UN Secretary-General and President of Kenya close out the 2024 United Nations Civil Society Conference in Nairobi
MELISSA FLEMING, Under-Secretary-General of Global Communications and Master of Ceremonies, welcomed the President of Kenya and the Secretary-General, the members of the Kenyan Government, representatives of UN Member States, UN colleagues and civil society to the closing session of the 2024 United Nations Civil Society Conference, in support of the Summit of the Future. The past two days had been an incredible journey, with 2500 people gathering from 110 countries to participate in the Conference in Nairobi. From the events and the briefings which preceded the Conference, to the interactive dialogues, the workshops and imPACT coalitions, it had been an innovative and impactful convening. Ms. Fleming thanked the Co-Chairs and all those who had worked on the Conference. Civil society ideas and voices had always been crucial for the United Nation’s work, from the creation of the Sustainable Development Goals, to delivering the impact and the Summit of the Future. Solidarity was needed more today than ever before, and the Conference had set a powerful example in this regard. It had been the United Nation’s privilege to host the groundbreaking conference, and they looked forward to working with civil society on continuing its impact.
MITHIKA MWENDA, Pan African Climate Justice Alliance, said those gathered in Nairobi for the historic United Nations Civil Society, were reminded of the weight of history and the power of genuine collective action. The theme, "Shaping a Future of Global and Sustainable Progress," was a beacon of hope for a world grappling with the complexities of modern challenges, shifting geopolitical alliances, widening inequalities and unwarranted wars and genocides, all exacerbated by planetary crises. The Summit of the Future was an opportunity to revive global action, move from rhetoric into action, reimagine implementation approaches, and reaffirm fundamental principles to ensure multilateral frameworks were ready for future challenges. There needed to be boldness and honest conversations to achieve the radical transformations for the development and poverty alleviation, and an action-oriented Pact for the Future.
The world was in a geopolitical context of shrinking civic space, social fragmentation, and the rise of digital platforms that amplified misinformation and fake news. However, new opportunities of civic engagement were also emerging, leveraging on technology to reconnect communities and foster dialogue and it was crucial to support these initiatives. A resilient civic space was an essential catalyst and trigger for democracy and effective governance. The erosion of democracy globally was not just a threat, but a worrying reality. The rise of right-wing movements and bigotry cast long shadows across the globe. These movements had gained traction through populist rhetoric and had seen electoral successes in several countries. The global shift towards authoritarianism underscored the reality of democracy's retreat in the face of rising extremism. The situation called for concerted efforts and rethink.
In the meantime, genocidal wars continued to ravage nations, leaving behind a trail of destruction and despair as exemplified by the Russia-Ukraine and Israel-Palestine crises. In the event of war, recovery and restoring the hearts and minds of the affected was more complex as fostering reconciliation and healing required a concerted efforts from all sectors of society, including governments, civil society, and international organizations. Unfortunately, climate justice and the transition towards a sustainable future remained elusive for many, especially for those who bore the least responsibility for the ecological crises. Support was not always forthcoming at the scale required, leaving many developing nations to face the dual burdens of development and climate adaptation with limited assistance. To truly justify the pursuit of climate justice and a sustainable future, concerted efforts needed to be made to bridge the gap between rhetoric and action, and radically reform global financing architecture. This included honoring financial commitments, especially under Paris Agreement.
The widening gulf of debt and poverty that plagued countless communities represented a stark reality for millions. This called for the urgent pursuit of justice, fairness, and the inherent dignity of every individual, and was a stark reminder that economic systems and policies often prioritized efficiency and growth over the well-being of society. This made the moral imperative to address debt and poverty extremely urgent. It also demanded for a review of the traditional economic models through investing in sustainable and inclusive development initiatives that provided the foundation for long-term economic stability for all. This entailed ensuring equal access to quality education, healthcare, fair employment and empowering communities to have a voice in the decisions that affected their lives. Finally, the Conference represented a unique opportunity to galvanize action and renew the commitment to creating a just and sustainable world.
