We the peoples: Celebrating 8 million voices

We the peoples Celebrating 8 million voices

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Let us build inclusive and development world has 

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the most transparent agenda the ever seen…

— United Nations Secretary-General, Ban Ki-moon

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Dear world leaders 2015 is a momentous year for sustainable development, poverty eradication and the protection of the planet. Millions of peoples around the world have had their say and you’ve listened! By agreeing on the Sustainable Development Goals we now have a concrete action plan and targets for a better world by 2030 which leaves no one behind.

We will work hard to tell everyone about the significance of these Global Goals and ensure that the momentum we have built in these past years is not lost, but these Goals must now be correctly financed and embedded at a national level to ensure real transformative change for all people.

Please continue to ensure, strengthen and support real participation of all people, especially those living in poverty and marginalization in the accountable implementation of these Sustainable

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Development Goals, at all levels; local, national, regional and global. The monitoring of the goals needs a sharp focus on accountability, backed by investments in data collection and use so that citizens have the information they need to ensure that leaders keep their promises The size and reach of the MY World vote shows an unmistakable strength of feeling, this is the time to listen and honor that feeling. Lets get these new goals right so in 15 years time we aren’t writing these same words again. We are not just raising our voice but want to be part of the solution too; do count on our support at every step of the way. Working together, we can be the generation that ends poverty and preserves the planet.

We the peoples 5

MDGs to SDGs Since their ratification in 2000, the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) have proven that sound strategies, adequate resources and political will can help even the least developed countries to make dramatic and unprecedented progress with targeted interventions.

The MDGs have been lauded as a historical achievement in global partnership and credited with lifting millions out of poverty. The world has saved the lives of millions of children, empowered and improved the well being of women and girls, provided vaccines and health interventions and vast new opportunities for improving the lives of people across the globe.

But we cannot stop halfway: we need to do more to ensure the poorest and most vulnerable people are not left behind.

We also learned from the MDGs that climate change and environmental degredation undermine progress achieved, and that people

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from low-income communities suffer the most.

Conflicts remain the biggest threat to human development and the greatest obstacle to progress.

We also learned that vast inequalities exist across the globe, and that progress has been uneven.

In September 2015, world leaders will officially ratify the new Global Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

With the message of leaving no one behind, the new agenda is unique in that it calls for efforts at the top and the bottom to reach everyone in a sustainable way, especially the most marginalized and vulnerable populations.

These new goals are ambitious, they are consultative, and through them we could be the generation that ends extreme poverty.

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Why MY World?

Answering the United Nations SecretaryGeneral’s call, MY World was developed with one clear goal in mind —to reach out to people all over the world— and ask them: “What would make your life better?”.

MY World was an integral part of the UN’s ‘global conversation’ initiative, giving people across the world a platform and the tools to raise their voices and tell the United Nations what is important to them. It has taken the discussion from the halls of power and policy rooms to the people of the world and asked them: “Are we talking about the right things?”

Using a combination of off-line, on-line and mobile phone technologies, the survey has reached some of the most marginalized members of our society and helped them play their part in our shared future.

They have been asked to pick six out of 16 priorities for a better life —and their answers have helped build a dataset like none other.

The world has spoken: education remains the 8

top priority for people regardless of age, gender, location and economic level.

People desire stronger accountability and governance, as well as greater environmental sustainability and attention to peace and security.

Most importantly, MY World has proven people want to be involved in defining their government’s priorities, and they are already actively working to make change in their communities.

Who voted?

The vast majority of MY World votes (over 6.5 million) were collected offline via paper ballots.

The overwhelming majority of participants are young people 30 years old and younger from low to medium HDI (Human Development Index) countries.

There is almost equal participation between men and women.

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Gender

4,247,623 50%

4,023,971 48%

Report data was captured on 9 September 2015.

For the latest data, visit data.myworld2015.org

Male 10

Female

Age

469,582 6%

190,947 2% 1,639,691 19%

1,269,733 15%

4,742,948 56%

≤15

16-30

31-45

46-60

≥ 61 11

Education

97,441 1% 914,093 11%

3,647,307 43%

1,906,631 23%

1,850,740 22%

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Unknown

Some Prim.

Finished Sec.

Beyond Sec.

Finished Prim.

