Convene — Stimulate global conversations
Create spaces for dialogue on the new social, political, economic and technological fractures that threaten peace and inclusive development.
Programme proposal · Proposed mandate
The Rotary
Alliance
Building the Rotary Alliance for Inclusive Peace and Development
The Alliance would be an international platform for reflection, dialogue, mobilisation and influence, rather than a new structure solely tasked with implementing projects. Its role would rest on three functions:
Connect — Bridge local experiences and global thinking
Draw on the experience of communities, grassroots peacebuilders and Rotary clubs to inform broader thinking, identify emerging trends and develop appropriate responses.
Influence — Bring emerging issues to the international agenda
Mobilise Rotary networks to promote ideas, partnerships and approaches that can shape debates and initiatives for inclusive peace.
Programme Proposal
Expected
Outcomes
By the end of the two days, the conference aims for three realistic outcomes:
The Kigali Reflections: One World, One Future
A synthesis of the key insights from the Rwandan experience and the international discussions on reconstruction, reconciliation and new forms of division.
An Emerging Agenda for Inclusive Peace and Development
A focused set of priorities Rotarians wish to bring to international attention, notably human mobility, investment in grassroots peacebuilding, new forms of polarisation and the links between peace and development.
A Roadmap towards a Rotary Alliance for Inclusive Peace and Development
A declaration of intent setting out the Alliance’s potential mission, initial priorities and a working group to develop a fuller proposal, subject to the necessary institutional approvals within Rotary.
The Common Thread: Peace and Inclusive Development
Panel 2 addresses peace and inclusive development directly, but it is also the cross-cutting question that all three panels and plenary discussions must address.
The central idea: peace cannot be understood merely as the absence of violence, and development cannot be considered inclusive when it reproduces exclusion, marginalisation or injustice. One fundamental question is put to all participants:
What kind of development heals divided societies, and what kind of development risks dividing them further?
This question should shape the recommendations from all three panels, whether they concern mobility, investment in grassroots peacebuilding or technology.
Foundational Principles and Conclusion
The Conference and the Alliance will be anchored in collaboration, inclusion, scalability and measurable impact. Together, they give Rotary a practical mechanism to transform a high-level gathering into a durable implementation platform built on coordinated action, shared learning, resource mobilization and visible community results.
Rotary’s century-long peace legacy, Rwanda’s experience of reconciliation, safety and institutional renewal, and Kigali’s world-class conference infrastructure create a compelling foundation for a landmark Rotary International Peace Conference. The Kigali Declaration and the Rotary Alliance for Peace and Inclusive Development will ensure that the Conference leaves a practical, inclusive and measurable legacy for Rwanda, Africa and the world.
Concept Note — Alternative Alliance and Outcomes
The concept note proposes a different Alliance name, mandate and set of outcomes. These remain separate from the programme proposal.
The Conference will culminate in the Kigali Declaration on Peace and Inclusive Development and the launch of the Rotary Alliance for Peace and Inclusive Development, a structured, Rotary-led platform for turning dialogue into measurable action. The Alliance will mobilize clubs, districts, peace institutions, youth leaders, community actors and development partners to design, coordinate, scale and monitor initiatives that advance positive peace, inclusive livelihoods, social cohesion, community resilience and sustainable development across Africa and the world.
The Kigali Declaration on Peace and Inclusive Development
A declaration committing Rotary leaders, clubs, districts, partners and peace institutions to practical action.
The launch of the Rotary Alliance for Peace and Inclusive Development
The Alliance will serve as the Conference’s post-event implementation mechanism, federating Rotary’s efforts in peacebuilding and societal transformation. Its overall objective is to establish a coordinated, Rotary-led platform that mobilizes clubs, districts, peace institutions, youth leaders and development partners to design, coordinate, scale and monitor practical initiatives promoting positive peace, inclusive development, social cohesion and community transformation across the world.