Thanks to the generous support of the Stichting Giustra International Foundation, International Crisis Group launched The Giustra Fellowship for Conflict Prevention in September 2016. The fellowship affords early to mid-career professionals from conflict-affected countries or regions the chance to gain invaluable experience learning Crisis Group’s method of research and analysis through training and mentorship, and provides fellows with access to conflicts they would not otherwise have.

Since its inception, Crisis Group has hired more than 10 fellows across our regional programs including Africa, Asia, Middle East and North Africa, Europe and Central Asia and Latin America & Caribbean.

“I hope my gift to Crisis Group inspires others to invest in conflict prevention”, said Frank Giustra, founder of the Stichting Giustra International Foundation and Acceso and President & CEO of the Fiore Group. “It is absolutely critical that concerned individuals and philanthropists like myself join together to address deadly conflicts, which is the principal driver behind the global refugee and migration crisis. These promising analysts, who also grew up in countries in crisis, represent the best hope to stem the tide of war that has forced an unprecedented 65 million people worldwide to flee their homes”.

By investing in early to mid-career professionals and equipping them with essential tools and resources, the fellowship is contributing to a brighter and a more peaceful future. We are immensely grateful to the Stichting Giustra International Foundation for its transformative support for our work in preventing, mitigating and ending deadly conflict.

The Giustra Fellows have supported Crisis Group’s Programs – through research, analysis and advocacy – in various countries and regions where the threat of conflict is present.

Crisis Group recruits fellows from countries in crisis to contribute to our conflict prevention work, while building greater capacity and expertise in the conflicts they study.

Amory Lumumba – Central Africa

Amory joined as the Giustra Fellow for Crisis Group’s Central Africa Project in August 2022. Before joining our team, he gained experience at different levels, ranging from the private sector to international organisations. He holds a B.A. in Political Science from Université Libre de Bruxelles and an MSc in Politics of Conflict, Rights & Justice from SOAS. Amory grew up between the DRC, Côte d’Ivoire, Madagascar, France and Belgium.

As a Giustra Fellow, Amory assists in research, advocacy and policy efforts that help shape our work in the Central African Republic, Cameroon and Chad. In addition, Amory’s desk research and feedback have been crucial to supporting Crisis Group’s monthly situation reports and publications on Central Africa.

The Giustra fellowship has been instrumental in Amory’s understanding of the Central African countries, broadening his engagement in research, analysis, and advocacy efforts within this context. 

Glaeldys González Calanche – Latin America & Caribbean

Glaeldys supports Crisis Group’s Latin America & Caribbean Program as Giustra Fellow since March 2022, through her research and advocacy work in the Central Andean region (Ecuador, Peru, Bolivia). Before joining us, Glaeldys studied at the Central University of Venezuela, where she obtained a Bachelor’s Degree in Political and Administrative Sciences and holds a Master’s Degree in Latin American Studies from the University of Salamanca. She is based in Bogotá, Colombia.

As a fellow, Glaedys has contributed to a number of publications on Ecuador, Colombia, Brazil and Peru. Her research and advocacy work as a Giustra Fellow has taken Glaedys to four in-country trips, where she conducted interviews with key stakeholders, engaged in extensive research, and actively participated in communication and advocacy initiatives.

This fellowship opportunity has ignited Glaeldys’ passion to shed light into pressing issues of a region often overlooked and find real and viable solutions for the threats to peace in Latin America. She intends to continue her research, analysis and advocacy efforts and further her work in the Central Andes region.

Since the Giustra Fellowship began in 2016, Crisis Group has hosted more than ten fellows, who have gone on to work in various organisations and in new capacities.