UNDP - USA

U.S. Diplomacy in the Americas: A Conversation with the Diplomatic Corps

2008-12-12T13:11:00.000-08:00

The Assistant Secretary of Western Hemisphere Affairs, Thomas A. Shannon, led a meeting of the Ambassadors to the Western Hemispheric nations at the U.S. Chamber of Commerce. He opened by welcoming all the Ambassadors and other guests and explained that the meeting was being held to examine the context of American diplomacy and assess how the hemisphere has changed in the past 8 years. The

Modernizing Foreign Assistance

2008-12-04T11:00:00.000-08:00

Yesterday, in an attempt to utilize the opportunity a change of executive administration presents, Save the Children sponsored a panel entitled “Modernizing Foreign Assistance: Insights from the United Kingdom.” Panelists included Richard Manning, Chair of the Institute of Development Studies and 35 year Department for International Development veteran, Bill Andersen, former USAID Mission

Innovative Approaches to Food Security

2008-11-19T10:20:00.000-08:00

The Food Crisis has become what many people call “the perfect storm”. A forecasted disaster, a predicted catastrophe produced by a compilation of factors that many people for sought at least 3 years ago. This monster has become a reality, manifesting itself in forms of extreme poverty and hunger, urging policy makers and different agencies to create new ways to tackle it and embrace new ways to

Whither Peace Operations?

2008-11-17T11:26:00.000-08:00

Since the year 2000, critical trends on peace operations and crisis-response missions by both UN and non-UN organizations have shifted. Given the importance of these changes, the US Institute for Peace hosted the launching of “Peace Operations” written by Don C.F. Daniel, with Patricia Taft, and Sharon Wiharta as presenters as well the Special Report: Whither Peace Operations? The book is a

Sweden, the United Nations, and the Responsibility to Protect

2008-11-13T09:20:00.000-08:00

The Embassy of Sweden held an event this past Tuesday dealing with a relatively new theory concerning the international community’s ability to react to humanitarian emergencies. The ‘Responsibility to Protect’, or R2P, is a concept in international relations in which the international community is called upon to intervene in situations where a state is incapable (or unwilling) to act upon

The Business of Urban Transformation

2008-11-12T06:54:00.000-08:00

The Private Sector and Urban DevelopmentWho could’ve imagined Dharavi, a slum in Mumbai, India with a population of 1 million people would be the next gold mine for investment? CHF International, TCG International, and Woodrow Wilson Center’s Comparative Urban Studies Project see the potential, and with this vision they seek to transform urban poverty into a fast growing, productive center for

Taking Action on Hunger and Poverty

2008-10-20T07:35:00.000-07:00

On Friday, October 17, 2008, the United Nations Association hosted a highly informative event at UNIC entitled, “Taking Action on Hunger and Poverty”, as part of the Stand Up and Take Action campaign. The panel was moderated by Anita Sharma, North American Coordinator of the United Nations Millennium Campaign and also included Michael F. Curtin Jr., CEO of DC Central Kitchen and Margot Hoerner,

What do we want? What might we become? Imagining the Future of East Africa

2008-10-15T11:27:00.000-07:00

“East Africa is a beautiful girl called Cea, with her natural resources, her people, and her landscape. She is very aware of her beauty since she has plenty of admirers (donors, colonialists and foreign investors) who offer her many promises and proposals but at the same time Cea is very naïve and has become very proud and vain because of all the attention. When the flattery becomes even louder,

The Adolescent Girls Initiative

2008-10-15T08:01:00.000-07:00

The Adolescent Girls Initiative was launched October 10, 2008 in a moving ceremony held at the World Bank Headquarters. The program is a collaboration of the World Bank and the Nike Foundation, and aims to empower young girls through access to opportunity to assume leadership roles in their communities. The launch ceremony featured influential people in the field of development, including

Can the Middle East Reform?

2008-10-14T11:21:00.000-07:00

Hind Aboud Kabawat spoke at the Woodrow Center for Scholars on Friday, October 10 on the subject of Middle East Reform. She opened by questioning why, in the Middle East, autocratic governments have remained the norm rather than the exception. Despite the unprecedented transfer of wealth to these governments, they have not matured; they still exercise complete and arbitrary power over their

Amnesty International Brings Attention to Pressing International Women’s Issues

2008-10-08T11:20:00.000-07:00

Today, in an informative event hosted by Amnesty International and the DC Women’s Bar Association, panelists Daphne Jayasinghe, Acting Advocacy Director Violence Against Women for Amnesty International USA, Mercedeh Momeni, Former Associate Legal Officer for the Judicial Chambers at United Nations Tribunal for Rwanda, andNicky Smith, Deputy Director Government Relations and Advocacy for

"Advancing Democracy through the United Nations" Panel Discussion

2008-10-06T12:53:00.000-07:00

On October 2, the United Nations Development Program Roundtable series held a panel discussion called Advancing Democracy through the United Nations: The Challenges on the Ground. The panelists at the event included: Erica Barks-Ruggles, Deputy Assistant Secretary for Democracy, Human Rights and Labor, Douglas Gardner, Deputy Director of the Bureau for Development Policy at the UNDP, and Harold

2008-09-26T12:35:00.000-07:00

Philip J. Rutledge Seminar: Leadership and Governance in Africa

2008-09-24T10:40:00.000-07:00

The National Academy for Public Administration (NAPA) created the African Working Group (AWG), whose mission is to “enhance public administration in Africa through strategic collaboration with African partners.” In order to achieve this mission, the AWG holds meetings and symposia to foster an environment of collaboration and learning. This event was focused on Leadership and Governance in

