What do the world’s leaders agree on?

What do our leaders think are the most important trends in politics and economics? And how could those trends affect World Vision’s work in advocacy, development, relief and micro-finance?

Whether at the United Nations General Assembly in New York (as in the photo above) or at the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland, I'm always interested in taking the pulse of leaders' opinions.

At the 2012 World Economic Forum, I was interviewed live on Facebook about these topics, a great opportunity to connect with more than a million Facebook followers of World Vision’s work. 

In a time of economic gloom, Isaiah’s prescription was very much in my mind: “Spend yourselves on behalf of the hungry and satisfy the needs of the oppressed, then your light will rise in the darkness” (Isaiah 58:10).

To leave the gloom, we’re to put the hungry and oppressed first!

The ‘world’ – in the sense of political, economic and thought leaders – hardly agrees on anything significant. Whether it’s the Euro crisis and trade, or the Iran crisis and global security, those who lead us are unable to reach the agreements that will lead to effective change.

For the poorest women and children, what the powerful decide matters hugely. A recession will impoverish them first, and hit them hardest. Protectionism and self-serving economic responses could create small gains for the wealthy at the cost of huge losses for the poor.

I spent some of my time at Davos reminding leaders of one very important thing they have already agreed on – the Millennium Development Goals.

The fact that they did agree to these ambitious targets looks miraculous in retrospect. Some of the results have been genuinely transformational. With just over three years left to deliver on the Goals, it’s vital that we don’t reduce the momentum.

Business leaders understand that agreed deadlines help focus minds. I participated in a meeting in Davos with UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon and Archbishop Desmond Tutu. We sought to encourage successful entrepreneurs and financiers to devote their skills and resources to the world’s most marginalised people.

World Vision stepped up to the plate two years ago and committed $1.5 billion over five years to the cause of women’s and children’s health. All our offices agreed to participate, through our Child Health Now campaign. That agreement has given us a strong platform to build partnerships and to address the worst injustices.

This campaign is achieving real results. Whole countries can benefit. In our Middle East and Eastern Europe region, for example, the ‘Jump Start’ process has contributed to many successes, including a doubled health budget in Armenia and a complete national sexual health policy in Bosnia Herzegovina.

Because it is such a challenge for leaders to agree on something significant that has a deadline, it’s essential that we don’t squander this window of opportunity.