Mixed-Methods Research on Inter-Faith Dynamics and Violent Extremism in Northern Mozambique

Albany Associates is a global consultancy specializing in strategic communications, governance, and stabilization. The client sought to understand inter-faith dynamics and the role of religious leaders in preventing and countering violent extremism, focusing on how violent extremist organizations exploit religious and ethnic divisions to recruit vulnerable individuals.

We conducted an extensive study to analyze the complex religious and ethnic landscape across six districts in Cabo Delgado, Nampula, and Niassa provinces. Conducting research in this region required a team that could navigate security risks, secure research permissions, engage diverse religious and ethnic groups with sensitivity, and ensure reliable data collection in hard-to-reach communities. During data collection, heavy rains and flooding made in-person interviews difficult, requiring Nurai to quickly pivot to phone-based interviews to keep the project on track. Despite these obstacles, we obtained approvals and completed data collection in only nine weeks, ensuring high-quality insights while adapting to difficult field conditions.

Our approach included:

• 900 structured in-person and phone surveys

• 42 in-depth interviews with youth, parents, faith leaders, and community representatives

Nurai delivered a fully cleaned and quality-assured dataset, and a summary report with key findings in an easy-to-use bullet-point format. The research showed how violent extremist organizations exploit economic and social vulnerabilities to recruit individuals, particularly among displaced persons, financially struggling youth, and socially isolated community members. It analyzed how different religious and ethnic groups interacted, identifying both drivers of cohesion and sources of tension.