Pardee School, NEID Host Amb. Thomas Greminger
The Frederick S. Pardee School of Global Studies at Boston University and New England International Donors (NEID) hosted Ambassador Thomas Greminger, Secretary General of the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE), on March 2, 2018 for a discussion on how to achieve Sustainable Development Goal 16 which focuses on promoting just, peaceful and inclusive societies and institutions.
Amb. Greminger was welcomed on behalf of the Pardee School and introduced by William Grimes, Associate Dean for Academic Affairs. During the talk, entitled “Working Toward SDG 16 (Peace, Justice, and Strong Institutions) and Comprehensive Security,” Amb. Greminger discussed how the OSCE is actively contributing to SDG 16 by strengthening local institutions and NGOs. He also outlined the role he sees for funders in this process.
The Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE) is the world’s largest regional security organization, with 57 participating States in Europe, Asia and North America. The OSCE promotes peace and stability for more than a billion people through inclusive political dialogue that helps to bridge differences and build trust between states and through practical work that makes a lasting difference on the ground. Its work is rooted in a comprehensive approach to security encompassing its politico-military, economic and environmental, and human dimensions.
“For over two decades the OSCE has been involved in reconciliation and post-conflict rehabilitation in many countries that host our field operations,” Amb. Greminger said. “Our efforts to empower civil society, improve interethnic relations, and promote regional cooperation offer examples of OSCE’s ability to foster peace and development.”
During his talk, Amb. Greminger discussed the most effective strategies for advancing the mutually reinforcing relationship between peace, security and sustainable development. He detailed the decades of experience OSCE has fostering peace and sustainable development on the basis of its pioneering comprehensive approach to security, which recognizes the critical nexus between the politico-military, economic and environmental, and the human dimensions of security.
“One of the OSCE’s major contributions to the implementation of the 2030 agenda is its engagement in promoting peace,” Amb. Greminger said. “I would argue that our main contribution is to implement SDG 16 on peaceful and just societies. We do it by investing in early warning, conflict prevention, conflict resolution as well as post-conflict rehabilitation.”
Amb. Greminger said OSCE field operations engage locally within a challenging regional context to foster co-operation in all security dimensions and facilitate the effective translation of the SDGs into concrete actions at the national and regional levels. According to Amb. Greminger, OSCE’s enduring engagement in conflict prevention, conflict resolution and post-conflict rehabilitation can make a significant contribution to the implementation of SDG 16.
“I would argue that our support for the 2030 agenda goes beyond SDG 16,” Amb. Greminger said. “Thanks to the comprehensive nature of our mandate the OSCE can contribute to the implementation of other parts of the 2030 agenda including people, planet and prosperity.”
Amb. Greminger was appointed Secretary General of the OSCE in July 2017, and has also served with Switzerland’s Federal Department of Foreign Affairs since 1990 including in a number of senior management positions. Prior to his appointment as OSCE Secretary General, he was Deputy Director General of the Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation. From 2010 to 2015, Greminger was the Permanent Representative of Switzerland to the OSCE, serving as Chair of the OSCE Permanent Council during Switzerland’s 2014 OSCE Chairmanship.
NEID is a unique peer to peer learning community of global donors, grant-makers, social investors, corporations and foundations seeking to make a difference in the world. By providing opportunities to learn from peers and international experts about global development and philanthropy, NIED aims to encourage, inform and enhance funders’ international giving capacity. Learn more about NEID here.