PANAPRESS
Panafrican News Agency
US: UN, partners launch mobile app on SDGs
New York, US (PANA) - In collaboration with partners, the UN on Monday in New York launched a mobile application, "SDGs Action App", to provide a global forum for governments, the private sector and individuals to raise awareness on the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
PANA in New York reports that, Groupe Special Mobile (GSMA), which represents the interests of mobile operators worldwide, and uniting nearly 800 operators with more than 250 companies in the broader mobile ecosystem, and a non-profit global campaign Project Everyone, partnered with the UN to create the mobile application, which has platforms on associated SDG targets, explanatory videos, key data, and suggestions on how people can take action to help achieve them.
UN Under Secretary-General for Communications and Public Information (DPI), Ms. Cristina Gallach, who spoke at the launch, said: "So many people and groups around the world are already undertaking innovative projects in support of the SDGs."
She said what is special about this mobile app, is that it connects people and activists who want to make a difference in this world, noting that, "SDGs in Action mobile app is so timely, it will bring the 17 Goals closer to people and help make them more understandable and relatable to everyday life."
On his part, the UN Special Adviser on the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, David Nabarro, said that the UN is pleased to be working with GSMA on a multi-year road map for cooperation and harnessing the critical role that the mobile industry can play in advancing the Goals.
"This includes a broad range of efforts in support of the SDGs – from inviting leading companies to join hands and support initiatives on women and children’s health, disaster relief, data collection and analysis, to aligning industry-wide sustainability business practices with the Goals," he said.
Richard Curtis, founder of Project Everyone, noted that the success of the UN Global Goals hinged on the active engagement of citizens and stressed the need to involve everyone on the SDGs implementation.
“This is the year when everyone can start to play a part towards achieving the Global Goals and the SDGs in Action app really is the place to do it," Mr. Curtis said, explaining how exciting it was to play a role in creating the first app to give everyone, everywhere, the opportunity to share with both their friends and world leaders, what they want and how they themselves are taking an action to make it happen.
Mats Granryd, the Director General of GSMA, underscored that the SDG agenda is far-reaching and ambitious – from ensuring healthy lives and promoting well-being to achieving gender equality and making cities and settlements inclusive, safe, resilient and sustainable to helping to combat climate change and its impacts.
"Mobile networks have the power to accelerate this journey in a way that no other technology can, and through the partnership with the United Nations and Project Everyone, we are able to engage industry, governments and individuals in working together to achieve the SDGs," he stated.
He also noted that the app is a dynamic, collaborative tool that puts a spotlight on how innovation is helping to achieve the SDGs, adding that, it includes the latest sustainable development news from around the world as well as case studies that illustrate the mobile industry impact in achieving the goals.
Features – such as sharing, likes, scoring and a leader board – are designed to drive engagement with the app and increase global activity to achieve the SDGs, Mr. Granryd said.
-0- PANA AA/MA 20Sept2016
PANA in New York reports that, Groupe Special Mobile (GSMA), which represents the interests of mobile operators worldwide, and uniting nearly 800 operators with more than 250 companies in the broader mobile ecosystem, and a non-profit global campaign Project Everyone, partnered with the UN to create the mobile application, which has platforms on associated SDG targets, explanatory videos, key data, and suggestions on how people can take action to help achieve them.
UN Under Secretary-General for Communications and Public Information (DPI), Ms. Cristina Gallach, who spoke at the launch, said: "So many people and groups around the world are already undertaking innovative projects in support of the SDGs."
She said what is special about this mobile app, is that it connects people and activists who want to make a difference in this world, noting that, "SDGs in Action mobile app is so timely, it will bring the 17 Goals closer to people and help make them more understandable and relatable to everyday life."
On his part, the UN Special Adviser on the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, David Nabarro, said that the UN is pleased to be working with GSMA on a multi-year road map for cooperation and harnessing the critical role that the mobile industry can play in advancing the Goals.
"This includes a broad range of efforts in support of the SDGs – from inviting leading companies to join hands and support initiatives on women and children’s health, disaster relief, data collection and analysis, to aligning industry-wide sustainability business practices with the Goals," he said.
Richard Curtis, founder of Project Everyone, noted that the success of the UN Global Goals hinged on the active engagement of citizens and stressed the need to involve everyone on the SDGs implementation.
“This is the year when everyone can start to play a part towards achieving the Global Goals and the SDGs in Action app really is the place to do it," Mr. Curtis said, explaining how exciting it was to play a role in creating the first app to give everyone, everywhere, the opportunity to share with both their friends and world leaders, what they want and how they themselves are taking an action to make it happen.
Mats Granryd, the Director General of GSMA, underscored that the SDG agenda is far-reaching and ambitious – from ensuring healthy lives and promoting well-being to achieving gender equality and making cities and settlements inclusive, safe, resilient and sustainable to helping to combat climate change and its impacts.
"Mobile networks have the power to accelerate this journey in a way that no other technology can, and through the partnership with the United Nations and Project Everyone, we are able to engage industry, governments and individuals in working together to achieve the SDGs," he stated.
He also noted that the app is a dynamic, collaborative tool that puts a spotlight on how innovation is helping to achieve the SDGs, adding that, it includes the latest sustainable development news from around the world as well as case studies that illustrate the mobile industry impact in achieving the goals.
Features – such as sharing, likes, scoring and a leader board – are designed to drive engagement with the app and increase global activity to achieve the SDGs, Mr. Granryd said.
-0- PANA AA/MA 20Sept2016
