Turning Ambition into Action: 30 Projects Selected for the 2025 Paris Peace Forum

By Steve UMIDHA

For the eighth year in a row, the Paris Peace Forum is unveiling a crop of new projects selected in its Call for Solutions.

Out of a total of 328 applicants from more than 80 countries presenting concrete on-the-ground responses to some of the world’s current and future challenges, 30 innovative projects were chosen by an international selection committee and will be featured at  the Forum’s eighth annual edition, taking place on 29-30 October 2025 in Paris under the title “New Coalitions for Peace, People and the Planet”.

They embody the Forum’s mission to showcase concrete solutions to local, regional and international problems and to embody multiactor diplomacy.

Representing a diverse range of geographies and actors (53% from the Global South, 47% from the Global North), from grassroots community groups to international networks and public institutions, the selected projects address the seven themes chosen for this year’s Call:

• Harnessing Nature-Based Solutions for Climate Resilience (7 projects)
• Fostering Green Transitions, Access to Energy, and Critical Minerals (3 projects)
• Reinforcing Local Peacebuilding (8 projects)
• Leveraging Artificial Intelligence for Cyber Peace and Stability (3 projects)
• Broadening Access to Sustainable Agricultural Practices (4 projects)
• Investing in Children as a Catalyst for Development (1 project)
• Driving Digital Public Infrastructure and AI Impact for Sustainable Development Goals (4 projects)

From Brazil to Nepal, Morocco to South Africa, these projects illustrate both the urgency and ingenuity of global changemakers. A few examples:

• For example, Jaguar Women for Climate and Conservation (Brazil) empowers Indigenous women to restore critical habitats and protect biodiversity in the Amazon.
• In Ghana, the Powering Change initiative by AWIMA is helping women in mining communities transition towards sustainable energy and responsible critical mineral supply chains.
• South Africa’s Zuzi AI harnesses artificial intelligence to create safer digital spaces and combat online harassment.
• In Morocco, GIS Agri drives data-powered agricultural innovation to ensure food security.
• The Interactive Playscape Project in Nepal transforms urban spaces into safe, inclusive hubs for children’s play and learning.
• And in Egypt, the Qodwa.Tech for Women Empowerment initiative is scaling digital public infrastructure to empower women and advance the Sustainable Development Goals.

These projects will take center stage in the Space for Solutions at the Paris Peace Forum this October, gaining unparalleled visibility and the opportunity to engage with world leaders, innovators, and funders. Ten of these projects will be chosen in October to join the Forum’s Scale-up (SCUP) Program, which offers one year of tailored mentorship and capacity-building to help take them to their next strategic stage.

With action at their core, these initiatives exemplify the power of multi-stakeholder collaboration in building a more just, sustainable, and peaceful future.