- Armed conflict and maternal- and child health
- Education and conflict
- Education and crime
- Sexual and gender-based violence
- Children in conflict
- Horizontal inequalities and conflict
- Socioeconomics of Islamist Radicalization
Gudrun Østby
Research Professor
Interests and experience
Gudrun Østby is Research Professor at the Peace Research Institute Oslo (PRIO) and Deputy Editor of the Journal of Peace Research. In 2019-2020 she was a Fulbright visiting scholar at the Center for International Development & Conflict Management, University of Maryland. Much of her research focuses on the socioeconomic consequences of political violence (in particular health and education), conflict-related sexual- and gender-based violence, horizontal inequalities and conflict, Islamist radicalization, and the effectiveness of development aid. Her work has appeared in journals such as Demography, International Studies Quarterly, Journal of Conflict Resolution, Journal of Peace Research, Population and Development Review, Review of Educational Research, Social Science & Medicine, and World Development. She has done consultancy work for i.a. Save the Children, UNESCO, USAID, and the World Bank. She is the recipient of the 2022 Fulbright Best Article of the Year award and is alumna member of the Young Academy of Norway.
Gudrun's complete list of publications is accessible here through Google Scholar.
Projects
All projects
Jan 2025 – Dec 2027
Micro-Foundations of Peace: Bureaucrats, Civilians, and Peacebuilding in Colombia (MicroPeace)
Micro-Foundations of Peace: Bureaucrats, Civilians, and Peacebuilding in Colombia (MicroPeace)
Jan 2025 – Dec 2027
Conflict-related attacks on education in sub-Saharan Africa and children's lost life opportunities (EdAttack)
Conflict-related attacks on education in sub-Saharan Africa and children's lost life opportunities (EdAttack)
Sep 2017 –
Children in Conflict: Basic Mapping
Children in Conflict: Basic Mapping
Jan 2021 – Dec 2022
Norway on the UN Security Council: PRIO Resources
Norway on the UN Security Council: PRIO Resources
Mar 2020 – Jun 2025
The Crime-Reducing Effect of Education: Disaggregating Education and Impact on Violent Crime (CREED)
The Crime-Reducing Effect of Education: Disaggregating Education and Impact on Violent Crime (CREED)
Jan 2019 – Dec 2022
EducAid: Improving Education for Rohingya Refugees from Myanmar Living in Bangladesh
EducAid: Improving Education for Rohingya Refugees from Myanmar Living in Bangladesh
Jan 2019 – Dec 2021
Education and Displacement: An Impact Evaluation of an Accelerated Education Programme in Uganda
Education and Displacement: An Impact Evaluation of an Accelerated Education Programme in Uganda
Nov 2016 – Dec 2017
Inequality and Armed Conflict
Inequality and Armed Conflict
Jan 2016 – Dec 2019
Development Aid, Effectiveness, and Inequalities in Conflict-Affected Societies (DEAFIN)
Development Aid, Effectiveness, and Inequalities in Conflict-Affected Societies (DEAFIN)
Jul 2014 – Jun 2018
Armed Conflict and Maternal Health in Sub-Saharan Africa
Armed Conflict and Maternal Health in Sub-Saharan Africa
Latest publications
All publications
Signe Svallfors et al. (2025)
Armed conflict and birthweight: The role of organized violence and anti-coca fumigation in Colombia
Armed conflict and birthweight: The role of organized violence and anti-coca fumigation in Colombia
Journal article in Social Science & Medicine
Gudrun Østby & Andreas Forø Tollefsen (2025)
Forced displacement and utilization of maternal health care services in host communities: micro-level evidence from Sub-Saharan Africa, 1986–2016
Forced displacement and utilization of maternal health care services in host communities: micro-level evidence from Sub-Saharan Africa, 1986–2016
Journal article in Journal of Refugee Studies
Steffen Hertog et al. (2024)
Fifty Shades of Deprivation: Disaggregating Types of Economic Disadvantage in Studies of Terrorism
Fifty Shades of Deprivation: Disaggregating Types of Economic Disadvantage in Studies of Terrorism
Journal article in International Studies Review
Gudrun Østby & Siri Aas Rustad (2024)
Children Affected by Armed Conflict, 1990–2023
Children Affected by Armed Conflict, 1990–2023
Conflict Trends
Ida Rudolfsen et al. (2024)
War and food insecurity in Ukraine
War and food insecurity in Ukraine
Journal article in World Development
Siri Aas Rustad et al. (2024)
Does development aid reach politically excluded groups? A Disaggregated Study of the Location of Aid in Sub-Saharan Africa
Does development aid reach politically excluded groups? A Disaggregated Study of the Location of Aid in Sub-Saharan Africa
Journal article in Development Policy Review
Gudrun Østby, Siri Aas Rustad & Kristine Helskog (2023)
Children Affected by Armed Conflict, 1990–2022
Children Affected by Armed Conflict, 1990–2022
Conflict Trends
Gudrun Østby et al. (2023)
Left Further Behind after the COVID-19 School Closures: Survey Evidence on Rohingya Refugees and Host Communities in Bangladesh
Left Further Behind after the COVID-19 School Closures: Survey Evidence on Rohingya Refugees and Host Communities in Bangladesh
Journal article in Journal on Education in Emergencies
Kathleen J. Brown, Roos Haer & Gudrun Østby (2023)
Local food price volatility and educational dropout in sub-Saharan Africa
Local food price volatility and educational dropout in sub-Saharan Africa
Journal article in Population and Development Review
Júlia Palik & Gudrun Østby (2023)
Interventions to improve refugee children’s access to education and quality learning: A scoping review of existing impact evaluations
Interventions to improve refugee children’s access to education and quality learning: A scoping review of existing impact evaluations
Journal article in International Review of Education
Latest news
All news
Monday, 24 Feb 2025
Afghan Women’s Struggle for Healthcare: PRIO Highlights Key Barriers and the Role of International Support
Afghan Women’s Struggle for Healthcare: PRIO Highlights Key Barriers and the Role of International Support
After the Taliban’s return, Afghan women face severe restrictions but remain vital in society, especially in the healthcare sector. As the humanitarian crisis deepens, experts discuss concrete steps to support women’s rights and healthcare access.
