Fabian, Mercator Fellow on International Affairs

Fabian Keske has graduated in Environmental Policy. Coming from Germany, he is a Mercator Fellow on International Affairs. 

What is your role and main responsibilities?

As a Mercator Fellow on International Affairs, I work currently for two organizations: 

For the Geneva Centre for Security Sector Governance (DCAF), I work on strengthening the role of the security sector on the nexus of climate, peace and security. In this role, I am responsible for desk research, field studies including stakeholder interviews or focus group discussions, and report writing. 

As Mercator Fellow on Access to Justice at OECD’s Division for Policy Coherence for Sustainable Development Goals, I work on projects supporting the development of people-centered justice systems as well as on strengthening rule of law. We analyze how people attain access to justice and develop country-specific recommendations on how to facilitate these pathways. 

How did you secure this role?

After my Master in Environmental Policy at Sciences Po, I gained first experience as a research associate on international relations at Ludwig Maximilian University (LMU) of Munich while complementing my academic knowledge with studies in International and European law. Subsequently, I worked in the German Federal Foreign Office in Berlin on conflict prevention, stabilization and peacebuilding with a focus on evidence-based policymaking and climate, peace and security. 

These first professional experiences confirmed my strong interest to bridge the strategic and operational levels of foreign and development policy to prevent and mitigate climate-induced conflicts. They also helped me to obtain the Mercator Fellowship and work for different organizations on natural resource governance and environmental law.

How did your PSIA experience help you with the role?

During my studies at PSIA, I was able to deepen my knowledge on a wide range of topics, such as environmental law, economics, or international political development. Having a profound understanding of various academic fields enables me to quickly adapt to new working environments and tasks that require a holistic understanding. 

Having chosen Methods as a concentration, I further refined my multidisciplinary research skills that facilitates me to also work research-oriented across various fields.

What is the most fascinating and/or surprising aspect of your role?

The most fascinating aspect to me is that I am dealing with very different topics that are increasingly thought together. For instance, to identify which role the security sector can play to address environmental crime more effectively, the historical-cultural, political, legal and socio-economic dimensions within a defined geographic context have to be analyzed to design localized and context-specific intervention measures. 

What advice would you give to others? 

Do not be afraid to ask simple questions.

• More about the Master in Environmental Policy
• More about the Mercator Fellowship on International Affairs