Luncheon hosted by UN Secretary-General with MDG Advocacy Group at the World Economic Forum

23 January 2014

With 707 days left until the target date for the Millennium Development Goals, the Secretary-General, along with the two Co-chairs and several members of his MDG Advocacy Group, will participate in a luncheon discussion to accelerate progress on the MDGs focusing on girls as a critical investment.  The Secretary-General and the two Co-chairs, President Paul Kagame of Rwanda and Prime Minster Erna Solberg of Norway, will open the programme and Hannah Godefa, a 16-year old UNICEF National Ambassador for Ethiopia and Sumaya Saluja, a member of the Global Education First Initiative’s Youth Advocacy Group, will lead an inter-generational dialogue with the Advocates. The programme will include interventions from other governments, businesses and media leaders, including Kathy Calvin, President and CEO of the UN Foundation, Tina Brown, Founder and CEO, Tina Brown Live Media. It will close with a call to action by UN Deputy Secretary-General Jan Eliasson.

This session will highlight specific approaches that enable girls and women worldwide to learn, earn, thrive, and control their own destinies. The focus will be on replicating and scaling-up successful quality programmes, promoting innovative approaches including quick adoption of broadband and ICTs for education and health, and encouraging collaboration to ensure the best outcomes for girls and their communities.  The Secretary-General’s MDG initiatives, such as Every Woman Every Child, Sustainable Energy for All, Global Education First Initiative, Zero Hunger Challenge, Scaling Up Nutrition, and the Deputy Secretary-General’s Call to Action on Sanitation, will be discussed as engagement mechanisms for the private sector.  The session will also encourage specific plans and interventions that will accelerate progress on the MDGs in the last 707 days.

Follow the conversation: #investingirls

This event is hosted by the UN Secretary-General and supported by the UN Foundation and UNICEF. 

Video Provided by GHD - The Center for Global Health and Diplomacy