The second edition of the Dialogue Cities initiative focuses on the role of women and youth in inclusive cities across Southeast Asia.
KAICIID supports “Women Leaders in Interreligious Engagement,” where Southeast Asian women leaders will develop solutions for community challenges, and explore interfaith integration.
Dr. Gloria Jumamil-Mercado, Chairperson and Chief Executive Officer, of the Asian Center for Excellence in Development and Security (ACEDS) will deliver the keynote address.
Davao, Philippines – One of the main objectives of the second edition of the Dialogue Cities Southeast Asia Conference, to be held in Davao, Philippines, from 12 to 14 September, is to build stronger, more inclusive, and resilient cities in Southeast Asia by strengthening the participation of women and youth in developing cohesive and resilient urban communities. By identifying the unique challenges and opportunities of each city, the conference aims to build platform for diverse stakeholders to promote social cohesion and sustainable development across Southeast Asia.
Cities are increasingly becoming central to human civilization, with projections indicating that by 2050, 70% of the global population will live in urban areas. In Southeast Asia, urbanization is expected to reach 63% by 2050. This urbanization presents a unique opportunity to accelerate the achievement of Sustainable Development Goals through stronger partnerships, evidence-based strategies, and enhanced capacities of local institutions.
By fostering interfaith and intercultural dialogue within urban settings, we can build stronger, more inclusive, and resilient cities in Asia, addressing the challenges and opportunities presented by this significant demographic shift.
This conference, organized by the International Dialogue Centre - KAICIID in partnership with Ateneo de Davao through Al-Qalam Institute, builds on the success of the inaugural event in Bangkok with a focus on women, youth, innovation and the critical role of interfaith and intercultural dialogue in fostering inclusive and resilient urban communities. This event is a pivotal gathering of experts and practitioners aimed at fostering transformative dialogue and cooperation on some of the region’s key challenges and opportunities in building inclusive and resilient cities.
Dialogue Cities is not just a conference; it is a catalyst for change, bringing together voices from across Southeast Asia to address the complex challenges of urbanization,” said Dr. Zuhair Alharthi, Secretary General of KAICIID. “Our goal is to foster collaboration that leads to concrete solutions for more inclusive cities. That is the central pillar of KAICIID’s work all around the world and this event only reaffirms our commitment to developing and partnering with organizations in the Southeast Asia region.
The event seeks to promote participation and inclusion, highlighting the role of interfaith and intercultural dialogue in identifying innovative means to develop challenges. This conference is expected to facilitate collaboration among policymakers, experts, practitioners, municipalities, and religious/faith-based organizations across cities and to develop and implement effective inter-city dialogue initiatives across Southeast Asia.
Women Leaders in Interreligious Engagement:
Also as part of the conference, from 9 to 11 September in the Philippines, KAICIID is supporting the activity ‘Women Leaders in Interreligious Engagement’. Women leaders from different interfaith backgrounds in Southeast Asia will come together and share knowledge and experiences to develop innovative solutions to problems in their communities. This activity aims to provide an opportunity to build on existing skills and expertise, help disseminate what was learned at the conference, evaluate progress, and potentially assess opportunities for interfaith and intercultural incorporation in the respective institution.
