Every year, UNICEF gathers global and national statistics for its State of the World’s Children report — tracking things like access to clean water, education, and vaccines — to improve children’s lives worldwide. Of course, facts and numbers do not, of themselves, change the world. They make change possible – by identifying needs, supporting advocacy, and measuring progress. Digging deeper into these numbers reveals much about gaps between wealthy and poor children in terms of […]

Today most Americans will take part in a big annual tradition, gathering with friends and family to watch the Super Bowl – and a bunch of new commercials. This year, one commercial will do more than get people talking; it will get them taking action to help fight AIDS. Here’s why: The UN Foundation’s partner (RED) has teamed up with Bank of America and U2 to use the Super Bowl to raise awareness and funds

Gardening columnist Henry Mitchell once wrote: “No gardener needs reminding that life depends on plants. No plants, no life. Very simple.” Yet it is very easy for biodiversity and ecosystems to get lost in the debate about eliminating poverty and reducing inequity. Right now, the United Nations is leading a process to create “Sustainable Development Goals,” a framework to advance sustainable development that balances social and economic development with environmental considerations. The trap in these

Turmoil in South Sudan has forced thousands to flee their homes and seek safety in refugee camps. As families flee from violence, they face another threat: malaria. Nothing But Nets and our United Nations partners have long worked in three camps run by the UN Refugee Agency in Maban, South Sudan, helping to reduce malaria in the camps and the nearby community. Despite nearly 1,000 cases each week, malaria control efforts have reduced the death rate caused by malaria

Athletes from 88 countries have gathered in Sochi to compete. As a long-time runner, triathlete, and bike racer, I appreciate the spirit of competitiveness these individuals bring with them.  But the Olympics are about more than competition. They’re about building understanding between people of different cultures and countries – understanding that must be based on respect for human rights. Today, United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon addressed the International Olympic Committee in Sochi, becoming the first

The Olympic Winter Games in Sochi are set to begin on February 7th. The athletes have spent years – sometimes almost their entire lives – preparing for their chance to compete in the Olympics. But travelers to the Sochi Games, and any large mass gathering, also need to be smart about preparing for public health threats. Gerald Rockenschaub, programme manager for country emergency preparedness at the World Health Organization’s Regional Office for Europe, answered questions

By U.S. Olympic athletes Kikkan Randall of the U.S. ski team and Alex Deibold of the U.S. snowboard team Every four years, we all get to celebrate the best in winter sports, and this week in Sochi, the Olympics will host some of the most incredible winter athletes in the world on the biggest stage in sports. It’s going to be amazing. But with that also comes the sobering opportunity to remember that if we

Cooking often brings families together and contributes to far more than just our physical sustenance. Yet every year 4 million people die from the health impacts of toxic smoke from cooking over traditional open fires or inefficient cookstoves. To address this challenge, the Global Alliance for Clean Cookstoves is working to create a thriving global market for clean cookstoves and fuels. Last week, the Alliance was in Kenya, where nearly 70% of the population uses

For a growing number of South Sudanese refugees, there is a new word for safety: Kakuma. The United Nations’ Kakuma refugee camp sits near the South Sudan border in neighboring Kenya. If that feels a world away, consider this: It is home for more than 100,000 individuals — a population roughly the total size of Charleston, South Carolina. Photo credit: Alex Kamweru/UN Foundation I had the opportunity to visit with Kakuma camp’s residents last week.