Geingos concludes engagements at UNGA79
Monica Geingos, Namibia’s third First Lady, recently concluded a productive visit to Boston and New York, where she participated in the Harvard Ministerial Leadership Program and various high-level engagements around the 79th United Nations General Assembly (UNGA79). As a newly appointed UN Global SDG Advocate, she played a key role in promoting youth empowerment, gender equality, and sustainable development.Her engagements at UNGA79 began with a keynote address at the "Summit of the Future Action Days" side event. This event, co-convened by the African Peer Review Mechanism (APRM) and the South African Institute of International Affairs (SAIIA), focused on empowering young Africans to influence policy. Geingos emphasised the role of youth-led technology enterprises and the collaboration between the government and the private sector to address youth unemployment. She also highlighted Namibia’s green hydrogen initiatives as a model for sustainable development.
One Economy Foundation
Geingos participated in a side event co-hosted by the Ministry of Sport, Youth and National Service, the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA), and her One Economy Foundation. She discussed the Be Free Youth Campus, a comprehensive youth development model providing non-judgmental services for young people. Her remarks underscored the importance of partnerships and listening to young people to meet their needs effectively.
On 20 September, she attended the SDG Advocates Dinner, hosted by Queen Mathilde of Belgium and UN Deputy Secretary-General Amina Mohammed, to discuss progress on the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). The following day, she attended the SDG Advocates Annual Meeting, hosted by UN Secretary-General António Guterres, where she emphasized youth development and gender equality as her main focus areas.
At the Global First Ladies Alliance (GFLA) Senior Advisors Fellowship Meeting, Geingos collaborated with First Ladies' advisors from around the world on building sustainable legacies. Later, she addressed the MasterCard Foundation’s “Invincible: Empowering Women” event, where she discussed the pressing issues facing African teenagers, particularly young mothers, and stressed the importance of gender-specific interventions.
Geingos concluded her trip with several significant engagements, including a keynote address at the #YouthPowerSummit on adolescent well-being and participation in the Bloomberg Philanthropies’ “Her Money, Her Life” event to advance gender equity. She also honoured Namibia’s progress in maternal and child health at a GE Foundation event, where she shared Namibia’s success in reducing child and maternal mortality rates.
Throughout her visit, Geingos met with global leaders and advocates to explore opportunities for advancing the SDGs, youth empowerment, and sexual and reproductive health rights. Her participation in these events reflects her growing role as a global advocate for sustainable development, gender equality, and youth empowerment.