UNGA Week Highlights:
From the perspective of Sybil Henry, Manager, Partnerships

Bridging the Gap between Philanthropy & Nonprofits: Beyond MacKenzie Scott’s Global Giving

Panorama and Ford Foundation hosted a panel on the impact of Mackenzie Scott’s giving for nonprofits and the future of philanthropy. One point that was discussed repeatedly and seemed to get a lot of support from all sides was increasing the amount of unrestricted funding as a means of trust-based philanthropy. Read more about this event here.

Investing in Africa’s Future – Private Sector Roundtable

Amref hosted a private high-level roundtable featuring a dynamic discussion on how investing in African countries can help US and multinational companies strengthen the communities where they operate and help both private sector players and governments alike to achieve their goals. This discussion included a panel of African leaders from government, multi-lateral institutions, the private sector, and civil society, as well as participation from US and European business executives across multiple sectors. The roundtable had a particular focus on how investing in health systems can improve millions of lives while contributing to broad-reaching prosperity and stability.

Clinton Global Initiative

During the opening and closing plenaries, Pope Francis and Bill Clinton discussed the urgent need to act on climate change, our collective responsibility to come together in the face of difficulty, the work of the Bambino Gesù Children’s Hospital, and more. Read more about this event here.

Concordia Annual Summit – Revolutionizing Global Healthcare: Equitable Access and Improved Health Outcomes for All

Amref Global CEO Dr. Githinji Gitahi was the featured speaker during this event. With a focus on breaking down barriers to healthcare, this panel explored ways to expand access to care and make it accessible to underserved communities and vulnerable populations worldwide. Innovation in health systems took center stage, with the panelists discussing transformative ideas and groundbreaking solutions that can lead to more efficient and effective healthcare services. They explored ways to nurture a culture of digital innovation and technology within the industry and support research and development efforts to push the boundaries of medical science.

Bilateral meeting between Dr. Githinji Gitahi and Albert Berla, CEO, Pfizer

This event convened the next generation of leaders in global health and development at Pfizer’s New York City Headquarters for a partial-day program in a four-part armchair discussion series featuring Caroline Roan, Albert Bourla, Dr. Githinji Gitahi, and Raj Kumar alongside various young leaders, including Solange Mbaye and Tsion Gebremedhin from Amref.

Africa Position on Pandemic Treaty Dinner: Advancing Pandemic Prevention, Preparedness and Response (PPPR)

This event was hosted by Amref in partnership with the African Union and the African Centre for Disease Control. Conversations focused on advancing PPPR and unpacking key enablers required to expand local manufacture of health products and technologies. Our Global CEO, Dr. Githinji Gitahi, spoke on the African manufacturing agenda.

Devex @ UNGA News Summit

This summit featured leaders offering insights on ways to respond to some of the most disruptive forces in international development, from the worsening economic crisis to the growing influence of technology and artificial intelligence. Health was a major focus, as this year’s UNGA gathered leaders for high-level meetings on Universal Health Coverage (UHC), as well as tuberculosis and pandemic prevention, preparedness, and response. Climate action was another prevalent topic as the time remaining to achieve the SDGs aligns with what has been called the critical decade for climate action. Some of the panels and Devex partner events I attended included: Sustainable Approaches to Improve Maternal Health and Achieve UHC Through Strategic Private Sector Collaborations, Delivering Equitable Care Across the Cancer Continuum, Protecting Pregnant Women Against Malaria, The Corporate Sector’s Role in Moving the Needle on Global Hunger, and more.

Business Fights Poverty Global Goals Summit

I attended day two of the three-day interactive in-person events for the opportunity to engage in important discussions, make new connections, and gain new insights. Co-hosted with Barclays, Visa, and other partners, the summit delved into the key drivers of progress: unlikely partnerships, generative AI, and more. The session workshops I joined included Harnessing the Potential of the Private Sector to Deliver the SDGs, Engaging Youth in Delivering on the SDGs, Working Together to Tackle Gender-Based Violence, and Catalyzing Female Entrepreneurship and Improving Access to Healthcare.