We are excited to invite you to our side event, “Intergenerational Leadership for the Acceleration of SDGs 3, 4, and 5,” taking place during the Summit of the Future 2024 in New York on September 20th, 2024, from 3:00 PM to 4:30 PM at the Permanent Mission of the African Union at the United Nations.

This important session will focus on driving progress toward achieving SDGs related to health, education, and gender equality by showcasing successful models and strategies from leaders across generations and sectors. We will also highlight the significant role of religious leadership, particularly religious sisters, in advancing these goals.

The Summit of the Future is a platform for reimagining the structures of global governance, aligning them with the realities of the 21st century. Critical to this summit is the discussion on the reform of international institutions, including the United Nations itself, to make them more effective, representative, and capable of addressing global challenges like climate change, security, and global financial inequities.

The Summit of the Future is designed to confront pressing global crises through strengthened international cooperation and innovative governance. It is a platform where leaders will forge actionable commitments for a revitalized multilateral system. The summit is expected to adopt three pivotal documents:

JENA Hosted Events: We are excited to host the session on “Intergenerational Leadership for the Acceleration of SDGs 3, 4, and 5,” highlighting the essential roles of non-state actors, including religious and community leaders, in advancing critical Sustainable Development Goals related to health, education, and gender equality.

Our participation underscores our dedication to advocating for justice and ecological integrity. At JENA, we view this summit as a strategic platform to amplify the voices of African communities and influence global policies that directly impact their lives. Our engagement will focus on ensuring that issues central to Africa’s development, such as equitable resource distribution and environmental sustainability, are addressed in the summit’s outcomes.

2024 marks the African Union’s Year of Education, themed ‘Educate an African fit for the 21st Century: Building resilient education systems for increased access to inclusive, lifelong, quality, and relevant learning in Africa.’ This theme aligns with the insights from the 1st Pan African Conference on Girls and Women’s Education (PANCOGED1) and the recommendations from the Africa Event on Transforming Education held on the sidelines of the UN Transforming Education Summit (TES) in 2023 in New York. The focus is on education and gender equality as pivotal elements for global and continental development, enhancing parity, equity, and economic growth.

Alongside this commitment to education, there is an urgent need to advance health and wellness—central to Sustainable Development Goal 3 (SDG 3). The synergy between health and education is critical: a healthier population is more capable of engaging in and benefiting from education, leading to sustainable and equitable growth. This year’s conferences have underscored the need for a holistic approach to education that integrates gender equality, health, and well-being.

Education is particularly crucial for marginalised groups such as displaced persons, refugees, those with disabilities, and rural populations, aiming to achieve the vision of ‘the Africa We Want‘—an Africa where every citizen enjoys high living standards and optimal well-being. However, this vision faces obstacles like increasing conflicts that disrupt education systems, entrenched gender disparities, and inadequate health facilities, all of which significantly hinder progress.

Jesuits Justice and Ecology Network Africa (JENA)
28th September 2024

The Global Pact for the Future: A Milestone in International Cooperation and Social Justice.

Jesuits Justice and Ecology Network Africa (JENA) Applauds UN Summit Adoption of Groundbreaking Pact for the Future, Advocates for Africa’s Role in a New Era of Global Governance

In the wake of the historic Summit of the Future, held on September 22-23, 2024, at the United Nations Headquarters in New York, the Jesuits Justice and Ecology Network Africa (JENA) celebrates the adoption of the “Pact for the Future,” a comprehensive framework for global cooperation. This monumental agreement promises to reshape the future of international relations, with significant implications for peace, sustainable development, and digital equity.

The Pact addresses the urgent need to revamp outdated global governance structures, ensuring they are inclusive and reflective of the world’s contemporary realities. Among its key initiatives are reforms to the UN Security Council, acceleration of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), and the introduction of the Global Digital Compact for AI governance and digital cooperation.

Speaking on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly (UNGA), Fr. Charlie Chilufya, S.J., Director of JENA, emphasized the importance of Africa’s role in shaping global governance during an event organized in partnership with the African Union’s International Centre for Girls’ and Women’s Education in Africa (AU CIEFFA). Supported by the Hilton Foundation, the event, titled “Intergenerational Leadership for the Acceleration of SDGs 3, 4, and 5,” brought together leaders from various sectors and generations to highlight the urgency of advancing health (SDG 3), education (SDG 4), and gender equality (SDG 5) across Africa. Fr. Chilufya noted the alignment between the Pact for the Future and the priorities of this event, underscoring the need for collaborative efforts to address Africa’s pressing challenges.

Implications for Africa and the Global South.

The most notable takeaway for JENA, and the broader African community, is the Pact’s renewed focus on redressing historical under-representation, particularly within the UN Security Council. As part of the reform, Africa’s voice is poised to be amplified in matters of peace and security, signaling a pivotal moment for the continent’s role in global decision-making.

“Never before has the world been this aligned in recognizing Africa’s rightful place at the global table,” said Fr. Charlie Chilufya, S.J., Director of JENA. “This Pact opens doors for Africa’s contributions to peace, sustainability, and technology to be better acknowledged and acted upon.”

Additionally, the Pact’s commitments to reforming international financial systems and safeguarding vulnerable communities are aligned with Africa’s ongoing struggles with debt crises and climate vulnerability. The new financial architecture proposed by the Pact promises a more just and equitable world for nations in the Global South.

Read more: Press Release