Doha Forum 2023 opening ceremony

September 13, 2023 marked the 30th anniversary of the signing of the Israel-PLO ‘Declaration of Principles’ – seen at the time as a breakthrough towards peace. But it was a somber anniversary – acknowledging the failure of that peace process to deliver an end to occupation of Palestinian lands, Palestinian statehood, or rights. Within less than a month, the magnitude of that failure burst forth and was clear for all to see. Against the backdrop of the cataclysmic Palestinian-Israeli reality, can a path be charted which brings the core issues to the fore and builds towards genuine peace and security? This plenary will assess the state of crisis and ask: where do we go from here, and what role can be envisaged for external actors?

Recent advances in artificial intelligence have given us a glimpse into the immense promise for human progress and complex challenges it poses to regulation, great power tensions, and the digital divide. Technologies often arise in private sector settings beyond national jurisdictions, making governance difficult. Shifts in power facilitated by emerging technologies could prove highly destabilizing if not properly managed. What multilateral tools can be employed and how can responsible initiatives be designed to create a safe, sustainable, and inclusive AI and Cybertech future for all? This session is co-sponsored by the Doha Forum, Stimson Center, and Global Institute for Strategic Research at Hamad Bin Khalifa University.

The world is grappling to agree on energy transition pathways that will limit global warming to 1.5°C benchmark. But new European-Gulf energy relations, established in the wake of the war in Ukraine, are opening up new avenues for reconciling energy and climate interests. Gulf producers are now sizing up the challenges and opportunities for their growth as hydrocarbon-dependent economies by working to enhance cooperation on European rapid energy transitions. Can this new framing serve as a blueprint for importers and exporters worldwide to work together to advance a smooth energy transition?

There are many dimensions to the current crisis for Palestinians—the unfolding catastrophe in Gaza being the primary one. As attention begins to turn to what must happen next—there is a renewed focus on the carrying capacity of current Palestinian political structures—in terms not only of governance, but also of the ability to effectively articulate and advocate for Palestinian political aspirations, freedoms, and rights. The structures of limited Palestinian self-governance created by Oslo and the approaching two decades of the political split between the West Bank and Gaza have taken their toll. Palestinian strategies for empowerment and liberation have failed to keep pace with the march of Israeli extremism. Palestinians would undoubtedly benefit from greater consensus, shared strategy, and unity across their political and geographical expanse. This is primarily a challenge for Palestinians but it is also impacted by external actors who can pave that road or throw obstacles in its path. In this moment of remarkable solidarity with Palestinians, how can a new path be forged?

Changing dynamics in the region this year has led - in part- to deescalation in Yemen, opening an opportunity to reconsider ways to support an inclusive peace in the war torn country. Meanwhile, the spillover of the war in Gaza has taken Yemen into a new level of proxy wars and regional escalations with a global impact threatening one of the most critical maritime and trade routes in the world - Bab al-Mandab. This closed-door, two-part roundtable will look at how regional and international actors and factors are contributing to conflict, escalation and stabilization as well as prospects for the country’s economic future through regional blocs.

Twelve years since Syria's uprising began, the dynamics around engagement with the country’s leadership began to shift in 2023. The resulting track of regional engagement with Damascus has brought little benefit, but the longstanding “Western” policy of isolation has also achieved little. What might genuinely meaningful progress look like for the crisis in Syria and what can the international community leverage to get there?

In education, we find hope for future generations. Throughout history, the cultivation of knowledge has had a profound effect on nations, elevating standards, promoting innovation, and fostering social progress. The education sector in Afghanistan, however, is failing to achieve such progress, particularly when it comes to Afghan women. This session will present actionable strategies, developed in a pre-Forum workshop, to overcome barriers to education for women in Afghanistan. Recommendations will be proposed toward reinstituting inclusive formal education, building upon successful community-based education, implementing digital solutions, and aligning the necessary financing through global partnership.

As the economic weight of the world shifts towards Asia, the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) is deepening ties with Asia’s biggest economies, including China, South Korea, Japan and India. Relationships formally focused on energy issues, are expanding to include cooperation on technology, climate change, and regional security. With GCC countries further developing their “Look East” policies, we will discuss the most promising avenues for cooperation amidst a complex geopolitical landscape.

Funding of public goods and financing gaps in support of the Sustainable Development Goals is an enormous challenge that is complex and transnational. Recent challenges like the climate crisis, COVID-19, and the conflicts in Ukraine and Gaza have underscored the fact that funding from national governments and global civil society groups is insufficient. What role can private finance and capital markets play in addressing humanitarian challenges? We’ll discuss what the limits are of current models and what innovative humanitarian instruments and partnerships could address humanitarian challenges and assist the most vulnerable communities.