Forthcoming events

22 Feb, ODI: A new business model for humanitarian assistance?

2010-02-08T14:55:10.000Z

When: Mon Feb 22, 2010 1pm to 2:30pm GMT

Where: ODI
Event Status: confirmed
Event Description: This meeting will provide an opportunity to discuss the proposals of the Global Agenda Council on Humanitarian Assistance, for a New Business Model of Humanitarian Assistance. The speakers will be Simon Maxwell, Council Chair, and Dan Smith, a member of the Council. Through conflict and natural disaster, millions are affected by humanitarian crisis each year - and the number is rising. The current crisis in Haiti has highlighted how the lack of national capacity can exacerbate a situation and increase the suffering of victims. Can we do better? The Global Agenda Council on Humanitarian Assistance, set up under the auspices of the World Economic Forum, has sought to answer this question, proposing a new business model which lays more emphasis on risk management and disaster prevention and preparedness, and which also describes a new role for the private sector. Speakers: Dan Smith - Secretary General, International Alert Simon Maxwell - Senior Research Associate, ODI and Chair, GAC on Humanitarian Affairs Discussant: Paul Harvey - Partner, Humanitarian Outcomes Chair: Alison Evans - Director, ODI An ODI public event.

29 Jan, ODI: Developing country responses to the food price spike: what have we learned?

2010-01-22T17:58:17.000Z

When: Fri Jan 29, 2010 1pm to 2:30pm GMT

Where: ODI
Event Status: confirmed
Event Description: Visit ODI's online events booking system at http://apps.odi.org.uk/events to book a place. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Speakers: Selected participants from the two-day workshop preceding the event Chair: Steve Wiggins - Research Fellow and Programme Leader, ODI When cereal prices rose dramatically on world markets in late 2007 and early 2008, many developing countries reacted energetically to moderate the impact on domestic food prices and ameliorate hardships to local consumers. This public meeting will present the key messages from a two-day workshop hosted by ODI on the results of research into the reactions of developing country governments and non-governmental organisations, asking what was done and how effective these measures were

2 Feb, ODI: Governance and accountability in health care delivery: raising performance in developing and transition countries

2010-01-22T17:59:20.000Z

When: Tue Feb 2, 2010 5:30pm to 7pm GMT

Where: ODI
Event Status: confirmed
Event Description: Speaker: Maureen Lewis - Advisor, Development Economics Department, World Bank Maureen Lewis will present a framework for thinking about governance issues as a way to improve performance in the health sector, and enhance the impact of investments in that sector. Basing her arguments on a wide range of evidence from low and middle income countries, she will explore what we do and do not know about effective solutions to advance good governance and performance in health service delivery, drawing on existing research and documented experience. An ODI and World Bank public event.

Interhealth:Building Resilience Under Pressure and Managing Others in High Stress Environments

2010-01-07T15:22:35.000Z

When: Tue Feb 2, 2010

Where: Interhealth, 111 Westminster Bridge Road, London
Event Status: confirmed
Event Description: In partnership with The Management Centre This interactive and engaging workshop is led by InterHealth's Psychological Health team, and focuses on managing cumulative stress among staff, working more effectively in high stress environments and maximising resilience in individuals and teams. It is a one-day training, suitable for any Emergency Team leaders, Regional Directors, Country Directors or those with direct line management responsibility in fragile/high pressure environments. "An interesting day, with a good opportunity to meet professional peers. An important training course for anyone who has started, or about to start, a career that involves dealing with people working under extreme pressure, such as humanitarian aid workers in conflict zones" Sera Ortzel, Deployments Manager, CHASE OT, DFID For more information, our workshop flyer and booking details, please see our website: http://www.interhealth.org.uk/workshops-INGOs.html

