This week, the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation is launching Goalkeepers, a global event dedicated to fast-tracking the progress toward the Sustainable Development Goals, or Global Goals. (Read all about those here.)
As part of the effort, they’re launching an annual report tracking progress on the Goals — highlighting what’s working and what’s not — to inspire bold leadership, spread best practices, and hold leaders accountable. It includes data projections to forecast good and bad future scenarios… with millions of lives hanging in the balance. Why read the report? Well, here are four pretty huge takeaways:
Progress
The world has been on an incredible path of progress: In our lifetimes, we have witnessed the biggest decrease in poverty, disease, and child deaths. Extreme poverty and child deaths have been cut in half, and HIV and maternal deaths have been reduced nearly by half.
Jeopardy
But progress isn’t inevitable. The current political upheaval around the world threatens development budgets and puts at risk the phenomenal progress achieved to date. For example, a mere 10 percent cut in donor funding for HIV treatment could result in more than 5 million more deaths by 2030.
Leadership
For the world to actually achieve the Global Goals, it’ll take commitment and perseverance, as well as continued investments and innovation. But most importantly, it will take leadership at every level.
Goals
193 governments signed up to the goals, which are essentially a clear plan that countries can implement against — as well as a commitment that citizens should hold their governments accountable to.
By sharing some stories and data behind the goals, Bill and Melinda Gates hope to inspire a new generation of leaders, or “goalkeepers,” who raise awareness of progress, hold their governments accountable, and drive action to achieve the goals! Read the report and discover what’s making a difference in the fight against poverty.
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