FPCD NY Intern Represents the Foundation at Key Events

Summer Recap: New York Intern Represents the Foundation at Key Events Across Manhattan

By Christie Campbell

Over the summer, the Foundation for Post Conflict Development has been present at many events, providing support for other development organizations involved in assisting emerging fragile states and learning more about what others in the field are doing. These interactions will help to strengthen the Foundation’s own projects by increasing an understanding about what others in the field are working on and forming potential partnerships.

Some of the events that the Foundation attended are highlighted below.

On June 16, the Foundation attended a US Institute of Peace panel discussion on “Funders, Implementers, and the Challenge of Effective Evaluation.” This symposium looked at the problems and possible solutions to the issue of project evaluation in the peacekeeping field. Understanding of these problems and possible solutions are essential to organizations such as the FPCD, as we try to remain accountable and reflective on our various projects.

On June 20, the Foundation attended a panel discussion celebrating World Refugee Day. In post conflict countries, the problem of refugees is a very real one, as people have been displaced from their homes and must start their lives again elsewhere, often under the most challenging of situations. Thus, the FPCD wishes to support both the UNHCR and other organizations involved with the protection of refugees.

The Foundation attended the launch of the Global Coalition to Protect Education Against Attack on June 22. The GCPEA is an organization that seeks to promote safe and secure education to children all over the world. This high level launch event highlighted many of the problems that children face with regards to security in countries experiencing and emerging from conflict, and affirmed a commitment to helping make schools a safe space for all. The FPCD supports this mission through our active involvement with the Iraqi Women’s Fellowship Foundation, an organization that seeks to help women in this war-torn country develop skills that will help them to help in the development of their country.

On June 23, the FPCD attended the High Level Working Group meeting on “Music as A Natural Resource”. This working group discussed the power of music in bringing together divided communities, and gave many concrete examples of how this has been done in many projects operating in conflicted countries. The use of music is especially effective in projects dealing with youth, one of the main focus areas of the Foundation.

July 18th marked the International Nelson Mandela Day. In honour of this great leader, the Permanent Mission of South Africa to the United Nations held a student conference. This event brought together students from different institutions and featured a lively question and answer session regarding the challenges faced by South Africa during the period of apartheid, as well as a discussion regarding the continued efforts of this country toward achieving equality.

Focus on youth is very important to the Foundation for Post Conflict Development. To this end, the Foundation was an active participant at the Youth as Strategic Partners for Development event on July 26. This United Nations event, hosted by the Permanent Mission of Brazil, emphasized the importance of including youth in a strong civil society. At the program, the Government of Brazil and the United Nations Population Fund signed a memorandum of agreement on South-South Cooperation on Youth Issues. The FPCD continues to maintain a strong commitment to the empowerment of youth in post conflict countries.

Through attendance at these events, the Foundation has strengthened its connections with other institutions and groups, and has been kept up to date with best practices within the field. The Foundation remains committed to reaching out and partnering with others, as well as continuing the learning process.

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Christie Campbell is currently an honors student at Queen’s University in Canada, with a concentration in Global Development Studies. During her time at Queen's, she has worked with the Queen's Project on International Development, a student-run NGO, as well as the University Alumni Association and the Queen's Varsity Rowing team. In September 2011, she will be starting a law degree at the University of Toronto. In the future, she hopes to pursue work in international humanitarian law, with a focus on the rights of refugees and internally displaced persons.






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