United States

As the foremost global spender on both foreign aid and defence, the US significantly influences global peace and security through its policies and actions. Despite growing divisions in public opinion on the value of US overseas engagement, the US Government remains deeply involved in conflict-affected and fragile states worldwide.

We believe there is a crucial need for a robust, credible and consistent civil society voice to challenge, inform and improve US Government foreign, security and aid policy. Our objective is to steer US policy and impact away from entrenched or reactive practices that do harm and towards approaches that emphasise prevention, dialogue, nonviolence, and the human rights and dignity of all.

Saferworld established Saferworld USA in 2014 as a 501(c)(3) non-profit organisation, to enhance our advocacy and outreach within the US. Governed by its own board of directors, Saferworld USA is a distinct entity, yet operates cohesively with Saferworld under its global organisational strategy, ethos and approach.

Our work

Saferworld USA advocates for more effective US and United Nations policy in support of conflict prevention and peacebuilding through a range of coalitions, partners, programmes and activities. We focus on promoting preventative and less securitised US responses to global conflicts that give people a seat at the table to resolve differences and find justice. We improve US investment in peace by protecting and growing the power of civil society peacebuilders, promoting women’s rights organisations, and ensuring US interventions integrate conflict analysis and are conflict sensitive. At the multilateral level, we focus on challenging harmful counter-terror policies and promoting peace and rights-based alternatives.

Our work relies on strong relationships with the United Nations, the US government and the US Congress, as well as civil society, think tanks and the media. Through research, consultations, panel discussions and roundtables, our experts and partners from around the world bring to bear the evidence and experience gained from our programmes and partners in Afghanistan, Central Asia, Myanmar, Somalia, South Sudan, Sudan, Yemen and elsewhere.

We gratefully acknowledge our many partners and supporters, including the Wellspring Philanthropic Fund, the Open Society Foundations, Humanity United, the Ford Foundation, the Packard Foundation, the Funders Initiative for Civil Society, the Jocarno Fund, and others.

"To steer US policy in a new direction, they must be careful to avoid a narrow focus on battling ‘extremism’ at the expense of addressing the underlying human security and governance deficits that cause violence and state fragility."
Jason Calder, Saferworld USA Head of Office

Our Staff

Jason S Calder, Director of Saferworld USA

Jason joined Saferworld in 2018 and is the Director of Saferworld USA. He directs Saferworld’s policy change and partnership-building activity in Washington DC and oversees its advocacy work at the United Nations. Jason has three decades of experience in peacebuilding, governance and development in Africa, Asia, Latin America and the Caribbean. He has a Master’s degree in Economics from the Andrew Young School of Policy Studies at Georgia State University. He previously spent 15 years at The Carter Center, most recently as its Office Director and Country Representative in Guyana. He brings a range of expertise on multi-stakeholder dialogue, inclusive governance, social cohesion, community-driven peacebuilding, social movements and aid effectiveness.

Twitter: @JasonCalder15
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Jordan Street, Senior Policy and Advocacy Lead

Jordan joined Saferworld in 2017 and is the Senior Policy and Advocacy Lead at Saferworld USA. He covers peacebuilding, peacekeeping and counter-terrorism policy and is based in Washington DC. He has a Master's degree in International Relations and Global Issues from the University of Nottingham, and previously worked for a number of NGOs in Washington DC and New York. He leads Saferworld’s advocacy at the United Nations in New York. He has written extensively on the impact of counter-terrorism policy on peace, human rights and civic space, with recent work focused on the negative effects of counter-terrorism at the United Nations.

Twitter: @jordan_street07

Ryan Brenner, Senior US Partnerships Manager

Ryan joined Saferworld USA in 2022 as Senior US Partnerships Manager. She is responsible for a comprehensive strategy to develop Saferworld’s programming partnerships with USAID, the State Department and the US philanthropic sector. She has a Bachelor’s degree in Political Science and International Affairs from George Washington University, where she was actively engaged in advocacy for Sudan and South Sudan with STAND, the student-led movement to end mass atrocities. She has a business development background and previously worked for ME&A, Global Communities and IBI.

Twitter: @RyansRadar
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Tyler Pry, US Policy and Advocacy Associate

Tyler joined Saferworld USA in 2020. He develops and implements advocacy strategies to influence the US government’s response to conflict and insecurity in countries where Saferworld works. Focusing on Sudan, South Sudan and Yemen, he leads outreach to Congress and the State Department, encouraging greater engagement with civil society, and inclusivity in peace processes. He has a Master’s degree in International Relations from the London School of Economics. He previously worked to promote and protect human rights in Saudi Arabia, Bahrain, the United Arab Emirates and Yemen at Americans for Democracy & Human Rights in Bahrain.

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