Speaking engagements
​

​Dr. Erin McCandless is available for speaking, lecture  and facilitation engagements on her areas of expertise. Please contact her to arrange a booking: [email protected]
​
Keynotes, Presentations, Panel Chairing
 
  • Presenter: Varieties of Peace Journal Special Issue launch. Exploring varieties of peace. (2021, June 22).
 
  • Panel chair: From local to global: Competing social contracts and the search for legitimate national authority; Presenter: Competing social contracts, complexity and the search for peace; Presenter: Paradigmatic pluralism and the peacebuilding-development nexus; Chair and discussant: Peacebuilding across international, national and local levels; Discussant: Peacebuilding paradigms: Assessing the different assumptions and methodologies. International Studies Association (ISA) Annual Conference (2021, 6-9 April), online.
 
  • Presenter: Building Institutions and Strengthening Social Cohesion in Southern Africa, Democracy Now and Next, Institute for Democracy and Electoral Assistance (IDEA) 25th Anniversary Global Virtual Conference. (2020, November 20). https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BXKvY87cNe0&feature=youtu.be [1.25 hours into webinar]
 
  • Presenter: Social cohesion: Concept and measurement. Social Cohesion Week. German Development Institute / Deutsches Institut für Entwicklungspolitik (DIE). (2020, November 11).
  
  • Chair: Session on “Connecting research agendas to country needs” and discussant on “Training on SDGs in conflict affected and fragile settings” at Workshop:  Effective governance for sustainable development: Putting principles into practice. UN Department of Economic and Social Affairs and the African Peer Review Mechanism Regional Workshop. Pretoria, South Africa. (2019, November 1).
   
  • Presenter: Lessons around civil society and transition politics. Ukuthula Trust and Heinrich Boll Foundation Southern Africa Workshop on: Civil Society, State and Politics in Southern Africa. Johannesburg, South Africa. (2019, September 24-27).
 
  • Presenter: Forging resilient and inclusive social contracts for achieving and sustaining peace: Drawing lessons from Tunisia for the MENA region. International Congress of the German Middle East Studies Association (DAVO). Hamburg, Germany. (2019, October 4).
 
  • Presenter: Exploring pathways to sustaining peace: Forging resilient social contracts. Varieties of Peace Asia Conference. Also Discussant for panel: Analysing multiple relations of peace and conflict. Jakarta, Indonesia. (2019, October 22-24).
 
  • Presenter: The Liberal Peacebuilding Model in Crisis; Presenter: The SDGs Promoting Inclusive Peace and Development: Theories of Change and Rising Evidence. Academic Conference of the United Nations (ACUNS). Raised funding to bring participants from Somalia and Liberia to join panels. Stellenbosch, South Africa. (2019, June 19-21).
 
  • Presenter: Zimbabwe, on an unexpected trajectory? Workshop: Zimbabwe, on an unexpected trajectory? Co-designed and implemented on behalf of WSG, with the Institute for Security Studies and Mandela Institute of Development Studies (MINDs), Johannesburg, South Africa. (2019, February 8).
 
  • Presenter: Forging an inclusive and resilient social contract in Zimbabwe, panel presentation. And, moderation of final session: What is required for reigniting hope for democracy beyond elections? Public dialogue on Reigniting Hope for Democracy Beyond Elections in Zimbabwe, Wits School of Governance, Johannesburg, South Africa. (2018, November 8-9).
 
  • Panellist: Delivering more effectively in fragile and conflict affected situations. Global Partnership for Effective Development Co-operation for Reinvigorating Effectiveness for the 2030 Agenda. Paris, France. (2018, September 11-12).
 
  • Presenter: Ensuring the sustainability of political settlements by fostering social cohesion and strengthening the social contract. Policy dialogue on Developing Sustainable Reconciliation Practices in Central African Republic: Lessons from South Africa. Johannesburg, South Africa. (2018, September 7).
 
