In addition to the official programme, the HLPF also offers various side events for in-depth exchange and joint learning. In this context, SOS Children’s Villages and the DHL Group invited to a session on 16 July, which was hosted by the Permanent Mission of Germany to the United Nations. The event showed how MSPs from young people, politics, the private sector and civil society contribute to build youth skills for employability and thus contribute to the fulfilment of the SDGs. Young people living in vulnerable families or in alternative care often lack a support network. This makes it difficult for them to acquire the social skills necessary for employment and to access employment opportunities. YouthCan! provides support with meaningful partnerships in terms of skills training and initial employment opportunities. In addition to the authentic experiences of the young people themselves, the event also highlighted how the private sector is involved in the YouthCan! programme and thus helps the programme to succeed.
Partnerships2030 also participated once again in organising a session of the SDGs in Practice series, hosted by the New York Office of the United Nations Institute for Training and Research (UNITAR) and the Sustainable Development Goals Division of the United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs (UN DESA). SDGs in Practice is a series of capacity-building and knowledge-acquisition events focussing on key issues related to the implementation of the 2030 Agenda. Together with UN DESA and The Partnering Initiative (TPI), Partnerships2030 organised a session on partnership building and multi-stakeholder engagement for the 2030 Agenda on 9 July. Over 100 people from different world regions and sectors attended the event and gained insights into the functioning of MSPs through technical contributions and a role-play exercise. It was emphasised that a variety of resources are needed to make an MSP a success. In addition to the right mindset, an understanding of other sectors, interpersonal skills and technical knowledge about partnerships play a decisive role. Some key success factors such as cooperation management, context and joint strategy and future planning were also discussed.
The Parliamentary State Secretary of the German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ), Dr Bärbel Kofler, also emphasised the relevance of cross-sector partnerships. To achieve the global sustainability goals and better arm humanity against future crises, we must “not only strengthen cooperation between states, but also with civil society, business and science and forge strong alliances.”