John Prendergast at the Concordia Summit

Enough Project Founding Director John Prendergast will be speaking at the 2017 Concordia Annual Summit in New York City.

Session Description: The transition from a focus on the delivery of foreign aid to investment in economic growth is one that is critical for any country’s post-conflict, long-term development. While each country has its own unique dynamics that impact reconstruction and reintegration, history indicates a virtuous cycle between the prospect of peace and economic incentives for investment. From employment to education and from healthcare to social cohesion, strategic investments can transform an economy so that it can better provide for the needs of its citizens. Examining the lessons learned from Northern Ireland after the end of the Troubles, and following the discussions held at the Concordia Americas Summit in Bogota on the Colombian peace process and at Global Partnerships Week in Washington, D.C. on the peace process in Cyprus, this session will seek to examine the role of strategic investment in post-conflict settings.

Participants in this session will discuss questions such as: Has history proven a virtuous cycle between peace and investment in post-conflict settings? What lessons can be extrapolated from the peace process in Northern Ireland to countries such as Colombia and Cyprus? Is there a pattern or sequence of investment that has been particularly successful in the past? How do investors inject funds on a macro level so that there is leverage in ensuring stability? What steps must the public sector take to create a more investment-friendly climate? What political, social, and economic factors does the private sector take into consideration when making investment decisions? Is there a way to guarantee a successful model of development? How can investment in post-conflict countries contribute to the achievement of the SDGs?

Time: 1:40-3:40 PM

Location: Grand Hyatt, Strategic Dialogue North