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?

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?

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.

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.

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.

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?

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.

Territorial disputes can escalate into conflicts that disrupt international peace. By embracing international law as a means of settling such disputes, nations can promote the rule of law on the global stage, emphasizing the power of diplomacy and negotiation over resorting to force. What factors enable disputes to be settled by law or set them up to fail? What can be done to encourage arbitration and what role can regional bodies play?

New approaches to preventing violent extremism can be enhanced by employing behavioral science, in tandem with data and digital technologies, to track conflict trends and sentiments as well as foster inclusive dialogues. What are the impacts and ethical boundaries of such approaches? How can improving evidence-based decisions within the UN system enhance its “New Agenda for Peace?”

Amid global crises and tight fiscal spaces, how can we build economic systems that support the full potential of women’s economic power? How can financial institutions and other private sector actors, development agencies, and governments work together to ensure greater access to affordable capital and digital infrastructure? How can we ensure equal access to climate-adaptive tools and resources that increase agricultural production and economic stability for women farmers and create more resilient economies for all?

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.

BRICS has long represented an influential and unique coalition of major emerging economies, providing leadership on the global stage without being classified as traditional superpowers. Dozens of countries have expressed interest in joining and this year, BRICS announced the expansion of six more countries. Where do the strengths of the new BRICS alliance lie, and how can they work together to continue their influential position in the global order? And what influence does this group have on middle powers around the world for global cooperation and governance?

In today's turbulent world, where fault lines can quickly escalate into conflicts with far-reaching consequences, the UN's functions in conflict prevention, mediation, peacekeeping, and humanitarian aid are paramount. However, the effectiveness of these efforts often hinges on the balance between the UN's mandated role and varying public perceptions of its actions. Our panel of experts will provide diverse insights into these challenges, successes, and areas for improvement, engaging policymakers, influencers, and representatives from governments, the private sector, think tanks, the media, and the UN to foster better understanding of the organization's role in conflict zones.

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.

As artificial intelligence technologies and its new iterations such as generative AI, fundamentally change economies and industries, questions on risks associated with its upscale and the negative implications on ecosystems loom. What are the future opportunities promised and what are the measures and governance mechanisms needed to ensure the responsible deployment of AI?

Communicable diseases, such as HIV, malaria, tuberculosis, COVID-19, and other tropical diseases pose a significant threat to public health, particularly in conflict and post-conflict regions. Women and girls are often disproportionately impacted by these diseases due to numerous socio-economic and cultural factors. To raise awareness and accelerate actions, Qatar Fund for Development in collaboration with the Global Fund will host a high-level side event. The event will offer a crucial platform for in-depth discussions and knowledge exchange regarding international support mechanisms for guaranteeing equitable access to high-quality healthcare services for Women and girls in conflict settings. The session will bring participants from various sectors, including government representatives, international organizations, NGOs, and healthcare professionals, to explore and deliberate on strategies and initiatives designed to enhance healthcare delivery to Women and girls facing the challenges of conflict and crisis.

This session will explore the challenge of maintaining energy security and economic stability against the backdrop of global turbulence. We will address the direct impacts of energy dependencies on national economies, exploring strategies for ensuring reliable energy supplies while navigating economic uncertainties and regulatory compliance. We will consider the state of international collaboration in responding to the volatile dynamics of global energy markets. Emphasis will be placed on practical approaches that can bolster economic resilience and energy security, particularly in the face of escalating geopolitical tensions and a rapidly changing energy landscape.

Disruption to supply chains and increasing tensions between the US and China have led to sharp changes in industrial policies that move away from free-market trade towards a more protected position. Nearshoring, friendshoring, derisking and decoupling have taken priorities in many countries and redrawn trade routes of the past 50 years. Will these policies limit trade or will they ensure stable global supply chains?

Afghanistan continues to be the world’s largest humanitarian crisis, with 35 million in poverty and two-thirds of Afghan households at risk of starvation without emergency food assistance. Unprecedented restrictions on Afghan women to work or study have reduced the ability for the economy to meet Afghan’s basic needs and the country’s future potential. How can an enabling environment be created for women to take part in their country's recovery from decades of war?

The panel session will focus on the topic of public debt as a global economic challenge and the importance of finding multilateral solutions. Experts from various fields will discuss the implications of rising public debt levels, the impact on economic stability, and the potential risks it poses to global financial systems. The session will also address the need for collaborative efforts among countries to develop effective strategies and policies to manage and reduce public debt.

