69th UN Civil Society Conference Billed for May 9 – 10 in Nairobi

The 2024 UN Civil Society Conference (UNCSC2024) in Support of the Summit of the Future (SoTF) will take place on May 9-10 in Nairobi, Kenya, under the theme: “Shaping a Future of Global and Sustainable Progress” as a platform for gathering data and diverse perspectives ahead of the SoTF scheduled for September 22 – 23 in New York.

UNCSC2024 is being co-hosted by the UN’s Department of Global Communications (DGC) in collaboration with the global civil society community through the Coalition for the UN We Need (C4UN), the Global NGO Executive Committee (GNEC), the Conference of Non-Governmental Organizations in Consultative Relationship with the United Nations (CoNGO) as well as the Major Groups and Other Stakeholders (MGoS) Coordination Mechanism.

The Conference is the UN’s premier civil society convening whose three main objectives are increased awareness and accountability for the SoTF through the amplification of diverse voices and initiatives to inform an inclusive Pact for the Future; building a multi-stakeholder ImPACT Coalitions constituting Member States, civil society, academia, think tanks, foundations, and the private sector, to champion, act on, and push forward specific issue areas; as well as innovating the way civil society interacts with intergovernmental processes.

The SoTF is an important step towards mending the eroded trust in international cooperation’s capacity to effectively tackle current and future global challenges and specifically the increasingly threatened role of the UN in global affairs, drawing on the history of civil society’s involvement in the UN and multilateral process, dating back to the founding of the United Nations at San Francisco in summer 1945. Therefore, UNCSC2024 is an opportunity to showcase civil society as an essential partner in safeguarding the future of people and the planet.

The 2-day convening offers an opportunity for multistakeholder engagement ahead of the SoTF as well as a platform to contribute to the Pact for the Future, which seeks to deliver a UN for people and planet in the 21st century and beyond, in line with SDG 17 (Partnerships) and the Our Common Agenda’s vision of networked multilateralism. Thus, it will adopt an action-oriented Pact for the Future to deliver multilateral solutions for a better tomorrow.

“Civil society, comprising non-governmental organizations (NGOs), youth groups, grassroots movements, academia, and community-based organizations, represents a critical pillar of global governance. They bring a wealth of on-the-ground expertise and grassroots perspectives to the table. These organizations are deeply entrenched in communities worldwide, directly engaging with the everyday realities and concerns of people,” wrote Nudhara Yusuf and Carole Ageng’o, Co-Chairs of the C4UN.

They noted that, as a watchdog, the civil society holds governments accountable for their commitments and actions. Hence, by actively participating in SoTF, civil society could ensure global agreements translate into tangible outcomes for communities most affected by socio-economic, environmental and security challenges. “Discussions will center around concrete actions and strategies to address pressing global challenges, ranging from climate change and environmental degradation to conflict prevention, poverty alleviation and social justice.”

Yusuf and Ageng’o said the SoTF represents a “historic opportunity” to reinvigorate international cooperation towards a more sustainable, equitable, and resilient world. “Central to this endeavor is the active participation of civil society. In a world grappling with complex challenges and growing divisions, the civil society will be the dynamic force capable of driving meaningful change that is meaningful, supporting collaboration across sectors, and championing the values of solidarity and justice.”

Ahead of UNCSC2024, a number of side-events have been held by C4UN and its regional partners across Africa, Latin America and the Caribbean, including a side-event titled, “The Summit of the Future: Questions and Answers” at the 7th Meeting of the Forum of the Countries of Latin America and the Caribbean on Sustainable Development, which took place April 15-18, in Santiago, Chile. The event was organized by C4UN in collaboration with the Bahá’í International Community, The Millennials Movement, CEPEI and Inclusive Agency.

Similarly, a virtual side-event (ahead of the 10th session of the Africa Regional Forum on Sustainable Development) was hosted by the C4UN in partnership with SDGs Kenya Forum focused on how African civil society, together with governments and the African Union, could promote the development of common positions between countries and among constituencies to ensure that the interests of the African continent are taken into account at the SoTF. 

The SoTF promises tangible commitments for the implementation of the 2030 Agenda for a world where no one is left behind. The Summit, along with the 2024 High-Level Political Forum on Sustainable Development (HLPF), also seek to accelerate the implementation of the Second Ten Year Implementation Plan of Agenda 2063 – Africa’s 50-year strategic development framework aimed at strengthening Africa’s role as a united, resilient and influential global player and partner in the global governance system. 

About 1500 civil society representatives and youth leaders from around the world, along with UN Member States and senior UN officials are expected to participate in the 2024 UN Civil Society Conference. The global civil-society convening will have in attendance representatives of NGOs, academia, think tanks, the media, private sector, change-makers and leaders from diverse groups to increase awareness, ambition and accountability for the Summit of the Future.