Trade for Peace

Digital Trade for Youth Inclusion and Peace in Africa

For the 4^th episode of the T4P Podcast Youth Series: "Digital Trade for Youth Inclusion and Peace in Africa", Mr. Mustapha Sadni Jallab, Chief of the Knowledge Management Section of the Knowledge and Information Management Division of the WTO, leads an insightful conversation with Ms. Frances Uhomoibhi, Nigeria's former Lead Services Trade Negotiator for the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) who is currently a Young Professional at the WTO.

Frances discusses the potential that trade and youth inclusion have in paving the way for a more peaceful, inclusive, and greener Africa. By recounting her experiences as a trade negotiator, Frances explains her vision for the AfCFTA, with a focus on digital and services trade, and its importance in addressing many of the challenges faced across the continent, particularly for youth, women and the environment.

Guest:

• Frances Uhomoibhi, Young Professional, Council and Trade Negotiations Committee Division, WTO

Host:

• Mustapha Sadni Jallab, Chief of Knowledge Management Section, Knowledge and Information Management, Academic Outreach and WTO Chairs Programme, WTO

When Trade and Peace Young Leaders Meet

On campus, people from the economics/trade and peace/security disciplines do not mix naturally. This trend continues as they start their careers in their respective fields. One of the goals of the Trade for Peace (T4P) Programme is to break down the silos between the disciplines by bringing them into a conversation.

In this 3^rd episode of the youth series: "When Trade and Peace Young Leaders Meet", Ms. Tamara Persaud from the WTO and Ms. Medea Segantini from the Peacebuilding Initiative at the Geneva Graduate Institute come together to discuss the challenges and opportunities in building bridges between the trade and peace communities. By sharing their experiences, they highlight the importance of fostering dialogue between different disciplines, and also the crucial role that youth can play in using trade integration to achieve sustainable peace.

Join our Trade for Peace Future Leaders, Tamara and Medea, as they discuss how youth from different disciplines can work hand in hand to build economic growth, enhance food security and achieve inclusive sustainable peace.

 

Guests:

• Tamara Persaud, Young Professional, Agriculture and Commodities Division, WTO
• Medea Vanessa Segantini, Head of Events, Peacebuilding Initiative, The Graduate Institute Geneva

Hosts:

• Nour Kabbara, Co-focal Point, Trade for Peace Programme, WTO
• Souksana Sisomphone, Co-focal Point, Trade for Peace Programme, WTO

Goodbye Conflict, Welcome Development: A Conversation with the g7+

Episode 11 – Season 2 of the Trade for Peace podcast Goodbye Conflict, Welcome Development: A Conversation with the g7+ is now available! Join General Secretary Dr. Helder da Costa and Deputy General Secretary Habib Mayar of the g7+ Secretariat to understand the challenges faced by the 20 fragile and conflict-affected states (FCS) which make up the g7+ association, a platform to promote peace and stability through advocacy on aid effectiveness and peer learning on good development practices.

Established in 2010, the g7+ provides a platform to conflict-affected countries to collectively voice the need for national dialogue and reconciliation to address conflicts.

In this episode, Helder and Habib shed light on the impediments to development caused by fragility and conflict, by sharing their personal experiences in Timor-Leste, Afghanistan and other FCS in the g7+. They present the activities and achievements of the g7+, in terms of peacebuilding and recovery from fragility, as well as how their work relates in the context of trade and integration to the multilateral trading system. They highlight how WTO accession and membership can contribute to building pathways towards development to secure self-reliance and lasting peace.

 

Guests:

• Helder da Costa, General Secretary of the g7+ Secretariat.
• Habib Mayar, Deputy General Secretary of the g7+ Secretariat.

Host:

• Axel M. Addy, former Minister of Commerce and Industry and Chief Negotiator of Liberia's accession to the WTO.

A Trade for Peace Approach for African Stability

Tune in today for a special Trade for Peace podcast episode, A TRADE FOR PEACE APPROACH FOR AFRICAN STABILITY, released just in time for the US-Africa Leaders' Summit, taking place in Washington DC this week! Don't miss this enthralling and timely discussion on fragility in Africa!

Please join Dr. Joseph Sany, Vice President of the African Centre of the United States Institute for Peace (USIP), an independent institute founded by the US Congress dedicated to the proposition that a world without violent conflict is possible, practical and essential for U.S. and global security.

In this episode, Dr. Sany shares his personal and professional experiences in working in fragile and conflict affected states (FCS). He talks about the challenges and drivers of instability and conflict in Africa and how this affects people's daily life. He also explains the United States Strategy to Prevent Conflict and Promote Stability as well as the Global Fragility Act and its role in building sustainable peace by including all stakeholders in the process of resolving conflicts. In particular, Dr. Sany emphasizes the importance of local ownership in addressing fragility. He ends the conversation by sharing his views on the role of the international trading system in fostering and sustaining peace and stability in African countries, particularly those currently acceding to the WTO.

 

Guest:

• Joseph Sany, Vice President of the Africa Center, United States Institute for Peace (USIP)

Host:

• Axel M. Addy, former Minister of Commerce and Industry and Chief Negotiator of Liberia's accession to the WTO.

Lessons from History: Trade and War in the Second Millennium

In his book "Power and Plenty", Kevin O'Rourke explains how war and conflicts affect the world's economy and trade prosperity. By highlighting insights from his research and using several economic crises as examples, he shares lessons learned from economic history to better understand the relationship between globalization, trade and war. He also shares his thoughts on the economic challenges the world is facing today and what an entity regulating world trade – the WTO – can do to address them. The discussion also brings him to answer a very important question: "Is the world as bad as it looks, or has humanity survived worse?" Tune in to find out more!

