91Â鶹¹ú²ú¾«Æ·×ÔÅÄ

Carlos Lopes will explore rethinking socioeconomic paradigms through an African lens, examining how public policies and economic models can be reimagined to better reflect the continent’s realities. He will share his insights on pathways toward more inclusive, resilient, and context-driven growth for African economies. 

Carlos Lopes is University Professor at the Mandela School of Public Governance at the University of Cape Town, Visiting Professor at Sciences Po Paris and Associate Fellow at Chatham House in the Africa Programme. A distinguished academic and policy expert, he is a global thought leader on governance, climate, and economic development in Africa. 

Professor Lopes serves on numerous high-level boards and commissions, including the boards of the Jakaya Kikwete Foundation, the Hailemariam and Roman Foundation, the African Leadership Institute’s Global Advisory Board, and the World Resources Institute. He is also the Chair of the Board and Advisory Council of the African Climate Foundation and a member of the UN High-Level Expert Group on Net-Zero Certification by Non-State Entities.

Prior to these roles, Professor Lopes held several prominent positions at the United Nations, such as UN Assistant Secretary-General and Political Director for Secretary-General Kofi Annan, and Executive Secretary of the UN Economic Commission for Africa. He was appointed the African Union High Representative for Partnerships with Europe and served as a member of the African Union Reform team led by Rwandan President Paul Kagame.

The Thought Leaders Series aims to provide a platform for leading minds in the social and human sciences to share their reflections on critical societal challenges and innovative ideas on overcoming them.

Through these discussions, we aim to inspire and empower policymakers, academics, and individuals to question and redefine societal paradigms, tackling global challenges with fresh perspectives. The Thought Leaders Series contributes to the recent mandate of the Management of Social Transformations (MOST) Programme to support policymakers on rethinking socioeconomic paradigms.     

Future speakers will include scientists, philosophers, climate activists, academics, writers, and policymakers. The Thought Leaders Series attracts an audience of UNESCO staff, permanent delegations, invited guests, and the general public.  

The intellectual partnership between UNESCO and "la Caixa" Foundation aims to advance innovative research in the social and human sciences, with the goal of influencing global agendas and policymaking.