Staying In with Jan Powell
Staying In with Jan Powell
Convoys, COVID and Negotiation in Afghanistan
Working from home is something most of us complain about but have had to get used to. But what about people who don't have the luxury of staying in, and for whom getting the job done means being out on the front line? People like Peter Scott-Bowden, who was working for the World Food Programme in Afghanistan when Jan caught up with him in December last year. Afghanistan has been in a state of war and turmoil for over four decades, leaving millions short of food. Peter's job was to get supplies out to well over 8 million hungry people - while at the same time, the COVID19 pandemic was spreading into the country.
Jan and Peter first met last year during Geneva Peace Week, where he was representing the CCHN - the Centre for Humanitarian Negotiation. Getting convoys of food to people in remote areas, often controlled by warlords and local leaders, requires excellent negotiation skills, as Peter explains.
Check out https://www.wfp.org/ and https://frontline-negotiations.org/