Ted Turner: Annual Bill Gates Letter Places Important Focus on Measurement and Impact

Washington, D.C. (January 30, 2013) – United Nations Foundation Founder and Chairman Ted Turner released the following statement today applauding Bill Gates’ focus on innovation in measurement and impact in his annual report.

“As the global community rallies to achieve the Millennium Development Goals and to make progress toward a healthier, more prosperous world, Bill Gates has offered an important reminder and renewed focus on measurement and evaluation in global development efforts. In his annual letter, Gates makes a powerful case for improving measurement tools and tactics so we can better determine what is working and what can be improved to deliver better results for people and communities everywhere. It is not enough to track progress or collect data. Our measurement must focus on catalyzing progress and fostering learning.

“In recent years, the international community has made important progress in fighting disease, empowering women, lifting people out of poverty and partnering to find more efficient and creative ways to solve persistent problems. Now we must build on this momentum to meet the challenges at hand.  The United Nations Foundation is proud to be a partner of the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation and looks forward to continuing our work together and building on the themes of this year’s annual letter. This is a year of opportunities to bring together UN partners, governments, civil society organizations and businesses on key issues ranging from ending polio to promoting reproductive health to advancing a global dialogue around international development. It is a bold opportunity that belongs to all of us and each of us has a role in creating a better world.”

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Every year Bill Gates shares his annual letter, highlighting the work being done to help the world’s poorest people. This year, he wants to hear from you. What goals do you think we should set to help improve the world for the next generation? What’s your hope for 2030? Learn more at www.myhope2030.org.