George Breslauer (Executive Vice Chancellor and Provost,UC Berkeley) opens with an overview on recent conflicts and instability in the world, discussing how the first steps in a country's recovery from conflict are critical not just for local stability, but for global security as well. Temina Madon (Executive Director, CEGA) spoke about the importance of conducting research on approaches to recovery in conflict-torn states. She highlighted the disproportionate (and enormous) economic burden of political violence in Sub-Saharan Africa, South and Southeast Asia, the power of collecting rigorous data to influence policy in these regions, and the inherent challenges of doing so.