UNGA 2018: Youth, Technology and Social Business

On September 25, 2018 the Movement for Community-led Development participated in a high-level side event on Social Business, Youth and Technology on the opening day of general date at the 73rd session of the UN General Assembly.

“To achieve SDGs, it is critical that we, the youth, work actively into the pursuit of the goals. Youth of today tend to be more educated, technologically adept, and resilient to diseases that previous generations were not resilient to. Many of the youth have already made contributions to SDGs and their work should be strengthened. With the deepening
of these activities for achieving the SDGs.”

Social business was defined and described by Nobel Peace Prize Laureate and
UN SDG advocate Professor Muhammad Yunus. In his book, he defined a social business as “business created and designed to address a social problem, a non-loss, non-dividend company which is financially self-sustainable and in which profits realized by the business are reinvested in the business itself. ”

Therefore, the organizers wish to create a mechanism to help the youth engage in SDGs.
Global Committee on Social Business, Youth and Technology aims at building an
active network with member states, academic society, private sector for supporting
youth on their SDG innovative solution

Link to the full 3-hour video.

OUR Featured Speakers and Moderators

  • H.E. Christophe ITIER, French High Commissioner for Social and Solidarity Economy and SocialInnovation, President of the International SSE Pilot Group
  • H.E. Dr. Miro Cerar, Foreign Minister of The Government of Slovenia (TBC)
  • H.E. Shamma Al Mazrui, Minister of State for Youth Affairs, United Arab Emirates
  • H.E. Mr.Christian Braun, Ambassador and Permanent Representative of Luxembourg to the United Nations
  • Ms. Norma Munguía, Director General for Global Issues at the Foreign Affairs Ministry of Mexico
  • Professor Muhammad Yunus, Nobel Peace Laureate, UN SDG Advocate
  • Dr. Alaa Murabit, UN SDG Advocate, Founder of the Voice of Libyan Women
  • Mr. Tadej Slapnik, Chairman of Advisory Board at European Blockchain Hub and Former State Secretary in the Office of the Prime Minister of the Republic of Slovenia
  • Dr. John Coonrod, Executive Vice President, The Hunger Project; Movement for Community-led Development
  • Juan Elias Chebly, Founder, Give me 5 – Global Initiative for SDG Financing and Lead Advisor, UN Environment New York Office
  • Professor Rajesh Nair,  Director of MIT Asia School of Business -Innovation & Entrepreneurship Center
  • Lola Blanc, Policy Officer on Social innovation and private sector, Sustainable Development Department, French Ministry of Europe and Foreign Affairs
  • Christian Vanizette, Founder,MakeSense
  • Dr. Miroslav Polzer, Secretary-General, International Association for the Advancement of Innovative Approaches to Global Challenges(IAAI)
  • Mr. Dominique V. Dauster, Managing Director, Yunus&You – The YY Foundation
  • Mr. Max Edkins, Climate Expert – Connect4Climate, World Bank Group
  • Mr. Alex Wang, Global Committee on Social BusinessYouth and Technology, Secretary-General, Youthink Center

#Youth4SDG Talks and Pecha Kucha Presentation  
From 8:00am- 9:00am, and then from 9:00, we will start High-Level Keynote and Panels.

SIMPLON.CO, French social business to help young adults in Abidjan 

  • Lola Blanc, Policy Officer on Social innovation and private sector, Sustainable Development Department, French Ministry of Europe and Foreign Affairs

Blockchain for Sustainable Development Goals

  • Mr. Tadej Slapnik, Chairman of Advisory Board at European Blockchain Hub and Former State Secretary in the Office of the Prime Minister of the Republic of Slovenia

Youth & Community Development through Innovation & Entrepreneurship

  • Professor Rajesh Nair,  Director of MIT Asia School of Business -Innovation & Entrepreneurship Center