Pakistan’s Leading Reporters: Revolutionizing the Information Flow

2008-09-23T06:56:00.000-07:00

This past Tuesday the Woodrow Wilson Center for International Scholars invited seven of Pakistan’s leading Journalists and News Anchors to speak on the progression of the information flow in Pakistan. Before the discussion even began, the audience already had a brief understanding of the limitations facing Pakistani journalists, as two of the seven journalists where not able to obtain visas in

Development and Security on the Third Border: Counter Terrorism and Counter Proliferation in the Caribbean and Latin America

2008-09-19T09:08:00.000-07:00

“There is no development without security. There is no security without development.” Kofi Anan In the international arena, development and security have not been two of the closest friends. For many, security equals militarization, weapons, and border protection. On the other hand, development is almost always related to poverty reduction, agriculture, and microfinance. Yesterday at the Henry L

NGO briefing on Reconstruction Activities in North East Afghanistan

2008-09-19T08:59:00.000-07:00

On September 11th, 2008, the Department of State invited representatives of Non-Government Organizations to participate in a briefing regarding the current situation in North East Afghanistan. The presenter, Matthew Asada, has been a member of the Foreign Service since 2003, and spent the past year working with a German-led Provincial Reconstruction Team in Kunduz, Afghanistan.Asada opened the

Inter-Korean and US-DPRK Relations

2008-09-15T12:44:00.000-07:00

In light of recent events, Park Jae Kyu, former ROK Minister of Unification, offered a unique perspective and various explanations for the change in relations between North and South Korea. In major diplomatic arenas, such as the Olympics, the world has witnessed their outward behavior change from arriving together at the 2004 Olympics, to arriving separately at this years Beijing Olympics.

Closing the Innovation Gap

2008-09-11T12:49:00.000-07:00

At the Center for Strategic and International Studies, Silicon Valley entrepreneur Judy Estrin, launched the publication of her new book, Closing the Innovation Gap. In a presentation on her views on innovation, the author expressed concerns about the present innovation deficit in our society and explained that without innovation there is no progress. “Our society takes innovation for granted”,

Smart Development Methods Discussed on Capitol Hill

2008-09-09T08:39:00.000-07:00

Yesterday, on Capitol Hill, in an event sponsored by Oxfam America, Jeremy Konyndyk of Mercy Corps, Carla Levine of Care International, and Dr. Michael Carter of the University of Wisconsin discussed successful approaches “smart development.” Each speaker shared a unique perspective on past experiences and projects in international development that proved tremendously successful. Dr. Carter

The Situation in Somalia

2008-09-04T08:19:00.000-07:00

The grave situation in Somalia was discussed today at the Woodrow Wilson International Center for Scholars by Ken Menkhaus, professor at Davidson College, Chris Albin-Lackey, Senior Researcher in the Africa Division of Human Rights Watch, and Harun M. Hassan, a distinguished Somali journalist. While all parties involved generally agreed on the severity and urgency of immediate action to quell

Good News From Kosovo

2008-08-27T13:36:00.000-07:00

In their historic visit to the United States, Kosovo’s President Fatmir Sejdiu and Prime Minister Hashim Thaci proudly detailed the benchmarks achieved by the new republic since declaring independence in February 2008. The former Yugoslav entity and UN transitional protectorate can now usher in with dignity a peaceful and prosperous century following conflict throughout the 1990’s. Although there

The Future of Foreign Assistance

2008-08-13T07:37:00.000-07:00

As many in the Washington, DC policy community look ahead to the reforms and changes that accompany a presidential election, a major point of contention is the future of U.S. foreign assistance. A recent Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Subcommittee hearing investigated the current state of foreign assistance, and heard expert opinions on the path that foreign assistance should

Peace In Zimbabwe?

2008-08-12T13:25:00.000-07:00

Since its March 2008 elections, Zimbabwe has been a state of political turmoil and unrest. When opposition candidate Morgan Tsvangirai of MDC garnered enough votes to require a run-off election, incumbent Robert Mugabe and his Zanu PF party employed a campaign of organized violence to intimidate his opponents into submission. On July 21, the two parties finally signed a Memorandum of

OCHA and InterAction Collaborate to Ensure Success of UN Missions

2008-08-07T08:24:00.000-07:00

Creating the most talented and diversified pool of potential UN Resident and Humanitarian Coordinators (RCs and HCs) is the task ahead for Mr. Mark Prasopa-Plaizier, Manager of the Humanitarian Coordinators Pool for OCHA. On July 28 he met with members of InterAction’s Humanitarian Partnership working group to identify the reasons fueling OCHA’s inability to attract the best potential candidates

The Future of the U.S. Military Presence in Iraq

2008-08-06T12:30:00.000-07:00

With the political atmosphere in Washington DC charged for the upcoming election, there are few issues debated more that the future of US military presence in Iraq? On Friday, July 25th the United States Institute of Peace, USIP, decided to engage those on all sides of this debate for a panel discussion concerning this very subject: The Future of the U.S. Military Presence in Iraq. The speakers

