Organised by:
Department of Studies in Law, University of Mysore, India
Kalu Institute, Madrid, Spain
School of Law, University of Nairobi, Kenya
Mount Kenya University, Kenya
Prefatory Note
In fragile and conflict-affected states, poverty and economic insecurity remain the most pressing concerns, with 421 million people—nearly 60% of the world’s extreme poor—living on less than US $3 per day, according to the World Bank (2025). This number is projected to rise to 435 million by 2030, highlighting the deep entrenchment of poverty in these regions. High unemployment, low wages, and limited access to sustainable livelihoods compound these conditions. Armed conflict and political instability, which are now at a 25-year high, continue to destabilize governance, displace millions, and destroy critical infrastructure. These crises are interconnected with education gaps, as conflict-affected countries show secondary school enrollment rates nearly 30 percentage points lower than stable countries and adult literacy rates lagging at 69% compared to 85% in peaceful areas. Food insecurity and malnutrition also persist at alarming levels, particularly in the Sahel region, where 38 million people are currently food insecure, and 6.9 million children under five suffer from acute malnutrition—1.4 million of them severely. Meanwhile, health crises and weak infrastructure exacerbate the multidimensional vulnerability of these populations, with fragile health systems unable to meet even basic needs and millions lacking reliable access to clean water, electricity, and transportation.
Addressing these interlinked challenges demands coordinated global action. Institutions such as the Cairo International Centre for Conflict Resolution, Peacekeeping and Peacebuilding, the Geneva Peacebuilding Platform, the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC), and Interpeace bring essential expertise in peacebuilding and post-conflict stabilization. Economic development and labor market reforms are led by the International Labour Organization (ILO), the International Monetary Fund (IMF), the World Bank Group, and the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD). Food security and nutrition are championed by the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), Codex Alimentarius, and responsible private-sector partners such as Nestlé Nespresso SA. Research and policy institutions like the Graduate Institute of International and Development Studies, the Institute for Economics and Peace, and the Kalu Institute provide critical insight through training and knowledge production. Legal frameworks and governance are reinforced by the Public International Law and Policy Group and the UN Peacebuilding Commission. Despite the work of these actors, educational institutions must play a more active role—embedding peacebuilding, sustainable development, and poverty eradication into their curricula, research agendas, and community engagement efforts remains essential to long-term transformation and resilience.
Themes
- Transformative Education as a Catalyst for Economic Empowerment
- Equity, Access, and Inclusion in Fragile Education Systems
- Innovative Financing Mechanisms for Education in Fragile and Conflict-Affected Contexts
- Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) for Sustainable Livelihoods and Self-Reliance
- Education and the Sustainable Development Goals in Fragile States
- Integrating Peace Education and Social Cohesion into School Curricula
- Post-Conflict Reconstruction of Educational Infrastructure and Systems
- The Role of Higher Education in Governance Reform and Policy Development
- Community-Based and Informal Education for Conflict Prevention
- Digital Learning Technologies and Educational Continuity in Crisis Contexts
Objective
The objective of this conference is to critically examine the role of education in promoting peace, stability, and sustainable development in fragile and conflict-affected contexts. It aims to explore curriculum reform, inclusive education, and skill-based learning as tools for resilience and economic empowerment, while assessing innovative financing models and the integration of peacebuilding, civic education, and digital learning into education systems. The conference will also evaluate education’s contribution to achieving SDG 1 (No Poverty) and SDG 4 (Quality Education), with a focus on policy, infrastructure, and community engagement.
Eligibility Criteria
Target Audience
This conference is intended for individuals with academic or professional expertise in the fields of Law, Economics, Political Science, Sociology, and related disciplines. We particularly welcome the participation of postgraduate students, early-career researchers, faculty members, practitioners, and professionals affiliated with non-governmental organizations (NGOs) operating in fragile and conflict-affected regions.
Call for Speakers
Applications to serve as a conference speaker must be submitted by 15 September 2025 via email to dos@law.uni-mysore.ac.in , using the subject line:
” Speaker at Role of Educational Institutions as Catalysts Addressing Poverty and Mitigating Conflict in Fragile States”
✅ Eligibility:
- A PhD in Law, Economics, Political Science, Sociology, or a closely related discipline.
- Currently affiliated as a faculty member with a recognized academic institution, or
- An active social practitioner or activist affiliated with an internationally recognized NGO working in poverty alleviation, hunger relief, or conflict resolution.
- Submission of a Europass-format CV.
- Confirmation of willingness to participate virtually.
- A 600-word abstract of the proposed presentation, accompanied by a PowerPoint presentation (PPT).
- Selection Criteria: Originality, thematic relevance, clarity of presentation, and overall contribution to the objectives of the conference.
Participant Applications
✅ Requirements:
- Submission of a Curriculum Vitae in Europass format.
- Confirmation of online participation for the full two-day conference.
- Agreement to complete a post-conference assessment, with certification based on examination performance.
- Submission of a 300-word Statement of Purpose (SOP) reflecting personal views on poverty and conflict globally. The SOP must be an original piece of work, without the use of AI tools or content generation software.
Call for Papers
Formatting Requirements:
- Abstract: Maximum of 150 words, including the paper title and five keywords.
- Full Manuscript: 4,500–5,000 words.
- Citation Style: OSCOLA, 4th Edition.
- Font: Times New Roman, 12 pt
- Line Spacing: 1.5
- Footnotes: Times New Roman, 10 pt, single spacing
- File Format: Microsoft Word (.doc or .docx) only.
- Co-Authorship: Maximum of two authors per paper.
- Referencing: All sources must be properly acknowledged.
- Plagiarism Policy: Similarity index must not exceed 10% (Turnitin); AI-generated text is strictly prohibited.
- Submission Deadline: 20 September 2025
Selected papers will be published in an Open Access Edited Volume (Spain, Europe).
Leadership and Patronage
Chief Patrons
- Prof. (Dr.) Lokanath N. K., Vice Chancellor, University of Mysore, India
- Prof. Stephen Gitahi Kiama, Vice Chancellor, University of Nairobi, Kenya
- Ms. Norma Cordero Romero, General Director, Kalu Institute, Madrid, Spain
Patrons
- Smt. M.K. Savitha, K.A.S, Registrar, University of Mysore, India
- Dr. Winnie Kamau, Dean, School of Law, University of Nairobi, Kenya
- Dr. Hezekiel Oira, Dean, School of Law, Mount Kenya University, Kenya
Organizing Committee
- Prof. (Dr.) M.S. Benjamin – Organizing Secretary
- Prof. (Dr.) Kenneth Wyne Mutuma – Conference Chair
- Ms. Ana Urgoiti – Coordinator for European States
- Mr. Sayed Qudrat Hashimy (PhD) – Regional Coordinator for Asia, Africa, and the Americas
Programme Details
- Host Institution: Institute of Excellence, University of Mysore, India
- Conference Mode: Online (Virtual)
- Conference Dates: Friday, 26 September 2025 – Saturday, 27 September 2025
- Daily Timings: 10:00 AM to 6:00 PM (Indian Standard Time – IST)
- Post-Conference Examination: Tuesday, 30 September 2025
Registration Information
Dates: Friday, 26 – Saturday, 27 September 2025
Time: 10:00 AM – 6:00 PM (IST)
Mode: Online (Virtual)
Host: Institute of Excellence, University of Mysore, India
Post-Conference Exam: Tuesday, 30 September 2025
Registration Fee: None – Free for all participants!
Register Here: https://forms.gle/tJnyBBogVcPDJiYW7
Contact: dos@law.uni-mysore.ac.in
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