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. March marks five years since the conflict in Syria began, the worst humanitarian crisis since World War II. Half of the population has been forced to flee their homes, with 6.6 million people displaced inside Syria and another 4.7 million refugees seeking safety and assistance in neighboring countries […]

It can be easy to feel overwhelmed by the world’s challenges. However, in many areas we are making progress in improving lives. These stories remind us that through dedication and cooperation, people from across all sectors and all nations can create lasting change. Here are four good news stories you may have missed this month. 1. The World Food Programme’s Share the Meal App Reaches 5 Million Meals Shared This month, the World Food Programme’s Share

What do business leaders, presidents, actors, Grammy-nominated musicians, and world-renowned chefs have in common?  They believe that access to clean cookstoves and fuels is critical for achieving women’s empowerment – which is why this group of high-profile men spoke out about this under-reported issue on International Women’s Day earlier this month.  Every day, more than 3 billion people globally rely on heavily-polluting open fires or traditional cookstoves for cooking, leading to more than 4 million deaths every year

“A healthy environment underpins a healthy population,” says Dr Margaret Chan, Director-General of the World Health Organization (WHO), also noting that governments need to take strong action to improve environments in order to save lives.  On March 15, WHO released the second edition of a report on the health challenges that stem from living and working in unhealthy environments. The report, “Preventing Disease through Healthy Environments: A Global Assessment of the Burden of Disease from

In this weekly series, we share some of the stories we’re following from around the world on issues relevant to international affairs, the United Nations, and global change. This is part of our effort to raise awareness of the global challenges – and solutions – shaping our world. And looking ahead, UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon will join leaders to address urgent global challenges at two big events: an event in Geneva on supporting Syrian refugees

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. Guest blogger views expressed here do not necessarily reflect the views of the UN Foundation.  Goal 4 of the Sustainable Development Goals promises 12 years of education for all children –girl or boy, poor or rich, those living in peace and those in countries affected by conflict. Quality

Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon attends Every Woman Every Child High-level Event co-organized with UN Women: The Roadmap to Realizing Rights: Every Woman Every Child’s Global Strategy for Women’s, Children’s and Adolescents’ Health. Recently, at an Every Woman Every Child event co-organized with UN Women and during the Commission on the Status of Women’s annual meeting, UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon reiterated his strong commitment to improving the health and wellbeing of women, children, and adolescents. Every Woman

At the United Nations Foundation, we’re constantly working with supporters and partners to help the UN advance solutions to global challenges. In March, we celebrated International Women’s Day and the International Day of Happiness. We learned more about the indicators for the Sustainable Development and were introduced to new people and organizations making an impact in communities around the world. It was a great month, and we’re grateful to have our supporters engaged in solving

Students work on their homework with the help of a solar lantern at Awbare Refugee Camp in Somali region of Ethiopia 13 March 2014. Photo by Jiro Ose 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. Do you know why girls and women are especially affected by a lack of access to energy? And why they