From: Economic and Political Development Concentration
Date: February 20, 2023
Subject: EPD Newsletter #21



Hello EPD-ers! 

We hope you had a relaxed and productive weekend! We have many exciting new events lined up for you this week, including TWO EPD events today. Read through the newsletter to find out more.

Also, save the date for the EPD Workshop Briefing Session for first-years on Monday, April 10, 2023 from 1:00 - 2:00 PM in Room 409. Professor McGill and second-year EPD students will discuss the workshop program and share how you can help design a project for next year. EPD will also be sending out its own workshop survey in the next newsletter to gauge your interests in particular regions, topics, and organizations so stay tuned! 


This week’s newsletter includes:

  • Upcoming EPD Events
  • Other Events
  • Career Advancement Center Events
  • Jobs, Internships and Other Opportunities
  • NYC Beyond SIPA
  • EPD Office Hours
 

UPCOMING EPD EVENTS

TODAY! The Evolving Nature of DDR 
When: Monday, February 20, 2023
Time: 1:00 PM - 2:00 PM 
Location: IAB 1512
Given the recent publication of the Secretary-General's report on Disarmament, Demobilization, and Reintegration (DDR), the UN Department of Peacekeeping Operations (UNDPO) will be hosting a briefing that provides key concepts and operational updates. The panel will be led by Thomas Kontogeorgos, Chief, DDR with contributions by Akossiwa Lea Koudjou and Anne Kristina Novak.

RSVP here.

TODAY! Ha-Joon Chang Book Talk
When: Monday, February 20, 2023
Time: 5:30 PM - 6:30 PM
Location: IAB 1512

Ha-Joon Chang will talk about his new book, Edible Economics: A Hungry Economist Explains the World. According a Guardian review, he uses brief meditations on the history of trade or flavour of different foodstuffs to illustrate economic truths. If there is a single message in the book, it is that you should run a mile from any politician preaching a single narrow economic faith. Chang looks at economic theory as a buffet rather than a set menu; and believes fusion always creates better flavour than monoculture.
RSVP here.

Career Chat with Zaki Raheem (MPA EPD '08)
When: Friday, February 24, 2023
Time: 12:00 PM - 1:00 PM
Location: IAB 409

Join a career chat with Zaki Raheem (MPA EPD '08) who will share his extensive experience working in international development consulting and provide valuable tips on how to write an effective resume for development consultancies and how to approach networking.

RSVP here.


 


EPD Career Panel Series, Day 1: Monitoring & Evaluation and Financial Inclusion and FinTech
When:
Tuesday, February 28, 2023

Time: 1:00 PM - 2:30 PM
Where: Zoom (Registration Required)

Want to learn more about working in EPD industries? Meet with SIPA alumni to ask questions, discuss career paths, and grow your professional network.  This event is via Zoom. Registration Required.

EPD Alumni Panel Topics - Day 1 of 2:

  • Monitoring & Evaluation
  • Financial Inclusion & FinTech

Both panels will meet twice, so you can attend both during the zoom event.
 

The Internship Hunt
When: Wednesday, March 1, 2023
Time: 1:00 PM - 2:00 PM
Where: IAB 402

Come join EPD second years as they help you navigate the internship hunt and learn from their experiences. RSVP here.








EPD Career Panel Series, Day 2: ESG & Sustainable Investment and Gender
When:
Thursday, March 2, 2023

Time: 1:00 PM - 2:30 PM
Where: Zoom (Registration Required)

Want to learn more about working in EPD industries? Meet with SIPA alumni to ask questions, discuss career paths, and grow your professional network.  This event is via Zoom. Registration Required.

EPD Alumni Panel Topics - Day 2 of 2:

  • Monitoring & Evaluation
  • Financial Inclusion &Fintech

Both panels will meet twice, so you can attend both during the zoom event.
 

A Culture of Evidence and Data in Organizations with Jyotsna Puri CO-HOSTED
When: Friday, March 3, 2023
Time: 11:00 PM - 1:00 PM
Where: IAB 409

The EPD concentration is inviting you to "A Culture of Evidence and Data in Organizations" with Jyotsna Puri.

