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About XCEPT

XCEPT seeks to better understand conflict-affected borderlands, how conflicts connect across borders, and the factors that shape violent and peaceful behaviour, to inform effective policy and programme responses.

Conflicts in the Middle East, Africa and Asia intersect through flows of people, weapons and resources, creating intricate cross-border conflict systems. These knit the formal and informal, licit and illicit in ways that empower armed actors, enmesh conflict with crime and violent extremism, and ensnare local communities. They make protracted conflicts even more difficult to resolve. International conflict response needs to innovate to meet the challenges of cross-border conflict. This includes transcending state-centric approaches to tackle the transnational networks that drive and sustain conflict and support communities coping with protracted crisis.

XCEPT melds mixed-methods research and field data collection with satellite data and open-source investigations  to deepen insight on hard-to-access areas. The programme includes the XCEPT Research Fund to enable responsive research on emerging conflicts and to build evidence on what works to stabilise, resolve and prevent conflict.

Our research

XCEPT consists of three research components with different constellations of research partners:

X-Border Local Research Network

What are the causes and implications of conflict in border areas? How can we develop local research skills to investigate these issues?

Transnational Conflict Dynamics and Policy Responses

How do conflicts connect across borders through flows of people, weapons, and resources? How should policy responses adapt?

Violent and Peaceful Behaviour

What behavioural factors drive violence and enable peace? What are the implications for recovery and conflict prevention?  

Our partners

XCEPT leadership

XCEPT Executive Director
Ruth Citrin
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Programme Manager
Nathan Shea

The Asia Foundation

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Principal Investigator
Shiraz Maher

King’s College London

 

Violent and Peaceful Behaviour

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Research Director
Maha Yahya

Carnegie Middle East Center

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Project Manager
Anna Rowett

Rift Valley Institute

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XCEPT Research Fund and Uptake Director
Charlie de Rivaz
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Programme Director
Alex Ramsbotham

Conciliation Resources

 

Transnational Conflict Dynamics and Policy Responses

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Programme management

Project Manager
Beth Heron

King’s College London

 

Violent and Peaceful Behaviour

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Research Manager
Felix Colchester

Conciliation Resources

 

Transnational Conflict Dynamics and Policy Responses

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Research Manager
Leah de Haan

Chatham House

 

Transnational Conflict Dynamics and Policy Responses

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Senior Programme Officer
Tabea Campbell Pauli

The Asia Foundation

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Research team

Research Lead
Tim Eaton

Chatham House

 

Transnational Conflict Dynamics and Policy Responses

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Research Lead
Craig Larkin

King’s College London

 

Violent and Peaceful Behaviour

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Research Lead
Harith Hasan

Carnegie Middle East Center

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Conciliation Resources
Abdullahi Umar Eggi

Conciliation Resources

 

Transnational Conflict Dynamics and Policy Responses

 

 

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Research Lead
Aden Abdi

Conciliation Resources

 

Transnational Conflict and Policy Responses

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Research Lead
Ahmed Nagi

Carnegie Middle East Center

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Research Lead
Ahmed Soliman

Chatham House

 

Transnational Conflict Dynamics and Policy Responses

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Researcher
Alexander Lee

Vigil Monitor

 

Transnational Conflict Dynamics and Policy Responses

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Researcher
Alice Jenner

Trias Consult Ltd

 

Transnational Conflict Dynamics and Policy Responses

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Researcher
Alison Brettle

King’s College London

 

Violent and Peaceful Behaviour

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Research Lead
Armenak Tokmajyan

Carnegie Middle East Center

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Research Lead
Azeema Cheema

Verso Consulting

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Research Associate
Azizul Hoque

Centre for Peace and Justice, Brac University

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Research Lead
Bader Al-Saif 

Carnegie Middle East Center

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Research Assistant
Caterina Ceccarelli

King’s College London

 

Violent and Peaceful Behaviour

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Research Lead
Dalia Ghanem  

Carnegie Middle East Center

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Researcher
Dan Seng Lawn

Kachinland Research Centre

 

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Research Lead
Daniel Tucker

Conciliation Resources

 

Transnational Conflict Dynamics and Policy Responses

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Researcher
Edward Thomas

Rift Valley Institute

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Research Officer
Elaf Khaled

King’s College London

 

Violent and Peaceful Behaviour

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Researcher
Enrico Ille

Rift Valley Institute

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XCEPT Survey Director
Fiona McEwen

King’s College London

 

Violent and Peaceful Behaviour

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Researcher
Freddie Carver

Rift Valley Institute

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Research Lead
Hamza Meddeb

Carnegie Middle East Center

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Research Fellow
Inna Rudolf

King’s College London

 

Violent and Peaceful Behaviour

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Research Lead
Janet Adama Mohammed

Conciliation Resources

 

Transnational Conflict Dynamics and Policy Responses

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Researcher
Jatin Dua

Rift Valley Institute

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Research Lead
Jessica Olney

The Asia Foundation

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Researcher
Joseph Diing

Rift Valley Institute

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Conflict and Political Analyst/Freelance Researcher
June Nilian Sang

XCEPT Researcher

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Research Lead
Kennedy Tumutegyereize

Conciliation Resources

 

Transnational Conflict Dynamics and Policy Responses

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Research Lead
Kheder Khaddour

Carnegie Middle East Center

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Researcher
Khine Win

The Asia Foundation

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Associate Fellow
Lina Khatib

SOAS, University of London

Chatham House

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Research Lead
Mohamed El Dahshan

Chatham House

 

Transnational Conflict Dynamics and Policy Responses

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Researcher
Mohamed Salah

Rift Valley Institute

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Research Lead
Mohanad Hage Ali

Carnegie Middle East Center

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Researcher
Mustafe M. Abdi

Rift Valley Institute

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Research and Policy Director
Nafees Hamid

King’s College London

 

Violent and Peaceful Behaviour

 

 

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Researcher
Nicki Kindersley

Rift Valley Institute

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Research Lead
Patricia Lewis

Chatham House

 

Transnational Conflict Dynamics and Policy Responses

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Research Fellow
Rajan Basra

King’s College London

 

Violent and Peaceful Behaviour

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Research Lead
Renad Mansour

Chatham House

 

Transnational Conflict Dynamics and Policy Responses

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Researcher
Sahra Ahmed Koshin

Rift Valley Institute

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Researcher, Centre for Peace and Justice, BRAC University
Samira Manzur

Research Development Fellow

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Research Lead
Starjoan Villanueva

The Asia Foundation

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Talip Al-Khayer

Doctoral Researcher

University of Bath

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Researcher
Tasnia Khandaker

Centre for Peace and Justice, BRAC University

 

 

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Timo Kivimäki

Professor of International Relations

University of Bath

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Careers

Opportunity
Publications Manager, XCEPT
Closing date for applications: 14/04/2024
Opportunity
Lead Research Manager, XCEPT
Closing date for applications: 14/04/2024
Opportunity
Research Manager, XCEPT
Closing date for applications: 14/04/2024

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