UN Research Roadmap for the COVID-19 Recovery provides a framework for leveraging the power of science in support of better socioeconomic recovery and a more equitable, resilient and sustainable future.

Deputy Secretary-General Amina Mohammed thought the United Nations challenged the United Nations Office for Partnerships (UN Partnerships) to find a better solution for the Adaptation Summit, sponsored by the Government of Netherlands, that took place in January 2021. The Dutch team responsible for the Summit had a similar goal — to find a holistic approach to help audiences feel they were part of a conference, even virtually.  

In March 2020, the SDG Strategy Hub launched a new initiative — the Open Brief — to curb COVID-19 by amplifying public health messages through creative efforts. Talenthouse, an organization that operates a platform for open briefs, offered their help, support, and expertise to make this initiative innovative and impactful. Within a few weeks, there were nearly 17 000 submissions from 143 countries, in a multitude of languages – a true demonstration of creative philanthropy.   As a result of the Open Brief, the official UN COVID-19 Response logo and the six stamps were created by global ad agency TBWA. By amplifying and sharing key messages, creators, media, tech platforms, influencers and individuals helped to counter misinformation to keep the world safe. The Open Brief website currently displays thousands of artwork pieces that have been widely downloaded and shared online globally in multiple languages. Creative content advocates around one of the six key areas: personal hygiene, physical distancing, symptom identification, kindness contagion, myth-busting and solidarity. The Open Brief initiative was recognized by multiple leading media entities within the creative industry, like The Drum, BBC, Cannes Lions, and Ad Age, among others. This effort was only possible through the support, collaboration, and ingenuity of all who touched the project, from the creatives themselves to the media outlets, technology companies and individuals from around the world.

The 2030 Agenda Partnership Accelerator is an initiative aimed at accelerating effective partnerships in support of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). The initiative is a joint effort of the United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs and The Partnering Initiative, in collaboration with the United Nations Office for Partnerships, the United Nations Global Compact and the United Nations Development Coordination Office.

Launched in 2020 by the U.S. Coalition on Sustainability (USCS) and Blue Chip Foundation, SustainChain is a platform that leverages systems-based technology to bring together people, projects, solutions and collective intelligence to drive sustainable change in support of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). An eco-system of business, technology and impact investors, SustainChain seeks to revolutionize sustainability by identifying scalable solutions, funding viable innovations and forging integral partnerships. “We have founded SustainChain on the principle of bringing together the best minds across the private sector to build the premiere open-source sustainability network. Unified, aggressive, collective action powered by technology will be the only way we achieve sustainability for people and planet. SustainChain is purpose-built to manifest that future and reach the Global Goals by 2030,” says Jacqueline Corbelli, Founder and CEO of the USCS. The United Nations Office for Partnerships has played an important role in connecting key stakeholders to the SustainChain platform and co-convening the first annual SustainChain virtual event on the occasion of the UN General Assembly in September 2021.

The United Nations General Assembly designated 27 June as Micro-, Small and Medium-sized Enterprises (MSMEs) Day to raise awareness of the contribution that small businesses make to sustainable development and the global economy. MSMEs account for 90% of businesses, 60-70% of employment and 50% of GDP worldwide.

In July 2021, a geographic information system software company Esri, the W.K. Kellogg Foundation and PVBLIC Foundation launched the SDG Data Alliance to advance the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

Girl Up, the United Nations Foundation’s adolescent girl campaign, supports the empowerment of girls everywhere.

The United Nations Office for Partnerships, in collaboration with the PVBLIC Foundation and the UN Department of Global Communications, has been co-organizing the annual Media for Social Impact Summit at UN headquarters since 2014.

The United Nations Foundation’s Nothing But Nets is a global grassroots campaign that raises awareness, funds and voices to fight malaria.

The United Nations Foundation’s Family Planning 2020 rapid response mechanism provides small grants to fund time-sensitive projects that increase access to contraceptives for women and girls.

