Wilson Center Special Events

The creation of the Millennium Challenge Corporation (MCC) in 2004 changed the conversation on how best to deliver smart US foreign assistance around the world. In the 20 years since its creation, MCC has demonstrated that focused investments promoting economic growth, democracy, infrastructure, reducing poverty, and strengthening institutions can have far reaching positive effects. In the face of current challenges around the world, how can the MCC model continue to help democracies across the globe deliver for their people? At this event, MCC CEO Alice Albright and Wilson Center CEO Ambassador Mark A. Green will discuss what comes next for MCC and how the model can be used to face today’s challenges in the foreign affairs arena. Please join us for this timely and critical discussion. 

Five years ago, Nicaragua’s authoritarian leaders, Daniel Ortega and Rosario Murillo, cracked down on protests, killing 355 individuals between April 2018 and July 2019. In response, the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights established the Special Follow-up Mechanism for Nicaragua (MESENI) to investigate the regime’s abuses. MESENI has interviewed victims and met with local human rights groups and other civil society organizations that are documenting human rights abuses.

Despite the international scrutiny, the regime continues to repress the democratic opposition. In February, it expelled 222 political prisoners to the United States. It has also targeted the Catholic Church, breaking off diplomatic relations with the Vatican, banning Easter processions, and unjustly sentencing Bishop Rolando José Álvarez to 26 years in prison.

To learn more about the deteriorating human rights conditions in Nicaragua and the implications for the United States and the region, please join us for our conversation. The dialogue is part of the Wilson Center’s Hemisphere of Prosperity and Freedom series.

Since its inception in 2003, PEPFAR has transformed the landscape of HIV treatment and prevention. It is estimated that this program, which works to accelerate progress toward achieving HIV and AIDS epidemic control in over 50 countries globally, has saved over 20 million lives, prevented transmission to 5.5 million babies, and enabled countries to surpass UNAIDS’ 90-90-90 treatment targets. PEPFAR has also played a vital role in addressing other global health challenges, such as the COVID-19 pandemic, expanding care to marginalized groups such as adolescent girls and young women, key populations, pregnant people, children, and displaced persons.

PEPFAR released its new five-year strategy in December 2022, which sets bold priorities in the effort to eliminate HIV and AIDS as a public health threat by 2030. Advocates globally seek to ensure that more global health sectors are included in PEPFAR’s mission to provide integrated services, and that PEPFAR programming is inclusive of all people.

The international system as we know it has been forced to grapple with a multitude of disruptions on various fronts, be it the global COVID-19 pandemic and its impact on societies, economies and health systems, or the most recent conflict in Ukraine that has taken a heavy toll on humanity in the loss of innocent lives, forced displacement of millions, and the food and energy insecurity crises it has provoked. At a time of extreme distress on the international system, global leadership is key to addressing the myriad challenges our world faces, especially to restore hope and rebuild trust amongst our communities and societies to move forward towards international cooperation and responsibility sharing. 

One of the world's most poised and effective leaders Her Majesty Queen Rania Al Abdullah of the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan joined Ambassador Mark Green to tackle these critical issues.

West Asia-North Africa is in a race against time. Within the next thirty years, increasing air pollution and climate change-induced heatwaves and droughts will push the region closer to uninhabitability, triggering unprecedented levels of human insecurity and large-scale displacement. In the face of rapid environmental degradation and intractable conflicts, the pursuit of a dignity-based approach to security becomes vital. Wilson Center President & CEO Ambassador Mark Green spoke with HRH Prince El Hassan bin Talal of Jordan about pressing climate change concerns in the region and need to implement a 'human dignity' approach to solutions.

What does success look like? As Russia’s unprovoked war in Ukraine enters into its fifth month, it is clear that the military campaign will not end any time soon and that the potential terms of a successful resolution to the conflict are murky. Neither side appears willing, or indeed able, to agree to terms less than victory.

While over half of the world measured by GDP have denounced Russia and/or support Ukraine in this conflict, over half of the world by population have not denounced Russia and take no side in the conflict, other than a desire to see it end. Only four countries – Belarus, North Korea, Eritrea, and Syria – voted in support of Russia in the UN General Assembly at the onset of the war.

Now the consequences of war are felt beyond the battlefield, as energy prices soar worldwide and the Russian blockade of Ukrainian grain and fertilizer shipments threatens global food security. In the coming months, millions of additional refugees from Ukraine and other parts of the world are expected to emerge, fleeing conflict as well as economic and food insecurity. Those who succeed in reaching Europe and the United States will put additional stresses on those societies, potentially threatening political and social stability.

Former U.S. Special Representative to Ukraine, Ambassador Kurt Volker joined Wilson Center CEO and Director Ambassador Mark Green in a conversation to review these threats, consider what the West might define as a successful resolution to the conflict, and discuss policy options available to the United States in the coming months.

U.S. Ambassador Clint Williamson draws on an unparalleled career investigating alleged war crimes and criminal activity from Cambodia to Kosovo, investigating cases on behalf of the European Union, the United Nations, and the Hague. Ambassador Williamson now leads a major U.S.- and EU-backed effort to respond to suspected war crimes in Ukraine. As we mark the third month of Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine, Ambassador Williamson and Wilson Center President and CEO Ambassador Mark Green discuss holding war criminals to account.

In this conversation with Ambassador Mark Green, President of Tanzania Samia Suluhu Hassan spoke of her vision for her country and the future  of the of U.S.-Tanzania relationship.

Ambassador Mark Green, president and CEO of the Wilson Center, held a conversation with Baroness Catherine Ashton, the European Union’s first High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security, discussing the impact Russia’s war on Ukraine is having on Europe and the role of Vladimir Putin. Baroness Ashton has spent time with the Russian leader and has valuable insights to share.