On 6 May, the Platform will host Susanna Campbell in The Hague to present her new, incisive book Global Governance and Local Peace: Accountability and Performance in International Peacebuilding.
 
In the book, Campbell examines the relationships between peacebuilding organizations, their country offices, and local actors. Country offices play a central role in forging peace in conflict-affected societies, but must continually balance their (competing) accountability to their organizations, donors and local stakeholders. How country offices manage to strike this balance defines whether and how much they learn about what it takes to build peace in their context. Through in-depth examination of the day-to-day machinations of organizations and individuals working to resolve violent conflicts and foster peaceful societies, Campbell arrives at useful practical recommendations for all involved in peacebuilding efforts.
 
Join us on 6 May – we welcome your input and would value your insights during the facilitated discussion after Prof. Campbell’s presentation.

On Thursday 14 February 2019, KPSRL in partnership with the Dutch Ministry of Foreign Affairs’ Department for Stabilisation and Humanitarian Aid (DSH) and NIMD hosted a meeting to share lessons from the mid-term reviews (MTRs) of Strategic Partnerships on Dialogue and Dissent (SPDD) in the field of security and rule of law.

Speakers

The event started with presentations by the two evaluation teams that have conducted the MTRs of NIMD’s SP Conducive Environment for Effective Policy-making (Mike Zuyderduyn and Irma Alpenidze, MDF) and of NIMD’s Dialogue for Stability Programme (Greg Power, Global Partners Governance; Alina Rocha Menocal, ODI). They were followed by three discussants: Koen Faber (Cordaid), Lori Cajegas (CARE) and Marjolein Jongman (DSH). The remainder of the event was open for active Q&A and discussion.

Background

In November 2016, the Knowledge Platform organized a series of lunch meetings and a closing brainstorm on the topic of adaptive programming in the field of security and rule of law. The Dutch Ministry of Foreign Affairs´ Department of Stabilization and Humanitarian Aid, together with NIMD and PAX, hosted the forward-looking lunch meetings, which aimed to address challenges foreseen in programme management and results measurement of programmes such as SPDD, especially in the context of the its funding mechanism’s flexible monitoring requirements. As a follow-up to these meetings, GPPAC hosted a project in 2017¬2018 under the KPSRL’s Knowledge Management Fund, learning from outcome harvesting as an approach used by various SPs to better capture results from adaptive programmes in complex environments.

Now, at the beginning of 2019, NIMD, and most of the programme’s strategic partners have conducted MTRs, creating an opportune moment to share their findings and draw lessons in the light of the previously identified challenges to adaptive programming.

Guiding questions

1. On using political economy analyses and thinking and working politically: What does this really mean and how have various Strategic Partners done this, and done this well?
2. On Theory of Change application and adjustment, and adaptive programming in practice: How have Theories of Change been used to guide programming? How are they tested and adjusted, and on what basis?

Due to the limited number of places available, this is a closed-door event. If you would like to attend, please send an email to [email protected].

The International Center for Transitional Justice, in partnership with the Pathfinders for Peaceful, Just and Inclusive Societies, the Knowledge Platform Security & Rule of Law, and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of The Netherlands, invites you to a presentation of the report “Transitional Justice and SDG16+” in The Hague, on 8 February 2019 at the Peace Palace in The Hague. The launch will start at 1.15PM.

The product of a one-year long reflection by the Working Group on Transitional Justice and SDG 16+, comprised of civil society experts, governmental representatives, and UN agencies, the report pinpoints the ways in which transitional justice processes can successfully advance SDG 16+ and improve the lives of victims of violence, human rights violations, and marginalization. The report is also a contribution to the work of the Pathfinders’ Task Force on Justice.

This presentation is the first of many events and activities over the next year. Join us in the discussions and in calling for action on justice. Help us make 2019 the year of justice, peace, and inclusiveness.

Please note that you must bring valid photo ID to enter the Peace Palace.

With a majority of the world’s citizens living without equitable access to justice, the need to prioritize justice for all is paramount. The inclusion of justice as a focus area of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development has spurred those working on justice around the world to come together to make 2019 the Year of Justice.

The Global Taskforce on Justice – led by the Netherlands, Sierra Leone, Argentina and the Elders will be hosting the Justice Partners Forum on February 7th to convene justice leaders to discuss opportunities and challenges in achieving access to justice for all and exploring strategies to accelerate delivery on justice, nationally and worldwide.

In Somaliland, through work to localize SDG16+, Saferworld together with authorities and civil society organizations have identified access to justice as a key development priority. An inclusive process to determine justice gaps and potential solutions has been ongoing over the past six months, with support from the KPSRL’s Knowledge Management Fund. Ambitious plans are now in place to use the Year of Justice to launch a new vision for access to justice for Somaliland. Speakers will share experiences about the successes and remaining challenges for improving access to justice in Somaliland.

