In May 2024, civil society organizations worldwide, including VIVAT International, converged in Nairobi, Kenya, for a pivotal conference to increase awareness, ambition, and accountability for the upcoming UN Summit of the Future. The conference provided a platform for diverse voices, especially from the grassroots and the Global South, to inform and influence the Pact for the Future and other key outcome documents. Marides Santos SSpS of the VIVAT Team New York office and Leon Ipoma SVD of VIVAT Kenya participated in the Conference on behalf of VIVAT.
Carole Osero-Ageng’o, Global Initiatives Lead and Africa Regional Representative at HelpAge International, and Nudhara Yusuf, Executive Coordinator for Global Governance Innovation Network at The Stimson Center, co-chaired the Conference. They played a pivotal role in facilitating discussions and collaboration during this significant event. A key objective was to foster meaningful engagement among civil society, the UN, member states, and other stakeholders through interactive dialogues, workshops, and the formation of multi-sectoral “ImPACT Coalitions.”
These ImPACT Coalitions brought together diverse actors to champion specific governance reform proposals in the Pact’s five chapters: sustainable development, peace and security, human rights, climate action, and digital cooperation. By merging existing initiatives and co-creating new ones, the coalitions aimed to expand their reach, diversify their membership, and strengthen outcomes.
One such coalition was the Gender Equality ImPACT Coalition, co-convened by NGO CSW/NY and the Kenyan Council of Governors. VIVAT actively collaborated with them during the conference. This coalition focused on governance reforms affecting women and girls, including the Commission on the Status of Women, Beijing+30, Security Council Resolution 1325, and the International Conference on Population and Development. Prioritizing the elimination of gender-based violence, the coalition drew from existing documents like the Generation Equality Forum’s Global Acceleration Plan to amplify proven recommendations.
Another ImPACT Coalition where VIVAT closely collaborated was Financing for Development and International Financial Architecture Reform. This ImPACT coalition addresses the need for enhanced financing for development and reform of the international financial architecture. The policy discussions focus on critical areas such as expanding multilateral financing for the SDGs, rethinking development measurement, addressing sovereign debt issues, reforming IFIs’ governance, and promoting international tax cooperation. The coalition will continue working after SOTF towards the 4th International Conference on Financing for Development in 2025.
Beyond the formal proceedings, the Nairobi conference provided space for civil society to strategize, network, and build momentum towards the Summit of the Future in September. Side events, regional consultations, and capacity-building workshops empowered grassroots organizations and underrepresented groups to engage more effectively in global decision-making processes.
As the first UN civil society conference held in Africa, the Nairobi gathering represented a significant step towards decolonizing multilateralism and centering voices from the Global South. By fostering intergenerational dialogue, feminist leadership, and innovative approaches to civil society engagement, the conference paved the way for a more inclusive, impactful Pact for the Future that genuinely delivers for people and the planet.
Marides Santos SSpS, VIVAT Team, New York
