December 3, 2012 Events

December 4-10, 2012

Tuesday, December 4, 2012
Women's Leadership in International Security
Hosted by: Young Professionals in Foreign Policy
Location: 1800 K Street, NW
Time: 6:00pm
Summary: The number of women in leadership roles in the international peace and security field has improved in the past decade, but women remain under-represented in many senior-level positions. How can women better prepare for and be encouraged to take on these roles in the future? Join us for a discussion with Jolynn Shoemaker,Director of Women in International Security (WIIS), on the role of women's leadership in international security. She will discuss barriers to advancement for women in international security, WIIS's work to close the leadership gap in women's participation, and the importance of inclusive and diverse participation in peace and security.
For more information or to RSVP, please visit: https://ypfp.org/event/ypfp-dc-womens-leadership-international-security-1

Wednesday, December 5, 2012
Assessing Developments in Mali: Restoring Democracy and Reclaiming the North
Hosted by: U.S. Senate Committee on Foreign Relations
Location: Dirksen Senate Office Building, Constitution Avenue and 1st Street, NE, Room 419
Time: 9:00am
Summary: Panel One – The Honorable Johnnie Carson, Assistant Secretary for African Affairs, U.S. Department of State; The Honorable Earl Gast, Assistant Administrator for Africa, U.S. Agency for International Development; and, Ms. Amanda Dory, Deputy Assistant Secretary for Africa, Department of Defense

Panel Two – Mr. Christopher Fomunyoh, Senior Associate and Regional Director for Central and West Africa, National Democratic Institute; Ms. Corinne Dufka, Senior Researcher, Africa Division, Human Rights Watch ; and,  Mr. Nii Akuetteh Independent Policy Researcher.
For more information, please visit: http://www.foreign.senate.gov/hearings/assessing-developments-in-mali-restoring-democracy-and-reclaiming-the-north

Policy Options to Enable Fertilizer Industry Grow
Hosted by:  U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID)
Location: Ronald Reagan Building, 1300 Pennsylvania Avenue, NW, M 17/M18
Time: 9:30 – 11:00am
Summary: An efficient, dynamic fertilizer industry underpins a strong agricultural sector and a growing economy. Few industries are so vital to farm productivity and food security, yet are so frequently constrained by varying approval standards, unstable government policies, and volatile trade flows. Despite public policies and investment intended to promote fertilizer use, the distribution and adoption of fertilizer remains low across many developing countries. USAID's Enabling Agricultural Trade (EAT) Project, partnered with the African Fertilizer & Agribusiness Partnership (AFAP) to address this issue through a policy brief that informs policymakers and donors about the conditions necessary to enable a dynamic fertilizer industry that meets farmers' needs and fosters growth in the agricultural sector.

The brief highlights a series of policy reforms that governments can undertake to enable a more vibrant private sector-led fertilizer industry, and provides examples of both effective and ineffective government activities. The central tenet of this paper is that government policies and investments must support – not control – a dynamic, private sector-led fertilizer industry to promote the safe, sufficient, and sustainable supply of fertilizer. The brief finds that a strong legal and regulatory framework, coupled with public policies and investments that reduce the cost of finance and trade, mitigate risks for fertilizer suppliers and encourage long-term investments in equipment and in building distribution networks. At the same time, fertilizer demand must be promoted with an integrated approach to increasing the profitable use of fertilizer by farmers through agricultural research, extension services, and linking farmers to output markets.

At this seminar, Maria Wanzala of the African Fertilizer and Agribusiness Partnership (AFAP) will outline the findings of the brief; panelists James Oehmke of the USAID Bureau for Food Security, Peter Heffernan of IFDC, and Raymond Hoyum of Advantage International will discuss the findings; and EAT's Amy D'Angelo will moderate and engage the audience in a question and answer session on the topic.
For more information or to RSVP, please visit: http://agrilinks.org/agrilink-event/policy-options-enable-fertilizer-industry-growth

Book Launch: Exit Strategies and State Building
Hosted by: The Stimson Center
Location: 1111 19th Street, NW, 12th Floor
Time: 2:00 – 3:30pm
Summary: In the past two decades, states and multilateral organizations have devoted considerable resources toward efforts to stabilize peace and rebuild war-torn societies. Despite these efforts, there has been relatively little consideration of the critical questions arising from the 'end game' of state-building operations. Exit Strategies and State Building focuses on relevant historical and contemporary cases of exit to provide a comprehensive overview of this crucial issue. By examining the major challenges associated with the conclusion of international state-building operations and the requirements for the maintenance of peace in the period following exit, this book provides unique perspective on a critical aspect of military and political intervention. Discussion will build from book's findings and include examples from Haiti, Afghanistan and the Democratic Republic of the Congo.
For more information or to RSVP, please visit: http://www.stimson.org/events/book-launch-exit-strategies-and-state-building/