Reimagining multilateralism:
From cost-cutting to
collective leapfrogging

ABOUT THE EVENT

The international system is facing a moment of reckoning. As geopolitical fragmentation deepens, climate and humanitarian crises intensify, and with technology accelerating disruption across every sector, multilateralism is under growing pressure to prove its relevance and effectiveness. But this moment is not only one of risk; it also offers a rare opportunity to reimagine how global cooperation is organized and delivered.

Bringing together cross-sector leaders from the United Nations, governments, the private sector, philanthropy, and civil society, EY and Devex will host an evening of focused dialogue, big ideas, and collaborative problem-solving. Anchored in a spirit of optimism, this high-level conversation shifts the narrative to consider what new models, mechanisms, and partnerships will help us move beyond fragmented, siloed reform efforts and instead embrace bold, systemic redesign.

Rather than dwell on fragmentation, this UNGA side event invites a more hopeful question: What would it take to build a faster and more inclusive system of international cooperation?

We’ll focus on how we can build a multilateral system that is nimble and impactful: leveraging technology, cross-sector partnerships, and more adaptive institutional models.

Five dynamic concurrent breakout sessions will focus on the following central themes:

• Future operating models: What would agile, mission-driven multilateral institutions look like? How can ecosystem thinking help align mandates and capabilities across agencies to enhance system-wide efficiency and impact?
• Building common ground in a multipolar world: How can we equip the current and next generation leaders to strengthen legitimacy through soft power, moral leadership, and clear, trust-building communication that resonates with employees, partners, and citizens alike.
• Technology as an enabler and co-designer: How can we embed technology and the private sector at the heart of multilateral delivery? How can tech partners act as true co-designers — bringing scalable, mission-aligned solutions that accelerate impact through transparency and accountability?
• Cities, civil society, and the power of networked multilateralism: How do we ensure multilateralism is rooted in the realities of people and places? What are novel ways of empowering individuals and communities to drive collective action, and how can cities, movements, and local institutions act as nodes in a networked multilateralism?
• Sustainable financing: How can we use innovative financing instruments to mobilize private capital and build strategic partnerships? What catalytic role can development banks and public institutions play in de-risking investment environments, especially with respect to climate-related solutions?