International Development Committee

ACR’s International Section established the International Development Committee (IDC) during ACR’s Fifth Annual Conference (2005) in Minneapolis. The IDC focuses on meeting the needs and interests of conflict resolution practitioners working in the international development field.

Goals of IDC include:

Promoting the exchange of information and ideas regarding conflict resolution in international development, including models, standards and approaches from around the world.

Identifying conflict resolution practitioners who stand out as leaders in the international development field and recognizing their contributions on the International Section’s website and at ACR conferences.

Informing Section members about requests for consultants for specific international development projects through email alerts and other printed announcements.

Facilitating the matching of practitioners with mentors in the field.

Expanding ACR and Section membership to include members from around the world working in the international development field and increasing access to membership and events for practitioners working for nonprofit organizations in other countries.

IDC’s Current Initiatives

IDC Communiqué. The IDC Communiqué had been IDC’s quarterly eNewsletter, but it is now part of the International Section newsletter. The purpose of the IDC Communiqué will continue to be to support committee goals by enhancing communication among IDC members and facilitating the exchange of information and ideas about conflict resolution in an international development context. If you would like to contribute to the IDC Communiqué, please contact Jennifer Brower, jbrower424@gmail.com.

Networking Directory. IDC is preparing the first edition of the IDC Networking Directory. IDC members who have joined ACR will automatically receive copies of the completed directory. The IDC Networking Directory will also be available to other ACR members via the ACR website. Don’t miss the chance to be included in this valuable listing of international conflict resolution practitioners and international development organizations engaged in conflict resolution activities. For more information, please contact Jennifer Brower, jbrower424@gmail.com.

Email Alerts. Periodically IDC receives requests from its members to distribute time sensitive announcements about jobs or consulting assignments that may be of interest to conflict resolution practitioners in the international development field. IDC distributes these announcements via email alerts. If you would like submit an announcement for distribution to IDC members, please contact Kathleen Coogan, kathleencoogan@gmail.com.

Outstanding Leadership Award. IDC has created an annual award to honor exceptional work promoting conflict resolution in development projects around the world. The award aims to celebrate leadership in the field and to draw attention to the importance of conflict resolution skills in creating stronger democracies and economies. Partners for Democratic Change received last year’s award for their work building sustainable local capacity to advance civil society and a culture of change and conflict management worldwide. Please contact David Plumb, dplumb@cbuilding.org, or Merrick Hoben, mhoben@cbuilding.org, for further details or to nominate a recipient.

Mentoring Initiative.  IDC has established a Mentoring Subcommittee to develop the IDC Mentoring Initiative, which will provide conflict resolution practitioners interested in international development the opportunity to network, build relationships, and share information with one another.  The project intends to offer guidance to practitioners interested in the international development field.  The IDC Mentoring Subcommittee is currently developing a pilot program for this initiative.  Practitioner leaders in the international development field have volunteered and will be working one-on-one as mentors with selected mentees.  This is an extraordinary opportunity that will enrich the international conflict resolution field as well as those participating in the project. The IDC Mentoring Initiative will be launched and open to ACR members after the 2008 ACR annual conference.  Anyone interested in learning more about this new initiative is invited to contact any of the members of the IDC Mentoring Subcommittee, Teri H. Sklar, terisklar@sbcglobal.net,  Bryan Hanson, bryanhanson@creighton.edu, Joao Salm, joaosalm@asu.edu, and Luis E. Ore, luis.ore@orasicg.com.

IDC’s Chair is a member of the International Section’s Advisory Council and IDC works in close collaboration with other Section leaders. In addition to the initiatives mentioned above, IDC has been called upon to advise the International Section Chair on issues such as expanding ACR membership internationally and participating in international development projects.

IDC Leadership

Chair: Jennifer Brower, jbrower424@gmail.com

Outgoing Chair: Kathleen Coogan, kathleencoogan@gmail.com

Leadership Co-Chairs: Merrick Hoben, mhoben@cbuilding.org, and David Plumb, dplumb@cbuilding.org

Get Involved

If you would like to join the International Development Committee or become more involved in its initiatives, please contact Jennifer Brower at jbrower424@gmail.com.