The Genocide Research and Reconciliation Programme supports peace building and reconciliation activities in Rwanda through research and evidence-based policy.  The programme is funded by the United Kingdom’s Department for International Development (DFID) and includes the development of the Genocide Archive of Rwanda. This includes the Gacaca court archives, a research, higher education and policy programme, and the expansion of the Aegis Trust education outreach programme.

“The importance of evidence-based policy to support sustainable peace building and reconciliation cannot be underestimated.  This programme provides a major opportunity to integrate the Genocide Archive of Rwanda into policy, research and education programmes.” Aegis Director John Petrie

The Genocide Research and Reconciliation Programme has three main areas of focus:

1. Development of the Genocide Archive of Rwanda

Bringing together the 19 genocide collections in Rwanda including the Gacaca court files will make the archive a world class resource for research and education. The feasibility study for the Gacaca court files will be released soon and the Genocide Research and Reconciliation Programme will enhance the use of the consolidated archive for research, in Rwanda and abroad.

1. Research, Higher Education and Policy

Extensive research will be undertaken by Rwandan and international researchers to provide an evidence base from which best practise reconciliation and peace building policy can be introduced in Rwanda. The research programme will be collaborative with Rwandan and international researchers working together to develop a library of best practice research. Higher education courses have begun under the programme and are bringing together genocide studies students from all across the world.

1. Expansion of the Education Outreach Programme

The Genocide Research and Reconciliation Programme will enhance the Rwanda Peace Education Programme by investing in the work young Rwandans are doing to build peace and reconciliation. A new Youth Peace Education Centre at the Kigali Genocide Memorial will be built and new education programmes will be run in Bugesera with a focus on the Nyabarongo River during the genocide and learning from the genocide at the Ntarama Church.

These new programmes are supported by the Genocide Archive of Rwanda and will form part of an interactive project that will map 120 genocide and memorial sites, enabling contextual access to testimonies from survivors, rescuers and perpetrators, photos and videos.