Darlington Akabwai
Darlington Akabwai conducts research and is responsible for research operations for Feinstein projects in Uganda and South Sudan, with an emphasis on Karamoja. He works closely with governments and local communities to ensure that research projects are carried out effectively and respectfully. Having worked on community-based programs with pastoralist communities in Africa for more than 25 years, Darlington is an expert on indigenous knowledge and culture. His training as a veterinarian and his reputation as a peacemaker affords him great respect throughout the region. Officials within the African Union’s Conflict Management Unit consider him to be one of the most respected and successful peacemakers in Uganda, Kenya, and Sudan, and they regularly call on his expertise.
Prior to joining Feinstein, Darlington pioneered community-based approaches to livestock care in East Africa and was instrumental in establishing programs that controlled rinderpest in Ethiopia, Sudan, Uganda, and Kenya. With the African Union, Darlington developed one of the cornerstones of its work: pastoral conflict resolution and management, including working with local women to bring peace to the area with “Women’s Peace Crusades.”
He holds a degree in veterinary medicine from the University of Nairobi.
Darlington’s dog, Rex, is his great friend who never stops barking.
RESEARCH INTERESTS
REGIONAL FOCUS
COURSES TAUGHT
MOST CITED BOOKS & ARTICLES
MOST RECENT EXTERNAL PUBLICATIONS
NEWS STORIES
FEINSTEIN PUBLICATIONS
This study examines how anticipatory action was perceived and experienced among Ethiopians living with drought alongside other crises.
This fifth year report examines key areas of change in Karamoja over the past five years to inform development programming decisions.
This report presents a series of challenges to conventional thinking around livelihood recovery for war-affected populations.
This is an evidence brief, accompanying the full systematic review on urban identification practices in humanitarian emergencies.
This systematic review represents the first ever attempt to systematically search, sort and synthesize the existing evidence in order to consolidate findings on the tools, methods and metrics used to identify and prioritize vulnerable people, households and communities, including those displaced within and to urban areas.
This report reviews the state of animal-based livelihoods in the Karamoja region of northeastern Uganda and examines how animal ownership affects a household’s ability to weather shocks.
This protocol details the methodology for an evidence synthesis on urban humanitarian action. The evidence synthesis asks, “What are the practices to identify and prioritize populations affected by urban humanitarian…
This study provides a nuanced understanding of the transformation of violence for women, men, girls and boys in northern Karamoja at the household, community, district and the regional levels. Drivers of…
Migration from rural Karamoja to towns, cities and other rural areas has long been part of local livelihood strategies, but attention to this phenomenon by national and international actors in…
This report presents the findings of research examining the intersection between natural resources and conflict in southern Karamoja, Uganda, from the perspective of local communities. The study and report are…
Karamoja is the poorest and least developed region of Uganda. The population experiences chronic food insecurity, little access to basic services, the weakening of traditional livelihood systems, ongoing insecurity, human…
FEINSTEIN RESEARCH PROJECTS
Feinstein’s work as part of the Apolou project seeks to understand the impacts over time of a shift to an increasingly cash-based economy on different wealth, livelihood, and demographic groups.