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ROTARY PRESIDENTIAL PEACE CONFERENCE
Kigali, Rwanda · 25–27 February 2027
Concept Note · One World, One Future: Bridging Divides, Building Peace   |   Page 1 of 4
C O N C E P T  N O T E
Rotary Presidential Peace Conference
25–27 February 2027  |  Kigali, Rwanda
C O N F ER E N C E  T H EM E
“One World, One Future: Bridging Divides, Building Peace”
1. Executive Summary
Peace  is  a  cornerstone  of  Rotary’s  vision  of  unity  and  action  to  create  lasting  impact.  Committed  to 
strengthening its voice in the search for peace across the world, Rotary International is convening the 2027  
Rotary Presidential Peace Conference in Kigali from 25 to 27 February 2027, under the patronage of President 
Olayinka Hakeem “Yinka” Babalola, Rotary International President for 2026–27.
The Conference is expected to bring together approximately 1,000 Rotarians, Rotaractors, Rotary Peace  
Fellows, public leaders, peace institutions, development partners, academics, civil society organizations and  
private-sector actors from Rwanda, Africa and across the world. It will provide a global platform to examine  
contemporary peace challenges, share practical experience, celebrate Rotary’s peace legacy and Rwanda’s  
reconciliation journey, and catalyze collaborative action.
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.
2. Background and Strategic Rationale
Rotary International has a longstanding commitment to peace and conflict resolution rooted in its founding  
principles. Since 1905, it has promoted goodwill, understanding and “Service Above Self.” Rotary played a  
historic role in the founding of the United Nations in 1945 and continues to invest in peace through Rotary  
Peace Centers, global grants, youth programs and humanitarian initiatives that address the root causes of  
conflict, including poverty, inequality, weak institutions and limited dialogue. Its peace conferences have  
convened  public  officials,  peacebuilders,  scholars  and  community  leaders  to  share  practice,  mobilize  
resources, build partnerships and advance locally grounded solutions.
Peace is therefore not only the absence of conflict, but a practical pathway to inclusion, livelihoods, youth  
engagement, community resilience and sustainable development. Rwanda’s hosting of the Conference offers 
a timely platform to demonstrate that there can be no lasting peace without inclusive development, and no  
sustainable development without peace.

ROTARY PRESIDENTIAL PEACE CONFERENCE
Kigali, Rwanda · 25–27 February 2027
Concept Note · One World, One Future: Bridging Divides, Building Peace   |   Page 2 of 4
Kigali is globally recognized for safety, reconciliation, innovation and high-quality conference infrastructure.  
Rwanda’s standing as a leading African destination for meetings, incentives, conferences and exhibitions,  
together with visa-on-arrival access for all nationalities, makes Kigali well suited to a global convening of this 
scale.
3. Purpose and Objectives
The Conference aims to provide a global platform to examine contemporary peace challenges, share practical 
experiences in peacebuilding, celebrate Rotary’s peace legacy and catalyze collaborative action towards a  
united future.
Specifically, the Conference seeks to provide space for:
Global peace dialogue Convene delegates from diverse countries to examine contemporary 
peace challenges and co-create practical solutions.
Showcasing Rwanda’s 
model
Position Rwanda globally as a leader in conflict resolution, reconciliation 
and sustainable peacebuilding.
Fostering collaboration Strengthen partnerships among Rotary, governments, civil society, 
academia, UN agencies, regional institutions and the private sector.
Youth as agents of peace Engage young Rotarians, Rotaractors and other youth as next-
generation peace advocates and innovation leaders.
Scaling up efforts Federate Rotary’s efforts in peacebuilding and societal transformation.
4. Theme and Thematic Tracks
Proposed overall theme: “One World, One Future: Bridging Divides, Building Peace.” The theme connects:
■ Rotary’s peace focus, “Healing in a Divided World”;
■ the 2026–27 presidential message, “Create Lasting Impact”;
■ Rwanda’s story of remembrance, reconciliation and national healing;
■ a forward-looking global vision of unity and shared prosperity.
Proposed sub-themes
Track Sub-theme
1 Rebuilding the Human Fabric: Rwanda's Healing Journey and Global Lessons
2 The Battle for Trust in a Digital Age
3 Migration, Mobility, Identity and Belonging
4 Peace and Inclusive Development

