BEGIN:VCALENDAR VERSION:2.0 PRODID:-//Social Science Research Council (SSRC) - ECPv6.17.0//NONSGML v1.0//EN CALSCALE:GREGORIAN METHOD:PUBLISH X-WR-CALNAME:Social Science Research Council (SSRC) X-ORIGINAL-URL:https://www.ssrc.org X-WR-CALDESC:Events for Social Science Research Council (SSRC) REFRESH-INTERVAL;VALUE=DURATION:PT1H X-Robots-Tag:noindex X-PUBLISHED-TTL:PT1H BEGIN:VTIMEZONE TZID:America/New_York BEGIN:DAYLIGHT TZOFFSETFROM:-0500 TZOFFSETTO:-0400 TZNAME:EDT DTSTART:20230312T070000 END:DAYLIGHT BEGIN:STANDARD TZOFFSETFROM:-0400 TZOFFSETTO:-0500 TZNAME:EST DTSTART:20231105T060000 END:STANDARD BEGIN:DAYLIGHT TZOFFSETFROM:-0500 TZOFFSETTO:-0400 TZNAME:EDT DTSTART:20240310T070000 END:DAYLIGHT BEGIN:STANDARD TZOFFSETFROM:-0400 TZOFFSETTO:-0500 TZNAME:EST DTSTART:20241103T060000 END:STANDARD BEGIN:DAYLIGHT TZOFFSETFROM:-0500 TZOFFSETTO:-0400 TZNAME:EDT DTSTART:20250309T070000 END:DAYLIGHT BEGIN:STANDARD TZOFFSETFROM:-0400 TZOFFSETTO:-0500 TZNAME:EST DTSTART:20251102T060000 END:STANDARD BEGIN:DAYLIGHT TZOFFSETFROM:-0500 TZOFFSETTO:-0400 TZNAME:EDT DTSTART:20260308T070000 END:DAYLIGHT BEGIN:STANDARD TZOFFSETFROM:-0400 TZOFFSETTO:-0500 TZNAME:EST DTSTART:20261101T060000 END:STANDARD END:VTIMEZONE BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTART;VALUE=DATE:20241003 DTEND;VALUE=DATE:20241005 DTSTAMP:20241016T164215Z CREATED:20240830T150902Z LAST-MODIFIED:20241016T164215Z UID:10000870-1727913600-1728086399@www.ssrc.org SUMMARY:Mercury Project Solutions Summit DESCRIPTION:Institute for Development StudiesUniversity of Nairobi\, Nairobi\, Kenya \nSince 2021\, over 120 researchers in the Social Science Research Council’s Mercury Project consortium have been working around the world to identify cost-effective and scalable interventions that build demand for vaccines and information environments supportive of science-based health decision-making. \nOn October 3 – 4\, 2024\, the Mercury Project\, together with the University of Nairobi’s Institute for Development Studies\, welcomed leaders from the public\, private\, and philanthropic communities to the Mercury Project Solutions Summit. Together\, they leveraged new evidence to identify the most promising opportunities to increase vaccine demand and support science-based health decision-making. \nEvent Recording\n \nAt the opening plenary\, representatives from the research\, policy\, and philanthropic communities framed both the challenges and the opportunities for evidence-based strategies that build robust vaccine demand chains and support science-based health decision-making. \n\nFunders and Partners URL:https://www.ssrc.org/events/mercury-project-solutions-summit/ ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://www.ssrc.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/08/C172DY-1-1-scaled.jpg END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20241010T140000 DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20241010T150000 DTSTAMP:20241021T182133Z CREATED:20241008T151233Z LAST-MODIFIED:20241021T182133Z UID:10000858-1728568800-1728572400@www.ssrc.org SUMMARY:2024 SSRC Katznelson Fellow Lecture: The Economist as Plumber DESCRIPTION:In this lecture\, Esther Duflo shares her experience working in collaboration with policymakers in the developing world\, and highlight the critical role of bringing a “plumbing” mindset to policy-relevant research: a mindset where policymakers realize that any program has so many dimensions that it is very difficult to get them all right\, and where there is a need for constant experimentation and tinkering for policies to reach their full potential. \nEvent Recording\n \nAbout Esther Duflo\nEsther Duflo is the Abdul Latif Jameel Professor of Poverty Alleviation and Development Economics in the Department of Economics at MIT\, co-founder and co-director of the Abdul Latif Jameel Poverty Action Lab (J-PAL) and Chaire\, Pauvreté et politiques publiques\, Collège de France. In her research\, she seeks to understand the economic lives of the poor\, with the aim of helping design and evaluate social policies. She has worked on health\, education\, financial inclusion\, environment and governance. Professor Duflo has received numerous academic honors and prizes including the 2019 Sveriges Riksbank Prize in Economic Sciences in Memory of Alfred Nobel\, the John Bates Clark Medal (2010)\, and a MacArthur “Genius Grant” Fellowship (2009). With Abhijit Banerjee\, she wrote Poor Economics: A Radical Rethinking of the Way to Fight Global Poverty\, which has been translated into more than 17 languages\, and Good Economics for Hard Times. \nAbout the SSRC Katznelson Fellow Lecture\nThe SSRC Katznelson Fellow Prize was created in honor of former SSRC President and Board Member Ira Katznelson\, Ruggles Professor of Political Science and History and Deputy Director of Columbia World Projects\, Columbia University. The Katznelson Fellow Lecture recognizes distinguished scholars who exemplify innovation in the social and behavioral sciences. \n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n  URL:https://www.ssrc.org/events/2024-ssrc-katznelson-fellow-lecture/ ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/png:https://www.ssrc.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/earth_Rectangle.png END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20241029T130000 DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20241029T140000 DTSTAMP:20241101T140011Z CREATED:20241021T160736Z LAST-MODIFIED:20241101T140011Z UID:10000873-1730206800-1730210400@www.ssrc.org SUMMARY:Inter-American Foundation (IAF) Research Fellowship Informational Webinar DESCRIPTION:The SSRC and the Inter-American Foundation (IAF) will host a joint webinar via Zoom to discuss the fellowship program\, application tips\, and audience questions. The webinar will be delivered in English with simultaneous interpretation in French\, Portuguese\, and Spanish. It will be recorded and posted to the program website for those who are unable to attend. \n\n\n\nEvent Details\n\n\n\nTuesday\, October 29\, 2024 from 1 pm to 2 pm EDT (17:00 to 18:00 UTC)Zoom link: https://iaf.zoomgov.com/j/1604474886?pwd=hW28q4azGeBwsSQn00sphsY8AZdVg7.1Meeting ID: 160 447 4886Passcode: 305635 \nView the webinar recording here: https://youtu.be/G0rYSXJt-tE URL:https://www.ssrc.org/events/inter-american-foundation-iaf-fellowship-webinar/ ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://www.ssrc.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/SSRC-2-backstrap-loom.jpeg END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTART;VALUE=DATE:20241031 DTEND;VALUE=DATE:20241102 DTSTAMP:20241125T214218Z CREATED:20241125T213159Z LAST-MODIFIED:20241125T214218Z UID:10000877-1730332800-1730505599@www.ssrc.org SUMMARY:SSRC Sponsored Panel at the Amplifying African Voices for Strategic Action (AFSA) Conference\, 31st October – Ist November 2024 DESCRIPTION:Location: Strathmore University\, Kenya\nThe SSRC’s African Peacebuilding Network (APN) and Next Generation for Social Sciences in Africa (Next Gen) sponsored a panel made up of members of the Peace and Development Researchers Association (PADRA) of Kenya\, on ”Global Powers\, Regional Organizations and Peace\, Security and Development in the Horn of Africa\, at the Amplifying African Voices for Stretegic Action (AFSA) conference\, Nairobi. Four papers were presented in this panel. Dr Kizito Sabala from the University of Nairobi spoke on The Notion of African Solutions to African Problems and External Interests: Exploring the Missing Link in Africas Peace and Security Agenda in the Horn.  His presentation made a case for the African Union (AU) to take on its rightful role in peace and security as mandated by its founding documents. The paper further evaluated the role of external players in influencing the outcomes of conflict resolution and political settlements and identified funding as a major challenge facing peacebuilding efforts. Based on the case of the Horn\, the presenter captured the implications of the AU’s failure to implement the notion of ’African Solutions to African Problems’ such as the inability to limit the influence of external actors on Africa’s peace and security agenda in a significant way and ii) leverage the agency of  African regional organizations in promoting peace and  security. \nDr Marion Ouma\, a Research Associate at the University of South Africa spoke on:  Social Policy in Africa: Examining the Pathway to Peace and Social Cohesion. Her paper explored the interrelatedness between the causes and drivers of conflict such as poverty\, scarcity and the erosion of social wellbeing and cohesiveness.  Her argument in the paper was that social policy is one laudable intervention that can increase societal cohesion in contexts where poverty and vulnerability subsist. The paper noted that transformative social policy could contribute to enhancing and sustaining peace and development at multiple scales.  She also remarked that most of the continent‘s international organizations often take lead in shaping and framing social policy frameworks thereby usurping Africa’s agency. The paper appraised the African Union Social Policy Framework (AU-SPF) and related frameworks such as Agenda 2063\, the African Union Protocol on Social Protection and Social Security\, and their potential for creating a transformative social policy relevant to peace and security on the continent. The paper concluded that the implementation of the AU-SPF and related policy frameworks while adopting   an African agency perspective would improve the social contract and ultimately lead to the promotion of nation building and social cohesion. \nIn his paper on; The East African Community Regional Force (EACRF) intervention in eastern DRC: actors and implications for regional integration and stability\, Dr Nicodemus Minde\, from the Institute for Security Studies\, Nairobi\, relied on the Regional Security Complex Theory (RSCT) in assessing the impacts of the East African Community Regional Force (EACRF)\, and its short-lived intervention in the eastern Democratic Republic of Congo.  The paper discussed the evolution of processes that led to EACRF deployment and its related mandate of addressing increased violence by armed groups in the eastern DRC. The paper assessed the actors in the peace process and evaluated the EACRF performance amid the complexities of actors’ interests in the eastern DRC region.  