HDI

457,999 5%

3,023 1%

3,137,309 37%

2,153,130 26%

2,609,220 31%

Low

Medium

High

Very High

N/A 13

This is what MY World voters want:

A good education Better healthcare Better job opportunities An honest and responsive government Affordable and nutritious food Protection against crime and violence Access to clean water and sanitation Support for people who can’t work Better transport and roads Equality between men and women Reliable energy at home Freedom from discrimination and persecution Political freedoms Protecting forests, rivers and oceans Phone and internet access Action taken on climate change

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A good education Better healthcare Better job opportunities An honest and responsive government Affordable and nutritious food Protection against crime and violence Access to clean water and sanitation Support for people who can’t work Better transport and roads Equality between men and women Reliable energy at home Freedom from discrimination and persecution Political freedoms Protecting forests, rivers and oceans Phone and internet access Action taken on climate change

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Global Results: 8 Million Votes from 194 Countries The survey reveals two global trends of particular importance for the Sustainable Development Goals.

1. The Millennium Development Goals continue to be important. Health and education are indeed the top two priorities globally. Here lies a big unfinished agenda and the new global agreement will need to address this if the new goals are to meet the aspirations of the people.

2. But new issues also need to be included.

The most notable of these is “An honest and responsive government,” which ranks highly in peoples’ priorities all over the world. Other priorities not covered, or barely covered, in the MDGs include greater “Protection from crime and violence,” “Better job opportunities” and “Protection of forests, rivers and oceans”. People also clearly care about fairness: both “Freedom from discrimination” in general and “Equality between men and women” in particular.

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“

Not only does it paint

a clear picture of the world people want

— education, health, jobs —

but it shows that this holds true

whoever you are or wherever you live.

In this, it seems, we are

truly united.

”

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1.

What the world wants

A good education 1.

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The overwhelming majority of respondents prioritize “A good education�. This is the case across all age groups, genders, education levels and HDI rankings. The only exception to this trend is those people over 61 who have only a primary education (which can be used as a proxy for income) for whom, better healthcare is the priority.

The prevalence of the issue across different groups, countries and regions suggests that a good education is seen as the foremost issue needed to improve lives and that the lack of a good education has the potential to impede all other progress.

While the MDGs have helped increase enrollment in primary school to nine out of every ten children in the world, the MY World results suggest that access to quality education remains a global priority and shared aspiration, reflected in Sustainable Development Goal 4.

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— A good education

“I am a teacher and it frustrates me that 99 percent of my time goes to the standard curriculum. I am so afraid that my children – my students, won’t find a job. My mission is to stay with the kids and give them the tools to become part of society. We urgently need creativity and in order to establish this we have to give both teachers and students more freedom.”

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Bilbao, Spain

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“

Millenium Development Goals (MDGs) have helped increase

enrollment

9 out of

the MY World results suggest that access to

quality education

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in primary school to

every 10 children remains a global priority. in the world,

�

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Better healthcare 2.

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Like education, “Better healthcare” consistently ranks as a top priority for most demographic groups.

For older people, and especially older people with lower levels of education, healthcare is the most important issue.

Perhaps unsurprisingly then, in countries with very high HDI, “Better healthcare” ranks much lower than in poorer countries — likely reflecting better and more accessible healthcare — and voters 15 and younger, who are presumably healthier, are less likely to prioritize the issue.

This priority is reflected in the Sustainable Development Goal 3: Ensure healthy lives and promote well-being for all at all ages.

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“

In countries with high HDI

‘Better ranks much lower than

—likely reflecting better and more

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healthcare’ in poorer countries

accessible healthcare.

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— Better healthcare

“I was badly wounded during the genocide. I don’t like to talk about that. I made it through though, and for years the Survivor Fund used to pay for all of my hospital and doctor visits.

But now that fund is dried up. They’re trying to build a new one, but for the time being I have no support.”

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Rwanda

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Better job opportunities 3.

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The ranking of “Better job opportunities” changes with age. Those under 45 years of age see this as a high priority, ranking it third. Voters 15 and younger prioritize the issue higher than all other groups, ranking it second. This could signal children’s growing concern for their future employment prospects.

The importance that different groups attach to job opportunities also varies with where they live. While those 61 years of age or older in very low HDI countries, most of which don’t have pension systems, rank jobs third — the same age group in very high HDI countries ranks it thirteenth, showing the difference that social protection policies can make to people’s lives.