ROTARY PRESIDENTIAL PEACE CONFERENCE
Kigali, Rwanda · 25–27 February 2027
Concept Note · One World, One Future: Bridging Divides, Building Peace   |   Page 3 of 4
5. Methodology and Proposed Programme
The Conference will take place over three days, combining plenary sessions, interactive dialogue, community 
engagement activities, camaraderie and networking. It will feature an opening and a closing ceremony.
Day Focus Activities
Day 1
Thursday 25 
February
Memory and 
Reconciliation
• Registration
• Memory and Reconciliation: visits to Genocide 
memorials
• Rebuilding the Human Fabric: Rwanda’s healing 
journey and global lessons
• Welcome cocktail
Day 2
Friday 26 
February
Opening and High-Level 
Dialogues
• Opening ceremony with the Government of 
Rwanda, Rotary International leadership and UN 
• Panel discussions
• Vote of thanks
• Rotary home hospitality
Day 3
Saturday 27 
February
Community Engagement 
and Closing
• Community engagement through Umuganda (tree 
planting)
• Closing remarks and reflections
• Press briefing and media engagement
6. Expected Outcomes
Two main outcomes are expected from the Conference:
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.

ROTARY PRESIDENTIAL PEACE CONFERENCE
Kigali, Rwanda · 25–27 February 2027
Concept Note · One World, One Future: Bridging Divides, Building Peace   |   Page 4 of 4
7. Delegate Profile
■ Rotary International leadership and Rotary Peace Fellows
■ Rotarians and Rotaractors from more than 100 countries
■ Representatives of the United Nations, African Union and East African Community
■ Government of Rwanda officials
■ Peacebuilding organizations and community actors
■ Academic and research institutions
■ Corporate partners, sponsors and service-delivery organizations
8. 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.
9. Dates, Venue and Languages
Dates Thursday 25 to Saturday 27 February 2027
Venue Kigali Convention Centre, Kigali, Rwanda
Languages English, French and Sign Language

ROTARY PRESIDENTIAL PEACE CONFERENCE
Kigali, Rwanda · 25–27 February 2027
One World, One Future · Rotary Peace Conference · Page 1
PROGRAMME PROPOSAL
Rotary Presidential Peace Conference
25–27 February 2027  |  Kigali, Rwanda
C O N F ER E N C E  T H EM E
“One World, One Future: Bridging Divides, Building Peace”
Overview
Item Detail
Event Rotary International Peace Conference · Rwanda
Conference theme One World, One Future: Bridging Divides, Building Peace
Dates 25–26 February 2027
Venue Kigali, Rwanda
Day 1 Healing from the Unthinkable — memory, reflection and international 
dialogue
Day 2 Bridging Divides, Building Peace — main conference in the presence of 
the President of Rotary International: three panels, each followed by a 
plenary discussion
About the Theme
“One World, One Future, Bridging Divides, Building Peace” translates the 2026–27 Presidential 
Message, Healing in a Divided World, into an agenda for action on the continent and across the 
world.
Each part of the theme maps onto a part of the programme:
Theme element What it means Where it lives in the programme
Healing in a Divided 
World
Rotary’s global peace focus: 
societies can only move forward 
by confronting and healing their 
past.
Day 1 — memorial visits and the 
panel Rebuilding the Human 
Fabric; the Day 2 keynote by the 
President of Rotary International.
One World, One 
Future
A shared future that depends on 
how societies treat mobility, 
belonging and the outsider — 
from Africa’s quest for integration 
to migration debates worldwide.
Day 2 — Panel 1, A World in 
Motion, Divided Societies.

