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Addressing a high-level audience of government officials, ambassadors, and private sector representatives as a guest speaker at the February 18th “Rendezvous Series” at Capital Club Bahrain, IPI MENA Director Nejib Friji highlighted key IPI initiatives that focus on managing risk and building resilient societies.
Mr. Friji called for further commitment for achieving regional cooperation and integration through sustainable development and peace in the MENA region. He stressed the importance of integrating universal values of diplomacy and dialogue across all sectors of society.
Pointing to the European Union’s formation following the World Wars as an example of regional integration, Mr. Friji stressed the need for a “homegrown” initiative in the Middle East and North Africa.
“We must engage regional players to find solutions to regional problems that are connected to wider global issues,” he stated. He underlined the formation of IPI’s Taskforce on Regional Cooperation and Integration in the MENA Region as a core project aiming to produce concrete, actionable ideas for cooperation.
Highlighting IPI’s mission promote peace through multilateralism, Mr. Friji referred to the Independent Commission on Multilateralism Report (ICM), an international, multi-stakeholder process organized by IPI and chaired by former Australian Prime Minister Kevin Rudd for its role in making the United Nations more “fit for purpose.”
Mr. Friji also emphasized the value of IPI’s Water Diplomacy and Energy Security initiatives as two fundamental areas of focus within the Taskforce project.
During an interactive slide-show presenting the Global Leaders Series, Mr. Friji said, that the initiative’s aim “is to engage in debate that will nurture a constructive and dynamic exchange of views on a range of issues—peacebuilding, development and security.”
Mr. Friji pointed to an initiative running parallel to IPI’s Global Leaders Series, the Future Leaders Series, which provides a platform to actively involve and empower youth as writers and key actors in the promotion of the Culture and Education of Peace.
He also noted the recent book launch of 17 SDGs (UN Sustainable Development Goals) by 12-year old Adam Jade Kadia, the youngest peace writer in the region, which was held at IPI MENA as part of the Future Leaders Series program. The book launch convened dozens of schoolchildren to discuss their contribution to promoting the SDGs within their societies.
Concluding the interactive session, Mr. Friji urged participants to invest in human resources to build sound and resilient societies.
On Friday, March 1st, IPI is hosting a discussion featuring Ambassador Md. Shahidul Haque, Foreign Secretary of Bangladesh.
Remarks will begin at 10:15am PST / 1:15pm EST
In partnership with local and international development agencies, H.E. Mr. Md. Shahidul Haque has been leading the work of the government of Bangladesh to address the needs of refugees from Myanmar and facilitate their safe, dignified, and voluntary return. Eighteen months after 700,000 people fled Myanmar’s Rakhine state, camps in Bangladesh are now hosting more than one million refugees. Myanmar and Bangladesh agreed to a procedural framework for repatriation of these refugees in November 2017, but the situation in Rakhine state has so far not allowed for safe, dignified, and voluntary returns, requiring a greater focus on resolving the crisis and considering long-term approaches.
Ambassador Haque has been serving as Foreign Secretary of Bangladesh since January 2013. Prior to assuming this post, he occupied several senior positions at the International Organization for Migration (IOM). From 2001 to 2012, he served as Director of IOM, dealing with its external and donor relations and international migration policy. He also served as Regional Representative for the Middle East from 2007 to 2009 and as Regional Representative for South Asia from 2001 to 2006. Prior to working at IOM, Ambassador Haque worked in the Bangladesh missions in London, Bangkok, and Geneva. He also served as director in various wings of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Bangladesh, including as Director of the Foreign Secretary’s Office from 1996 to 1998.
Ambassador Haque served as Chair of the 9th Global Forum on Migration and Development (GFMD) and is currently serving his second term as an elected, Independent Expert to the UN Committee on the Rights of All Migrant Workers and Members of their Families (CMW). He is a member of IOM’s Migration Advisory Board and has been actively working with NGOs and civil society to promote the rights of migrants.
The event will be moderated by Dr. Adam Lupel, Vice President of IPI.
