What is SAID?

The Stanford Association for International Development (SAID) is a student-run organization at Stanford University that is dedicated to promoting awareness of international development and global issues.  SAID hosts a conference every year on a major international development topic, and in the past has explored themes in food insecurities, water scarcity, governance, and conflict and war.

"Gender and International Development: Recentered"

This year's theme will focus on women in international development through four panels:

- The Female Voice in World Government and Politics

- Maximizing Potential through Entrepreneurship and Education

- Conflict and Gender-Based Violence*

- What are Women’s Rights?

The main goal of the conference will be to address the various ways that women can become more involved with and empowered through different aspects of international development -- from governance/politics, entrepreneurship, education, justice, and culture and religion.  Questions to be answered include: 

- How can more women be placed in positions of world leadership?

- How can the international community ensure that more women have access to education?

- How do education and technology play a role in women's involvement in business and entrepreneurship?

- What are conflict and war's effects on women and their well-being?

- How do culture and religion influence women's rights?

- How can women’s empowerment enhance economic and political development for the entire community?

World renowned speakers span the policymaking, nonprofit, business, foundation, and academic sectors, and will address this important topic from all angles.  Confirmed speakers include: 

- KEYNOTE SPEAKER: Nancy Lindborg, Assistant Administrator, Bureau for Democracy, Conflict and Humanitarian Assistance, USAID

- Michele Barry, Director, Global Health Programs, Stanford Medicine

- Gemma Bulos, Director, Global Women’s Water Initiative

- Larry Diamond, Director, Stanford Center for Democracy, Development, and the Rule of Law

- Karl Eikenberry, former U.S. Ambassador to Afghanistan

- Musimbi Kanyoro, President and CEO, Global Fund for Women

- Eliane Karp-Toledo, anthropologist, Latin American indigenous culture

- Moushira Khattab, former Egyptian Ambassador to South Africa**

- Amy Klement, Vice President of Investments, Omidyar Network

- Birtukan Mideksa, leader of the Ethiopian Unity for Democracy and Justice party

- Fouzia Saeed, former head of UN Gender Program in Pakistan and current Director of Mehergarh

- Kim Thuy Seelinger, Director, Sexual Violence and Accountability Project, Human Rights Center, UC Berkeley School of Law

- Ruth Shapiro, Principal, Keyi Strategies

- Robert Simon, Founder, International Medical Corps

- Helen Stacy, Director, Stanford Program for Human Rights

- Alejandro Toledo, former President of Peru

- Nang Lao Liang Won (Tay Tay), Co-Founder, Shan Women’s Action Network (SWAN)

The conference will also feature an International Development Career Fair during lunch.  Organizations in attendance all have internship and post-graduate work opportunities.  Organizations confirmed include:

Amazon Watch

Ashoka

Department of State

Foundation for Sustainable Development

GiveWell

International Career Information from Stanford Career Development Center

International Development Exchange

Kiva

Pacific Links Foundation

Peace Corps

ProWorld

RTI International

Samasource

TECC Stanford

USAID

Volunteers in Asia

Our conference seeks to promote innovative development approaches and to inspire undergraduate and graduate interest in international development.

Who should attend?

This conference is open to everyone!

How much does it cost?

Thanks to our generous sponsors, attendance at this year's conference is absolutely free!

For more information...

For more information, including the full conference agenda and biographies of speakers, see www.2013saidconference.com.  

For questions and comments, email SAIDConference2013@gmail.com.

Follow us on Twitter! @SAIDConference

Check out SAID Conference Director's article on gender and international development for PolicyMic.

*SAID changed the panel’s title from “Conflict, War, and Global Health” to “Conflict and Gender-Based Violence” to better reflect the expertise of the speakers on that panel.

**NEWS FLASH, 2/27/13:

Unfortunately, Ambassador Moushira Khattab cannot join our conference as planned.  Dr. Fouzia Saeed will take her place on the "The Female Voice in World Government and Politics" panel.