SDGs CONFERENCE 2024
IN THE MARGINS OF THE UNGA79
PANEL 3
Transforming An Inclusive Global Governance
25 September 2024, Wednesday | 12:15 PM – 1:45 PM EST | New York

9th Annual SDGs Conference 2024 was organized on 25 September 2024, in New York, in the margins of the United Nations General Assembly 79th Session. Convened by the Journalists and Writers Foundation (JWF) in collaboration with 56 global partners from 30 countries, the conference unfolded the 5 main themes of Pact for the Future that was recently adopted at the Summit of the Future, offering a once-in-a-generation opportunity to revive multilateralism with the mission of reflecting the realities of our day and address future challenges and opportunities.
In her opening remarks, Cemre Ulker, Representative of the JWF to the United Nations Department of Global Communications, underlined that The Pact for the Future recognizes that our multilateral system is under unprecedented strain. The promising agenda commits to take action to strengthen and re-navigate the channels of diplomacy and deepen international cooperation. This timely session was moderated by Luciana Micha, Director of the Center for International Policy Studies at the University of Buenos Aires, Argentina. In her reflections, Ms. Micha mentioned the unprecedented strains on the multilateral system and the commitment to strengthening and enhancing international cooperation—the session aimed to explore this visionary roadmap through the insights of global governance experts.
The first panelist of the session, Firmesk Rahim is a Fulbright Scholar in the Global Governance and Human Security department at the University of Massachusetts Boston specializing in global governance and human security. Ms. Firmesk reflected on the complexities of defining global governance, quoting scholar James Rosenau’s idea of “governance without government.” She emphasized that discussions about global governance cannot overlook the essential role civil society plays in this context. Firmesk Rahim noted the often-overlooked significance of civil society’s contributions to global governance. She posed a thought experiment: what would the world look like without the vast network of civil society organizations advocating for diverse perspectives? She argued that the true impact of these organizations is hard to quantify but is crucial to global governance.
Ms. Firmesk pointed out that civil society is not confined to formal institutions; its definition is evolving, especially in our technological era, where movements and informal groups can drive significant global change. In an increasingly interconnected world, challenges cross borders, making state power alone insufficient to address these issues. Therefore, the active participation of diverse groups is essential for innovative solutions that can improve the human condition.
She outlined the vital roles of civil society in global governance, including:
1. Policy Shaping and Expertise: Civil society contributes to policy formulation by offering expert knowledge and research. Organizations in areas such as environmental protection, global health, and human rights often influence international agreements and negotiations. For instance, civil society played a crucial role in shaping global health responses during the COVID-19 pandemic, advocating for equitable vaccine access.
2. Supporting Conflict Resolution and Peacebuilding: In politically tense or conflict-ridden areas, civil society organizations are pivotal in humanitarian efforts and fostering dialogue for sustainable peace and development.
3. Implementing Global Agreements Locally: Civil society works on the ground to ensure that global agreements are effectively implemented. They provide essential feedback to multilateral on how these agreements impact people’s lives.
Despite their importance, civil society faces numerous challenges that limit their full participation in inclusive governance, such as limited access to international platforms, resource constraints, lack of funding, unequal representation, and disunity where the diversity of civil society can lead to a lack of coordination, weakening their influence on public opinion and governance institutions. Firmest Rahim concluded her reflections underlining that these challenges underscore the difficulties civil society faces in contributing to inclusive global governance, despite their essential role in promoting accountability and inclusivity.
Professor Collins Odote, Associate Dean of the Faculty of Law, University of Nairobi, who also serves as the Chairman of the Council of Legal Education in South Africa spoke on strengthening public institutions and their multiplier effects on sustainable development and inclusive prosperity. Professor Odote began by emphasizing the panel’s theme of transforming inclusive governance, noting that nine years ago, on September 25, 2015, the 17 Sustainable Development Goals were adopted under the title “Transforming Our World.” He questioned why “transforming” is central to inclusive governance and explained that the current pace and direction of global governance are not yielding the necessary dividends.
He outlined three suggestions for changing global governance, particularly regarding public institutions. First, Prof. Odote stressed the need to strengthen adherence to the rule of law and the role of institutions that uphold it. He highlighted that the term “rule of law” appears seven times in the SDG declaration and is crucial for achieving the goals, including addressing the concerns of journalists and civil society. He pointed out that the quality of institutions supporting the rule of law varies significantly worldwide and emphasized the importance of strengthening judiciaries. Prof. Collins Odote noted that the judiciary is vital for protecting the rights of the minority and ensuring checks and balances in government.
