PeaceRep Researcher Awarded British Academy Grant for Peace Inclusivity Study
Tue 25 March 2025
PeaceRep researcher Dr Johanna Amaya-Panche has been awarded funding from the British Academy to explore how international networks influence peace inclusivity in Northern Ireland’s peace process.
Dr Amaya-Panche is among just 27 researchers in the UK to receive a British Academy Talent Development Award, which supports innovative research in the social sciences, humanities, and the arts.
The funding will enable Dr Amaya-Panche to conduct fieldwork in Northern Ireland, using both quantitative and qualitative research methods to examine the relationships between intergovernmental organizations (IGOs), local stakeholders, and other international actors. The project aims to generate policy recommendations for more effective peacebuilding.
Speaking about the award, Dr Amaya-Panche said: "This funding is a meaningful achievement for me and the PeaceRep team, as it allows us to deepen our understanding of the international dynamics shaping inclusive peace outcomes."
In addition to the £9,973 grant from the British Academy, Dr Amaya-Panche has also secured funding from the School of Law’s Research and Impact Facilitation Fund, which will further support the project. In collaboration with Dr Sanja Badanjak (PeaceRep, University of Edinburgh) and Dr Malte Jauch (University of Essex), this additional funding will support a policy workshop to share key findings from the research.
Beyond this project, Dr Amaya-Panche is also investigating climate refugees, focusing on climate-induced migration between Colombia and Venezuela. She, along with Dr Malte Jauche (University of Essex) and Dr Rebecca Irons (UCL), has been awarded funding from the UKRI’s International Impact Fund via the University of Essex for this research. Additionally, Dr Amaya-Panche and Dr Irons have received funding from the UCL Grand Challenges Grant to further support their work on this topic.
Dr Amaya-Panche’s research focuses on the influence of international actors on the complex local dynamics of collective action strategies initiated by civil society agents, with the aim of promoting peace, resilience, and reconciliation.
This article was originally published on the PeaceRep site.