Peace and Stability Operations: What the Experts Think

2008-08-06T07:25:00.000-07:00

The Better World Campaign and the Henry L. Stimson Center sponsored three expert panelists including William Durch, Gayle Smith and Gordon Adams who each provided insightful commentary on their views regarding peace and stability operation overseas.William Durch, who is the Senior Associate and co-Director of the Future of Peace Operations at the Stimson Center and has an extensive career in

Youth Recommendations for a better U.S. - Middle East Relationship

2008-08-01T12:26:00.000-07:00

In one of the world’s most dynamic regions, young people make up relatively 2/3rds of the population and are becoming “an increasingly powerful demographic force” engaged in the political arena. Middle Eastern and American youth met at the Young Global Leaders Forum to promote US-Middle East Relations to foster democratic development in the Middle East and North Africa. This remarkable forum was

Family Planning-A Basic Human Right for Women Everywhere

2008-07-30T11:39:00.000-07:00

The Feminist Majority Foundation Intern Hill Briefing on July 24th effectively stressed the importance of saving and improving women’s lives through global family planning.Craig Lasher, Senior Policy Analyst at Population Action International, began the briefing by reporting a 40% decline in global family planning funding since George W. Bush took office. The year 2008 also marked the seventh

"Fighting Terrorism in the 21st Century"

2008-07-30T08:06:00.000-07:00

In the fight against terrorism, the United States has relied heavily on military solutions. Considering the ideological basis of most violent extremists, strategic communications and public diplomacy seem to be more effective deterrents. The Honorable Adam Smith (D-WA) and The Honorable Mac Thornberry (R-TX), both members of the House Armed Services Subcommittee on Terrorism, Unconventional

A New Time and Age for European Diaspora Communites

2008-07-29T08:49:00.000-07:00

In a world that is increasingly borderless, the role and sway of Diaspora communities has never been greater. Leaders of three unique Diaspora organizations gathered at the Washington, DC Chapter of the Society for International Development June 27 to speak of immigration trends from their respective nations and to describe the focus and influence of their policies. Like many Diaspora

Modernizing Foreign Assistance

2008-07-29T07:51:00.000-07:00

Representatives from a cross-section of NGO’s, including the Modernizing Foreign Assistance Network (M-FAN), InterAction, and the International Center for Research on Women, convened at Women Thrive Worldwide July 21 to discuss foreign assistance reform. Participants at this month’s ‘Gender, Poverty and Foreign Working Group Meeting’ agreed that a new Foreign Assistance Act must be enacted to

Islamist Parties and Democracy

2008-07-29T07:30:00.000-07:00

The rise of Islamist Parties throughout the globe has restructured the historical debate regarding Islam and democracy not only as a theoretical issue but now as a policy concern. The July 2008 issue of the Journal of Democracy presents various essays containing experts’ opinions on this issue to “highlight the key points of controversy in assessing the implications of the rise of Islamist

Progress and Challenges in Malawi’s Educational System

2008-07-28T11:25:00.000-07:00

As the movement to reduce global gender inequality is gaining speed with international agencies like the UN (it is one of eight Millennium Development Goals), it is becoming increasingly apparent that improving the global education system is key to lessening the gender gap. Dr. Shirley Miske, who has worked with USAID, UNICEF, and CARE-US in over 30 countries reforming educational systems,

The Critical Link Between Development Aid and National Security

2008-07-25T12:29:00.000-07:00

The Millennium Challenge Corporation along with the Center for Strategic and International Studies sponsored three diverse panelists to convey their opinions regarding "the critical link between development aid and national security.” These panelists included Dr. Stephen Brent, chair of the Department of Economics at the National Defense University, Jennifer Cooke, co-director of the Africa

Can Businesses Do Well By Doing Good?

2008-07-23T12:57:00.000-07:00

For years, the public sector and the private sector were seen as fundamentally different arenas. Today, that perception is changing. The United Nations Development Program's (UNDP) new Growing Inclusive Markets Initiative explores opportunities for cooperation between the public and private sectors, and presents strategies for developing partnerships between the two. The first report of this

Stop Rape Now! UNDP official speaks out

2008-07-22T13:59:00.000-07:00

On July 17th, Kathleen Cravero, Director of the UN Development Program's Bureau for Crisis Prevention and Recovery spoke to the Women's Foreign Policy Group. An excerpt from Ms. Cravero's remarks is below:The first-recorded international war crimes trial – for “conduct unbecoming a knight” – took place in 1474. The charge included rape, and the penalty was death. Yet it was just last month–over

UN Fights Terror With Law

2008-07-22T09:14:00.000-07:00

On Friday July 11th Alistair Millar, director of the Center on Global Counterterrorism Cooperation, in conjunction with Mike Smith, Executive Director of Counter-Terrorism Executive Directorate provided their thoughts on the multiple successes of counterterrorism efforts over the past 30 years. According to Smith, while the United Nations has outwardly acknowledged the rising issue of terrorism

Small and Medium-sized Enterprise Finance

2008-07-17T13:29:00.000-07:00

The speakers included Mildred Callear, the COO of the Small Enterprise Assistance Fund, Harold Rosen, Founder of the Grassroots Business Initiative, and John Simon, Senior Vice President of Overseas Private Investor Corporation.As Washington DC popularizes foreign assistance through continued overseas micro-financing, these three speakers described the key changes that need to take place, and the

Is That Steak You’re Eating? Or Could It Be Elephant?

