On 13-14 November 2019, UVC Director Tatiana Carayannis and Senior Program Manager Aaron Pangburn participated in the Annual Meeting of the Effectiveness of Peace Operations Network (EPON). The first day served as an opportunity to report on network activities, tweak the common methodology for the research studies, and brainstorm potential new missions for 2020 site visits. On Thursday, 14 November, at the International Peace Institute, various EPON researchers briefed New York-based policy makers and United Nations practitioners on the findings and lessons from EPON case studies to date, as well as on the progress of the studies underway and future plans. Tatiana served as a panel discussant on Central Africa/Great Lakes, and serves as a member of the external reference group. Aaron is a co-author of the EPON report on the UN peacekeeping mission in the DRC (MONUC/MONUSCO), and UVC Research Associate Gino Vlavonou is a member of the research team for the EPON report on the UN peacekeeping mission in the Central African Republic (MINUSCA), which will be published in February 2020.

The Effectiveness of Peace Operations Network aims to enhance the effectiveness of international peace operations by enabling and supporting collaborative research. The Norwegian Institute of International Affairs (NUPI), together with over 40 partners from across the globe, has established an international network to jointly research the effectiveness of peace operations. SSRC joined the network during its inception phase in 2018. Each EPON case study focuses on a specific peace operation using a common methodology. In their own right, these case studies provide unique insights into specific operations. Jointly, however, the case studies also create a comprehensive resource on peace operations and their effectiveness.