Nairobi, 5 Spetember 2024 — The African Borderlands Research Network (ABORNE), in collaboration with the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) Africa Borderlands Centre and the International Peace Support Training Centre (IPSTC), is set to host the ABORNE 2024 Annual Conference in Nairobi, from September 11-13, 2024. This will bring together leading academics, policymakers, and development practitioners to discuss the theme: "Resilience and Borderlands Agropastoralists: The Roles of Mobility, Labour Diversification, Social Cohesion, Peace, and Security in Regional Integration."

This year’s conference will discuss the multifaceted challenges and opportunities facing borderland communities across Africa. Participants will engage in cross-disciplinary discussions to explore how mobility, labor diversification, and social cohesion can be harnessed to drive peace and security, ultimately contributing to regional integration.

The ABORNE 2024 Annual Conference offers a vital platform for stakeholders to collaborate on sustainable development strategies for Africa’s borderlands. The event will feature a keynote address, panel discussions, and interactive presentations led by leading experts in the field. Participants will engage in high-level discussions on how mobility can promote social cohesion and regional integration, explore innovative labor diversification strategies that enhance agropatoralists’ economic resilience and regional stability, as well as examine the role of social cohesion in peacebuilding and the security of Africa’s borderlands.

" UNDP is honored to partner with ABORNE in bringing together diverse perspectives to strengthen resilience and create a secure, prosperous future for these communities. The ABORNE 2024 Annual Conference is not just an academic event; it's a rallying call for everyone invested in the future of Africa's borderlands." says Zeynu Ummer, Director of the UNDP Resilience Hub for Africa.

“The 2024 ABORNE conference will not only offer a platform for debate and knowledge sharing, but also an opportunity for informing policy that enhances livelihoods and sustainable peace and security for borderland communities and trade.” Brigadier Joyce C Sitienei. Director, IPSTC.

“ABORNE has been hosting conferences on African borderlands since 2007. It has always been our intention to connect academic researchers with practitioners and policymakers to forge a better awareness of the lives of border populations and what can be done to promote open borders. This ABORNE collaboration with UNDP and ISPTC, which is the first to be held in East Africa, therefore represents a major step forward for us”, says Professor Paul Nugent, Chair of ABORNE. 

About ABORNE

The African Borderlands Research Network (ABORNE) is a multidisciplinary network that brings together researchers, scholars, and practitioners to explore the unique dynamics of Africa’s borderlands. ABORNE aims to foster collaboration and knowledge exchange to address the challenges and opportunities within these regions.

About UNDP Africa Borderlands Centre

The UNDP Africa Borderlands Centre is a dedicated initiative focused on driving development in Africa’s borderland regions. The Centre works closely with governments, communities, and international partners to promote resilience, security, and sustainable economic growth in these often-overlooked areas.

About IPSTC

The International Peace Support Training Centre (IPSTC) is a leading Centre of Excellence for training, education and research in peace and security in the region and Africa as a whole. The training targets military, police and civilians in all aspects of peace support operations taking into account all emerging issues and trends in theatre.

For media enquiries, please contact:

UNDP: Temidayo Ibitoye, Communications Specialist, UNDP Resilience Hub for Africa| Email: Temidayo.Ibitoye@undp.org

IPSTC: 

Watson Karuma, for Public Affairs

Email: publicaffairs@ipstc.org