The Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation's prestigious Goalkeepers 2024 event, held in New York City, celebrated remarkable leaders who are making strides towards the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (Global Goals), particularly in addressing malnutrition and health in a rapidly warming world. Among the honorees was Dr. Jemimah Njuki, Kenya's chief of economic empowerment at UN Women, recognized for her tireless efforts in championing women's empowerment as a key solution to improving food security and nutrition for children and families, especially in the face of climate change.
Dr. Njuki's work, which spans over 20 years in Africa and Asia's agriculture sectors, has significantly impacted global efforts to reduce malnutrition, advance gender equality, and build resilience against climate-related challenges. She was named one of the 2024 Goalkeepers Champions, a group of exceptional individuals who are leading initiatives that align with the Global Goals, particularly in addressing malnutrition and health in a rapidly warming world.
Recognized for her contributions to empowering women economically, Dr. Njuki's work highlights the critical role that gender equality plays in addressing food security. By ensuring that women are empowered within the agriculture sector, she has influenced positive outcomes for family nutrition, particularly for children in vulnerable communities.
“Women are central to agriculture in many regions, and by empowering them, we can vastly improve food security and nutrition, especially as we face the growing challenges posed by climate change,” said Dr. Njuki during her recognition at the event.
Dr. Njuki was honored alongside other global leaders spearheading innovative solutions to some of the world's most pressing challenges. These 2024 Goalkeepers Champions include:
- Dr. Zahra Hoodbhoy (Pakistan): A pediatrician and child health expert at the Aga Khan University, Dr. Hoodbhoy is working on next-generation prenatal vitamins and AI tools to tackle maternal and child health in low-resource settings.
- Saul Guerrero Oteyza (Mexico): As UNICEF's senior advisor on financing for child nutrition and development, Oteyza is championing increased investment in nutrition programs.
- Dr. Muhammad Ali Pate (Nigeria): The coordinating minister for health and social welfare of Nigeria, Dr. Pate is leading the charge on strengthening health systems and tackling malnutrition.
- Dr. Manisha Chandra-Bhattacharya (India): A renowned scientist and advocate for children's health, Dr. Chandra-Bhattacharya is working to ensure that all children have access to nutritious food.
- Dr. Tesfaye Lemma (Ethiopia): A leading expert on child nutrition, Dr. Lemma is working to improve nutrition outcomes for children in Ethiopia.
- Dr. Christy Turlington Burns (United States): The founder and president of Every Mother Counts, Burns is an advocate for improving maternal health outcomes.
- Dr. Marcus Samuelsson (United States): An award-winning celebrity chef and philanthropist, Samuelsson is using his platform to raise awareness about food insecurity and malnutrition.
- Mr. Jon Batiste (United States): An award-winning musician and composer, Batiste is using his music and platform to raise awareness about the challenges of hunger and malnutrition.
- Dr. Renuka Singh (Bangladesh): A public health expert, Dr. Singh is working to improve the health and well-being of children in Bangladesh.
- Dr. Marie-Roseline Ntumazah (Rwanda): A leading nutritionist and public health expert, Dr. Ntumazah is working to improve nutrition outcomes for children in Rwanda.
The recognition of Dr. Njuki and the other champions comes on the heels of the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation's eighth annual Goalkeepers report, “A Race to Nourish a Warming World.” The report stresses the urgent need for global action to combat malnutrition, particularly as climate change threatens to exacerbate food insecurity. It estimates that without immediate action, climate change could lead to an additional 40 million cases of childhood stunting and 28 million cases of wasting by 2050.
Mark Suzman, CEO of the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, commended the 2024 champions for their work, noting that their efforts are crucial in addressing the growing challenges posed by climate change. “Leaders like Dr. Njuki are driving progress by empowering women and scaling up solutions to ensure that children worldwide get the nutrition they need,” he said.
The Goalkeepers 2024 event, which took place during United Nations General Assembly week, highlighted opportunities to ensure better nutrition for all so everyone can reach their full potential.
