Stocktaking of IOE New York office activities for 2022 and an optimistic outlook for 2023

The IOE office in New York shares a snapshot of its activities for 2022 and looks forward to strengthening its commitment and forging new partnerships to bring the voice of the private sector to the highest levels of global policy debates with actionable results in the new year.

2022 has been a year characterised by climate, conflict and Covid-19-related challenges but also creative opportunities to respond to them. Whether it was leveraging an opportunity or creating a new one, it required a more cohesive, inclusive and concerted global response. Online or in person, on the global podium or under “Chatham House rules”, the IOE office in New York delivered on the expectations. We worked diligently throughout the year facilitating IOE’s activities on the ground to elevate the private sector as a strategic partner for the UN and other major global entities.

IOE made substantive inputs to the dialogues to implement the UN Secretary General’s ‘Our Common Agenda’ vision, which examines ways to forge pathways for partnerships and catalyse multilateralism and ensure private sector engagement in a number of high-level events throughout the year. The following is a birds-eye view of some of these inputs:

• During the 2022 ECOSOC Partnership Forum on 2-5 February, IOE partnered with ILO and UNCTAD to spotlight important discussion on cross-cutting issues of business partnership and collaboration with MSMEs for SDG implementation. Read more here.
• During the Informal Consultations on the UN Secretary General’s Report - Our Common Agenda in February and March, IOE Secretary General Roberto Suárez Santos provided private sector perspective on the proposals outlined in the OCA and their potential implementation in the Decade of Action. Read more here.
• During UN Global Compact's Target Gender Equality LIVE event, on March 15, organised by the UN Global Compact, IOE senior Adviser Akustina Morni spoke on private sector engagement in accelerating gender equality at workplace, entrepreneurship and innovation. Read more here.
• During the Science and Technology Forum (STI) on 5-6 May, IOE organised two key events on closing the digital skills divide in the Least Developed Countries (LDCs). IOE member, Patricia Veringa-Gieskes, CEO of Job Factory, delivered a statement on the private sector's role in providing jobs to young people.
• During the High-Level Political Forum (HLPF) on 5-15 July, together with the Business and Industry Major Group, IOE hosted several events and facilitated the participation of staff and IOE members in five preparatory Expert Group Meetings  to discuss SDGs 4, 5, 14 and 15;
• During the high-level weeks of the UNGA’s 77th Session, IOE co-organised or participated in six high-level events. IOE Permanent Representative Shea Gopaul, represented the voice of the private sector speaking at several events, on skills and partnerships. Read more here.

In addition:

• IOE joined the Partners2Connect Digital Coalition  with the International Telecommunication Union (ITU) to make a Capacity Building and Advocacy pledge which focuses on reinforcing the capacity of small and medium enterprises to grow and create decent jobs, along with assisting women and young people with pursuing entrepreneurial aspirations.
• IOE and Microsoft officially launched  their partnership to scale up digital skills in four LDCs – the Democratic Republic of Congo, Lesotho, Senegal and Uganda – with practical 21^st century digital and business skills;
• IOE organised dialogues bringing together UN Resident Coordinators (RCs) and employer organisations to align efforts to further collaboration between the UN and the private sector for achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
• Other events organized by the IOE brought together the UN, the UN Global Compact, G20, ambassadors, business leaders and heads of employers’ organisations to engage in constructive dialogue.

IOE New York in numbers in 2022

• 32 events
• 86 speaking slots
• 2 partnerships  
• 3 IOE publications highlighted through events

*Number of attendees cannot be estimated given that four events were broadcast on UN TV.

Hopes and wishes for 2023

In 2023, IOE will be strengthening its commitment and forging new partnerships to bring the voice of the private sector to the highest levels of global policy debates with actionable results. We are working with our partners at the regional and international levels, to bring you closer to the decision-making policy-level dialogues and processes.  

Look out for the following events and participate:

• 31 January: Partnership Forum
• 5-7 March: The UN Conference on Least Developed Countries (LDC5)
• 3-4 May:  The 8th Multi-Stakeholder Forum on Science, Technology and Innovation for the SDGs (STI Forum) 
• 10-19 July: HLPF 2023
• 19-20 September: SDG Summit 2023
• In addition, the IOE New York office will organise meetings and engagements to strengthen dialogue with Ambassadors from Africa based in New York, focusing the discussions on digital skills and partnership projects including Microsoft on Tech@Work.
• In continued collaboration with Konrad Adenauer Foundation (KAS) IOE will publish an updated version of the Playbook on Momentum in the Decade of Action through Collaboration between Employers and UN Resident Coordinators. This new edition will highlight the best partnership practices between the UN Resident Coordinators and the private sector worldwide.