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Six years ago, it was hard to imagine that women could receive vital health information via mobile phones and that ministries of health could have access to real time data for decision-making. There was no evidence base, the technology was constantly shifting and not in the hands of those who would benefit most, and government officials were skeptical. How were mobile phones going to improve lives? Could they actually enhance and potentially save the lives […]

Complete this sentence: “If we want women and men to have equal opportunities, we need to _______.” Ensure equal access to education? Guarantee equal access to economic resources? End violence against women in all its forms? There is one response that probably did not come to mind: Promote collection and use of gender data. But don’t dismiss it. Gender data will have a real and powerful impact on achieving all of the above. Realizing the

Fortunately for our planet, many people are filled with optimism. “I am going to change the world” is a phrase I often hear from advocates on every issue. It is a great sentiment, and one I wholeheartedly support. But it must be paired with a realistic understanding of the challenges facing our planet. I am inspired by people who have this special blend of optimism and a clear view of what it means to face adversity and

I’m an Angry Bird, but I can’t help but be happy today. I am being designated by the United Nations Secretary-General as the Honorary Ambassador for Green on the International Day of Happiness, which is Sunday, March 20. It’s enough to warm my little Red heart! On this day, we are celebrating the planet that serves as our home. Everyone knows how much I love my home. Chuck, Bomb, Matilda, and I won’t let any

A former UN official, Anthony Banbury, recently wrote an op-ed on the United Nations that has sparked a conversation on the UN’s value and challenges. Banbury’s critique of the UN system highlights a lot of the UN’s important strengths and weaknesses. He is right that the UN personnel system – as with any major institution or government – is in need of dramatic improvement. The UN and its leader Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon are working to

In the plethora of UN declared international days of this and that, perhaps the most all-embracing, aspirational, and eventually the most ultimate is March 20 – the International Day of Happiness! In 2011, the UN General Assembly adopted a resolution which recognized happiness as a “fundamental human goal” and called for “a more inclusive, equitable, and balanced approach to economic growth that promotes the happiness and well-being of all peoples;” and in 2012, it decreed that

Last month, the United Nations Foundation’s Nothing But Nets campaign brought together more than 150 Champions from across the United States to discuss how to make progress in the global fight against malaria. During the summit, we heard from Thon Moses Chol, one of the “Lost Boys of Sudan,” who had to flee his home as a child because of violence and grew up as a refugee until he moved to the U.S. in 2000.

Photo credit: The ONE Campaign By Emily Huie, Policy Officer for Inclusive Growth at The ONE Campaign Editor’s Note: This post is part of the blog series, “Her Goals: Our Future,” which highlights the connections between girls and women and the Sustainable Development Goals. Did you know that poverty is sexist? It’s true. Women and girls around the world are hit worst and hardest by poverty, and women and girls living in poverty have a