Presented by the Centre for International Policy Studies (CIPS) and the Fragile States Research Network (FSRN)

The event will give the audience a glimpse into the lives of ordinary Afghans who have been historically ignored, brutalized, and repeatedly abandoned over decades.

Panelists:

Najim Dost has over a decade of experience in the area of international development in Afghanistan, Pakistan, India, the United States, and Canada. He is currently working for Canada’s Department of National Defence while also a Research Associate with the University of Ottawa’s Centre for International Policy Studies (CIPS). He has a PhD in International Studies from the University of Denver and an MPA in International Development from Harvard University. He can be reached at [email protected]

Mariam Atahi is a children’s and women’s rights activist. A former journalist, she was forced to flee the country in August 2021. She has a BA in Political Science and International Relations from Kabul University and an MA in Peace and Reconciliation from the University of Winchester, UK. She can be reached at [email protected].

Moderator:

Dr. Nipa Banerjee, currently a Professional in Residence and Principal Researcher at the University of Ottawa. Dr. Banerjee served as a Senior Policy Analyst/Economist in international development and foreign aid for over 30 years with the government of Canada, and represented the Canadian government as a diplomat in Bangladesh, Indonesia, India/Nepal, Thailand, Cambodia, Laos, and Afghanistan, heading Canada’s aid program in the four latter countries.