On November 16, USIP hosted a discussion on how U.N. sanctions can be leveraged as a tool in mediation, peace talks, and conflict resolution more broadly.

Josh Black
Senior Director for Multilateral Affairs, U.S. National Security Council

Tom Biersteker
Professor, Geneva Graduate Institute; Global Fellow, Woodrow Wilson International Center for Scholars 

Lise Grande, moderator
President and CEO, U.S. Institute of Peace

For more information about this event, please visit: https://www.usip.org/events/un-sanctions-and-peace-processes-meeting-current-challenges

On November 16, USIP hosted a bipartisan discussion with the Congressional Commission on the Strategic Posture of the United States’ Chair Madelyn Creedon and Vice Chair Jon Kyl. They looked at the findings and recommendations from the commission’s final report and examined what they mean for the future of America’s strategic posture — particularly in regards to establishing strategic stability with U.S. competitors like Russia and China.

Lise Grande, introductory remarks
President and CEO, U.S. Institute of Peace

Representative Doug Lamborn (R-CO), keynote remarks
U.S. Representative from Colorado; Chairman, Subcommittee on Strategic Forces, House Armed Services Committee

Honorable Madelyn Creedon 
Chair, Congressional Commission on the Strategic Posture of the United States; Former Principal Deputy Administrator, National Nuclear Security Administration

Honorable Jon Kyl 
Vice Chair, Congressional Commission on the Strategic Posture of the United States; Former U.S. Senator from Arizona

Honorable A. Wess Mitchell, moderator
Senior Advisor, U.S. Institute of Peace

For more information about this event, please visit: https://www.usip.org/events/future-americas-strategic-posture

On November 15, USIP hosted a conversation with civic leaders, scholars and donors on the role of civil society actors in authoritarian contexts and what the international community can do to support them. 

Rosie Levine, opening remarks
Senior Program Analyst, China, U.S. Institute of Peace 

Florence Nakazibwe, moderator 
Senior Legal Advisor, International Center for Not-for-Profit Law 

Jessica Teets
Professor, Middlebury College; Associate Editor-in-Chief, The Journal of Chinese Political Science

Ivan Marovic
Executive Director, International Center on Nonviolent Conflict

Sokphea Young
Postdoctoral Research Associate, Anthropology Department, University College London

For more information about this event, please visit: https://www.usip.org/events/civil-societys-role-navigating-authoritarianism

On November 14, USIP held a discussion on its new report, “China’s Space Collaboration with Africa: Implications and Recommendations for the United States.” The conversation examined the pertinent facets of Africa-China space cooperation and explored entry points and barriers for U.S. policy in Africa’s evolving space domain. 

Joseph Sany, opening remarks
Vice President, Africa Center, U.S. Institute of Peace

Lyndi Tsering, speaker introductions
Program Specialist, China, U.S. Institute of Peace

Henry Tugendhat, moderator
Economist, China, U.S. Institute of Peace 

Julie Klinger
Assistant Professor, Department of Geography and Spatial Sciences, University of Delaware

Temidayo Oniosun
Founder and Managing Director, Space in Africa
 
Brian Weeden
Director of Program Planning, Secure World Foundation

Kun-Chin Lin
Professor of Military and Security Studies, Department of Spacepower, Air University; Adjunct Professor, Johns Hopkins University

For more information about this event, please visit: https://www.usip.org/events/chinas-space-collaboration-africa-0

On November 13, USIP hosted a conversation with frontline organizations and experts from Central Africa that explored civil society’s role in confronting disinformation and discussed potential ways to promote peace and security in the region. 

Rhosyns Ngatondang-Zalang
President, Association Jeunesse en Marche pour le Développement en Centrafrique 

Siobhán Spiak
Regional Coordinator, Global Engagement Center, U.S. Department of State 

Yamingué Bétinbaye
Scientific Director, Centre for Research in Anthropology and Human Sciences 

Archibald Henry
Program Officer, Central Africa and Sahel, U.S. Institute of Peace

For more information about this event, please visit: https://www.usip.org/events/confronting-disinformation-central-africa

USIP’s new signature event series “First in War, First in Peace” pays tribute to George Washington, who set the precedent of American veterans advancing peacebuilding after leaving military service. The program also honors Congressional military veterans and veteran groups who were critical stakeholders in the establishment of USIP in 1984 and have continued to guide the Institute’s work throughout its nearly 40-year history.