  • KEYNOTE: How to improve scholarly contributions to mediation and peacebuilding. Maputo Dialogue, Southern African Defence and Security Management Network (SADSEM). Gaborone, Botswana. (2018, Oct. 18)
 
  • Presenter: Forging resilient social contracts: A conceptual framework. ISA, Baltimore. (2017, February 22-25).
 
  • Expert panel participant: How can the sustainable development goals be realized in fragile contexts? High level side event at the Second High Level Meeting of the Global Partnership for Effective Development Cooperation. Nairobi, Kenya.  (2016, November 30)
 
  • KEYNOTE: The state of world peace 2016: Challenges and opportunities for transformative change. Society for Humanistic Psychology Annual Conference. Featured as a conversation thought leader on theme of Violence, Collaboration, Peace and Justice. San Francisco. (2016, March 17-20)
 
  • Presenter: Safeguarding inclusivity and the role of civil society in the SDGs: Lessons from the New Deal. World Bank Group Fragility, Conflict and Violence Forum. (2016, March 2).
 
  • Presenter: Civil society advocacy in the post-2015 process. Conference on Strengthening Peacebuilding Policy through Civil Society Empowerment. Notre Dame. (2015, October 25-27).
 
  • Presenter: Tackling and preventing Ebola while building peace and societal resilience. Steering Committee Meeting, International Dialogue on Peacebuilding & Statebuilding. Abidjan, Ivory Coast. 2015, May 21-25)
 
  • Presenter: The International Dialogue and progress on PSG 1 – legitimate and inclusive politics. OECD-DAC International Network on Conflict and Fragility (INCAF) meeting. Paris, France. (2015, May 19)
 
  • Presenter: The future of peace operations. Stockholm Forum on Security and Development. Stockholm, Sweden (2015, May 12-13). Also spoke on Swedish radio on the topic.
 
  • KEYNOTE: Fostering resilience in situations of fragility and conflict: Framing the expert roundtable discussions. UNDP/UNICEF/Interpeace Expert Roundtable on Fostering Resilience to Conflict.  Rockefeller Foundation, New York. (2014, September 18-19).
 
  • Presenter; Discussant; Chair: Paradigms for knowledge creation in peacebuilding. Assessing resilience. Civil societies assessing peacebuilding and statebuilding. ISA. Toronto, Canada. (2014, March).
 
  • Presenter: Infrastructures for peace: Emerging trends and lessons. UNDP policy luncheon on Infrastructures for Peace. International Peace Institute. (2013, July 29).
 
  • Presenter: Peacebuilding, statebuilding and resilience: Lessons from the New Deal for SDGs. World Bank Spring Meetings, Civil Society Forum. Washington DC. (2013, April 20).  Also, presenter in CSPPS hosted side event: The New Deal One-Year Later: A Look at Implementation from the Ground Level in Pilot States. (2013, April 18).
 
  • Presenter: Resilience and conflict prevention. Geneva Centre for Security Policy and Department of Political Affairs Professional Training Course.  New York. (2012, August 22) 
 
  • Presenter: Two steps forward? Critical reflections on measuring progress in peacebuilding and statebuilding. ACUNS. New York. (2012, June 14).
 
  • §Discussant; Participant/co-organizer: Social reintegration and national reconciliation. Peacebuilding evaluation: Institutional trends and critical reflections by scholar-practitioners. ISA. San Diego. (2012, April).
 
  • §Presenter: Peace dividends: Contributions of administrative and social services and peacebuilding. UN Peacebuilding Fund’s Advisory Board, UNICEF, and the New School’s “Development Thought and Policy” lecture series. (2011-2012).
 
  • Presenter: Second generation DDR in UN peace operations: A new concept and set of practices supporting human security. Workshop on Diverse Approaches to Human Security. New School, New York. (2010, October 8).
 
