The High-Level Advisory Board on Effective Multilateralism (HLAB) held its sixth plenary meeting from 17-19 October in Nairobi, Kenya. The in-person meeting was chaired by H.E. former President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf of Liberia and H.E. Stefan Löfven, former Prime Minister of Sweden.

While continuing to refine its recommendations in the key areas of peace and security, the global financial architecture, digital space, and addressing the triple planetary crisis, the Board benefited from meeting with a wide range of African interlocutors to discuss the challenges facing the continent and the world today. 

The co-chairs were honoured to meet with President William Ruto, who welcomed HLAB to Kenya. The President pointed to some of the challenges facing Kenya and the broader region, including the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic on the economy, and the need to address the growing climate change challenge while also driving forward Africa’s development. 

At a dedicated round table of African experts, HLAB interacted with representatives of the African Union, women’s rights, the environment, academia, and youth who offered a range of perspectives and recommendations on multilateralism. HLAB is grateful to the Embassy of Sweden for hosting an event where Board Members could interact with a wide range of stakeholders from Kenyan society. 

During its meetings, the Board heard from the Executive Director of UNEP, the Special Envoy on Financing 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, the President of the African Development Bank, senior officials from the Executive Office of the Secretary General, UN Habitat, UNCTAD, and a range of subject matter experts. Together these interactions provided a meaningful opportunity to continue to advance recommendations for the HLAB report, due to be handed over to the UN Secretary-General in April 2023.

HLAB wishes to express its deep appreciation to the UN Office in Nairobi for hosting its plenary meeting. The Board will now carry on its work with a renewed sense of urgency and purpose, based on the strong and repeated calls from civil society and member states for a more effective and inclusive multilateralism for the future.