Coalition at Goalkeepers 2018 in New York

Rt Hon Nick Herbert MP, Theo Clarke & Preet Kaur Gill MP

Our CEO Theo Clarke was in New York this week for the 2018 Goalkeepers summit. Leaders from around the world met to discuss the progress being made on the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), the global targets set by the UN in 2015 that aim to transform fields worldwide ranging from poverty and hunger to education, gender equality and the environment.

The Goalkeepers summit gives leaders from around the world a chance to hear what’s working, take the facts back their home countries and hold their governments accountable. The 2018 ‘Goalkeepers Data Report’ this year focused on the potential of young people to transform Africa. The report also came with a warning that “decades of stunning progress in the fight against poverty and disease may be on the verge of stalling,” due to rapid population growth in the world’s poorest countries.

The report highlights that extreme poverty is becoming heavily concentrated in sub-Saharan Africa, particularly in the Democratic Republic of the Congo and Nigeria, which will be home to over 40% of the world’s extremely poor people by 2050. The solution? Invest in young people’s health and education, enabling them to drive growth as activists, innovators, leaders and workers.

Speaking at the two-day summit, Theo Clarke said “The future peace and prosperity of Africa depends on the energy and optimism of this next generation. Britain should be proud of our leadership on the SDGs. We give young people the tools they need to pursue their aspirations, create prosperity and tackle the root causes of conflict and instability.”

Dr Rosena Allin-Khan MP, Mary Creagh MP & Theo Clarke