Using this case study, Saferworld, the Somaliland Human Rights Centre and the Secretariat of the Knowledge Platform will host a side-event on the margins of the Justice Partners Forum on 8 February 2018 to share experiences about successes and remaining challenges, and start a conversation on localizing access to justice across similar contexts.

Speakers:

• Mr. Adam Haji-Ali Ahmed – Chief Justice of Somaliland
• Ms. Charlotte Watson – Conflict and Security Adviser, Saferworld
• Mr. Guleid Ahmed Jama – Founder and former Chairperson, Somaliland Human Rights Centre

On the 11 December 2018, the Knowledge Platform Security and Rule of Law will host a workshop on the theme Strengthening Knowledge Absorption: Identified Pathways and Obstacles.

Scope

While both practitioners/researchers and policy-makers strive to improve the delivery of programmes and the effectiveness of policy, they are operating on different “sides” of the evidence system. On the supply-side, practitioners and researchers generate knowledge, and on the demand-side, policy-makers use evidence. Unfortunately, supply-side and demand-side actors often work without a full understanding of the context in which the other operates. There is often a lack of awareness of the technical nature of research and programming work, on the one hand, and the complexities of policy development and implementation on the other hand. This can often lead to misunderstandings and loopholes.  Elaborated strategies to communicate knowledge (on one side), and to increase knowledge uptake capacities (on the other side) are crucial for knowledge absorption. This includes generally purposeful and adaptable approaches covering a set of complementary and interrelated actions, at various levels (context analysis, stakeholder engagement strategy, innovative communication and capacity building…).

Key Questions

Through this workshop, participants will explore conditions for an effective knowledge absorption. Participants will discuss major factors shaping evidence uptake on the two sides of the system(practitioners/researchers and policy-makers).

We will reflect on the following questions:

• How well supply-and-demand factors interact in SRoL policy-making? And who needs to do what to ensure that we make the most of knowledge?
• Do policy-makers demand evidence?
• How well is knowledge communicated to policy makers?
• How well connected are policy makers and practitioners/researchers
• What innovative frameworks and knowledge translation processes have been tested and found to be useful in SRoL field  within fragile settings?
• What methods for evaluating the impact of knowledge on internal decision making and external policy making provide the most useful information for improving learning as well as knowledge uptake

Background

The overarching objective of the KPSRL is to contribute to improving policy making and program implementation in the field of Security and Rule of Law. Knowledge generation and knowledge brokering are at the heart of the KPSRL Secretariat’s work to attain this objective. By investing in research into and debate and engagement about new and emerging insights and issues, lessons learned, and best practices, the aim is to foster the uptake of knowledge in the work of policy makers and practitioner organizations, which in turn is expected to enhance its quality and impact.

The Secretariat has gathered significant experience in brokering and fostering the generation of knowledge in the past years. Reflecting on this work and in seeking to continuously improve it, however, a series of conceptual and practical questions regarding the uptake of knowledge in the security and rule of law field has been identified, which the Secretariat would like to explore further with intensive participation of network stakeholders.

With this aim in mind, the KPSRL has initiated since July 2018, the learning and knowledge uptake in practice workshop series.

The workshop series aims to unpack learning and knowledge uptake practices as well as dynamics of KPSRL’s community members, and to develop strategic approaches for:

• a better use of knowledge and research produced within the community
• the development of a common understanding of pathways to using that knowledge and
  research for policy and program improvement

Outcomes of the series will feed into a scoping study in progress, which builds on initial activities conducted by the Secretariat to better understand the organizational and network learning dynamics of KPSRL members and ways for the KPSRL to foster these. A first scoping study has been carried out in 2017 and it provided the basis for the development of KPSRL Theory of Change. The results of this second study are meant to enable the Secretariat to improve its Theory of Change and thus to enhance the KPSRL’s ability to achieve its overarching objective.

At the same time, the exercise will allow KSPRL’s secretariat to take stock of the extent to which knowledge is currently being incorporated in practice and policy-making within the network and to assess how it could play a better role in supporting these processes.

Two workshops during which, researchers and practitioners unpacked the fundamental concepts related to learning as well as evidence-based policy making, and scrutinized their own (formal and informal) organizational learning approaches and dynamics, were held in July and September 2018.

The KPSRL is pleased to invite you to the 3rd workshop of the series which will take place on the 11th   of December 2018 at Zeestraat 100 (2nd Floor),The Hague.

More information on the thematic scope of this 3rd workshop can be found above, along with other practical details.

