The 2025 Forum

Exchange between public and private decision-makers on digital issues, strategic autonomy, and partnerships essential to aligning interests between the North and South.

This event is invitation-only.

The OECD, Global Witness, the United Nations Department of Peace Operations and the Madini Project are organizing a series of partner-led sessions on the sidelines of the Paris Peace Forum. Just ahead of the official event, key stakeholders will gather to explore how global and local actors can ensure that the accelerating demand for transition minerals drives justice, peace, and sustainability rather than conflict or exploitation. These partner-led sessions will kick off with a discussion on the opportunities for better governance of transition minerals in the current state of multilateralism, including through the United Nations, the G20 and other fora. It will then dive into community impacts in resource-rich developing economies, especially in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, and explore reintegration pathways for ex-combatants in responsible artisanal and small-scale mines. The sessions will wrap up with a discussion on the connection between responsible investments and mineral supply chain resilience. Together, they aim to chart a path toward equitable, transparent, and sustainable mineral governance worldwide.

Agenda:

9:00 – 9:30: Welcoming Coffee and Keynotes

9:30 – 11:00: “Governing the Global Mineral Rush: Building a Just Transition through the United Nations, G20, and Beyond”

11:30 – 13:00: “Geopolitics, Communities, and the Future of the DRC’s Minerals” 

Lunch Break 

14:00 – 15:30: “Practical Approaches to Disarmament, Demobilization and Reintegration (DDR) and Conflict Resolution through Responsible Artisanal and Small-Scale Mining (ASM)”   

16:00 – 17:30: “Exploring the Link Between Responsible Mineral Investment in an Evolving Security Landscape and Mineral Supply Chain Resilience” 

Seats to this event are limited and registration will be made on a first come first served basis. A confirmation email will be sent ahead of the event to confirmed participants. To register, please click here.

Mozambique is a critical partner for Europe. The country is home to vast reserves of natural resources, including coal and major offshore gas fields, which have attracted billions in investment. French company TotalEnergies is leading the multi-billion-dollar Mozambique LNG project in Cabo Delgado, one of the largest energy investments ever made in Africa, with European partners playing a significant role. Yet these projects raise difficult questions in the context of the climate crisis, net-zero transitions, and the “resource trap.”

At the same time, instability in northern Mozambique underscores the security risks that accompany large-scale resource development. The insurgency in Cabo Delgado has already disrupted operations and exposed how fragile economic opportunity can be without stability on the ground. Debt is another pressing challenge. Mozambique has a complex history with international finance, ranging from undisclosed loans that damaged its credibility to restructuring efforts involving both the Paris Club and private bondholders.

At a moment when many European governments are scaling back their humanitarian and development commitments, the need for a frank dialogue between Europe and Africa has never been greater. The European Council on Foreign Relations is therefore convening a conversation with a senior Mozambican political leader to explore how both continents can better align their strategies on shared challenges. This discussion presents a rare opportunity to hear perspectives from the Global South at a time when Europe is reassessing its role in the world. What can a deeper Europe–Africa partnership look like in practice, and how can Mozambique’s experience help shape the future of cooperation?

This event is invitation-only.

This session, co-organized by ATLAS and OCP Groupe, this afternoon session on Broadening Access to Sustainable Agricultural Practices: Scaling Innovation through South-South Cooperation, co-organized with OCP Group, a member of the ATLAS ( Agricultural Transitions Lab for African Solutions) coalition, will showcase transformative initiatives from the Paris Peace Forum’s Call for Solutions 2025. ATLAS, launched by the PPF in 2023, is a coalition of 40 institutions working to position Africa as a major agricultural power by addressing systemic barriers through coordinated policy, financing, and accountability tools such as the Investment Barometer and the 2×30 Challenge. The event will feature two panel discussions examining how South–South cooperation and sustainable practices can drive agricultural transformation.

The first session will spotlight how innovation, from digital tools and artificial intelligence to stronger South–South partnerships, can help overcome barriers related to financing, policy, and technology transfer, thereby accelerating the adoption of sustainable and climate-resilient practices.

The second session will focus on scaling regenerative and community-led models that enhance resilience, restore ecosystems, and improve livelihoods across African agri-food systems.

This event is at 19 rue de l’Amiral Hamelin, 75116 Paris. Sign-up form here.

Members of the Global Council for Responsible Transition Minerals, composed of different actors representing diverse geographies, will convene in person under Chatham House rules on the eve of the Paris Peace Forum for a high-level dialogue that will inform discussions at the Forum. Building on the seven recommendations launched in November 2024, the Council will assess progress made and identify strategic priorities for the year ahead to build more responsible, transparent, and resilient mineral supply chains. With international momentum building around mineral governance – the Paris Peace Forum, COP30, UNEA-7 and other fora – this Council’s meeting will be critical in guiding the next steps of a successful global and multistakeholder cooperation on transition minerals.

This event is invitation-only.

Recent armed conflicts have revealed a large integration of ICT capabilities, including cyber capabilities and AI-enabled systems, at almost every stage of military operations. This shift risks undermining efforts to preserve peace and stability, strains existing multilateral structures, and presents new challenges for the protection of civilians and the application of international law. Addressing the growing convergence of risks in times of peace and armed conflict calls for renewed diplomatic action and innovative, multi- stakeholder solutions.