2008-07-16T11:56:00.000-07:00

“Bushmeat” refers to meat from a wild animal that is sold commercially. Although this action occurs all over the world, it is particularly problematic in the tropical forests of Central Africa. At a recent meeting of the Society for International Development’s Africa Working Group, Ms. Natalie Bailey of the Bushmeat Crisis Task Force explained the environmental impacts of the bushmeat trade. The

Security and Development Workgroup

2008-07-14T13:23:00.000-07:00

The Society for International Development put together a panel of experts to host an informal conversation regarding security issues in international development. Panelists included Jeff Abramson, the Managing Editor of Arms Control Today at Arms Control Association; Richard Hill, the Senior Director of Transition States at International Development Group-RTI International; and James D. Schmitt,

Empower and Engage

2008-07-14T11:39:00.000-07:00

Liberia was one of the first African republics with a Declaration of Independence and an operating civil society. However, a military coup led by Samuel Doe against indigenous marginalization marked the beginning of a 10 year indigenous military rule. In 1989, Charles Taylor and his National Patriotic Front of Liberia (NFPL) overthrew Doe’s repressive and corrupt government. Later Taylor’s own

Reconstructing Iraq and Afghanistan

2008-07-10T08:50:00.000-07:00

In the aftermath of United States military campaigns in Iraq and Afghanistan, development is an increasingly important issue. Provincial Reconstruction Teams (PRTs), one approach to post-conflict reconstruction, are military units comprised of civilian development experts and military personnel. While PRTs are designed to assist and rebuild devastated areas of Iraq and Afghanistan, they have

Broadcasting, Voice and Accountability

2008-07-09T08:01:00.000-07:00

Media plays an important political role by publicizing government actions, providing checks and balances to those actions and giving citizens an outlet for expression. These functions are particularly important in developing countries, where fledgling governments struggle to find a balance between maintaining control and improving quality of life for their citizens. To facilitate the role of the

Fighting Impunity: High Stakes in the East and Horn of Africa

2008-07-09T06:40:00.000-07:00

On June 26th, NED (National Endowment for Democracy) hosted “Fighting Impunity: High Stakes in the East and Horn of Africa” featuring Hassan Shire Sheikh of the East and Horn of Africa Human Rights Defenders Network (EHAHRDN) and Bronwyn Bruton of the Council on Foreign Relations and the Center for International Private Enterprise. Bronwyn introduced Hassan with the story of his organization’s

Is peace possible for Sudan?

2008-07-03T08:55:00.000-07:00

The event Peace in Sudan: Implementing the Comprehensive Peace Agreement, sponsored by the Brookings Institute on June 27, included a wide variety of panelists from Amnesty International, the Sudanese government, and the U.S. Department of State. The panel discussed the Comprehensive Peace Agreement’s accomplishments thus far, as well as current obstacles to peace and security that remain in

A Book Discussion with Author Didier Jacobs

2008-07-01T08:24:00.000-07:00

Sponsored by the World Bank Infoshop, this informative and impassioned panel discussion was centered around Didier Jacobs’ first book, Global Democracy: The Struggle for Political and Civil Rights in the 21st Century (published by Vanderbilt University Press).It included panelists John Garrison of the World Bank Civil Society, Ann Florini, a Senior Fellow of Foreign Policy at the Brookings

Resettled Refugees Remember Those Left Behind

2008-06-30T06:21:00.000-07:00

June 20, 2008 marked the eight annual World Refugee Day, a bittersweet day of remembrance for the over 11 million refugees and 26 million internally displaced people. It is unfortunate, recalled numerous presenters, that this day must be celebrated, but it is fortunate to hear the hopeful and inspiring stories of refugees who have ameliorated their lives and to hear of the countless volunteers

Beijing+13: Women’s Rights Revisited

2008-06-27T11:52:00.000-07:00

On Thursday June 26th, the United Nations Development Program presented a panel of politically and professionally successful women to address the on-going absence of women in prominent political offices. The panel featured guest speaker Winnie Byanyima, the director of the Gender Team for the UNDP, a previous Member of Parliament, and women’s rights activist in Uganda. Also present were

A New Season of Law and Order in Nigeria

2008-06-25T07:30:00.000-07:00

Today’s presenter Okechukwu Nwanguma, project head for campaign operations and periodic reports at the Civil Liberties Organization (CLO) in Lagos, gave a moving and informative presentation that highlighted the need for significant police reform in Nigeria. According to Nwanguma, the role of civil society in creating and sustaining these reforms must be explicitly defined and significantly

How the State of Utah is Addressing Global Challenges

2008-06-24T11:45:00.000-07:00

The Center for Strategic and International Studies, CSIS, hosted Governor Jon M. Huntsman (R-Utah) on June 23, 2008 to discus the role of states in “A Local Perspective on Global Challenges and Opportunities.” As a part of the Smart Power series, this discussion was designed to address the role the US and state actors play in how the country integrates soft and hard power to better balance

Evaluating the “Doing Business” Indicators

2008-06-24T07:21:00.000-07:00

The "Doing Business" indicators are an annual ranking system compiled by the World Bank to assess the ease of doing business in over 178 countries. These rankings are often used as an indication of development progress; accordingly there is substantial concern about the accuracy of the report and the composition of the different indicators. To address these concerns, the Independent Evaluation

Is Militarization Undermining U.S. Foreign Policy Goals?

