April 22nd 2014

Ms. Dreeni Geer, Warchild Canada

Title of presentation: Formal vs informal justice: how survival needs affect rights realization for survivors of sexual and gender based violence in Uganda.

Although a rights-based approach is the dominant implementation method for development and humanitarian agencies, many beneficiaries often apply a more Pavlovian approach to their situation. In particular, survivors of sexual and gender based violence will put aside their protection rights as they struggle to secure their basic needs. This seminar explores the intersection of needs and rights when considering access to justice programming for women and children in Uganda.

Dreeni Geer is the Country Director for War Child Canada in Uganda where she leads the implementation of Access to Justice programs for conflict-affected women and children. A lawyer by education, she has worked in International Human Rights and Development for over 15 years in countries such as Thailand, Indonesia, Bangladesh, Pakistan, Canada and Sweden for local, national and international organizations. Dreeni Geer has written and edited various publications and keynoted community and professional events. As an immigrant to Canada from Guyana residing in Uganda, she is also personally interested in migration, integration and globalization.

April 7th 2014

Mr. Vaibhav Gupta, WHO Geneva

Title of presentation: "International Development: Wearing Different Shoes to Work Every Day" - A Constantly Changing Environment.

The varied nature of International Development means that we need to work with a diverse range of stakeholders and look to create consensus on key issues. We must tailor our actions and solutions to local needs and understand that every problem is unique. Finally, we need to be creative in our responses to the policy problems we face and not be constrained by convention. Innovation and Partnerships are the key to the future. Vaibhav will use personal stories and experiences to shed light on these issues.

Vaibhav Gupta is currently working as a Technical Officer at the Partnership for Maternal, Newborn, and Child Health (World Health Organization, Geneva). During his career, Vaibhav has worked with Ministers and Senior Representatives in Governments, Donor Agencies, Foundations, and Private Sector. This has included working at World Bank, Government of India, Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation and Ford Foundation. Vaibhav received his Masters degree in Public Policy from Georgetown University and an undergraduate degree in Economics from Cambridge University (UK). Vaibhav has also been associated with generating funds for a Social Entrepreneurship organization called Action for India.

March 24th 2014

Mr. Joakim Anger, InDevelop

Title of presentation: The Role of Consultants in International Development - Personal reflections from 15 years in the business

The seminar aims to introduce students to the role and functions of consultants in the development business (what they do and how they work), as well as the different types of functions and task that one might have while working within a typical mid-size consultancy company. Joakim will use his own journey into the consultancy business as his canvas and also discuss why he has stayed for so long in the business.

Joakim Anger holds a MA in Political Science (Public Administration) from Uppsala University, Sweden. Since the early 1990s Joakim has worked as a consultant within the field of development cooperation. Joakim has partcipated as team leader and team member in several evaluations, as well as strategy and methodology development on various issues including democracy, human rights, conflict sensitivity, anti-corruption, local governance and decentralisation.

He has extensive experience working with organisational development and organisational reviews of NGOs as well as governmental agencies in Sweden and in developing countries. He has several years of experience in developing and implementing academic master's degree level courses within the field of development management. Joakim has experience working in Southern and Eastern Africa, the Middle East, and Central America. During 1999–2001 he lived and worked in Guatemala.

March 10th 2014

Dr. Andreas Andersson

Title of presentation: Getting in and out of UN missions - Reflections from a mission career

The seminar will explore the various ways into a UN mission, the experiences made during missions at various levels and the challenges and pitfalls of Missions as a primary career choice. Topics covered include the UN as an organisation in the field, career opportunities, challenges in working for the organisation, and how to fit in the experience in a wider career.

Andreas Andersson has combined extensive academic studies with a solid field experience in various capacities. He holds a Ph.D. in Political Science and retains an active status as an officer in the reserves. He has worked as a Senior Lecturer at Umeå and Göteborg Universities, as well as served both in military and civilian capacities in Asia, Europe and Africa in missions launched under the aegis of EU, UN and NATO. Over the past years he has served 4 years in Eastern DRC. Currently he works as an independent consultant, primarily in the areas of analysis, training, and business development. His latest clients include Rwanda National Police Academy, Swedish Armed Forces Training Centre, United Nations Institute for Training and Research, and SAAB Training AB.

Feb 24th 2014

Dr. Katja Sarajeva, The Swedish Program for ICT in Developing Regions (SPIDER)

Title of presentation: ICT in Development/ICT for Development - Experiences from Spider supported projects

Communication technologies such as radio, television, computers, mobiles and the Internet have played a crucial role in how the world works and communicates. As these technologies are now available to a majority of the worlds population, they can be leveraged to improve development results. However, technology must always be considered within a technical and social context, in a development context.

Dr Katja Sarajeva is a Program manager at the Swedish Program for ICT in Developing Regions (SPIDER). Katja is responsible for Spider projects in Cambodia but has also worked with implementations in Kenya, Rwanda and Tanzania. She is also responsible for the Spider ICT4D Seminar series and the Spider Stories publication. Katja holds a PhD in Social Anthropology from Stockholm University. The dissertation explored the lesbian subculture in Moscow focusing on the subculture as a network of spatial, social and informational networks.

Feb 10th 2014

Mr. Menno Ettema, Educational Advisor for the Coucil of Europe in Hungary

Title of Presentation: Human Rights Education and Democratic Youth Participation for Change?

Following his Masters in Psychology of Culture and Religion, Menno moved to the Occupied Palestinian Territories and Israel. He became involved in various initiatives for dialogue, community engagement and against gender based discrimination. He continued in the field of peace building as the International Coordinator of a network of Youth-led peace organisations active in Africa, Asia, Europe and Latina America.

Since 2010 Menno has worked for the Council of Europe as Educational Advisor. He is responsible for implementing various HRE programmes and projects that aim to promote Democratic Youth Participation (DYP) across Europe. He works with a range of youth organisations, federations and networks, focusing on young refugees, youth from conflict affected regions, youth with disabilities and LGBT youth.

Jan 27th 2014

Ms. Friederike Röder, Director ONE France

Title of Presentation: How to achieve policy change? ONE’s approach to advocacy

Friederike Röder earned her degree in political science from Sciences Po Paris and Freie Universität Berlin. Since then, she has worked in development: first within the OECD on good governance and fragile states, then as a technical advisor on the same matters to the German ministry of development cooperation. She then moved to South Africa to work with institutions of the African Union, most notably the Pan-African Parliament. Upon her return to Europe, she joined the Arab Reform Initiative, a think tank working on political reforms in North Africa and the Middle East. Other initiatives she was involved with include the German President’s Initiative for a Partnership with Africa and the European Former Leaders’ Group mediating in the Israel-Palestine conflict. She has been with ONE since April 2011, first as advocacy and policy manager and since November 2013 as director.