Opening by our moderator:

• Niagalé Bagayoko: President of the African Security Sector Network (ASSN).

The discussions will focus on redefining partnerships between Europe and Africa in a postcolonial world. The aim will be to rethink narratives, overcome asymmetrical legacies, and lay the foundations for cooperation based on historical justice, reciprocity, and co-construction.

In this dynamic of renewal of Euro-African relations, local authorities

appear as key players in concrete and local cooperation. Partnerships between African and European cities will illustrate how territories can drive shared responses to the challenges of mobility, climate, urban planning and culture.

This dialogue between territories is accompanied by a broader movement, driven by culture,

education and innovation, which open up new perspectives for transformation and

development. Networking talent, circulating knowledge and supporting creative industries contribute to building a common space of influence and cooperation.

Youth, at the heart of these dynamics, find in sport a lever for inclusion, social connection, and influence. The discussions will highlight the role of sports initiatives in promoting peace, education, and cooperation through the organization of events and support for local talent.

Finally, in a context of geopolitical changes, the question of security, peace and governance requires an approach rooted in African realities. Participants

will reflect on the co-construction of adapted policies, by promoting local systems and endogenous capacities for conflict prevention and management.

Throughout the discussions, several cross-cutting issues will be addressed: the ecological and climate transition, human mobility seen as an opportunity, and the quest for digital, economic and cultural sovereignty, as pillars of renewed cooperation.

Official speeches:

• Michaël Delafosse : Mayor and President of Montpellier Méditerranée Métropole.

• Achille Mbembe : Cameroonian historian and political scientist, patron of the Biennale.

• Frédéric Vallier: General Delegate of the International Association of French-Speaking Mayors (AIMF), former Secretary General of the Council of European Municipalities and Regions – CEMR on territorial cooperation between cities.

• Eva Nguyen Binh: President of the French Institute.

• Fadilha Benammar Koly : President of the International Relations Commission of the Occitanie Region.

Moderator:

• Journalist for La Tribune.

"Reinventing Partnerships: Building Win-Win Relationships on Water / Agroecology / Health"

The discussions will focus on the need to rethink relations between Africa and Europe in a context of geopolitical, climatic, and social transition. The objective is to move beyond traditional aid approaches to build more equitable, sustainable, and mutually beneficial cooperation. The discussion will highlight the central role of public, private, academic, and civil society actors in this renewed dynamic. Three strategic sectors will structure the discussions: access to water, global health, and agroecology as a response to desertification. Faced with current challenges, participants will explore concrete levers for building fairer cooperation, anchored in the needs of the territories and driven by a shared vision of development.

The speakers:

• Frédéric Cholé: Diplomat - Delegate for local authorities and civil society - Ministry for Europe and Foreign Affairs.

• Philippe Augé: President of the University of Montpellier.

• André Viola: Former department president, committed to the issues of agricultural transition and territorial cooperation in Africa.

• Thierry Lefrançois: Advisor to the President and CEO of the Centre for International Cooperation in Agricultural Research for Development (CIRAD) and member of the Committee for Monitoring and Anticipation of Health Risks (COVARS).

• Marie De Lattre-Gasquet : Member of the French Academy of Agriculture.

Moderator:

• Patrice Burger: Founder and president of the Center for International Actions and Achievements (CARI) association.

"Euro-African dialogue on the Montpellier Process, energy transition and biodiversity financing"

At the intersection of environmental and development issues that require determined and differentiated action in terms of mitigation and adaptation, what possible and shared paths are there between Africa and Europe in the face of this emergency? The debate will be fueled by five testimonies and analyses from key actors involved in transitions in multilateral institutions, on the African continent, and in political foresight, as well as in the scientific field. Their shared perspectives will focus on the different levels and issues at which changes are taking place or must take place, in order to hope to address the intensification and multiplication of the crises that are combining. In this context, they will discuss innovations driven by African or European actors that can inspire hope.

The speakers:

• Luc Gnacaja: Beninese architect and politician. He is the second Executive Secretary of the United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD), a position he held for two terms between 2007 and 2013.

• Marcos Montoiro: Head of External Relations at the United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD).

• Nabil Ben Khatra: Executive Secretary, Environment Program, Sahara and Sahel Observatory.