ODI: Uncharted Territory - land, conflict and humanitarian action - overview

2009-11-16T11:24:57.000Z

When: Thu Nov 26, 2009 1pm to 2:30pm GMT

Where: Overseas Development Institute, 111 Westminster Bridge Road London SE1 7JD UK
Event Status: confirmed
Event Description: The Overseas Development Institute organises a lunch debate on "Uncharted Territory: Land, Conflict and Humanitarian Action - Overview". Also streamed online - return to this page on the day of the event to watch live video coverage (http://www.odi.org.uk/events/details.asp?id=2078&title=uncharted-territory-land-conflict-humanitarian-action&utm_source=hpgalert&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=20091116). Land issues, particularly its access, ownership and use, are often central to understanding the dynamics of conflict and post-conflict settings, particularly in contexts of large scale displacement. The issues affect both the choice to return and the prospects for recovery, yet an understanding of these issues is minimal amongst the humanitarian community. Although there is a growing recognition of the importance of addressing land issues, assistance and programming rarely incorporate sufficient analysis of local land relations, instead focussing on the return and restitution despite the fact that these interventions are often inappropriate for the type of land issues involved. Through the expertise of longstanding academics and practitioners, this edited volume by the Humanitarian Policy Group attempts to bridge the humanitarian and land tenure divide to highlight their mutually important relationship and instigate a process that seeks to understand how Housing, Land and Property (HLP) issues can and should be practically incorporated into humanitarian responses in conflict and post-conflict situations. The book is divided into three parts: it explores the theoretical nexus between land, conflict and humanitarianism, discusses the architectural challenges for a more integrated response and presents the findings from selected case studies undertaken during the research project. These include Angola, Colombia, the Great Lakes Region, Rwanda and Sudan. The book will be launched by the editor of the volume, Dr. Sara Pantuliano (Overseas Development Institute). Dr. Liz Alden Wily, an international expert on state-people land relations and author of one of the book chapters, will then give concrete examples from Afghanistan and other war-torn states to show how failure to address land issues in post-conflict contexts can help restart or extend war. Speakers: Dr. Sara Pantuliano - Programme Leader, Humanitarian Policy group, ODI Dr. Liz Alden Wily - International Land Reform Expert Discussant: Paul Harvey - Partner, Humanitarian Outcomes and Research Associate, ODI Chair: Nick Roseveare - Chief Executive, BOND (TBC)

ODI: Towards a responsible state

2009-10-19T15:48:32.000Z

When: Thu Nov 12, 2009 1pm to 2:30pm GMT

Where: TBC
Event Status: confirmed
Event Description: Towards a responsible state: building legitimate and accountable institutions Speakers: Professor Charles T Call - Jennings Randolph Senior Fellow, Unites States Institute of Peace Dr Sarah Cliffe - Co-Director of the World Development Report 2011 on Fragile States Chair: Marta Foresti - Programme Leader, ODI

ODI: Political settlements, peace agreements and the road to stability

2009-10-19T15:45:50.000Z

When: Tue Oct 20, 2009 1pm to 2:30pm BST

Where: Overseas Development Institute (http://www.odi.org.uk/about/contact-directions.asp)
Event Status: confirmed
Event Description: This debate can also be followed live on the following webpage: http://www.odi.org.uk/events/details.asp?id=2042&title=shaky-foundations-political-settlements-peace-agreements-road-stability The importance of the nature and evolution of political settlements and peace agreements as a key determinant of stability in war to peace transitions is increasingly acknowledged. Political settlements are central to promoting effective peace-building and state-building processes as they determine the framework in which the state can enhance its legitimacy and capacity, and ensure the peaceful contestation of power and resources. In countries emerging from conflict, peace negotiations provide a key opportunity to develop a more inclusive political settlement, shape the institutional and governance framework and open the door to societal dialogue. Peace agreements, if well constructed, can provide a roadmap for subsequent peace-building and state-building processes in the transition period. Peace processes that incorporate marginalized groups can lead to a more inclusive and therefore resilient settlement in the future, as they can foster a political dialogue between former belligerents and help build trust between the parties. In practice, however, short term prerogatives often lead to peace agreements between certain elites that can consolidate weakly legitimate regimes and fail to address the underlying conflict system, undermining the sustainability of peace. In this meeting, the fifth of a series on fragile states, the panel, based on experience from Sudan, South Africa, Burundi, Rwanda, Sri Lanka and other contexts, will discuss the nature of political settlements, the role of peace negotiations and agreements in forming these settlements and what needs to be done to improve the efforts of international actors in these processes. Speakers: Kieran Prendergast - British diplomat and a former Under-Secretary-General for Political Affairs at the United Nations Nicholas Haysom - Director of Political Affairs, Office of the UN Secretary General Discussant: Alex de Waal - Programme Director, Social Science Research Council Chair: Sara Pantuliano - Research Fellow and Programme Leader, Humanitarian Policy Group, ODI

