The new center will be key in helping the UN SDG Action Campaign achieve its goals. A special initiative of the UN Secretary General, the Campaign was launched to advocate and engage the public in reaching sustainability goals. This includes ending poverty, fighting inequality and injustice, and tackling climate change by 2030. It is charged with inspiring people to act, including UN member states, but also increasing stakeholders and their cooperative efforts. Accountability measures will be established and there will be room for testing out innovative efforts in sustainability.

Haus Carstanjen will be home to the new Global Campaign Center, and this is full of meaning. Not only was Haus Carstanjen the first UN standpoint in Bonn, but it was also where the historic Marshall Plan was signed following World War II. UN Volunteers (UNV) has a long-standing partnership with the Global Campaign and this will serve as a strong base for the new Campaign Center.

UNDP Assistant Administrator and Director for Policy and Programme Support, Magdy Martínez Solimán said, “The signature of this Statement of Intent and the establishment of the Global Campaign Center sends a strong signal about Germany’s commitment to the Sustainable Development Goals.” Currently, Bonn is home to 18 UN organizations and around 1,000 staff. Besides the main Global Campaign Center which will be established in Bonn, it will also have a presence in New York to facilitate ties to UN headquarters and operations there. (Carol Kloeppel)