The United Nations (UN) Civil Society Conference in Nairobi, Kenya, was a way to engage on global issues and collaborate with UN agencies, NGOs, and community members. Ahead of the Summit of the Future in September 2024, one of the outcomes to be produced is a document titled Pact of the Future, a concise and action-oriented document to safeguard the future. It will cover five key areas, including sustainable development and financing for development; international peace and security; science, technology, innovation, and digital cooperation; youth and future generations; and transforming global governance. The zero draft, negotiations, and two annexes for the Pact of the Future are rooted in multilateralism. During the conference, we had the opportunity to attend workshops held by civil society organizations (CSOs), non-governmental organizations (NGOs), and UN agencies engaged in local, national, and global initiatives. We also had the opportunity to attend IMPACT coalitions to provide input on priorities related to the pact. Here are some key topics of focus during the conference.
Governance
Citizens should have proactive and responsive governance that fosters participation in their society. It is essential to lend voices to the community, especially in vulnerable populations, to ensure their needs are met. It is crucial to encourage an inclusive society that allows the sharing and cultivation of ideas and innovation to find standard solutions and allow for meaningful connections. In particular, sessions focused on the discrimination against women and girls, persons with disabilities, youth, older persons, indigenous persons, marginalized populations, and LGBTQIA2S+ persons. Listening to the underheard voices ensures more equitable governance.
Global governance is the system of cooperation and decision-making between international actors, countries, NGOs, UN agencies, intergovernmental organizations, and civil society. We learned global citizens feel that challenges that affect people worldwide include, but are not limited to, humanitarian crises, environment, and climate change. It is essential to engage citizens globally in a manner representative of age, demography, geography, and livelihoods to present issues and work collaboratively to find solutions.
Youth and future generations—youth engagement
Youth engagement is crucial for the future of healthcare. The conference highlighted the need to involve children and youth in decision-making processes, ensuring their voices are heard and their needs are addressed. Nursing education and practice must empower young people, promote health education, and encourage healthy lifestyles from an early age. By fostering youth participation in health-related discussions, nurses can help build a healthier, more informed generation. One of the country ambassadors to Kenya quipped that the youth do not need to be represented, but rather need to participate in decision making on issues that affect them.
Sustainable financing for development
Many of the discussions surrounding sustainable financing for development included scrutiny of the high-income countries for inadequate investment into low and middle-income countries (LMICs). Currently, the financial needs to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) are growing; however, the funding required is inadequate. Additionally, there is much discourse around the International Monetary Fund (IMF) for lending to LMICs with high interest rates, which lead to countries experiencing a large amount of inequity and poverty to lag economically with inability to catch up. The 2023 report on Financing for Sustainable Development calls on countries to rapidly map out individualized plans.
The Civil Society Conference and its impact on the nursing community
The Civil Society Conference highlighted the global challenges and collaborative efforts required to address them, providing valuable insights and opportunities for the nursing community. Sigma's attendance and representation at this conference signifies nursing’s commitment to the global initiative of fostering sustainable development, international peace and security, science and technology innovation, youth engagement, and global governance.
As frontline health providers, nurses are deeply involved in promoting health and well-being, which are critical components of sustainable development. The conference's discussions on financing for development emphasized the need for equitable resource distribution to support health systems in low- and middle-income countries. Nurses can advocate for increased funding and resource allocation to underserved regions, ensuring that health interventions are accessible and practical.
Nurses play a vital role in maintaining peace and security through their contributions to public health. The conference's focus on international peace and security aligns with the nursing profession's commitment to providing care in conflict zones and during humanitarian crises. By participating in global discussions on peace and security, nurses can contribute their expertise to develop strategies that address health challenges in unstable environments, ensuring the well-being of affected populations, including nurses serving in conflict zones. The targeted aggression towards healthcare workers is unacceptable and intolerable. Nurses and healthcare professionals serving the vulnerable population must be protected, not targeted. During the conference, the resounding voice criticized the ongoing conflicts, and conference participants asked all parties involved to respect the sanctity of healthcare services and personnel, ensuring their safety and security as stipulated under international law.
On the other hand, rapid advancements in science and technology are transforming healthcare delivery. The conference underscored the importance of digital cooperation and innovation, where nursing can significantly benefit. Nurses must stay abreast of technological developments to enhance patient care through telehealth, electronic health records, and other digital tools. Engaging with innovations in healthcare allows nurses to improve efficiency, accuracy, and accessibility of care, ultimately leading to better health outcomes. Staying informed about advances in digital technology, such as artificial intelligence (AI), is essential for nurses to ensure the ethical, inclusive, and sustainable implementation of these technologies in healthcare.
Moreover, effective global governance is essential for addressing transnational health issues. The conference's emphasis on inclusive and representative governance resonates with the nursing community's advocacy for health equity and social justice. Nurses can contribute to global governance by participating in international health organizations, influencing policy decisions, and advocating for the rights of marginalized populations. By doing so, they ensure that health policies are inclusive and responsive to the needs of diverse communities.
The Civil Society Conference provided a platform for discussing critical global issues directly impacting nursing. As nurses, we were able to voice our opinions and ideas during the workshops and breakout sessions. We need to do more of this—to be present and heard at the highest levels of meetings and discussions. And as Sigma liaisons to the UN, we could come back and share these conversations, decisions, and insights learned from the conference to nurses and the nursing community globally. By doing so, we can collectively reinforce our role as nurses being essential contributors to global health and well-being, ensuring a healthier future for all.
Jasper Erwin L. Tolarba, DNP, RN, FACHE, FAAN, is the inaugural Beatrice Hofstadter White Endowed Chair for Nursing Practice, Education, Research, and Innovation at Nuvance Health System and Sacred Heart University in New York and Connecticut and serves as a Sigma United Nations Liaison. He is a member of Sigma’s Delta Mu and Alpha Zeta Chapters.
Regina Yuen, MPH, BSN, RN, is a registered nurse in Canada and is currently working with Doctors Without Borders in the field. She serves as a Sigma UN Youth Representative. She is a member of Sigma’s Tau Upsilon Chapter.
