Centre for International Policy Studies Afghanistan: Voices from the Ground

Presented by the Centre for International Policy Studies (CIPS) and the Fragile States Research Network (FSRN)

The main objective of this event is to give the audience a glimpse into the lives of ordinary Afghans who have been historically ignored, brutalized, and repeatedly abandoned by both the Afghan political leadership as well as the international community, including our neighbors.

Panelists:

Najim Dost has over a decade of experience in the area of international development in Afghanistan, Pakistan, India, the United States, and Canada. He is currently working for Canada’s Department of National Defence while also a Research Associate with the University of Ottawa’s Centre for International Policy Studies (CIPS). He has a PhD in International Studies from the University of Denver and an MPA in International Development from Harvard University. He can be reached at [email protected]

Mariam Atahi is a children’s and women’s rights, activist. A former journalist, she was forced to flee the country in August 2021. She has a BA in Political Science and International Relations from Kabul University and an MA in Peace and Reconciliation from the University of Winchester, UK. She can be reached at [email protected].

Moderator:

Dr. Nipa Banerjee, currently a Professional in Residence and Principal Researcher at the University of Ottawa. Dr. Banerjee served as a Senior Policy Analyst/Economist in international development and foreign aid for over 30 years with the government of Canada, and represented the Canadian government as a diplomat in Bangladesh, Indonesia, India/Nepal, Thailand, Cambodia, Laos, and Afghanistan, heading Canada’s aid program in the four latter countries.