About us

PeacebuildingData.org was created to fill in the gaps between peacebuilding work as it is envisioned by policy-makers, and its implementation, reception and perception on the ground. The project features quantitative and qualitative research undertaken in countries affected by mass violence. The population-based studies bring the voices of those most affected by mass atrocities to policy discussions about peace, social reconstruction, and mechanisms for accountability. The results aim to serve as a formative monitoring and evaluation system for actors on the ground.

At present, PeacebuildingData.org features research undertaken by its founding members at the Harvard Humanitarian Initiative. We work to ensure that the needs of survivors are recognized and acted on by governments, UN agencies, and nongovernmental organizations. We help improve the capacity of local organizations to collect and analyze data about survivors and vulnerable populations so that their needs will be heard and their rights can be protected.

Since 2003 we have interviewed over 30,000 survivors of violence in places like Rwanda, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Iraq, Central African Republic, Cambodia, the Philippines, Côte d'Ivoire, and Uganda. 

The research featured on PeacebuildingData.org Initiative are supported by grants from the John D. and Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation and Humanity United.  

 

Team

Patrick Vinck, Project Co-Director

Patrick Vinck is the director and co-founder of the Peacebuilding Data Project. His work serves to give a voice to survivors of mass violence and inform policy-making with a specific focus on analyzing vulnerabilities and attitudes about peace and reconstruction. Vinck also co-founded the KoBo Project, a digital data collection project to advance human rights research. He serves as a member on the Committee on Scientific Freedom and Responsibility of the American Association for the Advancement of Science; an Adjunct Associate Professor at Tulane University’s Payson Center for International Development; and a regular consultant on vulnerability analysis to the United Nations World Food Programme. He graduated as an engineer in applied biological sciences from Gembloux Agricultural University (Belgium), and holds a Ph.D. in International Development from Tulane University.  

Phuong Pham, Project Co-Director

Phuong Pham, Ph.D. is a Research Scientist at the Harvard School of Public Health and Associate Faculty with the Harvard Humanitarian Initiative (HHI). She recently joined HHI after holding the positions of Director of Research at UC Berkeley’s Human Rights Center and Adjunct Associate Professor at Tulane University's Payson Center for International Development.  Her areas of specialization are applications of epidemiologic research method and information technology in complex emergency settings. She is a co-founder of the Initiative for Vulnerable Populations, Peacebuilding Data Project and Kobo Project. She has extensive experiences in designing and implementing research and technology solutions in on-going and post-confliction countries such northern Uganda, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Central African Republic, Iraq, Cambodia and other areas affected by mass violence.

Tino Kreutzer, Program Manager

Tino Kreutzer is Program Manager of the KoBoToolbox project and coordinates field data collection for PeacebuildingData.org. Prior to joining the team he has been working for the United Nations Development Programme since 2007 and continues to consult for the United Nations, NGOs, and private sector international development projects. He has extensive experience with collecting information and managing projects in extremely challenging environments, including in DR Congo, Central African Republic, Guinea-Conakry, South Africa, Ecuador, Liberia, and the Occupied Palestinian Territories. He holds a BA in political science from Jacobs University and an MA in media studies from the University of Cape Town, South Africa.

 

Media Coverage

Videos

2010	The Human Toll of Violence in the Central African Republic
2012	Data on Violence, Conflict and Ultra-poverty
2013	Aid in the 21st Century -- Red Cross calls for technological revolution
2013	Build Peace conference
2013	Illegal migrants aid hurricane clear-up in US (Al Jazeera)
2014	Transitional Justice from Below: Practical Tools for Amplifying Community Voices

 

Local

2006	Illegal Immigrants lack job safeguards	The Times-Picayune
2006	Immigrants helping rebuild New Orleans say they're making less	Houston Chronicle
2008	Hispanics Present evacuation challenge	The Times-Picayune
2010	Mapping Human Rights	Transcript Magazine
2012	Mobilizing a Revolution: How cellphones are transforming public Health.	Harvard School of Public Health Magazine
2013	A thirst for justice delayed.	Harvard Gazette
2013	A new era in disaster relief	Harvard Gazette

 

National

2006	Study Sees Increase in Illegal Hispanic Workers in New Orleans.	The New York Times
2006	Post-Katrina, New Orleans coming back more Hispanic	The Christian Science Monitor
2008	Immigrant Workers in New Orleans Start Leaving	Associated Press
2008	Stats Show Perils Of Living In East Congo	Associated Press / CBS
2009	Efforts to Limit Khmer Rouge Trials Decried	The New York Times
2009	Trial Begins for Khmer Rouge Leader	The New York Times
2009	Pain of Khmer Rouge Era Lost on Cambodian Youth	The New York Times
2013	Immigrants Expected to do the Heavy Lifting in Post-Sandy Reconstruction	PRI’s The World

 

International

2005	Freedom Song	Daily Nation (Kenya)
2005	Ugandans eager for ICC action	Vermont Guardian
2005	70% in north want conditional amnesty for Kony, says study.	The Monitor (Uganda)
2005	New Study Finds Ugandans Favor Peace with Justice.	New Vision (Uganda)
2007	War victims trapped in search for peace and justice.	The Monitor (Uganda)
2007	75 000 abducted by LRA	Mail & Guardian
2007	Ugandan army cautions displaced people not to rush into resettlement.	Xinhua News Agency
2009	40pc of population in dark on KRT	Phnom Penh Post
2009	Photo exhibition shows aftermath of conflict	Phnom Penh Post
2010	Majority in the north are eager to vote.	New Vision (Uganda)
2010	Mortality Rate in Central African Republic	Le Temps
2010	Conflict Fuels High Death Rate, Health Problems in Central African Republic	Voice of America
2011	Cambodians know little about Khmer Rouge trial.	Agence France Press
2011	KRT gaining support: survey	Phnom Penh Post
2011	Study Finds Increased Confidence in Tribunal	Voice of America
2013	Illegal migrants aid hurricane clear-up in US	Al-Jazeera
2013	Analysis: Latin America’s wired activists take on crime	IRIN News
2013	Aid in the 21st Century – Red Cross calls for technological revolution	EuroNews
2013	Access to technology 'aids survival in natural disaster'	BBC

 

Partners