2025 Peacebuilding Colloquium: Dynamics of Peace

The annual peacebuilding colloquium hosted at the Yale University Jackson School of Global Affairs brings together scholars, practitioners, and policymakers to highlight issues at the forefront of peacebuilding, human rights, and global health.

9.00-9.30 Coffee & Breakfast

9.30-9.45 Welcome and Introductions
Cara Fallon, Jessica Faieta, Catherine Panter-Brick, David Simon, Bonnie Weir, Bisa Williams

9.50-10.00 Opening: Nilakshi Parndigamage, Vice Provost for Strategic Initiatives, Yale University

Keynote 1: Adaptive Peacebuilding in Complex Environments

10.00-10.30 Keynote: Elizabeth Spehar, Assistant Secretary-General for Peacebuilding Support, UN DPPA

10.30-11.00 Q&A

Panel 1: Pathways to Peace

Moderators: Bonnie Weir, Senior Lecturer in Global Affairs, and Jessica Faieta, Senior Fellow,
Jackson School of Global Affairs, Yale University

11.00-11.30 Positive Peace, Analysing the Factors that Build, Predict and Sustain Peace
Jade Cooper, Deputy Director Americas, Institute for Economics & Peace

11.30-12.00 Spaces of War, Spaces of Peace: Understanding the Dynamics of Peace
Roddy Brett, Professor in Peace and Conflict Studies, Bristol University

12.00-12.30 Q&A

12.30-1.30 Lunch Conversations Hosted by Jackson Peace Fellows, Yale Faculty/Fellows, and Practitioners
Yale Peace Fellows: Jaser Abumousa, Mengistu Dadi, Kholood Khair, Eman Milhem, Neha Sanghrajka
Yale Faculty/Fellows: Kaveh Khoshnood, Katie Murphy, Laura Robson, Eman Salih
Laura Dunn and Liam O’Hare, Queen’s University Belfast
Pamina Firchow, Everyday Peace Indicators David Khoudour, UNDP Consultant
Ilana Lancaster, United States Institute of Peace
Babatunde Omilola, African Development Bank
Melissa Wild, University for Peace, UPEACE

Moderated Discussion

Moderators: Louisa Lombard, Professor of Anthropology, and David Simon, Senior Lecturer in Global Affairs and
Director of the Genocide Studies Program, Yale University

1.30-2.15 A Generation of Former Child Soldiers Comes of Age
Theresa Betancourt, Director, Research Program on Children and Adversity (RPCA), Boston College
and Moses Zombo, Director, Green Africa, Sierra Leone

2.15-2.45 Q&A

2.45-3.00 Coffee break

Panel 2: Prospects for Peace

Moderators: Cara Fallon, Senior Lecturer in Global Health, and Ambassador (ret.) Bisa Williams, Senior Fellow,
Jackson School of Global Affairs, Yale University

3.00-3.30 A Community Approach to Building Peace Through Health in Central Mali
Frederic Deycard, Associate Director, Mali & the Sahel, Conflict Resolution Program, The Carter Center

3.30-4.00 Prospects for Peace in Colombia: Strategic Alliances and Foundations in Human Development
Angelica Ponguta, Research Scientist, Early Childhood Peace Consortium

4.00-4.30 Q&A

4.30-4.45 Next steps from the Peacebuilding Initiative, Jackson School of Global Affairs
Cara Fallon, Jessica Faieta, Catherine Panter-Brick, David Simon, Bonnie Weir, Bisa Williams

Keynote 2: Inclusive Peace - First Stop and Last Refuge

4.45-5.15 Opening: Catherine Panter-Brick, Professor of Anthropology, Health and Global Affairs, and
Director of the Program on Conflict, Resilience, and Health, Yale University

Keynote: Paul Seils, Director, Peace Practice and Innovation, European Institute of Peace, Belgium

5.15-5.45 Q&A

5.45-6.30 Drinks Reception