United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres has urged African governments to embrace change and reform outdated systems to meet the evolving needs of the 21st century.
Speaking during the closing session of the 2024 UN Civil Society Conference in Nairobi, Guterres called for collective action to build a fairer, more inclusive international community capable of effectively addressing global challenges on time.
“These Institutions must be renewed to justice, and equity to respond to the thematic needs of the people in Africa. The countries are not drowning in floods but also debt because the international financial systems are not in favour of them,” Guterres said.
Guterres raised concerns over the inequities in international financial systems that have caused debt burdens and hindered investments in crucial areas like climate adaptation and sustainable development.
“They don't receive the financial assistance to invest in adaptation to climate change and we see results and impact of devastating floods in African countries. Countries in which there is not enough support with investment in the sustainable goals,” he said.
Guterres echoed the civil society's plea for urgent action to rectify these injustices and build a more equitable global framework.
“There is basic unfairness in the world and our systems are unfair and dysfunctional. There has been a strong voice from civil societies saying this must change,” he said.
“We are supposed to be more equipped to deal with the problem of peace and security to invest more in the prevention of conflicts. Prevention of conflicts means development, human rights.”
Guterres further pointed the importance of leveraging digital technology to bridge the gap between developed and developing nations, ensuring that technological advancements benefit all societies.
“A strong message on the use of digital technology not the privilege of the rich but something that will help developing countries to catch up,” Guterres said.
Nudhara Yusuf, Co-Chair of the Planning Committee of the 2024 Civil Society Conference, Global Governance Innovation Network and Youth Coordinator, Coalition for the UN We Need, said the Conference aimed to meaningfully support the Summit of the Future, which would be held at a critical moment.
“During that Summit, civil society would ask UN Member States to raise the bar on multilateralism. In turn, civil society needed to be willing to push the envelope on how they engaged with multilateral and intergovernmental processes,” Yusuf said.
Head of the UN Department of Global Communications, Maher Nasser, said the high-profile gathering aims to address pressing global issues, including the imperative of enhancing living conditions worldwide.
“The Conference comes at a critical point in the preparations for the Summit of the Future, a Summit that is billed as a major step towards a more inclusive and networked multilateralism providing multilateral solutions for a better tomorrow,” Nasser said.
Carole Ageng'o, Global Initiatives Lead & Africa Regional Representative at HelpAge International said, that despite challenges, the conference represented a significant step towards inclusive multilateralism and collective action on global challenges.
“The conference underscored the importance of civil society in upholding the principles of the UN Charter. Delegates were encouraged to remain steadfast in their advocacy efforts and to hold those in power accountable,” Ageng'o said.
Zainab Hawa Bangura, UN Director General in Nairobi, echoed the sentiment, emphasizing the importance of global civil society and multi-stakeholder engagement in shaping the future.
“The conference is therefore a vital prelude, not the world leaders summit of the future scheduled to take place in September in New York. Civil society plays a fundamental role in shaping the future that today more than ever needs a multilateral approach that is an inclusive, sustainable and safe society for all,” she added.
