Heather Grady,Vice President of Foundation Initiatives
This year’s annual gathering in New York City for the opening of the UN General Assembly, and the Clinton Global Initiative, set the stage for government, civil society and business leaders to work together on the enduring, and emerging, agendas for joint action. Over the last decade we’ve witnessed these sectors collaborating more and bringing complementary strengths. A theme of mounting interest this month was the focus of our September 25th event Securing Resilient Livelihoods – bridging the historical divide between disasters and humanitarian crises, and long-term development –and dismantling silos of analysis, planning, and action using a new paradigm of enabling greater resilience for individuals, communities, geographies and systems. As someone who has worked in global non-profits that incorporate both development and humanitarian programs, like Oxfam and Save the Children, I find the opportunities this approach presents very compelling.
We weren’t the only ones talking about this imperative – at an event earlier in the day for Climate Week, World Bank Vice President for Sustainable Development Rachel Kyte remarked that investing in resilience is going to be the only way to cope with the growing human and financial costs from disasters.
The Lancet Series on Universal Health Coverage Launch
On Wednesay, September 26, 2012, The Rockefeller Foundation, The Lancet, and Results for Development Institute launched, "The Lancet Series on Universal Health Coverage."
Lunch Honoring Joyce Banda, President of Malawi
Joyce Banda, President of Malawi
On Thursday, September 27, 2012, The Rockefeller Foundation hosted a lunch for the President of Malawi, Joyce Banda.The event focused on universal health coverage and the commitment to that goal from both The Rockefeller Foundation and President Banda. In her remarks, The Rockefeller Foundation president Dr. Judith Rodin noted that, “At Rockefeller, we aim to achieve equitable growth by expanding opportunity for more people in more places and build resilience by helping them prepare for, withstand and emerge stronger from acute crises and chronic stresses. And the cause of universal health coverage unites these twin goals.”
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UN Partners with The Rockefeller Foundation to Showcase Women’s Role in Addressing Climate Change
Christiana Figueres, NFCCC Executive Secretary and Dr. Judith Rodin, The Rockefeller Foundation
The Rockefeller Foundation awarded a grant to the United Nations Climate Change secretariat to launch Momentum for Change: Women for Results, an initiative to showcase the active role that women play in addressing climate change. The three-year grant will support activities to inform governments, media and the public at large about the role of women in solving climate change.
Two Events Aimed at Advancing Our Work on Universal Health Coverage
On Tuesday evening, we joined our President, Dr. Judith Rodin, to attend an event hosted by the United Nation’s Secretary-General to celebrate the progress on his signature global health program: “Every Woman, Every Child.” In the words of Dr. Rodin, “We are committed to this cause because we know that Universal Health Coverage (UHC) is one of the most important things we can do to unlock the potential of Every Woman and Every Child.” The commitment that Dr. Rodin made around UHC was also echoed by the Prime Ministers of Thailand Yingluck Shinawatra as well as the President of Liberia Ellen Johnson Sirleaf.
High Level Partners Come Together at UNGA to Reaffirm Commitment to Build Resilience
The Rockefeller Foundation, USAID, and the United Nations Foundation hosted a high level event highlighting the new international commitment to building resilience for vulnerable communities. Dr. Judith Rodin, President of The Rockefeller Foundation and USAID Administrator Dr. Rajiv Shah welcomed expert speakers including Valerie Amos, United Nations Under-Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs and Emergency Relief Coordinator; Ertharin Cousin, Executive Director, World Food Programme; and Heikki Holmås, Minister of International Development of Norway. Two panels featured rich discussion of key alliances and innovations newly enabling relief and development actors to come together to build resilience and help sustain development gains.
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Making the Case for Universal Health Coverage
Robert Marten, Associate and Dr. Jeanette Vega, Managing Director, The Rockefeller Foundation
25 million families globally will be pushed into poverty this year because of a catastrophic health care expenditure. Three billion people – in both rich and poor countries – finance their health care through out-of-pocket payments. This often results in people, particularly women and children, not seeking health care because of high costs.
More than a decade into the twenty-first century political leaders have realized this link between the health of their population and the economic success of their country. Lack of health coverage negatively impacts economic growth – due to diminished productivity, higher future costs and disrupted families and communities. No one should risk financial ruin because of a health care need, no one should stay sick just because they are poor, no child should miss school because their school fees had to be used to cover health costs, and no one or no country should be forced to pay higher treatment costs because of inadequate prevention.
Heather Grady Previews UNGA and CGI Week
In the 21st century, the world is facing shocks and stresses affecting people, communities, and systems for which we will have to find new approaches to withstand and recover from. This coming week, Rockefeller Foundation colleagues will be organizing and participating in a range of events in New York related to the opening of the UN General Assembly’s 67th Session.