Lise Grande, opening remarks
President and CEO, U.S. Institute of Peace  

Dr. Patrick Spero, keynote remarks
Executive Director, George Washington Presidential Library at Mount Vernon 

Ambassador Douglas Lute 
Lieutenant General (Ret.), U.S. Army; Senior Military Advisory Group, U.S. Institute of Peace 

Admiral James Foggo 
Admiral (Ret.), U.S. Navy; Senior Military Advisory Group, U.S. Institute of Peace 

Rear Admiral Peter Cressy, moderator
RADM, USN (Ret.), Director of Executive Leadership Programs at the Washington Leadership Institute at Mount Vernon

For more information about this event, please visit: https://www.usip.org/events/first-war-first-peace-us-military-veterans-peacebuilders

It is under these precarious conditions that the World Bank has published two new reports: the latest “Afghanistan Development Update” and the third round of its ongoing “Afghanistan Welfare Monitoring Survey.” These reports lay out the country’s current economic context and its trends in welfare and poverty, underlining the severe problems facing the Afghan people. On November 8, USIP and the World Bank hosted a conversation with two of the reports’ authors as well as leading experts on Afghanistan’s economy.

Scott Worden, welcoming remarks
Director, Afghanistan and Central Asia Programs, U.S. Institute of Peace

Eduardo Olaberria, opening remarks
Program Leader, Equitable Growth, Finance and Institutions for Afghanistan, The World Bank 

Silvia Redaelli 
Senior Economist, The World Bank 

Muhammad Waheed
Senior Country Economist, The World Bank

Khalid Payenda 
Director and Cofounder, Institute for Development and Economic Affairs 

Paul Fishstein 
Non-resident Fellow, Center on International Cooperation, New York University

Naheed Sarabi
Director and Cofounder, Institute for Development and Economic Affairs 

Bill Byrd, moderator
Senior Expert, Afghanistan, U.S Institute of Peace

For more information about this event, please visit: https://www.usip.org/events/afghanistans-economic-poverty-and-gender-issues

On November 7, USIP held the second lecture in its Mandela Series -- honoring South African President Nelson Mandela’s life and work as a peacebuilder. The event featured Senator Reverend Raphael Warnock (D-GA). Senator Warnock discusses his commitment to nonviolent action and the role of faith in peacebuilding.

Senator Reverend Raphael Warnock
U.S. Senator from Georgia

Lise Grande 
President and CEO, U.S. Institute of Peace

For more information about this event, please visit: https://www.usip.org/events/mandela-series-senator-reverend-raphael-warnock

On November 6, USIP and IBI Consultants hosted a presentation of a new report on Russian influence campaigns in Latin America. The conversation examined the evolution of Russia’s engagement with Latin American countries under Putin’s rule, the tools the Russian government has used to expand its presence across the continent, and how the United States and international organizations can respond to Russian activities by enhancing commitments to democratic processes and institutions.

Douglas Farah
Founder and President, IBI Consultants

Dr. Román D. Ortiz
Senior Consultant, IBI Consultants; Senior Analyst, Center for International Security, Francisco de Vitoria University 

Olga Belogolova
Director, Emerging Technologies Initiative, Johns Hopkins School of Advanced International Studies (SAIS); Professor, Alperovitch Institute for Cybersecurity Studies, SAIS

Kirk Randolph, moderator
Program Officer, Latin America Program U.S. Institute of Peace

For more information about this event, please visit: https://www.usip.org/events/russian-influence-operations-latin-america

From film to poetry, dance to music, the arts offer important approaches to addressing conflict-related sexual violence that policy briefs and academic papers cannot.

Recitation

Panel Discussion

For more information about this event, please visit: https://www.usip.org/events/missing-peace-global-symposium-conflict-related-sexual-violence