Markus Mayer is International Alert’s Asia Director with over 20 years’ experience covering work in Afghanistan, Kyrgyzstan, Myanmar, Nepal, Pakistan, Philippines, Tajikistan and Sri Lanka. Since 1995, he has worked on issues related to poverty and economic dimensions of conflict, with a focus on social integration policies, youth employment in post-conflict situations, conflict sensitive development programming, peace process management, diaspora engagement and business for peace interventions. He has an extensive background as trainer on local development planning, conflict and gender sensitivity, and responsible business practice, drawing on his impact research on the linkages between development and conflict transformation. He also advised bi-and multilateral agencies as well as government officials on peace and conflict trends in fragile settings and has inputted to the formulation of national policies and action plans. He holds an PhD from Heidelberg University on the topic of youth conflict and development planning.