Exclusive: New York- The world’s population will top seven billion people in October 2011. This unique moment in human history represents both an achievement and a challenge, and will have an impact on every single person on the planet.

A world of seven billion has implications for sustainability, urbanization, access to health services and youth empowerment – however, it also offers a rare call-to-action opportunity to renew global commitment for a healthy and sustainable world.

As the United Nations agency responsible for marking this milestone, the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) is leading an innovative global campaign—7 Billion Actions—to build awareness around the opportunities and challenges of a world of seven billion people. UNFPA has enlisted a wide group of corporations, organizations, and individuals to deliver this unique initiative, using online, mobile and offline actions to tell the story of the people behind the number.

The initiative – Objectives

7 Billion Actions aims to achieve two key objectives:

Building global awareness around the opportunities and challenges associated with a world of seven billion people.

Inspiring governments, NGOs, private sector, media, academia and individuals to take actions that will have a socially positive impact.

Themes

The campaign will build awareness around seven key issues, then count the activities the campaign stimulates to address them. The issues are:

Poverty and inequality;
Women and girls empowerment;
Reproductive health and rights;
Young people;
Ageing population;
Environment;
Urbanization.

Timing

The campaign’s key launching activities will take place in September and October, culminating on “7 Billion day” (31st October, 2011).

Given the campaign's intention to inform, mobilize and collate actions on several development priorities, the duration of the campaign extends well beyond 2011 and into 2012, with significant initiatives taking place at major United Nations milestones. Review processes related to the MDGs, the International Conference on Population and Development (ICPD) Programme of Action at 20, the United Nations Conference on Environment and Development at Rio + 20 anniversary, are some of these global events.

Further, the Campaign will also feed into ongoing global efforts including the Secretary-General's initiative for Women's and Children's Health and the Global Campaign to End Violence Against Women, the Madrid at ten Conference on Ageing, fora on climate change and many more.

The Campaign will draw from and provide significant strategic input to several UN policy platforms, including the work of Regional Commissions, Human Rights, as well as the Commissions on population and development, social development and statistics.

Partners

UNFPA is coordinating the 7 Billion Actions initiative, but it is owned by many partners. The initiative is open to all organizations and individuals committed to addressing the most challenging issues of our time, and willing to share their stories to inspire others to take actions to improve a world of seven billion people.

As an open-source endeavor, partnerships are key to campaign success. UNFPA is reaching out to partner organizations in the UN system, NGO community, private sector and academia to join this unique initiative.

What’s the benefit of becoming a partner?

By joining the 7 Billion Actions campaign, partners will have a unique opportunity to expand the visibility and outreach of their work, and leverage support to their causes. Thanks to the collaboration and creativity of existing partners from different sectors, the campaign has the potential of reaching almost all people online in the world.  Partners can benefit from this, by:

Position your organization on 7 Billion Actions

Connecting the vision of each participant to a broader development initiative. This campaign touches upon different issues, including poverty, gender equality, maternal and reproductive  health, environment and urbanization, among many others, giving a wide overview of the status and challenges of human development.  By framing their vision under the 7 Billion Actions initiative, partners will be able to better position their work and draw attention to their specific issues.

Illustrating the exponential effect and impact that each partner’s work can have on global dynamics.  Organizations of all kinds, in every part of the world, are creating innovative programmes that address issues associated with a world of 7 billion. For example, Women Deliver, a global advocacy organization bringing together voices from around the world, is working since 2007 to call for action against maternal death. 7 Billion Actions wants to build on what partners such as Women Deliver are doing, amplifying their work. By sharing their organization’s stories through the campaign platform, our partners they will inspire others to take action.

Broader outreach

Reaching new constituents, in particular young people, the primary users of the innovative mobile technology and social media that powers the campaign. 7 Billion Actions will nurture the interest and support of a new generation of young adults in specific development issues and in the organizations which support them;

Leveraging the media attention through the campaign’s news room and team of journalists, who will be looking for good stories from partners related to the 7 key issues;

Linking your organization’s website to the campaign’s shared platform, attracting new audiences and activists.

Strengthened partnerships

Joining this collaborative effort supported by the private sector, UN agencies, foundations, NGOs, individuals and academia, organizations can benefit from collaboration with new partners and subsequently develop partnerships. When sharing their stories through the platform partners will be linked to other organizations that work in the same area, increasing their networking opportunities.

Contact Us:

Mr. Alvaro Serrano
7 Billion Actions Campaign Manager
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Telephone: +1 212 297 5036
Cell: +1 917 213 7307

Ms. María F. Ruiz de Larrinaga
Campaign Coordinator
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Telephone: +1 212 297 4957

Private Sector and Foundations:
Ms. Nicole Carta
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Telephone:+ 1 212 297 5242

NGOs:
Ms. Nobuko Takahashi
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Telephone: +1 212 297 5386

Ms. Noemi Espinoza
NGO Partnerships
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Telephone: +1

United Nations System:
Ms. Azza Karam
UN Partnerships
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Telephone: +1 212 297 5255

Ms. Katja Iversen
UN Partnerships
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Telephone: +1 917 403 3063

News Room:
Ms. Lindsay McKinley
News Room Coordinator
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Telephone: +1 212 642 7742

Mr. Omar Gharzeddine
News Room Coordinator
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Telephone: 212 297-5028

Source: http://www.7billionactions.org/about

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