Why Grassroots Organizations Shouldn't Miss Regional UN Conferences: Lessons From the Field
- Ngoc Anh Nguyen
- Jun 4
- 7 min read
Over the past two years, I’ve had the opportunity to attend several major regional UN conferences: the Asia-Pacific Forum on Sustainable Development (APFSD) in 2024 and 2025, and the 80th Session of the UN Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (ESCAP). These gatherings brought together government representatives, UN officials, civil society, and grassroots organizations to assess progress on the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and ensure the region’s perspectives and priorities are reflected in global decision-making platforms like the High-Level Political Forum (HLPF) in New York.
For many grassroots or local organizations, international policy forums may feel distant or inaccessible. But these regional conferences are actually one of the best places to start engaging in policy advocacy. That’s why I believe more grassroots and local organizations working on animal protection, community development, environmental justice, or related issues should consider getting involved.
What Are These Conferences, and Why Do They Matter?
Organized annually by the United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (UNESCAP), APFSD is a preparatory forum for the High Level Political Forum (HLPF). It brings countries together to review their progress on selected SDGs and discuss regional solutions to shared challenges. Civil society organizations (CSO) are not only welcome, but actively encouraged to contribute through interventions, side events, and networking.
Why it matters for animal protection:
APFSD is where countries publicly report their SDG progress, including issues like food systems, public health, biodiversity, and disaster risk reduction, all of which intersect with animal protection. It's a space where advocates can raise how animal welfare contributes to sustainable development goals and offer solutions that are often overlooked in national reporting.
These are formal annual meetings of member states, where regional cooperation strategies are discussed, including digital development, urban resilience, and sustainable finance. While not as CSO-focused as APFSD, they’re a valuable space to observe how your government presents itself, and to find points of entry for advocacy.
Why it matters for animal protection:
UNESCAP Commission Sessions bring together high-level national leaders to review progress, set political priorities, and identify gaps across all SDGs. This makes it a key space to track trends, understand your government’s positioning, and find strategic entry points for animal-related advocacy — from food systems and biodiversity to disaster risk and public health. If you’ve made prior contact, this is also a prime moment to speak directly with delegates, share tailored messages, and build relationships for long-term influence.
Scheduled for August 2025 in Fiji, this forum is a key regional step toward the Seventh session of the United Nations Environment Assembly (UNEA-7). It gathers ministers of environment and senior officials to discuss regional environmental issues and policy priorities. For anyone working on environmental protection, climate change, or sustainable development, this is a critical opportunity to feed regional insights into global policy discussions.
Why it matters for animal protection:
UNEA has formally recognized the link between animal welfare, the environment, and sustainable development (Resolution 5/1). This forum allows advocates to engage early, build relationships, and highlight how animal welfare intersects with regional concerns like biodiversity, food systems, and climate.Constructive engagement at this stage can help shape broader environmental agendas that consider animal protection.
Lessons From Experience: Why You Should Attend
Based on my participation and conversations with other advocates, here are the most valuable takeaways for local and grassroots organizations:
1. Start with research: Know what your government is saying and doing
Before attending, learn what your government has already committed to, and how they’ve been positioning themselves in regional and global forums. This helps you enter the space prepared, credible, and ready to make meaningful contributions.
Begin by reading your country’s:
Voluntary National Reviews (VNRs) submitted to the UN, which show how they’re reporting SDG progress.
Statements made at past regional or global conferences like the APFSD, ESCAP sessions, or UNEA, which will reveal recurring themes, priorities, and preferred language.
These documents can help you spot:
What your government is proud of or trying to showcase.
What issues they consistently avoid or underreport.
Which SDGs they emphasize most and where your work might align or fill a gap.
Try to understand what they’re likely to focus on next, especially if a new VNR is expected soon or if your country is preparing for a ministerial forum. This lets you tailor your advocacy with the right framing.
Tip: Look into whether your province or city is involved in Voluntary Local Reviews (VLRs). These often shape what’s included in national reports (VNRs), so it's a good idea to send your local insights early through written recommendations, community data, or even requesting a meeting with local SDG coordination teams. If timed well, your input could make it into the national submission.
This kind of preparation doesn’t just make your message more relevant, it shows that you’ve done your homework, and that you’re serious about being part of the conversation.
2. Contact national delegates before the forums
Once you’ve done your research and identified how your work connects with your government’s priorities, the next step is to proactively reach out to delegates before the conference starts. This is how you move from background research into relationship-building.