This high-level session will present the latest trends, analyses, challenges and opportunities in humanitarian action, and overview of the coordinated humanitarian system plans in 2024. Despite the generosity of donors and partners, the gap between needs and resources continues to grow. A distinguished interactive panel will discuss how the international community can better address the challenges of the future; respond to growing humanitarian needs in a manner appropriate to local populations and communities in response to increasing conflicts, natural disasters, and the growing impact of climate change that is displacing millions of people across the world; and deepen partnerships with a diverse set of actors to strengthen humanitarian diplomacy and advocacy for better access and protection to people most affected.

Palestine – from the horrendous crisis and human suffering on the ground to the risks of a regional implosion; from the politicisation globally of a new generation around equality and against double standards to the political discombobulation in the West – the Palestine-Israel crisis is ever more a global crisis. But at the governmental level, the global institutional architecture for positively impacting the trajectory of developments in Palestine-Israel has been found wanting. Do the events from October 7 onwards create a new opening for greater global engagement, for previously marginalized state actors to be part of navigating a path towards actually addressing core issues and achieving progress towards rights and security for all. This panel will be an opportunity to listen to some of those other voices, especially from the global South and to explore options for breaking the failed status quo.

Ongoing conflicts, wars, natural disasters, and crises are causing widespread devastation in the Arab region. In recent years, we have witnessed unprecedented destruction, attacks, and mass displacement. Concurrently, economic crises and governance challenges have grown significantly. This panel aims to assess the impact of these recent conditions on the human rights of the Arab region's population. We will also explore the roles played by the UN system, civil society, and various stakeholders in responding to these challenges while safeguarding the rights of the people.

Given the current situation and dynamics in the region, all actors in the Middle East face the challenge of establishing accurate and timely facts on the rapidly changing situation in and around Gaza. Tensions run high, fueling fears of a spill-over of conflict. To counter this, intelligence cooperation can be a key factor in lifting the fog of war, increasing situational awareness, and preventing further escalation. This informal and confidential roundtable brings together high-level officials and leading think tank representatives to assess the possible contributions of the intelligence community to stabilizing the current – and future – security situation in the Middle East. The session seeks to address questions such as: Could an emerging community of interest, built by interested intelligence services, contribute to an informal early warning and crisis management structure in the region? And could such a community of interest provide a common situational and risk awareness that supports informed decision making by their respective governments?

At a time of heightened conflict and rising tension in the MENA region, the need for multilateral and inclusive dialogue is more important than ever. This session will bring together influential perspectives from both inside and outside the region to consider broad issues such as the prospects for diplomacy and conflict resolution, nonproliferation, infrastructure development, and economic development.

Addressing the global challenge of climate change requires coordinated international governance. Off the back of the latest meetings to contain global temperature rise to 1.5°C, we look at how feasible, high impact global governance solutions can help fill the gap of the confronting climate emergency. Is the current model fit for purpose and what enhancements can be made to the global governance architecture to increase better outcomes? We’ll review key takeaways from COP28 and consider far-reaching innovations in global governance to set humanity on the path toward sustainable green growth and climate stability.

Fluctuating power dynamics shaping global politics has seen an increase in smaller, issue-based regional and intraregional alliances, signifying a shift from traditional alliance frameworks to more nuanced engagement. What do these smaller, more pragmatic pacts mean for broader cooperation on global challenges? Could these groups serve as a steppingstone for resolving gridlocks in multilateral organizations or do they pose challenges for the current rules-based order?

In the digital age, artificial intelligence (AI) has transformed industries, but with its growth comes pressing concerns about data privacy. The need for data to fuel the technology increases the risk of misuse without guiding principles and boundaries. What are the challenges and strategies of ensuring privacy within AI systems, exploring both technical safeguards and ethical considerations? This panel will explore the best practices and forward-thinking approaches for the private and public sectors to maintain trust in the AI-driven era.

Sudan’s devastating civil war started last April, when tensions between rival factions in the Sudanese armed forces turned into open warfare. Fighting thus far has centred mostly in Khartoum and Sudan's western region of Darfur. It has already killed thousands and forced millions from their homes, leaving more Sudanese internally displaced than anyone else in the world. The conflict is engulfing more of the country, and protracted instability in Sudan could reverberate further afield, particularly in the Horn and Sahel regions. Diplomatic efforts with the warring parties have resulted in ceasefire agreements, but none has held for more than a few days. The panel will explore avenues for securing a lasting ceasefire, consider steps necessary to kickstart a meaningful political process, and identify ways to reduce the conflict’s impact in neighbouring states and the wider region.

The Gulf and Europe find themselves in a changing geopolitical order. While some states look with reluctance on what they frame as a great power rivalry, others embrace it as a multipolar shift offering opportunities to diversify partnerships. What binds both sides together is an interest, as middle powers, to strengthen international and multilateral institutions as the global political system becomes more volatile. In a plethora of complementary, competing, overlapping or diverging institutions: How can multipolarity be translated into multilateral institutions that provide more stability in times of crises? 