ODI: Early recovery from conflict - challenges of integrating humanitarian and development frameworks

2009-10-19T15:49:59.000Z

When: Thu Nov 5, 2009 1pm to 2:30pm GMT

Where: TBC
Event Status: confirmed
Event Description: Early recovery from conflict - challenges of integrating humanitarian and development frameworks Speakers: H.E. Luka Biong Deng - Minister in the Office of the President, Government of Southern Sudan Ameerah Haq - Deputy Special Representative to the UN Secretary General, UN Mission in Sudan UNMIS Discussant: Koen Davidse - Sudan Envoy, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Netherlands Chair: Sara Pantuliano - Programme Leader, ODI

ODI: Promoting peaceful transitions through international engagement

2009-08-12T09:33:45.000Z

When: Thu Sep 17, 2009 1pm to 2:30pm BST

Where: ODI/your desk
Event Status: confirmed
Event Description: International actors have become increasingly concerned with the threat that fragile states pose to global peace and security and to the populations living within their boundaries. In order to tackle the difficulties and complexities associated with stabilising these contexts, new approaches have been developed that seek to align traditionally distinct policy spheres (defence, development and diplomacy) through so-called ‘integrated’ or ‘comprehensive’ approaches. Principles and guidelines have also been developed to guide good international engagement in these contexts. Yet, in practice, there is a recognition that engagement in fragile and conflict-affected states is not working as well as it should and more needs to be done. There are on-going debates between the precise relationship between security and development and the ability and role of external actors in stabilising these contexts and supporting wider war to peace transitions. This meeting, the second of a series on fragile states, will discuss these emerging policy responses, how they translate into practice and what needs to be done to improve peaceful transitions through international engagement. Speaker: Donald Steinberg - Deputy President, International Crisis Group Discussant: Julian Lindley-French - Netherlands Defence Academy Rory Keane - International Network on Conflict and Fragility (INCAF), OECD (TBC) Chair: Robin Niblett - Director, Chatham House For more information, please see http://www.odi.org.uk/events/details.asp?id=1909&title=security-development-stabilisation-promoting-peaceful-transitions-through-international-engagement

UCL Lunch Hour Lecture: 'The challenge of HIV refuses to dissapear'

2009-08-10T08:52:41.000Z

When: Tue Dec 1, 2009 1:15pm to 2:15pm GMT

Where: Darwin Lecture Theatre, UCL, Gower Street, London WC1E 6BT
Event Status: confirmed
Event Description: On Tuesday 1 December we have programmed in a Lunch Hour Lecture entitled 'The challenge of HIV refuses to disappear' by Professor Deenan Pillay (UCL Virology). This lecture discusses how the AIDS epidemic continues to grow despite our immense knowledge of the virus itself. Dr Pillay will examine some of the failures of the HIV vaccination programme and look at how the roll out of antiretroviral therapy (ART) to the developing world is a priority. Professor Pillay will also discuss how ART is merging with prevention and rapidly becoming the major tool in the fight against HIV. More information can be found on http://www.ucl.ac.uk/lhl/

APPG - 'Conflict Prevention - In Our Schools, On Our Streets'

2009-07-22T16:28:59.000Z

When: Wed Dec 9, 2009

Where: Time and Location TBC
Event Status: confirmed
Event Description: All-Party Parliamentary Group on Conflict Issues 'Conflict Prevention - In Our Schools, On Our Streets' Charity of the Year Leap Confronting Conflict has pioneered peer-mediation as a successful means to tackle youth violence in the UK. Learn how they train peacemakers as young as 14, often in extremely challenging environments

APPG - 'Peace Architecture - An Essential Element in Building Peace'

2009-07-22T16:28:10.000Z

When: Wed Nov 25, 2009

Where: Time and Location TBC
Event Status: confirmed
Event Description: All-Party Parliamentary Group on Conflict Issues 'Peace Architecture - An Essential Element in Building Peace' Drawing on recent developments in Kenya and Ghana, Paul van Tongeren, Secretary General of the Global Partnership for the Prevention of Armed Conflict, explains how conflict prevention needs a 'peace system' within countries to sustain its chances of enduring success

APPG - 'Shared Responsibilities'

2009-07-22T16:27:06.000Z

When: Wed Nov 11, 2009

Where: Time and location TBC
Event Status: confirmed
Event Description: All-Party Parliamentary Group on Conflict Issues 'Shared Responsibilities' Paddy Ashdown and Ian Kearns argue that the new security challenges facing the UK call for a radical overall of attitudes and capabilities

APPG - 'The Basque Conflict - Time To Start Talking Again?'

