Michael updates us on Global Citizen

I hope this update finds you well. Just a quick update from me on the latest we've been up to.
Firstly, I wanted to share with you a blog I recently wrote for the OECD's Development Matters platform. I discuss how critical the United States has been not only to the success of our own campaigns at Global Citizen but also to efforts to eradicate extreme poverty more broadly. I argue however that while we must do everything we can to encourage the United States to remain engaged in the world, we must also look to other governments and stakeholders to play a greater role if we are to achieve our goals. Ultimately, it will take action from everyday citizens, Global Citizens like you and me, to ensure others step in as well and keep us all on track to finally end extreme poverty.
If you like the blog, please do share with the hashtag #DEVMatters and @OECD_Centre& @MickSheldrick handles. Also, you may like to check out this new course on Coursera, which I co-taught with former Secretary-General of the UN, Ban Ki-moon. It will take you through the five pillars of the UN’s Agenda 2030 and inspire you to take action. You can enroll in the course here.
It has been a busy few months here at Global Citizen since the start of the year. One of the highlights was without a doubt our work supporting the the Global Partnership for Education (GPE)'s conference in Dakar on February 1 and 2, which was the largest- ever education financing event, with more than 10 heads of state, 100 ministers, and 1,200 participants … including Rihanna. New governments came to the table, including the UAE with a historic, first-time pledge of $100M and Ireland with $25M (more than double what they pledged previously) and Senegal itself, which donated $2M as the first developing country to pledge donor funds. In addition to the UAE, Ireland and Senegal's pledges, Denmark came back to the table after 2015 aid cuts with $210M & Canada doubled its annual contribution with $180M. You can read more about what was achieved here.
We'll have several big announcements to come over the next few months. In the meantime, I wanted to share with you details of two events, one next week in New York during the UN's Commission on the Status of Women, and the other in London next month on the eve of the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting. If you happen to be in any of these cities on those dates, or know anyone else who will, please take a look or forward on. Details below.
Many thanks and as always please don't hesitate to reach out if you have any feedback about our work, how we can improve and/or work better together.
Warmly
Michael
1/ Year of Mandela: Marching Together to Achieve Gender Equality (next Tuesday 13th March)
As this year marks what would have been Nelson Mandela’s 100th birthday. To mark this occasion, Global Citizen will honor the life and legacy of the late leader, and carry his message of activism, freedom from want and justice for all, inspiring citizens around the world to be the generation to end extreme poverty by 2030.
It is therefore my pleasure to invite you to Global Citizen’s 2018 Commission on the Status of Women reception, co-hosted with the Government of Rwanda, current Chair of the African Union.
Please kindly join us at the W New York Hotel, 541 Lexington on 13th March from 6-9 PM.
This evening will bring together African Union leaders, women’s empowerment activists and global influencers to discuss how to work together in 2018 and beyond to make unprecedented progress in achieving gender equality and implementing the Sustainable Development Goals in honor of Mandela’s legacy.
Kindly RSVP here at your earliest convenience.
2/ Global Citizen Live - London (Tuesday 17th April, ahead of the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting)
On April 17, we’re coming to Brixton, London. And we’re bringing with us Emeli Sandé, Naughty Boy, Professor Green, and Gabrielle Aplin. You can find out all about our lineup here.
You can come along to this one-night-only event at O2 Academy Brixton too. You can get your hands on a pair by taking action with us to help combat some of the biggest issues facing our world today. Check out the website here for further details.