africa

During the 1990s and 2000s, John Paul worked extensively in different regions and countries in Africa. Of note would be support to accompany colleagues and students who were developing the West African Network for Peacebuilding (WANEP) and in offering support for direct conciliation initiatives in Somalia and Kenya. John Paul's involvement in peacebuilding in Somalia unfolded during his tenure with the Mennonite Central Committee and more specifically the Mennonite and International Conciliation Services. In collaboration with the University of Waterloo's Horn of Africa Project and regional partners, John Paul was involved in a range of mediation initiatives. For example, he served as a convener/facilitator with the Somali Peace and Consultation Committee and a consultant to the Life and Peace Institute's initiatives in support of the United Nations' reconciliation process in Somalia. John Paul’s direct participation in peacebuilding efforts in Kenya were most notably as an advisor for the National Council of Churches of Kenya and the Nairobi Peace Initiative, with a particular emphasis on evaluation and program design. Beyond these direct engagements, John Paul has practiced alongside and provided accompaniment to extraordinary Kenyan peace practitioners. The stories of peace practitioners like Rose Barmasai, Dekha Ibrahim, Hizkias Assefa, Sam Doe, and Emmanuel Bombande feature prominently in John Paul’s writing and speaking. More recently, in his role as Senior Fellow at Humanity United, John Paul has been working with The Unyoke Foundation, founded by Nomfundo Walaza and Chris Spies, alongside youth networking and initiatives for peace in South Sudan.