I’m sure you’ve already heard somewhere about the UNDP, or the United Nations Development Program and their global goals for a better world.
Amazing drive, passion, and purpose. Right?
“We start together. We finish together. No one left behind.” – Anonymous
THE UNDP
UNDP works in about 170 countries and territories, helping to eradicate poverty, reduce inequalities and exclusion, and build resilience so countries can sustain progress. They play a critical role in helping countries achieve the Sustainable Development Goals.
UNDP’s 17 Global Goals
UNDP has 17 global goals to be exact. They are:
- No Poverty
- No Hunger
- Global Health & Well-being
- Quality Education
- Gender Equality
- Clean Water & Sanitation
- Affordable and Clean Energy
- Decent Work and Economic Growth
- Industry, Innovation, and Infrastructures
- Reduced Inequalities
- Sustainable Cities & Communities
- Responsible Consumption and Production
- Climate Action
- Life Below Water
- Life on Land
- Peace, Justice, and Strong Institutions
- Partnerships for Goals
BIG GOALS, BIG NUMBERS, BIG ACTIONS
Based on their 17 global goals, it cannot be achieved by a single person and requires participation and cooperation from the majority. Big goals require big numbers and big actions.
In order to achieve its mandate, the UNDP relies entirely on voluntary contributions from the Member States including multilateral organizations, private sectors, and other sources as well in the form of unrestricted regular resources as the core.
REACH THE GOALS BY 2030
The UNDP plans to reach these goals by 2030, and that is their plan of action for us people, the planet, and prosperity.
And it is no secret that these goals are big and very challenging. Just eradicating poverty alone is already one of the greatest global challenges, yet an indispensable requirement for sustainable development.
REQUIRES HELP FROM EVERYBODY
Eradicating poverty is such a huge plan it needs everybody’s commitment, cooperation, and patience before we can achieve progress — and despite all those efforts, it just still wouldn’t be enough.
THE GOALS ARE OVERWHELMING,
But SMALL ACTIONS CONTRIBUTE TO BIGGER GOALS
The goals are admittedly overwhelming, and might even sound unrealistic for some, or the majority of us.
Yet that doesn’t mean we cannot do anything about it — as even tiny acts lead to tiny changes, that eventually get big!
Honestly, I’ve been aware of these goals for a long already and I’ve seen the brochures and all, but didn’t really understand how these things affect me or involve me.
And the reason I never understood that before, is because I see that the goals are very big: “0 poverty, 0 hunger”, so I was like…
“How could I even help with those things? I’m just a regular person from Sweden who cannot do anything to eradicate world poverty and hunger since those goals are too big for me.”
And that made me skeptical.
BUT THEY’RE WORTH THE TRY.
I joined the course today to knowing more and find ways to implement things that help achieve these goals, because even if I thought I couldn’t do anything — the goals are worth a try.
Now that I am learning different ways to help achieve these big goals, I also figured out ways how I can use my business to help. It’s just a matter of trying and finding what works.
I CANNOT FEED THE WORLD
No, I cannot feed the world but that doesn’t mean I cannot take tiny steps contributing to bigger actions.
BUT HAVING A BUSINESS HELPS
If you are a business owner, it is great to use your business as a way to contribute to these big goals.
A SECRET?
A sustainable business lasts longer.
Let me share with you the areas in my business that I can use, and feel free to draw ideas from them on how you can use your business too!
- Good Health & Well-being: I work as a Doctor, and my business is focusing on stress management, helping people be healthy BOTH physically, mentally, and emotionally.
- Quality Education: Education doesn’t end in school, as education is a lifelong process and regardless of our age, we still learn in our everyday lives. In my business, what I teach people is priceless. It’s how you can take care of yourself and others — and judging from recent statistics on mental health, this sounds easier than it actually is.
- Decent Work, Economic Growth: My business is stress management. My target is business leaders and anybody in a leadership position because I’ve always believed in the power of outstanding leadership. With great leaders, come great workers, and so does a great place to work in — with a healthy work environment.
- Responsible Consumption & Production: I care for my resources, both in my business and private life. I also find businesses that care for our planet’s resources, so I buy trees from Kenya in the business called Better Globe — as buying a tree means having a tree planted, which also provides jobs and education to the people there.
- Climate change: As I have mentioned, I buy trees in Kenya monthly, which is very important for their area as it is semi-deserted. The trees grow profit over time, but they aren’t massive since they are trees, so it was really more of being able to do something good and reap the rewards that come with it. A win-win for everybody, plus the planet we live in.
LOOK AT THE BIGGER PICTURE
I was so glad after realizing that I am also able to contribute to achieving a few of the 17 Global Goals, and though I wasn’t sold at first that I cannot do anything about it, I’ve actually been contributing for a long already — in my own little ways!
So don’t fret when you think you can’t do anything about something, and just look at the bigger picture because like me…
You might not know but maybe the answers are already in front of you.
And with all these, I came up with my personal slogan for my business…
“Dr. Annika: Making the Business World Stay Calm and Sustainable, One Boss At a Time”
And like me…
YOU CAN DO THIS, OR EVEN MORE, TOO!
To contributing to the global goals,