Dr. Jyotsna "Jo" Puri is an adjunct associate professor at SIPA, where she teaches impact evaluation in practice. She is also the Vice President, Strategy and Knowledge Department (SKD) at IFAD. She leads the organizations strategy work in IFAD’s key areas targeting agriculture, climate, gender, nutrition, youth and social inclusion. Puri provides the vision for evidence-informed advice on program designs and implementation, contributing to resource mobilization, and supporting IFAD’s global remit in providing state-of the art policy advice related to these topics. Dr. Puri has worked previously at the Green Climate Fund, 3ie, UNEP, the World Bank and UNDP.

RSVP here.

 


OTHER EVENTS

SIPA DEICE Committee Open Forum and Social
When: Wednesday, February 22, 2023
Time: 1:00 PM - 2:00 PM
Where: IAB 1512

The SIPA Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, Climate, and Engagement (DEICE) Committee is delighted to invite you to our Open Forum and Social next Wednesday, February 22 at 1pm in Room 1512. Dean Yarhi-Milo and Associate Dean Rodriguez will be joining to update us on their recent DEI initiatives.

The proposed topics for discussion are:

  1. Welcome (DEICE Committee Co-Chairs)
  2. Deans’ updates on DEI initiatives at SIPA (Dean Yarhi-Milo and Assoc. Dean Rodriguez)
  3. Questions and conversation
  4. Social event

Light refreshments will be provided. To attend, RSVP here.
 

Diversi-Teas: Students with Disabilities
When: Thursday, February 23, 2023
Time: 1:00 PM - 2:00 PM
Where: IAB 405

A dedicated conversation space for students who identify as someone with a disability (invisible or visible). Light lunch will be served, resources will be provided. RSVP here.





 

What Now? Perspectives from the Ground from post-Earthquake Gaziantep and Aleppo
When: Thursday, February 23, 2023
Time: 1:00 PM - 2:00 PM
Where: IAB 407

The HRHP concentration is hosting an expert panel to discuss the humanitarian response and consequences of the earthquakes that have hit Turkey and Syria. 
The event will be moderated by:
Kristele Younes, co-director of the Human Rights and Humanitarian Policy Concentration, and 
Hatice Karahan, PhD, Visiting Scholar, Center for Development Economics and Policy, SIPA & Chair, Department of Economics and Finance, Istanbul Medipol University. 

The panelists are: 
Samir Elhawary, Team leader, UN Disaster Assessment and Coordination (UNDAC), Aleppo
Jake Morland, Emergency Response Specialist, UNDAC, Aleppo 
Laura Sunnen, Emergency Response Specialist, UNDAC, Gaziantep

Register here.

 

Development Workshop with Sam Asher
When: Thursday, February 23, 2023
Time: 4:10 PM - 5:40 PM
Where: IAB 1101

As part of Columbia University's Spring 2023 Development Workshop, Sam Asher will present "The Long-Run Development Impacts of Agricultural Productivity Gains: Evidence from Irrigation Canals in India" at the Development Seminar. Register here.


CAREER ADVANCEMENT CENTER EVENTS

Department of Treasury Employer Information Session
When:
Tuesday, February 21, 2023
Time: 1:00 PM – 2:00 PM
Where: IAB, Room 413

Work Authorization Requirement: Must be a US Citizen

US Treasury’s Office of Investment Security (OIS) is seeking intellectually curious current or recent graduate students to apply to opportunities to work on cutting-edge policy issues at the nexus of national security, emerging technologies, and international finance.

The Office fulfills Treasury’s responsibilities as chair of the Committee on Foreign Investment in the United States (CFIUS), which has the authority to review the national security effects of certain foreign investments in U.S. businesses across every industry and sector.

For more information CLICK HERE.