The session will include the Global Launch of the 2023 Future Readiness Economic Index, a special report commissioned by Google and produced by  Descartes Institute in cooperation with the Communications Regulatory Authority of the State of Qatar. Key results and rankings of the report will be presented alongside a discussion by key stakeholders in digital transformations.

This panel discussion will explore the pivotal role vaccines and their innovation play in fortifying healthcare systems as well as delve into the multifaceted aspects of vaccine development and the importance of ensuring their efficient and equitable distribution. These efforts are integral to bolstering the resilience and adaptability of healthcare infrastructures, not only on a national scale but also in the context of global health challenges. Leading voices in public health policy will shed light on lessons learned from COVID-19 and future plans for addressing health emergencies and pandemics.

Prior to the Hamas attack on Israel on October 7 and the ensuing Gaza invasion, regional diplomacy was experiencing an upswing. Almost all regional countries were active participants in the process of regional de-escalation and normalization. The talk of a new and more cooperative era in regional politics was almost ubiquitous. However, as the war has illustrated, this process was and is fragile and reversible. Indeed, the regional reset remains an unfinished project. The Middle East was and is yet to define what comes after the de- escalation and normalization phases of recent years. As a watershed moment, the war will have a major impact on the dynamics of escalation and de-escalation in regional affairs. Premised on a special dossier,the Middle East's Fragile Reset: Actors, Battlegrounds, and (Dis)order, this panel aims to address the following questions: 

1. What future awaits the process of regional reset of recent years in the Middle East?

2. What is the prospect for the idea of regional cooperation, multilateralims or minilateralism?

3. How does the interaction between the regional reset, Palestinian - Israeli conflict and the Palestinian question likely to evolve in the new period?

4. How do the regional reset and the war change the place of external powers in regional politics?

5. What is the way out of the current abyss?

In this panel discussion, we will dissect the concerning decline of social cohesion and its profound implications for peaceful societies. We'll examine the intricate web of factors contributing to this erosion, from polarization and inequality to the erosion of trust and community bonds. Esteemed public policy experts will discuss the development of a social cohesion index by Hamad Bin Khalifa University which is more relevant to the Middle East and Global South.

The world has more active violent conflicts now than at any time since the end of the Second World War and our ability to build sustainable peace has never been more urgent. By rethinking international cooperation, we can use peacebuilding to address root causes of violent conflict, build local capacity, ensure inclusion, accountability, and transparency while increasing solidarity and social justice. What are the roles of global and regional cooperation in building durable peace after an agreement is signed? What are the steps necessary for taking forward the UN Secretary-General’s New Agenda for Peace?

Environmental action is a distant priority for many governments of fragile states, which are often vulnerable to climate change yet have limited capacity to advance climate goals. International actors are also hesitant to invest in sustainable solutions where conflict, fragility and weakened governance persists. But energy innovations and new technology are allowing for feasible, small-scale solutions that not only advance climate goals, but also bolster civil infrastructure, accelerating economic development and peacebuilding efforts. So how can we reframe the approach to energy security and sustainability for more stable societies?

Against the backdrop of the Gaza crisis where the Israel-Hamas conflict has shattered the fragile regional stability, there is a growing view that the war in Ukraine may turn into a stalemate. The ongoing crisis in the Middle East has diverted diplomatic, political and media attention away from Kyiv, compounding concerns over long-term western funding for Kyiv. What role do international influences and relationship have on preventing a protracted conflict and what strategies can be harnessed to de-escalate tensions and facilitate a peaceful resolution. By examining the engagement of key global stakeholders and their contributions to conflict mitigation, this panel aims to shed light on the potential pathways toward lasting stability and cooperation in the region.

Competition between the United States and China is deepening despite a flurry of high-level meetings between the two countries in 2023 . The great power rivalry that may define the 21st century has far-reaching effects across the global economy, as well as multilateral cooperation on critical challenges such as climate change and the emergence of new technologies. What strategies and responses will so-called middle powers employ to cut their own independent path under increasing pressure and an emerging power vacuum?

This session will ask whether multilateral institutions are meeting the needs of the present, and how multilateral systems might evolve to better include and address the rapidly changing challenges of the coming decades. How can we build inclusive systems, norms, and institutions that both honor the dignity and differences of the world’s people while also enabling effective cooperation across powerful divides? What frameworks, ideas, and technologies will we need to develop to be the stewards of our many shared futures?

Doha Forum 2023 closing session