
Southern Africa Regional Conference on Climate, Peace, Security and Displacement
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Date
22.10.25
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Time
09:00 am > 01:00 pm UTC+02:00
- Registration
Southern Africa faces converging challenges that demand coordinated response. In 2024, extreme weather led multiple nations to declare states of emergency, prompting the Southern African Development Community (SADC) to convene an Extraordinary Summit of Heads of State and Governments. The scale of impact is significant: approximately 58 million people across the region have been affected, with the Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) and World Food Programme (WFP) estimating that 27.4 million people face food insecurity.
Climate variability intersects with existing socioeconomic and political vulnerabilities, creating complex challenges for regional stability and peaceful community relations.
The CGIAR Climate Security Team at the Alliance of Bioversity and CIAT, working with partners in Mozambique, Zambia, and Zimbabwe, has conducted extensive research on how climate impacts on food, land, and water systems affect social dynamics and community resilience. This work has documented how climate-driven changes create new pressures on community relations and peaceful coexistence.
The evidence is clear. The next step is translating this research into policies and strategies that address real-world challenges facing communities across Southern Africa.
Conference Purpose
This Regional Conference brings together researchers, policymakers, practitioners, and civil society to engage with emerging evidence on climate, peace, and security dynamics in Southern Africa. The gathering provides a platform for knowledge exchange, cross-sector collaboration, and the development of policy-relevant solutions to strengthen social cohesion and climate resilience.
Who Should Participate
- Researchers working on climate, peace, and security issues
- Policymakers from national and regional institutions
- Practitioners in humanitarian, development, and peacebuilding sectors
- Civil society representatives from affected communities
- Government officials responsible for climate adaptation and security policies
Conference Objectives
- Share research findings and insights on climate, peace, and security from across Southern Africa
- Foster dialogue between researchers, policymakers, and humanitarian-development-peace practitioners on climate-related human security risks
- Develop practical, context-specific recommendations for addressing regional climate, peace, and security challenges
Expected Outcomes
- Integration of climate, peace, and security perspectives into ongoing climate initiatives across Southern Africa
- Increased collaboration between research institutions, government entities, international organizations, and community-based groups
- Enhanced capacity for incorporating climate security considerations into academic curricula and policy frameworks
- Strengthened regional networks for addressing climate-related security challenges
Registration Details
Date: 22 October, 2025
Time: 9:00 AM SAST
Venue: Online