“Better job opportunities” is reflected in Sustainable Development Goal 8: Promote sustained, inclusive and sustainable economic growth, full and productive employment and decent work for all.

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— Better job opportunities

“I have become a nomad and had to leave my parents, brothers and sister behind in search for a better life. In my hometown there are no jobs and I have found work here on the land for as long as the harvesting season last. Maybe I will try to reach Europe one day; I dream about Spain and Germany. In the summer, when the sea level is low, I might have a chance. It’s worth the risk. I can’t look forward here.”

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Mdiq, Morocco

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An honest & responsive government

4.

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“An honest and responsive government” has consistently ranked highly in the survey results, reflecting one of the most pertinent issues being raised which are not reflected in the MDGs. While adults in all countries vote for “An honest and responsive government” in the top five, voters 15 and under prioritize it less frequently. This suggests two things: firstly, that adults are deeply aware of the importance of trustworthy and effective governments, but on the whole seem dissatisfied with their performance. Secondly, younger people are less concerned with governments — perhaps reflecting a lack of youth engagement opportunities in existing governance structures.

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In many ways, this clear call for inclusivity and transparency goes to the heart of MY World’s objective. Honest and responsive governments people trust are a clear priority and fortunately they are given due prominence in the new agenda. Sustainable Development Goal 16 calls to build effective, accountable and inclusive institutions at all levels, and Goal 17 calls for revitalized global partnerships for sustainable development.

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“

This clear call

inclusivity and transparency for

goes to the heart of

MY World’s objective.

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— An honest & responsive government

“My first priority is an honest and responsive government, because that’s directly connected to better job opportunities, which is what I’m thinking about now.

Whoever’s in power give the jobs to their friends and families, so most people in local and public institutions aren’t qualified for the work they’re doing. You can have an entire family working in the same building. And it’s not about being Albanian or Serbian.

It’s just that you end up with unqualified workers and leaders, both Albanian AND Serbian.”

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Gracanica, Kosovo

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Affordable & nutritious food

5.

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“Affordable and nutritious food” consistently ranks highly in most groups and regions across the world. This shows that this key issue identified in the MDGs —to eradicate hunger— remains a challenge. Despite enormous progress, about 800 million people still live in extreme poverty and suffer from hunger. Over 160 million children under age five have inadequate height for their age due to insufficient food.

The prevalence of the issue across all demographics reflects the repercussions hunger and food security have across development issues.

This continues to be a priority in the new agenda, with Sustainable Development Goal 2, which calls to end hunger, achieve food security and improved nutrition and promote sustainable agriculture; along with Goal 12, which calls to ensure sustainable consumption and production patterns.

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— Affordable & nutritious food

“Nutrition is vital to being healthy and enjoying a dignified and decent life.

It is necessary to have resources available and accessible prices so that people can enjoy good health.”

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Jalisco, Mexico

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Protection against crime & violence

6.

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“Protection against crime and violence� is the sixth most important issue worldwide, and in the top ten for all regional and demographic groupings. While violence in wars has been a key development issue for many years, the relentless and grinding fear that comes with insecurity in everyday environments has received less attention.

In some countries, this issue is of such concern that it is prioritized above all others, an indication of the impact a lack of security can have on daily life and development.

In Asia and in Europe, the issue is most highly prioritized when compared with all other regions, ranking fourth and fifth respectively.

This important issue is reflected in Sustainable Development Goal 11, which calls to make cities and human settlements inclusive, safe, resilient and sustainable; and also in Goal 16, which promotes peaceful societies and an end to all forms of violence.

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Protection against crime and violence Across age segments

≤15

≤16 – 30

≤ 31 – 45

≤ 46 – 60

#6

#6

≥ 61

#4

#6

#7

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“The UN MY World survey showed that protection against crime and violence ranks high among all population groups in all regions. Let us therefore work together to develop a post-2015 development agenda that will address the underlying causes of violence and conflict.”

—United Nations Secretary-General, Ban Ki-moon

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Access to clean water & sanitation

7.

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“Access to clean water and sanitation� also gets a consistently high ranking in most groups and regions across the world.

Water scarcity affects more than 40 per cent of the global population and is projected to rise.

