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EUISS at the Stockholm Forum

23 May 2022
Participants to the discussion sitting around tables © EUISS

The Institute participated to the 2022 Stockholm Forum on Peace and Development. Together with the United State Institute for Peace, and the Peace in our Cities network, we organised a roundtable on urbanisation, fragility, violence and climate change.

The dicussion focused on the links between climate change and urban growth and how weak governance, complicated by climate-induced stresses and a rapidly growing urban population, can aggravate risks of urban conflicts and violence. It explored how climate and environment-sensitive approaches to urban peacebuilding can contribute to addressing drivers of fragility and sustaining peaceful communities. Participants also discussed practical solutions to help cities address the climate change–fragility nexus, with a particular attention given to Africa.

The event was moderated by Tegan Blaine, Director of the Climate, Environment and Conflict Program at the United States Institute of Peace. EUISS Director, Gustav Lindstrom set the scene with welcoming remarks and Rachel Locke, Director of the Violence, Inequality and Power Lab gave the closing remarks. Giovanni Faleg, EUISS Senior Analyst on sub-Saharan Africa highlighted the conclusions of the Chaillot paper "African Futures 2030" and its guidelines towards the transformation of African cities into productive and well-functioning urban centres thanks to sustainable urban development plans.

Discussants included:

  • Beatrice Kizi Nzovu (Team Leader, Africa Country Programs - The Life & Peace Institute)
  • Achim Wennmann (Director of Strategic Partnerships - Graduate Institute of International and Development Studies)
  • Santiago Uribe Rocha (Executive Director - Corporación Medellin Resiliente)
  • Betrand Soret (Adviser to Managing Director Africa • European External Action Service)