On Saturday, December 2nd, the National Committee on American Foreign Policy (NCAFP) launched its inaugural Northern Ireland Emerging Leaders program, a yearlong transatlantic mentorship program for next generation community leaders and policy practitioners from across the region.
The group includes ten community leaders and young professionals who will develop policy ideas on a range of themes, from education, environmental peacebuilding, structural reform, to women, peace, and security. Throughout the year, the participants will develop their policy ideas and present their final paper at a conference in New York City in October 2024.
To maximize opportunities for professional development, the NCAFP has paired each participant with a mentor who will provide guidance throughout the year. The mentors include: Ambassador Paula Dobriansky, Professor Martin Flaherty, Professor Kevin Kenny, Charley Landow, Professor Linda Longmire, Alyse Nelson, Kathryn (Kitty) Pilgrim, Ambassador Nancy Soderberg, Ambassador Barbara Stephenson, and William Tranghese.
The Northern Ireland Emerging Leaders meet in Belfast.
This new program adds to the NCAFP’s extensive Emerging Leaders network around the globe, including its programming with next generation scholars and policy practitioners throughout the Asia-Pacific. Ambassador (ret.) Susan M. Elliott, President & CEO of the NCAFP, notes: “The NCAFP is thrilled to expand this program and contribute to Northern Ireland’s peace, stability, and prosperity.”
Emma DeSouza, Program Director of the NCAFP Northern Ireland Emerging Leaders Program added: “The expansion of the NCAFP Emerging Leaders Network into Northen Ireland follows a series of events to mark and celebrate the 25th anniversary of the Belfast/Good Friday Agreement. Building a sustained and prosperous peace requires work. This program, and the participants taking part, will be working to deliver ambitious, future-focused policy ideas to advance peace, reconciliation, and wellbeing, and to strengthen transatlantic relations. Having celebrated 25 years of the Belfast/Good Friday Agreement, it’s time to start thinking about the next 25 years.”
The NCAFP has worked on peacebuilding initiatives in Northern Ireland since the early 1990s. The organization played a pivotal role in the peace process when it successfully lobbied the Clinton administration to grant Gerry Adams a 48 hour visa so that he could attend the NCAFP's ground-breaking cross border conference with John Hume and John Alderdice. Adam’s first appearance in the United States led to a ceasefire and enabled him to develop ties with key U.S. leaders, giving him and his party the assurance necessary to enter into peace negotiations and sign the Belfast Agreement in 1998.
The NCAFP thanks the Ireland Funds for funding this project.