ROTARY PRESIDENTIAL PEACE CONFERENCE
Kigali, Rwanda · 25–27 February 2027
One World, One Future · Rotary Peace Conference · Page 2
Theme element What it means Where it lives in the programme
Bridging Divides Rebuilding trust across identity, 
generational, economic and 
digital fault lines.
Day 2 — Panel 3, The Battle for 
Trust in a Digital Age.
Building Peace Investing in those who build 
peace on the ground, and in 
development that includes 
everyone.
Day 2 — Panel 2, Investing in 
Peace, and the presentation of the 
Rotary Alliance for Inclusive Peace 
and Development.
Three essential questions link the two days and give substance to the theme, so that reconciliation, 
migration, technology and development are not treated as separate topics.
1. Can a society truly heal without confronting its past? How do societies rebuild after violence 
that has destroyed human bonds, institutions and trust?
2. Are we building a more connected world, or a more divided one? As economic, digital and 
human borders become more porous, why do identity, political and social divisions seem to be 
deepening?
3. Can there be sustainable peace without inclusive development? Can peace last if the 
benefits of development, dignity and opportunity are not shared?
Day 1 — 25 February: Healing from the Unthinkable
Lessons from Rwanda and Beyond. A day of memory, reflection and international dialogue. The aim 
is to help participants understand Rwanda’s journey of reconciliation and reconstruction, without 
reducing it to a single model or treating the healing process as complete.
Agenda
Time Session Content
08:30–12:30 Memory and Reflection — 
Visits to Genocide Memorial 
Sites
Guided visits to the Kigali Genocide Memorial 
and, depending on the group, other memorial 
sites in Rwanda. Reflection on memory, 
recognition of victims and intergenerational 
transmission in rebuilding societies.
12:30–14:00 Lunch and return of 
delegations
14:00–14:20 Opening Reflection — From 
Remembrance to Healing
A sober introduction linking the memorial visits 
to the collective responsibility to rebuild trust 
and prevent violence from recurring.
14:20–15:50 Panel — Rebuilding the 
Human Fabric: Rwanda’s 
Healing Journey and Global 
Lessons
Dialogue between Rwandan reconciliation 
experts, psychosocial practitioners, researchers 
and international actors who have supported 
societies after mass atrocities, civil wars or 
identity-based violence.

ROTARY PRESIDENTIAL PEACE CONFERENCE
Kigali, Rwanda · 25–27 February 2027
One World, One Future · Rotary Peace Conference · Page 3
Time Session Content
15:50–16:10 Break
16:10–17:00 Reflections — What Does 
Healing Mean Across 
Generations?
Audience questions and exchanges on 
individual and collective healing, 
intergenerational trauma, new generations and 
remaining challenges.
17:00–17:15 Closing Reflections
Rebuilding the Human Fabric
Rwanda’s Healing Journey and Global Lessons, structured around four dimensions:
1. From survival to coexistence — and from coexistence to trust. How do you rebuild a nation 
when violence has deeply destroyed trust between its citizens? What is the difference 
between peaceful coexistence, reconciliation and true healing?
2. Healing the invisible wounds. What role do mental health, trauma care, community healing 
and psychosocial support play in a post-conflict society? How do we recognise wounds that 
remain invisible decades after the violence?
3. The next generation and the transmission of memory. How can the memory of atrocities be 
passed on without passing on fear, hatred or an identity defined solely by past wounds? What 
place should be given to young people who did not live through these events?
4. Rwanda in conversation with the world. What lessons can be placed in dialogue with the 
experiences of other societies that have lived through extreme violence? What are the limits 
of transposing national experiences?
More questions to stimulate plenary discussion
• Reconciliation and forgiveness as pathways to peace: Can forgiveness ever be expected of 
those who have suffered the unimaginable?
• When does remembrance become a foundation for peace, and how do we prevent history 
from becoming a source of renewed division?
• Can institutions rebuild trust, or must trust first be rebuilt between individuals?
Recommended composition
A balanced mix of public institutions, civil society, researchers, trauma specialists and international 
experts. Include a younger-generation perspective, without asking survivors to recount traumatic 
experiences in public.
Day 2 — 26 February: Bridging Divides, Building Peace
One World, One Future: Confronting Emerging Challenges to Inclusive Peace and Development. 
Main conference in the presence of the President of Rotary International. The day moves from 
understanding divisions to defining a collective Rotary response for peace across the world.
After the official opening ceremony, three panels each open a question; each is followed by a 
plenary discussion in which all participants respond, challenge the panellists and put forward 
proposals for the Alliance. The day closes with the presentation of the proposed Rotary Alliance for 
Inclusive Peace and Development.