• Elisabeth Hege: Senior Research Officer, Governance and Financing of Sustainable Development, Coordinator of Ukama (IDDRI).

• Jean-Luc Chotte : Research Director at the Institute of Research for Development (IRD), President of the French Scientific Committee on Desertification (CSFD).

Moderator:

• Gwenaëlle Guerlavais: Freelance writer, she is vice-president of the Occitanie Press Club.

The discussions will focus on the growing hydroclimatic risks in the Mediterranean Basin and West Africa, linked to climate change. Extreme flooding, flash floods, and prolonged and intense droughts now pose major threats to water resources and the balance of societies.

The discussions will focus on better understanding these multifaceted risks, identifying levers for alerting and prevention, particularly for extreme events, and exploring future projections based on hydroclimatic scenarios produced by scientific research.

The speakers:

• Yves Tramblay: Hydroclimatologist, research director at the Institute for Research for Development (IRD) (UMR Espace-Dev).

• Emna Gargouri-Ellouze: Assistant professor in hydrology at the National School of Engineers of Tunis (ENIT) integrated into the University of Tunis El Manar and member of the Hydraulics and Environment Modeling Laboratory.

• Bodian Ansoumana: Research lecturer in hydrology at the Department of Geography at Gaston Berger University in Saint-Louis and associate researcher at the Ecological Monitoring Center.

• Alix Roumagnac: Founder and president of Predict Services in Montpellier in 2006.

Moderator:

• Mariline Poupaud : Scientific support officer at the ExposUM institute, in partnership with the Center for International Cooperation in Agricultural Research for Development (CIRAD) and MSH Sud.

The discussions will focus on the OMEES (Observatory of Health Ecology) system, presented at the COP Biodiversity in Cali Colombia in 2024. This new tool is located at the intersection of health, biodiversity and climate issues, and aims to strengthen understanding of the interactions between ecosystems and health dynamics. It requires strong cooperation between researchers, political actors and citizens and a strategy to support these collaborative processes (intermediation at the science-society interface). The speakers will illustrate, from three different sectors (academic, entrepreneurial and associative), the challenges of professionalizing these intermediary functions.

The speakers:

• Yameogo Peegdsom Simplice Assomption: Doctor, Master of Science in Integrated Health Risk Management (University of Liège).

• David Gomis: Health Ecology Project Manager, Biodiversity, Landscapes, Agroecology and Food Division, Montpellier Méditerranée Métropole.

• Omar Fediore: ATI/Dagana Team Leader.

• Stéphanie Bost: Coordinator of Alliss, the association for an Alliance between Sciences and Societies.

• Mariline Poupaud: Scientific support officer at the ExposUM institute, in partnership with the Center for International Cooperation in Agricultural Research for Development (CIRAD) and MSH Sud.

Moderator:

• Patrick CARON: President of Agropolis International and researcher at the Center for International Cooperation in Agricultural Research for Development (CIRAD).

The discussions will focus on the key role of territorial innovation ecosystems in the sustainable transformation of food systems. Through concrete examples in the fields of agriculture, agri-food, and the environment, the roundtable will illustrate how local innovation can become a lever for job creation and inclusive development. It will highlight the structuring contribution of public and partnership research, with initiatives carried out in Montpellier, Cotonou, Yamoussoukro, and Dakar. Finally, the discussions will explore possible synergies with international institutions (IFAD) with a view to anchoring the International Innovation Hub (IIH) locally, and networking donors, researchers, entrepreneurs, and support structures.

The speakers:

• Siny Samba: Food industry engineer, co-founder and CEO of the company Le Lionceau.

• Enoch G. Achigan-Dako: Associate Professor at the University of Abomey-Calavi in Benin.

• Manuel DORNIER: Professor at the Montpellier Agro Institute.

• Gladys Morales : Senior Advisor in the Bureau of Development Effectiveness, Senior Innovation Officer at the International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD).

• Gianpiero Menza: Senior Manager in Partnerships and Innovative Financing at Alliance Bioversity International – Consultative Group on International Agricultural Research (CGIAR).

• Christel Célié : Deputy Director of the MedVallée mission, Montpellier Méditerranée Metropolis.

