Professor Katie Almondes, professor at the Federal University of Rio Grande do Norte (UFRN) and president of the Brazilian Psychology Society (SBP), participated, on July 14, in the Official Parallel Event of the United Nations High-Level Political Forum on Sustainable Development (HLPF 2026), entitled “Trust as Infrastructure for SDG 11: Strengthening Sustainable Development through Credibility, Transformation Behavioral and Systems Design”.
Promoted by the American Psychological Association (APA), an organization with Special Consultative Status with the United Nations Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC), in collaboration with the Brazilian Psychological Society (SBP), the event brought together experts to discuss the role of trust as a fundamental element for the implementation of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), with emphasis on SDG 11 – Sustainable Cities and Communities.
The debate started from the recognition that trust in institutions has decreased in different contexts around the world, representing a growing challenge for the implementation of public policies and initiatives aimed at sustainable development. Although investments, technology and partnerships are essential, evidence from social sciences shows that results also depend on behavioral and relational factors, such as the credibility of institutions, the perception of fairness in decision-making processes and the willingness of people to participate and collaborate.
In this context, trust was presented as a form of social infrastructure, capable of influencing citizen engagement, the adoption of public policies, cooperation between different sectors and the resilience of communities in the face of complex challenges. Studies and experiences in participatory governance, including examples from the United States and Brazil, show that trust does not arise spontaneously, but needs to be built, strengthened and incorporated into the design of systems and institutions.
The participation of professor Katie Almondes reinforced the contribution of Psychology to understanding the processes of building trust, behavioral change and promoting social participation. The event also highlighted how psychological knowledge can support more effective strategies for public engagement, participatory governance, climate action and community empowerment.
By integrating this discussion into an official United Nations space, the Brazilian Psychological Society reaffirms its commitment to scientific production, the promotion of collective well-being and the construction of more inclusive, resilient and sustainable societies.
