Global governance actors convened at the Mohamed VI Polytechnic University in Benguerir, Morocco, for the Spring Meeting of the Paris Peace Forum. This marked the first time the forum was held in an African country, symbolizing the common interests between the Global North and South and highlighting Africa’s essential role in addressing global challenges.
Hicham El Habti, President of Mohammed VI Polytechnic University (UM6P), emphasized the global nature of technology and the importance of local adaptation. “Technologies are not local; technology exists globally. Innovations and the adaptation of technology to local realities are what’s local. But technology itself is global,” he explained. El Habti added that UM6P’s motto, “Empowering minds,” aims to develop sovereign technologies in Africa to address global challenges.
The theme of this year’s forum was “fair transitions,” focusing on the challenge of balancing environmental preservation with reducing the energy gap. Nisreen Elsaim, general coordinator of the “Youth and Environment Society (YES)” platform and former Chair of the UN Secretary-General’s Youth Advisory Group on Climate Change, stressed the importance of equality in the transition process. “Only 40% of the African population has access to electricity. Without access to electricity, there is no access to health, education, or industry… So what kind of transition are we talking about?” she questioned. Elsaim emphasized that access to basic services is a right that must be fulfilled for communities to develop and achieve equality.
Amadou Hott, Special Envoy of the President of the African Development Bank, highlighted the need for collaboration to finance a fair energy transition and attract investors to Africa. “The public sector, private sector, and philanthropists, everyone needs to work together. African governments will have to continue investing in infrastructure, especially energy, to provide access—it’s a priority. But the private sector also needs to be able to invest because there is money to be made,” he stated.
The forum, organized in collaboration with the Mo Ibrahim Foundation, concluded with the launch of ATLAS (Agricultural Transitions Lab for African Solutions), a platform for political dialogue and collaboration between Northern countries and Africa and Southern countries. Additionally, the forum established the Global Council for Responsible Transition Minerals, bringing together high-level experts from various sectors, including Kandeh Yumkella, Bruno Oberle, and Kenewendo Bogolo, to promote sustainable and responsible mineral transitions.
