2025 Global Policy Project Symposium: MPPGA Students Address Real-World Policy Challenges
Learn about the capstone Global Policy Project (GP²), and the groups of MPPGA students who are working with clients from around the globe.
Difficult Archives, Difficult Memories: Transformations in Black and Indigenous Worlds
The Transformative Memory International Network held a MemoLab, bringing together more than 40 artists, activists and scholars in an experimental space involving artistic creation, knowledge exchange and emplaced learning at sites of memory.
Rashid Sumaila Named Among the 100 Most Influential Africans of 2023
SPPGA Prof. Rashid Sumaila was recently named among the 100 most influential Africans of 2023 by New Africa Magazine for his work as a “global champion of the oceans.”
SPPGA 2022-23 Annual Report
Learn more about the major research, achievements, and programming of the UBC School of Public Policy and Global Affairs in our 2022-23 annual report.
Like a Garden that Flourishes: Art and Post-Conflict Healing
‘I am like a garden that flourishes and grows’: The impact of war and displacement on women with disabilities in post-conflict Uganda For two weeks in May 2023, Masters of Public Policy and Global Affairs student Liliane Umuhoza and School of Public Policy and Global Affairs Associate Professor Erin Baines at the University of British […]
Harsha Walia Breaks Down Borders: Speaking on Climate Migration, Racial Capitalism and Empire
Canadian activist, writer and organizer Harsha Walia tackles issues of border imperialism, racial capitalism and anti-migrant xenophobia in her recent talk with UBC.
Prof. Kristen Hopewell: The BRICS Countries: Where Next and What Impact on the Global Economy?
SPPGA Prof. Kristen Hopewell is cited in an article on the BRICS countries: Where next and what impact on the global economy?
SPPGA Releases 2021-2022 Annual Report
Learn more about the major research, achievements, and programming of the UBC School of Public Policy and Global Affairs in our 2021-22 annual report.
Call for Papers for “Re-Imagining Sustainable Development” Conference
Submissions are open until August 30th for the “Re-Imagining Sustainable Development” conference, hosted by Liu Institute Network for Africa, Liu Institute for Global Issues, the School of Public Policy and Global Affairs, and the Peter A. Allard School of Law.
MPPGA Alumna Esther Ocheni: Unpacking Infrastructure-For-Resources Deals in Africa’s Mining Sector and Best Practices for Future Investments
MPPGA Alumna Esther Ocheni publishes a paper with Africa Policy Journal
2022 Global Policy Project Symposium
Leading up to their graduation, MPPGA students from the class of 2022 presented their policy findings at the annual Global Policy Project Symposium held by the UBC School of Public Policy and Global Affairs.
Call for Applications: 2022 Banting Postdoctoral Fellowship Program
The UBC School of Public Policy and Global Affairs welcomes applicants interested in applying for the prestigious Banting Postdoctoral Fellowship Program.
Prof. Kristen Hopewell: The Untold Victims of China’s Trade Policies
Professor Kristen Hopewell discusses how the wider effects of China’s trade policies are being largely ignored due to attention focused on trade conflict between the United States and China.
Rashid Sumaila: Africa Can Help Save the Natural World and the Livelihoods of Africans
Professor Rashid Sumaila (SPPGA; IOF) writes about how South Africa has shown that nature and commerce can coexist, and that the world can learn from their models.
Podcast & Policy Brief – “Prosecution Will Not Solve My Problems:” Women’s Senses of Justice and Reparations After Conflict-Related Sexual Violence in Northern Uganda
After living through war, abduction, sexual and gender-based violence, some female survivors in Northern Uganda escaped rebel captivity. Many returned to their communities with children fathered by rebels. Instead of being embraced, community members met survivors and their children with suspicion, rejection, blame and stigmatization. That began a new chapter of hardship in the survivors’ […]
An Hourly Wage Policy Can Help Resolve Ghana’s Graduate Unemployment Challenges, According to MPPGA Alumnus Solomon Atta
In a published article, MPPGA Alumnus Solomon Atta explains how an hourly wage policy can help resolve Ghana’s rising graduate unemployment challenges.
