More than 59 million people are currently displaced from their homes due to conflict, war, and disaster. They leave home with few possessions, and often, in fear of their lives. While millions of refugees receive food from humanitarian agencies, the food still needs to be cooked before it can be eaten. Yet without access to modern cookstoves and fuels, women and children must risk their safety, health, and sometimes their lives, to search for and […]

On June 26, 1945, delegates from 50 nations came together to sign the United Nations Charter – a historic moment for global peace and progress. To mark the UN’s 70th anniversary this year, over the coming week, we will be sharing 70 facts about the UN and the work it does around the world. You can find facts 1-10 here, facts 11-20 here, facts 21-30 here, facts 31-40 here, and check out the list below for

On June 26, 1945, delegates from 50 nations came together to sign the United Nations Charter – a historic moment for global peace and progress. To mark the UN’s 70th anniversary this year, over the coming week, we will be sharing 70 facts about the UN and the work it does around the world. You can find facts 1-10 here, facts 11-20 here, facts 21-30 here, facts 31-40 here, facts 41-50 here, and check out the

On Tuesday, UNICEF released its final report on the status of the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) that relate to children. The MDGs are eight goals launched by world leaders and the UN in 2000 to reduce poverty and improve lives by the end of 2015. The report, entitled “Progress for Children: Beyond Averages,” highlighted the progress the global community has made in strengthening the health and well-being of millions of children. It also delivered a

On June 26, 1945, delegates from 50 nations came together to sign the United Nations Charter – a historic moment for global peace and progress. To mark the UN’s 70th anniversary this year, over the past week, we’ve been sharing 70 facts about the UN and the work it does around the world. You can find facts 1-10 here, facts 11-20 here, facts 21-30 here, facts 31-40 here, facts 41-50 here, facts 51-60 here, and

On January 20, 1945, President Franklin D. Roosevelt delivered his fourth and final Inaugural address as war raged across Europe and the Pacific, saying: “We have learned lessons – at a fearful cost – and we shall profit by them. We have learned that we cannot live alone, at peace; that our own well-being is dependent on the well-being of other nations far away. … We have learned to be citizens of the world, members

Access to reproductive health care and contraception shapes our lives. Think about it. Maybe having access to contraception meant you were able to attend college and pursue a career of your dream. Perhaps, having access to contraception meant you were able to accomplish the goals you set for yourself before becoming a parent until you were ready. Maybe you don’t want to become a parent. Even if we don’t realize it, access to contraception allows

On June 20, a special new exhibit opened at the United Nations Headquarters in New York to commemorate the UN’s 70th anniversary: “We the Peoples: Norman Rockwell’s United Nations.” The exhibit, presented by the Norman Rockwell Museum in partnership with the United Nations Foundation and the UN Department of Public Information, features a drawing Rockwell created of the UN in 1953, his “Golden Rule” painting, and other artworks and photographs that “reflect his appreciation for

What works to empower women economically, for whom, and why? How do you measure this? Last week, we attempted to answer these questions at an event co-hosted by the ExxonMobil Foundation, the Center for Global Development (CGD), the World Bank, and Plan International on measurement and evaluation for women’s economic empowerment programs. Renowned experts spoke during two panels that included perspectives from academia as well as practitioners and funders. At the event, the United Nations