The paper assessed that while the EACRF has made strides in stabilizing certain areas and facilitating non-violent transfers of territory\, its effectiveness had been constrained by ambiguous mandates\, coordination challenges\, and competing national interests. The paper concluded that regional integration and addressing the root causes of conflict through inclusive governance and economic development would be crucial for achieving lasting stability in eastern DRC even as EACRF was replaced by the The Southern African Development Community (SADC) Mission in the Democratic Republic of Congo (SAMIDRC). \nDr John Mwangi from the Mashariki Research and Policy Centre\, Kenya spoke on: Building Peace in South Sudan: An Assessment of the IGAD’S Contributions and Challenges. This paper acknowledged the role of the Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD) in various phases of the peacebuilding process in South Sudan. The paper appraised IGAD’S contributions and challenges that the sub-regional body continued to face in on-going peace processes\, particularly in South Sudan. It in a diagnosis of the state of the play in South Sudan by highlighting statebuilding challenges including poor governance and elites’ power contestation. Additionally\, the paper offered a series of suggestions on how to overcome the current peace impasse with lessons for IGAD and the country. \nThe presentations were followed by robust discussions\, questions and interactions between the paper presenters and participants\, around issues linked to African agency in relation to conflict prevention\, peacebuilding\, and development. There was also a lot of interest in the degree of agency of Africa institutions as the main drivers (as opposed to international actors) in driving policies linked to peace\, security and development in the Horn of Africa/East Africa. The conference also provided an excellent space to network with potentials for research and policy work collaboration. \nBy John Mwangi URL:https://www.ssrc.org/events/report-of-the-ssrc-sponsored-panel-at-the-amplifying-african-voices-for-strategic-action-afsa-conference-held-on-31st-october-i-st-november-2024-at-strathmore-university-kenya-organized/ ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://www.ssrc.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/apn_2000_4-564f8b927e015-1-1.jpg END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20241113T080000 DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20241113T170000 DTSTAMP:20241209T192138Z CREATED:20241209T155433Z LAST-MODIFIED:20241209T192138Z UID:10000878-1731484800-1731517200@www.ssrc.org SUMMARY:Trendlines and Transformations in African Democratic Governance: Lessons for 21st-Century US-Africa Relations DESCRIPTION:November 13\, 2024 | Washington DC \nOn November 13\, 2024\, the Social Science Research Council’s (SSRC) African Peacebuilding Network (APN) and Next Generation Social Sciences in Africa (Next Gen)\, in partnership with the Wilson Center’s Africa Program\, hosted a policy dialogue at the Woodrow Wilson Center in Washington DC. This inaugural session of the “Trendlines and Transformations in African Democratic Governance: Lessons for 21st-Century US-Africa Relations” series brought together African and US scholars and experts to discuss political developments across Africa\, exploring strategies for strengthening democracy in the region.   \nRobert Litwak\, Senior Vice President and Director of International Studies of the Woodrow Wilson Center\, opened the session by emphasizing the shared missions of the APN and Next Gen Program and the Wilson Center’s Africa Program in fostering African expertise in US-Africa policy discussions through research and dialogue. He also framed the conversation as one that focuses on how governance trends across Africa intersect with major political events and daily civic engagements.   \nOpening remarks were given by Dafna Hochman Rand\, Assistant Secretary of State for Democracy\, Human Rights\, and Labor\, US Department of State. She stressed the importance of rethinking the US’s approach—its ‘toolkit’—to democracy promotion strategies to address new challenges and empower local actors on the continent. She posed three critical questions to the panel: 1) How can we consider the impact of growing geopolitical competition on democracy promotion in Africa? 2) How can the US and other actors better support successful democracies in Africa? 3) How can the US modernize its tools for promoting governance?   \nCyril Obi\, Program Director of the APN and Next Gen Program\, followed with the program’s objective to produce high-quality research on conflict-affected countries and connect them to policy discussions and conversations. He highlighted democracy’s resilience on the continent despite the present challenges and introduced the concept of democratic dividends. An overarching question was posed: how can African people and regional bodies effectively engage in democracy promotion\, and what role should the international community play in supporting this?   \nDirector of the Wilson Center’s Africa Program\, Oge Onubogu\, invited the panel to comment on the disconnect between citizen values and aspirations for democracy and the practice of democracy on the continent.   \nRawia Tawfik\, a former APN fellow\, and Visiting Associate Professor\, Council on African Studies\, MacMillan Center for International and Area Studies at Yale University\, emphasized that the wave of democratic protests in Africa often drew connections between securing fundamental freedoms through democratic governance and the management of the continent’s economies. She highlighted the difficulty of building a lasting democracy without a robust institutional framework.   \nCharles Ukeje\, a former APN fellow\, and Professor of International Relations at Obafemi Awolowo University\, Ile-Ife\, Nigeria\, spoke of the material base required for popular support for democracy\, as well as the erosion of this material base\, which has reduced the capacity of social actors at the forefront of change: the African middle class. This erosion\, he asserted\, is contributing to the shrinking of civic spaces across the continent.   \nLatifah Kasozi Namutebi\, a Wilson Center’s Southern Voices Network for Peacebuilding (SVNP) Scholar and Strategic Partnership and Advocacy Officer at the Women’s International Peace Centre\, Uganda\, drew on the 2021 General Ugandan Election\, where digital spaces were used to engage with political actors in real-time to shed light on the pivotal role technology has played in creating spaces amidst shrinking civil spaces. She emphasized the importance of not focusing solely on the rising threat of disinformation and misinformation\, asserting that we can continue countering them through community efforts and fact-checking.   \nPeter Lewis\, Warren Weinstein Chair of African Studies at the Johns Hopkins University School of Advanced International Studies\, and former Wilson Center Africa Program fellow\, highlighted Africans’ commitment to democracy\, which still surpasses percentages in Asia\, Latin America\, and the Middle East.    \nOge Onubogu\, Director of Wilson Center’s Africa program introduced a new line of questioning centered on new actors that are reshaping the geopolitical and strategic competition involving established and emerging international actors on the continent. Specifically posing a question to Professor Tawfik\, she inquired about how the strengthening of democratic governance can be considered on the continent\, given these actors’ influences.   \nProfessor Tawfik used Sudan and the Horn of Africa as case studies\, explaining that the incursion of international and regional actors has contributed to 1) support of dictatorial regimes and 2) support of one side over another in conflicts. Professor Tawfik suggested that different countries understand these actors’ interests and exert sufficient pressure to influence their course of action. She also urged the AU to be more consistent regarding actions taken against violators of unconstitutional changes in government.    \nThe Director of the Wilson Center’s Africa Program then posed a question on how the toolkit for engaging the continent can be updated to represent the interests of citizens\, given the fading legitimacy of RECs\, to Charles Ukeje.      \nProfessor Ukeje described the disconnect between the commitments made by the AU and other RECs to uphold the principles of democracy over the last decade and their implementation. He highlighted West African citizens’ disconnect from ECOWAS\, an institution that has become more of a club of governing elites. He suggested that ECOWAS and other RECs carry out institutional reforms\, especially considering the cross-border challenges facing Africa\, including banditry\, violent extremism\, and climate change.     \nDuring the Q&A session\, panelists emphasized shifting US support for democracy in Africa from propping up governments to empowering citizens and civil society. They highlighted the need to address systemic challenges\, like election manipulation through the judiciary\, and stressed the importance of involving African youth in strengthening governance. The crucial role the African private sector can play in the political space—particularly through strategic coalitions with government and business interests to foster growth\, improve infrastructure\, secure property rights\, and align institutions to attract local and foreign businesses—was also underscored.      \nA recording of the panel discussion can be found here.    \n  URL:https://www.ssrc.org/events/trendlines-and-transformations-in-african-democratic-governance-lessons-for-21st-century-us-africa-relations/ ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://www.ssrc.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/IMG_0133-scaled.jpg END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20241120T100000 DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20241120T113000 DTSTAMP:20241112T150212Z CREATED:20241024T155735Z LAST-MODIFIED:20241112T150212Z UID:10000874-1732096800-1732102200@www.ssrc.org SUMMARY:Reforming Tech and Democracy Programs for the Global Majority DESCRIPTION:Virtual Launch Event of the Study Custom Built / Feito Sob Medida \nHow can tech and democracy programs better serve the needs and challenges of Global Majority countries? What are divergence points between Global North and Global Majority tech justice advocacies? How are so-called “whole-of-society” tech and democracy coalitions guilty of knowledge and data extractivism?   \nThis event launches an important new study entitled Custom Built / Feito Sob Medida: Reforming Tech and Democracy Programs for the Global Majority. Retelling both frustrations and creative aspirations of over 100 frontliners of election integrity and media freedom initiatives from Brazil to India to Kenya to the Philippines\, the study discusses the “illusion of inclusion” in the tech and democracy space. Overdetermined by Global North funding priorities and governments’ securitization agenda\, tech and democracy projects are often experienced in the Global Majority as top-down and tools- and tech-first rather than community-driven\, healing-oriented\, and custom built\, or in Portuguese\, feito sob medida. \nIn this webinar\, we will be joined by Marcelo Alves (Pontifical Catholic University of Rio de Janeiro)\, Jonathan Corpus Ong (UMass Amherst)\, and Raquel Recuero (Federal University of Pelotas)\, who will discuss their vision for a more globally minded and community-driven tech justice agenda that centers Global Majority creative capacities and distinct challenges of institutional capture and fractured civil society.  \nThis discussion will be moderated by GloTech’s Ethan Zuckerman (UMass Amherst). \nThis study is out and available for download at www.glotechlab.net. \nExpert Discussants:\nProf Herman Wasserman (Stellenbosch University\, South Africa)\nDr Nina Santos (Desinformante\, Brazil)\nPaco Camacho (The Asia Foundation\, Philippines)\nSabhanaz Rashid Diya (Tech Global Institute)\nDinita Putri (Luminate Group) URL:https://www.ssrc.org/events/reforming-tech-and-democracy-programs-for-the-global-majority/ ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://www.ssrc.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/reforming_tech-scaled.jpg END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20241206T080000 DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20241206T170000 DTSTAMP:20240815T163912Z CREATED:20240815T142201Z LAST-MODIFIED:20240815T163912Z UID:10000869-1733472000-1733504400@www.ssrc.org SUMMARY:2024 CUF DESCRIPTION:Research to Solve Problems\nDecember 6\, 2024\nOn December 6\, 2024\, the Social Science Research Council will convene institutional leaders from the College and University Fund for the Social Sciences\, together with leaders of philanthropic organizations and federal science agencies\, to share insights about how to foster social and behavioral science that helps policymakers solve pressing social problems. What kinds of partnerships\, funding streams\, and administrative supports can sustain a pipeline of knowledge production and transfer aimed at public sector innovation? What can we learn\, if anything\, from the research infrastructure dedicated to supporting knowledge production and transfer for private sector innovation? Are there good examples of research-to-policy pipelines on our campuses? \nContact Us URL:https://www.ssrc.org/events/2024-cuf/ ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/png:https://www.ssrc.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/08/rocco.png END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20241206T080000 DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20241206T170000 DTSTAMP:20250106T162752Z CREATED:20240515T151154Z LAST-MODIFIED:20250106T162752Z UID:10000861-1733472000-1733504400@www.ssrc.org SUMMARY:2024 College and University Fund Conference: Research to Solve Problems DESCRIPTION:Research to Solve Problems\nDecember 6\, 2024\nOn December 6\, 2024\, the Social Science Research Council convened institutional leaders from the College and University Fund for the Social Sciences\, together with leaders of philanthropic organizations and federal science agencies\, to share insights about how to foster social and behavioral science that helps policymakers solve pressing social problems. What kinds of partnerships\, funding vehicles\, and administrative support can sustain a pipeline of knowledge production and transfer leading to public sector innovation? What can we learn\, if anything\, from the research infrastructure dedicated to supporting knowledge production and transfer for private sector innovation? Are there good examples of research-to-policy pipelines on our campuses? URL:https://www.ssrc.org/events/2024-college-and-university-fund-conference-research-to-solve-problems/ ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/png:https://www.ssrc.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/black_marble_cuf-2.png END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTART;VALUE=DATE:20241212 DTEND;VALUE=DATE:20241215 DTSTAMP:20250109T193254Z CREATED:20250109T193254Z LAST-MODIFIED:20250109T193254Z UID:10000879-1733961600-1734220799@www.ssrc.org SUMMARY:APN and Next Gen-Sponsored Panel at the 2024 ASA Annual Meeting: Chicago\, Illinois DESCRIPTION:The Social Science Research Council’s African Peacebuilding Network (APN) and the Next Generation Social Sciences in Africa (Next Gen) program sponsored a panel of selective current and former fellows\, “More than Local Expressions of the Global? Interrogating Emerging Patterns and Practices of Conflict\, Peace and Development in Africa\,” featuring presentations based on the fellows’ research findings. The panel was held during the 2024 African Studies Association (ASA) Annual Meeting in Chicago\, USA\, from December 12 to 14\, 2024.  \nChaired by Dr. Cyril Obi\, Program Director of APN and Next Gen\, the panel addressed how local cases of conflict\, peace\, and development in Africa interact with\, resist\, adapt\, and are shaped by global structures\, norms\, politics\, and actors. Presenters interrogated the dominant narratives\, concepts\, theories\, and emerging patterns of such relationships by identifying cases of local appropriation and resistance to dominant global narratives\, meaning-making\, and relationships to demonstrate African agency in peace\, security\, and development within Africa and at the global level.    \nIn War\, Peacemaking\, and the Global-Local Friction in the 2020–2022 Northern Ethiopia Conflict\, Dr. Alagaw Kifle presented a study of the complex and diverse local and global actors entangled in the peacemaking process in the contested area\, Raya\, in the context of the Amhara-Tigray Civil War in Ethiopia. He noted that the diverse responses from local\, diasporic\, and multi-lateral communities to the Western actors involved in the peace agreement are to be found in their diverse interests and agendas. The diverse perspectives on the international and national actors have resulted in local and diasporic communities organizing movements to support or reject the agreement.  \nDr. Sokfa Francis John’s presentation on Digitally Offline\, Globally Connected: Dynamics of Digital Peacebuilding and Localization in Africa drew on local digital and non-digital peacebuilding cases in Kenyan and Nigerian contexts. He critiqued hegemonic narratives of development as part of the analysis of the opportunities and limitations of current digital peacebuilding. The cases examined demonstrated how peacebuilders mutually constitute the local and digital\, even suggested that the digital space can be viewed as a flexible and adaptable tool for peacebuilding work\, underscoring the agency of local peacebuilders in shaping the local and the digital.   \nIn Decolonizing Mediation and Peacebuilding in Post-Electoral Conflicts in Kenya\, Dr. Jacinta Maweu questioned the degree of success of the peace mediation of post-2008 electoral violence in Kenya. She observed that the majority of elections since the 2008 peace mediation have been followed by violence. She unpacked the triggers of cyclical post-electoral violence\, including weaponized ethnicity\, land disputes\, and the winner-takes-all electoral system. In conclusion\, she argued that cosmetic solutions would continue to serve the narrow interests of the elite and not address the root causes of the post-election conflicts.   \nMedina Moosa presented the findings of a chapter of her doctoral dissertation\, Visions of Jihad: South African liberation struggles\, apartheid counterinsurgency through the movement of the Afghanistan Mujahedeen to Southern Africa in the 1980s. The presentation conceptualized Jihad as a universal emancipatory ideology that was part of a larger tapestry of anti-apartheid struggles in South Africa in the 1980s. She described how locals appropriated diverse international ideas and transformed them locally during the Cold War era. This period produced novel conceptions of Jihad in the South African anti-apartheid struggle\, highlighting what is often considered as Muslim politics in the struggle.    \nDr. Abdullahi Hamisu Shehu’s presentation on Trans-national Politics and the Conflict of Ideologies: Exploring the Complexity of Iran’s\, Saudi’s and Nigeria’s Influences and Reactions Over the ‘Zaria Massacre’ interrogated the multiple actors influencing and responding to the 2015 Zaria Massacre when hundreds of Shi’a Muslim activists were killed in Northern Nigeria by state security forces. He argued that Saudi Arabian and Iranian ideological imperialism and rivalry had resulted in heightened Shi’a and Sunni tension in the region. The events in Zaria directly responded to political issues and connected to the trends in the Middle East. He concluded that these events are part of a proxy ideological contest of international actors playing out through religious communities locally.   \nThe panel presentation concluded with discussant Dr. Rosette Sifa Vuninga responding to the perspectives on the new patterns of conflict taking place in Africa. She reviewed the emerging groups and conflict actors\, differing political goals\, the drivers of conflict trajectories\, and war economies influencing the trends\, as well as their links to global actors and discourses. She highlighted the international diaspora’s increasing engagement in the politics of their homeland\, contributing to the de-localization of conflict. She\, however\, requested panelists to address the alternatives to the ongoing patterns of global-local relations they critiqued\, such as the degree of international actors’ involvement and the extent to which Africans are shaping the local\, regional\, and global contributions to peacebuilding.  \nBelow\, Dr. Rosette Sifa Vuninga answers the question\, “What have you learned by attending the 2024 ASA Annual Meeting?” \nhttps://www.ssrc.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/Dr.-Rosette-Sifa-Vuninga-for-ASA-Summary.mp4 \n  \n  URL:https://www.ssrc.org/events/apn-and-next-gen-sponsored-panel-at-the-2024-asa-annual-meeting-chicago-illinois/ LOCATION:Chicago\, IL ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://www.ssrc.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/1000046787.jpg END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTART;VALUE=DATE:20250114 DTEND;VALUE=DATE:20250115 DTSTAMP:20250129T201349Z CREATED:20250128T213148Z LAST-MODIFIED:20250129T201349Z UID:10000885-1736812800-1736899199@www.ssrc.org SUMMARY:Trendlines and Transformations in African Democratic Governance: Lessons for 21st-Century US-Africa Relations\, Part 2 DESCRIPTION:January 14\, 2025 | Washington DC  \nThe second session of the Trendlines and Transformations in African Democratic Governance: Lessons for 21st-Century US-Africa Relations series took place on January 14th\, 2025\, at the Wilson Center in Washington\, DC. This collaborative effort between the Social Science Research Council’s (SSRC) African Peacebuilding Network (APN) and Next Generation Social Sciences in Africa (Next Gen)\, and the Wilson Center’s Africa Program brought together experts to discuss the geopolitical shifts and increasing prominence of middle and emerging powers on the African continent\, particularly its implications for democratic governance\, security issues\, and Africa-US relations.   \nCyril Obi\, Program Director of the APN and Next Gen Program\, emphasized the program’s focus on supporting high-quality policy-relevant research by African scholars based in Africa\, aligning this with the activities of the Wilson Center’s Africa Program to contextualize the organizations’ partnership. He summarized the output from the inaugural session: a set of recommendations for the incoming US administration to have a bold approach towards democratic engagement on the African continent. He asked the panelists to reflect on how Africa’s shifting alliances might impact its democratic governance and relations with the US\, and how Western powers should respond to maintain influence\, build trust\, and demonstrate reliability in their engagements with Africa.   \nOge Onubogu\, Director of the Wilson Center’s Africa Program\, highlighted the importance of timing the conversation to coincide with the incoming Trump administration in the US\, the emergence of new leadership at the African Union\, and South Africa’s assumption of the presidency of the G20. She invited the speakers to reflect on how the incoming US administration and African institutions can position themselves to collaborate effectively.  \nFonteh Akum\, Executive Director of the Institute for Security Studies (ISS) Africa\, outlined four pillars for engagement between the US and specific African countries: security cooperation\, consolidating democratic governance\, supporting economic development\, and the crystalizing of African agency by tapping into Africa’s demographic power (underlining the potential of Africa’s youthful population)\, and by bolstering investments in education and capacity building.   \nShifting the conversation to the mixed outcomes of elections in Southern Africa last year\, Director Onubogu asked for insights on the current situation in Mozambique and the potential role the incoming US administration can play in addressing the country’s post-election crisis.   \nSiphokazi Magadla\,  Associate Professor of Political and International Studies at Rhodes University\, South Africa\, discussed the lack of democratic norms in Southern Africa—a region historically held together by its legacies of national liberation but witnessing shifts in democratic trends with the election of new governments. She explained that young people were showing liberation movements turned ruling parties that they could be voted out if they failed to deliver on improving the quality of lives of citizens. On the election of Namibia’s first female president\, Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah\, Professor Magadla suggested she be part of a movement to re-energize global women’s movements in Africa and beyond. Professor Magadla also urged the US to exert greater pressure on the SADC to become more active and strengthen democratic governance in the region.   \nhttps://www.ssrc.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/Siphokazi.mp4 \nOge Onubogu invited questions from members of the panel\, including concrete recommendations on how the incoming US government can partner with African citizens and institutions to address the concern of democracy being perceived as elite-driven and disconnected from the people.  \n \nIbrahim Bangura\, Associate Professor in the Department of Peace and Conflict Studies at Fourah Bay College\, University of Sierra Leone\, pointed to the weakness of democratic culture across the continent by observing that its principles have not been upheld by leaders\, most of whom ignore the rights of their citizens. He attributed the resurgence of military coup d’états to political disenfranchisement and corruption. He suggested that the US support African voices fighting for democracy\, engage with regional African institutions\, and help strengthen democratic institutions that put power in the people’s hands. He also suggested the US invest in socio-economic development by fostering democratic culture in regional organizations\, civil society\, and education\, while leveraging the African diaspora.   \nhttps://www.ssrc.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/Ibrahim.mp4 \n\nFinally\, Oge Onubogu raised the issue of Africa’s reassessment of its security partnerships\, prompting the panel to discuss how the incoming US administration can establish itself as a dependable democratic partner despite growing competition from regional\, middle\, and emerging powers.   \nJoseph Siegle\, Director for Research at the Africa Center for Strategic Studies\, National Defense University\, highlighted Africa’s diverse security environment\, noting key areas such as the Sahel\, Lake Chad Basin\, Somalia\, and Northern Mozambique\, where violent extremism is often linked to transnational criminal networks. He discussed the recent coups in countries like Somalia\, Niger\, and Burkina Faso\, which have led to alternative security arrangements for regime survival\, particularly with Russia\, and emphasized the growing challenges of building trust and security capacity in a region increasingly affected by instability and conflict. He cautioned against US competition with Russia for influence\, recommending that the US work to build African capacity by strengthening security institutions\, military professionalism\, civil-military relations\, and regional coalitions.   \nDuring the Q&A portion of the event\, members of the audience posed questions concerning Africa’s security\, democratic governance\, and options for the use of soft power in US-Africa engagements. There were also questions about the challenges in rebuilding the continent in the context of the geopolitical changes\, which some suggested necessitates the US to assess the role of higher education institutions in fostering political engagement and people-to-people integration\, empowering Africa’s young population while centering African agency.   \nA live stream of the event can be found here.  \n  URL:https://www.ssrc.org/events/trendlines-and-transformations-in-african-democratic-governance-lessons-for-21st-century-us-africa-relations-part-2/ CATEGORIES:Africa ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://www.ssrc.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/553A0038-scaled.jpg END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20250128T080000 DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20250128T170000 DTSTAMP:20250128T212308Z CREATED:20250128T212308Z LAST-MODIFIED:20250128T212308Z UID:10000884-1738051200-1738083600@www.ssrc.org SUMMARY:Trendlines and Transformations in African Democratic Governance: Lessons for 21st-Century US-Africa Relations DESCRIPTION:November 13\, 2024 | Washington DC \nOn November 13\, 2024\, the Social Science Research Council’s (SSRC) African Peacebuilding Network (APN) and Next Generation Social Sciences in Africa (Next Gen)\, in partnership with the Wilson Center’s Africa Program\, hosted a policy dialogue at the Woodrow Wilson Center in Washington DC. This inaugural session of the “Trendlines and Transformations in African Democratic Governance: Lessons for 21st-Century US-Africa Relations” series brought together African and US scholars and experts to discuss political developments across Africa\, exploring strategies for strengthening democracy in the region.   \nRobert Litwak\, Senior Vice President and Director of International Studies of the Woodrow Wilson Center\, opened the session by emphasizing the shared missions of the APN and Next Gen Program and the Wilson Center’s Africa Program in fostering African expertise in US-Africa policy discussions through research and dialogue. He also framed the conversation as one that focuses on how governance trends across Africa intersect with major political events and daily civic engagements.   \nOpening remarks were given by Dafna Hochman Rand\, Assistant Secretary of State for Democracy\, Human Rights\, and Labor\, US Department of State. She stressed the importance of rethinking the US’s approach—its ‘toolkit’—to democracy promotion strategies to address new challenges and empower local actors on the continent. She posed three critical questions to the panel: 1) How can we consider the impact of growing geopolitical competition on democracy promotion in Africa? 2) How can the US and other actors better support successful democracies in Africa? 3) How can the US modernize its tools for promoting governance?   \nCyril Obi\, Program Director of the APN and Next Gen Program\, followed with the program’s objective to produce high-quality research on conflict-affected countries and connect them to policy discussions and conversations. He highlighted democracy’s resilience on the continent despite the present challenges and introduced the concept of democratic dividends. An overarching question was posed: how can African people and regional bodies effectively engage in democracy promotion\, and what role should the international community play in supporting this?   \nDirector of the Wilson Center’s Africa Program\, Oge Onubogu\, invited the panel to comment on the disconnect between citizen values and aspirations for democracy and the practice of democracy on the continent.   \nRawia Tawfik\, a former APN fellow\, and Visiting Associate Professor\, Council on African Studies\, MacMillan Center for International and Area Studies at Yale University\, emphasized that the wave of democratic protests in Africa often drew connections between securing fundamental freedoms through democratic governance and the management of the continent’s economies. She highlighted the difficulty of building a lasting democracy without a robust institutional framework.   \nCharles Ukeje\, a former APN fellow\, and Professor of International Relations at Obafemi Awolowo University\, Ile-Ife\, Nigeria\, spoke of the material base required for popular support for democracy\, as well as the erosion of this material base\, which has reduced the capacity of social actors at the forefront of change: the African middle class. This erosion\, he asserted\, is contributing to the shrinking of civic spaces across the continent.   \nLatifah Kasozi Namutebi\, a Wilson Center’s Southern Voices Network for Peacebuilding (SVNP) Scholar and Strategic Partnership and Advocacy Officer at the Women’s International Peace Centre\, Uganda\, drew on the 2021 General Ugandan Election\, where digital spaces were used to engage with political actors in real-time to shed light on the pivotal role technology has played in creating spaces amidst shrinking civil spaces. She emphasized the importance of not focusing solely on the rising threat of disinformation and misinformation\, asserting that we can continue countering them through community efforts and fact-checking.   \nPeter Lewis\, Warren Weinstein Chair of African Studies at the Johns Hopkins University School of Advanced International Studies\, and former Wilson Center Africa Program fellow\, highlighted Africans’ commitment to democracy\, which still surpasses percentages in Asia\, Latin America\, and the Middle East.    \nOge Onubogu\, Director of Wilson Center’s Africa program introduced a new line of questioning centered on new actors that are reshaping the geopolitical and strategic competition involving established and emerging international actors on the continent. Specifically posing a question to Professor Tawfik\, she inquired about how the strengthening of democratic governance can be considered on the continent\, given these actors’ influences.   \nProfessor Tawfik used Sudan and the Horn of Africa as case studies\, explaining that the incursion of international and regional actors has contributed to 1) support of dictatorial regimes and 2) support of one side over another in conflicts. Professor Tawfik suggested that different countries understand these actors’ interests and exert sufficient pressure to influence their course of action. She also urged the AU to be more consistent regarding actions taken against violators of unconstitutional changes in government.    \nThe Director of the Wilson Center’s Africa Program then posed a question on how the toolkit for engaging the continent can be updated to represent the interests of citizens\, given the fading legitimacy of RECs\, to Charles Ukeje.      \nProfessor Ukeje described the disconnect between the commitments made by the AU and other RECs to uphold the principles of democracy over the last decade and their implementation. He highlighted West African citizens’ disconnect from ECOWAS\, an institution that has become more of a club of governing elites. He suggested that ECOWAS and other RECs carry out institutional reforms\, especially considering the cross-border challenges facing Africa\, including banditry\, violent extremism\, and climate change.     \nDuring the Q&A session\, panelists emphasized shifting US support for democracy in Africa from propping up governments to empowering citizens and civil society. They highlighted the need to address systemic challenges\, like election manipulation through the judiciary\, and stressed the importance of involving African youth in strengthening governance. The crucial role the African private sector can play in the political space—particularly through strategic coalitions with government and business interests to foster growth\, improve infrastructure\, secure property rights\, and align institutions to attract local and foreign businesses—was also underscored.      \nA recording of the panel discussion can be found here.    \n  URL:https://www.ssrc.org/events/trendlines-and-transformations-in-african-democratic-governance-lessons-for-21st-century-us-africa-relations-2/ END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTART;VALUE=DATE:20250224 DTEND;VALUE=DATE:20250228 DTSTAMP:20250317T164543Z CREATED:20250317T155955Z LAST-MODIFIED:20250317T164543Z UID:10000890-1740355200-1740700799@www.ssrc.org SUMMARY:2025 APN & Next Gen | MUST Writing and Dissemination Workshop DESCRIPTION:Blantyre\, Malawi \n \nFrom February 24 to February 27\, the African Peacebuilding Network (APN) and Next Generation Social Sciences in Africa (Next Gen) program of the Social Science Research Council (SSRC)\, in partnership with the Malawi Institute of Science and Technology (MUST)\, hosted the 2025 APN and Next Gen | MUST Writing and Dissemination Workshop from at the Amaryllis Hotel in Blantyre\, Malawi. The workshop brought together the 2024 APN and Next Gen fellows’ cohorts\, esteemed facilitators\, and distinguished keynote speakers to help enhance fellows’ writing and dissemination capacities. \nOn February 24\, Ignasio Jimu\, Head of Department for the Department of Indigenous Knowledge Systems and Practices at MUST and Chair of the Local Organizing Committee (LOC)\, provided introductory remarks. Dr. Jimu presented opening remarks to the APN and Next Gen staff and fellows\, the university’s Vice Chancellor\, the keynote speakers\, and members of the Local Organizing Committee (LOC). \nCyril Obi\, Program Director of the SSRC’s APN and Next Gen Program\, also provided opening remarks. He asserted African scholars’ ability to excel and compete on a global stage and highlighted that since 2012\, the APN and Next Gen program has awarded 783 fellowships. He spoke about the importance of integrating MUST and Malawian scholars more fully into the work of the APN and Next Gen and Africa’s broader academic discourses. \nProfessor Address Malata\, Vice Chancellor of MUST\, welcomed participants to Malawi\, “the warm heartbeat of Africa.” She underscored the competence of African scholars and emphasized their ability to positively impact the continent and beyond. Professor Malata expressed her appreciation for the workshop’s focus on capacity building\, highlighting that the research and expertise being developed are not merely for academic purposes\, but to enact meaningful change\, particularly in impacting policy and transforming educational systems. \nBrigadier-General (Professor) Dan Kuwali\, Commandant of the National Defence College in Malawi and Affiliated Professor at the Raoul Wallenberg of Human Rights and Humanitarian Law\, Lund University\, Sweden\, delivered the first Keynote Lecture\, “The Challenge of Writing on Justice\, Peace and Development in Africa: A Multidisciplinary Perspective.” Professor Kuwali highlighted the deep-rooted challenges facing Africa and asserted that these issues require a multidisciplinary approach that draws from social science\, political science\, law\, history\, and economics to advance justice\, peace\, and development. He drew on the principles of Ubuntu\, affirming that peace and development cannot be achieved in isolation; they require collaboration across institutions\, nations\, and communities\, by ensuring that research reflects shared humanity and African perspectives. He called for African scholars to keep researching and reflecting on the lived experiences of Africans\, including citing and supporting each other’s work\, and to keep persevering on the journey towards peace\, justice and development on the continent. \nThis lecture was followed by a Q&A session\, after which APN IRF fellows met with their mentors and peers for their working group sessions\, while Next Gen Doctoral Dissertation Fellows met in thematic groups\, which are formed based on the alignment between each mentor’s area of expertise and the dissertation topics of the fellows in their group. \nOn February 25\, the Guest of Honor Dr. Atikonda Mtenje-Mkochi\, Executive Dean of the Bingu School of Culture and Heritage at MUST\, emphasized the crucial role of social sciences\, arts\, and heritage in shaping Africa’s position in the Fourth Industrial Revolution. She emphasized the point that Africa must realize its full potential by ensuring that artificial intelligence (AI) does not widen existing inequalities\, but instead serves as a tool for empowerment. She urged scholars in the social sciences\, humanities\, and arts to actively decolonize AI\, as well as to preserve Africa’s rich cultural heritage through proper documentation. The rest of the day was taken up by breakout workshop groups\, where fellows presented and refined their research-based proposals\, chapters\, and manuscripts preparatory to dissemination. \nThe second Keynote Lecture\, “Artificial Intelligence\, Digital Media and African Peacebuilding: Reflections on Emerging Opportunities and Challenges for Scholarly Writing”\, was delivered by Caleb Gichuhi\, Africa Lead at Build Up. Gichuhi framed his talk on the dual nature of technology—its potential for both inclusion and division\, while exploring the division between the approaches of technology determinism and social determinism. He demonstrated the implications of AI-driven analysis in uncovering and predicting patterns of division and targeted hostility with examples drawn from hate speech and misinformation–areas of particular interest to peacebuilders. He noted that peacebuilders are currently not leveraging on digital tools and