Joining the Global Stage: Our contributions to the Development Discourse

UNGA78 and Climate Week, New York, 18 September – 26 September 2023

We participated in UNGA78 and Climate Week where we got the opportunity to speak at different events alongside our Members, partners, and friends from all over the globe. Together, we explored a variety of ways in which we can harness the power of digital and data technologies to combat climate change, support adaptation, and build resilience.

One of our highlights was hosting a round table discussion at Concordia, focusing on the pressing issue of cybersecurity threats that target the world's most vulnerable communities. Our goal was to inspire collective action in order to protect those in need and to continue to make a positive impact towards achieving the Sustainable Development Goals.

We were pleased to participate in our partner's Climate Week blog, Cisco, in honor of this week's events. The theme they chose was "We Can. We Will," emphasizing collaborative actions towards a more sustainable future. Read more here.

COP28, Dubai, 30 November – 13 December

Our time at COP28 was enriched by the NetHope Climate Intersections Working Group, a dynamic cohort composed of representatives from our esteemed Members. This invaluable network conveyed three pivotal messages to COP negotiators, donor governments, and technology companies they collaborate with.

• Encourage governments, donors, and other financial contributors to allocate more funds to adaptation & resilience.
• Design solutions with/for the humanitarian sector vs. for other sectors then forcing humanitarians to adapt.
• Be inclusive and bring equality to women, youth, and indigenous peoples.

A significant breakthrough emerged at this year's event as countries from across the globe united in an unprecedented agreement, staunchly advocating for a more rapid shift away from fossil fuels.

We also announced a partnership with Ushahidi, a NetHope Member organization, to launch an exciting new pilot program in Uganda that will capture people’s stories and shared experiences with a changing climate.

Read Lance Pierce’s blog, which captures more key takeaways from these critical conversations and provokes reflection as well as inspires further action towards a sustainable future.

Global Conference on Cyber Capacity Building (GC3B), Ghana, 29 – 30 November

NetHope's Chief Operating Officer, Dianna Langley; Chief Information Security Officer, James Eaton-Lee; and Monitoring, Evaluation and Learning Lead Karla Vanessa Rubio Jovel represented NetHope at the GC3B in Ghana. We were honored to be invited by USAID to share the stage with esteemed organizations such as Mastercard, Digital Empowerment Foundation, Ministry of Communications and Digitalisation Ghana, Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, and The World Bank to discuss the importance of investing in cyber resilience and finding ways to strengthen it. We’re proud to have signed onto the Accra Call on Cyber Resilient Development at the conference. In collaboration with our Members and partners, will operationalize and scale the Global Humanitarian ISAC, as a shared digital public good.

Partner2Connect at International Telecommunication Union (ITU), Geneva

Lance Pierce participated in the annual Partner2Connect meeting at the ITU headquarters, alongside longstanding NetHope partners and supporters such as Microsoft, Amazon, and USAID, among others. Notably, there was a remarkable array of pledges made by companies and governments that demonstrated genuine dedication to bridging the emerging digital gaps, particularly with regards to gender. The event reached its climax with the prestigious 10th annual EQUALS - The Global Partnership for Gender Equality in the Digital Age Awards, which recognized women tech entrepreneurs and their innovative use of technology to promote positive social outcomes.