Tuesday, 13 Aug 2024
Funding Secured to Study Attacks on Education in Africa
Funding Secured to Study Attacks on Education in Africa
PRIO has received funding for an innovative new project titled Conflict-related attacks on education and children’s lost life opportunities. The multi-year ‘EdAttack’ project is funded by the Research Council of Norway.
Thursday, 1 Aug 2024
New JPR Editorial Team
New JPR Editorial Team
Gudrun Østby and Sebastian Schutte are replacing Scott Gates as Editors-in-Chief of the journal, while Juliane Stötter replaces Bertrand Lescher-Nuland as Managing Editor.
Friday, 21 Jun 2024
PRIO awarded FRIPRO funding for two groundbreaking projects
PRIO awarded FRIPRO funding for two groundbreaking projects
The Research Council of Norway announced funding for 21 new projects this week. PRIO was delighted at the funding of two of its projects.
Thursday, 14 Dec 2023
Number of Grave Violations against Children in Conflict Rose 13% in 2022 to Average 76 a Day
Number of Grave Violations against Children in Conflict Rose 13% in 2022 to Average 76 a Day
New report shows 27,638 grave violations against children in conflict took place in 2022.
Thursday, 1 Dec 2022
PRIO Data Reveals One in Six Children Live in a Conflict Zone
PRIO Data Reveals One in Six Children Live in a Conflict Zone
This week Save the Children launched its new report Stop the War on Children: The Forgotten Ones.
Monday, 13 Jun 2022
Fulbright Article Prize 2022 Awarded to Gudrun Østby
Fulbright Article Prize 2022 Awarded to Gudrun Østby
The Fulbright Alumni Association Norway (FAAN) has by scholarly committee awarded Gudrun the Fulbright Article Prize for 2022.
Wednesday, 16 Mar 2022
Open Call for 2024 Special Issue of Journal of Peace Research
Open Call for 2024 Special Issue of Journal of Peace Research
Every year, JPR publishes special issues on topics of high relevance to the field of peace research, and we are now soliciting proposals for the 2024 special issue.
Tuesday, 30 Nov 2021
Record Number of Children at Risk of Being Recruited by Armed Actors
Record Number of Children at Risk of Being Recruited by Armed Actors
Today, Save the Children launched its new report Stop the War on Children: A crisis of recruitment.
Tuesday, 30 Nov 2021
Syria and Yemen Top Statistic on Number of Children at Risk of Recruitment by Armed Actors
Syria and Yemen Top Statistic on Number of Children at Risk of Recruitment by Armed Actors
Save the Children's report Stop the War on Children: A crisis of recruitment shows that, in 2020, almost all children in Syria and Yemen were at risk of recruitment by armed actors.
Latest events
All events
Wednesday, 7 Jun 2023 09:00–10:00 UTC+02
Turning Resolutions Into Results: Ending Cycles of Sexual Violence in Conflict
Turning Resolutions Into Results: Ending Cycles of Sexual Violence in Conflict
Wednesday, 14 Dec 2022 13:00–15:00 UTC+01
Education for Rohingya Refugees in Bangladesh: Community Initiatives, Humanitarian Aid and the Impact of COVID-19
Education for Rohingya Refugees in Bangladesh: Community Initiatives, Humanitarian Aid and the Impact of COVID-19
Tuesday, 24 Sep 2019 08:30–10:00 UTC+02
Improving Education for Rohingya Refugees in Bangladesh
Improving Education for Rohingya Refugees in Bangladesh
19–20 Jan 2018
Women, Peace and Security Research Workshop
Women, Peace and Security Research Workshop
Monday, 23 Oct 2017 12:00–15:30 UTC+02
Fake News and Fact Resistance
Fake News and Fact Resistance
22–23 Sep 2016
Armed Conflict, Maternal- and Child Health, and the Impact of Development Aid in sub-Saharan Africa
Armed Conflict, Maternal- and Child Health, and the Impact of Development Aid in sub-Saharan Africa
Friday, 21 Nov 2014 10:00–13:00 UTC+01
Armed Conflict and Maternal Health
Armed Conflict and Maternal Health
8–10 Jan 2014
PhD Course: Gender, Peace and Security
PhD Course: Gender, Peace and Security
Friday, 7 December 2012
Research Network on Gender, Peace and Security
Research Network on Gender, Peace and Security
Friday, 10 Dec 2010 08:30–16:00 UTC+01
Gender and Conflict Research
Gender and Conflict Research
Latest comments
All comments
Thursday, 31 Oct 2024
473 million Children Live in Conflict Zones
473 million Children Live in Conflict Zones
Thursday, 14 Dec 2023
More and More Children at Risk of Conflict
More and More Children at Risk of Conflict
Wednesday, 30 Nov 2022
Fewer Children Affected by Conflict, but Conflict Intensity Is on the Rise
Fewer Children Affected by Conflict, but Conflict Intensity Is on the Rise
Thursday, 18 Aug 2022
2021 – A Bad Year for World Peace
2021 – A Bad Year for World Peace
Wednesday, 13 Jul 2022
War and Food Insecurity: New Survey Evidence from Ukraine
War and Food Insecurity: New Survey Evidence from Ukraine
Tuesday, 24 May 2022
Украинские женщины участвуют в сопротивлении и должны участвовать в мирных переговорах: новые данные опросов
Украинские женщины участвуют в сопротивлении и должны участвовать в мирных переговорах: новые данные опросов
Saturday, 30 Apr 2022
Українські жінки беруть участь в опорі і мають брати участь у мирних перемовинах: результати нового опитування
Українські жінки беруть участь в опорі і мають брати участь у мирних перемовинах: результати нового опитування
Friday, 29 Apr 2022
Ukrainian Women Engage in Resistance and Should Be in the Peace Talks: New Survey Evidence
Ukrainian Women Engage in Resistance and Should Be in the Peace Talks: New Survey Evidence
Monday, 14 Feb 2022
What Happens to Childhood Vaccine Rates in Conflict Zones? This Analysis Found Some Surprises
What Happens to Childhood Vaccine Rates in Conflict Zones? This Analysis Found Some Surprises
Tuesday, 30 Nov 2021
1 in 8 Children Are at Risk of Being Recruited by Armed Actors
1 in 8 Children Are at Risk of Being Recruited by Armed Actors
Multimedia
Education is Our Only Hope for the Future
Education is Our Only Hope for the Future
Rohingya refugees make films about their struggle for education.
Multimedia
Education Barriers for Rohingya Children
Education Barriers for Rohingya Children
Rohingya refugees make films about their struggle for education.
Multimedia
Rohingya Girl's Education
Rohingya Girl's Education
Rohingya refugees make films about their struggle for education.
Multimedia
Our Dreams and Aspirations
Our Dreams and Aspirations
Rohingya refugees make films about their struggle for education.
Podcast episode
66- Children in Conflict
66- Children in Conflict
Recorded event
Improving Education for Rohingya Refugees in Bangladesh
Improving Education for Rohingya Refugees in Bangladesh
In the media
December 2023
PRIO Researcher Gudrun Østby was mentioned in relation to PRIO’s data in the latest Save the Children report, ‘Stop the War on Children: Let Children Live in Peace,’ by the Italian outlet, Italy24. PRIO’s data was also mentioned in the same context by Korean outlets Civil Reporter and Acrofan.
December 2023
PRIO’s data was used in the Save the Children report, titled ‘Stop the War on Children: Let Children Live in Peace,’ with Gudrun Østby quoted in the press release that was published alongside it. PRIO and Gudrun were mentioned in much of the global media coverage around the report, including by Euronews, the Norwegian newswire NTB, Norwegian newspaper Dagsavisen, Radio Haugaland, ePressi, Italy’s Napoli Magazine, Vatican News and Tus Ultimas Noticias. Gudrun was also interviewed by Channel Africa Radio on the report.
PRIO started listing media appearances on profiles in 2023. Earlier media appearances may not be listed.
Work positions
2019–
Deputy Editor, Journal of Peace ResearchPeace Research Institute Oslo (PRIO)
2018–
Research ProfessorPeace Research Institute Oslo (PRIO)
2021–2022
Research Director, Conditions of Violence and PeacePeace Research Institute Oslo (PRIO)
2017–2019
Editor-in Chief, Journal of Peace ResearchPeace Research Institute Oslo (PRIO)
2011–2017
Deputy Editor, Journal of Peace ResearchPeace Research Institute Oslo (PRIO)
2010–2018
Senior ResearcherPeace Research Institute Oslo (PRIO)
2005–2010
ResearcherPeace Research Institute Oslo (PRIO)
2005–2010
Research Fellow / Phd Candidate, UiODepartment of Political Science, University of Oslo
2004–2005
Research AssistantPeace Research Institute Oslo (PRIO)
2003–2004
Youth Delegate to Kenya Red Cross SocietyNorwegian Red Cross (stationed in Nairobi, Siaya, Embu and Nakuru, Kenya)
