In 2018, the themes of climate change, disruptive technology, and human capital were not only priorities for the World Bank Group, but for governments, private companies, and international organizations of all kinds. The level of partnership online among these groups has been unprecedented as the world collectively tries to address global challenges.
The same kind of cooperation that is driving impact on the ground is also driving awareness and advocacy more broadly as the world rises to these challenges. Below are just a few examples of how collaboration online has strengthened and amplified the global effort to end poverty in 2018 across three key themes.
Human Capital
2018 was the year to put human development front and center. Without an urgent and concerted global effort to invest in their people, a lot of countries are in danger of being excluded from future prosperity. At this year’s World Bank Group/IMF Annual Meetings in Bali, Indonesia, President Jim Yong Kim unveiled the Human Capital Project together with the Human Capital Index which will help measure outcomes including child survival, early hardwiring of children for success, student learning and health. We were encouraged to see that this effort was met with enthusiasm. Take a look:
It is our pleasure to support #HumanCapital project. Investing in people is a smart investment and key for achieving #HealthForAll too. @WorldBank https://t.co/rQLeCwkoBx
— Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus (@DrTedros) October 28, 2018
When it comes to investing in young people, @UNICEF & @WorldBank are two halves of a whole. Productive meeting with the World Bank Executive Board yesterday. So many lucrative partnerships in motion to improve the lives of children & young people. Watch this space!#HumanCapital
— Henrietta H. Fore (@unicefchief) July 20, 2018
Spoke abt SG’s commitment to invest in our people through sound social policies at the Human Capital Summit 2018 with @WorldBank’s @JimYongKim. – LHL #InvestInPeople https://t.co/qQFKTXIegL pic.twitter.com/afqZTf6naO
— Lee Hsien Loong (@leehsienloong) October 12, 2018
Climate Change
At the beginning of December, the urgency to limit global warming to below 2°C was heard the world over. Global leaders gathered in Katowice, Poland for COP24 to finalize the framework of rules that will guide the implementation of the Paris Agreement. There, the World Bank Group announced new targets for 2025 including a major boost in financing for adaptation and delivering low carbon pathways to development.
With a shift in focus to adaptation and resilience, the Bank Group’s announcement of a doubling of its current 5-year investments to around $200 billion in support for countries to take climate action was met with encouragement from a number of influential voices on social media such as Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, UN Secretary-General Antoni Guterres among others:
#COP24 President @KurtykaMichal at stock-taking press conference half way into COP24 "The leaders Summit provided good impetus at the political level to the conference, plus the @WorldBank announcement of 200 billion USD #ClimateFinance over five years" pic.twitter.com/g7K0KuSvEd
— UN Climate Change (@UNFCCC) December 8, 2018
Small island states are especially vulnerable to the impacts of climate change. Yesterday in Charlevoix, I sat down with leaders from around the world & the @WorldBank to talk about how we can help mitigate the consequences of climate change. pic.twitter.com/LZayNxZFXq
— Justin Trudeau (@JustinTrudeau) June 10, 2018
The United Nations and the @WorldBank are partners in helping countries achieve the Sustainable Development Goals. The new agreement signed today builds on successful collaboration and is proof of our commitment. https://t.co/osV80MZm8K pic.twitter.com/A7savaOKB7
— António Guterres (@antonioguterres) May 18, 2018
Disruptive Tech
All around us, we can see the evidence of technology disrupting how we live our everyday life. In global development, innovators are increasingly deploying technology in an effort to solve some of the world’s pressing challenges. One of these challenges is famine. Today, 124 million people experience crisis-levels of food insecurity and over half of them are in situations affected by conflict. That’s why in September this year, The United Nations, World Bank, International Committee of the Red Cross, Microsoft Corp., Google and Amazon Web Services launched the Famine Action Mechanism (FAM), the first mechanism dedicated to preventing future famines. See how the global community responded:
True words from @JimYongKim: "You're not going to make progress unless you focus on THE problem, not YOUR problem". THE problem = hunger! Kicking off #UNGA week launching a famine action mechanism with a winning team of @UN, @WorldBank and private sector, together to #EndFamine pic.twitter.com/CWBh5mOr0z
— David Beasley (@WFPChief) September 23, 2018
To move ahead with the @WorldBank's Famine Action Mechanism we have to ensure that local stakeholders are fully engaged in the process, we need to invest heavily in improving primary data collection, and we need networks.
— José Graziano da Silva (@grazianodasilva) September 24, 2018
No one can do this alone https://t.co/LxTOrKB2Gd#UNGA pic.twitter.com/PMX0u1rwIg
So proud to partner with @WorldBank to detect famine. Thx to @antonioguterres and @JimYongKim for your amazing support #EndFamine #UNGA @Google pic.twitter.com/67uQDDubkp
— Ria Bailey-Galvis (@riajbg) September 24, 2018
1/2 Fascinating article by @peterjholley explores how #AI can save lives by helping aid agencies predict & prevent #famine. @WorldBank convening top tech experts from @Google @Microsoft @Amazon w/ @ICRC at #UNGA #FamineActionMechanism https://t.co/LW6tMzWQ65
— Alexandra Boivin (@AlexBoivin_ICRC) September 24, 2018
It takes a village … online!
When it comes to ending poverty, we know that it will take a village. This year we were happy to see so many voices come together in agreement for a better tomorrow for the world’s poorest people. From the themes we’ve just discussed, to highlighting the importance of educating girls, to supporting Rohingya refugees, the world has rallied behind these and other global efforts to end poverty. As we head into 2019, let’s continue the collaboration and cooperation for real impact to solving these challenges.
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