Moderator:

• Christophe Brossé: Director General at the Center for Actions and Achievements and International (CARI)

The discussions will focus on the resilience of drylands to droughts, which severely affect rural populations dependent on natural resources. Inclusive land management is presented as a major lever for reconciling ecosystem preservation, food security, and local development. The speakers (experts, practitioners, and local stakeholders) will address concrete avenues for transforming agricultural and pastoral systems, equitable water management, and strengthening the role of local authorities in anticipating crises.

The speakers:

• Oumar BA: Mayor of Ndiob in Senegal, President of the Council of Territorial Communities of the West African Economic and Monetary Union (UEMOA), President of the Association of Mayors of Senegal, as well as President of the Board of Directors of the National Company for the Management of the Heritage of the Regional Express Train (SENTER SA).

• Adrien Lepage: Head of the AGRITER program "Sustainable Agriculture & Territorial Dynamics".

• Mohamed El Fasskaoui: Director General of Services within the Souss Massa Regional Council in Agadir.

• Laura Gilbert : Sheep breeder and president of CIVAM EMPREINTE.

Moderator:

• Aqua Valley

The discussions will focus on the consideration of hydroclimatic scenarios in water resource management, in order to anticipate the impacts of climate change and ensure sustainable service to users. Emphasis will be placed on the role of water and sanitation services in planning and equitable sharing of the resource.

Based on concrete feedback, the discussions will highlight the available tools, such as satellite imagery, and their contribution to adapting services to sustainably meet the water needs of populations.

The speakers:

• Julien Verdonck: Water resources management project director at BRL Ingénierie.

• Thomas Ferrero: President Monitoring Earth Observation Satellite Services.

• West African Guests (program under construction).

Moderator:

• Jean-Pierre Mahé : Director of Solidarity Experts.

The discussions will focus on the commitment of Montpellier and its cooperation partners. The debate will address the themes discussed and how local authorities are working together on these projects, both at the level of elected officials, technical services, and cooperation operators.

The speakers:

• Jemal Ahmed Taleb Keboud : Mayor of the commune of Kiffa, capital of the Assaba region in Mauritania and actively chairs the Regional Council of Mayors.

• Clare Hart : Vice-president of Montpellier Méditerranée Métropole, delegate for International Influence and European Cooperation.

• René Revol : Mayor of the commune of Grabels, Vice-president of the Montpellier Metropolitan Area.

• Djidiack Faye: Director of the Regional Development Agency (ARD) of the Fatick region, in Senegal.

• Saleck Moulaye Ahmed Cherif: Director of Programming Studies and Cooperation in the Nouakchott Region, researcher at the University of Nouakchott Al Aasriya.

• Matar Ba: President of the Entente du Sine, Mayor of Fatick and former Minister of Sports from 2014 to 2022.

• Mhamed Afkir: Vice-President of the Intercommunality of the Arghen Valley Basin, Mayor of Nihit Morocco.

Moderator:

• Anne Madziarski : Head of the Montpellier Méditerranée Métropole Water Authority department.

The discussions will focus on the links between water and overall health, including the dramatic health consequences of problems with access to sufficient quality water: dehydration, infectious diseases linked to contaminated water, and poor hygiene. The speakers (researchers, doctors, professors) will share their experiences and innovative technical solutions that can be deployed to limit the spread of diseases through water.

The speakers:

• Eric Servat : Director of the UNESCO International Centre ICIREWARD, hydrologist, research director at the Institute of Research for Development (IRD).

• Estelle Jumas-Bilak : Researcher at HydroSciences Montpellier - UMR 5569, University of Montpellier.

• Olivier Courot: Scientific Director of the Environmental Genetics Engineering and Analysis (IAGE) laboratory in Montpellier.

• Clémentine Haudecoeur: Project Director at the Research and Technological Exchange Group (GRET).

• Yannick Fournier: Engineer salesman at GL Biocontrol.

• Philippe Miele: Director of the UNESCO SIMEV chair.

Moderator:

• Elen Lemaître Curri: Assistant to the director at CIHEAM (International Center for Advanced Mediterranean Agronomic Studies) Montpellier - General engineer of bridges, water and forests.