Bis zu 6 Jahren nach der Geburt des ersten Kindes schlafen Mütter und Väter weniger und schlechter als vor der Schwangerschaft. Vor allem in den ersten 3 Monaten nach der Geburt leidet ihre Nachtruhe. Das belegt eine Studie auf Basis der Daten der für Deutschland repräsentativen Langzeitstudie Sozio-oekonomisches Panel (SOEP) am DIW Berlin, die Forschende des DIW Berlin gemeinsam mit WissenschaftlerInnen aus Großbritannien und den USA erstellt haben. Die Studie ist die erste repräsentative Studie zu diesem Thema und wurde kürzlich in der Fachzeitschrift SLEEP veröffentlicht.
Claudia Kemfert, Energieökonomin am DIW Berlin, hat gemeinsam mit der Technischen Universität Lappeenranta (Finnland) untersucht, wie durch flexible Stromerzeugung, einen verbesserten Austausch zwischen den Stromnetzen und entsprechenden Speicherkapazitäten ein Übergang zu einem Energiesystem in Europa mit 100 Prozent erneuerbaren Energien ermöglicht werden kann.
Die Ergebnisse kommentiert Claudia Kemfert: „Die Studie zeigt eindrucksvoll, dass der Umstieg hin zu einer Vollversorgung mit erneuerbaren Energien nicht nur möglich ist, sondern die Wirtschaft stärkt, Innovationen und technologische Vorteile hervorbringt. Wichtig sind die Rahmenbedingungen, die Europa setzen muss, damit der Anteil erneuerbarer Energien schnell wachsen kann und nicht weiter ausgebremst werden. Jedes Land sollte den Umstieg hin zu einer Vollversorgung mit erneuerbaren Energien so schnell wie möglich voranbringen. Zudem zeigt die Studie, dass die dezentrale erneuerbare Energieversorgung mit Solarenergie und Batteriespeicherung (Prosumage) den Bedarf an Hochspannungsleitungen vermindern kann.“
Die vollständige Pressemitteilung der TU Lappeenranta und die Studie finden Sie hier: "A SuperSmart energy system can ensure an economically competitive transition towards sustainability for a European Energy Union"
DIW Berlin, EUI-Florence School of Regulation, Technical University Berlin, Universidad Autónoma de Madrid, University College London and Université Libre de Bruxelles are happy to announce a PhD Summer School on "Economic Foundations for Energy and Climate Policies".
The Summer School will be held from 9th to 13th September 2019 at DIW Berlin.
Objectives
The main objective of the School is to provide Economics PhD students with high-level academic training on the micro-economic foundations of energy and climate policy instruments. The School is also aimed at supporting the development of a PhD-student network for students interested in the topic, and connect them with top academics in the field.
Deadline to apply: 30th April 2019 APPLY HERE
Instructors and topics
Format and regulations of the school
Important dates
For further information please contact Olga Chiappinelli at efcp@diw.de
Speaker of the Council of Representatives H.E. Fawzia Zainal, IPI MENA Director Nejib Friji, IPI MENA Policy Analyst Dalya Al Alawi
IPI MENA Director Nejib Friji and H.E. Fawzia Zainal, Speaker of the Council of Representatives (Parliament) to the Kingdom of Bahrain and the first woman to be elected as Speaker, made a commitment to further uphold women’s rights and encourage their political participation across all sectors of society to achieve a culture of peace through the engagement of Parliamentarians as lawmakers.
During a February 24th meeting, both parties agreed that additional efforts are needed to encourage and support women as stipulated through the reforms put forward by His Majesty King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa, and the National Action Charter (NAC).
Stressing the importance of men working alongside women in efforts to promote gender equity, the Speaker of Parliament supported IPI MENA’s initiative to engage Parliamentarians, both in the Kingdom of Bahrain and through their counterparts in the MENA region and beyond, to assess the progress achieved in advancing women’s political participation and ways forward to build on progresses to further ensure full integration within political, economic, social, and cultural structures.