2008-06-23T13:41:00.000-07:00

International development experts and policy makers, from non-profit offices to think tanks to Capitol Hill, are concerned about the United States' attitude towards foreign assistance. In recent years, the military has taken an increasingly large role in development issues that can be addressed by civilian federal agencies. Dr. Gordon Adams, an American University professor and Distinguished

A New Millennium of Knowledge? The Arab Human Development Report

2008-06-20T08:35:00.000-07:00

On June 16, the Brookings Project on U.S. Relations with the Islamic World released “A New Millennium of Knowledge? The Arab Human Development Report on Building a Knowledge Society, Five Years On,” written by Saban Center Fellow Dr. Kristin Lord. This compelling report discusses 22 Arab nations, rich with a history of extraordinary intellectual accomplishment, that today continually fall behind

‘More than Just Numbers: Using the Media Sustainability Index to Fuel Development’

2008-06-20T06:45:00.000-07:00

After years of analyzing the freedom of media systems in Europe and Eurasia, the International Researches and Exchanges Board has extended its Media Sustainability Index (MSI) to Sub-Saharan Africa. Since 1999 the MSI has become an important benchmark for measuring the changes of media systems over time and across borders. The media plays an important role in the development of impoverished

Education is Vital in the Western Balkans

2008-06-19T11:38:00.000-07:00

As membership in the European Union becomes increasingly competitive, post-conflict countries in the Western Balkans must focus on strategies to increase their levels of development. Dr. Arben Hajrullahu, a fellow at the Woodrow Wilson International Center for Scholars, is currently conducting research on strategies to achieve peace and stability in the Western Balkans. His work reveals that

Channeling your inner-Ronald Reagan: An Afternoon of Advocacy Training

2008-06-19T09:26:00.000-07:00

As this year’s annual UNA USA conference came to a close, members left with a heightened sense of confidence, purpose and self-awareness which will prove advantageous and instrumental in their future advocacy campaigns. Following an afternoon of communications training with the Truman National Security Project, attendees learned effective techniques to persuasively connect with their

"United Nations Emergency Peace Service: One Step Toward Effective Genocide Prevention"

2008-06-18T10:28:00.000-07:00

The United Nations is repeatedly criticized for the inefficiency of its peacekeeping missions. In response to this problem, some experts propose the creation of a United Nations Emergency Peace Service (UNEPS). This standing force with first-response capability would fill the void between outbreaks of violence and full deployment of a traditional peacekeeping mission. At a forum sponsored by

'Engineering Change through Education'

2008-06-17T13:19:00.000-07:00

Education, argues the honored Dr. Sarah E. Moten at todays luncheon with the National Academy of Public Administration's Africa Working Group, is the soundest investment a country can make it its future. It creates a mold for innovative, aware and confident leaders who will be able to creatively address future challenges. The US Agency for International Development (

Student Luncheon at Africare

2008-06-17T12:02:00.001-07:00

On Thursday the 12th of June, undergraduate students were granted the opportunity to have lunch with the distinguished Mr. Julius Coles to learn about the organization Africare. Mr. Coles, a former senior official with USAID and a graduate of Princeton’s Woodrow Wilson School of Public and International Affairs, has served as the president of Africare since 2002. Africare is the oldest and

Recognizing Excellence in the Non-Profit Community

2008-06-17T11:04:00.000-07:00

The Washington Post Award for Excellence in Non-Profit Management, now in its 14th year, is a competition organized by the Center for Non-Profit Advancement that recognizes outstanding non-profit organizations for their innovative practices. The Washington Tennis and Education Foundation is the 2008 recipient of the award. MVLE, Inc. and the Urban Alliance Foundation were also finalists.

Rogue Economics

2008-04-16T09:41:00.000-07:00

Loretta Napoleoni’s quest to identify the failures of capitalism and explore the essence of globalization is presented in her most recent book, Rogue Economics: Capitalism’s New Reality. Napoleoni discussed her book at the Center for Strategic International Studies and spoke about the different issues that the novel examines. To delve into the heart of her novel, Napoleoni organized a

New Study Sheds Light on the IDP Situation in Colombia

2008-04-08T07:08:00.000-07:00

Christine Oberli spoke on April 7, 2008 at Interaction in Washington DC about the International Committee for Red Cross’s (ICRC) operations in Colombia. As head of assistance programs in Colombia, Ms. Oberli highlighted a new study that the ICRC commissioned in conjunction with the World Food Program. The research study examines internally displaced persons in Colombia and the effectiveness and

MINUSTAH at Four Years

2008-04-08T06:10:00.000-07:00

Thursday, April 3, 2008MINUSTAH AT FOUR YEARSPanelists: Joel Boutroue, Deputy Special Representative of MINUSTAH and Humanitarian/Resident Coordinator of the United Nations System in charge of humanitarian and development issues In 2004, the United Nations Security Council determined that the situation in Haiti continued to threaten international peace and security in the region. As a

Are the Millennium Development Goals Unfair to Africa?

