The ACIC Symposium will explore how COVID-19 has impacted our lives both as individuals and collectively as members of the international cooperation community. The theme of this symposium, ‘From Obstacles to Opportunities: Harnessing the Momentum from a Global Pandemic to Inspire a More Resilient and Just Future,’ draws parallels to past crises and the global turning points they ushered in as we emerge from this pandemic and look to the future. Opportunities, momentum and cooperation in this transitional time will be discussed from a broad perspective of industry experts, academics and activists as speakers in this year’s Symposium.

Register for the Symposium Here

Join us for our panels and keynote as we discuss:

1) The Impact of COVID19

Our panelists will shed light on the diverse and complex realities, exacerbated by the pandemic, faced by communities locally and globally. During the pandemic, many of us have heard and highlighted change makers, activists, the development and the international cooperation sector. They have brought realities and stories to public attention that speak to the various impact of covid, creating an opportunity for change around the world. Catapulting on this, and ensuring we don’t lose momentum, our panelists will highlight various aspects of issues faced in our local and global communities, including:

• the shadow pandemic and the ongoing and increased violence against women,

• the increased racism against Indigenous communities, anti-asian racism, the Black Lives Matter movement and xenophobia across Turtle Island,

• the outcome of COVID19 on systemically excluded and underrepresented individuals and communities, and the various facets that will be needed to taken into account to create positive change in our ‘new normals.’

2) The Implications of COVID19

This panel will focus on the opportunity for change COVID19 has posed to the world. Panelists will discuss:

• lessons learnt from history, from past crises and other global turning points

• how crises can offer opportunity for change,

• how many of us have already begin to rethink ‘normal’ and the way forward in just, equitable and sustainable ways,

• hopes for future health care,

• the imbalance of power in global distribution of and access to vaccination, and how power imbalances create unjust recoveries.

• Panelists will highlight the gaps exacerbated and revealed by the pandemic, and highlight work that has already begun to create positive change to address these gaps. They will also highlight lessons learnt from the pandemic, and engage the audience with the new ways of thinking and creative problem solving the pandemic has helped spur.