Creats International at the 2024 UN ECOSOC Partnerships Forum

The 2024 UN-ECOSOC Partnership Forum was held in New York on January 30, under the theme of reinforcing the implementation of the SDGs, with particular emphasis on poverty, hunger, climate change, peace, and partnerships. Stakeholders underscored how climate change, conflicts, and remnants of COVID-19 continue eroding the gains made which calls for development partners to prioritize the 3Ps of development: people, prosperity, and the planet.

Stakeholders reiterated that poverty is multifaceted. Hence, SDG efforts should prioritize access to education, research, innovation, healthcare, sanitation, gender equality, social protection systems, financing, and capacity-building to leapfrog communities to success. USAID highlighted the need for locally-led development that leverages local knowledge, local people, and local actors to drive sustainable development.

Stakeholders also noted that building inclusive, accountable, transparent, and people-driven governance systems and institutions that leave no one behind is vital to achieving SDGs. Nadia Fettah, a youth representative from Morocco said, "No decision about youth, without youth."

Achieving the SDGs calls for exploring new sources of economic growth including the blue and green economy, supporting SMEs, energy transitions, leveraging digital technologies for job creation, and linking food security to the rule of law. Most importantly, there is a need for robust monitoring and evaluation systems with feedback loops for communities and partners to learn and improve.

Finally, stakeholders buttressed the need for authentic partnerships to break down silos and work together. Edna Ogwangi particularly reiterated that partnerships should be a journey and not a destination and thus should be authentic anchored on strong commitment, and mutual collaboration that is strategic and not transactional.

ECOSOC 2024 Partnership Forum was such a thought-provoking and lessons-packed session that challenged us to do more and move the needle in achieving the SDGs. As an organization, partnership development is central to our work, and we invite more collaborations. Let's make poverty and hunger eradication a reality together! #sdgs2030 #partnerships #povertyeradication #hungereradication #climateaction #peaceandjustice