A senior United Nations official has called on global institutions to give Africa a greater role in decision-making, saying the continent must be treated as a partner rather than a recipient of decisions made elsewhere.
Ahunna Eziakonwa, the UN Under-Secretary-General and Special Adviser to the Secretary-General, made the remarks in Nairobi on Thursday, October 15, 2026, ahead of the Trust Summit scheduled for October 21 to 23.
Eziakonwa said international institutions could not rebuild public trust without giving African countries a meaningful role in shaping decisions that affect them.
“Africa is not asking for a seat at someone else’s table anymore. Africa is a co-architect of a system that is renewed, and not only repaired,” she said.
Her remarks come amid concerns over Africa’s representation in international institutions and the gap between development pledges and the resources delivered to countries.
The official said rebuilding trust would require institutions to fulfil their promises and allow the public to track progress on their commitments.
“Trust is not rebuilt by grand declaration. It’s rebuilt by commitment, one commitment after another, each with a named owner, a timeline, and a date on which we report back,” Eziakonwa said.
She also challenged African governments to demonstrate accountability at home by delivering on promises in agriculture, education and public services.
Kenya’s Principal Secretary for Foreign Affairs, Abraham Korir Sing’Oei, said institutions must open up decision-making to more people, including those outside government.
“If we are serious about rebuilding trust, states must open the door to greater engagement with society, and large institutions must make room for non-state actors,” Sing’Oei said.
He said the summit would provide a platform for different groups to work together on rebuilding confidence in institutions.
Young people are also expected to take part in the discussions. Deborah Ndanu Nzomo, secretary-general of Kenya Model United Nations, said institutions must show that they value young people’s contributions.
“The future of multilateralism depends not only on whether young people believe in its institutions, but also on whether those institutions demonstrate that they believe in young people,” Nzomo said.
The inaugural Trust Summit will bring together political leaders, policymakers, businesses, civil society organisations, academics and young people in Nairobi.
Organisers plan to produce a Nairobi Statement on Global Trust, alongside a report and mechanisms to monitor commitments made during the meeting.
The summit will run from October 21 to 23, with its outcomes expected to focus on strengthening accountability, public confidence and cooperation between countries and institutions.
Whether the commitments will lead to lasting change will depend on how participating institutions implement their promises and report their progress.