AI effectively\, often outsourcing data analysis to tech companies lacking a peace-focused perspective\, while cautioning against the risks inherent in such lapses. Gichuhi also addressed global infrastructure and information asymmetry\, noting that AI’s reliance on widely cited sources marginalizes African perspectives\, leading to distorted representations of African peacebuilding. He called on African scholars and institutions to actively engage in shaping AI narratives\, ensuring ethical\, human-centered technology that serves African peacebuilding efforts. His presentation was followed by a lively Q and A session\, after which fellows continued with activities in their breakout groups. \nThe third day of the workshop involved a combination of breakout with one-on-one sessions\, during which each fellow received focused guidance from their group’s mentor. After the completion of their sessions\, fellows visited places of interest in Blantyre city\, including Chichiri Museum\, Bangwe Weaving Factory\, MUST campus\, and Providence Industrial Mission (PIM)\, a church established in 1900 by Reverend John Chilembwe—a prominent figure in Malawi’s struggle for independence against British colonial rule\, credited with leading the 1915 Chilembwe Uprising. The Mission’s network of schools served as learning sites that provided anticolonial education\, while its agricultural activities aimed to promote self-reliance in the local communities. This visit was followed by a dinner hosted at Sunbird Mount Soche Hotel. The evening consisted of excellent performances from MUST’s band\, the Chichiri and Goliati Dance Troupes. \nOn February 27\, fellows and mentors continued their one-on-one sessions\, which was followed by a Fellows Panel Discussion\, “African Perspectives to the Benefits and Risks of Leveraging Digital Technologies in Scholarly Writing.” Featuring Professor Henrietta Nyamnjoh\, Dr. George Karekwaivanane\, Dr. Fadzai Chipato\, Dr. Sebastian Paalo\, Patience Shawarira\, Kenechukwu Peace Nwachukwu\, and moderated by Dr. Obi\, the panel discussion centered on the challenges and opportunities that digital technologies\, particularly AI\, present in scholarly writing and research. Panelists highlighted the benefits of AI for data analysis\, idea generation\, and improving efficiency\, while emphasizing the ethical concerns surrounding its use\, including transparency\, consent\, and the potential for misinformation. There was a consensus on the need for a cautious\, decolonized approach towards integrating AI into research\, especially in Africa\, with a call for policies and training to ensure its responsible use. The conversation underscored the importance of balancing human insight with technological advancements while questioning whether relying on AI\, especially developed by external powers\, could pose a risk of “epistemic suicide” for African scholarship. \nFollowing the panel discussion\, closing remarks ensued. Speaking on behalf of the Vice Chancellor of MUST and Executive Dean of the Bingu School at MUST\, Dr. Jimu expressed gratitude to all who contributed to the overall success of the workshop\, while noting the significance of hosting an international workshop at MUST. Dr. Obi followed his steps in expressing thanks\, and ended by encouraging the cohort of 2024 APN and Next Gen fellows—now belonging to a pan African community of knowledge and practice—to implement what they have learned for society’s benefit. \nThe APN and Next Gen Program expresses its heartfelt gratitude to the 2024 cohort of fellows\, mentors\, keynote lecturers\, guests of honor\, and the Malawi Institute of Science and Technology (MUST) and its Local Organizing Committee for their contributing their unwavering commitment\, dedication\, and hard work to the success of the 2025 Writing and Dissemination Workshop. URL:https://www.ssrc.org/events/2025-apn-next-gen-must-writing-and-dissemination-workshop/ ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://www.ssrc.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/IMG_4778-scaled.jpg END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20250227T150000 DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20250227T160000 DTSTAMP:20250305T185914Z CREATED:20250130T091317Z LAST-MODIFIED:20250305T185914Z UID:10000880-1740668400-1740672000@www.ssrc.org SUMMARY:Neighborhood Effects\, Housing Mobility\, and Place-Based Policies: Evidence from Experiments and Quasi-Experiments DESCRIPTION:About the Lecture\nFor decades\, Harvard professor Lawrence Katz has worked with federal and local housing agencies to learn how public housing policy might more effectively support economic opportunity. This lecture will cover his work on three landmark projects: Moving to Opportunity\, enabling residents of public housing to move to lower-poverty neighborhoods; Creating Moves to Opportunity\, providing additional support to families considering leaving high-poverty neighborhoods; and HOPE VI revitalization grants\, investing in mixed-income developments in neighborhoods with distressed public housing. Professor Katz’s pathbreaking work on these projects demonstrates how collaborations between researchers and government agencies can improve the delivery of important public goods and services. \nEvent Recording\n \nAbout the Speaker\nLawrence F. Katz is the Elisabeth Allison Professor of Economics at Harvard University and a Research Associate of the National Bureau of Economic Research. His research focuses on issues in labor economics and the economics of social problems. He is the author (with Claudia Goldin) of The Race between Education and Technology (Harvard University Press\, 2008). \nKatz has been studying the impacts of neighborhood poverty on low-income families as the principal investigator of the long-term evaluation of the Moving to Opportunity program\, a randomized housing mobility experiment. His past research has explored a wide range of topics including U.S. and comparative wage inequality trends\, educational wage differentials and the labor market returns to education\, the impact of globalization and technological change on the labor market\, the economics of immigration\, unemployment and unemployment insurance\, regional labor markets\, the evaluation of workforce training and other labor market programs\, the problems of low-income neighborhoods\, and the social and economic consequences of the birth control pill. \nProfessor Katz has been editor of the Quarterly Journal of Economics since 1991 and served as the Chief Economist of the U.S. Department of Labor for 1993 and 1994. He is the current President of the American Economic Association\, the Co-Founder and past Co-Scientific Director of J-PAL North America\, past President of the Society of Labor Economists\, and has been elected a fellow of the National Academy of Sciences\, American Academy of Arts and Sciences\, the Econometric Society\, and the Society of Labor Economists. He graduated from the University of California at Berkeley in 1981 and earned his Ph.D. in Economics from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology in 1985. URL:https://www.ssrc.org/events/neighborhood-effects-housing-mobility-and-place-based-policies/ ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://www.ssrc.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/2C8AC8B-copy-2.jpg END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTART;VALUE=DATE:20250228 DTEND;VALUE=DATE:20250302 DTSTAMP:20250317T192031Z CREATED:20250317T160220Z LAST-MODIFIED:20250317T192031Z UID:10000891-1740700800-1740873599@www.ssrc.org SUMMARY:2025 APN & Next Gen | MUST National Grant Writing and Proposal Development Workshop DESCRIPTION:Blantyre\, Malawi \nFrom February 28 to March 1\, the African Peacebuilding Network (APN) and Next Generation Social Sciences in Africa (Next Gen) program of the Social Science Research Council (SSRC)\, in partnership with the Malawi University of Science and Technology (MUST)\, held the 2025 National Grant Writing and Proposal Development Workshop at the Amaryllis Hotel in Blantyre\, Malawi. \nOn Friday\, the workshop began with an opening ceremony\, including welcome remarks from Master of Ceremonies: Enerst Longwe (Lecturer\, Language and Communication Studies Department\, MUST)\, Dr. Ignasio Jimu (Head of Department\, Indigenous Knowledge Systems and Practices\, MUST)\, Dr. Cyril Obi (Program Director\, APN and Next Gen)\, and Guest of Honor Dr. Michael Zimba (Executive Dean\, Malawi Institute of Technology). \nThey thanked the participants for coming and expressed the importance of African scholars and researchers honing their research skills through learning and collaborating with esteemed colleagues. Afterward\, a group photo was taken on the upper deck. \nThe Keynote Lecture of the day\, “Research Conceptual Frameworks\,” was delivered by Professor David Mkwambisi\, Director of Malawi Innovation and Industrial Research Institute (MIIRI).