Global crises like Covid and climate change, highlight our interconnectedness and the importance of global cooperation, but the nuance of local realities determines how successful response efforts are. How can we bridge the gap and truly embed locally-led practice and locally-informed strategies? What are the barriers and where are the opportunities?

This year’s CID Conference will pick up suggest ‘build’ on last year’s theme around localisation and resilience, and delve further into locally-led development in action. Through keynote speakers, panels, and workshop sessions, we will explore regional and global challenges, and interrogate how we ensure civil society voice is part of macro-conversations.

(In-person and dinner ticket sales are now closed)

Day one: 19 October

Day one will be all online via our dedicated virtual conference platform.

• Keynote speaker: Tonga Minister for Foreign Affairs and Minister for Tourism, Fekitamoeloa Katoa ‘Utoikamanu
• Panel discussion on the progress and priorities for the SDGs - Chaired by Rachel Mason Nunn(speakers tbc)
• Session delivered by Pacific Islands Association of Non-Governmental Organizations (PIANGO) – with introduction and presentation on the Blue Pacific Strategy from Executive Director of PIANGO, Emeline Siale Ilolahia, followed by a panel presenting Pacific case studies.
• Breakout presentation sessions on how CID members/partners work with localisation and raising civil society voice – challenges and opportunities.
• Panel discussion with reflections from the day and looking at ‘How civil society can bridge the gap’.

Day two: 20 October

Day two will be all online starting at 11am, with an in-person option at the Banquet Hall at Parliament from 1:45pm, followed by a conference dinner and drinks from 6pm. (In-person and dinner ticket sales are now closed)

For anyone travelling to Wellington in the morning we are arranging somewhere for people to watch the online broadcast together from 11am - 1pm. Get in contact with Sarah King if you are interested in this.

• 11am: Keynote speaker: José Ramos-Horta, President of East Timor (online)
• Fireside chat with climate change activist, Brianna Fruean (online)
• 2:30pm: Māori and Pacific leaders panel (online & in-person): We will hear first-hand experiences from a panel of Māori and Pacific leaders who have been connecting throughout this year to explore collaboration and shared values. We will learn about their insights on the linkages between Te Ao Māori and Pacific values around development and localisation.
• 5pm: Address from Minister Nanaia Mahuta (online & in-person). Photo Competition and Collaboration Award winners announced (online & in-person).
• Conference dinner from 6pm (In-person and dinner ticket sales are now closed)