PRESENTATION ABSTRACT: "Conflict and the intergenerational transmission of poverty in Northern Uganda," by Kate Bird and Kate Higgins

The purpose of our study was to explore the relationship between conflict and the intergenerational transmission (IGT), and explored the impact of conflict on education and in turn on poverty trajectories. By focusing on the long run impact of conflict this study provides a contrast to the short term, humanitarian focus of much conflict and post-conflict research. We adopted an iterative Q-squared (combined quantitative and qualitative) approach. Our work draws on analysis of the Northern Uganda Baseline Survey and qualitative field work in communities in Kaberamaido and Pader districts of northern Uganda, where long running conflict and insecurity displaced many people and forced the vast majority into chronic poverty.

Our hypotheses were that conflict and insecurity in Uganda has limited livelihood options and resulted in deep income poverty. We assumed that education is an asset which helps people stay out of poverty during conflict and supports bounce-back post-conflict (resilience). We sought to explore whether these assumptions were true and also to assess the extent to which national education policies and programmes adequately address the needs of conflict and insecurity affected populations, and the extent to which education is prioritised in conflict and post-conflict policies and programmes. Findings from our qualitative research show that the population of the study sites have experienced repeated conflict related shocks which overlaid 'conventional' shocks. Conflict and insecurity in Uganda has resulted in displacement; death and injury; rape, hunger and misery. It has also driven people deep into poverty, limited livelihood options, low returns to labour and poor service delivery.