Goalkeepers is an initiative launched by the Gates Foundation in 2017Donald G. McNeil Jr. (18 September 2017), Bill and Melinda Gates Grade the World’s Health New York Times. to bring together leaders from around the world to accelerate progress toward achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDG). The initiative also provides reports and data flow charts over SDGs progress since 1990.Andrew Jack (19 October 2017), Bill and Melinda Gates on the fight against global inequality Financial Times.
Its core event is the annual Goalkeepers Conference (which usually takes place during Global Goals Week and the UN General Assembly) at which the Changemaker Award is bestowed to 'extraordinary individuals who are driving progress in their communities and countries'. Invitations are issued to global leaders and aspiring personalities who have been personally selected by the board. Previous attendees include Barack Obama, Emmanuel Macron, Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva, Amina J. Mohammed, Erna Solberg, Malala Yousafzai, and Trevor Noah.Liz Ford (25 September 2017), Obama: 'The world has never been healthier, wealthier or less violent' The Guardian. Past award winners have included Yusra Mardini, Amika George, Ria Sharma, and Nadia Murad, who later went on to win the Nobel Peace Prize.
Conferences and awards 2025
The 2025 in-person Goalkeepers event was held in September at Jazz at Lincoln Center in New York City.
The winner of the Global Goalkeeper award was: Pedro Sánchez, Prime Minister of SpainJennifer Rigby (23 September 2025), Bill Gates pledges $912 million to global disease fight, urges governments to step up Reuters.
2024
The 2024 in-person Goalkeepers event was held in September at Jazz at Lincoln Center in New York City.
The winner of the Global Goalkeeper award was: Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva, President of Brazil
Further awards went to: Sabin Nsanzimana: Minister of Health of Rwanda Ratan Tata: Former chairman of Tata Group Tahmeed Ahmed: Scientist and physician with research focus on Gastroenterology, Public Health Nutrition, and Global Health Ladidi Kuluwa Bako-Aiyegbusi, Director/Head, Nutrition Department, Nigerian Ministry of Health and Social Welfare Beza Beshah Haile, executive director, HOPE-Spina Bifida and Hydrocephalus Lilian dos Santos Rahal, National Secretary for Food and Nutrition Security, Ministry of Social Development and Assistance, Family and Fight against Hunger, Brazil Bhavani Shankar, Professor of Food Systems, Nutrition and Sustainability, University of Sheffield Jemimah Njuki, Chief, Economic Empowerment at UN Women Zahra Hoodbhoy, Associate Professor, Pediatrics and Child Health, Aga Khan University, Pakistan Nancy Krebs, Professor of Pediatrics, Nutrition, University of Colorado School of Medicine
2023 The fifth in-person Goalkeepers event took place on September 19-20, 2023, in New York City during UNGA week. Featured speakers and performers included:
Bosede Afolabi, Professor of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of Lagos (Nigeria) Karlie Kloss, Founder of Kode With Klossy & entrepreneur Sallie Krawcheck, CEO and Co‑founder of Ellevest Lilly Singh, Entertainer, storyteller, and gender equality advocate Elaine Welteroth, Journalist & New York Times bestselling author Nuseir Yassin, Founder & CEO of Nas Company and Nas Studios
The awards went to:
Fumio Kishida: Global Goalkeeper Award The Farmlink Project: Campaign Award Ashu Martha Agbornyenty: Changemaker Award Eden Tadesse: Progress Award Jimmy and Rosalynn Carter: Lifetime Achievement Award Bono: Voice Award
2022
The fourth in-person Goalkeepers event was held in September 2022 at Jazz at Lincoln Center in New York City. Speakers included: Mia Mottley, Prime Minister of BarbadosMaria Pasquini (22September 2022), Bill and Melinda Gates Reunite for Foundation 1 Year After Divorce: We're 'Completely Committed to This' People.
The winner of the Global Goalkeeper award was: Ursula von der LeyenThalia Beaty (22 September 2022), Gates Foundation prods UN, honors inspiration as Goalkeepers Associated Press.Maria Pasquini (22 September 2022), Bill and Melinda Gates Reunite for Foundation 1 Year After Divorce: We're 'Completely Committed to This' People.
Further awards went to: Zahra Joya: Changemaker AwardThalia Beaty (22 September 2022), Gates Foundation prods UN, honors inspiration as Goalkeepers Associated Press. Vanessa Nakate: Campaign AwardLucy Morgan (21 September 2022), Vanessa Nakate on the power (and challenges) of navigating climate activism as a young woman Glamour. Radhika Batra: Progress AwardLucy Morgan (21 September 2022), ‘It’s never too late to make a difference': Dr Radhika Batra on working to eradicate preventable child blindness Glamour.
2021
The 2021 Goalkeepers conference could not take place physically, due to the COVID-19 pandemic, but had to be held virtually. The winner of the Global Goalkeeper award was: Phumzile Mlambo-NgcukaFrancesca Specter (24 September 2021), Melinda Gates on choosing the Gates Foundation's Annual Goalkeepers Awards Winners: ‘Women and girls need to be front and centre’ Glamour.