The discussions will focus on the prospects offered by agroecology for strengthening food security within the framework of Europe-Africa partnerships. Across different territorial contexts, the aim will be to identify levers for addressing production challenges, organizational and political issues, as well as obstacles related to value chains and market access.

The discussions will highlight the role of research, training, co-construction of knowledge, and cooperation mechanisms in supporting the agroecological transition. They will propose concrete avenues for structuring sustainable, inclusive sectors that are adapted to the specific characteristics of African agriculture.

The speakers:

• Mélanie Requier-Desjardins : French environmental economist and researcher specializing in desertification, land governance and agroecology, professor at the Mediterranean Agronomic Institute of Montpellier.

• Mehdi Ben Mimoun: Professor at the National Agronomic Institute of Tunisia (INAT) of the University of Carthage in Tunisia.

• Mark Caulfield : Researcher specializing in agroecology and sustainable systems at Wageningen University.

• Danie Jordaan: Senior Lecturer in Agricultural Economics in the Department of Agricultural Economics, Extension and Rural Development at the University of Pretoria.

Moderator:

• Maÿlis d'Aboville : Director of Occitanie Cooperation.

"Populations on the move and local development, what are the challenges for our territories?"

The issue of migration is a particularly complex, often political, and sometimes sensitive topic. Addressing this subject within the framework of the Europe-Africa Biennial is not trivial; it is often a source of tension or negotiation between the two continents.

Organized by the regional multi-stakeholder network Occitanie Coopération, this plenary session: Populations on the move and local development, what are the challenges for our territories? will allow us to question the trajectories, difficulties and dynamics generated by these mobilities and also to explore the involvement of migrants in the local development of their birthplaces and living areas.

In a multi-stakeholder approach, the speakers will combine their points of view to provide an informed vision on this subject, which deserves a conference of its own.

The speakers:

• Fatimetou Abdel Malik: President of the Nouakchott Region.

• Flora Ben Chekroun : Dual-space mission manager for Mauritania at the Research and Implementation Group for Rural Development.

• Yann Delaunay : Director General of France Volontaires.

• Adama Kanté : Member of Montpellier civil society and the Senegalese diaspora.

Moderator:

• Gwenaëlle Guerlavais : Freelance writer, she is vice-president of the Occitanie Press Club.

The discussions will focus on the importance of learned societies, major international scientific associations, and major international programs in building professional networks. They will emphasize the importance of these networks as places of openness, debate, the promotion of shared priorities, and the building of collectives. They will also highlight the need to participate in them and to work towards better representation of countries from the South within them.

The speakers:

• Eric Servat: Director of the UNESCO International Centre ICIREWARD, hydrologist, research director at the Institute of Research for Development (IRD).  

• John Rowan : Professor of Physical Geography and Director of the UNESCO Centre for Water Law, Policy and Science at the University of Dundee.

• Alice Aureli: Vice-President of the International Water Resources Association (IWRA).

• Ernest Amoussou: Regional coordinator of the FRIEND-AOC program (West and Central Africa) and lecturer-researcher in geography and hydrology at the University of Parakou (Benin).

• Oula Amrouni: Regional co-coordinator of UNESCO's Med-FRIEND Water program in Tunisia and senior researcher at the National Institute of Marine Sciences and Technologies (INSTM).

Moderator:

• Julien Clémençot : Head of the economics department at Radio France Internationale.

The discussions will focus on the tensions between the development priorities of African countries—food sovereignty, resource exploitation—and the climate and environmental objectives promoted by the European Union. Faced with rapid population growth and global challenges (deforestation, climate, biodiversity), the speakers (experts, decision-makers, development actors) will explore the potential of agroecology as a compromise between sustainable agricultural development and the preservation of global public goods.

The speakers:

• Chantal Marijnissen: Head of Unit “Environment, Sustainable Natural Resources” (INTPA F2), European Commission.

• Alain Karsenty: Researcher at the Center for International Cooperation in Agronomic Research for Development and member of the European Movement of Hérault.

• Stéphanie Capdeville : Green Finance Specialist Consultant, World Bank Administrator.

• Achille Mbembe: Political scientist, professor at the University of the Witwatersrand in Johannesburg and director of the Foundation for Innovation in Democracy.

• Lionel Zinsou: Co-founder and partner of the Southbridge firm, former Prime Minister of Benin and investment banker.