Sanitation has been one of the most lagging of all the MDG targets. In 2015, one in three people (2.4 billion) still use unimproved sanitation facilities, including 946 million people who still practice open defecation.

The high ranking of this issue reflects the unfinished business of the MDGs. This is prioritized in Sustainable Development Goal 6: Ensure availability and sustainable management of water and sanitation for all.

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— Access to clean water & sanitation

“I go five times a day to the water well to bring water to my house, three times in the morning and two times in the afternoon. Sometimes I go with my mother, and sometimes I go alone. The water in the well is polluted and not clean, and many kids die as a result of drinking it. They get fever and diarrhoea for a day or two, then they die. Two of my brothers died this way. I hope for access to clean and pure water, and instead of fetching water, I wish I could go to school.”

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Yemen

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Support for people who can’t work

8.

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Around the world both men and women vote for “Support for people who can’t work” with the issue ranking in eighth place globally. Notably in Oceania and Europe and for countries with a very high HDI, the issue ranks far lower in thirteenth place on average. This could be a consequence of well performing social protection systems — such as pensions, disability insurance and maternity leave — which are already in place to support those who cannot work. This is consistent with the trend in education levels as well — people with a higher education see the issue as less important, perhaps reflecting increased job opportunities.

“Support for people who can’t work” is reflected in Sustainable Development Goal 1, to end poverty in all its forms everywhere; and in Goal 8, which calls to achieve full and productive employment and decent work for all, including for youth and people with disabilities.

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— Support for people who can’t work “I have bad eyesight. During the day, I can try to find housekeeping work, but at night I pretty much cannot see anything. I don’t have money to see a doctor. Last year, the joints in my right hand hurt so much that I could barely pick up chopsticks. I only went to the doctor because I couldn’t do work. The doctor said the pain in my hand is due to constantly soaking my hand in freezing water while working, and told me to rest for three months. I’m not young anymore, and resting for three months means I wouldn’t be able to find work later. If I can’t make money, I won’t even be able to pay my rent. This gave me insomnia at night, and taking a few hundred RMB’s worth of medicine didn’t help. I got better slowly after four months.

I’m old and I have bad eyesight, what do I do from now on?”

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Yangzhou, China

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“ Oceania and Notably in

and for countries

This could be a consequence of

protection 60

Europe with a very high HDI the issue ranks far lower.

well performing social

systems.

�

61

Better transport & roads

9.

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Africa prioritizes “Better transport and roads” higher compared with other regions, ranking it fifth. Interestingly, the People’s Republic of China places “Better transport and roads” as the most important priority.

This could possibly be linked to both regions sharing similar characteristics of expanding economies and markets, and the increasing need for better infrastructure and transportation. There seems to be a correlation with the level of HDI, as HDI increases the prioritization of better transport and roads.

The majority of people who voted for “Better transport and roads” are young people, which may suggest their greater reliance on public transportation This priority is reflected in Goal 11, which calls for providing access to safe, affordable, accessible and sustainable transport systems for all and improving road safety.

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— Better transport & roads

“My eyes are constantly sharp when I ride my motorcycle. I am a road inspector and sincerely believe that good infrastructure is one of the most important things for development. Look at the road ahead of us. It’s the main road between Kinshasa and Libreville and look at the status. We really have to improve it in order to foster international trade. And believe me, together with the Chinese we try; step-by-step our road network improves!”

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Nyanga, Democratic Republic of the Congo

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“

The majority of people who voted for ‘Better transport

young which may suggest their greater reliance

66

and roads’ are

people, on public

transportation.

”

67

Equality between men & women 10.

68

“Equality between men and women� ranks tenth globally in the survey. As might be expected, female voters rank the issue more highly than male voters but only by a small margin.

There is a correlation between the prioritization of the issue and education levels.

The more educated a voter identifies him or herself, the more highly he or she prioritizes the issue.

Despite great strides, women continue to face discrimination in access to work, economic assets and participation in private and public decisionmaking. Women earn 24 per cent less than men globally.

This is essential to the successful realization of the next development agenda, reflected in Sustainable Development Goal 5: Achieve gender equality and empower all women and girls.

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— Equality between men and women

“I am a girl but most of the time people think I am like a guy. It’s because of my behavior. People in Togo are not used to girls who are very outspoken and straightforward. For me it doesn’t matter because I like the way I am. I understand that it can be difficult for others but I really believe that we, women, have to take the power ourselves.”

