AWG: The Africa Working Group

The Africa Working Group (AWG) for conflict and peace studies was founded in the
summer of 2004 within the Department of Conflict Analysis and Resolution (DCAR) at
Nova Southeastern University (NSU) in Fort Lauderdale-Davie, Florida.

Since its envisioned conception, the AWG continues as a joint project between
faculty, students, and alumni interested in the subject of peace and conflict studies
on the African continent.

Mission
Our organization is anchored and based on three fundamental principles --
Accompaniment (walking together), Engagement (learning together), and Progress
(moving forward together).

ACCOMPANIMENT:
The AWG leadership believes that parties of a diverse background can achieve more
with respect to their goals if they work alongside each other without imposing any
form of supremacy on each other. Thus, AWG will promote, facilitate, and enable
parties of different identity and power bases to walk together horizontally toward the
achievement of specific goals, without ever endorsing or creating a vertical or
hierarchical power-based relationship of domination and subordination.

ENGAGEMENT:
The AWG leadership believes that the ultimate level of learning takes place when
faculty, students and other stake holders engage in learning activities. AWG activities
therefore engage the academic community with the larger community of all people to
enhance understanding of conflict and the potential for peace throughout Africa.

PROGRESS:
In the AWG leadership view, our individual endeavor should reflect our collective
oneness. As the African sage says: “I am because you are; you are because we are.”
AWG thus will promote shared aspirations, a shared vision, and shared
accomplishments.

Goals and Objectives
1.To advance a deeper understanding through research & publication of general
patterns of conflicts in contemporary Africa;

2.To provide DCAR faculty and students with avenues outside the classroom, to
critically examine & modify, wherever appropriate, the theories and models relative
to social conflict now emerging in academic institutions and practices. Activities
undertaken by AWG are designed to augment the DCAR degree curriculum &
experience;

3.To develop collaborative relationships with universities and related organizations in
Africa regarding research and practices in social conflict and conflict resolution;

4.To support DCAR students interested in pursuing research on critical topics in
Africa, such as indigenous conflict resolution processes, resource-based conflict,
and ethnic conflict;

5.To develop a network of scholars and practitioners in the African continent, with
the guidance from DCAR alumni;

6.To provide a social support system to DCAR students and faculty by organizing
social events;
7.To organize panels and conferences on selected topics regarding conflicts in
Africa;

8.AUGMENTING THE LEARNING EXPERIENCE of all students, with particular emphasis
on the needs of students from developing societies.

The AWG leadership envisions the development of an institute that will elevate the
profile of the DCAR degree programs, while assisting the creation of models and
theories of conflict resolution suited specifically for the African experience and
conditions of conflict. The Institute will be a LEARNING COMMUNITY OF EQUALS for
the enhanced understanding of all who wish to reduce, resolve, and manage conflict
in Africa.

For additional information about the AWG, please contact:

Dr. Hamdesa Tuso
tuso@nova.edu
AWG: The Africa Working Group
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