Moderator:

• Laurent Dusseau: Professor at the University of Montpellier, director of the Van Allen Foundation and the Space Center of the University of Montpellier .

The discussions will focus on the dynamics of skills development and the appropriation of space technologies by African countries. In recent years, several states have launched their first satellites, either using the expertise of foreign partners or through strategies for skills transfer and training of young engineers. The roundtable will highlight promising initiatives, such as the space programs of Djibouti and Senegal, as well as the emergence of startups in the African New Space. As artificial intelligence profoundly transforms the uses of space data, the speakers will share their perspectives on how African players in the sector are preparing to meet this new technological challenge.

The speakers:

• Mr. Aboubaker Hassan: Secretary General of the Ministry of Higher Education and Research of DJIBOUTI.

• Pr. Gayane Faye: Head of the SENSAT space program in Senegal.

• Dr. Yaya Sylla: President and CEO of SaH Analytics International.

• Dr. Ifriky Tadadjeu: CEO of the startup Nanosatellites Mission Design (NMD) Cameroon.

Moderator:

• Jean-Christophe Avarre: Director of the Ecology & Biodiversity scientific department at the Institute of Research for Development (IRD) (UMR ISEM).

The discussions will focus on the necessary transformations of agricultural and food systems in the face of climate change and biodiversity erosion: soil depletion, climatic hazards, and yield losses. The speakers (researchers, entrepreneurs, project leaders) will share their findings and propose innovative alternatives to support a more equitable and resilient transition, highlighting the difficulties encountered by field actors and possible levers to better support them.

The speakers:

• Cécile Berthouly : Research officer at the Institute for Research for Development (IRD) (UMR DIADE).                   

• Adèle Ouedraogo: Researcher at the Institute for Research in Applied Sciences and Technologies (IRSAT) in Burkina Faso .

• Laurent Cournac: Research Director at the Institute for Research for Development (IRD) (UMR Eco&Sols).

• Astou Diao Camara: Director of the Macroeconomic Analysis Office of the Senegalese Institute of Agricultural Research.

Moderator:

• Gwenaëlle Guerlavais: Freelance writer, she is vice-president of the Occitanie Press Club.

The discussions will highlight the importance of young professional and alumni networks, which are still underdeveloped in university programs, unlike in engineering or business schools. Yet these networks play a key role in sharing experiences, identifying sectoral trends, promoting training, and facilitating professional integration. The panel will also present the INITIATE platform, which brings together doctoral students from 12 universities around the world to discuss water-related issues. By combining international, intercultural, and interdisciplinary perspectives, this initiative illustrates the added value of such networks in strengthening the capacities of young researchers, with the testimony of four doctoral students and the CEO of Water4All.

The speakers:

• Asma Yaqoob : PhD candidate in International Politics at Dublin City University on the social consequences of flood adaptation policies in Pakistan.

• Basile Diouf: Vice-President of AJPEAS – Association of Young Water and Sanitation Professionals of Senegal.

• Amina Krissou: Alumni of the Faculty of Science and Technology of Cadi Ayyad University, Morocco.

• Sandrine Raynaud: Alumni in Water Sciences and Technology from Polyech'Montpellier.

• Asma El Kasmi : Director of Cooperation and Communication at the National Office for Electricity and Drinking Water (ONEE) - Water Directorate in Morocco.

• Sivuyisiwe Mapukata: PhD student in sustainable chemistry at Rhodes University in South Africa on greywater treatment systems.

• Vivian Varlet: PhD student in Geography at the University of Montpellier on issues of water pollution from mining in Ecuador.

• Zafir Marecayar: PhD student in civil and water engineering at Laval University in Quebec on water quality in drinking water reservoirs in the Canadian Far North.

• Benjamin Lopez: Chief Executive Officer of the Water4All partnership and Scientific Director at the National Research Agency.

• Olivier Barreteau : Deputy Director of the UNESCO International Centre ICIREWARD.

Moderator:

• Emilie Langlade: Science dissemination journalist - Grain de Sel coordinator.

Discussions will focus on citizen appropriation of the One Health approach through local dynamics of food system transformation. The aim will be to explore how initiatives promoting food sovereignty and agroecology can concretely embody the principles of global health.

