UN's Sustainable Development Goals
NOW Partners is fully committed to supporting the realization of the United Nation’s Sustainable Development Goals.
In particular we stand for SDG 17 – Partnership for Goals – because the implementation of all other SDGs depends on collaboration and partnership.
Sustainable Development Goals
in photos
Photo series & text by
NOW Partner Elisabetta Illy
Artist Statement: ‘Tell me a fact and I’ll learn, tell me a truth and I’ll believe, but tell me a story and it will live in my heart forever,” says a Native American proverb. This is why I use photography to raise awareness of the 17 SDGs, so people can see the reality of what they mean and resonate with them on a human level. I use photos to make sustainability accessible.
SDG 1 - No Poverty
Ending poverty in all its forms, everywhere.
Growing inequality is detrimental to economic growth. It increases political and social tensions, drives instability and conflicts.
More than 700 million people, 10% of the world population, still live in extreme poverty and are struggling to fulfill the most basic needs of health, education, access to water and sanitation.
SDG 4 - Quality Education
Ensure inclusive and equitable quality education and promote lifelong learning opportunities for all
Education empowers people to live more healthy and sustainable lives. It is crucial to fostering tolerance between people and contributes to peaceful societies.
Until today, monastic schools have been the most important civil-society institutions bridging the accessibility gap in the education system in Myanmar. While public schooling is not available in many rural regions, there is a monastery in nearly every village. Monastic schools are free of charges and usually provide teaching materials as books for free. Moreover, many monasteries serve both as schools and orphanages.
Globally, 262 million children (55% of global total) remain without access to education and 617 million lack minimum proficiency in reading and mathematics.
SDG 8 - Decent Work and
Economic Growth
Promote sustained, inclusive and sustainable economic growth, full and productive employment and decent work for all.
Sustained and inclusive economic growth can drive progress, create decent jobs for all and improve living standards.
For the past five generations, tea plantation workers have lived in poor housing conditions on isolated plantations as they maintain, pluck, and process each year 675 million pounds of Ceylon tea, which is worth 2% of Sri Lanka’s GDP.
Globally, the COVID-19 pandemic has caused a historic recession with record levels of deprivation and unemployment, creating an unprecedented human crisis that is hitting the poorest hardest.
SDG 17 - Partnering to Achieve Goals
Strengthen the means of implementation and revitalize the global partnership for sustainable development.
The SDGs can only be realized with strong global partnerships and cooperation. A successful development agenda requires inclusive partnerships — at the global, regional, national and local levels — built upon principles and values, and upon a shared vision and shared goals placing people and the planet at the centre.
In Ghana they say ‘When it comes to cocoa, it’s all about teamwork.’ Taking care of cocoa trees, as well as harvesting, drying, and checking the quality of the beans in Ghana is all about collaboration.
For Ghanaian cocoa farmers, it is common knowledge that better quality comes with inclusive cooperation. They work closely with all members of the community, from women and other farmers too, to have better yields.
More about Elisabetta Illy here.>>