A Critical Juncture: South Sudan's security amidst a tenuous peace deal
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Secretariat of the Knowledge Platform Security & Rule of Law
Test knop
Test
Distilling Roots of Disagreement
SAVE THE DATE (time TBC)
On Monday, June 23rd, KPSRL will be presenting and discussing its final paper in the distilling series on ‘Roots of Disagreement’.
In increasingly polarised debates on development cooperation and the state–rule of law nexus, it is crucial to move beyond dominant narratives that often overlook complexity and context. This requires greater attention to locally founded and locally grounded perspectives that challenge prevailing assumptions and offer meaningful alternatives rooted in lived realities.
The final paper in the KPSRL distilling series, “Distilling Roots of Disagreement” looks back on contributions of the KPSRL network (events, research, podcast) relating to that theme and aims to provide some answers on how to reconcile the polarised debates defining development cooperation and SRoL. The paper specifically investigates three ‘case study’ debates relating to feminist foreign policy, (the merits of) liberalism, and sovereignist ideologies in development cooperation. To that end, the paper identifies:
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The arguments (about what is real and what is right) underpin the opposing positions within the debates;
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Where those arguments may come from and why we (or a party to a polarized debate) have accepted them as right and true; and
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What, if any, are the points of common ground between the arguments of the parties.
In the launch event, the authors of different Knowledge Management Fund (KMF) publications will present and discuss their work as it was interpreted in relation to the distilling paper. This panel discussion will bring together speakers from KMF recipient organisations, including Vimbai Kapurura, Idris Nassery, Salma Nasser and Jean Bossuyt. They will reflect on the distilling paper from the standpoint of their own work and contexts, exploring alternatives to dominant frameworks in the debates around feminism, liberalism and globalist politics. The discussants will address the intersections between Western and non-Western approaches, and the practical implications of recognising local, informal and culturally grounded forms of knowledge and action. There will be an opportunity to reflect and engage.
As this will be the last event hosted by KPSRL The Hague, we are looking forward to an especially engaging discussion with our international partner organisations. The distilling paper will be published in advance of the event.
The registration link will be provided once the time is confirmed.
KPSRL Closing Event: Celebrate, Reflect, Mobilize
For more than a decade, the Knowledge Platform Security & Rule of Law (KPSRL) has fostered a worldwide network aimed at sharing knowledge and learning across the rich diversity of partners working on international peace and justice.
KPSRL was established by the Dutch Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MFA) in 2012 in support of its policymaking and programming around Security & Rule of Law (SROL). The goal was to foster learning by and among diverse actors in this field, with a view, ultimately, to increasing the responsiveness and effectiveness of SROL policies and programs.
On 30 June 2025, this project is coming to a close. In the run up to this moment, this in-person closing event provides an opportunity for the Netherlands-based part of the network to reflect on key achievements and insights, and chart pathways for continued learning in the SROL field.
Objectives: Celebrate, Reflect and Mobilize
- Celebrate: putting the spotlight on the many great contributions of the KPSRL network over the past years. Highlighting impact on SROL policy and programming, and foregrounding strong outputs and proud achievements.
- Reflect: bringing together the KPSRL network around key insights over the past years. Challenge one another on the future and added value of our work in the midst of big SROL shifts and the role learning plays in it.
- Mobilize: mobilizing the KPSRL network to forge new collaborations and pursue innovative ideas in the spirit of equal partnerships, aiming for the network to continue to find each other beyond KPSRL's ending.
Agenda
A more detailed agenda with speakers will follow, but the main topics and flow of the afternoon are as follows:
12:00 – 13:00 Registration & Lunch
13:00 – 13:15 Opening remarks
13:15 – 13:40 The Rise & Fall of Dutch Commitment to International Development as We Knew It.
- Dirk Jan Koch: Director Adviesraad Internationale Vraagstukken
13:40 – 15:15 Panel: Learning within Security and Rule of Law: A Changing Landscape
- Abiosseh Davis: Global Head of MEL, SNV.
- Mariska van Beijnum: Strategic Coordinator for Localisation & Adaptation, Netherlands MFA.
- Corita Corbijn: Sector Specialist Peacebuilding, ZOA.
- Madeline Church: Independent Learning Consultant
15:15 – 15:45 Break
15:45 – 17:00 Panel: Support for Democracy and Rule of Law in Times of Transactional Politics
- Koos de Bruijn: Advocacy manager at Partos.
- Ornella Moderan: Senior SSR Advisor, DCAF.
- Sweta Velpillay: Co-director Conducive Spaces for Peace, Lead RESPACE initiative.
17:00 – 17:15 Closing: Presentation Transition Group on findings - opportunities for sustaining the KPSRL network beyond June 2025.
17:15 – 18:45 Drinks