As its 8th edition aims to crystallize “New Coalitions for Peace”, the Paris Peace Forum, together with international partners, invites policymakers, private sector executives and civil-society experts to the Day 0 seminar “From disruptive code to restrained conflict” on Tuesday, 28 October 2025 in Paris. The event will examine ongoing initiatives, foster dialogue and forge synergies toward clearer norms for ICT-driven warfare, paving the way for sustainable peace and security in both the digital and physical worlds.

Programme highlights:
– Governing emerging means of warfare – presentation of the final report of the Global Commission on Responsible AI in the Military Domain (in partnership with the Hague Centre for Strategic Studies);
– Upholding international humanitarian law in an era of digitalized warfare: Presenting the ICT workstream of the Global Initiative to Galvanize Political Commitment to IHL (in partnership with the International Committee of the Red Cross)
– Securing the end of hostilities across all fronts: towards a digital ceasefire? (in partnership with Access Now)

This event is invitation-only.

As a partner event of the Paris Peace Forum, this roundtable will provide an opportunity to exchange practical and theoretical perspectives on the transformations affecting contemporary international mediation. It will open a discussion on the future of conflict resolution practices in a world where the dynamics of identity fragmentation and technological standardization clash.

This event is at the Maison de la Recherche (2 rue de Lille, 75007 Paris) – Auditorium Dumezil. For more information, please visit the event page here.

This event will explore international mechanisms for addressing climate change, focusing on its consequences on international security such as international migration, potential conflicts, and geopolitical instability, by giving special attention to the role of young people in facing these challenges.

The discussion will revolve around two central questions :
– How can young people take concrete action against climate change?
– How can their voices be amplified and meaningfully integrated into international decision-making processes?

By tackling these questions, the event will highlight the urgent need to strengthen the link between climate governance and security, while positioning youth as agents of change at the international level.

This event is at Amphithéâtre Bachelard, Sorbonne; 17 rue de la Sorbonne, 75005, Paris. Sign-up form here.

In an era defined by accelerating climate change, the traditional boundaries of peacebuilding and security are shifting. From rising sea levels to desertification, resource scarcity to extreme weather events, climate instability is no longer just an environmental issue, it becomes a geopolitical and security imperative. This side event, organized in the framework of the Paris Peace Forum’s 2025 theme “New Coalitions for Peace, People, and the Planet,” will explore how diplomacy and defense must adapt to the realities of a warming planet.

As climate shocks exacerbate tensions within and between States, the world needs new models of cooperation. The panel will bring together voices from diplomacy, defense, biosecurity, and regional cooperation to explore how innovative coalitions across sectors, disciplines, and borders can strengthen resilience, reduce the risk of conflict and sustain peace in a resource-constrained future.

The session will focus on the following discussion axes:
• How climate vulnerability is/has to be integrated in national security.
• How armed forces are preparing for climate-driven operations (disaster response, climate migration, infrastructure protection…).
• How diplomacy and foreign policy evolves in a resource-scarce era (conflict prevention, agreements…)

This event will take place at 17 boulevard Jourdan, 75014 Paris ; Maison internationale, Cité internationale universitaire de Paris. Sign-up link here.

On the occasion of the 8th Paris Peace Forum and the centenary of the Cité Internationale Universitaire de Paris, this high-level participatory workshop, organized by the resident initiative DiploCité and conducted primarily in English, will bring together researchers, academics, and students to discuss major issues related to the protection and strengthening of academic freedoms. As the Academic Freedom Index 2025 reveals a decline in 34 countries, including democracies, this workshop offers a privileged space to rethink the strategies and coalitions necessary to safeguard academic freedoms in a rapidly changing world.

Opening Roundtable

To frame the discussion, the event will open with an exchange between international experts, including:

• Liviu Matei — Professor of Higher Education Policy at King’s College London, founder of the Global Observatory on Academic Freedom and former provost of the Central European University.
• Peter Maassen — Professor at the University of Oslo and lead author of the European Parliament Academic Freedom Monitor 2023, specialist in European higher education policy.
• Kwadwo Appiagyei-Atua — Associate Professor at the University of Ghana School of Law, Director of the Africa Coalition for Academic Freedom, and specialist in international law and human rights.

Participatory Workshop

The workshop will continue in thematic groups moderated by DiploCité facilitators. These small-group discussions will encourage active listening, exploration of complex topics, and constructive dialogue. Designed as a space for collective intelligence, the workshop aims to generate concrete ideas to better protect researchers, preserve institutional autonomy, and foster the formation of new coalitions.

About DiploCité

Aligned with the humanist vision that inspired the founders of the Cité Internationale Universitaire de Paris, DiploCité is an initiative supported by the Resident Initiatives Fund (FIR). Led by members from diverse backgrounds and disciplines, it seeks to create spaces for exchange and learning around major contemporary international issues, in accordance with the principles of the Cité Internationale’s Charter of Values.

This event will take place at 17 boulevard Jourdan, 75014 Paris ; Salon Honnorat, Maison internationale, Cité internationale universitaire de Paris. Sign-up link here.