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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

Research on borderlands, how conflicts connect across borders, and the drivers of violent and peaceful behaviour.

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?  

Conflict and Climate

Research at the intersection of climate, conflict and peace.

Our partners

XCEPT leadership

XCEPT Executive Director
Ruth Citrin

XCEPT

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XCEPT Deputy Director
Mette Bastholm Jensen

XCEPT

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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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Principal Investigator
Maha Yahya

Carnegie Middle East Center

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XCEPT Research Fund and Uptake Director
Charlie de Rivaz

XCEPT

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Programme management

Research Fund Associate
Benjamin Castro
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Communications Manager
Clara May

King’s College London

Violent and Peaceful Behaviour

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Research Manager
Beth Heron

King’s College London

 

Violent and Peaceful Behaviour

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Research Manager
Tabea Campbell Pauli

The Asia Foundation

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Research Manager
Joel Otieno

Rift Valley Institute

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Research team

XCEPT RESEARCH FELLOW
Tobias Ide

XCEPT

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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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Research Lead
Armenak Tokmajyan

Carnegie Middle East Center

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Research Lead
Azeema Cheema

Verso Consulting

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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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Research Lead
Kheder Khaddour

Carnegie Middle East Center

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Research Lead
Mohanad Hage Ali

Carnegie Middle East Center

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Research and Policy Director
Nafees Hamid

King’s College London

 

Violent and Peaceful Behaviour

 

 

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Research Lead
Tim Eaton

Chatham House

 

Transnational Conflict Dynamics and Policy Responses

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Junior Research Associate
Al Muktadir Elahi Esmam

Junior Research Associate

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Researcher
Azizul Hoque

Centre for Peace and Justice, Brac University

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Researcher
Caterina Ceccarelli

King’s College London

 

Violent and Peaceful Behaviour

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Researcher
Dan Seng Lawn

Kachinland Research Centre

 

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Researcher
Dr Costanza Torre

King’s College London

Violent and Peaceful Behaviour

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Researcher
Edward Thomas

Rift Valley Institute

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Researcher
Freddie Carver

Rift Valley Institute

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Researcher
Inna Rudolf

King’s College London

 

Violent and Peaceful Behaviour

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Researcher
Joseph Diing

Rift Valley Institute

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Researcher
June Nilian Sang

XCEPT Researcher

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Researcher
Khine Win

The Asia Foundation

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Director (Research)
M Sanjeeb Hossain

Director (Research)

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Researcher
Mohamed Salah

Rift Valley Institute

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Researcher
Mustafe M. Abdi

Rift Valley Institute

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Researcher
Nicki Kindersley

Rift Valley Institute

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Researcher
Nils Mallock

King’s College London

Violent and Peaceful Behaviour

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Researcher
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
Sam Hibbs

King’s College London

Violent and Peaceful Behaviour

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Researcher
Samira Manzur

Research Fellow

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Researcher
Teja Pammi

King’s College London

Violent and Peaceful Behaviour

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XCEPT Survey Director
Fiona McEwen

King’s College London

 

Violent and Peaceful Behaviour

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Project Coordinator and Senior Researcher
Minoo Koefed
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Junior Research Associate
Nafisa Tabassum

Nafisa Tabassum is an early-career researcher who has been extensively engaged in conducting research for the past three years to further understand the plight of Rohingya refugees and the protracted refugee situation in Bangladesh. At present, Nafisa works as a Junior Research Associate at the Centre for Peace and Justice (CPJ), BRAC University. Before joining CPJ, Nafisa contributed to multiple research projects that covered a broad range of human rights issues relating to digital rights and governance in Bangladesh. Nafisa completed her undergraduate degree in law with a major in legal philosophy, rights, and dispute resolution from the School of Law, BRAC University.

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