Sustainable Development

The first Global Model WHO – organized by WFUNA in collaboration with the World Health Organisation (WHO) – was held from February 10 to 19, 2023 in order to raise awareness of the importance of global health issues and foster support in strengthening and advancing the work of WHO. Over 198 high school and university students from over 40 countries participated in the conference, and 29 student volunteers from over 18 countries formed the simulated WHO secretariat.

In September, WFUNA partnered with the Norwegian bank SpareBank 1 SMN to launch "Under the Starry Sky". This nine-month program provides a unique opportunity for young people to get a deeper understanding of the SDGs and project management while making a positive impact on their local communities.

Bringing together public and private sector actors from across the Asia-Pacific region, the World Federation of United Nations Associations (WFUNA) co-organized an online regional policy dialogue together with UNDP, UNESCAP, and Citi Foundation on August 8, 2022. Under the theme of 'Building Inclusive Digital Economies through Innovation and Public-Private Partnerships', the Cityprenueurs, the Ventures, Impact Collective, Youth Co:Lab, A2i Bangladeshi, ADBI, NISA ROK supported and participate d the dialogue.

Impact Collective 2021 (IC 21), the Asia-Pacific edition of the Citypreneurs program, selected 43 startups out of 366 applications to work on their impact-profit alignment under six themes: Inclusive Health & Quality of Life, Circular Economy and the Future of Waste Management, Sustainable Agriculture and Food, Green Energy and the Environment, Digitalization for Equal Opportunities for All, and Future of Work and Economic Growth. As part of the community-driven investment process, the top 10 teams with the most votes received $US 500K in funding.

Co-organized with UNDP, KOICA, WeGO, Kinshasa City Hall, and supported by Silikin Village, "Citypreneurs Kinshasa 2021-2022" was initiated to meet key needs of Kinshasa people. The project focused on two themes:

On 28 & 29 January, 2021 the 16+ Forum and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Worship of Costa Rica co-hosted four virtual sessions on key SDG 16+ issues in the lead-up to the Annual Showcase in San José later this year.

16+ Forum Virtual Event

Over 100 organizations across 42 countries have heard the call to increase action, investment, and resources to make peace, justice, and inclusion the foundation for reset and recovery from the COVID-19 pandemic.

WFUNA is excited to announce the 2020 16+ Annual Forum will take place in San José, Costa Rica April 26-29, 2021. The 16+ Forum was launched in April 2016 as a a platform committed to SDG 16+ and to showcasing what it means to advance peaceful, just and inclusive societies in policy and practice at all levels and for a wide community of stakeholders – governments, civil society, the UN, regional and international organizations, academia, private sector and media.

The global SDG16+ Community partners issued a joint call to action amidst the COVID-19 pandemic, social and political unrest, and a growing economic crisis. The call to action reinforces the commitment to implementing the 2030 Agenda’s Sustainable Development goals, with SDG 16 (Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions) as the keystone, and offers an actionable framework for building more peaceful, just, and inclusive societies for all.