New York State Senate Employer Information Session 
When:
Tuesday, February 21, 2023 
Time: 4:15 PM – 5:15 PM 
Where: Zoom

Work Authorization Requirement:  Must be eligible to work in US

From the halls of higher-learning to the halls of the State Capitol, New York State Senate Student Programs offers undergraduate and graduate students exciting opportunities to learn about state government and to experience firsthand the legislative process. If you have ever thought about a career in public service or state government, now is the time to get started! Our on-site, experiential learning programs provide students with a work experience that is both professionally rewarding and academically enriching.

For more information CLICK HERE.

 

World Wildlife Fund - WWF Employer Information Session
When:
Thursday, February 23, 2023
Time: 1:00 PM – 2:00 PM
Where: Zoom

Work Authorization Requirement: N/A

Join SIPA alums and an HR representative from WWF to learn about internships and full-time roles. 

For more information CLICK HERE.

 

Careers in Community Organizing: Employer Virtual Panel
When:
Friday, February 24, 2023
Time: 1:00 PM – 2:00 PM
Where: Zoom

Work Authorization Requirement: N/A

Join community organizers from national and regional organizations as they discuss their work and careers in organizing, during a virtual panel.

This will be a student-led and student-moderated panel sponsored by the Sanford Policy for the People student group and Sanford Career Services.

For more information CLICK HERE.

 

Careers in Community Organizing: Virtual Networking Event
When: Friday, February 24, 2023
Time: 2:30 PM – 3:30 PM
Where: Zoom

Work Authorization Requirement: N/A

Are you curious to know what kind of career you can have as a community organizer? Meet several national community organizers for this unique virtual networking event. Organizers will give a brief introduction and then go into individual breakout rooms to chat with students. You will be able to join any room for an informal conversation about the organizer’s work, organization, and career. Come with your camera on and ready to engage and ask questions. It’s a conversation, not a presentation.

For more information CLICK HERE.

 


JOBS, INTERNSHIPS AND OTHER OPPORTUNITIES 

Gender Specialist, UNDP
Deadline: March 01, 2023

Reporting to the Gender Equality Team Leader (Panama City), the Gender Specialist will work, in close collaboration with specialists from Country Offices, the Regional Hub and HQ (BPPS, CB and RBLAC) to reduce gender inequalities in the region, in line with the new Gender Equality Strategy 2022-2025. She/he will be responsible for supporting:

  • Policy Development.
  • Programme Integration and Coordination.
  • Partnerships and Resource Mobilization.
  • Knowledge Management, Learning and Innovation.

Learn more here

For the latest OCS New Job and Internship Opportunities CLICK HERE and Upcoming Deadlines for Jobs and Internship Application CLICK HERE. (Double check to make sure you are signed into your SIPA emails for the links to open!)


NYC BEYOND SIPA 

Orchid Show at the New York Botanical Garden
February 18 - May 1, 2023

This year is the 20th annual Orchid Show, and the botanical garden has partnered with artist Lily Kwong to design the exhibition. Over 1000 orchids will be in full bloom, displaying a wide array of colors that contrast the gray winter. 

Don’t miss this chance to be immersed in a mesmerizing array of orchids, enfolded into rolling mountains throughout the historic Enid A Haupt Conservatory, and to feel enwrapped in this one-of-a-kind experience. On select nights during The Orchid Show, adults 21 and over can experience the exhibition through Orchid Nights, with music, cash bars, and food available for purchase. 

You can get tickets here for a student discounted price of $31.


EPD OFFICE HOURS

Jenny McGill, EPD Co-Director and Workshop Director
Sign-up online via https://sipa.campusgroups.com/click?linkid=e00d40fe-b618-4edf-ac9d-ecfedec56429 or
By appointment at em419@columbia.edu

Ilona Vinklerova, EPD Manager
Sign up online via https://sipa.campusgroups.com/meetings/1060915/IlonaOH_Spring2023 

Suhail Thandi, EPD Program Assistant
By appointment at sst2151@columbia.edu

Zoya Dhakam, EPD Program Assistant
By appointment at zsd2110@columbia.edu

Your favorite PAs,
Zoya and Suhail