As a national, nonpartisan, independent Institute, the U.S. Institute of Peace draws on our exceptional convening power to create opportunities for diverse audiences to exchange knowledge, experiences, and ideas necessary for creative solutions to difficult challenges. We serve as an important, neutral platform for bringing together government and nongovernment, diplomacy, security, and development actors, and participants across political views. The Institute’s events help shape public policy and priorities to advance peaceful solutions to conflict and strengthen international security.
For the first time since the 2001 start of the U.S.-led intervention in Afghanistan, a real prospect exists for political dialogue among the various combatants aimed at the cessation of armed conflict. USIP hosted a discussion of reconciliation initiatives and the implications of a peace deal with the Taliban.
Please join us for a presentation of sustainable business models for post-conflict societies, including a case example of Prosperity Candle which targets women entrepreneurs by providing them with kits and training in candle production for domestic and export markets. Other small enterprise models also discussed within the context of the greater economic challenges facing women during and after conflict.
Police and military forces are the first line of defense against corruption, but they can also engage in corrupt practices. What are the best practices for dealing with corruption, particularly in countries emerging from conflict? USIP's Security Sector Reform Working Group discussed these questions.
Copper deposits worth over $50 billion in Afghanistan’s Aynak valley could either present an opportunity for economic sustainability and political stability or become the focus of violent competition and grand corruption. Panelists discussed the steps necessary to ensure that the copper industry benefits local communities and promotes peace in Afghanistan; how the Afghan business sector could prepare to be fully integrated in the copper value chain and the role for external parties, like the ...
This USIP event examined the complex nexus between democratic change and U.S. security interests, with a principal focus on Egypt, Jordan, Lebanon, Morocco and Yemen.
A panel of experts considered the goals and objectives of health programs in Afghanistan, what expectations can be for health programs in achieving those goals, and the roles of civilian agencies and the military in carrying out health programs. The panelists addressed current controversies about health programs in areas of armed conflict, including the military’s role in health programs for civilian populations as well as the role of USAID in supporting military objectives.
In the wake of significant fraud in Afghanistan’s 2009 presidential and provincial council elections, the Afghan government has announced that it will proceed to hold parliamentary elections on schedule in May 2010. Yet few if any reforms have been made, and there is little to indicate that the conduct of the parliamentary elections will be any better than last year's vote.
Local ownership is essential for successful security sector reform (SSR), but donor countries often determine priorities and programs. What practical steps can policymakers and practitioners take to encourage local ownership of reform efforts? USIP's SSR Working Group hosted an expert panel to discuss this issue.
What is the way forward for the U.S. and its Afghan and international partners?
Lack of justice and a culture of impunity have emerged as major grievances in Afghanistan, alienating the population from the government and creating an enabling environment for the insurgency. Please join us for a discussion of informal and formal justice systems, and an overview of USIP’s justice projects that aim to strengthen linkages between these two sectors and address impunity.