Accompanied by IPI MENA Policy Analyst Dalya Al Alawi, Mr. Friji congratulated the Kingdom of Bahrain and the Parliament for electing a woman as their Speaker, emphasizing the importance of women as active participants and positive drivers of change.
The Speaker awarded IPI MENA Director Friji the Parliament’s Shield as a token of recognition for IPI’s role in serving sustainable and world peace.
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IPI MENA Director Nejib Friji and H.E. Mohammed Adnan Mehmood, Chargé d’Affaires of the Embassy of the Republic of Iraq to the Kingdom of Bahrain, stressed the fundamental importance of Iraq’s role in building peaceful relations to achieve regional integration in the MENA region at a February 24th meeting.
Accompanied by IPI MENA Policy Analyst Dalya Al Alawi, Mr. Friji emphasized the necessity of economic cooperation and investment in sustainable development as mechanisms to reinforce regional integration. He also underlined the need for reconciliation to change the environment of hostility to one of sustainable development and forward-looking, rights-based constructive growth to achieve durable peace.
During the meeting, both parties explored means of cooperation, including the active participation of Iraqi women in peace processes to build a resilient society, achieve long-term sustainable development, and nurture peaceful relations with MENA countries and beyond.
On Monday, February 25th, IPI together with the Government of Canada are cohosting a policy forum event on the Training for Senior Leaders in Field Operations: Gaps, Challenges and Techniques for Improvement.
Remarks will begin at 10:15am PST / 1:15pm EST
The report of the High-Level Independent Panel on Peace Operations (HIPPO) described leadership as “one of the most crucial factors in the success or failure of UN peace operations.” Yet, due to the unique and complex nature of these operations, the UN Secretariat faces a challenge finding and rapidly deploying leaders who possess the requisite mix of diplomatic and managerial skills, situational knowledge, political judgment, and stamina. Few, if any, mission leaders are fully prepared for their responsibilities upon selection, no matter how rigorous the appointment process. Senior mission leaders therefore require continuous, institutionalized, and sustained training and learning support.
In an effort to support this process, in 2016, IPI developed the Scenario-Based Training for Senior Leadership in Peace Operations project. Under that umbrella, various authors have created a series of scenarios covering issues that senior leadership will likely face during their deployment. These scenarios are based on complex crises but go beyond operational responses to challenges, aiming to support team building, leadership skills, and critical thinking by leaders.
To complement these scenarios, the project has published a policy paper on the training provided to senior leaders, gaps in the preparation of senior leaders, factors that have hindered reform, and recommendations to better prepare senior leaders for the challenges they face in contemporary missions.
Welcoming remarks:
Brig. Gen. Martin Girard, Military Advisor, Permanent Mission of Canada to the United Nations
Opening remarks:
Mr. Fabrizio Hochschild, Assistant Secretary General for Strategic Coordination in the Secretary General’s Executive Office, United Nations
Speakers:
Mr. Kevin S. Kennedy, lead author of IPI Paper: “Senior Leadership Training in UN Peace Operations” and Principal Officer, DPKO (ret.)
Mr. Mark Pedersen, Chief, Integrated Training Services, Department of Peace Operations, United Nations
Ms. Gabriella Seymour, Chief, Leadership Support Section, Office of the Director for Coordination and Shared Services, United Nations
Maj. Gen. Robert Gordon, CMG CBE (ret.) and Senior Mentor at the Senior Mission Leadership training Program
Moderator:
Ms. Lesley Connolly, Senior Policy Analyst, IPI
On Tuesday, February 26th, IPI is hosting the next event in its “Leading for Peace: Voices from the Field” series, featuring Mr. Parfait Serge Onanga-Anyanga, Special Representative of the UN Secretary-General for the Central African Republic and Head of the United Nations Multidimensional Integrated Stabilization Mission in the Central African Republic (MINUSCA).He will share his experience and analysis on stabilization efforts and peace consolidation efforts in the Central African Republic. He will also share his insights and ideas regarding the Political Accord for Peace and Reconciliation in the CAR, signed in Bangui on February 6, 2019, as well as what he believes will be necessary for its sustainability.