ROTARY PRESIDENTIAL PEACE CONFERENCE
Kigali, Rwanda · 25–27 February 2027
One World, One Future · Rotary Peace Conference · Page 4
Detailed (provisional) Agenda
Time Session Content
08:30–11:00 Official Opening Ceremony • Welcome from the organisers and 
introduction of the theme, One World, One 
Future: Bridging Divides, Building Peace
• Opening remarks by the Government of 
Rwanda, Rotary International leadership and 
UN agencies
• Keynote address by the President of Rotary 
International 
11:00–11:45 Panel 1 — A World in Motion, 
Divided Societies
Migration, human mobility, identity and 
belonging.
11:45–12:30 Plenary discussion Open exchange with the Panel 1 speakers
12:30–13:30 Lunch and networking
13:30–14:15 Panel 2 — Investing in Peace Grassroots peacebuilders at the centre of peace 
efforts; inclusive development as a prerequisite 
for lasting peace.
14:15–15:00 Plenary discussion Open exchange with the Panel 2 speakers; 
proposals on where and how Rotary should 
invest in peace.
15:00–15:15 Break
15:15–16:00 Panel 3 — The Battle for Trust 
in a Digital Age
Technology, manipulation, influence and the 
future of social cohesion.
16:00–16:45 Plenary discussion Open exchange with the Panel 3 speakers; 
proposals on digital responsibility and 
technology for peace.
16:45–17:15 Presentation of the Rotary 
Alliance for Inclusive Peace 
and Development
Proposed mandate of the Alliance, drawing on 
the three plenary discussions.
17:15–17:30 Closing Session — From 
Dialogue to Collective Action
Declaration of intent, next steps and official 
closing.
The Three Panels of Day 2
Each panel lasts 45 minutes and is followed by a 45-minute plenary discussion. Panellists frame the 
issue; the plenary is where participants test the ideas and put forward priorities for the Alliance.

ROTARY PRESIDENTIAL PEACE CONFERENCE
Kigali, Rwanda · 25–27 February 2027
One World, One Future · Rotary Peace Conference · Page 5
Panel 1 — A World in Motion, Divided Societies
Migration, Human Mobility, Identity and Belonging. The panel starts from a paradox: Africa aspires 
to greater regional integration and free movement of people and goods, yet tensions over 
belonging, nationality and access to resources continue to fragment societies.
It covers immigration, xenophobia, forced displacement and migration restrictions, as well as cross-
border trade and economic interdependence between communities. Situations in South Africa, 
Kenya and other countries could serve as case studies, distinguishing official migration policies, 
administrative practices, and xenophobic rhetoric or violence.
Discussion themes
• Mobility and belonging: Who has the right to belong to a society? How do perceptions of the 
outsider shape relations between communities?
• Borders and livelihoods: How do borders, mobility restrictions and trade barriers affect 
livelihoods and social cohesion?
• Migration and the politics of fear: Why do migrants sometimes become scapegoats for 
unemployment, inequality or insecurity?
• Regional integration and inclusive development: How can national sovereignty, protection of 
citizens, human mobility and African integration be reconciled?
Questions to spark the plenary debate
• Does a nation become stronger by protecting its borders, or by strengthening the bonds 
between those who live within and across them?
• When economic opportunities become scarce, does diversity become a source of strength or a 
convenient explanation for inequality?
Expected outcome: two or three priorities the future Alliance could champion on human mobility, 
social cohesion and economic integration.
Panel 2 — Investing in Peace
Grassroots Peacebuilders, Peace Education and Inclusive Development. Peace is built and sustained 
in communities, long before and long after agreements are signed. Women’s groups, youth 
networks, community mediators, and faith and traditional leaders prevent violence and rebuild trust 
every day. Yet they are largely absent from high-level peace talks, and they receive only a small 
share of the resources devoted to peace.
The panel asks what it would mean to invest in peace as seriously as we invest in security or 
infrastructure: putting grassroots peacebuilders at the centre, funding the long-term work of peace 
education, and recognising that development which leaves people behind cannot produce lasting 
peace.
Discussion themes
• Grassroots peacebuilders at the centre: What makes women, youth and community actors 
effective peacebuilders? How do we treat them as partners and decision-makers rather than 
as beneficiaries?
• From the margins to the negotiating table: Why are grassroots peacebuilders so often missing 
from high-level peace processes? How can local voices shape national, regional and 
international decisions, in line with the Women, Peace and Security and the Youth, Peace and 
Security agendas?