2009-07-22T16:25:27.000Z

When: Tue Nov 3, 2009

Where: Time and location TBC
Event Status: confirmed
Event Description: All-Party Parliamentary Group on Conflict Issues 'The Basque Conflict - Time To Start Talking Again?' The case will be made by Brian Currin, one of the creators of South Africa's Truth and Reconciliation Commission and now a Co-Chair of the Sentence Review Commission in Northern Ireland

APPG: 25 Years After The Brighton Bombing - Forgiveness?

2009-07-22T13:19:58.000Z

When: Tue Oct 13, 2009

Where: Times and locations tbc
Event Status: confirmed
Event Description: All-Party Parliamentary Group on Conflict Issues '25 Years After The Brighton Bombing - Forgiveness?' An examination of the challenges of reconciliation after violence, featuring two people closely involved in the events of 12 October 1984

ODI, 1 July: Fragile States: The New Paradigm?

2009-06-26T16:25:46.000Z

When: Wed Jul 1, 2009 12:30pm to 2pm BST

Where: Overseas Development Institute, nr Waterloo
Event Status: confirmed
Event Description: Fragile states are now a prominent feature of international development, security and diplomacy landscapes, with an estimated billion people living within their boundaries This concentration of the world’s poorest in fragile states brings with it major challenges of governance, economy and security. The drivers of fragility are complex, linked to both international and local factors including economic and social inequalities and exclusion, lack of effective channels for the peaceful expression of people’s demands and expectations, severe economic decline, and competition over natural resources. At root, conflict and fragility often stem from failures of governance, increasing the risk of violent modes of dispute resolution. But what does this mean in practical terms and what challenges and risks does it present? This meeting, the first of a series on fragile states, will set the scene for the series by providing an overview of current debates on state fragility, emerging policy responses and operational priorities. Speaker: James Putzel - Director of the Crisis States Research Centre, LSE Discussant: Mark Robinson - Head of Profession for Governance and Conflict, DFID Sara Pantuliano - Programme Leader, ODI Chair: Alison Evans - Director, ODI An ODI public event in the Development, security and transitions: challenges and opportunities for international engagement in fragile states series. This event will also be streamed online. Go to the ODI website to book a place or watch live online: http://www.odi.org.uk/events/details.asp?id=502&title=fragile-states-new-paradigm-understanding-state-fragility-21st-century

3 June, Westminster: UK leading the way: Moving forward in international climate change policy

2009-05-25T17:52:46.000Z

When: Wed Jun 3, 2009 1pm to 2:15pm BST

Where: Palace of Westminster
Event Status: confirmed
Event Description: At this final event of the ODI/DFID climate change speaker series, we consider the UK’s pivotal role in International Development and Climate Change, its leadership and ongoing challenges. As the interim talks for Copenhagen get underway (SBSTA in Bonn from June 1st-12th) this is a critical time for display of solid leadership and commitment from the developed nations. During the last 18 months, the UK has made bold moves in support of the groundbreaking Climate Change Bill. In April 2009, the government refined the long time period (2050) initially set for 80% reduction in carbon emissions to a series of shorter term, legally binding targets - 34% reduction by 2020 in emissions, in response to recommendations from the CCC. However, in the same period the UK has also moved forward on Heathrow’s Third Runway and Kingsnorth Power Station (currently without carbon capture and storage). Does this show conflicting policy objectives, or can it all be neatly tied into one low carbon package? We welcome Lord Turner, Chair of the UK’s independent Committee on Climate Change, to discuss the UK’s achievements and ongoing challenges. ODI will reflect on topics covered during the series by the speakers, and changes in the wider political landscape since the series began a few months ago. The event will be followed by a ‘tea and cakes’ reception in the Palace of Westminster. All Party Parliamentary Group on Overseas Development Speakers: Lord Adair Turner - Chair, Financial Services Authority, ODI and the Committee on Climate Change Elwyn Grainger Jones - Head of Climate and Environment Group, DFID Alison Evans, Simon Maxwell and Natasha Grist - ODI Chair: Dr Ian Gibson MP Read more and book on the ODI website: http://www.odi.org.uk/events/details.asp?id=440&title=uk-leading-way-moving-forward-international-climate-change-policy

