Kenya is set to host a proposed Nairobi Trust Council under a new international framework adopted at the inaugural Trust Summit 2026, positioning the country as a potential centre for efforts to rebuild confidence in public institutions and global governance.
The 29-point Nairobi Call to Action on Global Trust, adopted at the conclusion of the three-day summit in Nairobi on October 23, proposes the creation of a Coalition on Global Trust, a Nairobi Trust Council and a Global Trust Facility at the United Nations.
The summit, held from October 21 under the theme “Weaving Trust: Binding Strands for a Stronger Global Order,” brought together representatives from governments, international organisations, the private sector, civil society, academia, the media and youth groups.
The proposals seek to move international discussions on declining public confidence towards practical reforms, financing and accountability mechanisms.
The proposed Nairobi Trust Council would bring together prominent figures from the public, private and philanthropic sectors to assess progress and encourage institutions to fulfil their commitments. Kenya is expected to host the council, although its operational arrangements remain subject to further development.
A separate Coalition on Global Trust would offer governments and non-state actors a platform to exchange knowledge, coordinate programmes and support implementation across countries and sectors.
The third proposal, a Global Trust Facility at the United Nations, would provide voluntary financing for institutions considered essential to public confidence and international cooperation. The proposed facility would operate over an initial four-year period, with the United Nations Development Programme envisaged as its administrator, subject to further development and implementation.
Korir Sing’Oei, Principal Secretary in Kenya’s State Department for Foreign Affairs, said trust required deliberate investment and demonstrable institutional performance.
“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 preparing a practical implementation plan and extending public engagement campaigns to counties. Regulators and public institutions would be encouraged to explain their decisions, demonstrate accountability and communicate how they protect the public interest.
The Nairobi Call to Action identifies four areas for intervention: restoring trust in public institutions, reforming multilateral institutions, strengthening confidence in digital technologies and advancing inclusion.
Among its proposals is an annual Regulatory Trust Index to measure confidence in regulatory institutions at national, regional and global levels.
The framework also advocates stronger regulatory cooperation and mutual recognition through institutions such as the East African Community and the African Continental Free Trade Area.
Such measures are intended to reduce fragmented compliance requirements while strengthening accountability and cooperation across borders.
On international governance, the agreement calls for more representative, transparent and accountable multilateral institutions and reforms to the global financial architecture. It proposes a review conference on the United Nations Charter under Article 109, stronger global health governance and improved coordination among regional organisations working to prevent and resolve conflicts.
The document also links confidence in global cooperation to the delivery of climate commitments, calling for predictable financing, technology transfer and capacity building for countries facing disproportionate climate risks.
Digital governance forms another pillar of the agreement. The summit called for accelerated implementation of the Global Digital Compact, stronger cooperation on artificial intelligence governance, greater transparency in platform algorithms and synthetic content, and meaningful African participation in international digital policymaking.
The framework further seeks to expand the participation of young people, women, persons with disabilities, displaced persons and excluded communities in decisions affecting them. It calls for improved access to employment, entrepreneurship and finance, particularly for young people.
A Framework for Action, to be developed by the Summit Secretariat, will establish monitoring, tracking and reporting arrangements, including biennial reviews. The agreement also encourages international organisations, including the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development, to examine the economic costs of distrust through biennial studies.
Awel Uwihanganye, Chief Executive Officer of the Trust Summit, said the agreement represented a shift from analysing declining confidence to pursuing practical solutions.
“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 agreement also recognises Africa’s role in shaping global governance, financial cooperation and digital inclusion. With approximately 70 per cent of sub-Saharan Africa’s population under 30, participants argued that young people must be treated as active contributors to policy and institutional reform.
The Trust Summit is expected to meet every two years, while organisers consider extending the Trust Dialogues to regional and international platforms.
The proposed mechanisms will now require further development, financing and cooperation among participating institutions before their intended functions can be fully realised.
The summit has invited governments, businesses, civil society organisations and young people to join the Coalition on Global Trust and support implementation of the Nairobi Call to Action.
The full agreement is available at www.globaltrustsummit.org.
