76th UNGA High-Level Side Event on Social Business, Youth and Technology
Social Business Towards a Sustainable Revival of Post-COVID19 Economy
- When: 23–25 September, 8AM–10AM (EST) | 6AM–8AM (GMT+6)
- Where to watch: Watch on Facebook Live @YunusCentre @YouthinkCenter | Watch on Zoom here.
Between 23 and 25 September, at the sidelines of the 76th United Nations General Assembly, the Government of France, the Government of Nigeria, the Government of Cabo Verde and the Global Committee on Social Business for Sustainable Development Goals, are hosting a high-level event on “Social Business, Youth and Technology: Social Business Towards a Sustainable Revival of Post-COVID19 Economy”. The event is co-curated by the Yunus Centre, Bangladesh; Yunus+You The YY Foundation, Germany; Youthink Center, China.
Background
1. COVID-19: More than a year of struggle and adaptation
It has been more than a year since the COVID-19 pandemic started. As of writing, there have been 216,026,420 cases with 4,495,014 people who succumbed to it. The first months of the pandemic saw a common response from national governments: quarantine implementation. This was done, with the recommendation of health experts, to contain and prevent virus transmission with the goal of flattening the curve. With consumers locked at home, the COVID-19 pandemic took away jobs, closed businesses and ultimately, shrunk economies. The June 2020 Global Economic Prospects describes the long-term damage it has dealt to prospects for growth.
We are facing a global health crisis unlike any in the 75-year history of the United Nations — one that is killing people, spreading human suffering, and upending people’s lives. But this is much more than a health crisis. It is a human, economic and social crisis. The coronavirus disease (COVID-19), which has been characterized as a pandemic by the World Health Organization (WHO), is attacking societies at their core.
2. Global Call for Intellectual Property Waiver for COVID-19 Vaccines
COVAX, the facility set up by the World Health Organization and several non-profits to deliver Covid-19 vaccines to developing countries, aimed to secure and distribute 2 billion doses by the end of 2021. By mid-May, though, COVAX had shipped out only 68 million doses—a result of various vaccine nationalisms, and skyrocketing demand for vaccines and vaccine supplies. the current vaccination figures show that the percentages of people in high income countries who have been vaccinated is 46% while 20% in middle income countries and 0.9% in low income countries.
156 World Leaders including 19 Nobel Laureates, 36 former Chief of State and Governments, Political Leaders, Artists, International NGOs and Institutions have signed a call initiated by Nobel Peace Laureate Professor Muhammad Yunus to declare COVID-19 Vaccines as a global common good, free from any patent right belonging to anyone.
An article written by Parsa Erfani, Agnes Binagwaho, Mohamed Juldeh Jalloh, Muhammad Yunus, Paul Farmer, and Vanessa Kerry has been published in the British Medical Journal, on 3rd August 2021 titled ” Intellectual property waiver for covid-19 vaccines will advance global health equity” which focuses on the importance of a temporary IP waiver to reach global needs and it will be essential to meet the number of doses of vaccinations required to achieve global herd immunity.
3. Social Business, A Key to Build the Future We Want
The concept of social business was conceived and defined by Nobel Peace Prize Laureate Professor Muhammad Yunus, the “father” of both social business and microcredit, as well as the founder of Grameen Bank and more than 50 other companies in Bangladesh. A social business focuses on addressing and solving a social issue and less on gaining profits. No personal gain is desired by the investors and subsidies on costs are observed to attain social development.
Since the pandemic outbreak, UN SDG Advocate Alumni Professor Muhammad Yunus emphasizes the opportunity coronavirus pandemic gave us, the opportunity to not go back to the old world, where most people are leading to a disastrous path cause by capitalism and environmental destructions. Professor Yunus stated to people that this situation should not be treated as a recovery process, but rather, a rebuilding process for all nations. Building new paths which will lead us to prosperity and equal wealth distribution, and that is where social business will play a key role.
