Speaking Engagements
​Dr. Erin McCandless participates in engagements on a range of peace, security, governance, and development issues. erin.mccandless@gmail.com
Presentations (selected)
  • “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, 18-19 September.

  • “Assessing Resilience,” Discussant on panel; “Civil Societies Assessing Peacebuilding and Statebuilding,” Paper presenter; “Paradigms for Knowledge Creation in Peacebuilding,” Chair of Roundtable: all at the International Studies Association, Toronto, March 2014.

  • “Infrastructures for Peace: Emerging Trends and Lessons,” UNDP policy luncheon on Infrastructures for Peace, International Peace Institute, July 29, 2013.

  • “Peacebuilding, Statebuilding and Resilience: Linking Lessons from the New Deal to the Post-2015 Debates,” World Bank Spring Meetings, Civil Society Forum, Washington DC, April 20, 2013.  Also, in side event by the Civil Society Platform on Peacebuilding and Statebuilding, “The New Deal One-Year Later: A Look at Implementation from the Ground Level in Pilot States”, April 18, 2013.

  •  “Resilience and Conflict Prevention: States, Societies and International Partners,” Geneva Centre for Security Policy and Department of Political Affairs Professional Training Course, New York, August 22, 2012. 

  • “Two Steps Forward? Critical Reflections on Measuring Progress in Peacebuilding and Statebuilding,” Academic Council of the United Nations (ACUNS), New York, June 14, 2012.

  • “Peacebuilding Evaluation: Institutional Trends and Critical Reflections by Scholar-Practitioners,” Round table participant and co-organizer of session; “Social Reintegration and National Reconciliation,” Discussant on panel, International Studies Association, San Diego, April 2012.
  • “Peace Dividends: Contributions of Administrative and Social Services and Peacebuilding,” talk given in multiple places following publication of PBSO report: including at UNICEF, a brown bag lunch on October 27, 2011, to the UN Peacebuilding Fund’s Advisory Board, and at the New School’s “Development Thought and Policy” lecture series, March 8, 2012.

  • “How the Escalation of Conflict Related Sexual Violence has changed the UN’s Approach to Peacebuilding and Peace-keeping” (discussant), Development Thought and Policy, The New School, December 1, 2011.

  • “Peace Dividends: Contributions of Administrative and Social Services to Peacebuilding,” UNICEF, New York, October 27, 2011.

  •  “Zimbabwean Civil Society and the Government of National Unity: Engaging Polarization, Navigating Strategic Dilemmas, Facilitating Transformative Change,” International Studies Association, Montreal, March 18, 2011.

  • “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, October 8, 2010.

  • “Evaluating Social Movement Action, and Implications for Transformative Change and Peace in Zimbabwe”, Panel on “Assessing the Relevance and Effectiveness of Peacebuilding Initiatives: Lessons Learned from Testing New Approaches and Methodologies”, International Studies Association, Montreal, March 16-19, 2011.

  • “Civil Society: Strategies for Emancipation” (discussant), “Progress” in Zimbabwe Conference, Bulawayo, November 3-6, 2010.

  • “Policymakers, Scholars and Liberal Peacebuilding: Critical Engagement and Innovation for Sustained Peace”, Social Science Research Council, New York, April 5, 2010.

  • Round Table participant at the International Studies Association: “Bridging Research, Policy and Practice at the Intersections of Peacebuilding and Development: Lessons from the Field”; “Conflicting Cosmologies of Academics and Practitioners in Afghanistan and Beyond”, New Orleans, February 17-20, 2010.

  • “The Future of the UN Peacebuilding Commission,” Workshop: Visioning the Future of the UN PBC: Authors’ Workshop and Policy Discussion, Center for International Policy Studies (CIPS) at the University of Ottawa, Ottawa, September 24, 2009.

  • “DDR Looking Forward: 2nd Generation Policy Options for Complex Transitional Settings,” Workshop for United Nations DDR Senior Managers, Casa Blanca, Morocco, July 8, 2009.

  • “Evaluation of DDR in Peace Operations: Links to Transition Planning and Mission Exit,” Workshop: Monitoring and Evaluation of Peace Operations, International Peace Academy and the Norwegian Institute of International Affairs. New York: May 7-8, 2009.

  • Discussant and Presenter on Panel: “Advancing Coherence and Integrating Peacebuilding in Strategic Policy Frameworks.” International Studies Association, New York. February 15-18, 2009.

  • “Economic Recovery and Peacebuilding,” Workshop entitled: “The Peacebuilding Roundtable: Bringing Research Perspectives to Inform the UN’s Peacebuilding Work, United Nations Peacebuilding Support Office and the International Development Research Centre, Ottawa, Canada, December 9-10, 2008.

  • “Integrated Approaches to Peacebuilding in Liberia: Contributions of a Conflict Sensitive and Rights Based PRSP,” United Nations Development Program Headquarters, New York, 6 June 2008.

  • “Quantitative Methods and Secondary Sources in Peace Consolidation,” United Nations Peace Consolidation Benchmarking Experts Workshop, Norwegian Mission to the UN, NY, 17 November 2008.

  • “Peacebuilding Strategic Frameworks: the Case of Liberia,” United Nations Peacebuilding Commission Working Group on Lessons Learned, UN Headquarters, NY, 19 September 2007.

  • “The Role of a Peacekeeping Missions in Peacebuilding: the Case of UNMIL,” The John Ferguson Seminar Series, Africa Centre, Bradford University, UK, 3 October 2006.

  • “Good Governance, Peacebuilding and Development: the Linkages,” Training of Trainers and Curriculum Development Workshop on Conflict Transformation, Democratic Governance and Development, Monrovia, Liberia, 1-6 May 2006.

  • “The Meaning and Practice of Reconciliation,” Keynote Address, Sinoe County Peace and Reconciliation Forum, Sinoe, Liberia, 12 August 2005.
  • “Feminist Epistemology,” Gender Mainstreaming Conference, Mutare, Zimbabwe, 27 February 2004.

  • “Participation of African Civil Society in the PRSPs,” AFRODAD PRSP Workshop, Harare, 28-29 April 2003.

  • “Peace and Human Security in the New Economic Partnership for Africa’s Development (NEPAD),” Southern African Civil Society Meeting on NEPAD, Harare, 23-25 August 2002. 

  • “Poverty Reduction Strategies: International Lessons for Zimbabwe,” Paper presentation at the Structural Adjustment Participatory Review Initiative Retreat. Nyanga, Zimbabwe, March 2002.

  • “Zimbabwean Social Movements Challenging Economic Policy Reform,” Paper presentation at Zimbabwean Experts Meeting. Yale University, 5 November 1999.