Pardee Director Speaks at Eschborn Dialogue

Pardee Center Director, Prof. Adil Najam, was one of the featured speakers at the 2009 Escborn Dialogue
organized by German development Agency GTZ on the theme “Developing Security – Securing Development.”

Each year, the Eschborn Dialogue held at GTZ Head Office explores a hot topic of international cooperation. Four hundred experts from the realms of politics, industry and civil society meet GTZ staff in discussion panels and workshops to share their knowledge and experience. Since 1998, the Eschborn Dialogue has been a highlight in the GTZ calendar. The two-day event is hallmarked by a clear thematic concept, the presence of high-ranking guests, and original event formats.

The chosen theme for the 2009 Eschborn Dialoge was “No security without development, no development without security.” Security is a crucial prerequisite for development and poverty reduction. Today, lack of security is a major obstacle to development in many regions around the world. Economic, religious and ethnic conflicts, financial and governmental crises and unrest caused by rising food and energy prices are reported in the media every day. More often than not, they affect developing countries.

Prof. Adil Najam’s presentation to the dialogue focussed on the links between development, security and climate change – particularly on developing countries. Others who spoke with Prof. Najam on this subject included: Botschafter Viktor Elbling, Commissioner for International Energy Policy, Globalisation and Sustainable Development, Federal Foreign Office, Germany; Dr. Patricia Kameri-Mbote, Professor of Law, Strathmore University, Kenya; Founding Director and Programme Director for Africa of the International Environmental Law Research Centre (IELRC), Kenya; Dr. Manfred Konukiewitz, Commissioner for Climate Policy and Head of Directorate, Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ), Germany; Dr. Günther Baechler, Special Adviser for Peace Building in Darfur, Embassy of Switzerland, Sudan; and Petra Pinzler, DIE ZEIT weekly newspaper, Germany.