Libraries were on show at the UN High-Level Political Forum 2023, with representatives from every continent underlining both the reach and depth of our contribution to achieving the Sustainable Development Goals.
In the last of our series, find out what IFLA's representatives at the 2023 High Level Political Forum are looking to achieve, for libraries and their users, nationally and globally.
To help you get to know the experience and perspectives of the librarians attending this year's High-Level Political Forum, we're sharing their answers to a short set of questions. In this article - the second of three - we find out what their message is to the wider development community around how libraries can contribute to achieving the SDGs.
The biggest event on in the annual SDG calendar, the High-Level Political Forum is an opportunity for taking stock of progress towards the goals of the United Nation's (UN) 2030 Agenda, sharing innovations, and identifying priorities. IFLA will for the first time have a delegation made up of librarians from every world region, sharing stories of how libraries deliver development, and engaging with governments.
Information is a key condition for development, in particular the face of crises. As an IFLA side-event at the African Regional Forum for Sustainable Development underlined, this makes libraries – if properly supported – into key players in providing a response to the challenges Africa faces today.