Author: Alex Fischer2

Alex Fischer is currently program manager and research associate at CIESIN, focusing on Haiti projects. His current research focuses on designing integrated development strategies in Haiti, with active projects situated throughout watersheds there. Previously, Fischer worked on developing environmental performance indicators in Abu Dhabi and conducted research on groundwater resource management during and following civil war periods in Lebanon. He graduated from SIPA’s MIA program and attended an M.A. program at the American University of Beirut, where he studied groundwater management in post-conflict settings.

Population and Environment Influence Infrastructure Investment in Haiti

The fall 2013 Haiti Dialogue Series focused on the multi-dimensional aspects of implementing Haiti’s National Strategic Development Plan after the 2010 earthquake and featured Frantz Verella, the former minister of public works, transportation and communication of the government of Haiti.
Prime Minister of Haiti and Liberia’s Minister of Finance Co-Host Fragile States Dialogue Series

On Sept. 27, the Earth Institute’s Haiti Research and Policy Program at the Center on Globalization and Sustainable Development welcomed Laurent Lamothe, prime minister of the Republic of Haiti, Amara Konneh, minister of finance of the Republic of Liberia, and Saidu Nallo, representative of the Permanent Mission of the Republic of Sierra Leone, for a…
Seeking Solutions for Haiti’s Primary Education Challenges

Haiti faces ongoing pressures of high population growth, high illiteracy rates and low primary education completion rates. On April 30, the Haiti Research and Policy Program’s Dialogue Series welcomed Sophia Stranksy, CEO of the Digicel Haiti Foundation, to discuss the foundation’s primary education and youth programs and Haiti’s challenges.
Talking Data-Driven Development with Haiti’s Prime Minister

On April 22, 2013 the Earth Institute’s Haiti Research and Policy Program at the Center on Globalization and Sustainable Development welcomed Prime Minister Laurent Lamothe to the Spring 2013 Haiti Dialogue Series and the Columbia University World Leader’s Forum. The prime minister and Haitian diplomats met with Earth Institute senior researchers to discuss the strategies…
Culture and national identity, a long-term investment in Haiti’s development

The Haiti Research and Policy Program at the Center on Globalization and Sustainable Development continued its Spring 2013 Dialogue Series with Kimberly Green, president of the Green Family Foundation. This discussion explored the importance of and areas where small foundations are supporting Haiti’s cultural vibrancy and innovation. In the post-earthquake period, most foundations and policy…
Identifying Teaching and Training Tools on Peacebuilding, Fragile States and Natural Resource Management

The Earth Institute at Columbia University hosted a two-day workshop that brought together practitioners, trainers, and academics to explore innovative approaches to teaching and training on natural resources management in fragile states and peacebuilding contexts. The workshop concluded with a clear statement: current academic and training programs do not provide a coherent methodology for students…
Renewed Effort Underway to Better Understand Challenges to Peacebuilding

Lessons learned regarding the management of natural resources in peacebuilding efforts were the focus of several activities recently, including a book launch of the first in a six-volume series, a conference, and curriculum-building workshop.

Population and Environment Influence Infrastructure Investment in Haiti

The fall 2013 Haiti Dialogue Series focused on the multi-dimensional aspects of implementing Haiti’s National Strategic Development Plan after the 2010 earthquake and featured Frantz Verella, the former minister of public works, transportation and communication of the government of Haiti.
Prime Minister of Haiti and Liberia’s Minister of Finance Co-Host Fragile States Dialogue Series

On Sept. 27, the Earth Institute’s Haiti Research and Policy Program at the Center on Globalization and Sustainable Development welcomed Laurent Lamothe, prime minister of the Republic of Haiti, Amara Konneh, minister of finance of the Republic of Liberia, and Saidu Nallo, representative of the Permanent Mission of the Republic of Sierra Leone, for a…
Seeking Solutions for Haiti’s Primary Education Challenges

Haiti faces ongoing pressures of high population growth, high illiteracy rates and low primary education completion rates. On April 30, the Haiti Research and Policy Program’s Dialogue Series welcomed Sophia Stranksy, CEO of the Digicel Haiti Foundation, to discuss the foundation’s primary education and youth programs and Haiti’s challenges.
Talking Data-Driven Development with Haiti’s Prime Minister

On April 22, 2013 the Earth Institute’s Haiti Research and Policy Program at the Center on Globalization and Sustainable Development welcomed Prime Minister Laurent Lamothe to the Spring 2013 Haiti Dialogue Series and the Columbia University World Leader’s Forum. The prime minister and Haitian diplomats met with Earth Institute senior researchers to discuss the strategies…
Culture and national identity, a long-term investment in Haiti’s development

The Haiti Research and Policy Program at the Center on Globalization and Sustainable Development continued its Spring 2013 Dialogue Series with Kimberly Green, president of the Green Family Foundation. This discussion explored the importance of and areas where small foundations are supporting Haiti’s cultural vibrancy and innovation. In the post-earthquake period, most foundations and policy…
Identifying Teaching and Training Tools on Peacebuilding, Fragile States and Natural Resource Management

The Earth Institute at Columbia University hosted a two-day workshop that brought together practitioners, trainers, and academics to explore innovative approaches to teaching and training on natural resources management in fragile states and peacebuilding contexts. The workshop concluded with a clear statement: current academic and training programs do not provide a coherent methodology for students…
Renewed Effort Underway to Better Understand Challenges to Peacebuilding

Lessons learned regarding the management of natural resources in peacebuilding efforts were the focus of several activities recently, including a book launch of the first in a six-volume series, a conference, and curriculum-building workshop.