People often read the news and feel hopeless – but there are so many reasons to feel hopeful. Yes, the world faces big challenges. But no, they’re not unsolvable. When we mobilize, tangible, positive change can happen – and it is happening. These good news stories don’t usually make the headlines. That’s why Bill and Melinda Gates, powerful voices for a better world, are taking on myths in global development in their annual letter released

“In 2014, we must turn the greatest collective challenge facing humankind today – climate change – into the greatest opportunity for common progress towards a sustainable future.” – United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon Last fall, the UN’s Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change released a comprehensive and authoritative report on the science of climate change. The key takeaway: Scientists are more certain than ever that climate change is real and is caused by human activities –

In an era when we can land a rover on Mars and use our phones to access a world of information, millions of people still die of preventable diseases. But there’s also good news: We’re making significant progress in saving lives. The United Nations and many governments, businesses, researchers, donors, and civil society groups have mobilized to improve global health. Check out some of the statistics:  These results happened for a number of reasons: advances in

Last year, the UN showed its ability to respond nimbly to unfolding crises around the globe, particularly in the critical role that peacekeepers played — are playing — in containing and even reversing conflicts in some of the toughest corners of the world. However, just as peacekeeping is proving its worth, Congress and the Administration have decided to cut U.S. support for UN peacekeeping by 12 percent. In South Sudan, UN peacekeepers are working to keep

Last week, leaders from around the world gathered for the World Economic Forum in Davos to discuss the state of the global economy and outline priorities moving forward. To talk about progress for our global economy, we have to talk about progress for women, 50% of the population. That’s why I sat down with Mayra Buvinic, Senior Fellow at the UN Foundation, to discuss what we can do to spur economic empowerment for women globally.

If you tuned into last night’s State of the Union, then you already know: U.S. foreign policy will depend on international collaboration in the year ahead. As President Obama said, “In a world of complex threats, our security and leadership depends on all elements of our power – including strong and principled diplomacy.”From Syria to climate change to ending global poverty and Iran’s nuclear ambitions, President Obama made it clear that he’s committed to strong global

Young or old, male or female, Asia, the Americas, or Africa, all of these groups rank a good education as a top priority in the UN’s MY World survey (which asks people to share what issues are important to them in the future global development agenda). While more children than ever are in primary school, a good education is about more than enrollment – it’s about making sure children are learning. On this measure we’ve