  • Presenter: How the escalation of conflict related sexual violence has changed the UN’s approach to peacebuilding and peace-keeping. Development Thought and Policy. The New School. (2011, December 1).
 
  • Presenter: i) Zimbabwean civil society and the government of national unity: Engaging polarization, navigating strategic dilemmas, facilitating transformative change. ii) Evaluating social movement action, and implications for transformative change and peace in Zimbabwe. iii) Assessing the Relevance and Effectiveness of Peacebuilding Initiatives: Lessons Learned from Testing New Approaches and Methodologies. ISA, Montreal, Canada. (2011, March 16-19).
 
  • Presenter: Policymakers, scholars and liberal peacebuilding: Critical engagement and innovation for sustained peace. Social Science Research Council. New York. (2010, April 5).
 
  • Panelist: Bridging research, policy and practice at the intersections of peacebuilding and development: Lessons from the field.  ISA. Conflicting Cosmologies of Academics and Practitioners in Afghanistan and Beyond. New Orleans. (2010, February 17-20).
 
  • Panelist: The Future of the UN peacebuilding commission. Visioning the Future of the UN PBC: Authors’ Workshop and Policy Discussion.  Center for International Policy Studies (CIPS), University of Ottawa, Canada. (2009, Sept. 24).
 
  • KEYNOTE: DDR looking forward: 2nd generation policy options for complex transitional settings. UN Workshop for DDR Senior Managers. Casablanca, Morocco. (2009, July 8).
 
  • Presenter: Evaluation of DDR in peace operations: Links to transition planning and mission exit.  Monitoring and Evaluation of Peace Operations, IPA & Norwegian Institute of International Affairs. New York.  (2009, May 8). 
 
  • Presenter: Advancing coherence and integrating peacebuilding in strategic policy frameworks. ISA.  New York. (2009, February 15-18).
 
  • Presenter: Economic recovery and peacebuilding. The Peacebuilding Roundtable: Bringing Research Perspectives to Inform the UN’s Peacebuilding Work.  UN PBSO and IDRC, Ottawa, Canada. (2008, December 9-10).
 
  • Presenter: Integrated approaches to peacebuilding in Liberia: Contributions of a conflict sensitive and rights based PRSP. UNDP Headquarters, New York. (2008, June 6).
 
  • Presenter: Quantitative methods and secondary sources in peace consolidation. UN Peace Consolidation Benchmarking Experts Workshop. Norwegian Mission to the UN, NY. (2008, November 17).
 
  • Presenter: Peacebuilding strategic frameworks: The case of Liberia. UN Peacebuilding Commission Working Group on Lessons Learned. UN Headquarters, NY. (2007, September 19).
 
  • Presenter: The role of a peacekeeping missions in peacebuilding: The case of UNMIL.  The John Ferguson Seminar Series. Africa Centre, Bradford University, UK. (2006, October 3).
 
  • Presenter: Good governance, peacebuilding and development: The linkages. Training of Trainers and Curriculum Development Workshop on Conflict Transformation, Democratic Governance and Development.  Monrovia, Liberia. (2006, May 1-6). 
 
  • KEYNOTE: The meaning and practice of reconciliation. Keynote Address at the Sinoe County Peace and Reconciliation Forum. Sinoe, Liberia. (2005, August 12).
 
  • Presenter: Feminist epistemology. Gender Mainstreaming Conference. Mutare, Zimbabwe. (2004, February 27).
 
  • Presenter: Participation of African civil society in the PRSPs. AFRODAD PRSP Workshop. Harare, Zimbabwe. (2003, April 28-29).
 
  • Presenter: Peace and human security in the New Economic Partnership for Africa’s Development (NEPAD). Southern African Civil Society Meeting on NEPAD. Harare, Zimbabwe. (2002, August 23-25).  
 
  • Presenter: Poverty reduction strategies: International lessons for Zimbabwe. Structural Adjustment Participatory Review Initiative Retreat. Nyanga, Zimbabwe. (2002, March).
  
