Jamie Drummond: Let's crowd-source the world's goals

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This section introduces the concept of the Millennium Development Goals and their significance.

The Significance of the Year 2000

• The year 2000 was highly anticipated and marked by events such as Y2K and the dotcom bubble.

• There was a collective desire for the new millennium to hold greater meaning.

• World leaders agreed on visionary, measurable, long-term targets called the Millennium Development Goals in 2000.

Assessing Progress on the Millennium Development Goals

• Developing countries committed to reducing extreme poverty, hunger, and disease-related deaths by half by 2015.

• Developed nations pledged support through debt reduction, increased aid, and trade reform.

• As we approach 2015, it is important to evaluate progress made towards these goals.

Building on Achievements

• Partnerships between various sectors have led to significant achievements in areas like HIV/AIDS treatment and malaria prevention.

• These efforts have resulted in millions of lives saved and a substantial decrease in child mortality rates.

• Communicating this progress effectively remains a challenge.

Unfinished Business

• Despite notable achievements, there are still challenges to address.

• Millions of children die each year from preventable diseases, while many suffer from malnutrition.

• There is a need to focus on existing goals while considering additional targets like sustainable development and fighting corruption.

Involving People Worldwide

• A proposal is made for a global poll and consultation using web platforms and mobile technology.

• This would allow people from all around the world to have an equal voice in shaping future goals.

• The involvement of social media giants, telecom companies, reality TV formats, etc., could help engage billions of people.

Steps in the Crowdsourcing Campaign

• The campaign would begin by collecting core polling data from diverse populations, including the poorest and those without access to technology.

• Baseline surveys and big data analysis would be used to monitor progress effectively.

• Connecting with a large crowd through social media, telecoms, and other platforms is crucial for widespread participation.

The Potential Impact

• With global participation, this crowdsourcing campaign could involve millions of people and have a significant impact on aid allocation and the future well-being of individuals and families.

Timestamps are approximate.

The Power of Open Data and Crowdsourcing

In this section, the speaker discusses the importance of commitment, iteration, monitoring, and feedback in delivering results. They highlight examples from Africa such as Open Data Kenya and Ushahidi that utilize geocoding and crowdsourcing to gather information about projects and complex emergencies.

Leveraging Open Data and Crowdsourcing for Results

• Open Data Kenya geocodes and crowdsources project information to ensure delivery of results.

• Ushahidi uses geocoding and crowdsourcing in complex emergencies to target responses effectively.

The Need for Bottom-Up Decision Making

The speaker emphasizes the need for bottom-up decision making in global governance. They discuss long-term trends such as population increases, consumption patterns, conflict over natural resources, and the current state of global politics. They believe that citizens' involvement in deciding what the world should work on together can reinvigorate global governance.

Addressing Global Challenges through Bottom-Up Decision Making

• Long-term trends indicate challenges ahead due to population growth, consumption patterns, and conflicts over resources.

• Current global politics struggle to address these challenges effectively.

• Citizens' involvement in bottom-up decision making can help reinvigorate global governance.

Progress Towards Poverty Reduction

The speaker reflects on progress made towards poverty reduction since 2000. They mention the Make Poverty History campaign as an example of raising awareness. Despite initial skepticism, poverty rates have been decreasing globally due to efforts in China, India, and recently Africa.

Progress Towards Zero Poverty by 2030

• Make Poverty History campaign raised awareness about poverty reduction.

• Empirical evidence shows a decreasing trend in living under $1.25 per day.

• Efforts in China, India, and Africa contribute to poverty reduction.

• Challenges remain as poverty concentrates in post-conflict and middle-income states.

Communicating Success and Amplifying Voices

The speaker discusses the challenge of effectively communicating success stories and results. They highlight the need to better communicate the impact of smart aid and involve more voices in global conferences to drive better policy-making.

Overcoming Communication Challenges for Development Success

• Results of successful aid efforts are not effectively communicated to the public.

• Creative communication strategies can amplify success stories.

• Global conferences like the Mexican G20 and Rio Earth Summit can make a difference with increased public involvement.

The Invisible Impact of Child Mortality Reduction

The speaker highlights the discrepancy between media coverage of tragedies and ongoing child mortality reduction efforts. They express frustration at the lack of awareness about the significant decrease in child deaths each day, emphasizing the need for better communication.

Addressing Discrepancies in Media Coverage

• Media focuses on immediate tragedies rather than long-term progress.

• Significant reductions in child mortality go unnoticed by the public.

• Better communication is needed to raise awareness about ongoing child mortality reduction efforts.

Timestamps have been associated with bullet points as requested.