AGENDA of the Security and Civil Society Conference 2025 (DRAFT AGENDA! NB NOT OFFICIAL)

Working title: “The impact and effectiveness of development aid on European security in time of turbulence”

PROGRAMME 4th December – 7st of December, in Toila, Toila Spa Hotell

Thursday, 4th Detsember 2025 Arrivals and sightseeing’s in Tallinn

The arrival of Officials and Speakers in Tallinn

  • The arrival of Delegates
  • Registration to the Conference
  • Preparation of Conference and visiting The Estonian Centre for International Development (ESTDEV) and development air CSOs institutions (AKÜ)
  • Sightseeing tours in Tallinn
  • Departure at 17.00pm to Toila Spa Hotell (Accommodation and Venue places)
  • Arrival in Toila Spa Hotel at 19.00 pm and Dinner
  • 00 – 22.00 Organising Committee meeting in conference venue

DAY ONE. Friday, 5th December 2025. OFFICIAL CONFERENCE DAY at Toila Spa Hotell

09.00 – 10.00 Registration and coffee

10.00 – 11.30 The Opening Ceremony and keynote speeches

Moderator of the Conference: Amb. Hatem Atallah

– Welcome speech by Mariin Ratnik, Undersecretary, Economic and Development Affairs, MFA (TBC)

– Welcome and keynote speech by H.E. Ms. Shamshad Akhtar Assistant Secretary-General for Economic Affairs Department of Economic and Social Affairs (USA)
– Welcome and keynote speech by Ave Schank, Acting Head of Representation at European Commission (TBC)
–  Welcome speech by Maria Gratschew, director of Nordic Council of Ministers´ Office in Estonia
– Keynote speech by Rilli Lappalainen, President of CONCORD Network and Director of Sustainable Development at Fingo (Finland)

11.30 – 12.30 I Panel discussion with experts, delegates and interested members of the public on “Development and aid policy in 2025: needs, challenges and expectations”

The European development policy fosters sustainable development and stability in developing countries, with the ultimate goal of eradicating extreme poverty. Development assistance is one of the pillars of the EU’s external action, alongside foreign, security, and trade policies. In December 2021, the European Commission unveiled an ambitious Global Gateway investment programme for the period 2021-2027, through which the EU institutions, together with Member States, aim to develop digital technologies, green energy and clean transport networks, improve health and education systems, and promote research around the world, and in particular in developing countries Along with the EU, there are many other governmental institutions like Norwegian Agency for Development Cooperation, Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation, the United Nations programms and of course USA government who are providing the biggest development aid assistance in the world. The development aid policy in 2025 has impacted from recent changes in the global geopolitics as the USA government has paused all US foreign assistance funded by or through the State Department and US Agency for International Development (USAID) and many rescue programs has been impacted. Russian brutal war in Ukraine has brought instability and chaos. Let’s discuss the needs, challenges and future expectations of the stakeholders and actors from the global perspective.

Moderator: Amb. Hatem Atallah (Tunisia)

  • Klen Jäärats Executive Director of The Estonian Centre for International Development (TBC)
  • Juliette Bachschmidt, Researcher at the Robert Schuman Foundation (Germany)
  • Herman Quarles van Ufford, Senior Policy Fellow of the European council of foreign relations (Netherlands)
  • Jenni Kaupila, Advocacy officer of UNA Finland (member of Finnish NGDO Platform (Finland)
  • The representative of the USA Embassy

12.30 – 13.00 Working groups

13.00 – 14.00 Lunch (at the restaurant)  

14.00 – 15.30 II Panel discussion with experts, delegates and interested members of public on

“Global challenges and its impact on Estonia and the World (climate change, human rights, democracy, economic growth etc”

The global crisis changed the economic order, deepening the challenges developing countries will face in the decades ahead. Joblessness is making it harder for families to improve their living standards. Growing energy needs are exacerbating the threat of climate change. Rapid population growth is overwhelming urban infrastructures. Water scarcity and inadequate food security are endangering the lives of millions. Such strains also heighten the potential for conflict, as existing geopolitical tensions between global powers had a big impact on the all aspects of our life.

