Investing in conflict and climate-sensitive infrastructures is essential to promoting sustainability, long-term peace, resilient development, and social cohesion. The EU has made clear its intentions to scale up investments in its Global Gateway strategy, which offers both opportunities and challenges in fragile and conflict-affected contexts (FCACs). While in principle the Global Gateway is not at odds with fragile contexts, such settings pose greater challenges for larger investments. Yet, the 360-degree approach, if effectively implemented, can prepare the ground for such investments by ensuring an enabling environment. This will require careful attention to conflict- and climate-sensitivity in infrastructure planning and implementation.

In this second event in a two-part series of events organised by ECDPM and Search for Common Ground, discussions will focus on scaling up good practices in renewable energy, water, and other critical infrastructures that not only withstand climate shocks but also strengthen social cohesion, prevent tensions over natural resources, and foster inclusive development. Drawing on concrete experiences from FCACs, the event will examine how Global Gateway can promote resilient, participatory, and equitable infrastructure that advances sustainability, stability, and prosperity.

Similar to the first event, ECDPM’s preliminary findings of a second policy brief will be presented to set the scene of the discussions, the outcomes of which will be included in the final version of the policy brief.

Agenda

08:30 - 09:00 - Arrival and welcoming coffee & breakfast at ECDPM 

09:00 - 09:10 - Welcome and Introduction by Hilde Deman, Search for Common Ground

09:10 - 09:20 - Presentation of preliminary findings of first policy brief by Sara Gianesello, Policy analyst and gender and youth focal point at ECDPM 

09:20 - 10:10 - Panel Discussion 

Moderator: Sophie Desmidt, Associate Director, ECDPM

Panelists

• Apostolos Nikolaidis, Thematic Expert at European Commission, DG INTPA
• Alexandra Chevalier, EU Representative at WaterAid
• Nestor Kyelem, Sector and Thematic Expert (Infrastructure) at Enabel in Burkina Faso
• Janyl Moldalieva, Senior Policy Officer at the UN Environment Programme (UNEP)
• ​​​​​​​Jens Jæger, Director of Policy & Business Development at Alliance for Rural Electrification

10:10 - 10:50 - Moderated Q&A Session 

10:50 - 11:00 - Closing Remarks by Rosarie McCarthy, RELEX Horizontal Questions (Global Gateway) delegate - Irish Permanent Representation in Brussels