MPPGA Alumni and Prof. Nadja Kunz Discuss Policy Reform in Ethiopia’s Mining Sector, with Research Based on the 2019 MPPGA GP²
MPPGA alumni Melisha Charles, Josh Tafel, Denby McDonnell, Chris Stoicheff and Prof. Nadja Kunz (SPPGA; Norman B Keevil Institute of Mining Engineering) co-author an article about policy reform in Ethiopia’s mining sector, with research based on their 2019 MPPGA Global Policy Project (GP²).
Ketty Anyeko: “Justice is Lived”
Ketty Anyeko (SPPGA Postdoctoral Research Fellow) writes about their doctoral research findings, discussing women’s senses of justice and reparations after wartime sexual violence in Northern Uganda.
Summary of Amicus Briefs by Prof. Erin Baines in the Case of The Prosecutor vs Dominic Ongwen
Read a summary of two Amicus Briefs in the case of The Prosecutor vs Dominic Ongwen at the International Criminal Court by Prof. Erin Baines.
Putting Gender Equality at The Centre of Social Protection Strategies in Sub-Saharan Africa: How Far Have We Come?
Professor Tara Cookson co-authors a UN Women policy brief assessing the presence of gender equality and women empowerment considerations in national social protection strategies across sub-Saharan Africa.
For Local Fishers to Compete, African Leaders Must Urge WTO Members to End Harmful Subsidies
Professor Rashid Sumaila (SPPGA & UBC Oceans) co-authors an article looking at harmful fisheries subsidies and threats to Africa’s fish stocks.
The 2022 Budget Reading Is Coming Up: Three New Things I Want to See in the Budget
MPPGA alumnus Solomon Atta points out three things he would like to see from Ghana’s upcoming Budget Statement and Economic Policy reading.
Global Meeting on Law and Society: Call for Papers for “Re-Imagining Agenda 2063”
The “Re-imagining Agenda 2063” International Research Collaborative (IRC) of the Law and Society Association (LSA) invites you to submit an abstract for presentation at the Global Meeting on Law and Society to be held from 13 to 16 July 2022 at Lisbon, Portugal. The IRC plans to have in-person and virtual panels at the conference. […]
Fight ‘Galamsey’ at High Sea!
Dr. Rashid Sumaila, (SPPGA; UBC Oceans) discussed the cost of illicit trade in West Africa marine resources. He says “resources to tackle illegal and unreported fishing, especially those that fuel illicit trade, need to be pulled at both at regional and continental levels.”
‘Our Place Under the Sun’: Survivor-Centred Approaches to Children Born of Wartime Sexual Violence
Professor Erin Baines and MPPGA alumna Alessia Rodríguez’s work on a survivor-centered approach for children ‘born of war’ has been published in Human Rights Review. Learn how this approach can empower children in processes of social reconstruction and reconciliation.
MPPGA Global Policy Project Catalogue
We’ve launched the full catalogue of Global Policy Projects from UBC’s Master of Public Policy and Global Affairs students, showcasing their work with clients on real-world policy challenges. Learn about each project, browse policy reports, and view presentations.
‘Together at the Heart’: Familial Relations and the Social Reintegration of Ex-Combatants
Read the latest publication from Professor Erin Baines and Carla Suarez examining the role that family relations play in combatants’ war and post-war trajectory within the Lord’s Resistance Army (LRA).
From Local to Global – Advocating for Human Rights in Nigeria
Listen to the latest episode of ‘Audio Alumni’ featuring MPPGA alumni Eseohe Ojo, where she talks about her work in advocating for human rights, as well as the importance of access to information in Covid-19 and Black Lives Matter.
Youth Unemployment in Ghana: What Isn’t Gov’ts Doing Right?
