The World Is At A Crossroads, How to Partner With GC, London / Geneva Recap, Bridgewater Research, Waislitz Awards and GC is Hiring
A lot of organizations have written to me in recent months outlining how they can best partner with Global Citizen. This week's update outlines how to do so.
Dear Friends and Supporters,
What a week - from meetings in Geneva to events in London, it’s been quite the whirlwind of a week and this coming Saturday I will be giving a book talk at the Barbados Museum & Historical Society in Bridgetown, Barbados. But most importantly, I have some big updates on how organizations can partner with Global Citizen’s campaigning over the summer, through the Global Citizen Festival and into the G20 summit this year.
Before I dive into that, I want to quickly point out how much I've been enjoying your feedback about the book. Please keep it coming!
Some have been sharing their favourate chapter like Veronica Almedon who wrote on linkedIn:
“The diplomat - Catalyzing Impact Through Pragmatism” is hands down my favorite chapter from Michael Sheldrick’s book, *From Ideas to Impact*.
As a policy entrepreneur, his insights on transforming ambitious concepts into tangible change are essential, especially in a time "where the world feels like it is spinning out of control," as Ben Rhodes aptly put it. We all need to feel empowered and « good ideas do not belong only to the powerful and privileged » as highlighted by Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus.”
I wonder what this next instagram user’s review will be…
On a serious note though if you haven't already, please don't forget to post a review on Amazon, Audible, or other sites. It's one of the best ways to support first-time authors like me.
The World Is At a Crossroads
There are two ways of looking at the moment we are in. One is to think that the world is on the brink, that things are dire. The other is that we have the opportunity to make historic progress in the years to come.
As the saying goes, “In the midst of every crisis lies great opportunity.”
Major shifts are possible, and happening, on climate, on health, and on hunger.
Last year was the hottest year on record and fossil fuel investment continues to increase around the world, but we have the ability to course correct and ring in a fossil fuel free future. We saw unprecedented and unexpected investments into renewable energy and a historic agreement at COP28 this year. We have the means if we act now to provide clean energy for all and create sustainable jobs while keeping global warming below 1.5 degrees.
While infectious diseases continue to spread across the world, we have the opportunity to protect every child for the first time in history against vaccine-preventable diseases. This is because of breakthroughs and new innovations in the medical field.
Global instability has deepened the impact of the hunger crisis across the world — but we have the means to provide millions with the opportunity to grow more food and strengthen local economies and communities.
Debt is on the rise — ODA being cut in key markets. But big structural changes we need to make to address today’s and tomorrow’s challenges are finally at our fingertips. Global financial reform is now on the agenda — as are tools like Special Drawing Rights, hybrid capital, and more.
We are no longer satisfied with incremental progress; the big leap is possible.
We must act today, to save tomorrow.
Sign Up to Partner On GC’s Campaigning
Global Citizen is calling on fellow non-governmental organisations, think tanks, civic sector, grassroot activists, and citizens around the world to raise their voice and take action with us.
In months ahead of us, Global Citizen will be galvanising millions of people around the world to take action, raise their voices and demand urgent actions from governments, Multilateral Development Banks, and major corporations, to ensure that:
Everyone’s basic needs are fulfilled, like food, health, and education.
Our planet is flourishing with adequate climate financing, raising the level of investment in adaptation, agriculture and robust nature based solutions. \
Every person and country can prosper, focusing on various financing streams like Official Development Assistance (ODA) and International Development Association (IDA) and global financial reform as a driver for job creation, economic development and innovation.
Advocates and human rights activists are free and protected from prosecution for expressing their causes and beliefs.
Events and tentpole moments:
Global Citizen will leverage its advocacy and action taking model to increase the pressure on decision makers and apply pressure on the above mentioned issues at all of our tentpole moments:
Global Citizen Festival in Central Park, New York in September;
An economic summit in October in Abidjan;
As well as other key multilateral moments like G7, G20, COP29, World Bank meetings, and more.
Benefit to Your Organization:
Advocacy requires our global collective efforts, which is why we are continuing with our practice of co-designing our campaign, sharing advocacy platforms with partners and raising our collective visibility. Partners who join our campaign will:
Be listed on campaign press releases across all Global Citizen events in 2024;
Have Logos of all NGO signatories featured on Global Citizen policy partners landing page;
Have Logos of all NGO signatories featured at key events like Global Citizen Festival in New York, Economic Summit in Abidjan and Move Afrika;
Be promoted via Global Citizen's email list and social media channels;
Receive 5 tickets for organisation representatives to attend Global Citizen’s NYC Festival in September and 1 ticket for the Economic Summit in Abidjan in October and 2 tickets for each Move Afrika event;
Receive invitation for inclusion in “Thank you partner video” for Global Citizen Festival NY pre-show (subject to approval from event production);
Have use of white-label campaign assets;
Be Included in Global Citizen round-up article thanking all NGO partners.