4 June, ODI: Livestock interventions in disasters: new ways to improve response – the Livestock Emergency Guidelines and Standards (LEGS) review

2009-05-25T17:54:51.000Z

When: Thu Jun 4, 2009 12:30pm to 2pm BST

Where: Overseas Development Institute (directions)
Event Status: confirmed
Event Description: Millions of families in the developing world rely on their livestock for their income, as well as their food. But today, both livestock and humans are threatened by increases in natural disasters, such as floods and droughts, as a result of climate change. Emergency relief operations often include a livestock component to protect this precious asset but, to date, there have been no widely-available guidelines to help donors, programme managers or technical experts design or implement the necessary measures. This Humanitarian Practice Network meeting will launch a new book to help fill this gap. The Livestock Emergency Guidelines and Standards (LEGS) have been developed by a multi-agency team as a set of international guidelines and standards to support livelihoods-based livestock interventions in emergencies. Published by Practical Action Publishing, LEGS follows the same format as the Sphere handbook and is based on broad consultation with practitioners and policy makers worldwide. Simon Mack, Senior Animal Production Officer at the Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) and member of the LEGS Steering Group, will highlight the importance of livestock and other assets linked to livelihoods in responding to emergencies, and describes how the (LEGS) Project supports this process. He will emphasise the need to build the capacity of humanitarian actors to plan and intervene, and explain how LEGS can support the evaluation of emergency responses. Tim Leyland of the UK Department for International Development (DFID) will act as a discussant, and Wendy Fenton, HPN Coordinator, will chair. Speaker: Simon Mack - Senior Animal Production Officer, Food and Agriculture Organisation and member of the LEGS Steering Group Discussant: Tim Leyland - Agriculture Research Team, UK Department for International Development Chair: Wendy Fenton - Coordinator, Humanitarian Practice Network An ODI and Humanitarian Practice Network public event Read more and book on the ODI website: http://www.odi.org.uk/events/details.asp?id=503&title=livestock-interventions-disasters-new-ways-improve-response-livestock-emergency-guidelines-standards-legs

4 Dec, ODI: HPN Event, Left in the dark: The unmet need for information in humanitarian response

2008-11-12T15:22:09.000Z

When: Thu Dec 4, 2008 12:30pm to 2pm GMT

Where: ODI, 111 Westminster Bridge Road, London, SE1 7JD
Event Status: confirmed
Event Description: An HPN event In partnership with the BBC World Service Trust When Cyclone Nargis hit Burma in May of this year, it was weeks before a valiant local effort was reinforced by a massive international response. But one lifesaving commodity was able to get through from the outset: information. Dedicated radio broadcasts helped many to survive in those first critical weeks, telling them how to purify water, treat minor ailments, identify serious medical problems and build basic shelters. It confirmed the power of information to save lives and the vital importance of communicating with affected populations in a successful response to a natural disaster. The humanitarian community consistently fails to understand or meet the information needs of affected populations. Why is this? And what has to change? At this Humanitarian Practice Network meeting, the BBC World Service Trust will launch a new policy briefing that analyses the information needs of affected populations and shares examples of where these needs have been successfully addressed. Communication specialists from the BBC and Internews will explain how broadcast media have been used to provide emergency 'lifeline' information, and seasoned humanitarian agencies will outline how other 'low tech' communication solutions, such as bulletin boards and newsletters, have also played a critical part. The meeting will look at how such responses can be mainstreamed and built into the architecture of a humanitarian response. Speakers Imogen Wall and Lisa Robinson, Project Managers, BBC World Service Trust Mark Harvey, Director of Development, Internews Europe Leigh Daynes, Head of Media and Public Affairs, British Red Cross Koko Aung, Producer, BBC Burmese TBC, DfID representative Chair James Darcy, Director of Humanitarian Programmes, ODI To reserve a place at this meeting, please RSVP to hpn@odi.org.uk

