How Can We Effectively Use Evidence in Peacebuilding Project Design? | ConnexUs Thursday Talk Recording

On September 21, 2023, we explored how evidence can effectively guide the design of peacebuilding projects. In partnership with the United States Institute of Peace (USIP) and CDA Collaborative Learning Projects (CDA), this webinar shared findings from research examining the role of evidence in shaping & improving peacebuilding initiatives, and USIP shared what they are doing to integrate the findings into their own programming.

Speakers

As President and Chief Collaboration Officer of CDA, Ruth Rhoads Allen believes in the power of local capacities for peace. She weaves learning partnerships to tackle pressing questions that challenge humanitarian, development, and peacebuilding efforts today and into the future. Ruth is a human geographer and earned her MSc from Clark University’s International Development, Community, and Environment program, where she has also been a Department Instructor. She serves on the Advisory Board of Global Oncology and lives in the US with her young family.

Dr. David Connolly is director of Learning, Evaluation and Research at the U.S. Institute of Peace. Dr. Connolly joined USIP in May 2018 after 13 years of experience with universities and think tanks in Amsterdam, Belfast, The Hague and York. His expertise has been commissioned to strengthen knowledge, policy and front-line practice by several governments (Afghanistan, Netherlands, and UK), multilateral agencies (UN and World Bank), international nongovernmental organizations, the private sector, the Netherlands Scientific Research Council, the Qatar Foundation, the Roosevelt Foundation and the Rotary Foundation.

Dr. Connolly holds a doctorate in Post-war Recovery Studies from the University of York, and both a masters in comparative ethnic conflict and a bachelor’s (political science and English literature) from Queen’s University Belfast. He has published for academic audiences in journals such as Comparative Education and Civil Wars, and for policymakers in openSecurity, the Knowledge Platform for Security and Rule of Law and Parliamentary Brief.