ROTARY PRESIDENTIAL PEACE CONFERENCE
Kigali, Rwanda · 25–27 February 2027
One World, One Future · Rotary Peace Conference · Page 6
• What kind of investment? Peace education in schools and communities, mediation skills, 
trauma healing and community dialogue take years to bear fruit. How can funding become 
more flexible, long-term and locally led, instead of tied to short projects?
• Inclusive development as a prerequisite for lasting peace: Jobs, livelihoods, access to services 
and a fair share of opportunity reduce the grievances that fuel conflict. How do we design 
development that heals divisions rather than deepening them?
Questions to spark the plenary debate
• When peace is negotiated, who deserves a seat at the table: those who waged the conflict, or 
those who keep the peace in their communities?
• Is peace underfunded because it becomes invisible when it works?
• Can there be lasting peace when development leaves young people without work, voice or 
hope?
• What would it take for a grassroots peacebuilder to be funded as a partner rather than as a 
beneficiary?
Recommended composition
Grassroots peacebuilders, including women and youth leaders, a Rotary Peace Fellow, a peace 
education practitioner, a development partner or funder, and a policymaker involved in peace 
processes.
Expected outcome: proposals on how the Alliance can channel Rotary resources — clubs, grants, 
Peace Fellows and partnerships — to locally led peacebuilding and peace education, and make 
inclusion a condition of the development initiatives it supports.
Panel 3 — The Battle for Trust in a Digital Age
Technology, Misinformation, Polarisation and the Future of Social Cohesion. The panel should 
move beyond the idea that misinformation is mainly a youth issue. Digital technologies now shape 
the opinions of every generation, perceptions of identity, political debate and trust in institutions. 
The same tools can foster civic participation, solidarity and access to information, while amplifying 
hate speech and polarisation.
Discussion themes
• The erosion of shared truth: How can trust and dialogue be built when citizens no longer 
agree on the facts?
• Digital polarisation and extremism: How can social media deepen identity, political or 
religious divisions and normalise extremist discourse?
• Artificial intelligence and manipulation: What risks do AI-generated content, deepfakes and 
digital manipulation pose to social cohesion?
• Technology for peace: How can digital tools encourage dialogue, critical thinking, civic 
participation and exchanges between communities?
Questions to spark the plenary debate
• Can democracy, reconciliation and social cohesion survive in a world where we no longer 
agree on what is factual?
• Are digital technologies connecting humanity, or creating increasingly isolated communities of 
belief?
• Who is responsible for protecting social cohesion in the digital age: governments, technology 
companies, civil society, or citizens themselves?

ROTARY PRESIDENTIAL PEACE CONFERENCE
Kigali, Rwanda · 25–27 February 2027
One World, One Future · Rotary Peace Conference · Page 7
Expected outcome: proposals on media and information literacy, intergenerational dialogue, digital 
responsibility and the use of technology as an instrument of peace.
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.
Building the Rotary Alliance for Inclusive Peace and Development
Day 2 closes with the presentation of the proposed Alliance, informed by the three plenary 
discussions.
Proposed Mandate
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:
Function Role
Convene — Stimulate global 
conversations
Create spaces for dialogue on the new social, political, 
economic and technological fractures that threaten peace and 
inclusive development.
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.
Expected Outcomes
By the end of the two days, the conference aims for three realistic outcomes:
Outcome Content
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.

ROTARY PRESIDENTIAL PEACE CONFERENCE
Kigali, Rwanda · 25–27 February 2027
One World, One Future · Rotary Peace Conference · Page 8
Outcome Content
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.