Read MPPGA alumni Solomon Atta’s op-ed where he analyzes the mechanisms behind Ghana’s high unemployment rate. A shift in government expenditure and bridging the wage gap in hourly wage rates is the key to solving this problem, he adds.
SPPGA Releases 2020-2021 Annual Report
The UBC School of Public Policy and Global Affairs has published its 2020-2021 annual report which features our faculty’s research projects, policy engagement, and notable achievements, student and alumni profiles, and our various convening and learning activities.
Shelve Nuclear Power, Go for Cleaner Alternatives
Read MPPGA alumni Edwin Edou’s (Simons Award 2020 Recipient) op-ed on the future potential of nuclear energy in Kenya, and why he believes that investing in utility-scale solar and wind energy is more sustainable and cost-effective.
2021 Global Policy Project Symposium Highlights
As a defining element of UBC’s professional Master of Public Policy and Global Affairs (MPPGA) curriculum, the Global Policy Project (GP2) provides the opportunity for MPPGA students to engage with policy makers and civil society organizations on a real-world policy challenge, in Canada and around the world. Learn more on the Global Policy Project page. On April […]
The Right to Breathe: Landmark Legal Case a Fight for South African Children Harmed by Coal’s Deadly Air
“The pollution in Mpumalanga is just one example of the devastating impact of air pollution on children.” Professor David Boyd (SPPGA; IRES; UN Special Rapporteur on human rights and the environment) intervenes in a landmark legal case in South Africa as a friend of the court.
Liu Scholar Tebogo Thandie Leepile Wins First Place in UBC Three Minute Thesis Competition
Congratulations to Liu Scholar Tebogo Thandie Leepile, the first place winner of this year’s UBC Three Minute Thesis competition #UBC3MT for her thesis.
Global Migration Podcast “Geographies from the Heart: Life-Writing from Newcomers to Canada”
Tune in to the latest episode of the Global Migration Podcast, “Stories about Exile and Displacement,” hosted by UBC Centre for Migration Studies featuring MPPGA student Muhialdin Nyera Bakini on his story of how displacement from South Sudan led to arriving in Canada.
Research by Prof. Erin Baines and Justice and Reconciliation Project and the Conviction of Ongwen at the International Criminal Court
Previous research conducted by SPPGA Associate Professor Erin Baines and the Justice and Reconciliation Project in Uganda generated debate in Uganda and globally, and informed the defence of Dominic Ongwen at the International Criminal Court.
Spotlight on MPPGA Alumni Careers – Series Compilation
During our Spotlight on MPPGA Alumni Careers series, we showcased ten Master of Public Policy and Global Affairs (MPPGA) alumni who are committed to addressing the urgent and complex public policy challenges facing the world. Learn more about them in our series compilation.
Spotlight on MPPGA Alumni Careers – Chiamaka Mọgọ
As part of our Spotlight on MPPGA Alumni Careers, meet Chiamaka Mọgọ who is maintaining several roles: a Board Director with the Canadian Race Relations Foundation, the Executive Secretary and a Board Member of the African Marine Environment Sustainability Initiative, and the Founder and President of the Board of the Initiative for Inclusive Dialogue in Nigeria.
Chronicle Of Colombian Exchange – Transformative Memory: Constructing Knowledge from Dialogue and in the Territory
An international exchange on the concept of transformative memory brought together artists, academics, and community leaders from seven countries to Colombia in February 2020,organized by the University of British Columbia in partnership with the National University of Colombia and the Montes de Maria Communications Collective.
Reflections from MPPGA Alumna Chiamaka Mọgọ’s Internship at the United Nations Migration Agency
Learn more about MPPGA alumna Chiamaka Mọgọ’s experiences in the program while working with the International Organization for Migration in Accra, Ghana as part of the United Nations Association of Canada International Development and Diplomacy Internship program.
