This year’s United Nations General Assembly will take place against a harrowing backdrop: Protracted conflict, a hunger crisis, climate disruption, democratic backsliding, and a world still reeling from a pandemic that revealed and exacerbated massive health disparities. Halfway between their 2015 adoption and 2030 deadline, is there any hope of achieving the Sustainable Development Goals?
Heads of state, policymakers, business and civil society leaders, activists, and philanthropists will all converge in New York City for UNGA 77, along with the traditional flurry of side events and meetings to see how we can collectively get back on track. The Devex reporting team will be on the ground covering and driving the important conversations as the development community races to keep up momentum and recover lost ground.
Over two days, Devex will convene those at the center of these conversations for a series of interviews and workshops that ask the tough questions and dig into opportunities for progress.
Day One will be our Universal Health Coverage Pavilion — on the heels of the Global Fund replenishment and aimed to set the agenda for the United Nations High-Level Meeting on UHC in 2023, we'll ask leaders what they want to see tackled in the lead up to next year to include topics such as malnutrition, health security, and health equity.
Day Two will include a read out from the Transforming Education Summit with a spotlight on reimagining education systems amid massive learning loss, conversations on the growing hunger crisis, youth employment, inclusion, and how displacement is threatening progress on them all. We'll hear from leaders on the role of private sector and UN financing and how the climate crisis is impacting the way they operate.
This series of events on the sidelines of UNGA 77 took an inside look at the debates, opportunities, and big ideas as humanity navigates this critical juncture.
Strengthening systems for safer childbirth through locally-led solutions
Speakers
• Dr. Austin Demby, minister of health and sanitation, Sierra Leone
• Dr. Mary-Ann Etiebet, lead of MSD for Mothers and AVP for health equity, MSD for Mothers
• Cynthia Kahumbura, country director - Kenya, Jacaranda Health
• Dr. Ben Nkechika, director general, Delta State Contributory Health Commission Services
• Niranjan Saggurti, managing director, Population Council Consulting Private Limited
• Natasha Sunderji, global health lead, Accenture Development Partnerships
Interviewed by: Anna Gawel, managing editor, Devex
This event is produced in partnership with MSD for Mothers. Learn more about the event here.
Reversing alarming declines in immunization: Building sustainable vaccine demand with and for communities
Speakers
• Dr. Ayoade Alakija, special envoy and co-chair to the WHO ACT Accelerator and co-chair of the African Union’s African Vaccine Delivery Alliance
• William Asiko, Vice president, Africa Regional Office of The Rockefeller Foundation
• Dr. Anant Bhan, mentor and principal investigator, Sangath
• Dr. Atul Gawande, assistant administrator of global health, USAID
• Dr. Aamer Ikram, executive director, Pakistan National Institutes of Health
• Rashid Mang'anda, nursing officer and maternal child health program coordinator, Phalombe District Health Office
• Esther Nakkazi, science journalist, media trainer, and founder, Health Journalists Network
• Dr. Kate O'Brien, department of immunization, vaccines, and biologicals director, WHO
• Stacey Knobler, vice president for vaccine innovation & global immunization, Sabin Vaccine Institute
• Dr. Furaha Kyesi, head of service delivery and introduction of new vaccine section, immunization program, Tanzania's Ministry of Health
Interviewed by:
• Raj Kumar, president and editor-in-chief, Devex
• Catherine Cheney, senior reporter, Devex
This event is produced in partnership with Sabin Vaccine Institute. Learn more about the event here.
Devex @ UNGA 77
Welcome remarks
Financing the fight: A conversation with Chris Collins
Speaker: Chris Collins, president and CEO, Friends of the Global Fight
Interviewed by: Michael Igoe, senior reporter, Devex
Women's Voices [In partnership with Micronutrient Forum]
Highlighting the inextricable link between women’s nutrition and equity—this film takes us to Habru, Ethiopia where we meet Agurash, a mother in her 3rd trimester of pregnancy, sharing her journey through pregnancy in her own voice.
Reversing malnutrition trends: What will it take?