Further awards went to: Jenifer Colpas: Changemaker Award Satta Sheriff: Campaign Award Fairooz Faizah: Progress AwardTania Bryer (21 October 2021), Finding Solutions: Mental health awareness in Bangladesh CNBC.
2020
The 2020 Goalkeepers conference could not take place physically, due to the COVID-19 pandemic, but had to be held virtually. The winner of the Global Goalkeeper award was: John Nkengasong, Director of the Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention for being a "relentless proponent of global collaboration and evidence-based public health practices, and a champion for minimizing the social and economic consequences of COVID-19 across the African continent"John Muchangi (1 October 2020), Bill and Melinda Gates recognise Kenyan innovators The Star.Noor Mahtani (7 October 2020), “Nosso objetivo é imunizar 60% da população africana” El País.
The Global Goals awards went to: Bonita Sharma, co-founder and CEO of Social Changemakers and Innovators (SOCHAI) – a youth-led non-profit organization in Nepal Hauwa Ojeifo, founder of She Writes Woman, a women-led movement giving mental health a voice in Nigeria The MASH Project Foundation, a youth led social enterprise based in India that develops and implements support systems for people who work for social causes through partnerships.
2019
The third annual Goalkeepers event was held September 25–26, 2019, at Jazz at Lincoln Center in New York City. Speakers included: Jacinda Ardern, Prime Minister of New ZealandDerek Cheng (25 September 2019), Jacinda Ardern in New York: Only five countries sign up for NZ's trade agreement to tackle climate change The New Zealand Herald. Pedro Sánchez, Prime Minister of SpainPedro Sánchez claims before United Nations that 2030 Agenda is roadmap for Government of Spain Prime Minister of Spain, press release of 25 September 2019. Jennifer Eberhardt Aliko Dangote Senjuti Saha
The Global Goalkeeper Award was given to:
Narendra Modi, Prime Minister of India, for successfully implementing the Swachh Bharat Mission, a cleanliness and sanitation project, including 110 million family and public toilets for poor and middle income families, reducing the Indian open defecation rate from 50% to almost 0% in 3 years.PM Modi Global Goalkeeper award for Swachh Bharat Abhiyan, The Hindu, 25 Sept 2019. He personally makes cleaning initiatives - plogging along the roads and beaches - leading by example to promote mass fitness and cleanliness.PM goes plogging on TN beach, gives Swachh & Fit India drives a big boost, Times of India, 13 October 2019.Ayesha Venkataraman and Jeffrey Gettleman (20 September 2019), As Narendra Modi Heads to U.S., Controversy Follows Him New York Times.
Ahead of the ceremony, human rights groups and three Nobel Peace Prize winners – Shirin Ebadi, Tawakkol Karman and Mairead Maguire – criticized in a letter to the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation the decision to bestow an award upon Modi, stating that under his leadership, “India has descended into dangerous and deadly chaos that has consistently undermined human rights, democracy.’’Vidhi Doshi (12 September 2019), Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation under fire over award for Narendra Modi The Guardian.Dismay at Gates Foundation prize for Narendra Modi The Guardian, 23 September 2019.
The Global Goals awards went to: Payal Jangid: Changemaker AwardRachel DeSantis (2 October 2019), 17-Year-Old Is Fighting to End Child Marriage in India After Escaping It Herself People. Aya Chebbi: Campaign AwardJohn Muchangi (26 September 2019), What Modi's Goalkeepers Award means for Kenya The Star. Gregory Rockson: Progress Award
2018
The second annual Goalkeepers event was held September 25–26, 2018, in New York City. Speakers included:
Emmanuel Macron, President of France Julius Maada, President of Sierra Leone Erna Solberg, Prime Minister of Norway King Kaka
The Global Goals awards went to: Nadia Murad: Changemaker AwardAparna Alluri (23 September 2019), 'Toilet trouble' for Narendra Modi and Bill Gates BBC News. Amika George: Campaign AwardAnnalisa Merelli (27 September 2018), This teen advocate against “period poverty” is the feminist we should all grow up to be Quartz. Cornelia Röper: Changemaker Award Natalie Robi Tingo: Changemaker Award Dysnus Kisilu: Progress Award
2017 The first annual Goalkeepers event was held September 25–26, 2017, at Jazz at Lincoln Center in New York City. Speakers included:
Barack Obama, President of the United StatesJoseph Ax (20 September 2017), In rare public speech, Obama decries Republican healthcare bill Reuters. Justin Trudeau, Prime Minister of Canada Queen Rania of Jordan will.i.am Malala Stephen Fry George The Poet
Advisory board The Goalkeepers program is being advised by several individuals, including the following:
Hervé Berville (since 2022)Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation Appoints New Members to Goalkeepers Advisory Group to Accelerate Progress Toward Global Goals Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, press release of 9 May 2022. Lukas Köhler (2019–2022)The Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation Appoints Goalkeepers Advisory Board to Accelerate Progress on the U.N. Sustainable Development Goals Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, press release of 22 May 2019. Prajakta Koli (since 2022) Tlaleng Mofokeng (since 2022)
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