Participation: Registration is required.

To register or for any enquiries, please contact Messina Laurette MANIRAKIZA at [email protected].

Regular updates on the workshop series programme will be found on the KPSRL’s website. We warmly invite practitioners, researchers as well as policymakers from security and rule of law field to join us in discussing why "uptake" matters and how to foster it.

• a better use of knowledge and research produced within the community
• the development of a common understanding of pathways to using that knowledge and research for policy and program improvement
• How is information generated(at various levels of the organization)?
• Is that information distilled and transformed into knowledge? If yes, how?
• Is that available knowledge used to develop procedures, policies, and particular approaches to work? If yes how?
• Is that knowledge generation a conscious or unconscious exercise? Or both?
• Are the necessary conditions, systems, processes and incentives in place to ensure the uptake of knowledge?(internal as well as external uptake)

What is it all about?

The Knowledge Platform Security & Rule of Law, the Dutch Ministry of Foreign Affairs’ Department for Stabilization and Humanitarian Aid and The Pathfinders’ Task Force on Justice will convene a public consultation for justice experts from civil society and justice institutions to provide input into the Task Force report, which will be reviewed at The Hague Justice Task Force Conference in February 2019. The consultation will also provide a networking opportunity for justice and rule of law experts, generate interest for the findings and recommendations of the Task Force report, and build momentum towards the February conference.

The consultation, titled The Big Think on Justice, will be held on 15 November in The Hague. 

The day will start with an opening plenary on ‘Making the Case’ for Justice, led by the Pathfinders team, after which the invitees will break out into four thematic working groups, each led by designated partners. In order to solicit input from civil society experts and practitioners that can best be taken up into the Task Force report, break out discussions will be organized around the themes under the ‘What Works’ focus of the Task Force.

• Innovating and Investing in Justice (HiiL)
• Justice for Women (UN Women, IDLO)
• Transitional Justice (ICTJ)
• Justice as Prevention (OHCHR, to be confirmed)

Each participant will be able to join the discussions on two of these four themes, according to their own expertise and preference. For each working group, 2-3 group leaders will be responsible for organizing and moderating the break-out sessions. These leaders will be the authors of the thematic reports, representatives of the organisations leading the working group and high-level thematic experts. The participants will rotate once to a second thematic discussion, while the group leaders will stay with their respective thematic groups.

Registration Process

Due to the very limited number of spaces available for this conference, registration will take place on the basis of selection. Using the form below (click the registration button), applicants can apply for a spot at the Conference. The organizers will collect and review all registrations, and inform those attendees selected to participate by 5 November.

Registration for this event has now closed.

On the 27th of September 2018, the Knowledge Platform Security and Rule of Law will host a workshop on the theme Learning and Knowledge Uptake in Practice: Assumptions, Approaches and Dynamics.

Scope

Knowledge uptake does not happen on ad hoc basis or in an isolated manner. It is part of a genuine learning culture where stakeholders are encouraged to engage on underlying dynamics of learning processes and related application. When organizations reflect regularly on their own learning practices, they are strengthening their own capacity to learn and challenge the status quo. Organizational actors become aware of, and can describe their thinking in a way that allows them to close the gap between what they know and what they need to learn.

It is therefore crucial to question on a regular basis organizational trends likely to positively or negatively influence organizational learning and knowledge uptake. This happens through a thorough scrutiny of both formal learning approaches and processes used within organizations as well as related unconscious dynamics.

Key Questions

Through this workshop, participants are challenged to reflect on their own learning practices and dynamics (both formal and informal ones), and on how their organizations include experience and knowledge generated (theirs and the ones of their field partners) in their institutional structures through policies, procedures and operational systems.

Reflection is made through the following questions:

• How is information generated(at various levels of the organization)?
• Is that information distilled and transformed into knowledge? If yes, how?
• Is that available knowledge used to develop procedures, policies, and particular approaches to work? If yes how?
• Is that knowledge generation a conscious or unconscious exercise? Or both?
• Are the necessary conditions, systems, processes and incentives in place to ensure the uptake of knowledge?(internal as well as external uptake)

Background

The overarching objective of the KPSRL is to contribute to improving policy making and program implementation in the field of Security and Rule of Law. Knowledge generation and knowledge brokering are at the heart of the KPSRL Secretariat’s work to attain this objective. By investing in research into and debate and engagement about new and emerging insights and issues, lessons learned, and best practices, the aim is to foster the uptake of knowledge in the work of policy makers and practitioner organizations, which in turn is expected to enhance its quality and impact.