Speakers:
• Professor Ruth Oniang’o, Rural Outreach Programme founder; editor-in-chief, founder, African Journal of Food, Agriculture, Nutrition and Development
• Gerda Verburg, U.N. assistant secretary-general, coordinator, Scaling Up Nutrition (SUN) Movement
• Sarah Charles, Bureau for Humanitarian Assistance assistant administrator, USAID
Interviewed by: Teresa Welsh, senior reporter, Devex
Embedding the private sector: How innovation can tackle “unsolved” challenges in global nutrition [In partnership with Accenture]
Speaker: Oliver Wright, senior managing director for consumer goods and services, Accenture
Interviewed by: Kate Warren, executive vice president and executive editor, Devex
From rhetoric to reality: Advancing global health equity
Speakers:
• Vineeta Gupta, global health equity advocate, Action Secretariat
• Temie Giwa-Tubosun, CEO, LifeBank
Interviewed by: Catherine Cheney, senior reporter, Devex
Dire consequences: A conversation on sexual and reproductive health and rights with Ashley Judd
Speaker: Ashley Judd, UNFPA goodwill ambassador
Interviewed by: Kate Warren, executive vice president and executive editor, Devex
The power of genomics in tackling future global health threats [In partnership with Illumina]
Speaker: Phil Febbo, chief medical officer, Illumina
Interviewed by: Raj Kumar, president and editor-in-chief, Devex
Closing the gap: Global health financing for impact and scale
Speakers:
• Jon Fairest, head of Global Health Unit, Sanofi
• Dr. Angela Gichaga, CEO, Financing Alliance for Health
• Dr. Mories Atoki, CEO, ABCHealth
• Naveen Rao, Senior vice president, health, Rockefeller Foundation
Interviewed by: Stephanie Beasley, senior reporter, Devex
On the move: A conversation on health and migration with Ugochi Daniels
Speaker: Ugochi Daniels, deputy director general, International Organization for Migration
Interviewed by Colum Lynch, senior global correspondent, Devex
Tackling medicine shortages: A new perspective on what is needed. [In partnership with USP]
Speaker: Gersande Chavez, vice president, Global Health Programs, USP
Interviewed by Jenni Cardamone, senior director, Partnerships, Devex
Monkeypox: How to frame a global health crisis
Speaker: Dr. Rosamund Lewis, technical lead for Monkeypox, WHO Health Emergencies
Interviewed by: Michael Igoe, senior reporter, Devex
International concern: Detecting and mitigating future pandemics
Speakers:
• Mosoka Fallah, team lead for Country Engagement Technical Assistance of the Saving Lives and Livelihood Program, CDC
• Sheila Davis, CEO, Partners In Health
• Asia Russell, executive director, Health GAP
Interviewed by: Michael Igoe, senior reporter, Devex
Driving equity through improved health systems [In partnership with Pfizer]
Speaker: Caroline Roan, Pfizer CSO, SVP of Global Health & Social Impact and president of The Pfizer Foundation
Interviewed by: Raj Kumar, president and editor-in-chief, Devex
On the frontier: Rwanda as an emerging global health hub
Speaker: Professor Agnes Binagwaho, vice chancellor of the University of Global Health Equity
Interviewed by: Catherine Cheney, senior reporter, Devex
Scaling for success: Lessons learned from Kenya on the fight against NCDs [In partnership with Medtronic LABS]
Speakers
• Ruchika Singhal, president, Medtronic LABS
• Bent Lautrup-Nielsen, head of global development and advocacy, World Diabetes Foundation
Interviewed by: Kate Warren, executive vice president and executive editor, Devex
Closing remarks
Talking TB: The road to 2030
Speakers:
• Jackie Cuen, TB survivor and peer supporter, We Are TB
• Dr. Lucica Ditiu, executive director, Stop TB Partnership
• Sir Jeremy Farrar, director, Wellcome
• Dr. Tereza Kasaeva, director of the Global Tuberculosis Programme, WHO
• Hon. Dr. Mathume Joseph Phaahla, minister of health, South Africa
• Hon. Dr. Lia Tadesse, minister of health, Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia
• Hon. Budi G. Sadikin, minister of health, Indonesia
• Kate O'Brien, TB survivor and advocate
• Cheri Vincent, Chief of the Infectious Diseases Division, USAID
Interviewed by:
• Anna Gawel, managing editor, Devex
• Kate Warren, executive vice president and executive editor, Devex
This event is produced in partnership with Stop TB Partnership. Learn more about the event here
Unlocking sustainable finance for nature-based solutions
Speakers:
• Nick Anstett, executive director, Pollination
• Solange Bandiaky-Badji, President and coordinator, Rights and Resources Initiative
• Ezgi Barcenas, chief sustainability officer, Anheuser-Busch InBev
• Lori Kerr, CEO, FinDev Canada
• Katharine Tapley, head of sustainable finance, ANZ
Interviewed by:
• Anna Gawel, managing editor, Devex
• Richard Jones, editorial director, Devex
This event is produced in partnership with FinDev Canada, Pollination and ANZ. Learn more about the event here.