Global Policy Engagement: A Look Back at the 2019-2020 MPPGA Global Policy Projects
Eight second year student teams completed their immersive Global Policy Projects in various regions around the world throughout 2019 and culminating in spring 2020. The Global Policy Project is a core component of UBC’s professional Master of Public Policy and Global Affairs (MPPGA) program.
Struggles for Land: Comparing Resistance Movements Against Agro-Industrial and Mining Investment Projects
Investments in large-scale land-based projects have increased over the past two decades, with a concomitant rise in community-level resistance. Professor Philippe Le Billon (SPPGA; Geography) co-authors this paper comparing movements resisting either agro-industrial or mining projects.
SPPGA 2019-2020 Annual Report
Learn more about the unique strengths and activities of UBC’s School of Public Policy and Global Affairs and our Master of Public Policy and Global Affairs program in our 2019-2020 Annual Report.
Undercurrents: Episode 56 – Uganda’s Children Born of War
Chatham House speaks to SPPGA Associate Professor Erin Baines and UBC alumna Camile Oliveira on the social status of children born as the result of ‘forced marriage’ during the Ugandan civil war of the 1990s and early 2000s, and attempts by some of the fathers to assume responsibility for their care and well-being.
Masculinities + WPS: Forward-Looking Strategies in the Women, Peace and Security Agenda
The Conjugal Slavery in War partnership has published a policy brief titled “Masculinities + WPS,” as part of the series, Forward-Looking Strategies in the Women, Peace and Security Agenda.
Ododo Wa: Stories of Girls in War, an exhibit at the Canadian Museum for Human Rights
Ododo Wa: Stories of Girls in War is an exhibit at the Canadian Museum for Human Rights that traces the journey of two girls from Uganda – Evelyn Amony and Grace Acan – who were abducted and held captive for years by a rebel group, the Lord’s Resistance Army.
Child Tracing: Locating the Paternal Homes of “Children Born of War”
The wartime abductions of young girls by rebel group, the Lord’s Resistance Army, in northern Uganda have resulted in the births of many children out of “forced marriage”. SPPGA Associate Professor Erin Baines, MPPGA alum Tinashe Mutsonziwa, and Liu Scholar and UBC PhD candidate Ketty Anyeko co-authored an article on the processes and reasons behind child tracing in the post-war era, analyzing diverse cases and challenges.
Children ‘Born of War’: A Role for Fathers?
Previous scholarships on children born of conflict-related sexual violence usually center on the victimized mothers and perpetrations of the fathers. This article co-authored by SPPGA Associate Professor Erin Baines and UBC alumna Camile Oliveira examines how former male combatants of the Lord’s Resistance Army, a rebel group during wartime Uganda, seek to assume responsibility for their children.
Celebrating MPPGA Graduating ALT Scholars
The achievements of our graduating MPPGA students and ALT Scholars were recently celebrated by representatives from the African diplomatic community and partner organizations of the African Leaders of Tomorrow (ALT) Scholarship Program in Ottawa.
Learning from Lived Experience
In mid-June 2016, Professor Erin Baines, along with author Evelyn Amony, participated in two special events in New York focused on the stories of victims of sexual and gender-based violence. The events were co-organized by UN Women, the International Center for Transitional Justice, and the Liu Institute for Global Issues at UBC, and generously hosted by the […]
Dominic Ongwen and the Search for Justice
Dominic Ongwen was a brigade commander in the notorious Lord’s Resistance Army (LRA) but he was also one of its earliest victims, spending nearly three decades surviving the violence and tumult of war. This article features research conducted by MPPGA and Liu Institute Professor Erin Baines and partners in Uganda, the Justice and Reconciliation Project.
My husband the warlord: an extract from the memoir of Joseph Kony’s wife
Abducted when she was 11 years old, Evelyn Amony spent more than a decade at the brutal LRA leader’s side. She recounts her past in her new book, I Am Evelyn Amony: Reclaiming My Life from the Lord’s Resistance Army, edited with an introduction by MPPGA Professor Erin Baines.