NUDHARA YUSUF, Co-Chair of the 2024 Civil Society Conference, Global Governance Innovation Network (GGIN) Executive Coordinator at Stimson Center, Youth Coordinator, Coalition for the UN We Need (C4UN), thanked the President of Kenya and the UN Secretary-General for showing that they were civil society champions by attending the event. Throughout the past two days, civil society had had made a big statement of what they expected from intergovernmental processes and what they could offer these processes. Voices from the Global South had been heard, which weren’t typically head in New York. If the Summit of the Future expected member states to be ambitious, civil society needed to be willing to do the same. The outcomes of the 38 onsite workshops, the civil society recommendations presented, the interactive dialogue would be presented in an impact of the future outcome package on the 30th of May in New York in hybrid formal shared globally. On Monday there would be a key takeaway from both chairs, alluding to what was coming in the impact for the future processes. Ms. Yusuf extended her thanks to the major groups who had been involved in the planning of the process and enabling the smooth running of the Conference. She thanked civil society for their presence. Today “We the Peoples” had risen, and may the Summit of the Future also rise.
CAROLE AGENG’O, Co-Chair of the Planning Committee of 2024 Civil Society Conference, Global Initiatives Lead & Africa Regional Representative at HelpAge International, said at the close of the Conference, she was highly optimistic for many reasons. During the Conference, new partnerships had been formed which lead the basis for increased engagement towards a more inclusive, sustainable and safe future for all. “In our thousands, in our millions we are all Palestinians,” was the message reiterated across the room in the afternoon. The situation in Palestine called for immediate action and an immediate cease-fire. The great diversity of civil society actors made it impossible to build consensus over two days. However, there was great opportunity in the post conference period for civil society to further develop the ideas from the Conference to lead up to the Summit of the future Conference in September. But the work was far from over. Civil society could not move away from picketing. The picketing power needed to be used to strengthen collaborative power to constructively engage. Picketing for picketing sake was not meaningful picketing. In closing, Ms. Ageng’o thanked the President of Kenya, the Secretary-General, the United Nations agencies, and members of the United Nations Secretariat and the civil society actors.
CHOLA MILAMBO, Permanent Representative of Zambia to the UN and Co-facilitator of the Global Digital Compact, delivering a statement on behalf of all the Co-facilitators, expressed gratitude to all those who had made the Conference possible. Mr. Milambo expressed condolences with the people of Kenya in the wake of the recent floods. The Conference had been very important, providing an opportunity to engage with many people. Messages had been heard, to turn words into actions. A rich variety of voices had been heard including from the youth, women and those from underrepresented regions from around the world. Many had expressed that the world was changing and there was a need of the Pact for the future to reaffirm the principles of a sound multilateral system, but to have one that was fit for purpose. Mr. Milambo expressed gratitude to all those who had participated in the Conference. The Co-facilitators remained open with dialogue, to engage with civil society and hear all the voices in the process. He thanked all those who had made the Conference possible. There was a need to build trust, in the promise and the power of multilateralism.
ANTÓNIO GUTERRES, United Nations Secretary-General, began by extending his condolences to all those affected by the devastating floods in Kenya and neighbouring countries. He was heartbroken by the destruction, by the lives taken, and for the families who had lost everything. He also expressed deep solidarity to the Brazilians in the room. All victims would be honored today on this public holiday, National Tree Growing Day. Mr. Guterres said it was a pleasure to close the Civil Society Conference, thanking the Government of Kenya and all those who had worked on the event. He was delighted by the diversity of the delegations, who represented the breadth of civil society. More than half the representatives were women and young people had turned out in force. Civil society had an enormous impact in every corner of the world; pushing for peace and justice and advancing gender equality and sustainable development, with many working at great personal risk. Mr. Guterres saluted civil society and asked them to keep working with the United Nations to build a better world.
Today, the world was entangled in crises and sustainable development was under threat, with terrible trends playing out brutally in Africa. These crises’ demanded international solutions, but the international system was not up to the task. Multilateralism needed to be revised, so that it reflected the realities of today and was fit to face the challenges ahead. The report on “Our Common Agenda” set out a vision for a more inclusive and effective multilateralism. It was crucial to establish dialogue between political decision-makers and civil society within all international institutions. This was key to rebuilding trust and ensuring international decisions were shaped by the concerns, values and experiences of people across the globe. The Summit of the Future was a key moment to drive forward the vision for a renewed multilateralism, and the road to the Summit strove to fully engage civil society. The Summit itself aimed to push progress on key issues, strengthen multilateralism, turbocharge the implementation of the SDGs, and drive progress towards the deep reform of the international financial architecture.
