Publications
Fixers and friends: local and international researchers
While we live in a highly unequal world where your position and place will determine what you have access to. However, based on years of fieldwork in the Sahel, this chapter turns this question around, exploring if it is possible to make inequaity work for mutual benefit. The answer is a modestly yes, and the chapter suggest if not a code of conduct, at least some personal principles of fieldwork that have come to guide my way of doing fieldwork, of making inequality work for mutual benefit.
As the AU tries to contain COVID-19, the virus constrains the AU
The AU cannot simply wait out the coronavirus pandemic: it must adapt and urgently develop new ways of working.
Viruset endrer FNs operasjoner
COVID-19-pandemien har påvirket FNs fredsbevarende operasjoner betydelig. På kort tid er aktivitetsnivået redusert til kun det mest kritiske.
Koronapandemien: FN må beskytte sitt personell
Fredsoperasjoner må raskt tilpasse seg koronapandemien, både for å beskytte eget personell og for å kunne fortsette kritiske operasjoner.
COVID-19 and the African Union
Africa represents the third wave of the spread of COVID-19, but its impact may significantly undermine the reform, programmes and operations of the African Union.
Examining the Longer-Term Effects of COVID-19 on UN Peacekeeping Operations
The SARS-CoV-2 coronavirus has forced United Nations peacekeeping missions to reassess which of their activities are essential for carrying out their mandated responsibilities. Missions have also had to adapt operations to minimize the risk of spreading the virus to both the people the UN is tasked to protect, and to the peacekeepers themselves.
The Impact of COVID-19 on Peace Operations
A few weeks ago, peace operations across the world began swiftly adapting to prevent the spread of the COVID-19 disease. Missions have been forced to take unprecedented steps to cope with the coronavirus pandemic. These efforts may be just the beginning, and much more significant reductions and changes in the way these operations function may be needed over the coming months.
Lao PDR: How to Attract More Investment in Small-Scale Renewable Energy?
Lao PDR adopted the Renewable Energy Development Strategy in 2011 and set a target of 30% small-scale renewables in the energy mix by 2025. The country relies heavily on large hydropower in electricity production and is an attractive investment destination for hydropower. At the same time, Lao PDR has also significant small-scale hydro and solar power potential. We propose five actions that can improve the investment climate in Lao PDR for small-scale hydropower, solar and wind energy: establish an autonomous government agency for renewables; join IRENA and build capacity for renewable energy governance; adopt a feed-in tariff and build a robust regulatory framework; develop a roadmap for small-scale renewable energy; facilitate market entry for investors.
Disaster Management in a Crisis State: Dealing With the Corona Crisis in Zimbabwe
This policy brief discusses how Zimbabwe has dealt with the corona pandemic. It first describes the development of the pandemic and the government’s response to it. Next, I discuss how the response to the crisis is shaped by the nature of the state and the political regime, with a focus on the state's capacity and legitimacy. Finally, I speculate about the likely political implications of the pandemic. I
The European Defence Fund and Norway
The establishment of the European Defence Fund (EDF) represents an important step towards a more coherent European security architecture. It is broadly recognised that Europe needs to reduce duplication between, as well as the number of, weapons systems and platforms. The EU recently opened up for associated countries to participate in the Fund, but the Norwegian government has failed to set aside money for the EDF, despite official policy to participate.