The Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation honoured exceptional leaders advancing the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (Global Goals) at the “Goalkeepers 2024: Recipe for Progress” event, held during the United Nations General Assembly week. The foundation recognised Brazil’s President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva with the prestigious 2024 Global Goalkeeper Award.
President Lula was celebrated for launching Bolsa Familia, an anti-poverty and social inclusion program, during his first term. The initiative significantly contributed to lifting millions out of poverty and reducing Brazil’s stunting rate from 37% to 7% over three decades.
The event also acknowledged 10 Goalkeepers Champions—innovators, advocates, and leaders worldwide—who are driving progress towards a healthier and more nourished world.
Mark Suzman, CEO of the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, highlighted the significance of the Goalkeepers community, stating, “Goalkeepers is about bringing together global changemakers who champion the Sustainable Development Goals to energise and inspire each other to continue making progress.” He noted that despite the increased challenges posed by climate change, progress remains achievable through scaling up existing solutions, investing in promising research, and supporting champions committed to global change.
The World Health Organisation estimated that 148 million children experienced stunting and 45 million faced wasting in 2023, marking severe forms of chronic and acute malnutrition. The Gates Foundation’s recently released eighth annual Goalkeepers report, “A Race to Nourish a Warming World,” emphasised the urgent need for global action to combat malnutrition exacerbated by climate change.
The report warns that without immediate intervention, climate change could push an additional 40 million children into stunting and 28 million into wasting between 2024 and 2050. It also highlights proven strategies to combat malnutrition, enhance resilience against climate impacts, and reduce childhood mortality, calling for renewed commitments to global health funding.
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