Faith in the future: How faith-based organizations are tackling the hunger crisis
Speakers:
• Robert Hokanson, senior manager of global priorities and special projects, The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints
• Rudo Kayombo, chief operating officer, Food for the Hungry
• Anwar Khan, president and co-founder, Islamic Relief USA
• Lheslye Pérez Santis, chief of party for communities leading development, Catholic Relief Services
• Barron Segar, president and CEO, World Food Program USA
Interviewed by:
• Teresa Welsh, senior reporter, Devex
• Richard Jones, editorial director, Devex
This event is produced in partnership with World Food Program USA. Learn more about the event here
Devex @ UNGA 77
Welcome remarks
Transformation in uncertain times: A conversation with Achim Steiner
Speaker: Achim Steiner, UNDP administrator
Navigating a worsening global food crisis
Speakers:
• Cindy McCain, US ambassador to the U.N. agencies for food and agriculture
Followed by:
• Alvaro Lario, president-elect, IFAD
Interviewed by: Teresa Welsh, senior reporter, Devex
Bridging the divide: Skills for digital financial equity and inclusion [In partnership with Visa]
Speaker: Elizabeth Hurvitz, senior vice president, Global Social Impact, Visa
Interviewed by: Alan Robbins, executive vice president, Devex
Why LGBTQ inclusion is critical to achieving the SDGs
Speaker: Victor Madrigal-Borloz, UN independent expert on protection against violence and discrimination based on sexual orientation and gender identity
Interviewed by:
• Kate Warren, executive vice president and executive editor
The way forward: War in Ukraine and the future of global democracy
Speakers:
• Yulia Klymenko, member of Ukrainian Parliament, and first deputy of infrastructure and transport committee
• Natalie Jaresko, finance minister of Ukraine (2014-2016)
• Nate Schenkkan, senior director of research for countering authoritarianism, Freedom House
Interviewed by: Michael Igoe, senior reporter, Devex
Partner or perish: Prioritizing collaboration to multiply impact. [In partnership with OneSight EssilorLuxottica Foundation]
Speakers:
• Anurag Hans, head of mission at EssilorLuxottica and president at OneSight EssilorLuxottica Foundation
• Tia Hodges, VP corporate giving & employee volunteerism at MetLife, and president at MetLife Foundation
Interviewed by: Richard Jones, editorial director, Devex
Children, youth and the future: Challenges and opportunities
Speakers:
• Ahmad Alhendawi, secretary-general, World Organization of the Scout Movement
• Susan Reichle, president and CEO, International Youth Foundation
• Inger Ashing, CEO, Save the Children International
Interviewed by: Kate Warren, executive vice president and executive editor
Facilitating sustainable development in Nigeria’s Niger Delta region [In partnership with PIND / NDPI]
Speaker: Tunji Idowu, executive director, Foundation for Partnership Initiatives in the Niger Delta (PIND)
Interviewed by: Jenni Cardamone, senior director, Partnerships, Devex
Reimagining education: Big ideas and takeaways from the Transforming Education Summit
Speakers:
• Yasmine Sherif, director, Education Cannot Wait
• Robert Jenkins, Education and adolescent development program group director, UNICEF
• Jane Mann, Cambridge partnership for education managing director, Cambridge University Press
Interviewed by: Anna Gawel, managing editor, Devex
From climate finance to climate adaptation: A conversation with Mahmoud Mohieldin
Speaker: Mahmoud Mohieldin, U.N. climate change high-level champion for Egypt and U.N. special envoy on financing the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development
Interviewed by: Colum Lynch, senior global correspondent, Devex
Financing a green just transition for all [In partnership with European Investment Bank]
Speaker: Speaker: Stephen O Driscoll, head of environmental, climate and social policy, EIB
Interviewed by: Anna Gawel, managing editor, Devex
Values in action: Insights into inclusive philanthropy
Speakers:
• Anne-Birgitte Albrectsen, CEO Lego Foundation
• Lillian Chege, senior advisor, Rockefeller Philanthropy Advisors
• William Moore, CEO, Eleanor Crook Foundation
• Aparna Uppaluri, acting Program Director, India, Nepal and Sri Lanka, Ford Foundation
Interviewed by: Stephanie Beasley, senior reporter, Devex
Closing remarks
• Kate Warren, executive vice president and executive editor
• Colum Lynch, senior global correspondant, Devex