From 14 – 20 July, the Ban Ki-moon Centre for Global Citizens (BKMC) CEO Monika Froehler together with a small BKMC delegation travelled to New York to attend the UN High-Level Political Forum on Sustainable Development (HLPF) 2024. The mission trip was marked by a series of high-profile engagements and events aimed at advancing the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
A highlight of the trip was the special event “Ensuring Food Security in Africa: Challenges and Innovations towards 2030,” co-hosted by the BKMC, the Austrian government under the leadership of Austrian Federal Minister for the EU and Constitution Karoline Edtstadler, and the Kofi Annan Foundation. Held on July 16th at the Austrian Cultural Forum New York, the event focused on innovative strategies and solutions to combat food insecurity in Africa.
During the event, H.E. Ban Ki-moon, former United Nations (UN) Secretary General emphasized the importance of sustainable food systems for achieving the SDGs in a video message. This set the tone for the following keynote by H.E. Karoline Edtstadler and panel discussion featuring stellar speakers: Channing Arndt, Senior Director for Transformation Strategies of the International Food Policy Research Institute / CGIAR, Mohammed Hafiz Musah, Co-Founder of FarmAsyst Limited and a former BKMC Changemaker, and Elhadj As Sy, Chair of the Kofi Annan Foundation Board.
Another highlight of the mission trip was the presentation of Austria’s 2nd Voluntary National Review (VNR) on the SDGs on 17 July, at the UN by H.E. Karoline Edtstadler, which showcased Austria’s progress and commitments towards achieving the SDGs.
Additionally, the BKMC delegation participated in two crucial HLPF side events: “The State of Food Security and Nutrition in the World” by the FAO and “Autonomous Weapon Systems: How their International Regulation will Contribute to the Achievement of SDG 16 on Peaceful and Inclusive Societies for Sustainable Development” by the Permanent Mission of Austria to the UN.
BKMC CEO Monika Froehler also had the opportunity to meet H.E. Alexander Marschik, Ambassador of Austria to the UN in New York, and Dr. Kyung-wha Kang, President and CEO of the Asia Society, to discuss further collaborations. The delegation also engaged with the Ban Ki-moon Foundation, strengthening the synergy between the two sister organizations, and with colleagues from the External Relations and Advocacy Bureau of the United Nations Development Programme, discussing joint efforts in youth and women empowerment as well as climate action.
The successful mission trip once again reinforced the Ban Ki-moon Centre’s commitment to global citizenship and sustainable development.
Watch back Austria’s 2nd VNR presentation in New York: https://webtv.un.org/en/asset/k1s/k1s7wa7ez0
Look at our pictures below:
