COMMITMENTS MADE AT
GLOBAL CITIZEN FESTIVAL
SET TO AFFECT 259 MILLION LIVES BY 2020
Following campaigning by Global Citizens, 18 announcements
made by world leaders
on key issues of sanitation, child health and education,
on the journey to ending extreme poverty by 2030.
WORLD LEADER
MESSAGES ON ENDING EXTREME POVERTY BY 2030
United States, President Barack Obama
• Quote: “Whether
you’re here in Central Park or watching from somewhere else,
you are now part of the global fight to end extreme poverty.
And this is a fight we can win.”
United Nations, Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon
• Quote: “The
United Nations has heard your voices tonight. Loud and
clear. You are the generation that can end extreme poverty
by 2030. I commit to challenge world leaders to develop the
most ambitious set of sustainable development goals.”
World Bank, President Jim Kim
• Committed to putting $65 billion dollars a year towards
the goal of ending extreme poverty by 2030.
SANITATION
India, Prime Minister Narendra Modi
• Commitment: To
put a toilet in every household and school by 2019
(announced August 2014).
• Quote: “Some
believe that the world changes with the wisdom of the old. I
think that the idealism, innovation, energy and ‘can do’
attitude of the youth is even more powerful. That is my hope
for India too, 800 million youth joining hands to transform
our nation. To put the light of hope in every eye, and the
joy of belief in every heart. Lift people out of poverty,
put clean water and sanitation within the reach of all, make
healthcare available to all. A roof over every head. I know
it is possible.”
Nepal, Prime Minister Sushil Koirala
• Commitment: Pledged
to end Nepal’s practice of open defecation by 2017.
• Quote: “The
Government of Nepal has made a commitment to invest $160
million US dollars. We hope that the UN and the
international community will join hands in the efforts of
Nepal in achieving our national target.”
Madagascar, Prime Minister Dr. Roger Kolo
• Commitment: Pledged
to end open defecation by 2018.
• Quote: “The
people of Madagascar are going to make our country even more
beautiful and prosperous through a national commitment to
end open defecation by 2018. Ending open defecation in
Madagascar will positively affect the lives of 23 million
people helping to ensure that they are healthy, better
educated and more protected. The government of Madagascar
has made a commitment of $40 million US dollars. Let your
government leaders know that ending open defecation matters
to you.”
World Bank Group, Senior Director, Water Global
Practice, Junaid Ahmad
• Commitment: Announced
a major financing commitment worth $15 billion to support
sanitation and behavioral change around toilet use and water
supply, affecting the lives of up to 150 million people.
• Quote: “It
is with pride today that I announce that the World Bank
Group commits to spend $15 billion over the next five years
to provide safe sanitation and water solutions. And in
partnership with the United Nations and organizations like
BRAC, WaterAid, Water.org and One Drop, reach close to 150
million poor people.”
Sesame Workshop, announced by Sheryl WuDunn
• Commitment: Sesame
Workshop will reach 40 million children in Nigeria, India
and Bangladesh with sanitation and hygiene education
messages.
• Quote: “With
the help of their newest Muppet Raya, the folks at Sesame
Workshop will be educating more than 40 million children in
Nigeria, India and Bangladesh on the importance of
sanitation and hygiene practices through their wash up!
Initiative.”
H&M Conscious Foundation, Global Manager, Helena
Thybell
• Commitment: $9.3
million donation to WaterAid.
• Quote: “The
H&M Conscious Foundation is donating $9.3 million to
WaterAid to transform lives by delivering water, sanitation
and hygiene in schools. 250,000 students will directly
benefit through this three year program.”
Unilever, CEO Paul Polman
• Commitment: Help
over 25 million people gain improved access to a toilet by
2020.
• Quote: “Today
I’m delighted to announce that we are stepping up our
efforts on sanitation. We have committed to help over 25
million people gain improved access to a toilet by 2020.”
Procter & Gamble, Group President, Global Baby,
Feminine & Family Care, Martin Riant
• Commitment: To
reach more than 40,000 school children and teachers in 60
schools in Nigeria and Malawi through a multi-partner
commitment.
• Quote: "The
need is urgent which is why we are expanding our partnership
with H2O for Life and the Water and Sanitation Rotarian
Action Group, WASRAG. Together we expect to bring clean
water, sanitation services and hygiene education to more
than 40,000 school children in 60 schools in Nigeria and
Malawi."
Chairman of the House Foreign Affairs Committee, Ed
Royce
• Commitment: To
advance the passage of the Water for the World Act.
