The 78th United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) will take place from September 18 to 26, 2023 in New York. During UNGA 78, leaders will discuss and debate how to confront the global polycrisis and find strategies to accelerate action on the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.
As the Aspen Global Innovators Group (AGIG), we will be holding dynamic and insightful discussions with forward-thinking thought leaders and partners during the high-level week of UNGA.
AGIG will focus on health equity, localization efforts, community-centered public-private partnerships, and mental health. We will gather insights and perspectives from a diverse array of global and local health and development leaders and experts to explore strategies for effectively responding to, replicating, and scaling successful interventions.
Invitation-only Events:
September 18, 2023: Funders Roundtable: Championing Local Leadership to Achieve Health Equity session, followed by a reception
- Overview: During this session, funders will discuss the ways in which they are investing to further the global movement to invest in local leaders and locally-designed solutions and organizations. These funders will share new investments and programs as well as share opportunities for alignment in thought leadership to effectively advocate for the replication and scale of programs and innovations that improve access to healthcare and improvements in health and well-being globally. Following an interactive conversation, guests will have the opportunity to network with prominent leaders, social entrepreneurs, and powerful changemakers leading innovations around the globe. At the reception, we hope to celebrate leadership in global health and development.
September 19, 2023: Learning Workshop on reimagining health systems technical assistance and support through authentic partnership
- Overview: A group of leading implementing global institutions will meet to discuss how they are approaching localization and reimagining their role in advancing community-led global health and the role of technical partners. This will be a facilitated conversation about what it means to be a partner advancing SDG Goal 17. What has worked and what hasn’t? What are the challenges and opportunities? How do we (re)build trust between implementing partners, governments and local organizations?
September 20, 2023:Building Locally-Informed Public-Private Partnerships: Emergent Practices, Challenges, and the Future of Health-Sector Collaboration
- Overview: This funders-only multi-sector roundtable will explore how community-centered public-private partnerships (PPPs) help build and support healthy, thriving health systems. Scaling locally informed solutions represents an opportunity for governments to reshape the way they finance capital-intensive health programs. From partnering with local grassroots organizations to mobilizing ministries of finance, we’ll hear from cross-sector leaders who are taking action to strengthen public health systems through cross-sector collaboration. The session will explore examples of partnerships that are contributing to the strengthening of these systems and how to improve performance, discuss common challenges that funders experience, and determine pathways for inclusion and innovation.
September 20, 2023: Advancing the Global Localization Agenda through the Power of Public-Private Partnerships
- Overview: This session will explore how public-private partnerships centered on strengthening community leaders, organizations, and priorities can improve access to care and health outcomes while also strengthening health systems. Panelists will share concrete examples of effective partnerships and lessons learned. They will also discuss how they invest in strengthening the coordination of national and or local health systems globally. From partnering with local grassroots organizations to investing in local experts and leaders, we’ll hear from donors and implementing partners who are taking action to advocate for and make real the global movement for localization.
September 21, 2023: Responding to the Mental Health Epidemic: Local Heroes of Mental Health
- Overview: Around 20% of the world’s children and adolescents have a mental health condition, with suicide the second leading cause of death among 15-29-year-olds. Approximately one in five people in post-conflict settings have a mental health condition. The scale of the mental health crisis is staggering, with data illustrating its global impact. As we navigate this crisis, we uncover a stark reality: the burden falls disproportionately on women and girls, magnifying the urgency of our response. Our panel gathers leaders who have pioneered solutions at the grassroots level, offering insights into replicating and scaling successful interventions. Together, we’ll dissect strategies to amplify global and domestic investments in mental health responses and examine the pivotal role of governments in designing effective, far-reaching solutions.