Participants
- Heads of States and Ministers
- UN agencies and International Organizations
- UN SDG Advocates
- Academic Leaders from Universities and Think Tanks
- Business, Social Business Leaders and Civil Societies
- Young Leaders, Innovators and SDG Corps from more than 110+ countries
Agenda
Day 1: 23 September 2021, 8AM–10AM (EST) | 6AM–8AM (GMT+6)
High-Level Opening Event
Moderator: Mr. Dominique V. Dauster, Global Committee on Social Business, Youth and Technology, Managing Director, Yunus&You – The YY Foundation
1. Opening Remarks and Keynotes
- Ulisses Correia e Silva, Prime Minister, The Government of Cape Verde
- E. Sunday Dare, Minister of Youth and Sports Development of the Federal Republic Nigeria
- The Government of France
Keynote: No Going Back, Global Movement for A World of Three Zeros
- Professor Muhammad Yunus, Nobel Peace Laureate, Chairman of Yunus Centre, Founder of Grameen Bank and UN SDG Advocate Alumni
2. Our Solidarity for a Sustainable Post-COVID19 World
Partners and young people from all over the world will state and pledge their commitment in any platform and partnership possible in rebuilding a post-covid19 society where no one is left behind.
Moderator: Mr.Alex Wang, Global Committee on Social Business, Youth and Technology, President, Youthink Center
- Ricky Kej, Grammy® Award Winner, UNCCD “Land Ambassador”, UNESCO MGIEP “Global Ambassador for Kindness”
- Professor Luigino Bruni, Director of the Scientific Committee, The Economy of Francesco
- Professor Zhao Meng, Director, Yunus Social Business Center, Renmin University of China
- Shazeeb M Khairul Islam, 3Zero Club and Managing Director of YY Ventures
- Rose Keffas, Special Assistant to the Office of the SSA to the President of Nigeria
- Ragini Malik, Youth Initiative Coordinator, United Nations Office for South-South Cooperation (UNOSSC)
- World Bank
- UN SDSN and Columbia University
To download the Day 1 flyer, please click here.
Day 2: 24 September 2021, 8AM – 10AM (EST) | 6AM – 8AM (GMT+6)
Higher Education For Our Sustainable Future: Role of Learning Institutions in Creating Social Business Leaders
Hosted by Yunus Center at the Asian Institute of Technology , Yunus Thailand Foundation and the BRI Social Business Development Network, jointly with the Global Committee on Social Business for SDGs, and Youthink Center, China
Education experts from across the global Yunus Academia Network reflect on the emerging ecosystem for seeding future Social Business leaders equipped for rebuilding a post-COVID19 society where no one is left behind.
1. Welcome Remarks
- Alex Wang, Global Committee on Social Business, Youth and Technology, President, Youthink Center
- Dr Amjad Saqib,Sitara-e Imtiaz, Founding Executive Director, Akhuwat, CEO, Akhuwat Education Services, Ramon Magsaysay Award 2021.
2. High-Level Keynotes
3. Expert Panel
Moderator: Dr. Faiz Shah, President, Yunus Thailand,and Director, Yunus Center at the Asian Institute of Technology (YCA)
- Yunus Social Bsuiness Center in Renmin University of China
Dr. Majid Ghorbani, Renmin University, China
- Social Business Creation
Dr. Mai Thi Thanh Thai, McGill University, Canada
- Yunus Professional Masters in Social Business & Entrepreneurship
Dr. Lakeesha Ransom, Asian Institute of Technology, Thailand
- Masters in Social Business
Dr. Suraya Hanim Mokhtar, Albukhary International University, Malaysia
- Three Zeros Leadership Challenge
Dr. Ashir Ahmed, Kyushu University, Japan
- Social Business Talent Program
Mr. Callum Mackenzie, Yunus Thailand Foundation
4. Q&A Session
Day 3: 25 September 2021, 8AM – 10AM (EST) | 6AM – 8AM (GMT+6)
Global Actions and Innovations for Achieving Sustainable Development Goals: For People. For Planet.
High-Level Keynotes
Pecha Kucha TALKs
- Project Everyone
- GCA
- Ban-Ki Moon Centre for Global Citizens
- International Association for the Advancement of Innovative Approaches to Global Challenges (IAAI)
- HOTOF Foundation
Youth Actions for A World of Three Zeros: The New Economics of Zero Poverty, Zero Unemployment, and Zero Net Carbon Emissions
Led organized by SDG Corps, Youth4Climate, Youth4SDG and Youthink Center
High-Level Keynotes
Action Statements [60 mins]
- UN SDSN Youth
- Asian Development Bank
- United Nations Major Group for Children and Youth
- YOUNGO
- Asian Youth Peace Network
- International Youth Centre – Malaysia
- 3Zero Club
- Youth4Climate
- SDG Young Leader