2008-02-20T11:51:00.000-08:00

William Easterly, an economic professor at New York University, presented a provocative discussion concerning the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) and how they affect perception concerning developmental progress in Africa. During the event, he presented his findings in the report “How the Millennium Development Goals Are Unfair to Africa.” In the report, he examined the indicators used to

Prospects for Iraqi Reconciliation

2008-02-11T07:27:00.000-08:00

Prospects for Iraqi National Reconciliation: Searching for a PlanThursday February 7, 2008Featured Speakers: Mustafa Safwat Rashid Sidqi (Reagan-Fascell Democracy Fellow), and Michael Rubin (American Enterprise Institute) Since the fall of Saddam Hussein, Iraqi reconciliation has been a volatile issue plaguing the United States and the world. A Parliament, a Constitution, and

Girls Count

2008-02-06T12:04:00.000-08:00

Girls Count: A Global Investment and Action AgendaFeatured Speakers: Kathy Calvin, Margaret Greene, Caren Grown, Laura Laski, Ruth Levine, Joan Libby-Hawk, Cynthia Lloyd, Caroline RyanThe importance of investing time, energy, and funding into the world’s young female population is clear and undisputed. Young females across the globe are undoubtedly crucial to developmental progress and to the

UNGO Briefing on U.S. Foreign Aid

2008-02-05T13:44:00.000-08:00

Thursday, January 31, 2008State DepartmentUNGO Briefing on U.S. Foreign Aid: Past, Present, and FutureSponsored by: Women’s Foreign Policy GroupSpeakers:Nazanin Ash (The Secretary’s Policy Planning Department, responsible for foreign assistance and aid effectiveness issues). Daniel Rosenblum (Deputy Coordinator in the State Department’s Office of the Coordinator for U.S. Assistance to Europe and

Climate Change: The Next Global Security Threat

2008-02-01T08:26:00.000-08:00

Speaker: Johan Eliasch (The UK Prime Minister’s Special Representative for Deforestation and Clean Energy)Although national security is the very top priority for nations across the globe, not enough emphasis is being put on climate change; what Johan Eliasch calls “the next global security threat”. In his lecture, he discussed our options the first of which was: do nothing.If we do nothing, he

Indonesia Today and its US Relations

2008-01-29T08:49:00.000-08:00

Featured Speakers: Former President Bacharuddin Jusuf Habibie On January 29, the US-Indonesia Society hosted many distinguished members of the international community for a breakfast with former President B.J Habibie of Indonesia. President Habibie is the President credited with bringing democracy to the country by opening the media, increasing human liberties, and introducing the largest

Health Systems and the Emerging International Health Architecture

2008-01-28T12:37:00.000-08:00

Host: Center for Global DevelopmentDate: January 23, 2008Speaker: Julian SchweitzerUNDP-USA Representative: Saphonia Foster In a discussion concerning health systems and collaborative efforts to improve international health initiatives, the World Bank’s Director of Health, Nutrition and Population, Julian Schweitzer, emphasized the need for horizontal integration. He stated that

Pakistan's Upcoming Election: A View from the Late Benazir Bhutto's Pakistan People's Party

2008-01-25T10:54:00.001-08:00

Featured Speakers:Javaid Laghari (Senator of Pakistan, Pakistan’s People’s Party-PPP)Sherry Rehman (Member of Parliament- National Assembly of Pakistan, President of Central Policy Planning and Central Information, Secretary of PPP)Bruce Reidel (Senior Fellow, Brooking Institution)On December 27, 2007 Benazir Bhutto, former Prime Minister and leader of Pakistan’s People’s Party (PPP), was

INFRASTRUCTURE INTEGRATION AND ENVIRONMENTAL PRESERVATION IN THE AMAZON

2008-01-22T12:43:00.001-08:00

Time and Date: Wednesday, January 16 2008, 12:00 p.m. - 5:30 p.m.Location: The Wilson InstituteUNDP-USA Representative: Saphonia FosterThomas E. Lovejoy, President, The Heinz Center Timothy J. Killeen, Senior Research Scientist, Center for Applied Biodiversity Science, Conservation International and author of the CI report on IIRSA Gustavo Fonseca, Head of the Natural Resources Management Team of

Kenya: Assessing the Political and Humanitarian Crisis

2008-01-22T08:27:00.000-08:00

January 16, 2008 Opening Remarks by: Michael Ranneberger (U.S. Ambassador to Kenya) Featured Speakers: Bukard Oberle (World Food Program Country Director, Kenya), Sam Kona (Center for Conflict Resolution, University of Cape Town, South Africa) David Throup (Senior Associate, CSIS), Mark Bellamy (Visiting Fellow, CSIS Africa Program, Former U.S. Ambassador to Kenya) Moderated by:

How PEPFAR is adapting to the Aid Effectiveness Challenge

2008-01-17T07:02:00.000-08:00

Featured Speaker: Ambassador Mark R. Dybul, US Global AIDS Coordinator Date:Monday January 14, 2008 Time:12:00 pm - 2:00 pm Location:The German Marshall Fund of the United States UNDP-USA Representative: Saphonia FosterThe German Marshall Fund of the United States hosted an engaging discussion concerning the President's Emergency Plan

A FAREWELL TO ALMS

2008-01-15T12:03:00.000-08:00

Featured Speaker: George Clark In a provocative lecture George Clark, professor at the University of California, Davis, presented his theories concerning the developmental history of the world. He exposed his findings in the new book “A Farewell to Alms” and shared his thoughts on conventional wisdom concerning economic growth and development. The lecture was held at the University of

Kenya: A Post-Election Assessment

2008-01-14T12:34:00.000-08:00

Featured Speakers: Calestous Juma (Professor at Harvard University), Maina Kiai (Chairman of the Kenya National Commission on Human Rights (in Kenya) ), Joel D. Barkan (Senior Associate at the Africa Program at the Center for Strategic International Studies), Stephen N. Ndegwa (visiting scholar, Lead Public Sector Governance Specialist at the World Bank)Moderator: Ambassador Johnnie Carson (