  • Presenter: Varieties of Peace Journal Special Issue launch. Exploring varieties of peace. (2021, June 22).
 
  • Panel chair: From local to global: Competing social contracts and the search for legitimate national authority; Presenter: Competing social contracts, complexity and the search for peace; Presenter: Paradigmatic pluralism and the peacebuilding-development nexus; Chair and discussant: Peacebuilding across international, national and local levels; Discussant: Peacebuilding paradigms: Assessing the different assumptions and methodologies. International Studies Association (ISA) Annual Conference (2021, 6-9 April), online.
 
  • Presenter: Building Institutions and Strengthening Social Cohesion in Southern Africa, Democracy Now and Next, Institute for Democracy and Electoral Assistance (IDEA) 25th Anniversary Global Virtual Conference. (2020, November 20). https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BXKvY87cNe0&feature=youtu.be [1.25 hours into webinar]
 
  • Presenter: Social cohesion: Concept and measurement. Social Cohesion Week. German Development Institute / Deutsches Institut für Entwicklungspolitik (DIE). (2020, November 11).
  
  • Chair: Session on “Connecting research agendas to country needs” and discussant on “Training on SDGs in conflict affected and fragile settings” at Workshop:  Effective governance for sustainable development: Putting principles into practice. UN Department of Economic and Social Affairs and the African Peer Review Mechanism Regional Workshop. Pretoria, South Africa. (2019, November 1).
   
  • Presenter: Lessons around civil society and transition politics. Ukuthula Trust and Heinrich Boll Foundation Southern Africa Workshop on: Civil Society, State and Politics in Southern Africa. Johannesburg, South Africa. (2019, September 24-27).
 
  • Presenter: Forging resilient and inclusive social contracts for achieving and sustaining peace: Drawing lessons from Tunisia for the MENA region. International Congress of the German Middle East Studies Association (DAVO). Hamburg, Germany. (2019, October 4).
 
  • Presenter: Exploring pathways to sustaining peace: Forging resilient social contracts. Varieties of Peace Asia Conference. Also Discussant for panel: Analysing multiple relations of peace and conflict. Jakarta, Indonesia. (2019, October 22-24).
 
  • Presenter: The Liberal Peacebuilding Model in Crisis; Presenter: The SDGs Promoting Inclusive Peace and Development: Theories of Change and Rising Evidence. Academic Conference of the United Nations (ACUNS). Raised funding to bring participants from Somalia and Liberia to join panels. Stellenbosch, South Africa. (2019, June 19-21).
 
  • Presenter: Zimbabwe, on an unexpected trajectory? Workshop: Zimbabwe, on an unexpected trajectory? Co-designed and implemented on behalf of WSG, with the Institute for Security Studies and Mandela Institute of Development Studies (MINDs), Johannesburg, South Africa. (2019, February 8).
 
  • Presenter: Forging an inclusive and resilient social contract in Zimbabwe, panel presentation. And, moderation of final session: What is required for reigniting hope for democracy beyond elections? Public dialogue on Reigniting Hope for Democracy Beyond Elections in Zimbabwe, Wits School of Governance, Johannesburg, South Africa. (2018, November 8-9).
 
  • Panellist: Delivering more effectively in fragile and conflict affected situations. Global Partnership for Effective Development Co-operation for Reinvigorating Effectiveness for the 2030 Agenda. Paris, France. (2018, September 11-12).
 
  • Presenter: Ensuring the sustainability of political settlements by fostering social cohesion and strengthening the social contract. Policy dialogue on Developing Sustainable Reconciliation Practices in Central African Republic: Lessons from South Africa. Johannesburg, South Africa. (2018, September 7).
 
  • KEYNOTE: How to improve scholarly contributions to mediation and peacebuilding. Maputo Dialogue, Southern African Defence and Security Management Network (SADSEM). Gaborone, Botswana. (2018, Oct. 18)
 
  • Presenter: Forging resilient social contracts: A conceptual framework. ISA, Baltimore. (2017, February 22-25).
 
