Phil Vernon

Former Director of Programmes

Phil was our Director of Programmes for 13 years, from 2004–2017.

He provided leadership and oversight of Alert’s programmes in Africa, Asia, the Middle East, Latin America and the former Soviet Union, and of teams that deal with cross-cutting issues of importance to peacebuilding, such as the economy, gender, climate change, natural resource management and organised crime, as well as our core advocacy, learning and training functions.

Prior to joining Alert, Phil had worked in development, humanitarian and peacebuilding in Africa since 1985, in Sudan, Rwanda, Lesotho, Mali, Ghana, Benin, Togo and Uganda. Initially a forester by training, with an MSc from the University of North Wales, his interest in conflict and peacebuilding was stimulated by the experience of living in Rwanda from 1992–1994. From 2000–2004 he was Country Director of Care International in Uganda, and played an active role in research and advocacy on the northern Uganda conflict, helping to establish and lead the Civil Society Organisations for Peace in Northern Uganda coalition.

Phil blogs on Africa, peacebuilding and development issues at www.philvernon.net.