At a gathering in Nairobi ahead of the October Trust Summit, Ahunna Eziakonwa, a senior United Nations official, urged global institutions to recognize Africa as a central partner in restoring confidence in multilateralism. The event centered on the belief that genuine trust requires institutions to involve Africa in shaping international decisions rather than treating it as an afterthought. Eziakonwa’s address emphasized accountability, fulfilled promises, and the need for Africa to have a voice in global governance, challenging both international bodies and African governments to prioritize measurable outcomes over grand declarations.
The stakes for global institutions, she argued, hinge on their ability to align their actions with the needs and voices of those they serve. In Africa’s case, this means addressing disparities in representation within international organizations, access to development finance, and influence over global economic rules. Yet Eziakonwa also cautioned that African governments must hold partners accountable while demonstrating their own commitment to delivering on infrastructure, agriculture, education, and public services. Trust, she noted, arises not from promises made but from consistent follow-through and transparent reporting.
At the Nairobi meeting, participants outlined a framework for action focused on tracking commitments with precision. Eziakonwa highlighted the importance of assigning clear ownership and timelines to each promise, ensuring progress is visible and verifiable. The proposed Nairobi Call to Action serves as a blueprint for this approach, moving beyond abstract principles to concrete steps monitored by a joint task force and shared publicly via a Trust Barometer dashboard. This shift toward accountability marks a departure from past approaches that prioritized rhetoric over results.
Abraham Korir Sing’Oei, Kenya’s Principal Secretary for Foreign Affairs, reinforced the idea that trust-building demands open decision-making processes. He advocated for greater inclusion of civil society, businesses, and young people in shaping global policies, arguing that excluding key stakeholders perpetuates distrust. The October Trust Summit aims to embody this ethos by creating a space where diverse voices can collaborate on solutions. “States must open the door to greater engagement with society,” Sing’Oei emphasized, “and large institutions must make room for non-state actors.”
Deborah Ndanu Nzomo, a leader in youth diplomacy, added that young people cannot be expected to invest trust in institutions they perceive as closed off. She stressed the need for mutual trust between institutions and youth, with the latter playing an active role in co-creating the future of multilateralism. Nzomo’s perspective highlights a generational shift demanding not just representation but genuine participation. As Eziakonwa concluded in her remarks, Africa’s role is not to adapt to pre-existing systems but to help design new ones where equity and accountability are foundational.