Gatluak Ramdiet was 9 years old when he was separated from his parents. One morning they went out looking for food and never returned. His family was living in Sudan at a time when violence in the country had turned to genocide. Government forces and militias were bombing and raiding villages, causing thousands of orphaned children to flee the country on foot. Gatluak — who goes by “Gat” for short — was one of those children. He and his […]

The idea of robots flying through the sky are no longer a science fiction dream. Drones, or unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs), are being used around the world as means of recreation, government strategy, and global development. Like all technologies, these machines can be used for nefarious or destructive purposes. However, drones are being used in a variety of creative ways to advance the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), including peacekeeping, combating poverty, and delivering aid. The United Nations is

The outpouring of love and respect for Kofi Annan from global leaders past and present highlights his stature on the world stage, and reflects widespread admiration for his personal skills as a diplomat and how he used those skills to accomplish important work.  Many tributes reminded us that not only was he the first black African to become Secretary-General, but also the first to work his way up through the ranks of the UN. In

This week, I had the opportunity to address the UN’s largest gathering of civil society groups from around the world that meet annually to collaborate on global challenges. They first met in 1947, when the UN was still wet behind the ears. In the 70 years since, the world has changed many times over. The number of UN members has more than tripled. A Cold War gripped the world for decades before it finally ended.

From the CEO of Starbucks to the Prime Minister of Barbados, the Global Climate Action Summit saw leaders from all sectors stepping up the fight against climate change. More than 4,000 citizens, businesses, activists, and officials convened in San Francisco to learn how we can tackle climate change together — before it’s too late. It comes at a crucial time: We’re now at the halfway point between the adoption of the 2015 Paris Agreement — the first international accord to reduce

World leaders are gathering in New York for the high-level week of the 73rd UN General Assembly (UNGA) — an annual moment for countries and sectors to come together and address the most urgent global issues. From tackling tuberculosis to increasing ambition on the Sustainable Development Goals to strengthening peacekeeping, there are several issues high on the agenda at this year’s General Assembly. After years of decline, global hunger is on the rise, largely as

What’s really at stake if we don’t meet the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) by the deadline of 2030? And who will be left behind if we don’t? As world leaders, entrepreneurs and engaged citizens gather at the UN General Assembly to tackle global challenges ranging from conflict to climate, these basic questions should be on everyone’s minds. A new report from the Brookings Institution offers insight into how all 193 UN member states are doing —

Ahead of the United Nations High-Level Meeting on Tuberculosis (TB) on September 26 during the UN General Assembly, we sat down with the UN’s Special Envoy for TB, Dr. Eric Goosby, to talk about what the global TB landscape looks like, what we can expect out of the high-level meeting, and what the UN is doing to help create a TB-free world. Q: What does the global TB landscape look like in 2018? EG: There

For me, the opioid crisis is more than a national headline. I come from a small town in Monroe, Michigan that has been devastated by this epidemic. My neighbors and family friends have lost their children—some my age or younger—to addiction. Our county is now ranked eighth in heroin overdose deaths in the state. My hometown’s crisis—and the ongoing international efforts to tackle it—are at the heart of what I do at the UN Foundation.