From Talk to Commitment: The 2020 World Economic Forum in Davos

More than 3,000 people from across the globe came together at the World Economic Forum Annual Meeting in Davos, Switzerland to address some of the most pressing issues on the international agenda. 

Participants spent four days discussing ways to help governments and international institutions make progress on climate change, technology, trade, economic equality and the global health priorities that comprise the United Nation’s Sustainable Development Goals (SDG). 

This year, more than ever before, talk yielded to commitment, and the forum produced some noteworthy outcomes.  

• Johnson & Johnson announced a $250 million investment in the virtual Center for Health Worker Innovation, which addresses the critical need for health workers (especially nurses, midwives and community health personnel) over the next decade. Other goals include improving the quality of care and strengthening community-based health systems
• The Cherie Blair Foundation for Women launched its 100,000 Women Campaign, which aims to raise $13 million for women entrepreneurs over the next three years. Goals include boosting economic equality, injecting the global economy and releasing the potential of women entrepreneurs everywhere. 
• The SDG500, backed by a coalition of public and private organizations, NGOs and a private equity firm, is a blended finance initiative set to invest $500 million in businesses working to achieve these critical goals. For people living in hardship around the globe, the SDGs are key to addressing intergenerational poverty and closing the inequality gaps between and within countries.
• The Rockefeller Foundation and the Mastercard Center for Inclusive Growth announced data.org , a partnership to provide know-how and tools to help mission-driven organizations harness the power of data. The initiative seeks to build the field of data science for social impact. 
• One year after its launch, The Valuable 500 — a global campaign urging companies to put disability on their board agenda — announced that 60 more CEOs have signed on, bringing the total to 240 so far.