African Science Leadership for The Summit of the Future
Off Site event of the UN Civil Society Conference in support of the UN Summit of the Future, 9 May 2024, Nairobi
https://www.un.org/en/2024uncsc/lists-2024-uncsc-workshops
Science leaders from across Africa will convene an online meeting on 9 May 2024 entitled “African Science Leadership for The Summit of the Future”.
The African Science Leadership meeting on 9 May will serve as a platform to showcase how science and research collaboration is transforming Africa. This leadership can meaningfully contribute to attaining the SDGs and the Summit of the Future, inspiring hope for a brighter future.
On May 9, 2024, distinguished science leaders from across Africa will gather virtually for the pivotal meeting entitled “African Science Leadership for the Summit of the Future.” This event is designed to prepare for the globally significant “Summit of the Future,” scheduled for September 22-23 at the United Nations Headquarters in New York. The summit is a vital platform to rebuild trust and demonstrate international cooperation’s efficacy in tackling today’s and tomorrow’s pressing challenges. It aims to accelerate efforts to fulfil global commitments and strategically address emerging opportunities. The culmination of the summit will be the adoption of an action-oriented Pact for the Future, complemented by a Global Digital Compact and a Declaration on Future Generations—all aimed at forging multilateral solutions for a more promising future.
The African Science Leadership meeting on May 9 presents a unique and invaluable opportunity for African science leaders. Their scientific and research collaboration is not just revolutionising Africa but also contributing significantly to global solutions. Their insights and contributions from this gathering are poised to significantly impact the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and the objectives of the Summit of the Future. This event is strategically aligned with the Ninth Annual Multi-Stakeholder Forum on Science, Technology, and Innovation for the SDGs (STI Forum), which will take place in New York on 9-10 May 2024.
The African Science Leadership meeting on May 9 is not just a meeting—it is a collaborative platform, a beacon of inspiration, showcasing the potential of African innovation and research in shaping a sustainable and hopeful future. It is a testament to the collective efforts of African science leaders, NGOs, academia, think tanks, member states, media, the private sector, and diverse leaders in driving change and shaping a better future for all.
Context
The Summit of the Future, a globally significant event, is scheduled for 22-23 September at UNHQ New York. It’s a crucial opportunity to restore trust and prove that international collaboration can effectively address current and future challenges. The Summit aims to expedite actions to meet existing global commitments and proactively respond to emerging opportunities. It will culminate in the adoption of an intergovernmental-negotiated action-oriented Pact for the Future, accompanied by a Global Digital Compact and Declaration on Future Generations, all designed to deliver multilateral solutions for a brighter future.
The 2024 UN Civil Society Conference in Support of the Summit of the Future, to be held at the United Nations Campus in Nairobi on 9-10 May under the title “Shaping a Future of Global and Sustainable Progress”, is the premier event in the civil society calendar at the United Nations ahead of the Summit of the Future later in 2024. Drawing on the history of 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 endeavour to deliver a better present and safeguard the future of people and the planet. This global civil-society convened, multistakeholder conference welcomes registered NGOs, academia, think tanks, Member States, media, private sector, change-makers and leaders from diverse groups to increase awareness, ambition and accountability for the Summit of the Future, build multi-stakeholder ImPACT Coalitions to champion, act on and push forward big-ticket reforms proposed in consensus language of the Pact, and to innovate the way civil society and other stakeholders interact with intergovernmental processes.
Agenda
Time: 12h Nairobi time (GMT+3)
Each speaker will make a 3 minute statement
Session Co-chairs: Declan Kirrane and Rose Mosero
| Speaker | Statement title | |
| 1 | Thandi Mgwebi National Research Foundation, South Africa | Empowering Africa’s Future: High-Level agendas for Collaborative Innovation and Sustainable Development |
| 2 | Adamu Addissie Network for Oncologic Research in Africa (NORA) | Cancer Care Prevention and Control as Global Emergency: Call to Action !!! |
| 3 | Marleen Temmerman Agha Khan University, Kenya | Why are so many women still dying in pregnancy of childbirth?’ |
| 4 | Kurt Zatloukal Medical University Graz | Capacity Building for Pandemic Preparedness |
| 5 | Bernd Halling Reimagine, Brussels | The need for strong narratives on science and innovation in the UN context |
| 6 | Fadeke Ayoola NET Africa & AgriFund Management Center, Belgium | Empowerment Equation: People, Planet, and the Path to Shared Prosperity |
| 7 | Frank Mugyenyi Minerals African Development Institution (MADI), Uganda | |
| 8 | George Essegbey Council for Scientific and Industrial Research, Ghana | |
| 9 | Holy Ranaivozanany Africa Europe Foundation, Belgium | Accelerating the development and implementation of AI governance to support carbon markets in Sub-Saharan Africa |
| 10 | Jackie Chimhanzi African Leadership Institute, South Africa | |
| 11 | Julie Makani Muhimbili University, Tanzania; SickleInAfrica; African Leadership Institute. | |
| 12 | Aletha De Witt Department of Science and Innovation, South Africa | The vital role of space geodesy in advancing sustainable development in Africa and strengthening the continent’s geospatial infrastructure and expertise |
| 13 | Obed Ogega African Academy of Science, South Africa | Accelerating the creation, development, and diffusion of new innovations and technologies for sustainable development in Africa and globally. |
| 14 | Mamohloding Tlhagale Water Research Commission, South Africa | |
| 15 | Michael Makanga Executive Director at European & Developing Countries Clinical Trials Partnership (EDCTP) | Role of true and equitable partnerships in “Shaping a Future of Global and Sustainable Progress”: lesson from EDCTP. |
| 16 | Mokhtar Sellami National Council in Scientific Research & Technologies (CNRST), Tunisia | |
| 17 | Moses Alobo Science for Africa Foundation, Kenya | Enhancing Maternal, Newborn, and Child Health (MNCH) Research Investments in Africa: A Call to Action |
| 18 | Petronella Chaminuka Agricultural Research Council, South Africa | One Health in practice: what can we learn from Africa’s agro-ecologically friendly farming systems? |
| 19 | Rizwana Mia Medical Research Council, SAMRC, South Africa | Building sustainable health innovation to address the healthcare divide for Africa |
| 20 | Rose Mosero Office of the Data Protection Commissioner, Kenya | |
| 21 | Salome Charalambous The Arum Institute, South Africa | |
| 22 | Sharif Muhammad ICESCO, Morocco | |
| 23 | Shevin T. Jacob Sub-Saharan African Consortium for the Advancement of Innovative Research and Care in Sepsis (STAIRS) |