The discussions will highlight the links between human health, animal health and ecosystem health, and will show how citizens, territories and communities can become key players in this integrated transition.

The speakers:

• Sena Kwaku Adessou: Secretary General at INADES-Training, environmental management and sustainable agriculture: Systemic approach.

• Bertrand Mathieu : Peasant Agriculture and Agroecology Program Manager, Agronomist and Veterinarian Without Borders.

• Erwan Sachet: Researcher at the Center for International Cooperation in Agricultural Research for Development (CIRAD) (UMR ASTRE, Montpellier). He is notably a contributor to the “Health & Territories” project, presented at Tropentag 2025, which explores participatory methodologies with young communities in Senegal.

• Claire Ficini : Food and nutrition security expert at the Institute for Research and Applications of Development Methods, SASI-SPI program.

Moderator:

• Franck Tognini: Founder of the Vigilances network, providing methodological support to companies in matters of Economic Intelligence.

The discussions will focus on the strategic role of satellite data in addressing major challenges facing the African continent, such as climate change, water resource management, deforestation, and illegal fishing. In this context, Earth observation data are emerging as an essential tool for governments to provide early warning, decision-making, and planning support. The roundtable will highlight the visions of states committed to developing sovereign space programs. As the African Space Agency is inaugurated in Cairo, ministerial representatives will discuss the needs, objectives, and resources being mobilized to build an African space capacity for sustainable development and technological sovereignty.

The speakers :

• Dr. Nabil Mohamed Ahmed: Minister of Higher Education and Research of the Republic of Djibouti.

• Mr. Ahmed Salem Bede : Minister of Digital Transition and Modernization of Administrations of the Islamic Republic of Mauritania.

• Pr. Daouda Ngom: Minister of Higher Education, Research and Innovation of the Republic of Senegal.

• Dr. Claudie Haigneré: Astronaut and former Minister of Higher Education, Research and Innovation.

Moderator:

• Yvan KEDAJ: General Manager of Pôle Aqua-Valley.

The discussions will focus on partnerships between local authorities, training organizations, and specialized companies to advance the management of water and sanitation services. The focus will be on supporting organizational change and strengthening the skills of management teams.

Concrete examples will illustrate how these partnership dynamics make it possible to anchor sustainable solutions locally, adapted to the challenges of the sector.

The speakers:

• Jean-Antoine Faby : Director of the ParisTech “SUEZ Water for All” chair at AgroParisTech.

• Maria Magaña: Academic Director of the International Executive Master's Degree "Water for All" at AgroParisTech - SUEZ Chair.

• Guillaume Le Pape : Business Development Manager at Razel Water Solutions.

• Danra Dourandi : Ministry of Water Resources and Energy in Cameroon.

• Dr. Alice Estère Goba : Aboisso Prefecture in Ivory Coast.

Moderator:

• Julien Clemençot : Head of the economics department at Radio France Internationale.

"Financing mechanisms for cooperation"

The discussions will focus on the evolution of development financing modalities in Africa, in a context of declining traditional public aid. The speakers (donors, financial experts, development actors) will present innovative approaches such as blended finance, green bonds, and debt-for-nature swaps, and will discuss the European Union's current priorities, including sustainable infrastructure, nature-based solutions, and migration management.

The speakers :

• Nicolas Mourlon : General Director of the Rhône-Mediterranean Corsica Water Agency.

• A representative of the AFD , to discuss the evolution of French policy on ODA.

• Chantal Marijnissen: Head of Unit Environment, Sustainable Natural Resources (INTPA F.2), European Commission.

• Yannick Glemarec : Research Director at CIRED (International Research Center on Environment and Development), President of Gold Standard, former Executive Secretary of the Green Climate Fund.

• Lionel Zinsou: Co-founder and partner of the Southbridge firm, former Prime Minister of Benin and investment banker.

• Élisabeth Claverie De Saint Martin: President and Director General of the Center for International Cooperation in Agricultural Research for Development (CIRAD).

• Nabil Ben Khatra: Executive Secretary, Environment Program, Sahara and Sahel Observatory.

• Valérie Verdier : President and CEO of the Institute for Research for Development (IRD).

“Synthesis and Conclusion Perspectives”

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