Andreas JACOBS is a research associate at the Peace Research Institute Frankfurt (PRIF) and a doctoral candidate at Darmstadt University of Technology, Germany. Andreas studied political science and human geography at Augsburg University in Germany, international relations at Stellenbosch University in South Africa and peace and conflict studies at Coimbra University in Portugal. His current research project focuses on assessing the local impacts associated with the global wave of responsible mining at selected mining sites in East Africa. His prior research projects included an ethnographic analysis of the shifting dynamics of ethno-political violence in impoverished urban areas of Nairobi, Kenya. Andreas has lectured on various issues related to peace and conflict studies including globalization, democracy and development. Andreas worked as a journalist for many years and recently conducted contract work for the German development agency GIZ.