The Aix-Marseille Polycrisis Declaration is the outcome of the final conference of the PolyCIVIS Jean Monnet Network, a partnership of 21 African and European universities, most of them part of CIVIS Alliance. The declaration addresses the growing reality of the “polycrisis,” in which conflict, climate change, forced migration, economic insecurity, governance challenges, and social inequalities interact and reinforce one another. Recognising that young people are disproportionately affected by these interconnected crises, the declaration emphasises the need for stronger Africa–Europe cooperation and places youth agency, participation, and leadership at the center of responses to contemporary global challenges.
The PolyCIVIS Network, consisting of 21 African and European Universities, and funded by the European Union Erasmus+/Jean Monnet Programme, held its Final Conference, facilitated by the Aix-Marseille Université (AMU), at the Maison méditerranéenne des sciences de l'homme (MMSH) in Aix-en-Provence, France, during the period 2-5 June 2026.
Within the margins of the Final Conference, a Discussion Forum with the theme "Polycrisis: Youth resilience in the face of conflict, forced migration, and climate change" was held on Wednesday, 3 June 2026. Building on the provisions of the Joint Position Paper, "Deepening African-European science cooperation by tapping the potentials of European University Alliances," adopted by representatives of the CIVIS member universities and six African strategic partner universities in Marseille on 11 March 2022, the PolyCIVIS Network seeks to strengthen and expand African-European collaboration in research, education, and policy engagement.
The PolyCIVIS Network aims to develop a comprehensive understanding of the concept of polycrisis3, and its implications for global governance, socio-economic development, and security, thereby contributing to evidence-based responses to complex and interconnected global challenges.
At the Discussion Forum, African and European academics and stakeholders discussed how Africa and Europe can contribute to youth resilience in the face of the polycrisis driven by conflicts, forced migration, and climate change. The Discussion Forum underscored the centrality of youth agency in responding to the polycrisis, calling for the institutionalization of youth leadership, meaningful participation in governance, investment in education and employment, support for youth-led peacebuilding and climate action, strengthened mental health and social inclusion, and deeper AU-EU cooperation to advance sustainable and equitable solutions for future generations.
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Challenge-based learning approach in course design (2026)
This module is part of a broader upskilling initiative aimed at educators who wish to learn how to apply innovative methodologies to their teaching practice.- Challenged-based approach
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- Academics
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Pathways for Competitiveness: The Role of Alliances in Bringing Skills to All Learners (CIVIS Days 2026)
This session explored how Universities alliances can foster competitiveness through flexible and inclusive learning pathways. Within CIVIS, it focused on micro-programmes and micro-credentials as tools to provide diverse learners with relevant skills.- Micro-credentials
- Communication and Dissemination
- Micro-programmes
- Audiovisual materials
- Academics
- Researchers
- Policy makers