Congrats and thanks to everyone involved in this rich, dynamic conversation alongside #CSW69! Follow ?? CIVIC: The Civil Society and Social Innovation Alliance here on LinkedIn for updates. #civilsociety #globalhealth #socialinnovation
Program Manager, CIVIC: The Civil Society and Social Innovation Alliance & Global Partnership for Social Accountability / Global Lead for Citizen Engagement, World Bank
?? On the sidelines of CSW69: "Catalyzing Change: Scaling Civil Society-led Solutions for Global Challenges" ?? Yesterday, CIVIC: The Civil Society and Social Innovation Alliance, Ban Ki-moon Foundation, and The Global Financing Facility (GFF) co-hosted a dynamic panel on strengthening civil society’s role in advancing the SDGs. I joined inspiring panelists who emphasized that grassroots organizations are not peripheral solutions—they are essential to achieving sustainable development and must be a core part of the financing architecture. High-level policymakers, donors, and civil society leaders joined the session to explore how grassroots networks drive progress on health, gender equity, and climate resilience. The discussion underscored that sustainable development requires local communities to have power and resources to lead solutions. ?? H.E. Ban Ki-moon, 8th Secretary-General of the United Nations, opened the event with virtual remarks by addressing today’s global challenges and opportunities, emphasizing that “development is most effective when citizens and civil society are meaningfully engaged in solutions that are not just reactive, but proactive”. He also highlighted the central role of gender equity in shaping impactful responses to health and climate crises. ?? Kate Landon, CAP?, Executive Director of the Ban Ki-moon Foundation, moderated the conversation and stressed the importance of multi-stakeholder collaboration, noting: “Civil society is key to building resilient communities and shaping policies that prioritize people.” ?? María Teresa Rodríguez, Executive Director of Fundación #Guatemala, shared how grassroots women are rehabilitating land and shaping climate solutions: “Communities must have unrestricted funding to respond to their realities. True resilience comes from investing in those on the frontlines.” ?? Violet Shivutse, Global Chair of Huairou Commission and Director of Shibuye Community Health Workers, raised a key challenge: “Grassroots women receive funding for programs but not for organizing, coordinating, or sustaining partnerships with governments.” ?? Oyeyemi Pitan, Executive Director of Gem Hub Initiative and CSO Representative on GFF’s Investor Group, reinforced the need for accessible financing for local CSOs: “Invest in systems. Strengthen grassroots structures. Support civil society not just with funding, but with capacity-building and an enabling environment.” This conversation reaffirmed that collaboration between civil society, governments, and development institutions is crucial to shaping policies that ensure development effectiveness and sustainability. By investing in community-led innovations, we can create lasting impact. Let’s work together to drive meaningful change! Follow the new CIVIC: The Civil Society and Social Innovation Alliance page to stay updated. #CivilSociety #Health #GenderEquity #CSW69 #ClimateResilience #WorldBank #SocialInnovation