Concept Note for the 2013 Social Good Summit

Concept Note for the 2013 Social Good Summit

Global Theme: #2030 Now! – How social media, innovation and technology can be used to make the world a better place.  

Background

The Social Good Summit (SGS) brings together bloggers, press, celebrities, world leaders, youth, CEO’s, non-profits and civil society around one central theme: how social media, innovation and technology can be used to make the world a better place. It was first launched by UNF, Mashable and the 92Y in 2010. In 2012 UNDP was invited to join in order to make the summit a more global event. The Social Good Summit is the only space during UN Week that gives anyone, anywhere, a seat at the table. The event gives everyday citizens access to the types of conversations being held simultaneously at the United Nations General Assembly. The Social Good Summit follows a similar pattern to that of the Post-2015 debate on the future we want and agenda only formulated in words that the general public understands and better relates to. The 2013 Social Good Summit aims to bridge the gap between our world’s toughest development challenges and long-term solutions by finding new answers to old problems, focusing on innovation for the future, and activating the power of everyone’s global network. Building on last year’s success, UNDP Country Offices around the world will host local conversations, bringing together governments, and local leaders, Civil Society Organizations (CSO), entrepreneurs, UN officials and many more. The theme for this year creates the possibility of having our future aspirations achievable through innovation, technology and social media at a much faster pace.

Introduction

In 2010, Zambia’s population stood at 13,092,666 compared to 9,885,591 in 2000 representing an overall increase of 32.4% over a period of 10 years. Even with the growth in Gross Domestic Product (GDP) in the past few years, there is increasing evidence showing that growth in the face of increasing inequality is unsustainable and inefficient.

In that regard, it is very crucial to see how relevant technological innovations can be applied to social innovations which are targeted at increasing productivity in the country while also ensuring an equitable distribution of wealth generated in order to create sustainable gains in GDP.

One example from the Zambian health sector of how the intersection of social and technological innovation has birthed power that creates change is the Zambia U-Report (launched by UNICEF). This originated from a tech idea of using a mobile phone through an SMS free of charge platform which allows a two-way communication on HIV prevention and services. This tech innovation addresses the social issue of the lack of access to information on HIV and STIs among the young people. Now young people in Zambia are able to communicate with trained SMS-counselors on issues of HIV and sexually transmitted infections (STI) in a way that not only protects their privacy but is also in real time.

Therefore, it is through continued interaction between the two innovations, social and technological that new and sustainable answers to old problems can be found.

The Event

In Zambia SGS will be jointly organized by partner institutions such as telecommunications companies, innovative hubs, CSOs, government and UN agencies. The summit will be held at Radisson Blu Hotel in Lusaka on 23^rd September 2013, its proximity to a public transport system makes it an ideal place for such a meeting. With approximately 100 people participating in the Zambian event, the SGS will include 4 panels that will present on the various themes according to their areas of expertise. The panels will include senior authorities and experts from various sectors such as Civil Society Organizations, Government, Private sector, youths and UN representatives. Additionally, each panel will be led by a moderator who will ensure that the debate is on course and most importantly that the audience is engaged in voicing out to better capture their ideas, solutions and challenges. Students from various institutions of learning such as the University of Zambia, Evelyn Hone College, and Matero Boys Secondary School will also be invited to attend.

Participants from different sectors will bring their various products set up as stations for everyone to learn what already exists and how their various innovative products have been able to address social issues in Zambia.