  • Expert panel participant: How can the sustainable development goals be realized in fragile contexts? High level side event at the Second High Level Meeting of the Global Partnership for Effective Development Cooperation. Nairobi, Kenya.  (2016, November 30)
 
  • KEYNOTE: The state of world peace 2016: Challenges and opportunities for transformative change. Society for Humanistic Psychology Annual Conference. Featured as a conversation thought leader on theme of Violence, Collaboration, Peace and Justice. San Francisco. (2016, March 17-20)
 
  • Presenter: Safeguarding inclusivity and the role of civil society in the SDGs: Lessons from the New Deal. World Bank Group Fragility, Conflict and Violence Forum. (2016, March 2).
 
  • Presenter: Civil society advocacy in the post-2015 process. Conference on Strengthening Peacebuilding Policy through Civil Society Empowerment. Notre Dame. (2015, October 25-27).
 
  • Presenter: Tackling and preventing Ebola while building peace and societal resilience. Steering Committee Meeting, International Dialogue on Peacebuilding & Statebuilding. Abidjan, Ivory Coast. 2015, May 21-25)
 
  • Presenter: The International Dialogue and progress on PSG 1 – legitimate and inclusive politics. OECD-DAC International Network on Conflict and Fragility (INCAF) meeting. Paris, France. (2015, May 19)
 
  • Presenter: The future of peace operations. Stockholm Forum on Security and Development. Stockholm, Sweden (2015, May 12-13). Also spoke on Swedish radio on the topic.
 
  • KEYNOTE: Fostering resilience in situations of fragility and conflict: Framing the expert roundtable discussions. UNDP/UNICEF/Interpeace Expert Roundtable on Fostering Resilience to Conflict.  Rockefeller Foundation, New York. (2014, September 18-19).
 
  • Presenter; Discussant; Chair: Paradigms for knowledge creation in peacebuilding. Assessing resilience. Civil societies assessing peacebuilding and statebuilding. ISA. Toronto, Canada. (2014, March).
 
  • Presenter: Infrastructures for peace: Emerging trends and lessons. UNDP policy luncheon on Infrastructures for Peace. International Peace Institute. (2013, July 29).
 
  • Presenter: Peacebuilding, statebuilding and resilience: Lessons from the New Deal for SDGs. World Bank Spring Meetings, Civil Society Forum. Washington DC. (2013, April 20).  Also, presenter in CSPPS hosted side event: The New Deal One-Year Later: A Look at Implementation from the Ground Level in Pilot States. (2013, April 18).
 
  • Presenter: Resilience and conflict prevention. Geneva Centre for Security Policy and Department of Political Affairs Professional Training Course.  New York. (2012, August 22) 
 
  • Presenter: Two steps forward? Critical reflections on measuring progress in peacebuilding and statebuilding. ACUNS. New York. (2012, June 14).
 
  • §Discussant; Participant/co-organizer: Social reintegration and national reconciliation. Peacebuilding evaluation: Institutional trends and critical reflections by scholar-practitioners. ISA. San Diego. (2012, April).
 
  • §Presenter: Peace dividends: Contributions of administrative and social services and peacebuilding. UN Peacebuilding Fund’s Advisory Board, UNICEF, and the New School’s “Development Thought and Policy” lecture series. (2011-2012).
 
  • Presenter: Second generation DDR in UN peace operations: A new concept and set of practices supporting human security. Workshop on Diverse Approaches to Human Security. New School, New York. (2010, October 8).
 
  • Presenter: How the escalation of conflict related sexual violence has changed the UN’s approach to peacebuilding and peace-keeping. Development Thought and Policy. The New School. (2011, December 1).
 