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Miwoe, Togo

71

“

Equality between

men and successful

72

women

is essential to the

realization of the next development agenda.

�

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Reliable energy at home

11.

74

Although “Reliable energy at home� ranks eleventh globally, in low HDI countries the issue ranks in sixth place. This higher prioritization may be indicative of the cross-cutting repercussions of unreliable energy at home, affecting livelihoods for those without.

In richer countries, people who voted for this issue may be reflecting a concern about dependence on natural resources for energy.

This priority is reflected in Sustainable Development Goal 7: Ensure access to affordable, reliable, sustainable and modern energy for all.

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— Reliable energy at home

“If the village were to get electricity I could finally buy electric clippers. These old tools are so slow, and because of this I’m losing my clients to the barbershops in town. I’d also like to have a real cement floor here and a new rooftop too. But it all starts with those clippers. If I had electricty and clippers, I could do enough business to make all those other improvements too.”

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Mayange, Rwanda

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Freedom from discrimination & persecution

12.

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“Freedom from discrimination and persecution� ranks notably higher among very high HDI countries, this may reflect increased awareness on issues of discrimination, especially among more educated voters.

When we triangulate this data with analysis of social media conversations, we see recurring issues such as LGBTQ rights and racial discrimination.

This priority is reflected within Sustainable Development Goal 10, which seeks to empower and promote the social, economic and political inclusion of all, irrespective of age, sex, disability, race, ethnicity, origin, religion or economic or other status. It is also reflected in Goal 16, which promotes peaceful and inclusive societies for sustainable development and providing access to justice for all.

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Freedom for discrimination and persecution Ranking by demographic segments Low HDI

Medium HDI

High HDI

#9 #12 #14 80

Very High HDI

#9

“Life for black transgender women from a working class background is hard. I live in a country where my blackness, my trans-ness and womanhood is under constant surveillance. From opening a bank account and having to issue your identity document, to navigating through public spaces, there is a strong culture that indulges on violence against transgender communities. I am unashamedly transgender: I wear my beauty, my complexities with a lot of pride. Even in this world that insists that I don’t exist: I am here and I am affirmed in my voice.”

— Katlego, Cape Town, South Africa 81

“

“Freedom from discrimination

ranks notably higher among very high

this may reflect increased

discrimination

82

and persecution�

HDI countries, awareness on issues of

especally among

more educated voters.

�

83

Political freedoms

13.

84

“Political freedoms” ranks thirteenth in the global data set. However, in countries with low HDI the issue ranks much higher — in ninth place — reflecting a need to enshrine political freedoms in poorer countries.

Regionally, the highest ranking of the issue is in Western Africa where “Political freedoms” ranks in sixth place, ahead of “Access to water and sanitation” and “Affordable and nutritious food.”

“Political freedoms” is prioritized within Sustainable Development Goal 16, which calls to protect fundamental freedoms, in accordance with national legislation and international agreements.

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— Political freedoms

“Life was simple when I was young.

As a kid, we simply played. The circumstances were not always easy: as a Palestinian, I was born in a refugee camp in Iraq, just like my dad. But I have good memories of growing up in the camp. Difference came with the years. The harassment from police because of my Palestinian ID card was one thing, but the Islamic State was a whole other thing.

My friend died on my chest after being hit by their bullets. There was nothing I could do. Sometimes I am afraid. Afraid about what comes next!

One day I hope to travel like a free man, nothing having to worry about anything!”

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Iraq

87

Protecting forests, rivers & oceans

14.

88

“Protecting forests, rivers and oceans” is similar to “Freedom from discrimination and persecution,” a comparatively higher priority for countries with very high HDI in relation to countries with low, medium and high HDI. As only less than 4% of global votes come from countries with very high HDI, such as Western Europe, this priority ranks relatively low when only reviewing global results.

This priority is reflected in three Sustainable Development Goals. Goal 6 calls to protect and restore-water related ecosystems, including rivers and lakes. Goal 14 calls to conserve and sustainably use the oceans, seas and marine resources for sustainable development.

Lastly, Goal 15 calls to protect, restore and promote sustainable use of terrestrial ecosystems, sustainably manage forests, combat desertification, and halt and reverse land degradation and halt biodiversity loss.