Here’s how to do it strategically:
Use the published participant list (usually released a few weeks before the forum) to identify who will represent your country. If the list isn’t out yet, check who attended last year - many delegates are repeat participants.
Find out who’s involved in drafting your country’s VNR or conference statements, and who your SDG focal points are within relevant ministries (e.g. environment, planning, agriculture).
If unsure, ask allies or NGOs for contacts or introductions.
When reaching out:
Keep your email short and respectful: introduce yourself, share a one-page summary of your recommendations or key advocacy points (e.g. how how your work on animal protection contributes to the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) or what you’d like your government to consider), and request a brief meeting during the forum.
Tailor your message: link your issue to the country’s stated priorities like climate change mitigation, urban development, disaster resilience and so on.
Even if they don’t reply, name recognition matters. They’re more likely to speak with you in person if they’ve seen your outreach.
Tip: If a delegate knows you're there and expecting a meeting, even if nothing was confirmed by email, they are far more likely to make space for you on-site.
This is how you shift from simply attending the conference to actively influencing what gets said, submitted, or prioritized.
3. Attend plenary sessions to track government priorities in real time
Plenary sessions are where governments present official statements, which often reveal their current priorities, tone, and political framing. This is your chance to validate or update your research with what your country actually says on the record.
Why it matters:
You can spot gaps between what’s written in reports (like the VNR) and what’s said on stage.
You’ll hear how governments position themselves on key SDGs and regional challenges, often in ways not available in public documents.
It helps you refine your advocacy, adjust your talking points, and align future communications based on what you’ve just heard.
Tip: Watch for phrases like “we welcome input from stakeholders” — that’s your opening to follow up with a tailored submission or meeting request. Attending plenary sessions equips you with fresh, strategic insight, which is critical for staying relevant in your advocacy during and after the conference.
4. Use side events to learn, network, and advocate
Side events are informal sessions where CSOs, UN agencies, and experts share best practices, research, and innovations. They’re valuable for:
Learning from others working on similar issues across the region
Meeting potential partners for future collaboration or joint advocacy
Co-hosting your own side event (or with the help of an accredited partner), to raise visibility for your issue and link it to broader themes like climate or sustainable development
These events can be online or offline. Online formats are more accessible and cost-effective, while in-person events offer stronger impact and better networking opportunities.
Tip: Strategic side events can amplify your message beyond the room, especially if you involve UN officials or, most importantly, member state delegates who can endorse your message and carry it into formal discussions.
5. Make statements in Roundtables to get your voice on record
Many regional conferences allow CSOs to speak during roundtable sessions. This is a key opportunity to:
Present your recommendations directly to government delegates and UN officials.
Have your statement or proposal on how animal protection can support the achievement of specific SDGs or address the session’s theme potentially included in the official summary reports.
Spark follow-up discussions with other attendees, including delegates, who hear and connect with your points.
Tip: Keep your intervention short, strategic, and linked to the SDGs or session theme. This is one of the few formal spaces where your voice can enter the record and influence the tone of the forum.
6. Use informal moments to meet delegates
Not all meetings happen in scheduled rooms! Some of the most valuable exchanges happen in hallways, coffee breaks, or walking between sessions.
If you contacted a delegate in advance, follow up on-site for a quick chat, even if they didn’t reply by email.
Be ready with a clear 2-3 sentence pitch that links your issue to their priorities.
Don’t ask for too much - a 5-10 minute conversation can be enough to build a connection or open the door to future engagement.
Tip: Delegates are more receptive when you’re respectful of their time and speak their language - both literally and politically.
7. Use What You Learned to Strengthen Your Local Advocacy
Even if your goals are local, these conferences help you understand how decisions are made and how you can shape them from the bottom up. You’ll return with new language, tools, and connections that can strengthen your campaigns, grant proposals, and relationships with your government and other delegates.
A Final Word
Getting involved in regional UN conferences may feel daunting at first, but you don’t need to be a big organization or a seasoned advocate to make a difference. These forums are accessible entry points for local voices, and the best way to make sure that what happens in your community is reflected in what your government says on the international stage.
With a bit of preparation, some persistence, and the willingness to connect your work with bigger issues like sustainable development and resilience, you can play a meaningful role in shaping regional and global agendas.
If you’re thinking of attending a future forum or want to explore how to start, feel free to reach out to me via email. Let’s make sure grassroots voices aren’t left behind!
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