The second point he raised was the importance of education in empowering youth and engaging them in public institutions. He argued for moving beyond merely celebrating youth involvement in global governance to actively integrating young people into decision-making processes. Prof. Collins Odote stressed the need for investment in public education, emphasizing quality and accessibility, and called for stronger links between educational institutions and both industry and global governance bodies to engage youth in governance at an early age.
In conclusion, he addressed the interconnectedness of economic, social, and environmental aspects of sustainable development. He argued for increased funding for environmental protection institutions and a shift in our relationship with nature—from viewing it merely as a resource to recognizing its intrinsic rights. Prof. Odote ended his remarks by stating that to achieve meaningful change in global governance, actions must be taken at international, national, and local levels, ensuring that public institutions are strengthened to deliver real benefits to people and make global governance more inclusive and relevant in the 21st century.
Mcebisi Jonas, the Former Deputy Minister of Finance in South Africa and the Founder of Lucas, a nonprofit think tank in Johannesburg, addressed the panel regarding sustainable financing and Public-Private Partnerships (PPPs) for the Sustainable Development Goals. In his address, Mr. Jonas highlighted the dire state of the developing world, referencing a recent commentary by Lawrence Summers that outlined pressing issues such as debt, inflation, and climate change. He criticized that despite bold promises made in previous years, 2023 was a challenging year to support targeted goals for the developing countries. He pointed out that the 2024 financing for sustainable development report estimates that the SDGs face annual financing gaps ranging from $2.5 trillion to $4 trillion. Mcebisi Jonas emphasized that without a responsive financial system and increased investment, achieving the 2030 SDG targets will remain elusive.
Mr. Jonas noted that Africa, despite being home to 18% of the world’s population, only accounts for 2% of global capital. He stressed that without sufficient capital, the realization of the SDGs will remain a distant dream and advocated for a collaborative, all-hands-on-deck approach that prioritizes SDG targets through global cooperation involving governments, the private sector, and multilateral institutions. He elaborated on the significant challenges posed by high interest rates and loan repayments, which resulted in nearly $200 billion flowing out of developing countries to private creditors in 2023. This outflow far surpassed the financing provided by international financial institutions. Mr. Jonas pointed out that raising financing is not merely about mobilizing private sector funds for development but requires adapting the financial system to prevent locally generated revenues from being channeled out of the countries for debt servicing.
He argued for a transformation of the global financial and trade architecture, emphasizing that the current system favors wealthy nations at the expense of poorer countries. He urged for the redirection of global liquidity toward infrastructure and productive investments in the developing world, which are crucial for sustainable development. Mcebisi Jonas acknowledged that creating a conducive environment for public-private partnerships requires not only reforms at the national level but also a strong political will within the global community. He noted that geopolitical tensions significantly hinder meaningful cooperation, particularly affecting developing nations. The ongoing conflicts in Palestine, Ukraine, and Sudan exemplify the challenges faced by multilateral bodies that often feel sidelined in their ability to address these issues.
He concluded with two fundamental points: first, there needs to be a transformation of the global financial and trade architecture to favor poorer countries, which requires active involvement from civil society. Second, for public-private partnerships to flourish, strong state institutions are necessary, especially in countries that are in high demand for financing yet often lack the capacity to engage effectively with private sector and multilateral entities. Jonas emphasized that a stronger state is essential for successful partnerships with the private sector and for advancing sustainable development goals.
Proceeding with the panel, the next speaker, Ana Carolina Evangelista, Executive Director of the Institute of Studies in Religion from Brazil discussed the decline of democratic principles and the erosion of global peace, sustainability, and stability, particularly in the Brazilian context. In her presentation, Ms. Evangelista addressed the complex and troubling political landscape in Brazil, emphasizing how religion has increasingly been weaponized in the political arena, contributing to the radicalization and polarization of society. Drawing on her work with ISER, which highlights the importance of faith-based communities in Brazilian social life, she underscored the multifaceted role that religion plays in contemporary political discourse. Ms. Evangelista noted that religion’s influence in Brazilian politics is pervasive, evident in election coverage, legislative discussions, and public opinion.
Ana Carolina Evangelista pointed out the growing divisions within Brazilian society, particularly between evangelical and Catholic groups, as well as generational divides, with younger and older adults often holding opposing views. This polarization is exemplified in public debates over whether the government should endorse specific Christian moral values. However, Ms. Evangelista contended that the dynamics at play extend beyond mere religious disagreements; they reflect a broader political polarization in which religion is strategically manipulated to serve political agendas. This phenomenon is characterized not by a wholesale merging of religion and politics but by the selective incorporation of certain religious narratives—especially those propagated by far-right political factions—to enhance their influence.
