19 September 2021

3 Days to Bounce Back to a Better Planet: Reviewing the Success of the Third Edition

More than 12,000 participants representing no less than 174 countries joined over 50 heads of state, government and 29 leaders of international organizations, convening for three days for the digital third edition of the Paris Peace Forum.

In 2020, the world is facing a multi-faceted health crisis with dramatic consequences. It ignores borders and calls for collective solutions. Yet international coordination is lagging, short-term national calculations take precedence and solidarity with developing countries is in short supply.

The Paris Peace Forum was created to respond to the crisis of multilateralism, which accelerated sharply in 2020. Given the scale of the challenges before us, the Forum devoted its third edition to projects and initiatives from around the world aimed at providing immediate responses to the Coronavirus crisis and prepare for a better post-Covid 19 world.

Facts and figures from the 2020 Forum:

117 hours of live broadcasting
178 debate sessions and project pitches on the 3-day agenda
50+ heads of state and government as well as 29 leaders of international organizations took an active part.
100 project teams showcased their concrete solutions to international challenges.
442 high-level speakers participated in interactive debates.
12,000 individuals representing 174 countries participated from NGOs, companies, foundations, philanthropic organizations, development agencies, religious groups, trade unions, think tanks, universities, the private sector and civil society at large.

Three major deliverables from this year’s edition:

1. The Finance in Common Summit gathered 450 public development banks representing 10% of global investment. This first-of-its-kind summit led to a signed declaration to align their investments with the SDGs and climate objectives.
2. A coalition of states, international organizations and foundations (Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, France, Spain, the EU commission, and other actors) announceda contribution of $500M for ACT-A, the accelerator for Covid-19 vaccines, tests and therapies.
3. Leaders of the UN, IMF, Germany, France, Senegal and the European Union started a global conversation on the principles which shall guide the world recovery after the Covid-19 crisis. This political discussion has set up the stage for a new international consensus towards a fairer and more resilient paradigm to define the principles of the post-Covid19 world: the “Paris Consensus”.

What happened during the third edition?

The third edition of the Paris Peace Forum resonated on an international scale, further confirming the necessity of this truly unique gathering of actors to focus on concrete solutions to the greatest challenges facing the world today. More than a conference, fair, or summit, the Forum is a singular platform gathering all actors of global governance to design concrete initiatives and reinvent contemporary cooperation.

On 12 November 2020, over 50 heads of state and international organizations contributed to the Official Ceremony around French President Emmanuel Macron, IMF Director-General Kristalina Georgieva, Senegalese President Macky Sall and Charles Michel, President of the European Council, to work on a collective response to the Covid-19 pandemic.

Throughout the 11, 12 and 13 November, 442 speakers intervened in high-level discussions. Highlights on the agenda included:

From global to local: Cities leading a green and equitable recovery

With the participation of Zhou Xianwang (Mayor of Wuhan), Giuseppe Sala (Former Mayor of Milan), Michael R. Bloomberg (Bloomberg LP & Bloomberg Philanthropies, Former Mayor of New York City), Vi Lyles (Mayor of Charlotte) and Frans Timmermans (European Commission).

Preventing the worst: Supporting vulnerable populations during pandemics

With the participation of Peter Maurer (ICRC), Nadia Murad (Nadia’s Initiative, Nobel Peace Prize), Ingrid-Gabriela Hoven (GIZ), and David Miliband (International Rescue Committee).

Bolstering Africa’s response to Covid-19: How can joint African and international efforts defeat the pandemic and its side effects?

With the participation of Louise Mushikiwabo (OIF), Mo Ibrahim (Mo Ibrahim Foundation), Tidjane Thiam (African Union) and Koen Doens (DEVCO).

ACT-A: Covid-19 vaccines, tests and therapies, the global public good solution

The Paris Peace Forum featured two exceptional panels on ACT-A, with French President Emmanuel Macron, Melinda Gates (Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation), Tedros Ghebreyesus (WHO), Adar Poonawalla (Serum Institute of India), Marisol Touraine (Unitaid), Seth Berkley (Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance) and many others.

Greener and Fairer: challenging and reforming capitalism

With the participation of Bruno Le Maire (Minister for the Economy, Finance and Recovery, France), Mohammed Yunus (Grameen Bank, Nobel Peace Prize) and Mari Pangestu (World Bank Group).

A path towards trust and security in the cyberspace: building further upon the Paris Call and the achievements of the UN

With the participation of Jean-Yves Le Drian (Minister of Europe and Foreign Affairs, France), Brad Smith (Microsoft), Marietje Schaake (Cyberpeace Institute), and UN representatives.