Jessie Banfield

Jessie Banfield
Former Director of Programmes

Jessie was International Alert’s Director of Programmes from April 2019 to January 2021.

She previously worked with Alert from 2002–13, serving as our Africa Regional Manager and before that Uganda Country Manager. She also led our work on economic development for peace.

She has decades of experience in conflict prevention and peacebuilding globally. Most recently, she was based at UNDP’s Istanbul Regional Hub, serving as Conflict Prevention and Peacebuilding Specialist, working closely with UN country teams to advance regional initiatives in Europe and Central Asia. Prior to this she was an independent consultant, assisting among others the UK Stabilisation Unit and UNDP’s Africa Regional Hub.

She holds an MA in International Studies and Diplomacy from the University of London’s School of Oriental and African Studies. She has published extensively on contemporary peace and security issues.