Ms. Evangelista also highlighted the social and economic crises currently facing Brazil, which have allowed radical political elements to exploit religious sentiments for their own gain. This exploitation often manifests as ultra-conservative agendas seeking to impose their moral values on society at large, particularly targeting marginalized groups, including women and the LGBTQ+ community. The interweaving of religious beliefs with political motives complicates the landscape, making it increasingly challenging to distinguish between personal convictions and political objectives.
Historically, Brazil has seen diverse representations of religious leaders in politics, but Ms. Evangelista noted that the current political climate is increasingly dominated by ultra-conservative figures, particularly from Evangelical Pentecostal backgrounds. Despite Brazil’s rich diversity, this representation does not adequately reflect the complexity of its society, particularly regarding the separation of church and state, which has been established since the 19th century. Ana Carolina Evangelista emphasized the urgent need to comprehend the intricate dynamics of the far-right’s rise in Brazil, particularly how it employs religion as a political weapon. She called for heightened awareness of the role of religious groups in contemporary politics, advocating for vigilance in protecting and promoting pluralism and democratic values, not just in Brazil, but globally.
Her key highlights included the following:
– Weaponization of Religion: Ana Carolina Evangelista emphasized how religion has become a tool for political agendas, contributing to the radicalization and polarization of Brazilian politics.
– Social Divisions: She highlighted growing divisions in Brazilian society between evangelical and Catholic groups, as well as generational disparities in public opinion regarding government endorsement of Christian moral values.
– Strategic Use of Religious Narratives: Ms. Evangelista contended that the intertwining of religion and politics reflects a calculated incorporation of certain religious narratives, particularly by far-right factions, rather than an indiscriminate merger.
– Exploitation of Crises: She pointed out that Brazil’s social and economic crises have allowed radical political elements to exploit religious sentiments, leading to ultra-conservative agendas targeting marginalized groups.
– Historical Context and Alliances: Ms. Evangelista traced the rise of radical conservatism to reactions against human rights initiatives and noted the formation of alliances between religious factions that now shape Brazil’s political landscape, challenging its pluralistic democracy.
Kamran Bokhari took the floor as next panelist, who is the Senior Director of Eurasian Security and Prosperity at the New Lines Institute in Washington, D.C. Emphasizing the importance of context, Kamran Bokhari stressed that any meaningful discussion about the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) must account for the current geopolitical landscape. Mr. Bokhari proposed the need for a geopolitical roadmap that could effectively bridge the gap between the lofty aspirations of the SDGs and the harsh realities of implementation.
He expressed concern about the phenomenon of information overload, contrasting today’s vast, complex information landscape with a past era marked by fewer, more reliable sources. In this overwhelming environment, people struggle to engage meaningfully with news and data. Mr. Bokhari noted that this overload complicates public understanding of critical issues, contributing to a troubling decline in analytical thinking among the populace. As a result, there is a growing confusion between what is occurring in the world and what ought to be happening, which is compounded by a polarized political discourse. Kamran Bokhari put a strong emphasis on the fact that political discussions often devolve into arguments on social media platforms like TikTok and Twitter, where genuine listening is rare. He expressed particular concern for his children’s exposure to misinformation, suggesting that the current era poses greater risks than those he faced in his youth.
Kamran Bokhari then shifted his focus to state-level issues, observing that the past three decades have seen an escalation in geopolitical tensions, contrasting sharply with the optimism that accompanied the end of the Cold War. He referenced Francis Fukuyama’s theory of the “end of history,” which posited that the world would inevitably converge toward peaceful democratic governance. Instead, Mr. Bokhari argued that fragmentation and instability characterize the present reality, with many nation-states either failing or already failing, resulting in ongoing conflicts.
While acknowledging the establishment of an international rules-based order after World War II, embodied by institutions such as the United Nations and the World Bank, he voiced concern over their diminishing capacity to tackle the numerous crises the world now faces. He outlined a crisis arc extending from Southeast Asia to the Middle East, citing ongoing turmoil in countries like Myanmar, Afghanistan, and Iran, as well as challenges posed by global powers such as Russia and China. In conclusion, Kamran Bokhari called for innovative, out-of-the-box thinking to address these pressing issues. He stressed the importance of moving beyond outdated paradigms and adapting to the complexities of modern information dynamics and geopolitical realities, urging that a fresh approach is essential for effective governance and achieving the SDGs.















