Tuesday, July 10th
9:30 - 11:30 a.m.
Kenney Auditorium
Johns Hopkins SAIS
1740 Massachusetts Ave., NW
Washington D.C.

Too often, elections in Africa are triggers of violent conflict, particularly in post-conflict societies where the core causes of conflict have not been resolved and key stakeholders have not reached a cooperative accommodation with each other.  This knowledgeable panel of elections management and observation practitioners will look at the process and sequencing of elections in Africa, the impact they have, and how the international community can assist in assuring sustainable results from them.

Speakers:

• Laura Grace, program manager on the election and political processes team, National Democratic Institute;

• Steve McDonald, consulting director of the Africa Program and Project on Leadership and Building State Capacity, the Woodrow Wilson International Center for Scholars;

• Tess McEnery, democracy specialist, elections and political transitions team, USAID;
• Gregory Simpkins, professional staff member for the U.S. House Subcommittee on Africa, Global Health and Human Rights; and
• Frances Fortune (moderator), director, Africa Program, Search For Common Ground