#OpenDialogue 20 Nov. Reimagining Global Cooperation & Humanitarian Futures
Happening on Wednesday, November 20th at 4.30pm CET & SAST / 3.30pm UK / 10,30am CET / 7.30am PST. Please RSVP by registering on the Zoom Link here.
What is the new Civic Planetary Infrastructure we need to reimagine global cooperation and humanitarian futures in a time of polycrisis?
We face a watershed moment in human history. Our challenges transcend borders and demand a fundamental reimaging of how we operate and respond. At this inflection point our choice ‘for life’ must be declared in different actions and institutional responses. Our existing structures are unable to effectively tackle the nature, complexity and multiplicity of crises.
This dialogue aims to explore transformative ideas for a new global civic and planetary infrastructure that might better navigate our interconnected world. Ideating a diverse ecosystem of institutions and networks with new “polylateral arrangements” where states, sub-national governments, private sectors, and civil society, it seeks to reimagine what such an infrastructure would look like, how it would foster alignment, build response-ability, integrate the perspectives and needs of those with indigenous knowledge and proximate lived experiences to enhance adaptive capacity.
We invite you to join us. Drawing inspiration from Stephen Heintz’s “Logic for the Future” and Indy Johar’s “Societal Innovation” to explore
- how might we transition from a world of fragmented responses to one of collaborative problem-solving on a planetary scale.
- how might we create more effective and inclusive global governance structures that reflect the complexities of our interconnected world?
- what new approaches might revitalise democratic participation and representation on a global scale?
- how might we break, or bridge silos, foster collaboration between them in new “polylateral arrangements” that bring together states, sub-national governments, private sector, and civil society?
- How do we ensure that our reimagined global infrastructure accounts for long-term thinking and intergenerational justice?
- What role will emerging technologies play in reshaping global cooperation and governance?
- How can we design governance structures that are more responsive and adaptable to rapid global changes?
- What new roles can civil society organizations play in shaping and implementing global cooperation?
- What ethical principles should guide our reimagining of global civic and planetary infrastructure?
This dialogue is not about imposing a single vision, but about co-creating a framework for the future that reflects our collective aspirations and addresses the complex challenges of our time. We invite all participants to bring their ideas, visions, and lived experiences to this crucial conversation as we seek to shape a better international system for tomorrow.
Conversation guides include:
Stephen B. Heintz is president and CEO of the Rockefeller Brothers Fund, a private family foundation with an endowment of approximately $1.2 billion that advances social change for a more just, sustainable, and peaceful world. Heintz coined the term “acupuncture philanthropy” to describe his philanthropic approach of leveraging modest financial assets to trigger larger systemic change on critical issues. In 2010, he set an ambitious path to align investment of the Fund’s financial assets with its mission, resulting in its 2014 decision to divest from fossil fuels and establishing the RBF as a leader in the Divest-Invest movement.
Heintz, who began his professional life in public service for the state of Connecticut, has devoted his career to strengthening democratic culture and institutions to better serve citizens. Before joining the RBF in 2001, Heintz co-founded and served as president of Dēmos, a public policy organization that works to reduce political and economic inequality and to broaden citizen engagement in American democracy. As co-chair of the American Academy of Arts and Sciences national Commission on the Practice of Democratic Citizenship in the 21st Century, he co-authored the report Our Common Purpose: Reinventing American Democracy for the 21st Century.
On the international stage, Heintz served as executive vice president and chief operating officer for the EastWest Institute during the 1990s. Based in Prague, he helped propel civil society development, economic reform, and international security as the bedrock of Central and Eastern Europe’s burgeoning democracies. In 2002, he led the RBF’s joint initiative with the UN Association of the USA to open a Track II dialogue that helped lay the groundwork for the Iran nuclear deal. The Iran Project, which he co-founded, keeps alive the possibility of a peaceful relationship with Iran despite the U.S. withdrawal from this historic agreement. In 2007, Heintz convened a meeting of the Kosovo Unity Team and prominent global diplomatic figures at the Fund’s Pocantico Center, resulting in the Pocantico Declaration that set a path for the Kosovo independence process.
