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©FC Barcelona Foundation
Jordi Cardoner Casaus

The Barça Foundation: Sport in the Service of Social Development

Football is the most egalitarian sport. It recognizes no frontiers, classes or backgrounds. FC Barcelona is aware of the hope that football generates in thousands of children and how its own players have become role models. Our objective is not just to win trophies but also to influence and actively participate in structural and transformative changes, and to help people prepare for what really matters in life.

© UNDPI/ Lindsey Thoeng
Maher Nasser

It's Never Too Late to Start Running

Had I not connected my run to a fundraising goal and received such overwhelming support, I would not have run 500 or so miles in the 20 weeks leading up to the Marathon, or been able to finish the Marathon itself. Committing to a goal that affects the lives of others was key to pushing myself to find the time and energy to run 25–30 miles a week.

© UN Women/ Maka Gogaladze
Irina Japharidze

Georgian Rugby UNiTEs to End Violence against Women and Girls

Along with the relevant government agencies, international and non-governmental organizations, media and other actors, the public awareness-raising campaign conducted with the participation of Georgian rugby players has made a significant contribution to changing attitudes.

© UN Photo/ Logan Abassi
Simon Darnell

Sport as a Means of Advancing International Development

The growing and increasingly institutionalized field of Sport for Development and Peace suggests significant opportunities for the world of sport to make positive contributions to overcoming the most pressing social and environmental challenges of our time.

Meghan Lynn

The Post-Haiyan Shelter Challenge and the Need for Local, National and International Coordination

Essentially, sustained cooperation between international, national and local actors leads to a more coherent response among humanitarian partners; increases awareness around actual needs and longer-term strategies; reduces duplication in assistance; and helps ensure the link between shelter assistance and the construction of more resilient dwellings.

Thomas J. Weinandy

Volunteer and Technical Communities in Humanitarian Response

As the cost of information and communications technologies continues on its downward trajectory, we have increasingly seen a digital revolution that spurs change from within local populations to international agencies.

Sonali Deraniyagala

Economic Recovery after Natural Disasters

The destructive effects of natural disasters are felt more in poorer countries than in more prosperous ones. While both rich and poor nations are subject to natural hazards, most of the 3.3 million disaster-related deaths over the last 40 years occurred in poor countries.

Liliane Bitong Ambassa

Improving Partnerships Between National and International NGOs in Africa

Strengthening the links between national NGOs and their international counterparts in Africa will require, at the Summit and beyond, a great deal of transparency and honesty; respect for each other's contributions; acknowledgement of comparative advantages and mandates; identification of mutual benefit through greater assistance to crisis-affected populations, so that gains are greater in working together than competing; and courage and readiness by all actors to call themselves into question and cede power or resources.

Jyotsna Puri and Unni Krishnan Karunakara

Going Beyond What Works

Currently, 93 per cent of people living in extreme poverty live in countries that are affected by humanitarian crises. Clearly, each dollar of aid needs to be used to help alleviate their suffering.

Cyril Obi

The Scope and Limits of Humanitarian Action in Urban Areas of the Global South

Nearly 50 per cent of the world's population, or an estimated 3.5 billion people, already live in urban areas, with projections suggesting an increase to 70 per cent by 2050.

Maher Nasser

Foreword

UN efforts have helped meet the immediate needs of people whose lives have been devastated by events such as earthquakes, famine and war. We have also assisted affected communities in building back stronger infrastructure and institutions to help protect them from future catastrophes.

Ban Ki-moon

The Future of Humanitarian Action

The urgency is all too clear: if current demographic and conflict trends—protracted complex conflicts with a high risk of relapse, forced displacement at a record scale, urbanized conflict, growing inequality—continue, the gap between needs and response will only grow worse.

Stephen O’Brien

Overcoming Obstacles to Meeting Humanitarian Need

The urgent need to achieve better solutions for millions of people whose lives are torn apart by conflict and violence was one of the drivers of United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon's decision to hold the World Humanitarian Summit on 23 and 24 May 2016 in Istanbul.

Alek Wek

In the Face of 60 Million, We Must Engage

We have a global displacement crisis on our hands, and as a global community we must address it. We must engage. We must empathize. We must figure out what we can do as individuals, as families, as neighbourhoods, as communities, as States, as nations.

Antoine Gérard

Building an Agenda for Humanity

Humanitarian crises cost the global economy millions. They halt or even reverse development gains. Each year the needs—and the costs—grow higher.