BEGIN:VCALENDAR
VERSION:2.0
PRODID:-//Talks.cam//talks.cam.ac.uk//
X-WR-CALNAME:Talks.cam
BEGIN:VEVENT
SUMMARY:CGHR Practitioner Series: Working in Human Rights\, Peacebuilding\
 , Humanitarian Aid and Development - Dr Imogen Parsons\, Lead Humanitarian
  Advisor at DFID
DTSTART:20140305T173000Z
DTEND:20140305T184500Z
UID:TALK49108@talks.cam.ac.uk
CONTACT:Gabriela Martinez
DESCRIPTION:The Centre of Governance and Human Rights (CGHR) has launched 
 a practitioner seminar series\, partnering with expert speakers from key o
 rganisations to delve into the gritty realities of what working in fields 
 like human rights and international development really involves.\n\nDr Imo
 gen Parsons heads the Africa Humanitarian Unit in DFID\, where she oversee
 s DFID's programmes in the Sahel and Central African Republic as well as w
 orking with DFID offices across the continent to ensure early warning and 
 response to the crises as they emerge. She previously worked in the Stabil
 isation Unit's Lessons and Civilian Capacity teams\, and spent two years l
 eading emergency responses for Save the Children. She holds a PhD in inter
 national relations from LSE\, and a Masters in Development Studies. Countr
 ies she has worked in and on include Mali\, the Central African Republic\,
  South Sudan\, DRC\, Libya\, Afghanistan and Angola.\n\nAbout the Lent 201
 4 series:\n\nThe sphere of work known variously as the ‘Third Sector’\
 , ‘Development and Humanitarian Aid’ or simply – doing good in tough
  places – is notoriously impenetrable\, and frustratingly difficult to n
 avigate for the uninitiated. For somebody hoping to pursue a career within
  this field\, the range of agencies and institutions\, initiatives and cen
 tres is at the very least bewildering. Most areas intersect\, and organisa
 tions work with an array of crosscutting issues and contexts. Yet what at 
 first glance can appear to be a morass of very similar organisations doing
  generally related things\, is in fact often sharply delineated\, with dif
 ferent sectors requiring surprisingly different competencies and operating
  under quite specific mandates. Working as an international human rights a
 dvocate would demand a different skill set and working environment from a 
 project officer of a first phase emergency response – and both would hav
 e different routes to entry. Furthermore\, a Master’s degree isn’t alw
 ays the best option. Cambridge University educates and trains many of the 
 best young minds in the country and provides a critical insight into the i
 ssues surrounding international politics\, security\, development and huma
 nitarianism. But with little clarity around what is involved in working in
  this sector\, attempting to translate this theoretical knowledge into a m
 eaningful start to a career can be a minefield. \n\nWith this in mind\, th
 e CGHR series will allow students to listen and speak to a selection of hi
 gh-level experts working in these fields\, and address key issues and ques
 tions. There will be four seminars throughout Lent 2014\, designed to equi
 p students with an in-depth and critical look at what each area involves\;
  the type of work carried out\, contingent challenges and essential compet
 encies. The first hour will introduce the speaker\, chaired by a discussan
 t from CGHR \, and will open up to the audience in the second portion of t
 he evening to provide the opportunity for students to engage with the topi
 cs discussed. The event will be followed by a drinks reception.
LOCATION:ARC Cafe\, Ground Floor\, Alison Richard Building\, Sidgwick Site
 \, 7 West Rd\, CB3 9DT
END:VEVENT
END:VCALENDAR