There will be a guest lecture at the Brussels School of International Studies on Wednesday 26 February from 12.00 to 16.00.
This talk will, on the one hand, discuss the current situation in terms of security, development aid and the consequences on this year’s transition (withdrawal of foreign combat forces) for Afghanistan and, on the other hand, discuss the role that independent analysis and research can play in this context.
The speakers are well placed to discuss these issues. Both speakers have spent most part of the past decade working on and in Afghanistan. Dr Kouvo’s focusing on rule of law, human rights and gender issues and Dr Parto focusing on governance, policy and development aid related issues. Dr Kouvo’s recent research discusses how Afghanistan has dealt with (or rather not dealt with) legacies of human rights violations and war crimes in Afghanistan, while Dr Parto’s recent publications discuss governance and corruption and also the ground realities of transition. The speakers will also weave the discussion around their own experiences of establishing research organisations and doing independent research in Afghanistan. Dr Kouvo is the co-director and founding member of the Afghanistan Analysts Network, a leading think tank focusing on politics and security in the widest possible sense and Dr Parto heads and has founded APPRO (spell out) a policy research institute focusing on policy development, governance and development aid.
Attendance is free and if you wish to attend this lecture, please send an email to bsis@kent.ac.uk