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— Protecting forests, rivers & oceans

“Over 80 per cent of Gabon’s surface is covered by forest.

It’s something we have to respect, and even more important, to protect. The impact of forests reaches much further than its physical borders. It provides 7 billion people with clean air everyday. And you know what? It does not differentiate between the color of one’s skin, their nationality, gender or sexuality. Think about it… it’s something we all can learn from!”

90

Libreville, Gabon

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Phone & internet access

15.

92

People who have voted via mobile rank the priority considerably higher, at eighth place, than those who voted through offline channels, who ranked it fourteenth. This may reflect the increased awareness of the benefits of technology for those with access to it.

It is a higher priority for younger people; this may be viewed as the next generation’s stronger familiarity and utility of technology.

The number of mobile-cellular subscriptions has grown almost tenfold in the last 15 years, from 738 million in 2000 to over 7 billion in 2015. However, only one third of the population in developing regions use the Internet, compared to 82 per cent in the developed regions.

This priority is reflected within Sustainable Development Goal 9, which calls to increase access to information and communications technology and strive to provide universal and affordable access to the Internet in least developed countries by 2020.

93

Phone and internet access The following trend analysis shows how “Phone and internet access� is prioritized differently depending on how the voter accessed the survey.

Website

94

Offline

Mobile

“Five months ago, I moved from Shanghai to here (Shenzhen) for work, my whole family is still at home.

I’m here by myself, and I constantly want to call my family but long distance calls are expensive and my income isn’t very high.”

— Anonymous, Shanghai, China

95

Action taken on climate change

16.

96

“Action taken on climate change” ranks sixteenth globally, however there are notable exceptions.

As HDI increases so does the perceived importance of “Action taken on climate change”.

The issue can also been seen in many of the other priorities. Some of those ranked more highly — “Affordable and nutritious food”, “Access to clean water and sanitation”, “Protecting forests, rivers and oceans” — are directly affected by climate change and could be seen as ‘proxy votes’ for action taken on the issue.

Global emissions of carbon dioxide have increased by over 50 per cent since 1990.

Addressing the unabated rise in greenhouse gas emissions and the resulting likely impacts of climate change, such as altered ecosystems, weather extremes and risks to society, remains an urgent, critical challenge for the global community. Sustainable Development Goal 13 calls on the world to take urgent action to combat climate change and its impacts.

97

MY World Regional Trends on “Action Taken on Climate Change” The following trend analysis shows how “climate change” ranks higher in different regions of the world.

Africa

(2,132,134 Votes)

Asia

(3,521,283 Votes)

Americas (2,393,546 Votes)

Europe

(233,070 Votes)

Oceania (78,962 Votes)

10 th 11 th 12 th

16 th

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16 th

“Everything is different now: the seasons, the temperatures, the rain. We used to plant things in August in preparation for the September rains, but it doesn’t rain much in September anymore. It rains earlier now.

The thing is, when the climate changes we have to change along with it. But I’ll tell you, it’s hard to convince a farmer to change her ways. Many of the others didn’t believe me when I first started talking to them about climate change.”

—Anonymous, Mayange, Kigali, Rwanda 99

“

Affordable food, water and sanitation,

are directly affected by

climate

and could be seen as

‘proxy votes’

100

protecting forests, rivers and oceans—

change for action taken

on the issue.

” 101

2.

The Stories within MY World

“I’m happy to stand firm and echo my thoughts. I used to think of the UN as a high-level organ that is not close to people. But now, we are sitting together and the UN is hearing my ideas on how I see the future.”

—Latifah Mugorewishyaka Mukarange Sector, Kayonza District, Rwanda.

104

MY World: Reaching voters off-line New Delhi Waste Pickers

Waste pickers in India Chintan, an environmental justice NGO in Delhi, India, partnered with a team of eight students from the British School in the city to carry out the MY World survey in a community of trash and rag pickers who live and work in Delhi’s landfills.

This is an example of the many extraordinary efforts by MY World partners to reach out to marginalized communities around the world.

The priorities of the 112 community members were distinct. They ranked “Better job opportunities” as their top priority, while “Affordable and nutritious food” and “Access to clean water and sanitation” ranked much higher when compared with global results.

105

One of the beauties of the MY World disaggregated partner data is that it is able to show which issues particularly impact the lives of particular groups, in this case the waste pickers and their families. Interestingly, “A good education” still ranked extremely highly, (second), and an “An honest and responsive government” came fourth.

