Individual and collective narratives play an important role in dissipating conflict. Narratives can also help with processing painful memories and overcoming the past. However, the inverse is also true: narratives can fuel conflict, keep painful wounds alive, and entrench divides. This session will present real-life examples from the Middle East of when and how individuals have transformed an environment of violence, conflict, tension and division to a situation of understanding, bridge-building and peace. Panelists will represent diverse backgrounds and fields of expertise, and will come from Syria, Yemen, Iraq and Lebanon.

Date and Time: Thursday, January 27, 2022 | 14:00 Beirut Time | 07:00 ET

Registration: https://bit.ly/MiddleEastRegionalMEL

The panel session will bring together practitioners from the field to present their experiences about the role of learning from research for development programming. We will discuss what amount of data is enough, which qualitative and quantitative tools are the most efficient, how to capture plausible contributions with SCORE, how to do research in hard-to-reach areas, and what are the best practices of applying listening platforms. Speakers will share their expertise and generate new insights about the utility of using research to inform evidence-based programming in complex environments such as Eastern Europe and Caucasus.

Date and Time: Thursday, January 27, 2022 | 13:00 Kiev Time | 06:00 ET

Registration: https://bit.ly/EasternEuropeRegionalMEL

The role of Special Envoys has often been very critical to peace processes. However, in recent years in closing civic spaces, their work has faced resistance from the authorities. Sovereignty is used as a deterring tool to intimidate the international actors that want to come in to mediate. In this session a panel of experts will discuss how in closing civic spaces in the absence of international actors religious leaders can fill the role traditionally reserved for diplomatic missions and Special Envoys.

Date and Time: Thursday, January 27, 2022| 13:00 Bujumbura Time | 06:00 ET

Registration: https://bit.ly/EastAfricaRegionalMEL

This workshop will organize around one overarching question: How might we better harness the influence of religious actors and safeguard their work to achieve broader peacebuilding and human rights objectives? We will explore two specific aspects of this issue through the stories of peacebuilding practitioners, and then ask participants to dialogue around their own experiences and brainstorm solutions.

Date and Time: Thursday, January 27, 2022| 16:30 Bangkok Time | 04:30 ET

Registration: https://bit.ly/ThailandRegionalMEL