The Secretariat has gathered significant experience in brokering and fostering the generation of knowledge in the past years. Reflecting on this work and in seeking to continuously improve it, however, a series of conceptual and practical questions regarding the uptake of knowledge in the security and rule of law field has been identified, which the Secretariat would like to explore further with intensive participation of network stakeholders.

With this aim in mind, the KPSRL has initiated since July 2018, the Learning and Knowledge Uptake in Practice workshop series.

The workshop series aims to unpack learning and knowledge uptake practices as well as dynamics of KPSRL’s community members, and to develop strategic approaches for:

• a better use of knowledge and research produced within the community
• the development of a common understanding of pathways to using that knowledge and research for policy and program improvement

A first workshop during which, researchers and practitioners unpacked the fundamental concepts related to learning and evidence-based policy making, and reflected on their own experiences and the relevance of their standards and traditional reference frameworks on knowledge, learning and policy making, was held on the 30th of July 2018.

The KPSRL is pleased to invite you to the 2nd workshop of the series which will take place on the 27th of September 2018 at Zeestraat 100 (2nd Floor), The Hague.

More information on the thematic scope of this 2nd workshop can be found above, along with other practical details. Participation: Registration is required.

To register or for any enquiries, please contact Messina Laurette MANIRAKIZA at [email protected].

Regular updates on the workshop series programme will be found on the KPSRL’s website. We warmly invite practitioners, researchers as well as policymakers from security and rule of law field to join us in discussing why "uptake" matters and how to foster it.

• How is information generated(at various levels of the organization)?
• Is that information distilled and transformed into knowledge? If yes, how?
• Is that available knowledge used to develop procedures, policies, and particular approaches to work? If yes how?
• Is that knowledge generation a conscious or unconscious exercise? Or both?
• Are the necessary conditions, systems, processes and incentives in place to ensure the uptake of knowledge?(internal as well as external uptake)

The Annual Conference brings together the brightest minds in the security and rule of law community and beyond to critically engage with the most pressing questions in the field. Through interactive exchanges in workshops, debates and discussions, the Platform aims to extract lessons and best practices that will help to shape security and rule of law policy.

The content of the Annual Conference is split between sessions conceived and organized by the Secretariat and sessions submitted by members of the Platform network.

In 2017, more than 200 people from 20 countries attended the Annual Conference, ranging from academics to policy makers, and from artists to entrepreneurs. The Annual Conference is a platform for you to open yourself to new ideas, connect with peers from across the globe, and help to build a cutting-edge body of knowledge in our field.

Program

Find the program for the Annual Conference here.

Timetable

Find the Timetable of sessions at the Annual Conference here.

Practical information

The Annual Conference will be held at the Bazaar of Ideas (Hoefkade 9, The Hague) on 13 September. The Conference is a full-day event.

Register for the Annual Conference here.

Inequality

Often when we discuss violence and injustice, we find - at its core - it is a story about inequality: unequal protection, unequal access, unequal treatment, unequal opportunity. Inequality in the security sector drives some into violence and others into vulnerability. Inequality in the justice sector undermines the rule of law and dissolves public trust in institutions. Inequality and exclusion in the political sphere has, time and again, left states unprepared to meet the needs and aspirations of all their citizens and leaves them without a say in their future. These imbalances, if left unattended, can tip communities, states and entire regions into long-lasting conflict and fragility. And while inequality is certainly not the only driver of violent conflict, reducing inequality is an essential part of sustainable peace.

This year’s Annual Conference will focus on these many faces and facets of inequality. Discussions around ‘inequality’ often focus on economic inequality, which is only one side of the issue. By shedding light on the broader spectrum of inequality and injustice, we hope to deepen the discussion around, and the commitment to, addressing inequality as a central tenet of strengthening security and rule of law in fragile and conflict affected settings.

Workshop Series

Between July and September 2018, the KPSRL will organize three workshops on institutional dynamics and the creation of an organizational learning culture for a constant knowledge inquiry, sharing and absorption. Practitioners, researchers and policy makers will reflect on the application of new information to adjust ideas, strategies, operating assumptions and/or activities in SRoL policy and programming.

The workshop series aims to unpack learning and knowledge uptake practices as well as dynamics of KPSRL’s community members and to develop strategic approaches for:

• a better use of knowledge and research produced within the community
• the development of a common understanding of pathways to using that knowledge and research for policy and program improvement

The three workshops are scheduled as follows:

1. Understanding and linking knowledge, learning and policymaking in relation to security and rule of law - July 2018
2. Learning and knowledge uptake in practice: Assumptions, Approaches and Dynamics - August 2018
3. Strengthening knowledge absorption: pathways and obstacles identified - September 2018

Read more about the series, the questions and more in the announcement here.