  • Presenter: i) Zimbabwean civil society and the government of national unity: Engaging polarization, navigating strategic dilemmas, facilitating transformative change. ii) Evaluating social movement action, and implications for transformative change and peace in Zimbabwe. iii) Assessing the Relevance and Effectiveness of Peacebuilding Initiatives: Lessons Learned from Testing New Approaches and Methodologies. ISA, Montreal, Canada. (2011, March 16-19).
 
  • Presenter: Policymakers, scholars and liberal peacebuilding: Critical engagement and innovation for sustained peace. Social Science Research Council. New York. (2010, April 5).
 
  • Panelist: Bridging research, policy and practice at the intersections of peacebuilding and development: Lessons from the field.  ISA. Conflicting Cosmologies of Academics and Practitioners in Afghanistan and Beyond. New Orleans. (2010, February 17-20).
 
  • Panelist: The Future of the UN peacebuilding commission. Visioning the Future of the UN PBC: Authors’ Workshop and Policy Discussion.  Center for International Policy Studies (CIPS), University of Ottawa, Canada. (2009, Sept. 24).
 
  • KEYNOTE: DDR looking forward: 2nd generation policy options for complex transitional settings. UN Workshop for DDR Senior Managers. Casablanca, Morocco. (2009, July 8).
 
  • Presenter: Evaluation of DDR in peace operations: Links to transition planning and mission exit.  Monitoring and Evaluation of Peace Operations, IPA & Norwegian Institute of International Affairs. New York.  (2009, May 8). 
 
  • Presenter: Advancing coherence and integrating peacebuilding in strategic policy frameworks. ISA.  New York. (2009, February 15-18).
 
  • Presenter: Economic recovery and peacebuilding. The Peacebuilding Roundtable: Bringing Research Perspectives to Inform the UN’s Peacebuilding Work.  UN PBSO and IDRC, Ottawa, Canada. (2008, December 9-10).
 
  • Presenter: Integrated approaches to peacebuilding in Liberia: Contributions of a conflict sensitive and rights based PRSP. UNDP Headquarters, New York. (2008, June 6).
 
  • Presenter: Quantitative methods and secondary sources in peace consolidation. UN Peace Consolidation Benchmarking Experts Workshop. Norwegian Mission to the UN, NY. (2008, November 17).
 
  • Presenter: Peacebuilding strategic frameworks: The case of Liberia. UN Peacebuilding Commission Working Group on Lessons Learned. UN Headquarters, NY. (2007, September 19).
 
  • Presenter: The role of a peacekeeping missions in peacebuilding: The case of UNMIL.  The John Ferguson Seminar Series. Africa Centre, Bradford University, UK. (2006, October 3).
 
  • Presenter: Good governance, peacebuilding and development: The linkages. Training of Trainers and Curriculum Development Workshop on Conflict Transformation, Democratic Governance and Development.  Monrovia, Liberia. (2006, May 1-6). 
 
  • KEYNOTE: The meaning and practice of reconciliation. Keynote Address at the Sinoe County Peace and Reconciliation Forum. Sinoe, Liberia. (2005, August 12).
 
  • Presenter: Feminist epistemology. Gender Mainstreaming Conference. Mutare, Zimbabwe. (2004, February 27).
 
  • Presenter: Participation of African civil society in the PRSPs. AFRODAD PRSP Workshop. Harare, Zimbabwe. (2003, April 28-29).
 
  • Presenter: Peace and human security in the New Economic Partnership for Africa’s Development (NEPAD). Southern African Civil Society Meeting on NEPAD. Harare, Zimbabwe. (2002, August 23-25).  
 
  • Presenter: Poverty reduction strategies: International lessons for Zimbabwe. Structural Adjustment Participatory Review Initiative Retreat. Nyanga, Zimbabwe. (2002, March).
 
  • Presenter: Zimbabwean social movements challenging economic policy reform. Zimbabwean Experts Meeting. Yale University. (1999, November 5). ​