This report is a result of a long process of collaborative and cooperative engagement with members of the East Africa Learning Hub, a regional learning platform focused on peacebuilding, governance and role of local faith actors co-founded by TAABCO and the Joint Learning Initiative on Faith & Local Communities (JLI).

This report examines the role of local faith actors in governance and peacebuilding initiatives in the East African countries of Kenya, Tanzania, and Uganda. Drawing on literature, key informant interviews with faith actors, policy makers, and researchers, as well as detailed case studies, the report considers both the contributions of faith actors to governance and peacebuilding evidence and practice in East Africa, as well as the significant challenges they face in their work.

The report finds that while faith actors have played pivotal roles in supporting peacebuilding and stable governance, their effectiveness is limited by challenges such as financial constraints, political interference, partisanship, and poor coordination mechanisms between faith actors and other stakeholders involved in governance and peacebuilding. Moreover, while faith actors can sometimes play active roles in generating evidence around governance and peacebuilding, such research is rarely recognised or adopted by national, regional, or international decision-making spaces. Finally, the report notes that while there is a growing body of African scholarship examining peacebuilding in Africa, there is insufficient research looking at the specific contributions of indigenous and local religious approaches to governance and peacebuilding.

The report recommends supporting local faith actors – either financially or through training – to continue leading research on the critical role they play in governance and peacebuilding, and specifically build the evidence base on indigenous approaches to peacebuilding in Africa. Forums must be convened to ensure such research is effectively communicated to other researchers, civil society organisations, donors, and policymakers involved in governance and peacebuilding. Furthermore, it calls on investing in coordination mechanisms between faith actors and other relevant stakeholders to ensure effective and impactful joint learning and action on governance and peacebuilding in East Africa.