Mount Kenya University is the United Nations Academic Impact (UNAI) Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) 9 Hub Chair for 3 years (2025-2027) as shown on the following link – https://www.un.org/en/academic-impact/unai-sdg-hub-9 . The university is therefore mandated to support UN initiatives, including SDGs promotion and, with special reference SDG 9 on Industry, Innovation, and Infrastructure through the University processes and activities. This is in line with MKU’s Mission, namely, “To provide world-class education, research and innovation for global transformation and sustainable development”.
The United Nations Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC) is the UN body for coordinating economic, social, and environmental work, serving as the central forum for policy development and policy-review, dialogue, and setting global norms for sustainable development. More specifically, with regard to this discussion, ECOSOC is instrumental in the promotion of the Global Goals or the SDGs.
ECOSOC will be hosting the 2026 Partnership Forum on 27th January 2026 at UN Headquarters under the theme of, “Transforming, equitable, innovative and coordinated actions for the 2030 Agenda for sustainable development and its Sustainable Development Goals for a sustainable future for all” (https://ecosoc.un.org/en/events/2026/ecosoc-partnership-forum ).
This Forum will primarily be held with the following SDGs as Target SDGs – 6 (Clean Water and Sanitation); 7 (Affordable and Clean Energy); 9 (Industry, Innovation and Infrastructure ); 11 (Sustainable Cities and Communities); and 17 (Partnerships for the Goals).
The 2026 ECOSOC Forum will include specifically approved online side events that will be organized by UN Member States, UN entities, relevant international organizations, and stakeholders’ networks across the world.
Mount Kenya University, as the UNAI SDG 9 Hub Chair, qualifies to host a side event as encouraged by the UNAI Head Office in New York.
We are happy to let you know that, given your ongoing partnership and close working relationship with MKU on various activities that are in support of SDGs, (for our older partnerships), or given our ongoing partnership discussions (for new partnerships) we are inviting your institution/ you in person or your representative, to join MKU in thE proposed significant free-of-charge, UN ECOSOC Side Event.
This is a preliminary communication seeking your availability to participate in this proposed free-of-charge UN ECOSOC side event on 26th January 2026, in the afternoon virtually, either from your own location or on a hybrid basis by joining other stakeholders at MKU Thika Campus. As a participating partner, you will get 3 minutes to introduce your institution and also indicate how your institution serves in the promotion of the 17 SDGs.
