‘Digital technology has shrunk the planet, galvanized voices for social change and transformed the way we live forever. By enabling access to communications and information globally, technology has opened new doors toward advancements around the world. At the same time, in the context of the pandemic that affects us all today, the systemic weaknesses of our social and economic order have been dramatically exposed, pushing hundreds of millions of individuals and families into poverty. Now more than ever, synergies to pursue and adapt to a sustainable development that leaves no one behind must be explored and put in practice.’
In February 2021, the United Nations Commission for Social Development will focus on “A Socially just transition towards sustainable development: the role of digital technologies on social development and well-being of all”, a crucial and relevant theme in the context of the global pandemic.
We, the NGO Committee for Social Development, are pleased to share with you our Civil Society Declaration, the first of its kind to be open to public endorsements because of the specially trying times we are going through as a global human community.
Glimpses of CSF 2021
Virtual meeting with the Bureau for the 59th Session of the Committee on Social Development
Ms W Yang – Chief of UN SPDB 
Mr A Lamrabat – UN DESA 
Ms D Bas – Director of UN DISD 
Ms J Oppermann – Luxembourg 
Ms C Squeff – Argentina 
Mr M Kouakou – Ivory Coast 
Glimpses 1 
Glimpses 2 
Glimpses 3 
Glimpses 4 
Glimpses 5
Orientation and Networking session of Civil Society Forum 2021 during the 59th Session of the Committee on Social Development
Introduction 
Introduction 2 
Introduction 3 
Introduction by Mr A Lamrabat 
Introduction by Mr A Lamrabat 2 
Introduction by Mr A Lamrabat 3 
Group Discussion 
Group Discussion 2 
Group Discussion 3 
Group Discussion 4 
Group Discussion 5 
Question & Answer Session
Thematic Session 1 of Civil Society Forum 2021 during the 59th Session of the Committee on Social Development
Our Co Chair Maria Fornella opening the session 
Houry Geudelekian – NGO CSW – NY 
Nayla Fahed – LAL 
Germán Rueda – Vice Minister of Digital Transformation Republic of Colombia. 
Rachel Cooper – UNICEF 
Christiaan Van Veen – Digital Welfare State and Human Rights Project 
First Round of discussions 
Second Round of Discussions 
Q and A Begins 
Questions from the Sisters of the Good Shepherd Community 
Question from Orapin Sopchokchai 
Winifred Doherty – Sisters of the Good Shepherd 
Panelists take the questions 
Question from 
Questions from the Baha’i Intenational Community 
Final Words 
Final Words 
Poll 1 Results 
Poll 2 Results 
Thank You!
Thematic Session 2 of Civil Society Forum 2021 during the 59th Session of the Committee on Social Development
The Session Opens 
Stefano Prato – Society for International Development 
Shantanu Mukherjee -UN DESA 
Sonia Jorge – The Alliance for Affordable Internet 
Hamzat Lawal – CODE 
Glimpses of Initial Discussion 
Glimpses of Round 2 
Hannah Burke on Stage 
Question posted by Hannah Burke 
Stefano addressing the question 
Addressing the Question 
Veronica Brand on Stage 
Veronica Brand posting her question 
Sonia Jorge Addressing the question 
Question Posted by Sisters of the Good Shepherd Community 
Question Posted by Pradip Shah 
Questions from other participants 
Final words 
Poll 1 Results 
Poll 2 Results 
Thank You!
If you wish to watch the entire event click here.
Thematic Session 3 of Civil Society Forum 2021 during the 59th Session of the Committee on Social Development
Our Panelists 
Voices from Grassroots
( USA)
Voices from Grassroots
( India)
Panelists introduce themselves 
Initiate the discussion 
First Round of Discussion 
First Round of Discussuion 
Members from different communities interacting with Panelists 
Q and A Session 
Q and A session 
Dan Perell interacting with the Panelists 
Emeline Siale IIolahia
( PIANGO)
Mr Gert Auväärt
( Estonia Government Representative to UN)
Wietse Van Ransbeeck
( Citizen Lab)
Anita Gurumurthy
( IT for Change)
Mr Gert Auväärt 
Leah Dienger ( IBM) 
Questions posted by Bahai ‘I Community 
Questions Posted by 
Question posted by Orapin Sopchokchai 
Final Words by Emeline Siale IIolahia 
Final words by Mr Gert Auväärt 
Final Words by Leah Dienger 
Final words by Wietse Van Ransbeeck 
Final Words by Anita Gurumurthy
( Moderator)
Poll 1 Results 
Poll 2 Results 
If you wish to watch the entire event click here.
Closing Session of Civil Society Forum 2021 during the 59th Session of the Committee on Social Development
Our co-chair Maria L.Fornella introduces the ASG 
ASG UN-DESA Maria Spatolisano
on the stage 
ASG UN-DESA Maria Spatolisano sharing her views 
Maria introducing Julie Oppermann - Luxembourg 
Julie Oppermann on Stage 
Julie Oppermann Sharing her views 
Julie Oppermann - Luxembourg 
Monica Jahangir on stage, sharing her views 
Monica introducing the the three moderators 
Our Moderators 
Stefano, Houry and Anita on Stage 
Houry Geudelekian
presenting the key take aways from session on Education 
Houry Geudelekian - NGO CSW/NY 
Houry Geudelekian 
Stefano Prato takes the stage 
Stefano Prato sharing important take aways from session on financing 
Stefano Prato - Society for International Development 
Anita Gurumurthy sharing some key conclusions from session Good Governance 
Anita Gurumurthy 
Monica Jahangir welcomes Michael Bröning( FES) 
Monica Jahangir exchanges thoughts with Michael Bröning 
Michael Bröning presenting his thoughts 
Michael Bröning - FES 
Monica Jahangir welcomes our keynote speaker on stage 
Gbenga Sesan - Keynote Address 
Gbenga Sesan has a story to share 
Gbenga Sesan Concludes 
Our vice-chair Gillian D'Souza thanks Gbenga Sesan for his inspiring words 
Poll 1 Result 
Poll 2 Result 
Poll 3 Result 
Poll 4 Result 
Gillian's Vote of Thanks 
Organising Committee on stage 
Some words of appreciation from Makiko Tagashira 
Organising Committee on stage 
Organising Committee on stage 
Happy and Content Organizing Committee
If you wish to watch the entire event click here.
Our latest surveys from the Grassroots Subcommittee:
The Grassroots Subcommittee published two new surveys:
- 2020 Special survey on Housing and homelessness. Please click here to read it!
- 2020 Survey on Inequalities: Towards 2030: Grassroots Experiences with Inequalities
NGO CSocD Events
Next Member Meeting:
New date: January 20, 2021 – online meeting 10AM-12PM EST – Please email ngosocialdevelopment@gmail.com to have access to the Zoom link of the online meeting!
You can view the agenda for our meeting and past notes here. Hope to see you then!
ngosocdev.org 