• Quote: “Over
the past year, I have been working closely with my
colleagues in the House and the Senate to craft a bill that
will better guide U.S. investments in water, sanitation, and
hygiene, or “WASH”, so that they are effective, sustainable
and, ultimately, save as many lives as possible. The Water
for the World Act is a step toward achieving this goal. And
I am confident that it has a path forward in Congress.”
CHILD HEALTH
Norway, Prime Minister Erna Solberg
• Commitment: Announced
an increased commitment to Gavi, the vaccine alliance of
over $1 billion over the next 5 years.
• Quote: “Gavi’s
strategic plan is to save at least 5 million lives in the
period 2016 to 2020. Norway have committed USD $215 million
for next year - and we will do more. I am proud to announce
that we will continue to give at least this much annually
over the following years - provided other countries and
donors also significantly increase their support for Gavi.”
Luxembourg, Prime Minister Xavier Bettel
• Commitment: Announced
an additional investment to the Global Fund to Fight
HIV/AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria.
• Quote: “We
will provide an additional contribution of 500,000 Euros for
2014. I want to take the opportunity here today to confirm
that my Government remains committed to its ODA,
representing 1% of the GNI also in the post-2015 era. They
are essential pillars in our fight against global poverty
and in achieving the world we want after 2015. Only together
can we end extreme poverty.”
Liberia, President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf
• Commitment: Reaffirmed
contribution towards Gavi, the vaccine alliance, by African
countries (first made in May 2014).
• Quote: “I
and other African leaders have pledged $700 million US
dollars Afor the next 5 years. Together we Global Citizens
and Gavi will save 5 million additional lives world-wide.”
Rwanda, President Paul Kagame
• Quote: “In
Rwanda, more than one million people have lifted themselves
out of poverty… This is not an accident. Rwanda has chosen
to invest in people, and built accountable delivery systems
to do so… Global partnerships are also essential. The work
of Gavi, the global vaccine alliance, should continue, and
even expand. Let’s keep working together, in solidarity, to
change the world.”
EDUCATION
Education activist, Malala Yousafzai
• Quote: “Your
voices have been heard, but we need to come together one
more time. I'm carrying the voices of Global Citizens with
me to call on Canada to act now and make a bold and
increased commitment to the Global Partnership for
Education.”
Demark, Prime Minister Helle Thorning-Schmidt
• Commitment: Additional
$9 million to the Global Partnership for Education,
providing 75,000 more children access to education.
• Quote: "In
Denmark we have decided to increase our annual contribution
to the Global Partnership for Education from $50 to 70
million US dollars as of next year. Today I am happy to
launch an additional pledge of a $9 million US dollar
donation this year."
Denmark, Trade and Development Minister Mogens
Jensen
• Commitment: US
$11 million commitment to UNICEF Pakistan.
• Quote: "I
am happy to share that through UNICEF, Denmark will this
year provide $11 million US dollars to help get these
children living in the tribal areas of northwest Pakistan -
the area where Malala grew up - especially the girls to
school."
YOUTH / ADOLESCENT RIGHTS
UNFPA, Executive Director, Dr Babatunde Osotimehin
• Quote: “Today’s
young people are a powerful force - all 1.8 billion of them.
Right now their needs and rights are not being prioritized.
We have a short timeframe until the new global framework for
development is finalized. This means there is an urgency to
ensure that the crucial needs of young people, like access
to contraception, education and protection from violence,
become reality.”
Denmark, Trade and Development Minister Mogens
Jensen
• Commitment: US
$15 million commitment to the Amplify Change Fund.
• Quote: "This
Year, Denmark will contribute $14 million US dollars to the
fund. Next year we plan to allocate an additional $15
million US dollars to the fund and at the same time raise
our contribution to UNFPA, bringing it to almost $44 million
US dollars!"
Proud partners of the 2014 Global Citizen Festival include:
Caterpillar Inc., Citi, H&M, World Childhood Foundation, The
Riot House, Noise4Good, EKOCYCLE, BidKind, Universal Music
Group, iHeartRadio, and The Paramount Hotel.
The Festival has also partnered with leading non-profit
groups, including: UNFPA, the Global Partnership for
Education, Gavi, The Vaccine Alliance, The Malala Fund,
WaterAid, Water Supply and Sanitation Collaborative Council,
WASH Advocates, U.S. Fund for UNICEF, Sesame Workshop and
more.
MSNBC and NBC News are the official media partners for this
year’s Festival; Vevo is the Festival's live-stream
distribution partner.
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