For decades, the rules-based international order has provided a strong basis for prosperity and global conflict resolution. It also helped to shape widely accepted norms and increased living standards across economies, countries and peoples. While the UN’s Agenda 2030 and the Paris Climate Agreement continue the trend towards a joint global agenda, unilateral action, protectionism and populistic movements undermining the political consensus on global burden sharing are on the rise. It was thus very timely for Germany’s chancellor Angela Merkel to stress at the World Economic Forum in Davos that the spirit of multilateralism which rebuilt Europe and formed the international institutions in the aftermath of the Second World War is under serious threat. Germany is deeply rooted in the rules-based international order and has an interest in fostering multilateralism and strengthening multilateral institutions. Moreover, challenges in an interconnected world have grown more complex and demand new approaches on sustaining peace and stability, sustainable development and economic growth. The imperative of the universal protection of human rights puts another important layer of responsibility on the international community. In this context, the Konrad-Adenauer-Stiftung (KAS) will organize a discussion event on “Strengthening Multilateralism – Challenges and Strategies” to foster the exchange on the global agenda between representatives from multilateral institutions, civil society and think tanks in order to develop new avenues of cooperation and strategies for common action. The keynote speech will be held by Hermann Gröhe, Deputy Chairman of CDU/CSU-Parliamentary Group, Deputy Chairman of KAS, and former Federal Minister. The event will also celebrate the opening of the KAS Multilateral Dialogue office in Geneva and mark the beginning of KAS activities at the center of multilateral diplomacy and global policy.