Remarks will begin at 3:15pm PST / 6:15pm EST
Mr. Parfait Onanga-Anyanga has served as the Acting Special Representative for the Central African Republic and Head of MINUSCA since August of 2015, when he succeeded Babacar Gaye of Senegal, who served as the first Special Representative of the Secretary-General of MINUSCA. Mr. Onanga-Anyanga has extensive experience with the United Nations in conflict-affected areas, including in his role as the Coordinator of United Nations Headquarters Response to the Boko Haram crisis since January 2015, and, previously, as Special Representative of the Secretary-General for Burundi and Head of the United Nations Office in Burundi, as well as Assistant Secretary-General and System-Wide Senior Coordinator on Burundi (2012-2014).
The event will be moderated by Jake Sherman, IPI Director of the Brian Urquhart Center for Peace Operations.
In September 2018, warring parties in South Sudan signed the Revitalized Agreement on the Resolution of the Conflict in the Republic of South Sudan (R-ARCSS), which has resulted in several positive developments, including the establishment of transitional committees and a reduction in casualties of political violence. In spite of this, however, the UN mission (UNMISS) and humanitarian actors continue to confront impediments to complete and unhindered success. Threats against civilians continue, armed groups are clashing, and implementation of key R-ARCSS provisions is behind schedule.
In this context, the International Peace Institute (IPI), the Stimson Center, and Security Council Report organized a workshop on February 6, 2019, to discuss UNMISS’s mandate and political strategy. This workshop offered a platform for member states, UN actors, and outside experts to share their assessment of the situation in South Sudan. The discussion was intended to help the Security Council make informed decisions with respect to the strategic orientation, prioritization, and sequencing of the mission’s mandate and actions on the ground. The workshop focused on the dynamics of the current political process in South Sudan, including the challenges facing the implementation of the R-ARCSS and continuing threats to civilians, the UN mission, and humanitarian actors. Participants identified several ideas to strengthen and adapt UNMISS’s mandate to help the mission advance its political strategy and achieve the Security Council’s objectives in the coming year.
Workshop participants encouraged the Security Council to maintain the UNMISS mandate’s flexible nature and advised against making radical changes. They highlighted several opportunities to improve the mission’s mandate by refining existing tasks to ensure the mission is well-positioned to respond to changes in the operating environment. Among these, the Council should authorize the mission to provide technical support to the peace process, maintain flexible POC language and mandate the mission to facilitate voluntary returns from POC sites, and encourage continued regional engagement in South Sudan’s political process.
Myanmar simultaneously faces multiple armed conflicts and crises, each with its own challenges. In Rakhine state, the government’s persecution of the Rohingya people has led to massive displacement, as have decades of armed conflict in Kachin and northern Shan states. Combined with chronic underdevelopment, these humanitarian crises have left people without access to adequate healthcare, leading international humanitarian actors to step in.
The public health system in Myanmar is generally poor, and government funding for health services is among the lowest in the world. There are wide discrepancies in health services between rural and urban populations and between central and peripheral states. In Rakhine, there are only nine public health workers per 10,000 people, and access to secondary and tertiary healthcare is limited. Community-based or ethnic health organizations provide primary healthcare in many areas without government facilities. In crisis-affected areas, UN agencies and international and local NGOs play an important part in providing healthcare services. However, international action can be unbalanced both regionally and medically. In many areas, health actors have focused on responding to diseases like malaria, HIV/AIDS, and tuberculosis, leaving a critical gap in mental health services and clinical health responses to sexual and gender-based violence. Likewise, funding has been imbalanced, with Rakhine state receiving more funding than Kachin or northern Shan.
This paper looks at the state of healthcare in Rakhine, Kachin, and northern Shan states, the role of humanitarian actors in the provision of health services, and the trends and challenges affecting the humanitarian health response. It provides several recommendations for improving the humanitarian health response in Myanmar, including: