United Cities and Local Governments (UCLG)’s Post

It was a profound honor to speak today at the United Nations in Geneva. 🇺🇳 At the 2024 Social Forum, themed “The Contribution of Financing for Development to the Advancement of All Human Rights for All,” I addressed some critical challenges we face: • The widening financial disparities are not merely economic concerns; they are fundamental obstacles to achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (#SDGs) and realizing universal human rights. 🌐⚖️ • Our current global financial architecture disproportionately benefits advanced economies, leaving lower-income nations struggling to invest in essential public services like healthcare, education, and infrastructure. 🏥📚🚧 • We urgently need a reformed and equitable global financial framework. Without collective action rooted in fairness and shared responsibility, isolated efforts will not yield sustainable solutions. 🤝 It is imperative that we, as a global community, come together to reshape our financial systems to be more inclusive and just. Only then can we empower all nations to invest in their people and uphold human rights for everyone. ✨ I am grateful for the opportunity to contribute to this vital discourse and look forward to collaborating with colleagues worldwide to effect meaningful change. 🙏🌟 United Nations Human Rights University of Europe for Applied Sciences

In his speech delivered on September 22, the President highlighted the rapid development of science and technology, the goal of sustainable development and the well-being of humanity. https://lnkd.in/gzUMPtp4

We are pleased to invite you to to join us to the Summit of the Future Action Day's official side-event "From Fragility to Sustainability: Transforming Challenges into Resilience, Paving the Path from Fragility to Sustainability through Innovative Solutions and Global Collaboration" hosted by the Impact Coalition "Echoes of Civil Society" in cooperation with the Principality of Monaco, the Democratic Republic of Timor-Leste, the g7+, and the Foundation for Post-conflict Development (FPCD) and other NGOs. Our Director, Operations and General Counsel Sylvia Morwabe will be moderating one of the sessions "Echoes of Civil Society" created by the former UN Outreach Sub-Committee for the 2024 UN Civil Society Conference, showcases the power of collective action and citizen engagement in achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). This initiative highlights the significant contributions of individuals and communities worldwide, providing a platform for diverse voices, to be heard and recognized. The event "From Fragility to Sustainability" aims to foster comprehensive dialogue on the challenges and opportunities faced by fragile nations – realizing that all nations experience areas of fragility. Through collaborative efforts and focused group discussions, we aim to outline clear, actionable next steps to support civil society in achieving the SDGs, leveraging the power of crowdsourcing and AI for social good. By showcasing successful citizen-led projects and fostering local, national, and international collaboration, the "Echoes of Civil Society" initiative drives substantial progress towards a sustainable future. ✅ Please register at: https://bit.ly/ECHOES24 This will be a hybrid event. 📅 Date: 20 September 2024 ⌛ Time: 18:30 hrs. 📍Venue: g7+ Headquarters - 305 E 47th St, 10th floor - New York 📩 Contact information: echoesofcivilsociety@gmail.com ECHOES24 #SustainableFuture #EchoesOfCivilSociety Kenneth Muchina Peter "Pete" Ouko Wilfred Nderitu Marion Op het Veld Judie Kaberia United Nations Civil Society Forum Civil Society Media Ltd Summit of the Future

ESDN Conference 2024 Testimonial Upgrading Europe: Building Transformative Policies to Reach the Sustainable Development Goals - The 2024 EDSN Conference, on the 5th and 6th of June 2024. "The UN 2030 Agenda is in jeopardy, both in Europe and globally. Progress toward the 17 SDGs has always been slow and recent crises have worsened prospects. Since 2020, advancement has stagnated or reversed for some SDGs. COVID-19, the cost-of-living crisis, political polarization, democratic backsliding, human rights attacks, and conflicts in Ukraine, Gaza, and elsewhere have severely damaged our chances of reaching the SDGs. Europe must accelerate its efforts to attain the 17 SDGs to avoid irreversible environmental and social tipping points. Incremental policies are insufficient; we need ambitious policies that drive deep systemic changes and address the root causes of unsustainable development, promoting new values. The Belgian Federal Institute for Sustainable Development (FISD), in collaboration with the European Sustainable Development Network (ESDN) and the European Economic and Social Committee (EESC), is honored to co-organize the 2024 ESDN Conference: Upgrading Europe: Building Transformative Policies to Reach the Sustainable Development Goals. Belgium has adopted transformative policies as a key theme while chairing the Working Party on the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, a crucial group within the Council of the European Union. It has also launched a just transition process in Belgium and the EU, aiming to inspire public policies that reconcile social goals with environmental and other development objectives. Indeed, our actions must be inclusive, holistic, coherent, and leave no-one behind. These are only some aspects of transformative policies. As co-organizers, we aim to provide participants with insights, best practices, and interactive discussions on transformative policies for sustainable development. We also hope to inspire the Working Party on the 7th of June, organized back-to-back with the Conference. We have gathered policymakers, academics, and stakeholders from across Europe to speak and engage with participants, hoping to spark the transformative changes Europe desperately needs." Many thanks Cedric van de Walle and Wouter Spruyt for your contribution and for all your efforts in co-organizing the ESDN Conference 2024! #ESDN2024 #SDGs #TransformativePolicies

🌍 𝐈𝐧𝐬𝐢𝐠𝐡𝐭𝐬 𝐟𝐫𝐨𝐦 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐀𝐧𝐧𝐮𝐚𝐥 𝐅𝐨𝐫𝐮𝐦 𝐨𝐧 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐁𝐚𝐥𝐭𝐢𝐜 𝐒𝐞𝐚 𝐑𝐞𝐠𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐢𝐧 𝐕𝐢𝐬𝐛𝐲 We explored the crucial role of #CivilSociety and #Youth in shaping effective policies: 𝐌𝐲 𝐊𝐞𝐲 𝐏𝐨𝐢𝐧𝐭𝐬: 💥 𝐖𝐡𝐲 𝐌𝐚𝐜𝐫𝐨-𝐑𝐞𝐠𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐚𝐥 𝐒𝐭𝐫𝐚𝐭𝐞𝐠𝐢𝐞𝐬 𝐌𝐚𝐭𝐭𝐞𝐫: These strategies tackle regional challenges that cross national borders, such as mobility. Macro-regional strategies can be both 𝐥𝐨𝐜𝐚𝐥𝐥𝐲 𝐢𝐦𝐩𝐚𝐜𝐭𝐟𝐮𝐥 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐬𝐜𝐚𝐥𝐚𝐛𝐥𝐞 𝐚𝐜𝐫𝐨𝐬𝐬 𝐭𝐡𝐞 #EU. 💬 𝐒𝐭𝐫𝐞𝐧𝐠𝐭𝐡 𝐢𝐧 𝐂𝐨𝐧𝐜𝐞𝐩𝐭𝐮𝐚𝐥𝐢𝐳𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧: Youth and civil society bring vital energy and fresh ideas to the 𝐜𝐨𝐧𝐜𝐞𝐩𝐭𝐮𝐚𝐥 𝐩𝐡𝐚𝐬𝐞 𝐨𝐟 𝐩𝐨𝐥𝐢𝐜𝐲. Their diverse perspectives foster innovative solutions that address real needs. Additionally, civil society can influence policy priorities by expressing interest in specific areas, signaling to policymakers the community's key concerns. ✍ 𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐃𝐞𝐜𝐢𝐬𝐢𝐨𝐧-𝐌𝐚𝐤𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐏𝐡𝐚𝐬𝐞: While youth and civil society bring strength in ideation, 𝐩𝐨𝐥𝐢𝐜𝐲 𝐝𝐞𝐜𝐢𝐬𝐢𝐨𝐧-𝐦𝐚𝐤𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐫𝐞𝐪𝐮𝐢𝐫𝐞𝐬 𝐬𝐩𝐞𝐜𝐢𝐚𝐥𝐢𝐳𝐞𝐝 𝐞𝐱𝐩𝐞𝐫𝐭𝐢𝐬𝐞 in legal frameworks and governance. By differentiating these phases, we can maximize impact: community-driven concepts backed by expert-led implementation. 📢 𝐒𝐜𝐚𝐥𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐒𝐮𝐜𝐜𝐞𝐬𝐬 𝐓𝐡𝐫𝐨𝐮𝐠𝐡 𝐏𝐨𝐥𝐢𝐭𝐢𝐜𝐚𝐥 𝐒𝐮𝐩𝐩𝐨𝐫𝐭: Politicians have a vital role in identifying effective solutions and 𝐬𝐡𝐚𝐫𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐬𝐮𝐜𝐜𝐞𝐬𝐬𝐟𝐮𝐥 𝐦𝐨𝐝𝐞𝐥𝐬 𝐚𝐜𝐫𝐨𝐬𝐬 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐄𝐔. By championing tested, scalable solutions from one region to others, they help expand impact. Politicians can promote civil society innovations, ensuring they become part of a broader EU transformation rather than isolated successes.   Let’s advocate for a 𝐩𝐫𝐨𝐣𝐞𝐜𝐭-𝐛𝐚𝐬𝐞𝐝 𝐚𝐩𝐩𝐫𝐨𝐚𝐜𝐡 that not only highlights the innovative efforts of youth and civil society but also makes them visible to a wider audience.   It was an honor to speak at the #EUSBSRForum2024 for the EU Strategy for the Baltic Sea Region in Visby. Thank you to everyone for the meaningful exchanges. Let’s keep working for an EU that embraces local insights for collective growth. 💪 European Commission 🏔️ EUSALP 🌅 EU Strategy for the Baltic Sea Region 🏖️ EU Strategy for the Adriatic - Ionian Region - EUSAIR 🏞️ Danube Region Strategy   #Collaboration #Innovation #Motivation #Strategy #Inspiration

💡 What is needed to revive the European spirit? Can citizen participation help? Take a look at how at Democratic Society we are working towards democratic participation that addresses today's global challenges while supporting a collaborative vision for Europe.

‘We can’t build a future for our grandchildren with a system built for our grandparents." Antonio Guterres. With the United Nations Summit of the Future just around the corner, it’s time to rethink the future of our communities, from education to corporates with the power of technology at the heart of change. The summit is a “once-in-a-generation opportunity to reinvigorate global action,” and, most importantly, get back on track. The outcome will be a Pact for the Future—one that must reflect our collective commitment to harnessing the power of technology for good and one that must include the voices of young people who will be living in that future. Technology will play a transformative role in shaping the future, which will include a Global Digital Compact and a Declaration on Future Generations driving progress, and addressing some of the world’s most pressing challenges. AI and biotechnology, in particular, stand at the forefront of this transformation. By developing and deploying these technologies ethically and equitably, we can ensure that these powerful tools accelerate our progress toward global goals and create futures where technology serves all of humanity, leaving none behind. You can learn how to get involved here: https://lnkd.in/gMb9nAQR #summitofthefuture #futureofeducation #ghd #citizensschool Dr Haya Daghlas Dr. Adil Alzarooni Hisham Hodroge Ursula Said Zeitouni Pablo Olivera Brizzio Sylvain Emeric Jahrita Ungell JANANI D'SILVA Susan Beeston Craig Stockton Craig Howard Salma Bin Breik Roland Shine Asem Zabin Alaa Alkahlout, PMP® Anabella Joy Milner Rebecca Carlsen Maheen Zia Steve Scott Seddik Jamaï Ben Gilchriest Jean-Baptiste Vincent Andrew Porter Harman Singh Sunil Sharma Sonali M. Darren Shrives

Next Month at the UN Headquarters in New York: Summit of the Future (September 22-23) + Summit of the Future Action Days (September 20-21). Registration for the Action Days is now open. The three themes of the Action Days (digital and technology, peace and security, and sustainable development and financing) and the focus on youth resonate strongly with the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) #ICPD30 priorities. This presents a great opportunity for diverse stakeholders to come together, advocate for shared interests, and collaborate towards common goals. "Bringing together representatives from Member States, civil society, private sector, academia, local and regional authorities, youth, and many more, the Action Days will provide an opportunity for broad engagement and inclusion. These stakeholders have all played a key role in shaping the Pact for the Future and will be critical to its implementation. The Action Days will kick off with a dedicated, youth-led afternoon followed by a Saturday programme which will focus on three priority themes – digital and technology, peace and security, and sustainable development and financing. In addition to the three themes, there will also be a dedicated focus throughout the day on future generations. Expected participants include Heads of State, Ministers, senior UN officials and representatives from the private sector, civil society and other actors.” More information: https://lnkd.in/efdMr3ME

Taking strong steps towards a more sustainable future! “From Idea to Action and Impact: mobilizing the outcomes of the Summit of the Future.” If you’re attending the United Nations Summit of the Future Action Days, join us, our consortium of committed partners, and a remarkable group of speakers! Taking place this Saturday, 21 September 2024, at the United Nations Headquarters in New York, this high level side event will explore specific proposals from the Wales Protocol for Future Generations; a framework developed to support the implementation of the Well-being of Future Generations Act in Wales and “designed to guide communities and world leaders towards a more sustainable and equitable future.” Demonstrating how proposals from the Wales Protocol for Future Generations can be effectively implemented to fulfill the ambitions of the Summit of the Future’s Declaration on Future Generations and showcasing how the protocol’s proposals can be drawn upon and implemented across communities, member states, and international contexts for broader and more impactful outcomes. Proposals forwarded in the Wales Protocol for wider implementation: * People: Developing collective narratives, intergenerational conversations, investing in futures literacy, participatory mechanisms, and promoting cultural shifts. * Governments: Supporting political leaders, building technical capabilities, co-creating policies, engaging the private sector, and establishing accountability mechanisms. * Multilateral Systems: Inclusive multilateralism, strategic direction, monitoring and evaluation, regional future-preparedness, and building capabilities. Discover more here: https://lnkd.in/dtSN759G #SotF #summitofthefuture #futuregens #futuregenerations #intergenerational #futuresliteracy #ourcommonfuture #wellbeingoffuturegenerations #wellbeingoffuturegenerationsact #walesprotocolforfuturegenerations

The mess we're in? - Not necessarily. I work with shapers & leaders across sectors & generations and I want to share 3 insights with #EU lawmakers and policymakers today. The electoral maps tell us that: 1. Society is too core to fail. (Anyone agreeing - act accordingly.) 2. Rural intelligence is key now. 3. From citizens to C-Suites, practical engagement works. It conveys the magic of belonging. #SocialCohesion and #stability #openness #resilience #democraticculture are not nice-to-haves! They are the foundation and prerequisite of everything else. Societies need #attention just like the #SingleMarkt or #Growth in the EU. We need a #nonprofit Single Market, a #CitizenCommissioner. Society work = formal and non-formal #education, #exchange programs, #leadership + #youth work. Societies need to be treated as #criticalinfrastructure in our national and EU governance structures, crisis and risk management teams, and budgets. HOW to boost and nourish #societies including #cohesion #civics and #resilience? Through #leadership and patient professional #dialogue programmes, #conflictmanagement #trustbuilding, #civicempowerment #participation #cocreation. This is especially needed with and in #rural areas across the #EU. From citizens to C-suites, tailor-made, long term and trust-based engagement works. No matter whether it's for #biodiversity or #democracy, for #circulareconomy or #sustainability - individuals across the board respond positively to practical, hands-on invitations to help solve a problem. Real-life formats of exchange and engagement allow many to leave victim-consciousness behind, and to rather unlock the magic of contributing, creating, cooperating. The magic of belonging. In that vein, it all comes down to boosting what unites us rather than insisting on what divides us. Are there proofs of concept for hands-on society work? Many, as shown by More in Common Love Politics ProjectTogether The Good Lobby Dreamocracy - Collective Creativity for the Common Good European Alternatives THE CIVICS Innovation Hub Bundeszentrale für politische Bildung / Federal Agency for Civic Education Stiftung Wertebündnis Bayern Stiftung Mercator GmbH German Marshall Fund of the United States Open European Dialogue CORRECTIV JoinPolitics Jascha R. W. Rohr DemocracyNext Pioneers of Change EPALE - German Speaking Network for the Adult Education Community in Europe Alexandra Lieben Innsbruck Nature Film Festival Lehm Ton Erde Verena Ringler: AGORA European Green Deal On rural intelligence, read here: https://lnkd.in/dmWxpjRm