Advances and Challenges in Political Transitions

On October 21, 2014, CSIS and USAID/DCHA's Office of Transition Initiatives (OTI) will host a major event, Advances and Challenges in Political Transitions. In honor of OTI's 20th anniversary, this conference will feature more than 40 experts and senior officials focusing on the challenges and opportunities of working in conflicts, crises, and political transitions. What will new conflicts look like, region by region? What role will extremism, organized crime, and chaotic violence play? What contributions will youth, women, the private sector, and technology make to prevention, mitigation, and recovery? And what tools, approaches, resources, and support will be needed to build more resilient societies in the coming years?

Agenda

Welcome and Opening Remarks

John Hamre
President, CEO, and Pritzker, CSIS

Nancy Lindborg
Assistant Administrator, Bureau for Democracy, Conflict, and Humanitarian Assistance, USAID

Keynote Address

Ambassador Alfonso E. Lenhardt
Deputy Administrator, USAID

Opening Presentation

Robert Lamb
Visiting Research Professor, U.S. Army War College, and Director and Senior Fellow (on leave), Program on Crisis, Conflict, and Cooperation, CSIS

Morning Plenary: Conflict Response and Recovery in Complex Environments

Moderator:

Stephen Del Rosso
Program Director, International Peace and Security Program, Carnegie Corporation of New York

Panelists:

Stephen Lennon
Acting Director, OTI, USAID

Ambassador William Swing
Director General, International Organization for Migration

David Yang
Deputy Assistant Administrator, DCHA Bureau, USAID

Morning Breakout Panels

Track 1: Violent Extremism in MENA

Moderator:

Tom Sanderson
Codirector, Transnational Threats Project, CSIS

Panelists:

Robbie Harris
Senior Transition Advisor, USAID/OTI

David Hunsicker
Senior Conflict Advisor, USAID/CMM

Hunter Keith
Development Specialist, DAI

Mona Yacoubian
Deputy Assistant Administrator, Middle East Bureau, USAID

Track 2: Geography, Technology, and Data

Moderator:

Amy Noreuil
Data Analysis Support, USAID/OTI

Panelists:

Noel Dickover
Senior Program Officer, PeaceTech Initiative, USIP

Ian Schuler
CEO and President, Development Seed

Jessica Heinzelman
Manager, ICT Strategic Initiatives, DAI

Ivan Sigal
Executive Director, Global Voices

Track 3: Urban Violence and Organized Crime

Moderator:

Lt. Col. (Retired) Scott Mann
CEO and Founder, Stability Institute

Panelists:

Miguel Reabold
Honduras Country Representative, USAID/OTI

Scott Aughenbaugh
Fellow, International Security Program and Deputy Director, Strategic Futures, CSIS

Enrique Roig
Coordinator, Central America Regional Security Initiative, USAID

Lunchtime Plenary: Looking Back and Looking Ahead

Moderator:

Jim Kunder
Senior Transatlantic Fellow, German Marshall Fund of the United States

Panelists:

Robert Jenkins
Deputy Assistant Administrator, DCHA Bureau, USAID

Rick Barton
Former Assistant Secretary, Bureau for Conflict and Stabilization Operations, Department of State

Johanna Mendelson Forman
Scholar in Residence, American University, and Senior Associate, CSIS

Steve Morrison
Senior Vice President and Director, Global Health Policy Center, CSIS

Afternoon Breakout Panels

Track 1: Future of Conflict in Africa

Moderator:

Jennifer Cooke
Director, Africa Program, CSIS

Panelists:

John Langlois
Africa Advisor, USAID/OTI

Pauline Baker
President Emeritus, Fund for Peace

Track 2: Future of Conflict in Eurasia/Pacific

Moderator:

Susan Kosinski Fritz
Senior Deputy Assistant Administrator, Europe and Eurasia Bureau, USAID

Panelists:

Oren Murphy
Ukraine Country Representative, USAID/OTI

John R. Deni
Research Professor of Joint, Interagency, Intergovernmental, and Multinational Security Studies, Strategic Studies Institute of the U.S. Army War College

Track 3: Future of Conflict in Latin America

Moderator:

Katie Prud'homme
Latin America and Caribbean Team Leader, USAID/OTI

Panelists:

Beth Hogan
Senior Deputy Assistant Administrator LAC, USAID

Steven Dudley
Codirector, InSight Crime

Douglas Farah
President, IBI Counsultants, and Senior Fellow, International Assessment and Strategy Center

Afternoon Plenary: Evolution of Agencies and Resources

Moderator:

Kathleen Hicks
Senior Vice President; Henry A. Kissinger Chair; Director, International Security Program, CSIS

Panelists:

William Brownfield
Assistant Secretary, Bureau of International Narcotics and Law Enforcement Affairs, Department of State

Tom Perriello
Special Representative for the Quadrennial Diplomacy and Development Review, Department of State

Melissa Brown
Director, Office of Conflict Management and Mitigation, USAID

OTI in Transition: A Brief Oral History (film)