigray crisis. Other threats are linked to emergent technologies and the influence of geopolitical actors. Additionally, competing geopolitical interests complicate the future of state stability in the continent.
This complexity defines the nexus between Peace, Security and Sustainable development as they challenge the attainment of the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and the African Union’s Development Blue Print-The Agenda 2063. Without peace, community development falters, economies stagnate, and access to essential services is constrained. This is evident in the transformational growth that states, once ravaged by insecurity and political instability like Rwanda, have undergone after the restoration of peace. The reverse is starkly evident in countries like DRC and South Sudan, where prolonged conflicts have severely undermined development and negatively impacted livelihoods at community levels.
To illustrate this fact, let’s revisit Rwanda’s post-genocide recovery path. Immediately after the 1994 genocide, Rwanda faced immense challenges. However, the peacebuilding initiatives and governance reforms that followed led to an impressive economic growth. According to the World Bank, Rwanda’s GDP grew from $1.1 billion in 1994 to over $10 billion in 2021, demonstrating a tenfold increase largely due to stable governance and peace. Rwanda’s commitment to peace was directly correlated with poverty reduction. The proportion of Rwandans living below the poverty line fell from 57% in 2001 to about 38% in 2017, indicating how peace fosters development and improves living standards. In 2024, according to the World Bank, Rwanda is expected to become a Middle-Income Country by 2035 and a High-Income Country by 2050.
Similarly, in Angola, following the end of its civil war in 2002, the country experienced a significant economic recovery. Its GDP rose sharply from approximately $10 billion in 2002 to over $124 billion by 2021. This dramatic increase underscored how the restoration of peace facilitated economic activities and growth. Peace also allowed Angola to stabilize and attract foreign direct investments, particularly in the oil sector, which constitutes a large portion of its GDP. The country’s oil production increased significantly, with oil exports contributing to over 90% of total export revenues. This revenue has been crucial for funding infrastructure and social programs that support sustainable development and resilience at community levels.
The reverse is however evident in many countries suffering internal conflicts and civil wars. In DRC, for example, due to the ongoing conflict, violence has stunted development and growth. Today DRC has one of the lowest Human Development Index (HDI) scores globally. The country continues to struggle with instability, resulting in low economic growth and high poverty rates.
The situation in Sudan is not different. Due to the on-going conflict which started in April 2023, IMF reports that the country’s real GDP is likely to reduce by 18.3 per cent in 2024. According to the World Bank, the economy contracted by 12 per cent as at end of 2023, because the ongoing conflict has halted production and destroyed human capital and state capacity. Separately, there is an ongoing food crisis in the country, with the latest Integrated Food Security Phase Classification Report, released in June 2024, revealing that more than half of the population is facing acute food shortage, with a high risk of famine in multiple regions if immediate action is not taken.
All this demonstrates the negative impact of insecurity on community resilience, sustainability and prosperity. It is therefore incumbent that academic scholars like most of you in this gathering, research and policy institutions like the one that I represent…find practical and evidence based solutions to the unfolding peace and security contexts in the continent and their impact on community resilience, sustainability and prosperity.
From the foregoing, and as we celebrate the 6th Annual International Conference of Project Planning and management, allow me to ask you one question….Does project planning and management have a role in contributing to peace and security for sustainable development among our communities in Africa? The answer is yes.
Prof Gituro, in his message to this conference observes “Projects play a crucial role in laying the foundation for sustainable growth by creating systems, infrastructure and building capacity for community development”. However, while projects aim to bring about positive change at the community levels, they can inadvertently fuel or exacerbate conflict, if they are poorly planned, implemented and managed. Effective project planning and management ensures that project resources are used efficiently, its goals are clearly defined, potential risks are mitigated, and its outcomes are monitored and evaluated to ensure sustainability.
This is evident in the implementation of Disarmament, Demobilization, and Reintegration Programs carried out in post conflict contexts in Africa; to include in Namibia, Liberia, Sierra Leone and Rwanda. These projects were all managed through structured project frameworks, ensuring that combatants were not only disarmed and demobilized but were also provided with timely economic opportunities to successfully reintegrate them back into their communities; reducing the likelihood of a relapse of conflict.
A case in point is the implementation of the DDR program in Sierra Leone that is considered one of the most successful DDR projects in Africa… I was deployed as the DDR officer in that country in early 2000s… as part of the United Nations Mission in Sierra leone (UNAMSIL). It was implemented after the civil war that ravaged the country between 1991–2002. It borrowed heavily from several core project planning best practices to drive the post-conflict recovery process, which contributed to its success and the stable country that we have today.
Among the best practices adopted included ensuring a Comprehensive Stakeholder Engagement. This was due to the fact that the program involved a wide range of stakeholders, including the Sierra Leone government, various rebel groups, international organizations, civil society, and local communities. Engaging all these parties was crucial for establishing trust and buy-in. Community leaders and local authorities were also engaged for better targeting of community-specific needs and gaining local support.
The other one involved setting Clear Objectives and Phased Implementation. The objectives included; to disarm combatants, reintegrate them into society, and contribute to long-term peace. The program was hence divided into three phases: Disarmament (collecting weapons), Demobilization (formally disbanding armed groups), and Reintegration (supporting ex-combatants’ return to civilian life). This phasing allowed for measurable progress and accountability.
The third was Flexibility and Adaptability. The process was designed to be adaptable to the evolving political and security situation in Sierra Leone then. The program was modified based on local realities, including dealing with ongoing insecurity, the need for economic development, and varying community attitudes.
Strong Monitoring and Evaluation (M&E) principle, ensured that regular assessments were undertaken to monitor progress, identify challenges, and adjust strategies. This helped in preventing setbacks and ensured that objectives were on track.
Then was the principle of coordination and leadership. Due to the mullti-agency nature of the project, its success required coordinated efforts between various agencies, including the United Nations Mission in Sierra Leone (UNAMSIL), non-governmental organizations (NGOs), and government agencies. Regular communication and joint decision-making processes were critical to avoid duplication of efforts and ensure consistency.
The other one was security and stability assurance. This was intended to ensure that the program was conducted in a secure and stable environment. Finally, was the aspect of gender sensitivity. The project incorporated special provisions for women and child soldiers, many of whom had been forcibly recruited. Tailored programs for their reintegration were developed to meet their unique needs, including trauma recovery and vocational training.
By adhering to these project planning and management best practices, the Sierra Leone DDR program made significant progress in post-conflict stabilization and reintegration of the country. This has contributed to the country’s eventual peace and recovery trajectory, which is evident to date where the economy grew by 5.7% in 2023, inflationary pressures have somewhat eased and the country’s public debt has improved. All this has contributed significantly to the current resilience, sustainability and prosperity of communities in the country
In conclusion, as Africa navigates the ‘poly crises’ it is important for governments to enhance good governance and be at the forefront of innovating and co-leading solutions to the present and future peace and security challenges that impact negatively on sustainable development and hence community resilience, sustainability and prosperity. Universities and research institutions such as MRPC who are part of the knowledge eco-systems should be key allies in that pursuit. The late eminent Professor Ali Mazrui ideas about ‘Pax Africana’-a concept that envisions African-led peace and security in the continent, remains an important point of reference on the agency of African perspectives in creating and cultivating peace on the African continent.
As I leave the podium, I wish to reiterate that, peace, security and development are interlinked. The pursuit of these linkages will help us to forge a better and a progressive continent, fostering resilience, sustainability and prosperity of our people and communities. I thank you for your attention and wish you a productive conference. God bless you all.