The inaugural Trust Summit 2026 has proposed a United Nations financing facility to support institutions responsible for public accountability, data protection, cybersecurity and regulatory cooperation as part of a wider effort to rebuild trust in governance.
The proposed Global Trust Facility is one of three mechanisms outlined in the 29-point Nairobi Call to Action on Global Trust, adopted at the conclusion of the summit in Nairobi on October 23.
The facility is envisaged as a voluntary financing mechanism supported by governments and non-state contributors over an initial four-year period. The United Nations Development Programme would administer it, subject to further development and implementation.
Potential areas of support include national accreditation bodies, regulatory trust indices, data protection authorities, cybersecurity institutions and judicial cooperation mechanisms.
The proposal emerged from the three-day summit, held from October 21 to 23 under the theme “Weaving Trust: Binding Strands for a Stronger Global Order.” Participants included government officials, international organisations, businesses, civil society representatives, academics, technology experts, media practitioners and young people.
The Call to Action argues that restoring public confidence requires more than communication campaigns. Institutions must demonstrate accountability, fulfil commitments and protect the public interest, while international cooperation must deliver practical benefits.
Korir Sing’Oei, Principal Secretary in Kenya’s State Department for Foreign Affairs, said rebuilding trust required deliberate investment and measurable results.
“Trust is a public good that must be deliberately nurtured, financed and strengthened. The true measure of this Summit will be the commitments we translate into tangible outcomes for our citizens,” he said.
Sing’Oei said the next phase would involve developing an implementation plan and extending public engagement campaigns to counties, enabling regulators and public institutions to explain decisions and demonstrate accountability.
The proposed facility forms part of a broader institutional framework that also includes a Coalition on Global Trust and a Nairobi Trust Council to be hosted by Kenya.
The coalition would provide an open platform for governments and non-state actors to exchange knowledge, coordinate initiatives and advance commitments across borders and sectors. The council would bring together eminent figures from public, private and philanthropic institutions to review progress and encourage accountability.
The Nairobi Call to Action identifies four priorities: restoring trust in public institutions, reforming multilateral institutions, strengthening trust in the digital age, and advancing inclusion and belonging.
On regulatory governance, it proposes an annual Regulatory Trust Index to assess public confidence at national, regional and global levels. It also calls for stronger regulatory cooperation and mutual recognition through regional frameworks, including the East African Community and the African Continental Free Trade Area.
The agreement further advocates reforms to multilateral institutions and the global financial architecture to improve representation, transparency and accountability. Its proposals include a review conference on the United Nations Charter under Article 109, stronger global health governance and equitable access to medical countermeasures.
Climate action also features prominently, with the framework calling for predictable financing, technology transfer and capacity building to ensure that international commitments translate into results, particularly for countries facing disproportionate climate risks.
In the digital sphere, the summit urged accelerated implementation of the Global Digital Compact and greater international cooperation on artificial intelligence governance. It called for meaningful African participation in global digital policymaking, transparency around platform algorithms and synthetic content, and stronger protection for independent journalism and scientific integrity.
The inclusion agenda calls for the participation of young people, women, persons with disabilities, displaced persons and excluded communities in decisions affecting them. It also promotes access to employment, entrepreneurship and finance, alongside the use of sport, culture and the creative economy to strengthen social cohesion.
The Summit Secretariat will develop a Framework for Action setting out monitoring, tracking and reporting arrangements, including biennial reviews. The agreement also encourages international organisations, including the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development, to undertake biennial studies on the economic costs of distrust.
Awel Uwihanganye, Chief Executive Officer of the Trust Summit, said the agreement was designed to move beyond identifying the problem.
“The Nairobi Call to Action moves the world from diagnosing the trust deficit to doing something about it. Trust is a global public good, and no institution, sector or country can rebuild it alone,” he said.
The summit also affirmed Africa’s role as an equal partner in shaping global governance, financial cooperation and digital inclusion. Participants noted that approximately 70 per cent of sub-Saharan Africa’s population is under 30 and called for young people to participate directly in economic development and institutional reform.
The Trust Summit is expected to meet every two years, while organisers consider expanding the Trust Dialogues to regional and international platforms.
The proposed Global Trust Facility remains subject to further development, including arrangements for implementation and financing. Its effectiveness will depend on whether participating institutions mobilise resources and direct them towards demonstrable improvements in governance.
Governments, businesses, civil society organisations and young people have been invited to engage with the Coalition on Global Trust and help implement the Nairobi Call to Action.
The full agreement is available at www.globaltrustsummit.org.
