Sofia Sebastian

WORK HISTORY

EDUCATION

SKILLS

ABOUT SOFIA SEBASTIAN

My career has been devoted to the study and management of international conflict and peace building in fragile, divided societies. Ever since I read Donald Horowitz’s Ethnic Groups in Conflict, and as a result of my early experience in environments with deep political divisions, I have always felt passionate about the study of fragility and the resolution of conflict. I have more than 15 years of experience in think tank, academic and policy environments managing research projects and providing expert advice on fragility, conflict and violence; peace building; peace operations in European and African countries; stabilization; and foreign policy. I have published a book on state building in post-conflict, divided societies; authored various articles, book chapters and op-eds on peace building in fragile, conflict-ridden environments; and participated in policymaking at the international level. I have worked in many countries around the world, including in fragile and conflict-ridden environments, and managed projects for international organizations such as the World Bank and the United Nations.As a senior analyst with a PhD in political science, I bring a wealth of knowledge and expertise, as well as a creative mind, to any complex scenario. I use evidence-based data and draw from various theoretical frameworks both to understand the triggers of conflict and to recommend effective strategies to manage the sources of fragility, intra-state violence, and instability.Across all of my professional efforts, I have engaged with an extensive, multi-cultural network of diplomats, scholars, practitioners, activists and the media in both Europe and the United States. I am comfortable working under minimal supervision, speaking in public, communicating complex ideas, designing and managing research projects, analyzing complex scenarios, and proposing effective solutions. AREAS OF EXPERTISE/SPECIALTIESInternational security | Peace Building | Peace Operations | Governance | Foreign Policy | Crisis Management | Fragility, Conflict, Violence | Research and Analysis | Policy Formulation and Implementation | Monitoring and Evaluation |