How You Can Support the Campaign:
As part of our joint campaigning, we invite NGO partners to support the campaign as follows:
Leverage Social media posts to promote the Global Citizen campaign and event(s) on your channels;
Use media opportunities to help promote Global Citizen campaign/event(s);
Contribute relevant stats + data + facts to be used in social assets;
Send dedicated email to your stakeholder list about the Global Citizen campaign priorities and event(s);
Get Involved:
Join us today by clicking on this link to unite our voices and actions!
Organisations that become official campaign signatories by Friday, June 7 will receive below presented benefits.
We will be happy to include any partners who sign on by June 7 to be included in our Global Citizen Festival press release and featured on our website (due to be released mid- to late-June). Partners who sign after this date may be mentioned in later press releases and their logos will be updated on our website at a future date.
Join Global Citizen today by clicking on this link to unite our voices and actions!
Join us in Sacramento to promote an end to Child Marriage in California
One of the biggest takeaways for many from Global Citizen Now earlier this month was their surprise that the biggest state in the US still permits child marriage. You can check out the extraordinary panel discussion here.
To this end, our event on ending child marriage in California on June 4 is getting closer. Global Citizen continues with the campaign - educating the public, inspiring global citizens to take action and encouraging a shift in California’s state legislation. We are honored that Sara Tasneem and Mandy Havlik, California and California based child marriage survivors and strong advocates will join the event and provide the audience with their lived experience and challenges.
For further information about the event and to RSVP please email: ivana.pajevic@globalpovertyproject.com
Ides of May spent at UK Parliament!
On the 15th of May, we were proud to co-host an event highlighting the critical issue of period poverty at UK Parliament in partnership with the office of MP Helen Grant, the Prime Minister’s Special Envoy for Girls’ Education. Ahead of the Commonwealth Heads Of Government Meeting, which will be hosted in Samoa later this year, we were lucky to be joined by key Commonwealth officials to raise visibility for this important issue at the nexus of girls education and health.
Commonwealth Secretary-General Baroness Scotland reiterated how investing in girls’ health paves the way for resilient communities, while Samoa High Commissioner Francella Strickland gave touching remarks on how education gave her access to the world.
A panel discussion moderated by Former Prime Minister of Norway Erna Solberg highlighted the work of key practitioners in this space.
We were honored to hear from Ella Lambert, founder of the Pachamama Project, who spoke about her experiences implementing education workshops on menstruation across the world.
Thoko Elphick-Pooley, the Executive Director of Uniting to Combat NTDs and Co-Chair of the G7 Task Force on Global Health provided perspectives of highlighting menstrual health issues ahead of key advocacy moments.
And Adrian Dongus, Menstrual Hygiene Markets Specialist at The Sanitation & Hygiene Fund, provided key insights on how menstrual hygiene initiatives like universal free tampons can be scaled across the world.
Thank you to those of you that attended! We look forward to campaigning further on this critical issue.
Hello Geneva!
As some of you may know, Geneva has the largest concentration of international organizations in the world. As the original seat of the League of Nations after World War I, Geneva has been a safe haven for many of our partner organizations working on global issues. I visit annually to touch base with our friends and various governments represented there.
Earlier this week from 13-14 May, I had the pleasure of meeting with the Director-General of the World Health Organization (WHO), and colleagues from the Global Fund and Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance, to raise critical advocacy moments like upcoming replenishments and ongoing Pandemic Accord negotiations. We also met with the Office of the High Commissioner of Human Rights, the International Labour Organization, and the Swiss government to discuss opportunities for future collaboration.
We also were hosted at the United Nations office in Geneva, the so-called “Palais des Nations”, by the Permanent Missions of Switzerland and Barbados, and had the opportunity to showcase our mission and work to other Permanent Missions. In addition, I had the chance to highlight Global Citizen’s impact and accountability work at PricewaterhouseCoopers’ (PwC) offices in Geneva.
It was a wonderful few days continuing to build partnerships and increase our presence in this hub of global solutions.
