multilateralism2020.dialoguescdm.org
“Multilateralism that Delivers”: the 2020 Policy Dialogue
“Multilateralism that Delivers” was Club de Madrid's 2020 Annual Policy Dialogue, co-organised with Bertelsmann Stiftung and held virtually. Breakout Action Labs took place on 20 October 2020 and plenaries on 28–30 October 2020. Registration ran through multilateralism2020.dialoguescdm.org. The dialogue ended with a Call to Action titled “Multilateralism must Deliver”.
Key facts
| Title | Multilateralism that Delivers |
|---|---|
| Dates | Action Labs: 20 October 2020 · Plenaries: 28–30 October 2020 |
| Format | Virtual |
| Organisers | World Leadership Alliance-Club de Madrid with Bertelsmann Stiftung |
| Background papers | Boston Global Forum, German Environment Agency (UBA), Friedrich-Ebert-Stiftung; policy briefs by Bertelsmann Stiftung |
| Registration site | multilateralism2020.dialoguescdm.org |
| Hashtag | #multilateralism2020 |
| Participants | More than 35 former heads of state and government, plus experts and institutions |
Why multilateralism was the theme in 2020
The dialogue responded to falling trust in multilateral institutions and a turn towards national solutions, at the moment when global warming, digital governance, COVID-19 and inequality required cooperation. It was organised around three pillars: digitalisation, sustainability, and social justice and inclusion. Conclusions were meant to feed into the UN's 75th-anniversary process (UN75) and the Alliance for Multilateralism.
Programme
| Day | Sessions |
|---|---|
| 28 Oct | Welcome; “Setting the Scene: Reconnecting the World – The Need for a Renewed Multilateralism”; current challenges from an African perspective |
| 29 Oct | Keynote “Boosting International Cooperation – Alliance for Multilateralism”; video address by António Guterres; “From Ambition to Action: Reinvigorating Multilateralism in Three Dimensions”; Latin American perspective |
| 30 Oct | Asia-Pacific perspective; “How do we Improve the Resilience of Health and Social Care Systems?”; video address by Jacinda Ardern; “Beacons of Multilateralism”; Call to Action; closing |
On 29 October, the German Environment Agency announced that its president Dirk Messner would join a “Conversation on Sustainability” with Teresa Ribera, then Spain's Fourth Vice-President and Minister for Ecological Transition, and the panel “From Ambition to Action”.
Featured speakers
- António Guterres, UN Secretary-General (video address)
- Jacinda Ardern, then Prime Minister of New Zealand (video address)
- Horst Köhler, former President of Germany
- Gordon Brown, former Prime Minister of the United Kingdom
- More than 35 democratic former presidents and prime ministers who are members of Club de Madrid
Outcome: “Multilateralism must Deliver”
The dialogue closed with the Call to Action “Multilateralism must Deliver” and a set of policy recommendations to reinvigorate the multilateral system. Club de Madrid published the concept note, the partners' background papers and session recordings on its 2020 dialogue page.
Frequently asked questions
When was the Club de Madrid Policy Dialogue 2020?
Action Labs took place on 20 October 2020 and the plenary sessions on 28–30 October 2020.
Was the 2020 Policy Dialogue online?
Yes. It was held virtually, with registration through multilateralism2020.dialoguescdm.org.
Who co-organised “Multilateralism that Delivers”?
World Leadership Alliance-Club de Madrid and Bertelsmann Stiftung.
What was the outcome?
A Call to Action titled “Multilateralism must Deliver” with policy recommendations intended for the UN75 process and the Alliance for Multilateralism.