21 Nov, LSE: Dr Fatmir Sejdiu, President of Kosovo: The Independent Kosovo: Partner for Peace and Stability in the Region

2008-11-11T10:28:06.000Z

When: Fri Nov 21, 2008 6:30pm to 8pm GMT

Where: LSE Campus, venue to be confirmed to ticketholders 24 hours before the event
Event Status: confirmed
Event Description: FT Business - LSE European Institute The Future of Europe public lecture in association with the LSE SU Albanian Society Fatmir Sejdiu is President of Kosovo, a position he has held since February 2006. Dr. Sejdiu is a professor at the Faculty of Law and the School of Political Science of the University of Prishtina. On 28 June 2006 he received the price “Doctor Honoris Causa” from the University of Tirana in Albania. One of the founding members of the Democratic League of Kosovo (LDK) which was established in late 1989, Fatmir Sejdiu was elected a member of the Presidency of the Party in 1992, whereas on 1994 he was elected Secretary General of LDK. In 1992 and 1998 elections, he was elected member of the Parliament of the Republic of Kosovo holding the positions of the general secretary of the Parliament and chairman of the Constitutional Issues Committee. In the first post-war elections in 2001 and 2004, Mr. Sejdiu was elected member of the Kosovo Assembly and a member of the Presidency of the Assembly. He was also a member of the Parliamentary Committee on Judicial, Legislative and Constitutional Matters and the Committee for International Cooperation and EU Integration. This event is free and open to all however a ticket is required. One ticket per person can be requested from 10.00am on Thursday 13 November. http://www.lse.ac.uk/collections/LSEPublicLecturesAndEvents/events/2008/20081107t2051z001.htm

11 Nov, LSE: Kosovo's Independence and the Balkans: regional implications and challenges

2008-11-11T10:25:44.000Z

When: Tue Nov 11, 2008 6:30pm to 8pm GMT

Where: Hong Kong Theatre, Clement House
Event Status: confirmed
Event Description: Centre for the Study of Global Governance public debate Speakers: Jelena Bjelica, Anna Di Lellio, Enver Hoxhaj, Tim Judah Chair: Dr Denisa Kostovicova Uncertainty over the status of Kosovo had undermined stability in the Balkans since the early 1990s. The panel of experts discusses Kosovo's declaration of independence and its political, economic and security impact on the Balkans. Jelena Bjelica is the editor-in-chief of the weekly Gradjanski Glasnik, Kosovo. Anna Di Lellio is the editor of the book The Case for Kosova: passage to independence. Enver Hoxhaj is the current minister of education, science and technology of the Republic of Kosovo. Tim Judah is the author of the prize winning book The Serbs: history, myth, and the destruction of Yugoslavia. This event is free and open to all with no ticket required. Entry is on a first come, first served basis. For more information, email events@lse.ac.uk or phone 020 7955 6043.

4 Dec, EC1: MSF Discussion Evening - Humanitarian Action: Does Gender Matter?

2008-11-06T11:00:33.000Z

When: Thu Dec 4, 2008 6:30pm to 8:30pm GMT

Where: Crown Tavern, Clerkenwell Green, EC1R 0EG
Event Status: confirmed
Event Description: Humanitarian emergencies often require aid agencies to react quickly in order to be effective. The need for rapid intervention may mean that it is impossible to take account of cultural, demographic and other differences within affected populations. In life and death situations the question of gender may therefore be seen as a luxury. However, an increasing body of evidence suggests that many failures in the outcomes of humanitarian programmes and policies are due to the assumption that large groups of people are homogeneous rather than subgroups of men, women, young people and other disadvantaged groups with different needs and interests. This evening's discussion will examine whether interventions to save lives and secure livelihoods in emergencies are more efficient and effective when gender differences are properly understood and addressed. Places are limited and can go very fast, so you will need to click the link below to register your attendance. http://www.msf.org.uk/discussion_eve_dec2008.event Thursday December 4th 2008 (6.30pm - 8.30pm)