Fascinating research about Africa’s potential from Bridgewater
Our partners at Bridgewater Associates recently published new research highlighting the population boom in sub-Saharan Africa, which is projected to surpass China’s in a decade. They highlight the potential of the region to boost global productivity and how this could significantly reduce poverty and attract global investors. Despite current challenges like low productivity and infrastructure deficits, demographic trends offer a unique opportunity for economic transformation – provided its accompanied by the right level of public investment. This is exactly the purpose of Global Citizen’s campaigning to increase support for the World Bank’s IDA21 replenishment this year. Check out the piece here.
Help us amplify the Waislitz Global Citizen Awards
We are excited to announce this year’s 2024 Waislitz Global Citizen Awards! The awards are cash prizes, totalling $250,000, presented by Global Citizen and the Waislitz Foundation to recognize the excellence of individuals in their work to end extreme poverty. This year, one grand prize winner will receive $100,000 and two exceptional individuals will receive $75,000 each to support their work.
Our goal is to leverage Global Citizen’s existing relationships with leaders across NGOs, government, business, and entertainment to reach qualified candidates for the 2024 Waislitz Global Citizen Award. Applications close on June 3rd, so please use this toolkit to amplify this opportunity within your networks.
Interested in Impact Comms? GC is hiring!
Global Citizen is hiring a Policy Communications Manager for a five-month contract to develop and execute policy-focused content for grant partnerships and advocacy campaigns. This role requires strong project management and writing skills to create impactful social media content, articles, and reports, working closely with both the digital content and policy teams. If you’re interested or know anyone that might be, please feel free to forward.
Amplifying the Story of a Juvenile Defense Lawyer
As I’ve been on the book tour a range of people have shared with me their stories and how the principles of the book relate to them. Here is one message I got this week:
Dear Michael,
I hope this message finds you well. I appreciate you taking the time to hear my story!
I recently turned 17 years old, and at 16, I had the privileged opportunity to become a Juvenile Defense lawyer through the Oakland County Teen Court Program. My journey into law can only be described as a calling, deeply rooted in my childhood experiences and a drive to effect true change.
At the age of six, I experienced the traumatic separation of my parents. My younger brother and I were shuttled between homes, with no voice or control over our situation. This early encounter with the legal system exposed its imbalances and sparked my resolve to enter the legal system and protect other children enduring similar struggles.
I began my advocacy everywhere I roamed, speaking up for the children being silenced in the situations that affected them the most. An entire decade later, God opened the door for this passion to be realized when my Practical Law professor appointed me to the Oakland County Teen Court Program during my sophomore year. Through this juvenile diversion program, I serve as the voice for youth ensnared in the legal system, working alongside seasoned attorneys to help them avoid the cycle of recidivism—which our efforts have resulted in a 90% success rate in achieving.
After presenting my first case, Judge David Law recognized my purpose and encouraged me to continue. Since then, I have successfully defended every case assigned to me.
Here are some links that provide more information about my work and the programs I steward:
Power to you,
Cayden Brown
Your Weekly Reading List
Aid for Gaza will soon flow from pier project just finished by US military, Pentagon says
Commonwealth Africa anti-corruption heads call for regional collaboration
The World Health Organization’s pandemic plan won’t end free speech
"Teachers said I would not succeed now I host Beyonce and raise billions for charity" (yes this is a story about yours truly :) !)
As always, if you’re enjoying the weekly newsletter format, and want even more, you can subscribe to my Substack here where I publish reviews, lists, and articles regularly.
Til next week,
Mick
PS some of you asked when my book would be available on audible as you prefer to listen than read. It now is! Narrated by the fabulous Grant Cartwright (also a fellow Australian living in NYC).
PPS A reminder if you know anyone in Barbados this week, I’ll be giving a book talk this Saturday as part of FutureBARBADOS’ Innovation Ignite Series. It will take place Saturday May 25th from 6:30pm to 9:00 pm . Click the link here to register for the event!
PPPS OVERSEAS BRITISH CITIZENS CAN REGISTER TO VOTE IN THE UPCOMING UK ELECTION ON JULY 4th: You might not know this but earlier this year in January the UK declared that any British citizen living overseas is eligible to register to vote REGARDLESS of how long you’ve lived overseas. The previous rule was that you were declared ineligible or wiped away from the electoral roll after 15 years of living overseas. This initiative is the result of the hard work policy entrepreneurship efforts of a few pioneering British expats picking up the cause. So if you fall into this category make sure you register to vote. I just did this and it took 5 minutes. You have 12 days more or less onwards before it’s too late this cycle. You can register here.