Annual Conference Report 2019

The Annual Conference is the KPSRL signature event, which we hold each year to enable our network participants to showcase their latest ideas, most revelatory discoveries and freshest initiatives. Every year, we hope this day is seized by all attendees to challenge themselves and one another, to set aside assumptions and be open to different perspectives, and to establish partnerships even with unexpected collaborators.

This year’s Annual Conference took place on October 10^th, 2019. Our theme, “Bridging the Gap” speaks to a kind of ‘tension’ that exists in our sector. While we are working diligently, we are not always living up to our words, our goals, our policy rhetoric, and our commitments. 

The day focused on the gaps that exist between our aspirations for the Security & Rule of Law sector and how things actually operate. Our speakers and participants felt challenged to be bold and honest in discussing these gaps, specifically in the following areas:

1. Partnership & Power: we must work together, but we don’t always acknowledge power imbalances
2. Learning & Innovation: the best way to learn can be through failure; it requires risk & investment
3. Rhetoric & Policy: SRoL policy rhetoric reflects vision and ambition, but the policy and practice often falls short

Thank you to all who joined us at KPAC19!