13 Nov, Westminster: A Long Road Home (Sudan)

2008-11-04T15:49:05.000Z

When: Thu Nov 13, 2008 5pm to 6:30pm GMT

Where: Palace of Westminster, Committee Room 12, St. Steven's entrance
Event Status: confirmed
Event Description: Opportunities and obstacles to the reintegration of IDPs and refugees returning to Southern Sudan and the Three Areas Report of Phase II: Conflict, urbanisation and land A Humanitarian Policy Group event Speakers: Sara Pantuliano Research Fellow, ODI Paul Murphy Head of Europe Programme, Saferworld Margie Buchanan-Smith Independent consultant Discussant: Wendy Fenton Independent consultant Chair: David Drew MP Sudan's peace agreement is approaching its most testing time. As up to two million displaced people attempt to re-settle in areas that are impoverished and ill-prepared, a number of colossal challenges present themselves. Action is urgently needed to address massive and rapid urbanisation, encourage civilians to disarm and provide opportunities for the sustainable use of natural resources, including land in urban areas. Infrastructure and markets need to be developed and equitable access to essential services must be put in place. This ODI meeting, hosted by the Associate Parliamentary Group on Sudan, will launch the second phase of a study by the Humanitarian Policy Group on reintegration in Southern Sudan and the Three Areas. The authors, Sara Pantuliano, Margie Buchanan-Smith and Paul Murphy, will outline the key obstacles faced by returnees and the strategies that must be put in place to support one of the world's largest return and reintegration processes. Wendy Fenton, an independent consultant with over 20 years experience working in Sudan, will act as a discussant at this event. Find out more:http://www.odi.org.uk/go?where=hpg-eu031108

20 Nov, KCL: Political and violent risk forecasting in humanitarian organisations - value and methodology

2008-10-27T11:40:56.000Z

When: Thu Nov 20, 2008 12:30pm to 2pm GMT

Event Status: confirmed
Event Description: Speaker: Dr Nathalie Wlodarczyk & Rafael Gomes, Exclusive Analysis Ltd. Cost: Free, Lunch provided Programme: Accurately forecasting political developments and their impact on economies and societies allows practitioners in both the private and public spheres to plan more strategically how to engage with a country or region. It can inform both more effective policy and planning for emergencies. Understanding how an area or group of people will be affected by policy changes, regional security developments or very local community agendas will always support more effective engagement. Being able to plan for likely developments before they reach crisis point, or anticipate new developments will further strengthen this advantage. Exclusive Analysis (EA) is a strategic intelligence company that provides evidence-based forecasts for violent and political risks worldwide. Based on proprietary methodology for forecasting trends and building realistic scenarios for high impact incidents, EA supports decision making across the public and private sectors. This seminar will explore some of this methodology and the benefits of the forecasts that come out of it as a tool to support decision making and strategic planning within the humanitarian sector. Drawing on forecasts on current and future crises around the world, the seminar will address: * How do forecasts and scenarios best support planning in the humanitarian sector? * How can you forecast human behaviour accurately? * What kind of data and intelligence best supports a forecast? * What are some tools for breaking down complexity and prioritising responses? * How far into the future can you forecast? To Register: contact Jessica Dinstl (Jessica.dinstl@kcl.ac.uk) If you require any additional information please contact us on 0207 848 1719 or Jessica.dinstl@kcl.ac.uk Amongst proposed issues for future seminars are included: • Nanotechnology • Climate change

13 Oct, LSE: Sir David King on the Challenge of Climate Change

2008-10-10T12:26:28.000Z

When: Mon Oct 13, 2008 6:30pm to 8pm BST

Where: Old Theatre, Old Building, LSE
Event Status: confirmed
Event Description: Ralph Miliband lecture series 'Sustainability, Social Justice, and the Global Order' Chair: Professor David Held Without a new deal between rich and poor countries, climate change will continue to accelerate. How can this be tackled? David King, former chief scientific adviser to the government, is director of the Smith School of Enterprise and the Environment at Oxford University. This event is free and open to all with no ticket required. Entry is on a first come, first served basis. For more information, see http://www.lse.ac.uk/collections/LSEPublicLecturesAndEvents/events/2008/20080819t1328z001.htm