Frequently Asked Questions
The United Nations Department of Global Communications (DGC) is organizing the 2024 UN Civil Society Conference in Support of the Summit of the Future, in collaboration with civil society. This multistakeholder conference will bring together civil society organizations representing various stakeholders such as NGOs, academia, think tanks, Member States, media, private sector entities, change makers, and leaders from diverse groups.
The UN Civil Society Conference in Support of the Summit of the Future is a two-day multistakeholder event that will start on Thursday 9 May and conclude on Friday 10 May at the United Nations Office at Nairobi (UNON), located at the Gigiri Complex in Nairobi, Kenya.
As the Summit of the Future will take place in New York in September 2024, the Department of Global Communications has proposed Nairobi as the location of the Civil Society Conference to widen accessibility and engagement with global civil society partners in the global south, in alignment with the UN Secretary-General's call for an inclusive engagement of stakeholders around the world. This proposal received wide support from all partners in civil society, particularly as this would be the first UN Civil Society Conference on the African Continent, a continent with the youngest population on the planet.
The 2024 UN Civil Society Conference in Support of the Summit of the Future will be held in Nairobi, Kenya on 9 -10 May under the title “Shaping a Future of Global and Sustainable Progress”, ahead of the Summit of the Future in September 2024. Drawing on the history of the civil society’s presence in San Francisco at the founding of the United Nations, the Civil Society Conference in Nairobi is an opportunity to showcase civil society as an essential partner in this global endeavor to deliver a better present and safeguard the future of people and planet. The conference will result in an ImPACT for the Future Outcome Package that will articulate the three objectives of a conference that is inclusive, impactful and innovative.
In response to a call by UN Member States for ideas on how better to respond to current and future challenges, António Guterres, Secretary-General of the United Nations, proposed the Summit of the Future in his Our Common Agenda Report. In 2022, the United Nations General Assembly set the dates for the Summit of the Future (SOTF) as 22-23 September 2024, following on the 2023 SDG Summit. This Summit aims to restore trust and showcase effective international cooperation in addressing current and emerging challenges. It seeks to accelerate progress towards existing commitments and respond to emerging opportunities. At the Summit, an action-oriented Pact for the Future, along with a Global Digital Compact and Declaration on Future Generations, will be adopted through intergovernmental negotiations to provide multilateral solutions for a better future. World leaders will convene to establish a new international consensus on improving the present and securing the future. This is a rare opportunity to strengthen cooperation, address global governance gaps, reaffirm existing commitments such as the Sustainable Development Goals and the United Nations Charter, and advance towards a revitalized multilateral system that can better impact people's lives, leaving no one behind. For more information, visit Summit of the Future website.
The Conference ImPACT for the Future Outcome Package is poised to be a game-changer, leveraging the recommendations, innovation, and expertise of civil society to bolster the Summit of the Future (SOTF) deliberations and its Pact for the Future. This package will serve as a conduit for disseminating the invaluable insights and initiatives of civil society. Outreach and dissemination efforts under the auspices of the UN Department of Global Communications will be comprehensive and far- reaching, tapping into the extensive networks of UN Information Centres and Services (UNICs), UN agencies, and civil society partners. Emphasis will be given to ensure that the Conference Outcome Package reaches key stakeholders, including the Summit of the Future Co-Facilitators, the UN Office of the President of the General Assembly, and UN member states, paving the way for a future defined by collaboration, innovation, and impactful change.
The 2024 UN Civil Society Conference in Support of the Summit of the Future provides a unique platform for Civil Society and other Stakeholders to share and exchange insights and perspectives toward building collaborative partnerships for a sustainable future. Conference participants will gain insight from expert speakers, networking opportunities, thematic workshops, and exhibits relevant to their work and expected contribution to global frameworks, solutions, and summits. In addition, participants will benefit from learning opportunities focusing on sharing position papers, action planning techniques, and policy recommendations that feed into specific projects and initiatives relevant to the Summit of the Future.
This multistakeholder conference welcomes registered NGOs, academia, think tanks, Member States, media, private sector entities, change makers, and leaders from diverse groups. For more information, please consult the FAQs on Conference Registration
The UN 2024 conference is expected to attract around 2,000 participants from a diverse group of stakeholders. Interested participants can register for the conference through INDICO, the UN conference registration portal. For more information, please click here for the FAQs on the conference registration.
The United Nations does not charge fees for participation in United Nations Civil Society Conferences.
The United Nations Department of Global Communications cannot assist individuals with obtaining visas or with communicating with Kenyan embassies and consulates for the issuance of visas. It is the responsibility of each attendee to secure their own Visa for entry to Kenya.
The United Nations does not provide funding for registrants travel and accommodation. The United Nations budget includes an allocation to support the travel and accommodation of invited civil society key speakers and conference leadership, when needed. All other participants are responsible for their travel and local expenses to and from Nairobi. There will be limited funding available to civil society participants through partners. Information about how to apply for financial support with the Fundraising & Budget Subcommittee will be made available to registered delegates in the Conference Participants Handbook.
15. Will there be interpretation in the plenaries, side events and/or workshops and in what languages?
The plenary sessions of the conference will be conducted in the English language, with simultaneous interpretation into the French language. These sessions will also feature services for participants with hearing and visual disabilities. All other sessions will be conducted in the English language. In regard to the workshops and side events, some organizers may conduct these events in a language other than English. For the Most Updated Information please subscribe to receive DGC digital Newsletters and stay updated with the news on the 2024 UN Civil Society Conference. NOTE: Participants with special needs – mobility or other – are requested to inform the Conference's Planning Committee (at undgccso@un.org) as early as possible so that their requirements can be adequately considered