 

Guest:

• Kevin O'Rourke, Professor of Economics, NYU Abu Dhabi

Host:

• Axel M. Addy, former Minister of Commerce and Industry and Chief Negotiator of Liberia's accession to the WTO.

Women in Policymaking: a Story from South Sudan

South Sudan is not only the youngest country in the world, but it is also home to a large youth population: more than 70% of South Sudanese are under the age of 30! It also has one of the highest rates of sexual and gender-based violence in the world according to the World Bank.  

Today, South Sudanese women are often excluded from taking part in policy-making and decision-making processes. Yet, many of them have become strong advocates for building a more peaceful and inclusive society by demanding their meaningful participation at all levels of decision making. In fact, women are key drivers, not only in promoting socio-economic development, but also in addressing conflict resolution in South Sudan.

As a passionate advocate for women and youth participation in political processes in Africa, Honorable Yar Telar Deng, one of the youngest members of Parliament in South Sudan, helps uncover how trade and trade policy can contribute to the economic and political empowerment of women.

 

Guest:

• Honorable Yar Telar Deng, Member of Parliament, South Sudan.

Host:

• Axel M. Addy, former Minister of Commerce and Industry and Chief Negotiator of Liberia's accession to the WTO.

Future Leaders

Tune in today for the first episode of the Trade for Peace Podcast Youth series! This series has been launched as part of Trade for Peace: Future Leaders, a platform dedicated to increasing youth engagement on the topics of trade and peace by raising awareness about youth involvement in conflict and the essential role they can play in building peace through trade.

But why are we focusing on youth? We now have the largest youth population in human history, with a third living in fragile and conflict affect states (FCS). Youth are often most affected by conflict but also most marginalized during post-conflict reconstruction. There is much to be done across the board to address youth exclusion, especially in the fields of trade and peace.  

Join Anais, Suraya and Nour from the WTO Trade for Peace team as they discuss how fragility and conflict generate particular challenges for both states and youth, and brainstorm what Future Leaders can do about them.

 

Guests:

• Anais Wardak, Focal Point for the Political Engagement & Partnerships and the Outreach & Public Dialogue Pillars, Trade for Peace Programme, WTO
• Suraya Ahmadi, Co-focal Point, Trade for Peace Programme, WTO
• Nour Kabbara, Co-focal point, Trade for Peace Programme, WTO

Hosts:

• Alexandre Marchand, Focal Point for the Research Pillar of the Trade for Peace Programme, WTO
• Amanda Miashiro, Focal Point for the Training and Capacity-Building Pillar of the Trade for Peace Programme, WTO

Building a Legacy: Women’s Empowerment in South Sudan

Women and children in South Sudan, which became the youngest nation in 2011, face numerous challenges, such as widespread gender-based violence, economic hardships and social inequalities. By sharing her personal experience as a victim of gender-based violence and as a woman who was denied access to education, Rose highlights her path to establish the Legacy for African Women and Children Initiative (LAWANCI). Through this initiative, Rose's work focuses on empowering women in fragile and conflict situation, hoping to change the narrative in South Sudan!

 

Guest:

• Rose Acindhel Kacthiek, Founder and Executive Director, Legacy for African Women and Children Initiative, South Sudan

Host:

• Axel M. Addy, former Minister of Commerce and Industry and Chief Negotiator of Liberia's accession to the WTO.

 

Women-Owned Business - A Story From Somalia

Episode 8 – Season 2 of the Trade for Peace podcast Women-Owned Business: A Story From Somalia is now available! Join us in uncovering the experiences of a mother-daughter owned business in a fragile and conflict‑affected country. They highlight their daily business operations in Somalia and the challenges they face as women in such an environment.

Promoting women-owned businesses and trade for peace in Somalia, Hanan Warsame and her mother, Istarlin Ali Mohamed, share their experience as women entrepreneurs in an area where conflict is prevalent. The two businesswomen discuss operations and supply chain challenges, particularly regarding access to products, and the solutions they've found. Despite this, they provide high-quality service to local and international clients daily. By highlighting the positive impact of their business on security and peace in Mogadishu, and by addressing the prospects of women in business in Somalia, they hope to encourage other Somalis in the diaspora to contribute to rebuilding the country.

Guests:

• Hanan Warsame, CEO of Star Empire Group, Somalia
• Istarlin Ali Mohamed, Founder of Star Empire Group, Somalia

Host:

• Axel M. Addy, former Minister of Commerce and Industry and Chief Negotiator of Liberia's accession to the WTO.

Make Trade Not War

Unravelling the relationship between trade and peace is not nearly as simple as it may seem: since trade can affect conflict and vice versa, how can the effect of trade on the probability of the onset of conflict be accurately estimated? And once accurately estimated, what has actually been the effect of trade on conflict? How can this inform our current reality?

Discussing this, and more, are the three distinguished authors of "Make Trade not War?": Mr. Philippe Martin, Professor of Economics at Sciences Po Paris and Chair of the French Council of Economic Analysis, Mr. Thierry Mayer, Professor of Economics at Sciences Po Paris, and Mr. Mathias Thoenig, Professor of Economics at HEC Lausanne.

Guests:

• Philippe Martin, Professor of Economics, Sciences Po Paris, and Chair, French Council of Economic Analysis
• Thierry Mayer, Professor of Economics, Sciences Po Paris
• Mathias Thoenig, Professor of Economics, HEC Lausanne

Host:

• Axel M. Addy, former Minister of Commerce and Industry and Chief Negotiator of Liberia's accession to the WTO.