Southern Voice became one of 12 global networks to join the Scientific Advisory Board (SAB) of the United Nations Secretary-General, tasked with advising UN leaders on the latest scientific and technological breakthroughs to support global development efforts. This appointment marks a significant opportunity for Southern Voice to represent the Global South in high-level UN discussions. 

On September 12-13, the inaugural SAB retreat took place at the UN headquarters in New York, with three primary goals: foster familiarity and collaboration among board members to develop a shared vision for the collective’s activities; define thematic priorities and a roadmap to strengthen scientific advice; and explore how science can help accelerate the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), especially at the country level.

Our Executive Director, Margarita Gomez was present, and spoke of the upcoming contributions of Southern Voice centered on three key areas:

  1. Reinforcement of the importance of diverse expertise from the Global South, bringing together a skilled pool of experts to foster varied and local knowledge 
  2. Recognition of local science and innovations, advocating for its integration and increased role in sustainable development
  3. Application of insights from behavioural science and the science of communication, to bridge the gap between scientific knowledge and action

As a result of this retreat, we jointly produced and launched the Statement of Trust in Science, a declaration aiming to reinforce global confidence in scientific processes. In addition, the group mapped out thematic priorities to guide our work, which included climate change, artificial intelligence, localization, behavioural change and inclusion in science.

Key takeaways included priorities highlighted by the UN Secretary-General, such as the importance of horizon scanning for anticipating future challenges, examining the relationship between science, ethics, and society, and focusing on climate change as a critical global issue. 

This engagement further positions Southern Voice as a vital player in helping to shape the global development agenda, ensuring that the voices and innovations of the Global South are at the forefront of international development efforts.

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