\nThroughout his lecture\, Professor Mkwambisi encouraged participants to “think the thinking and the thinking” — engaging deeply and critically about how we think\, especially regarding epistemology\, and how ideas (including the ideas of others) are formed. He also informed the participants on how to differentiate between theoretical frameworks and conceptual frameworks. \nThe Keynote Lecture was followed by two plenary lectures. The first one\, “Critical steps in searching\, applying for\, and winning Institutional Grants/Individual Fellowship awards\,” was delivered by Professor Kenneth Omeje\, Vice President for Academic Affairs of Management International University. Professor Omeje broke down the steps in successfully identifying and winning the type of research grants most appropriate to the individual participants’ study. \nThe second one\, “Conceptualizing the Research Idea – Multidisciplinary and Interdisciplinary Approaches\,” was delivered by Professor Henrietta Nyamnjoh\, Researcher\, Migration and Mobility Hub\, University of Cape Town. Professor Nyamnjoh assessed the conceptual frameworks for research ideas that range from disciplinary to multidisciplinary\, and why the differentiation between them is essential as one develops their research idea into something concrete. \nAfter a tea and coffee break\, the plenary lectures continued. The third one\, “The Role of Theoretical Frameworks and Epistemological Issues in Research Design\,” was delivered by Prof Charles Ukeje\, Professor of International Relations\, Obafemi Awolowo University. Professor Ukeje offered insights to participants on how to construct solid research designs by carefully considering the theoretical and epistemological foundations of their studies. \nThe fourth one\, “The Role of Research Ethics\,” was delivered by Professor Ignasio Jimu\, Head of Department for the Department of Indigenous Knowledge Systems and Practices\, MUST. Professor Jimu focused on the ethical challenges and considerations when working with indigenous knowledge systems\, highlighting the importance of respect\, collaboration\, and cultural sensitivity. \nThis was followed by a Question-and-Answer session between the panelists and the audience. Afterward\, the participants separated into their individual working group sessions. \nOn Saturday\, the participants gathered once more for their One-on-One sessions and Feedback sessions. The closing ceremony involved Dr. Cyril Obi and Dr. Ignasio Jimu delivered closing remarks and a vote of thanks. This was followed by the presentation of certificates to all participants in attendance. \nThe APN and Next Gen program would like to thank all of the participants\, lecturers\, the guest of honor\, and the members of the MUST LOC for their participation\, enthusiasm\, support\, and commitment to the program. URL:https://www.ssrc.org/events/2025-apn-next-gen-must-national-grant-writing-and-proposal-development-workshop/ ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://www.ssrc.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/IMG_5893-scaled.jpg END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20250303T080000 DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20250303T170000 DTSTAMP:20250304T001504Z CREATED:20250303T233528Z LAST-MODIFIED:20250304T001504Z UID:10000888-1740988800-1741021200@www.ssrc.org SUMMARY:test event DESCRIPTION: URL:https://www.ssrc.org/events/test-event/ END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20250327T190000 DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20250327T203000 DTSTAMP:20260212T213338Z CREATED:20250313T153838Z LAST-MODIFIED:20260212T213338Z UID:10000889-1743102000-1743107400@www.ssrc.org SUMMARY:Globalization\, Trade and Labor\, and the Distribution of Wealth and Resources in Japan and the United States DESCRIPTION:Recent elections in the United States\, Japan\, and Europe have shown public dissatisfaction with global society and the economy. Commentaries on United States electoral politics have argued that globalization’s impact on the domestic economy—most significantly\, the offshoring of manufacturing and subsequent loss of well-paying manufacturing jobs—was the key factor in shaping a polarized society\, characterized by a large underclass that has not shared in economic prosperity. In Japan\, although political polarization has not been as extreme\, the last several decades have seen an increased precarity of labor. \nIn this 2025 session of the Abe Fellows Global Forum\, four leading experts from the United States and Japan will examine the impact of globalization on the domestic economies of both countries\, looking at the impact of global trade\, the creation of international supply-chains\, the realignment of production systems\, and accompanying social changes. While the Trump administration promises to return to the “golden age” of American manufacturing\, this is clearly a promise that will be difficult to fulfill. Though structural changes in developed countries are often linked to the offshoring of manufacturing\, those relocations occurred at a time of major technological transformation. In recent decades\, there has been a worldwide shift to the use of highly automated machinery and technology in manufacturing. Even if manufacturing “returns” to developed countries\, it will not produce a surge in well-paying manufacturing jobs. These are two big questions facing Japan and the United States: how can each country best manage this structural transition? How can we create more stable and equitable distributions of income that will reduce polarization? \n \nAbout Abe Global\nThe Abe Fellows Global Forum (Abe Global) brings Abe Fellow research and expertise on pressing issues of global concern to broader audiences. Abe Global hosts events each year in partnership with academic and civic organizations throughout the United States. Abe Global is an initiative of the Abe Fellows Network\, the Social Science Research Council\, and the Japan Foundation New York. \nPast Abe Global Events URL:https://www.ssrc.org/events/globalization-trade-and-labor-and-the-distribution-of-wealth-and-resources-in-japan-and-the-united-states/ ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://www.ssrc.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/jezael-melgoza-alY6_OpdwRQ-unsplash-scaled.jpg LOCATION:https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=147xTmmDbis END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTART;VALUE=DATE:20250328 DTEND;VALUE=DATE:20250329 DTSTAMP:20250513T195758Z CREATED:20250513T185840Z LAST-MODIFIED:20250513T195758Z UID:10000894-1743120000-1743206399@www.ssrc.org SUMMARY:PADRA Early Careers Workshop Event Summary DESCRIPTION:Nairobi\, Kenya \nOn Friday\, March 28\, 2025\, the Peace and Development Research Association (PADRA) held an early and mid-career authors workshop in collaboration with the Department of Philosophy and Religious Studies at the University of Nairobi\, Kenya\, and with support from the African Peacebuilding Network (APN) and Next Generation Social Sciences in Africa (Next Gen) Program of the Social Sciences Research Council (SSRC). Hosted at the University of Nairobi\, Kenya\, the workshop’s aim was to provide PADRA members with guidance on the processes of  conceptualizing\, crafting\, and publishing their academic research\, as well as effective ways to translate such research into actionable policies. \nThe event was ushered by welcome remarks from Dr. Jacinta Mwende Maweu\, Chair of PADRA\, who expressed her gratitude for those in attendance\, including Professor Jack Odhiambo\, Dean of the Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences (FASS)\, University of Nairobi; Dr. Patrick Nyabul\, Chairman of the Department of Philosophy\, University of Nairobi\, and the SSRC’s APN & Next Gen Program. Dr. Patrick Nyabul and Professor Jack Odhiambo followed with their opening remarks\, acknowledging the role of the SSRC’s APN and Next Gen Program\, including its impact-driven support\, and contributions towards building the capacity of African scholars in the areas of research-based knowledge production and dissemination. \nMaimouna Cherif\,  of the APN and Next Gen Program\, delivered opening remarks on behalf of the program’s director\, Dr. Cyril Obi. Echoing warm appreciation to PADRA executives\, workshop participants\, guests and university faculty in attendance\, the remarks emphasized the APN and Next Gen’s contribution to African peacebuilding knowledge production– namely through its provision of over 600 fellowship awards to African scholars\, training workshops\, mentorship programs\, and special panels at international conferences. Dr. Obi congratulated PADRA\, borne out of the APN and Next Gen’s African University Seminar Series (AUSS) in 2023\, for  providing Kenyan-based APN and Next Gen fellows with research and mentorship opportunities since their consolidation from AUSS-K into a nationally recognized organization\, PADRA. \nThe first lecture\, “Getting published: The Craft and Structure of Academic Writing”\, was presented by Dr. Eric Kioko\, Lecturer at Kenyatta University and Senior Researcher at the British Institute in East Africa (BIEA). Dr. Kioko addressed the importance of viewing writing as an art and science\, and the skills needed to better engage in the art of writing and publications. He highlighted the  importance of publishing\, citing its benefits: academic visibility\, contribution to scientific progress\, securing funding or meeting degree requirements. Dr. Kioko also stressed the time-intensive nature of writing and publishing\, recommending that scholars deepen connections with their peers and consult the repository of previously published works to help with the process of knowledge transfer and ideation. He encouraged scholars to assess the novelty and relevance of their work before writing\, discussing the importance of understanding publication ethics and selecting the appropriate journal for publication based on the journal’s ranking\, rejection rate\, word count and formatting requirements. \nFollowing the first lecture\, Dr. Kioko delved into the practical realities of academic publishing\, particularly the challenges faced by scholars from Africa\, using insights from his experience as an academic. He provided a detailed walkthrough of the journal submission and review process\, highlighting the importance of adhering to strict formatting guidelines\, responding tactfully to reviewer comments\, and navigating potential biases or “cartels” among reviewers. The discussion also covered strategies for dealing with rejection\, such as taking time to process feedback\, categorizing reviewer comments\, and being willing to substantially revise the paper’s focus if needed. \nThe second lecture\, “Translating Research Into Policy Outputs”\, was delivered by Dr. Patrick Mutahi\, Director of the Centre for Human Rights and Policy Studies. Dr. Mutahi established the importance of research for policy\, namely through its identification of challenges\, provision of evidence-based solutions\, and considerable consumption by policy-makers. He expressed that challenges in bridging the research-policy gap include the inaccessible language used by researchers and the disconnect of policy-makers from the realities of their constituencies and populace. Dr. Mutahi further elaborated on the common barriers to research uptake in policy communities\, including timing mismatch between the production of research and the  policy implementation process\, the lack of engagement between researchers and policy-makers\, and political opposition. He recommended that scholars understand their key stakeholders and policy makers\, identify key steps of the policy formulation and implementation cycle\, render their outputs digestible and concise and engage policy makers through direct meetings\, media engagements\, and to form partnerships with NGOs and think tanks. \nFollowing the second lecture were closing remarks\, provided by PADRA Executive Chair\, Dr. Maweu and Treasurer\, Dr. John Mwangi. Dr. Mwangi expressed his gratitude to all attendees and shared his hope to see everyone gather again for future workshop sessions or collaborative projects. Dr. Maweu extended heartfelt thanks to the facilitators for their insightful contributions\, and she warmly opened the floor for participants to share their feedback\, reflections\, or final thoughts–framing it as an opportunity to not only conclude the session\, but to collectively shape future conversations. \nInterviews conducted with executive members of PADRA at the Early and Mid-Career Authors Workshop can be found here. URL:https://www.ssrc.org/events/padra-early-careers-workshop-event-summary/ ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://www.ssrc.