A new Emergency Platform needed to be created to collaborate as soon as crises hit; governance of outer space needed to be renewed; and young people needed to be embedded at the heart of multilateralism. Digital divides needed to be closed, and artificial intelligence needed to harnessed as a force for good. The collective approach to peace and security needed to be revitalizes, with a New Agenda for Peace. Disarmament needed to be positioned at the center of the international agenda. The contribution of civil society was crucial; in the context of the heartbreaking record number of civilians killed in Gaza, a civil war ravaging in Sudan, conflict unabated in the Sahel, the Great Lakes, and the Horn of Africa, something was wrong in the present world order, as if the Charter of the United Nations, international law and human rights no longer mattered. Civil society were the best hope for the future.
Their frontline know-how was needed, as well as their can-do attitude to find innovative solutions, and their networks, knowledge, and contacts. The new ImPact Coalitions promised a new era of engagement, spanning ages, regions and sectors, focusing civil society’s energy and expertise for maximum impact. Civil society should bring this spirit to the Action Days prior Summit of the Future. They needed to engage national governments to demand ambitious commitments at the Summit. The Summit of the Future was a chance to push progress on the issues that mattered to Mr. Guterres urged everyone to seize this chance, and make the Summit of the Future really count.
WILLIAM RUTO, President of Kenya, said today was a phenomenon. It should be congratulated that there was a diverse body of civil society from all continents in Nairobi. Dr. Ruto commended the Co-Chairs of the Conference, and those who had spoken. It was delightful to hear that the discussions had been encouraging and productive which boded well for the people of Kenya. The role of civil society was crucial, and the organizers should be commended for providing a platform for such vital conversations and discussions. Embracing democratic values was essential for any meaningful progress. The Conference convened at a pivotal moment. Global challenges necessitated global responses. No nation could address these challenges in isolation and expect to succeed. Governments’ operated under intense pressure, and the non-State sector was vital for inclusive growth and sustainable development.
Civil Society’s advocacy was crucial in defining policies and actions to deliver sustainable development. A national transformational plan had been developed involving a diverse range of actors across the country. This method of developing an agenda proved to be most effective in solving problems, meeting people’s needs and implementing growth strategies. The plan presented a revolutionary approach to national development; an agenda was inclusive, with a focus on those at the bottom of the economic period. Addressing the causes of exclusion and the drivers of poverty had become a priority. Development could not be the exclusive preserve of the executive, or those who monopolized power. It was evident that for development to fulfil its purpose, it needed to be pursued by an all of society coalition, and its impact needed to be felt by citizens from all walks of life.
In recognition of the civil society sector, the Kenyan Government had committed to operationalizing the Public Benefits Organizations Act. This Act had been stuck in limbo for all over a decade and yesterday, the Government had executed the legal instructions to give the Act effect as law in Kenya. The Government had every intention of living up to the commitment. Civil society had a real chance of contributing to making the country better. There was a better result if all the diverse viewpoints were harnessed and considered. The new Act was enacted almost 15 years ago, but operationalized yesterday. The Act now consolidated the operations of civil society into one predictable legal regime, as opposed to the previous eight, making it easier for civil society, including those from outside of Kenya, to operate. Kenya was determined to reinvigorate their development agenda by harnessing the power of civil society. Looking ahead to 2030, significant work lay ahead. There was no room to lock others outside. All participants should reflect on how to translate the outcomes of the discussion into transformative and actional results. Kenya remained steadfast in its commitment to a strong partnership with an empowered civil society, to advance the pursuit of a suitable just and inclusive future.
Before the Closing Session, the Closing Town Hall took place, where reports were delivered from the ImPACT coalitions, with responses from Delegations, Governments, and representatives from the Business Sector. During the Closing Town Hall, protestors raised the issue of conflict in Gaza and one speaker took to the stage to deliver a statement. Another group also raised the issue of healthcare in Kenya.
Before attending the closing session of the 2024 Conference of the Future, ANTÓNIO GUTERRES, United Nations Secretary-General, held a press conference at the United Nations Office at Nairobi. His full statement to the media can be viewed here.
