Our Experts Close-Up
Susanne Alldén
What is most important to know about me? I want to have an open mind at all times. Professionally, I am always aiming to bridge the gap between policy-practice- and research; truly believing that each will learn from the other. I seek to always learn more, and particularly so about those things I think I am most knowledgeable about.
Training and institutional support
Strategy development – Project cycle management – Gender analyses – Conflict analyses – Monitoring and evaluation
Training and education
Conflict transformation – Qualitative and quantitative research methods – Gender and conflict/peace
Conflict resolution
Women – Peace and security
Democracy
Women’s political participation in (post-)conflict contexts
Susanne Alldén
What is most important to know about me? I want to have an open mind at all times. Professionally, I am always aiming to bridge the gap between policy-practice- and research; truly believing that each will learn from the other. I seek to always learn more, and particularly so about those things I think I am most knowledgeable about.
Training and institutional support
Strategy development – Project cycle management – Gender analyses – Monitoring and evaluation
Training and education
Conflict transformation – Qualitative and quantitative research methods – Gender and conflict/peace
Conflict resolution
Women – Peace and security
Democracy
Women’s political participation in (post-)conflict contexts
Susanne in her own words
After finalizing my PhD in Political Science, I decided I needed a break from academia and learn from the “real world”. Having spent 5 years traveling between Cambodia, Timor-Leste and the north of Sweden for research, I then took a 6-month contract as a seconded civilian staff to the UN mission in DR Congo, MONUC/MONUSCO. And as I visited the South Kivu countryside and fell in love with the people and the surroundings, I knew that DRC would always play an important part of my life. So, for the next ten years I tried to learn more about the country, the people, and the struggles they had endured (and continue to endure), but also the countless stories of resilience and hope for the future. Working through the UN, the EU, and the Swedish development cooperation, as well as through a local NGO and with research, my understanding of the complexity of conflict but also the importance of bottom-up conflict transformation and efforts to fight the horrific consequences of war, have deepened significantly. I have also had the great opportunity to work alongside remarkable local change agents, men and women, who I believe are the main catalysts for sustaining peace. Some or my greatest experiences from the DRC are from working with and learning from young Congolese, trying to play a positive role for change of their society.
Currently based in the southern part of Sweden, I continue to work on training of the next generation of peacebuilders, helping to raise the voices of women and their role in conflict transformation and politics. I also have a particular interest in trying to make development assistance more relevant to the target population, continuously arguing for the need for gender analyses and local conflict analyses guiding any interventions.
I am fluent in English and French and am still working on mastering Swahili.
Susanne in her own words
After finalizing my PhD in Political Science, I decided I needed a break from academia and learn from the “real world”. Having spent 5 years traveling between Cambodia, Timor-Leste and the north of Sweden for research, I then took a 6-month contract as a seconded civilian staff to the UN mission in DR Congo, MONUC/MONUSCO. And as I visited the South Kivu countryside and fell in love with the people and the surroundings, I knew that DRC would always play an important part of my life. So, for the next ten years I tried to learn more about the country, the people, and the struggles they had endured (and continue to endure), but also the countless stories of resilience and hope for the future. Working through the UN, the EU, and the Swedish development cooperation, as well as through a local NGO and with research, my understanding of the complexity of conflict but also the importance of bottom-up conflict transformation and efforts to fight the horrific consequences of war, have deepened significantly. I have also had the great opportunity to work alongside remarkable local change agents, men and women, who I believe are the main catalysts for sustaining peace. Some or my greatest experiences from the DRC are from working with and learning from young Congolese, trying to play a positive role for change of their society.
Currently based in the southern part of Sweden, I continue to work on training of the next generation of peacebuilders, helping to raise the voices of women and their role in conflict transformation and politics. I also have a particular interest in trying to make development assistance more relevant to the target population, continuously arguing for the need for gender analyses and local conflict analyses guiding any interventions.
I am fluent in English and French and am still working on mastering Swahili.