2024 UN Civil Society Conference in Nairobi
The 2024 UN Civil Society Conference (2024 UNCSC) in support of the Summit of the Future took place in Nairobi on 9–10 May. The Conference brought together more than 2000 representatives from civil society UN , academia, think tanks, Member States, from 115 countries and provided preliminary discussions and data ahead of the Summit of the Future in September 2024 at the UN Headquarters in New York. View the Conference comprehensive outcome package here.
The Conference helped increase awareness, ambition and accountability for the Summit of the Future through discussions on key issues ranging from long standing concerns like international finance, the use of nuclear weapons and progress in gender equality to emerging issues like the equitable distribution of digital technology, the governance of artificial intelligence, and foresight in multilateralism.
Moreover, the Conference fostered the building of multi-stakeholder ImPACT Coalitions (ICs) to innovate the way civil society and other stakeholders interact with intergovernmental processes, while not duplicating existing formats. The ICs aim to champion specific reforms and proposals toward the Summit of the Future and will push for a comprehensive implementation process of the reforms beyond the Summit.
The UN SDG Action Campaign provided financial support to the 2024 UNCSC and actively engaged in events and workshops in Nairobi.
Empowering Civil Society: 10-year Lessons Learned and the Way A Head for the SDGs
The UN SDG Action Campaign co-organized the side event “Empowering Civil Society: 10-year Lessons Learned and the Way A Head for the SDGs” together with MY World México, ECLAC PUBLICATIONS, and Cepei Think Tank. The Global Director of the UN SDG Action Campaign provided keynote remarks at and took part in the subsequent panel discussion on the importance of civic participation in multilateral processes.
Looking back at 10 years of advocacy and mass mobilization in favor of the world’s greatest promise — the SDGs — this session highlighted the key strategies, mechanisms, and tools that made this unique kind of partnership successful, particularly in its tangible results at the local level. It demonstrated how these approaches could inspire other coalitions worldwide to pursue similar journeys in their quest to strengthen the implementation of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. The collaboration’s success and sustainability over time, achieved through MY World Mexico’s campaigning, programming, and activities in the last decade, were examined. Key milestones and successes in implementing the SDGs at the country level, with global resonance, were discussed, including the upcoming High-Level Political Forum on Sustainable Development and the Summit of the Future. The session also reflected on the significant policy impacts within the public sector. Lessons were shared with other stakeholders, UN Country Teams, Member States, UN AFP, and civil society organizations on the ground to guide similar efforts.
GCAP People’s Assembly
The UN SDG Action Campaign team participated in the GCAP People’s Assembly organized in Nairobi’s Kibera Slum where Kenyan civil society provided valuable input and demands ahead of the Civil Society Conference. Universal social protection is essential for inclusive development, peace, and security, both now and in the future. Residents of Kibera, one of Nairobi’s largest informal settlements, have shared harrowing stories of inadequate housing, food and water shortages, poor sanitation, limited access to education and healthcare, and heightened vulnerability to diseases, crime, and harassment. These challenges highlight the urgent need to amplify their voices and work towards a future where everyone has access to basic necessities and dignity. Such grassroots involvement is crucial in shaping policies that address these pressing issues and ensure that no one is left behind.
The outcome of the event were messages developed during group discussions and agreed upon by all participants during plenary presentations. The participants requested that the event organizers use all available channels to integrate their messages into the Summit of the Future process, especially into the Pact for the Future outcome document.
Alleanza Italiana per lo Sviluppo Sostenibile (ASVIS) Sustainable Development Festival
UN SDG Action Campaign Global Director Marina Ponti met with the Director and the team of the Italian Agency for Development Cooperation in Nairobi and participated in the opening event of the Alleanza Italiana per lo Sviluppo Sostenibile (ASVIS) Sustainable Development Festival to connect the Festival with the UNCSC. In her speech, Marina Ponti highlighted the urgent need to change the operating principles of our economies to address current injustice and deep-rooted inequalities within and between countries, and she pointed the increasing momentum around the reform of the International Financial Architecture.
Lead up to the Summit of the Future
In the lead up to the Summit of the Future and other key milestones such as the Second World Summit for Social Development and the Fourth International Conference on Financing for Development (FfD) in 2025, the UN SDG Action Campaign will continue to support the engagement of civil society , youth, and other stakeholders in the decision-making processes and amplify their voices in the multilateral system.
