Alexa Von Ow

I have a passionate interest for all issues that seek to promote sustainable and inclusive global development, both in my private, as well as in my professional life, and I actually feel it is a responsibility for all world citizens to be part of solution seeking for our common challenges. Increment instability is one of them. Although human wellbeing has improved across the globe overall, the levels of conflict have been rising in the past few years while many of today’s violent incidents are about power and resources. A vast number of these disputes occur in the African region yet the continent is thriving and keen to harness its phenomenal potential. The discrepancy between stability and advancement has been noticeable throughout my entire career so far, but especially nowadays. Whether it was field work in North-Western Kenya, South-Sudan, South-Western Nigeria or other African countries – two realisations have been reoccurring; one, economic growth and prosperous development are not possible where there is no stability or peace. Second, any intervention whose main or subsidiary objective is to bear peace must factor in local context. However, in my experience, all too often, this is not the case and therefore conflict recurs and thus prevents prosperous and sustainable development. Consequently, the following questions have remained outstanding; what defines stable peace? And what is required to sustain peaceful stability? Getting to the bottom of these matters is what I need to do right now.