Waterloo, Canada - Academics, humanitarian assistance workers, military, and diplomatic personnel with direct experience in Africa will gather in Waterloo this Friday to analyze the role of international intervention and recovery efforts in Sierra Leone.
The workshop, "Rescuing a Fragile State: The Case of Sierra Leone," will examine the critical problems facing the fragile country and the lessons learned by international efforts to support its post-war recovery.
Following the closed workshop, the Centre for International Governance Innovation (CIGI) will host a free public lecture, "At the Tipping Point: Canada's Pivotal Role in Africa," by Chris Roberts, co-founder of the Canadian Council on Africa. The lecture will take place Friday, November 23, 2007 at 12:00 p.m. Several workshop participants will be available for media interviews.
EVENT: Free public lecture: "At the Tipping Point: Canada's Pivotal Role in Africa."
DATE: Friday, November 23, 2007.
TIME: Lecture: 12:00 - 1:00 p.m.
LOCATION: The Centre for International Governance Innovation (CIGI), 57 Erb St. W., Waterloo
EXPERTS AVAILABLE FOR INTERVIEWS:
Ian Smillie, global expert humanitarian projects and research coordinator on Partnership Africa Canada's "Diamonds and Human Security Project"
Chris Roberts, keynote speaker, co-founder of the Canadian Council on Africa
Lansana Gberie, journalist and academic, Wilfrid Laurier University
Ed Stanisowski, senior Canadian officer with the military mission in Sierra Leone
Peter Penfold, former British High Commissioner to Sierra Leone
Ismail Rashid, academic, Vassar College, Wilfrid Laurier University
Terry Copp, director, Laurier Centre for Military Strategic and Disarmament Studies
Hany Besada, senior researcher at CIGI, Fragile States
The one-day workshop is part of a series of workshops on the role of international intervention and reconstruction in fragile states. The workshops are organized by the Laurier Centre for Military Strategic and Disarmament Studies (LCMSDS), The Centre for International Governance Innovation (CIGI), and The Academic Council on the United Nations System (ACUNS).