Epsilon Publishers’ commitment to sustainable partnerships: Reflections from the East African Humanitarian Summit

We recently participated in the East African Humanitarian Summit (EAHS), held on the 23^rd and 24^th November 2023, at the Trademark Hotel. This annual event, dedicated to fostering dialogue and collaboration within the humanitarian sector, aligned seamlessly with our commitment to sustainable practices and championing the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) in the publishing industry.

The EAHS summit provided a platform for critical discussions, addressing topics such as disaster management cycles, prepositioning supplies and knowledge management during emergency procurement, emergency supply chain resilience involving the private sector, the role of digitalisation and AI in emergency response, and the overarching theme of technology for social impact. These discussions resonated deeply with our mission and strategic goals towards aligning our operations and work with the SDGs and seeking to scale our social impact through sustainable partnerships.

Aligning with SDGs
As publishers we recognise the importance of SDG 17, which emphasises the significance of partnerships in achieving the SDGs. The commitment to working with organisations and institutions driving societal impact is at the core of our vision for a sustainable publishing industry. By using the SDGs as guiding principles, we aim to make a positive contribution to our stakeholders and community while ensuring the sustainability of publishing as a business and industry.

Scaling our social impact through global partnerships:
At the start of the year, we outlined scaling for social impact as a strategic priority in our 2023 plan. This strategic shift reflected a commitment to sustainability, leveraging our position to compete effectively. By actively partnering with EAHS, as the official printing partners for the summit, we sought to establish strong global partnerships, cooperate with institutions and facilitate communication on the pivotal role organisations in the humanitarian and development space play in advancing the SDG agenda.

Further, as signatories to the United Nations Publishers Compact, we have committed to positioning our publishing services at the heart of global efforts to strengthen partnerships for sustainable development. This affiliation has opened up opportunities for us to actively promote content aligning with SDG themes, collaborate with other signatories and organisations worldwide and scale projects that advance progress on the Goals through impactful publications.

Therefore, attending and exhibiting at the East African Humanitarian Summit served as a pivotal step for our team and business. The summit not only allowed our team to contribute to discussions on communication and technology for social impact but also provided a unique opportunity to network with like-minded organisations and experts in the humanitarian and development space.

In a world increasingly interconnected, private-public collaborations are catalysts for positive change that drive progress towards a more sustainable and collaborative future. By actively engaging in events like the East African Humanitarian Summit, we recognise the importance of uniting private institutions with public initiatives. Such partnerships amplify our social impact, drive our sustainable development initiatives and allow us to participate in dialogues crucial for addressing complex global challenges.