Heintz is a fellow of the American Academy of Arts and Sciences and a member of the Council on Foreign Relations and the China Council for International Cooperation on Environment and Development. He chairs the board of the Quincy Institute and serves on the boards of the International Crisis Group and the Rockefeller Archive Center. He is the recipient of the Council on Foundations 2018 Distinguished Service Award.
Indy Johar is an architect, co-founder of 00 (project00.cc) and Dark Matter. He has co-founded multiple social ventures from Impact Hub Westminster to Impact Hub Birmingham. He has also co-led research projects such as The Compendium for the Civic Economy, whilst supporting several 00 explorations/experiments including the wikihouse.cc, opendesk.cc. Indy is a non-executive director of WikiHouse Foundation & Bloxhub. Indy was a Good Growth Commissioner for the RSA, RIBA Trustee and Advisor to Mayor of London on Good Growth, The Liverpool City Region Land Commissioner, The State of New Jersey – The Future of Work Task Force – amongst others. Most recently he founded Dark Matter – a field laboratory focused on building the institutional infrastructures for radical civic societies, cities, regions and towns. Dark Matter works with institutions around the world, from UNDP (Global), Climate Kic, McConnell (Canada), to the Scottish Gove to Bloxhub (Copenhagen) He has taught at various institutions from the University of Bath, TU-Berlin; Architectural Association, University College London, Princeton, Harvard, MIT and New School. Watch his keynote at the Ashoka 2022 conference here Watch his keynote on wild home at RMIT here See his most recent signal spotting report here
Birgitte Bischoff Ebbesen is the IFRC Regional Director for Europe covering 53 Red Cross Red Crescent National Societies in Europe and Central Asia. The Regional Director is responsible for implementing the IFRC mandated functions: Strategic and Operational Coordination; Membership Services and Humanitarian Diplomacy in the region. The Regional Director currently oversees the Ukraine and impacted countries operation, supporting millions of people in and around Ukraine. In addition to relief, health, shelter and cash/vouchers, mental health is a key aspect of the support provided through this operation. Birgitte has worked with the IFRC network since 2004 in various functions, including International Director of Danish Red Cross and Co-chair of the IFRC Reference Centre for Psychosocial Support, Regional Head for Asia based in Cambodia and Head of Disaster Management. Before joining the Red Cross Red Crescent Movement Ms. Ebbesen worked for the Danish Refugee Council as its Representative in Sri Lanka, as Coordinator in Guatemala and held various functions in Denmark. Also, she worked for UNHCR in Geneva and Brussels. Ms. Ebbesen is from Denmark. She holds a Master’s degree in Public Administration from Roskilde University in Denmark as well as a diploma in High-Performance Leadership from the Copenhagen Business School.
Gerry Salole is an international development expert and philanthropist. He served as Chief Executive at the European Foundation Centre. He has worked for has worked for the Ford Foundation, The Bernard van Leer Foundation, Save the Children Federation, Redd Barna (Norwegian Save the Children), and OXFAM UK. Gerry is a renowned thought leader, writer, and lecturer, providing consultation and teaching services at the African Centre for Philanthropy and Social Investment. Chair of the European Cultural Foundation and Board Member of Evens Foundation, Europe-Africa Foundation, African Capacity Building Foundation, Impact Trust, Gerry uses his vast experience in international development, to focus on helping other organisations with projects, strategy, and trends. As a trained Social Anthropologist, Gerry sidestepped an academic career when he accepted a job working with Oxfam Ethiopia where he was subsequently seconded to United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), on a project repatriation of Somali refugees in Ethiopia. The experience he gained showed him the gaps that (still) exist between organisations wanting to help, but not always addressing the real needs of people.