Founded in 2011, Nexus Global is a non-profit organization committed to collaboration and social impact premised on a strong belief in empowering youth for positive change. With over 6,000 members from 70 countries, this global network unites young investors, social entrepreneurs, philanthropists and allies to catalyze new leadership and accelerate needed political, societal, indigenous, financial, environmental and equal justice solutions. For the past decade, Nexus Global has co-convened the Nexus Global Summit at UN Headquarters in collaboration with the United Nations Office for Partnerships (UN Partnerships) and the Department of Global Communications. This annual event attracts between 500-700 next-generation leading philanthropists, impact investors, social innovators and young leaders from over 50 countries. The Nexus Global Summit explores creative solutions for advancing the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Nexus Global and UN Partnerships have also organized numerous thematic brain trusts or working groups that enabled UN agencies and departments to engage the knowledge, experience and talent pool of Nexus members in a range of topical areas, such as biodiversity conservation and local livelihoods, energy innovation and environment, UN World Oceans Day, energy and environment, human trafficking, SDGs advocacy on social media, etc.

UN Partnerships collaborates with the Conscious Fashion Campaign team by providing guidance on SDG messaging and branding at partnership events, co-curating programs, and making connections between the UN and private industries.

The Conscious Fashion and Lifestyle Network (CFL Network) is the United Nations hosted online platform for industry stakeholders, media, Governments, and the UN system entities. The network showcases and enables collaborations that accelerate solutions to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Recognizing the impact of the fashion and lifestyle sector on people and the planet, the CFL Network fosters transparent, inclusive and transformative engagement of the global stakeholders to drive urgent action on sustainability. The CFL Network provides an impartial platform for the industry and the UN system. Its key objective is to mobilize expertise, technology and resources towards sustainable and inclusive COVID-19 recovery, with the Sustainable Development Goals as a guiding framework. The CFL Network is a joint initiative of the United Nations Office for Partnerships (UN Partnerships), the Division for Sustainable Development Goals - United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs, and the Fashion Impact Fund. The leading entities of the CFL Network convene periodic events aligned with key meetings on the UN calendar and prepare reports on the network’s achievements. The CFL network is committed to keeping the promise of the Sustainable Development Goals and ensuring that everyone, everywhere can live in dignity, prosperity and peace on a safe and healthy planet. Related Links

In 2022, the Frankfurt Fashion Week will take place from 20 June to 26 June with the objective of bringing together sustainability, fashion, lifestyle, and culture to the city of Frankfurt. The event combines Messe Frankfurt's leading textile trade fairs, Techtextil, Texprocess, and Heimtextil Summer Edition, and Neonyt's innovative business and experiential styles centred on sustainability. Messe Frankfurt has worked with the United Nations Office for Partnerships and the UN Conscious Fashion and Lifestyle Network to accelerate engagement of the textile industry in the Decade of Action to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) The Fashion Week events in Frankfurt will portray the full spectrum of global textile manufacturing and value chain while also driving the industry's contribution to the SDGs. The sustainable model of Frankfurt Fashion Week The concept of fashion week is based on the fact that the CIty of Frankfurt, with its expertise in the international fair and exhibition business, was the optimum place to bring together both fashion industry experts and creatives, as well as the general public. Parallel to the Frankfurt Fashion Week, Messe Frankfurt and the City of Frankfurt are developing models that will help the city grow its sustainable strategy. The collaboration will bring the fundamentals of sustainability from the Fair & Exhibition Centre to the heart of Frankfurt. Frankfurt’s mayor, Peter Feldmann, commented : “Frankfurt is the place for fashion – and there will be no doubt about this after the coming summer’s Frankfurt Fashion Week. Our local design and fashion world has no need to be shy and, with the Frankfurt Fashion Week, has a great opportunity to present itself in all its diversity. Moreover, by focusing on sustainability, we also demonstrate what Frankfurt am Main stands for today as a green city.” “ Circular processes and recycling products are outstanding themes in the context of environmentally friendly economic activity. A good 2,000 companies have registered to take part and we look forward to welcoming an audience of trade visitors from over 100 countries. For all our activities, the emphasis is on sustainability and digitalisation, the sector’s main future-oriented themes”, commented Olaf Schmidt, Vice President Textiles & Textile Technologies of Messe Frankfurt About Texpertise Network By grouping these events, Messe Frankfurt underscores its position as the world’s leading organiser of textile trade fairs. The Texpertise Network, a combination of a global network and expertise in the international textile business held in high regard worldwide, currently comprises 60 international events for the textile sector. More information at www.messefrankfurt.com