Caux Forum für Demokratie 2025

About the session

Inner development goals focus on developing inner skills and qualities that are uniquely human such as self-awareness, emotional intelligence, mindfulness and wisdom. The focus of AI is to analyze data , solve complex problems, intelligence , knowledge and more recently , a lot, lot more!. As we get closer to AGI questions arise! 

How do we reconcile these two burgeoning realities? As AI continues to rapidly advance, intrinsically human skills become even more valuable. AI can handle immense volumes of data processing and complex computations, while humans equipped with well developed inner skills can provide the critical thinking, creativity and ethical decision-making necessary to guide AI applications towards sustainable goals.These should be complementary approaches in the future and a combination of the two should lead to a more holistic solution, perhaps. 

Consider how AI could provide insights and data driven recommendations while inner development goals - developed skills would enable leaders and individuals to interpret and apply these insights with wisdom, empathy and long term vision.Initiatives of Change (IofC) with its emphasis on self-awareness, personal values and ability to change through self-contemplation can inform the development of AI systems that align with human values and sustainable development principles., This is crucial as AI becomes more integrated into decision making processes that affect society and environment. By fostering human inner growth and leveraging AI's power, we can create a synergy that addresses both the inner and outer dimensions of global challenges. This reconciliation offers a promising path forward, combining the best of human wisdom with cutting-edge technology to create a more sustainable and equitable world. 

The insights from this session will serve as the foundation for a forthcoming discussion paper on how civil society might embrace the evolving interplay between inner development and digital transformation. This paper will inform and enrich a dedicated session at the Swiss Foundations Symposium on 3 September, where we will explore the critical role foundations can play in navigating these digital shifts. 

SPEAKERS

ASHEESH KHANEJA, Innovation Catalyst, Caux Initiatives of Change Foundation

Asheesh Khaneja is the innovation catalyst at the Caux Initiatives of Change Foundation, where he spearheads strategic technology and artificial intelligence initiatives to advance the organization’s global mission. A seasoned leader with decades of experience, Asheesh combines insights from his work in AI, deep-tech innovation, and leadership roles at industry pioneers like IBM and Oracle with the entrepreneurial agility honed through tech startups.

DR. CECILIA CANNON, Managing Director PoliSync

Dr. Cecilia Cannon is Managing Director at PoliSync with 20+ years’ experience in policy research, teaching, and policy communications. She leads a UN project on the securitisation of migration, and a six-part webinar series with leading nonprofits on AI for Social Good. She co-authored the 2024 UN report on migrants’ contributions and advises international actors on research, strategy, digital tools, and policy impact. She holds a PhD in International Relations from the Geneva Graduate Institute.

About the session

Film screening "Les Doléances" & Panel Discussion

In a world where political and social divisions seem to be deepening, the question of citizen participation is more crucial than ever in democratic debate. Through the screening of the film “Les Doléances” (by Hélène Desplanques, 2023), we invite you to reflect on the role of citizen voices in contemporary societies.

From Town Hall Meetings in the United States to Landsgemeinde in Swiss direct democracy and the cahiers de doléances in France, citizens have always sought ways to make their voices heard.

But are these voices truly listened to? What role does citizenship play in political life today? Are we still able to debate and engage at the local level despite growing ideological divides?

The discussion following the screening will be an opportunity to examine these fundamental issues and explore ways to strengthen participatory democracy together.

Moderator

Jordan DAVIS, RTS Correspondent in the U.S. TBC (tbc) and host of “Democracy! Démocratie!”

Speakers

FABRICE DALONGEVILLE, Independent Consultant & Mayor of Auger-Saint-Vincent (France)

Fabrice Dalongeville is the Mayor of Auger-Saint-Vincent in France and an advocate for the revival of grievances as a key tool for public debate. 

He has been an independent consultant for sixteen years, with expertise spanning editorial production, tourism attractiveness, territorial marketing, collective intelligence, and the creation of new narratives. He brings a unique triple perspective: as a public official (President of the Picardy Regional Tourism Committee and Vice-President for Tourism in Pays de Valois), as a project leader (founder and director of Opale&CO, the first attractiveness agency in Hauts-de-France), and as a consultant, journalist, and trainer.

He has deep knowledge of local governance, team leadership, institutional dynamics, and multimedia content production. Mayor of Auger-Saint-Vincent, he co-founded Le Café citoyen, a local third place, and serves as third-place referent for the Association of Rural Mayors of France. Since 2018, he has championed public access to the two million citizen contributions from the 2018–2019 grievances, co-founding Les doléances in 2024 and helping to pass a cross-party resolution in 2025.

Fabrice is trained in experience economy, design thinking, and collective intelligence, and holds degrees in history (Paris IV Sorbonne), economic intelligence (Sciences Po Aix), and journalism (CPJ Paris).

ALLAN-CHARLES CHIPMAN, Executive Director of Initiatives of Change USA

Allan-Charles Chipman is a lifelong faith community activist, having started his work at the ripe age of six in his hometown of Baltimore, when he was inspired by a group of pastors working to connect their congregations to their communities through service. Previously serving as IofC’s Faith-Rooted Organizer, Allan runs programming for faith communities, equipping them with the tools to think theologically and logically about race and the history of Richmond and America as a whole.

During college, Allan engaged with faith communities to change society through mentorship programs and helped to establish a faculty/student collaborative organization called Reconciliation and Conversation for Everyone (R.A.C.E.). Allan has also worked in the corporate world, where he advocated to build an African-American network to strive for racial equity at one of Richmond’s Fortune 500 companies. He also acted as liaison between minority employees and the human resources department when issues involving race arose.

Spoken language

• French/English with simultaneous interpretation

(Film: “Les Doléances”: Hélène Desplanques · French version · 52 min · 2023 · France)

About the session

We invite you to discover the work of two cartoonists, one Tunisian and the other Kenyan, on the subject of democracy. Today, democracy, which is the foundation of a just society, is flouted in many contexts.

How is democracy represented by these two artists? What problems are highlighted? What aesthetic strategies and forms of humour do the two artists use to sketch scenes from political life and help us understand what is at stake?

Organisers

The workshop is led by the Kenyan cartoonist Gado (Godfrey MWAMPEMBWA (tbc) and Anne-Catherine SUTERMEISTER, Head of Community Engagement Switzerland, Caux Initiatives of Change Foundation.

About the session

Visit the exhibition and attend a creative workshop to explore with us the major themes of humanity through art and reflection!

At the heart of this exploration are the four humanitarian principles: humanity, neutrality, independence and impartiality. Join an interactive discussion on these principles in humanitarian contexts by exploring real-life examples such as Ukraine, Syria, Sudan, etc. with an expert from the Swiss Development Coorperation.

Organisers

Swiss Development Coorperation and Anne-Catherine SUTERMEISTER, Head of Community Engagement Switzerland, Caux Initiatives of Change Foundation.