How to alter conflict dynamics through the economic dimension: the cases of Yemen and Afghanistan

Session Description: The panel will present the UN’s experience in Yemen, where the office of the UNSRSG is using economic mechanisms to rebalance political dynamics, i.e. by shifting the economic centre of Yemen to the south. Drawing on the pros and cons of those efforts, the panel will analyse the potential for leveraging economic drivers towards a principled engagement with the Afghan Taliban.

Moderator: Moderator: Eamon Gilmore, Senior Advisor European institute of Peace

Panellists :

  • Dr. Dirk-Jan Omtzigt, Special Economic Advisor, The Office of the UN Special Envoy of the Secretary-General for Yemen

  • Ala Qaseem, member of the Economic Team advising the Presidential Leadership Council and senior cabinet members in the Republic of Yemen (online)

  • Samira Sayed Rahman, Senior Advocacy and Policy Advisor, Save the Children

  • Amin Karim, Senior Political Board Member of Afghanistan's Hezb-e Islami Party (online)