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/MG_1875.jpg END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTART;VALUE=DATE:20250415 DTEND;VALUE=DATE:20250417 DTSTAMP:20250512T202726Z CREATED:20250509T191649Z LAST-MODIFIED:20250512T202726Z UID:10000893-1744675200-1744847999@www.ssrc.org SUMMARY:SSRC\, WANEP\, and CORN-WA Convene High-Level Policy Dialogue\, "Emerging Challenges and the Future of ECOWAS" DESCRIPTION:The Social Science Research Council (SSRC)’s African Peacebuilding Network (APN) and Next Generation Social Sciences in Africa (Next Gen) program co-hosted a high-level policy dialogue on “Understanding the Geopolitical and Strategic Changes in West Africa: Emerging Challenges and the Future of ECOWAS”\, in partnership with the West Africa Network for Peacebuilding (WANEP) and Conflict Relief Network (CORN) West Africa. The high-level policy dialogue took place in Accra\, Ghana on April 15 and 16\, 2025. It convened representatives from the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS)\, civil society organizations (CSOs)\, analysts\, researchers\, and policy practitioners to generate and mobilize collective inputs based on the analyses of emerging geostrategic and geopolitical challenges in the region\, ahead of the ECOWAS Special Summit on the Future or Regional Integration in West Africa. The dialogue also explored emerging challenges posed by unprecedented unconstitutional changes in governance (UCGs) across the region. \nThe two-day policy dialogue began with opening remarks from the co-organizers: Dr. Cyril Obi (Program Director\, APN and Next Gen)\, Mrs. Levinia Addae-Mensah (Executive Director\, WANEP)\, and Dr. Timipere Allison (Executive Director\, CORN West Africa). \n \nEmphasizing the need for a fundamental shift in ECOWAS’ approach to regional and political governance\, development\, peace\, and security in West Africa—particularly amidst the unprecedented changes reshaping the global landscape—Dr. Obi posed a critical question: “How can we transform this position of being marginalized to a position of being a contributor or producer of knowledge?” He pointed to the reconfiguration of global alliances\, noting the changing roles of traditional partners such as France and the United States\, and the growing influence of emerging actors including Russia\, China\, and the Gulf states. Against this backdrop\, he urged participants to reconceptualize a more inclusive and self-determined future for the region within the context of a rapidly evolving global order. Dr. Obi also stressed the importance of a measured and constructive response from ECOWAS\, particularly in light of the recent ‘Sahel exit’\, which has exposed deepening regional divisions. In conclusion\, he called for collective efforts to resolve what he described as “family problems” within the West African region. Despite internal disagreements\, he maintained that sustainable solutions can only emerge from within—through cooperation\, mutual understanding\, and a renewed commitment to regional solidarity. \nDrawing the attention of participants to the rapidly changing landscape of governance in West Africa\, Mrs. Levinia Addae-Mensah urged participants to think differently\, to reformulate and reorganize new regional partnerships to address evolving challenges\, including increasing fragmentation of the political state\, criminal violence\, UCGs\, and climate change. \n \nAlso acknowledging the need to address the future of ECOWAS was Dr. Timipere Allison\, exhorted the community of stakeholders at the dialogue to “explore innovative approaches to reimagine a more inclusive\, resilient\, and responsive West Africa.” \n \nFollowing the opening remarks\, Ambassador Dr. Abdel-Fatau Musah\, Commissioner for Political Affairs\, Peace and Security at the ECOWAS Commission\, delivered the keynote speech. He provided a reflective summary of the regional bloc’s transformation since its pre-1975 inception through four overarching pillars: The Geostrategic and Geopolitical shifts\, as well as internal factors that shaped ECOWAS’ evolution; The Successes and Challenges of Regional Integration; ECOWAS and its Relations with the Breakaway Sahelian Bloc; ECOWAS@50 and The Special Summit on The Future of Regional Integration in West Africa. \n \nSubsequently\, two panel discussions were held. The first panel of the event\, ‘Understand the Geopolitical and Strategic Changes in West Africa\,’ was moderated by His Excellency Colonel Larry Gbevlo-Lartey\, Ghana’s Special Envoy to the Alliance of Sahelian States (AES). The presentations featured the following panelists: Prof. Isaac Olawale Albert\, University of Ibadan\, Mr. Ebenezer Asiedu\, Head\, Democracy and Good Governance Division\, Political Affairs\, Peace and Security\, ECOWAS\, Dr. Linda Oppongmaa Akua Darkwa\, Senior Research Fellow\, LECIAD\, University of Ghana\, Dr. Rhuks Ako\, Independent Researcher (APN CWG 2014-16). \nTheir presentations focused on the following issues: shifting landscape of partnerships in West Africa\, especially from West to non-Western actors like China\, Russia\, Türkiye\, Saudi Arabia\, and Gulf States; opportunities for ECOWAS\, AES\, and regional integration amidst emergence of multipolar world order; and the implications and consequences of UCG on the region’s collective security architecture\, democratic values\, and human rights. \nThe second session\, ‘Conflict Transformation\, Development and Peace in West Africa\,’ moderated by Dr. Ebimboere Seiyefa\, Head of Research at CORN-West Africa. The panelists included three former APN and Next Gen fellowship award recipients: Dr. Titilope Ajayi\, Institute for Security Studies (ISS)\, Nairobi\, Dr. Hippolyt Pul\, Executive Director\, Institute for Peace and Development\, Tamale\, and Prof. Ibrahim Bangura\, Fourah Bay College\, University of Sierra Leone. \nTheir presentations focused on recent UCGs\, tacit acceptance of military governments by AES nationals\, operational and structural strategies implemented on the regional level\, and key challenges. The panel further assessed potential strategic partnerships that could help ECOWAS better implement its mandate of development and security and alternative solutions to prevent UCGs. The panelists emphasized the need to strengthen regional policies and democratic institutions (not limited to elections)\, prioritize human security and livelihoods of West Africans\, and ensure consistent policy implementation among member states. \n \nOn Day 2\, participants were divided into three breakout sessions\, where three groups brainstormed recommendations that could serve as inputs for strengthening ECOWAS’ approach on the following critical challenges: \n\nTowards Regional Security: ECOWAS Engagement with the AES Bloc\nTowards Regional Security: ECOWAS Engagement with Middle and Emerging Powers (China\, Russia\, etc) and the West; and\nECOWAS: Conflict Transformation\, Development and Peace in West Africa\n\nKey recommendations and reflections from the breakout sessions and event proceedings include but are not limited to the following: \n\nRebuilding trust with AES states by encouraging bilateral diplomacy with countries the AES bloc remains open to such as Ghana and Senegal as well as pursuing multilateral engagements through the African Union (AU) and CSOs\nBilateralism and partnership with AES to combat terrorism and violent extremism through strategic intelligence sharing and coordinated border patrols between ECOWAS and AES members\, as well as neighboring border states\nA unified and preemptive strategic ECOWAS framework on regional security interests that clearly maps out the national interests of its member states as well as external influences and their interests in the region\, and how these intersect with ECOWAS security and development objectives\nInstitutional capacity-building of member states to better align domestic and foreign policies with broader ECOWAS security goals as well as bilateral and multilateral coordination with AES states\, the West\, and the East to ensure a unified and consistent regional approach.\nProactive and consistent response from ECOWAS to both military and civilian forms of UCGs including constitutional manipulations and amendments designed to entrench incumbents in power\nStrengthening of civil society participation to ensure accountability\, implementation of regional protocols\, and serving as watchdogs against democratic backsliding\n\nA more detailed list of recommendations can be found in this joint communique developed by the SSRC’s APN and Next Program\, WANEP\, and CORN West Africa. \nThe policy dialogue concluded with an overview of the discussions\, followed by closing remarks from Mrs. Levina Addae-Mensah and Dr. Cyril Obi. Both extended their gratitude to the participants for an engaging two days of meaningful dialogue on the future of peace and security in West Africa. Several news media covered the event in connection to the ongoing ECOWAS@50 celebrations which occurred in Accra\, Ghana. \nClick below to view a recap of the high-level policy dialogue\, news coverage\, keynote speech\, communique\, and a detailed report of the event proceedings. \nRecap:\n \nNews coverage:\n \nKeynote Speech\nCommunique URL:https://www.ssrc.org/events/event-summary-for-2025-high-level-policy-dialogue/ CATEGORIES:Africa END:VEVENT END:VCALENDAR