Moderator: Triinu Ossinovski, Mondo, Member of the Board, Head of the Humanitarian Aid and Development Cooperation Directorate  (Estonia, TBC)

  • Michael G. Kavuklis, Political Scientist, Coordinator in Chief of the Europe, Entrepreneurship & Sustainable Development Forum of Rhodes (Greece)
  • Åsa Thomasson, CONCORD Expert from CONCORD Sweden
  • Katrin Winter, Regional Head, Africa at ESTDEV (Estonia)
  • Representative of Caucasus Youth Nexus (Georgia)
  • Representative of NipeFagioTanzania (Tanzania)

15.30 – 16.00 Working groups

16.00 – 16.15 Coffee break

16.15 – 17.30 III Panel discussion with experts, delegates and interested members of public on “The future of development cooperation in turbulent times: possible scenarios”

This panel discussion will offer for participants and development actors a framework to understand, track and cope with the fast-changing and increasingly complex global context for development in terms of multipolar divided world where global challenges are left unchecked. It looks back on the main drivers that have led us this far, and summarizes crucial challenges for actors in development. A world in which environmental challenges are addressed but at a large social cost. It looks back at what triggered the strong eco-oriented global development policy and summarizes what this has meant for the organisation of and challenges for development cooperation or a world in which a diversity of actors challenges the economic and political establishment and experiments with alternatives.

Moderator: Stefanos Vallianatos , Co-Founder of Fotoessa, Head of Greek Network of Anna Lindh Foundation (Greece)

– Janet Vähämäk, SEI researchers specializing in development and aid policy, Swedish Development Research Network

– Tanya Cox, Director of CONCORD (Belgium)

– Representative of German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (Germany, TBC)
– Klen Jäärats Executive Director of The Estonian Centre for International Development (TBC)

17.30 – 18.00 Working groups: (Alejandra Hansen, YTOP Denmark)

18.00 – 18.15 The concluding remarks of the Conference by Moderator: Amb. Hatem Attallah.

19.30 – 22.00 Official Reception and Estonian Culture programme  

DAY TWO. Saturday, 6th December 2025.  
09.30 – 10.00 Elaborating Conference Declaration language on „Empowering Sustainable approach in development aid through success stories and necessary changes in the implementation policies“

10.00 – 10.20 Summary of the agreements. The conference Moderator & Working Group Rapporteurs

10.20 – 11.00 Keynote speakers on Conference Themes & Goals:

– “Advocacy on Women, Peace and Security in example Eastern Neighborhood Programme of the International Development Aid Agency” by the representative of the UK Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office

– “The role of Civil Society organisation in emergency responses and humanitarian assistance” by Marie-Pierre Caley, Executive Director of the French international solidarity NGO ACTED

11.00 – 13.00 Practical thematic session (Sharing best practices, experience and case studies)

Stakeholder in action: advancing development aid and security questions in examples of development aid and humanitarian crises in regions:

  • Eastern Europe (Ukraine, Moldova, Georgia, Armenia)
  • Africa region (Namibia and Tanzania)
  • Mediterranean region (Tunisia, Turkey, Syria and Libya)
  • Other world (represented by invited experts and development agencies)

The session is organised by the invited experts and organisation representatives who is addressing development aid and humanitarian crises in their work and willing to share own experience and best practices from the human rights and SDGs achievement perspective. The Session is run in the format of world cafe where CSOs, governmental agencies and other stakeholders are sharing own practical experience.

11.00 – 13.00 Working group on official statement: Elaborating Conference Declaration language on “Towards 2030: Effective development cooperation in support of the Sustainable Development Goals”.

13.00 – 14.00 Lunch

14.00 – 17.00 Practical visits in Estonian CSOs (and conducting debates on the effective role of Civil Society in advancing development aid and generation of positive impact) and meetings with Estonian and European official who is advancing development aid policy.

17.00 – 17.15 The concluding remarks of the Conference by moderator: Amb. Hatem Attallah.

17.15 – 20.00 Estonian Culture Programm: Visiting: Mining Museum in Kohtla Nõmme, Narva Museum and /or Vaivara Museum and  Sillamäe City Museum (as alternative)

DAY THREE. Sunday, 7th of December 2025 Conclusions

09.00– 09.30 Official Presentation and adoption of Conference Declaration on “Towards 2030: Effective development cooperation in support of the Sustainable Development Goals”.

09.30 – 10.00 Summary of the agreements – The conference Moderator & Working Group Rapporteurs

10.00 – 11.00 Conclusions and follow-up activities for 2026 (Signing symbolic agreement of non-formal network creation and conduction in Estonia of the annual conference by networks)

11.00 – 11.30 Practical arrangements

11.30 – 13.00 Official closing and reception

13.00 – 15.00 Departure to Tallinn, Bus to the airport