IOE NY Office latest developments

Brief overview of IOE NY activities together with highlights of opportunities for member engagement.

As you may be aware, in 2019, IOE established a presence in New York to advocate for and facilitate greater engagement between the UN System and the private sector. IOE activities to this end have included a collaborative project with the Konrad Adenauer Stiftung (KAS) to foster engagement between UN Resident Coordinators and employers’ organisations, co-chairing the UN Business & Industry Major Group, and strengthening collaboration with partners such as UN Global Compact, UN Partnership Group, UN DCO, UN DESA, and Member State UN Missions.

UN Observer Status

IOE applied in 2019 for permanent observer status within the UN with backing from over 25 Member States. During the UN 6^th Committee meeting on 19 November 2020 it was decided to defer the decision on IOE and ITUC UN Observer status to October 2021, due to the urgent needs of the response to the pandemic.

Private sector and the 2030 Agenda – Engagement in the VNRs

Voluntary national reviews (VNRs) give countries an opportunity to share their progress and challenges in implementing the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and to share lessons learned. 43 countries have signed up to present their VNRs during the High-Level Political Forum (HLPF) in July 2021.

Inclusive participation of the private sector in the VNR preparation process would help to build bridges with national governments and the UN System in practical and solutions-oriented dialogue. The time to become an active stakeholder in the preparation process is now. We encourage you to seek out the VNR focal points in your country (especially if it is presenting in 2021) and actively engage in the process.

Join the UN Business & Industry Major Group

Are you interested in staying updated on business-related activities at the UN, get updates on the HLPF and VNRs and participate in important dialogues? Apply to become a member of the UN Business & Industry Major Group. You and your members will have access to information on UN activities with emphasis on business engagement at the UN. While we will continue to champion for greater engagement between business and the UN System, both at headquarters and the country level, we do often need speakers therefore your engagement is most appreciated.

Survey on Engagement between UN Resident Coordinators and employer federations

We encourage you to make your voice heard on your collaboration (or lack thereof) with the UN System by taking this brief survey.

Survey for Employer Federations (also in Spanish and French).

WOMENpreneurs: From Start-ups to Stars

IOE, KAS, and the UN Global Compact (UNGC) are co-organising a joint digital conference on 8 December (7:45 EST / 13:45 CEST) featuring the UN Deputy Secretary-General, Amina J. Mohammed, and other leaders on how to make the COVID-19 recovery process a "reboot" for female entrepreneurship and leadership. Click here to learn more and register for the event.

“The Sustainable Development Goals and the 2030 Agenda cannot succeed without the full engagement of the private sector.” – Secretary-General António Guterres remarks at the IOE Centenary Summit