Rule of Law and Democracy in Central America: The 2007 Central American Report on Legal and Institutional Governance

2007-11-20T11:44:00.000-08:00

Featured Speakers: Jaime Ordonez, Observatory for Democracy in Central America, Olav Kjorven, United Nations Development Program, Adrian Torrealba-Navas, Latin-American Association of Tax Law, moderator: Diego Abente, International Forum for Democratic StudiesFinding a way to accurately report on the effectiveness of democracy has been a struggle. Many have attempted to utilize methodologies

Empowerment of Women in Africa

2007-11-08T09:23:00.000-08:00

Featured Speakers: Ms. Roshini Thinakaran, filmmaker, National Geographic Emerging Explorer 2007; Ms. Ruth Mufute, Acting Regional Director Anglophone East/West Africa, Africare; Baroness Amos, UK candidate for EU Special Representative to the AU; Her Excellency Inonge Mbikusita-Lewanika, Ambassador, Republic of Zambia; Her Excellency Faida Mitifu, Ambassador, Democratic Republic of CongoWomen

Housing Challenges and Opportunities in Sub-Saharan Africa

2007-11-02T08:52:00.000-07:00

Featured Speakers: Stephen W. Giddings, consultant, International Housing Coalition Urbanization in Africa is happening at an alarming rate, and by 2030 Africa will be more urban than rural. However, while the rate of urbanization is increasing, it has not caused poverty to decrease, and in some areas poverty has actually increased. Because of this, poverty alleviation efforts must focus

Empowering Women: Promoting Growth

2007-10-26T11:25:00.000-07:00

Featured Speakers: Acting USAID Administrator Henrietta Fore; Minister of Finance, Republic of Liberia Dr. Antoinette Sayeh; VP and CEO, International Financial Corporation Lars Thunell; Manager of Doing Business Project Simeon Djankov As women begin to play an increasingly significant role within the system of developing nations, reports have been conducted to assess the economic growth that

Event Title: Gender Justice: A Citizen’s Guide to Gender Accountability at International Financial Institutions

2007-10-23T12:14:00.001-07:00

Featured Speakers: Suzanna Davis International Financial Institutions (IFIs) focus on development issues, such as poverty alleviation and the reduction of HIV/AIDS. However, many of the projects they undertake do not take into consideration the issue of gender equality and can actually harm a sect of the population, namely women and children. While many IFIs have established accountability

Adapting to Climate Variability and Change

2007-10-23T12:12:00.002-07:00

Featured Speakers: John Furlow, USAID Global Climate Change Team, and Glen Anderson, Senior Manager of the Environment and Natural Resources Division of the International Resource Group Climate change is detrimental to less-developed countries that do not have the resources to prepare against its effects. At “Adapting to Climate Variability and Change,” John Furlow and Glen Anderson of USAID

Book launch "The Challenge of Rural Electrification: Strategies for Developing Countries”

2007-10-23T12:12:00.001-07:00

Featured Speakers: Jamal Saguir, S. Vijay Iyer, Elizabeth Cecelski The authors of the book explained how the issue of providing energy to poor areas is possible. There is a wide rage of options in terms of approaches, but it is certainly not an easy task. They highlighted the success of countries such as Thailand and Costa Rica and the way in which they achieved rural electrification.

Book Launch “Trade Imbalance: The Struggle to Weight Human Rights Concerns in Trade Policymaking"

2007-10-23T12:02:00.001-07:00

Featured Speakers: Jamie Zimmerman and Susan Aaronson (authors of book), Bernard Hoekman, John Ruggie, and Armand Pereira Dr. Aaronson, professor at George Washington University, and Jamie Zimmerman, Senior Advisor to the Global Assets Project at the New America Foundation, led a discussion to promote their new book which focuses on trade policies and there relationship with human rights

UNDP Washington Roundtable Presents Reducing Poverty and Deepening Citizenship: Innovative Social Policy for Strengthening Democracies

2007-10-11T07:02:00.000-07:00

Featured Speakers: Francis Fukuyama and Rebeca Grynspan The developing countries of the world are faced with relentless problems of inequality and poverty. By implementing innovative policies there is a possibility that developing nations can achieve a better standard of living, while strengthening citizenship. For example, South Korea was once viewed as a hopeless developing country

Bridging Modernity and Tradition: Rule of Law and the Search for Justice in Afghanistan

2007-10-04T12:27:00.001-07:00

Featured Speakers: Dr. Ali Wardak, Dr. Barnett Rubin, and J Alexander Their Afghanistan’s government is currently struggling to achieve a modern judicial system. Hoping to be able to bridge the old traditions of judiciary rule with a revamped and democratic system, the Afghan government is progressing at a slow pace. Some of the major contributors to this development, who are working

Amnesty after Atrocity?: Healing Nations after Genocide and War Crimes

2007-10-04T12:26:00.002-07:00

Featured Speakers: Helena Cobban, author; Dick Ruffin, Executive Committee of Initiatives of Change International; Ian Bannon, Manager of the Conflict Prevention and Reconstruction Unit, World Bank. Helena Cobban opened the discussion of her book launch by expressing her interest in justice and accountability in post-conflict societies. She focused her attention on three case studies:

Celebrity Diplomacy: Challenges and Opportunities

2007-10-04T12:26:00.001-07:00

Featured Speakers: David Biette, Director, Canada Institute; Andrew Cooper, Associate Director and Distinguished Fellow, Center for International Governance and Innovation; John Marks, President and Founder, Search for Common Ground This event shed light on how celebrities have historically played a role in international diplomacy and how that role is changing. Previously celebrities

Unintentional Consequences of International Philanthropy

2007-10-04T12:25:00.001-07:00

Featured Speakers: Perry Gottesfeld, Executive Director of Occupational Knowledge International, San Francisco International development projects funded by foundations and the public sector have in recent years been increasingly subject to empirical measurement and assessment tools. New rigor has entered the field and both large and small funders have taken note. Noticeably lacking,

Examining Environmental Links to Peace and Conflict in Sudan: UNEP Assessment

2007-10-04T12:24:00.001-07:00

Featured Speakers: Ibrahim Thiaw, UNEP; Andrew Morton, Sudan Project Coordinator, UNEP Andrew Morton presented a brief of the UNEP assessment of the environmental impacts of post-conflict Sudan. The report focused on the environmental degradation of the various ecosystems of Sudan, which include the desert-like conditions of the north and the tropical forests of the south. Morton

A Healthy U.S. Farm Policy in a Globalized World

2007-10-04T12:23:00.002-07:00

Featured Speakers: Ousmane Badiane Senior Research Fellow and Africa Coordinator, IFPRI ; David Beckmann, President of Bread for the World; Kimberly Elliott, Senior Fellow, Center of Global Development, Congressman Ron Kind, Rachel Nugent, Senior Program Associate, Center of Global Development; and Professor Barry Popkin, the University of North Carolina The Farm Bill was passed by the

The Challenge of Participation in Peace, Stability, and Relief Operations

2007-10-04T12:23:00.001-07:00

Featured Speakers: Ambassador John Herbst, U.S. Department of State; MG David Fastabend, United States Army; David Harland, Department of Peacekeeping Operations of the United Nations; Sam Worthington, President of Interaction The event featured a representation of entities that play an important role in peacekeeping operations, with departments such as the U.S. Department of State, U.S.

Friends Indeed? The United Nations, Groups of Friends, and the Resolution of Conflict

2007-10-04T12:22:00.001-07:00

Featured Speakers: Teresa Whitfield, Social Science Research Council; Chester A. Crocker, School of Foreign Service at Georgetown University; Karin von Hippel, Center for Strategic and International Studies. Wednesday’s panel discussion of the United Nations and Groups of “Friends” organizations focused on the successes and failures of Groups of Friends organizations in resolving global

Can We Make Poverty History?

2007-10-04T12:20:00.000-07:00

Featured Speakers: Adele Simmons, Ph.D. President, Global Philanthropy Partnership This event focused on the role and importance of non-governmental organizations (NGOs) and foundations in reducing poverty. Dr. Simmons stated that philanthropy cannot save the world, but it can do a lot. However, these foundations need to be supported by new ideas in order to be effective. In many cases,

Does the IMF Constrain Health Spending in Poor Countries?

2007-10-04T12:19:00.002-07:00

Featured Speakers: David Goldsbrough, Visiting Fellow, Center for Global Development Ambassador Amina Salum Ali, Permanent Representative of the African Union to the U.S. Abdoulaye Bio-Tchane, Director, African Development, International Monetary Fund Jose Sulemane, Former Director for Planning and Budget, Ministry of Finance, Mozambique; Current Advisor to IMF Executive Director

Distinguished Women in International Affairs series: Women in the Arab World: Law and Practice

2007-10-04T12:19:00.001-07:00

Featured Speakers: Her Excellency Sheikha Haya Rashed Al Khalifa Her Excellency Sheikha Haya Rashed Al Khalifa, president of the United Nations General Assembly, was the featured speaker of George Washington University’s first seminar on Distinguished Women in International Affairs. Her Excellency’s main focus was the comparison of five Arab countries stance on women’s rights and the

Global Business, Ethics and Partnerships: Defining a New Bottom Line

2007-10-04T12:18:00.000-07:00

Featured Speakers: Rajan Kamalanathan (Vice President for Ethical Standards, Wal-Mart Stores, Inc.) Wal-mart, the largest retailer in the world has taken the initiative to develop a socially responsible program within its supply chain. This program establishes higher environmental and ethical standards in order to provide the consumer with sustainable-zero waste products and address labor

SID-Washington 50th Anniversary Event: Foreign Assistance in the 21st Century

2007-10-04T12:16:00.000-07:00

Featured Speakers: Henrietta H. Fore, USAID Acting USAID Administrator Henrietta H. Fore was the featured speaker for SID-Washington’s 50th Anniversary Event on September 6, 2007. Ms. Fore, designated to her post by President George W. Bush on May 7, 2007, discussed her current views and future intentions of US foreign aid. The key concept of her future plans is a “global development

Communications for Development and Social Change

2007-10-04T09:32:00.000-07:00

Featured Speakers: Javier Ampuero, Director of the Media Production Center, Natalia Vaccarezza, Programs Director of La Asociacion de Comunicadores Sociales Calandria; PCI-Media Impact and La Asociacion de Comunicadores Sociales Calandria (Calandria) formed a regional partnership combining their local talents and experience in the area of development communications. Together they worked to