This research manual would not have become a reality without the inspiration of Kimberly Field, the former Deputy Assistant Secretary of State for African, East Asian, Pacific and South and Central Asian Affairs in the Bureau of Conflict and Stabilization Operations (CSo) at the U.S. Department of State. Together with Neal Kringel, the Acting Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary at CSo, they committed CSo to supporting the research efforts of the IGAD Center of Excellence for Preventing and Countering Violent Extremism in Djibouti.
The proposed idea for a manual for researchers of violent extremism (in the IGAD region and far beyond) drew immediate, enthusiastic, and steadfast support from many sources, begin- ning with Neal Kringel and Deborah Lynn, former Acting Director of CSo’s Africa Office, as well as many members of the Center of Excellence, particularly the Director, Dr. Simon Nyambura, and the Deputy Director, Daher Meraneh. I thank all of them for their patience and support for this endeavor, from start to finish, and for their friendship.
