Ruby Quantson Davis’ Post

PeaceCon 2024, Post I: Two weeks ago, I was fortunate to attend PeaceCon 2024 facilitated by the United States Institute of Peace (USIP) and the Alliance for Peacebuilding (AfP). The three-day conference provided many and engaging plenary sessions and workshops about peacebuilding across the globe. I am very grateful to both USIP and AfP for allowing digital attendance (Thank you George Moose and Liz Hume). In several posts, I would like to highlight several of the sessions I attended. (1) Writing a New Story for the Middle East: New Story Leadership brought Palestinians and Israeli's together for cross-cultural conversation. Using AI, the attendees created a plan for rebuilding Gaza and establishing two-states for Israel and Palestinians called the Phoenix Plan (I will post separately about it). Personal testimonies from an Israeli and a Palestinian were life-changing for yours truly. Thanks to New Story Leadership for the Middle East Caroline R. Mays Tarek Maassarani Eran Nissan and Rawan Odeh (to be continued Post II). This is an incredible blending of technology to serve peacekeeping, based on New Story Leadership's mission to foster dialogue between Israelis and Palestinians.

On the International Day of Peace 2024, the Institution of Peace and Development in partenership with PLANET AND ARTS and Agir pour Sauver l'Afrique (ASAFR) , took part in a profound discussion on the theme "The Challenges of Living Together in the Great Lakes Region", gathering youth, parents, academics, and students. The conversation explored the social, economic, and environmental causes of conflict, focusing on issues like relational and cultural barriers, competition for resources, and the unequal management of natural assets. Panelists emphasized the need for regional collaboration to manage shared resources such as forests and lakes, and to address the economic disparities that fuel conflict. The discussion also raised concerns about external actors potentially benefiting from regional instability, leading participants to call for unified, strategic efforts by local communities to counter external interference and reclaim peace and stability. This dialogue serves as a powerful reminder that peacebuilding requires collective action and regional cooperation. Let's hope that this is a starting point for change. Learn more about this in on: Overcoming Conflict in the Great Lakes Region: Insights and Strategies for Peace in Eastern DRC https://lnkd.in/dDZE8mwZ

This is exactly a starting point for change.

In case you missed the first launch of the IASC 'Guidance Integrating MHPSS and Peacbuilding': here is the recording!

#MHPSS must integrate with peacebuilding

The desire for peace and stability is universal ☮️ As challenges like conflict and instability persist, it's crucial to focus on solutions that ensure safety and freedom for everyone.🌍 Denmark supports African leadership and capacity to address security challenges on the continent, and strengthens the contribution to African-led peace and stabilisation efforts. Read more in the new Danish strategy – Africa's Century - here 👇 https://lnkd.in/dB29s6h2 #AfricasCentury @Berit Basse

I am excited meeting in New York, Elizabeth Spehar, United Nations Assistant Secretary-General for Peacebuilding Support, Department of Political and Peacebuilding Affairs (DPPA) at the Sideline of 79th Session #UNGA Summit of the Future on Local Action, Global Accountability organized by Peace Direct. Session Objectives · - Showcase relevant locally-led initiatives across the humanitarian, development, and peacebuilding nexus. · - Engage in critical dialogue to ensure mutual accountability. · - Explore barriers to operationalising commitments to locally-led action and propose concrete steps for overcoming these.

On the occasion of the 75th anniversary of Geneva Conventions, I reflected in this article on my long humanitarian journey and the relevance of these conventions in the current era. #GC75

This report was possible, like peacebuilding itself, through multitude of government, UN and non-UN actors coming together to learn about our collective impact. We work best when we work together. - Bushra Hassan, Senior Monitoring and Evaluation Adviser PBSO Read the full report here: https://lnkd.in/eVG5qXvJ

There’s isn’t a more global – or globally impactful – humanitarian network than the International Committee of the Red Cross - ICRC. I’m delighted to be working on my third Global Communications project for the Geneva-based ICRC, as my colleagues prepare for their 34th International Conference. Held roughly every four years in #Geneva, these gatherings are jointly organized by the #ICRC and the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies - IFRC (equal partners in what's known as the RCRC Movement). The International Conferences bring together #RCRC Movement leaders, Member States and Observers from around the world, to assess the most vexing challenges they face amid crises in the field. They then pledge collective and individual actions to overcome those challenges. My project, though, is fascinating for how it explores the past: analyzing the impact of the 33rd International Conference, held in December 2019, whose theme was “Act Today, Shape Tomorrow.” Combing through hundreds of national pledges and other pronouncements, I’m distilling the most meaningful trends of the four years since the last IC, then writing the script for a video that’ll be shown to attendees of the 34th IC, with its theme of “Navigate Uncertainty, Strengthen Humanity.” As a Consultant who on a daily basis helps organizations illuminate their evidence-driven impact, I’m relishing this opportunity to support the ICRC - whose mission is largely "to protect the lives and dignity of victims of armed conflict and other violence and to provide them with assistance." #humanitarian #humanitariancrisis #strategiccommunications #globalcommunications #mjmethod