Annual NGO Security Conference: Brutal impact on NGO’s? Extremist groups explained

On October 11 2016 the Centre for Safety and Development will host the annual NGO Security Conference.

The following speakers will provide more insight into extremist groups and the threat to NGO’s:

Islamic State – Wietse van de Berge

Wietse van den Berge works as a researcher for the Institute of Security and Global Affairs of Leiden University and a research fellow at the International Centre for Counter-Terrorism – The Hague (ICCT) His focus is on politically motivated violence in contemporary Middle Eastern conflicts. Previously Wietse was an officer in the Royal Dutch Air Force. In this position he serve d as an observer for the United Nations in the Middle East.
On the NGO Security Conference Wietse van den Berge will give insight into IS, the threat to NGO’s in the region and talk about possible future scenarios in relation to IS.

Boko Haram – Manon Stravens

Manon Stravens is a journalist and author. She wrote the book ‘De opstand van Boko Haram’. Previously Manon worked as a Program Officer for ICCO, where she was mainly stationed in Mali. While working in Mali she wrote columns about living and working in the country. These columns are bundled into the book ‘Bamako Bonjour!’.
At the NGO Security Conference Manon will talk about Boko Haram, the threat to NGO’s in the region and developments with regard to Boko Haram.

Taliban – Martine van Bijlert

Martine van Bijlert is co-director and co-founder of the Afghanistan Analysts Network, an independent non-profit research organization. After growing up in pre-revolutionary Iran she spent over half of her adult life working and living in Afghanistan, Iran and Pakistan.
Martine worked as Community Development Officer for MEDAIR in Grozny (1995) and Kabul (1997-1998); as an Asylum Officer for the Immigration and Nationalisation Service in the Netherlands (1996-1997 and 1999-2000); as Political Secretary for the Netherlands Embassy in Tehran (2001-2004); as Political Adviser to the EU Special Representative for Afghanistan in Kabul (2004-2008); and since 2008 as an independent analyst in and on Afghanistan.
Martine has published widely, travelled extensively throughout Afghanistan, and is fluent in Dari. At the conference she will provide more insight into the Taliban and the threat to NGO’s.

Mali – Kris Carlier

Kris holds a Master in African History and Languages from the University of Gent and has extensive experience working in several African countries. Currently Kris works for the Centre for Safety and Development as a trainer and expert on African countries. Kris worked previously for MSF, Handicap International and the Belgian Development Agency. He has proficiency in eight languages and has extensive knowledge on several African countries. One of his countries of expertise is Mali. At the NGO Security Conference Kris will provide insight into the different groups that are active in Mali and the threat to NGO’s working in Mali.