With its aim to promote justice and be the voice that brings people’s struggles to light, the Chintan project went hand-in-hand with MY World.

106

“Poverty alleviation alone as a goal cannot be achieved and will not be a solution for these communities, unless the real needs of these waste picker communities are understood and addressed.”

—The British School, New Delhi

107

Chintan Environmental Dataset (New Delhi Waste Pickers) Better job opportunities A good education Access to clean water and sanitation Affordable and nutritious food An honest and responsive government Better healthcare Reliable energy at home Support for people who can’t work Freedom from discrimination and persecution Protection against crime and violence Equality betwen men and women Phone and internet access Political freedoms Better transport and roads Protecting forests rivers and oceans Action taken on climate change

108

105 77 73 73 70 51 44 36 35 32 25 18 12 10 6 5 109

MY World ­—Reaching voters via mobile phone technology While the majority of votes have come through paper ballots, emerging mobile technologies have provided novel means of reaching people in communities otherwise difficult to access.

MY World tested approaches across SMS, Interactive Voice Response (IVR) and featurephone applications in order to reach as many people as efficiently as possible.

However, our experience has shown there are considerable challenges in reaching people via mobile phones, both in terms of response rates, the 360-degree marketing required and, perhaps most significantly, because of the gender gap in mobile phone access and ownership.

Of the almost 500,000 votes gathered through mobile, more than 70% were from men.

Despite these challenges, mobile proved to be a useful tool in reaching out to communities that would otherwise have been difficult to engage.

110

471,715 votes via mobile

119,319 25%

Gender

336,728 71%

Male

Female 111

In the Democratic Republic of the Congo, 15,000 people were able to vote through their mobile phones and in Yemen about 200,000 people have been polled thanks to multi-sector efforts there.

There is huge optimism about the possibilities of using new technology to improve data collection, and through that to improve transparency and accountability. Much of that is justified. But the old problems — making sure that data is representative and doesn’t reflect existing biases and inequalities — apply to new technologies as much as to more traditional ways of collecting data.

112

“ novel means Emerging mobile technologies

have provided

people

of reaching

in communities otherwise

difficult to access.

�

113

3.

The Next Step:

A Global & inclusive agenda for people & planet

From 8 Million to 7 Billion Approximately 1 in every 1,000 people on the planet has had their say on what matters most to them through MY World 2015. Their answers have been shared with policy makers at all levels and have been a critical input into forming the new 17 Global Sustainable Development Goals which are designed to root out extreme poverty, address inequalities and preserve the planet.

Building on the awareness from MY World and the World We Want platforms, plans have already begun to make the newly- agreed Goals “famous�. The idea is that every person on the planet will know what the goals are. Once agreed, the plan is to deliver the goals, in a concise and understandable form, to 7 billion people in 7 days, using a massive cross-media strategy and grass-root activations. This mass dissemination will make the new agenda a collective responsibility —both for leaders and citizens.

With an informed global population committed to making them happen, we can ensure that these Sustainable Development Goals achieve transformative change and leave no one behind.

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In addition, the UN Millennium Campaign is working with youth groups and coalitions such as Action/2015 who are gathering grassroots-support and creating awareness of the importance of taking action. Organizations like theirs have built a worldwide movement for action, using digital and traditional media and inclusive in-person events to raise levels of awareness and interest in the new Goals.

With the Goals agreed, the focus will now be on creating national blueprints that are correctly financed and to ensure, strengthen and support real participation of all people, especially those living in poverty and marginalization in the accountable implementation of these Sustainable Development Goals. UNMC is building out the next phase of MY World which will facilitate this process by encouraging localization and real-time dialogue with citizens at all levels; local, national and regional to not only report back on progress but to be part of the solution too!

Working together we can be the generation that ends poverty, fights inequality and preserves the planet.

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new agenda a collective responsibility —

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“

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falls upon a be great. great generation.

“

— Nelson Mandela

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MY World is an initiative led by:

Strategic Partners:

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For the latest MY World results, visit:

http://data.myworld2015.org

For more ‘human stories’ behind MY World votes, visit:

http://facebook.com/HOMY2015

For a complete list of acknowledgments please visit:

http://blog.myworld2015.org/8million/

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