-- New Sub-national Data Shows Surprising and Significant Progress, but Huge 
Gaps Remain, Driven by Gender and Geography

The Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation today launched its third annual Goalkeepers 
Data Report ( https://www.gatesfoundation.org/goalkeepers/report/2019-report/), 
which features new data showing that while progress on health and development 
continues unabated, global inequality remains a major barrier to achieving the 
U.N. Sustainable Development Goals (Global Goals). 

Even in the worst-off parts of low- and low-middle-income countries, more than 
99 percent of communities have seen an improvement in child mortality and 
schooling. Yet despite this progress, persistent gaps in opportunity mean that 
nearly half a billion people -- about one in 15 -- still do not have access to 
basic health and education.

Gaps between countries, districts, and boys and girls prove that the world's 
investments in development aren't reaching everyone. Using new sub-national 
data, the report uncovers the vast inequalities within countries that are 
masked by averages. 

Where you're born is still the biggest predictor of your future, and no matter 
where you're born, life is harder if you're a girl. Despite gains in female 
educational attainment, opportunities for girls are limited by social norms, 
discriminatory laws and policies, and gender-based violence.

"As we write, billions of people are projected to miss the targets that we all 
agreed represent a decent life," Bill and Melinda Gates write in the 
Goalkeepers Data Report, "Examining Inequality 2019," which they co-authored. 
"We believe that seeing where the world is succeeding will inspire leaders to 
do more, and seeing where the world is falling short will focus their 
attention."

To address persistent inequality, Bill and Melinda Gates are calling for a new 
approach to development, targeting the poorest people in the countries and 
districts that need to make up the most ground. Governments should prioritize 
primary health care to deliver a health system that works for the poorest, 
digital governance to ensure that governments are responsive to their 
least-empowered citizens, and more support for farmers to help them adapt to 
climate change's worst effects.

Bill and Melinda Gates will produce a Goalkeepers Data Report every year 
through 2030, timing it to the annual gathering of world leaders in New York 
City for the U.N. General Assembly. The report is designed to track progress in 
achieving the Global Goals, highlight examples of success, and inspire leaders 
around the world to accelerate their efforts. The goal is to identify both 
what's working and where we're falling short. 

As in past years, in conjunction with the report, Bill and Melinda Gates will 
co-host the third annual Goalkeepers ( 
https://c212.net/c/link/?t=0&l=en&o=2582772-1&h=255129646&u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.gatesfoundation.org%2Fgoalkeepers%2F&a=Goalkeepers 
) events in New York City during the U.N. General Assembly, convening global 
leaders to celebrate progress in global health and development and highlight 
the critical importance of closing the global inequality gap to achieve the 
Global Goals. 

NOTES TO EDITORS

About the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation

Guided by the belief that every life has equal value, the Bill & Melinda Gates 
Foundation works to help all people lead healthy, productive lives. In 
developing countries, it focuses on improving people's health and giving them 
the chance to lift themselves out of hunger and extreme poverty. In the United 
States, it seeks to ensure that all people -- especially those with the fewest 
resources -- have access to the opportunities they need to succeed in school 
and life. Based in Seattle, Washington, the foundation is led by CEO Sue 
Desmond-Hellmann and Co-chair William H. Gates Sr., under the direction of Bill 
and Melinda Gates and Warren Buffett.

About Goalkeepers

Goalkeepers is the foundation's campaign to accelerate progress towards the 
Sustainable Development Goals (Global Goals). By sharing stories and data 
behind the Global Goals through events and an annual report, we hope to inspire 
a new generation of leaders -- Goalkeepers who raise awareness of progress, 
hold their leaders accountable, and drive action to achieve the Global Goals.

About the Global Goals

On September 25, 2015, at the United Nations headquarters in New York, 193 
world leaders committed to the 17 Sustainable Development Goals (Global Goals). 
These are a series of ambitious objectives and targets to achieve three 
extraordinary things by 2030: end poverty, fight inequality and injustice, and 
fix climate change.

Media Contact: media@gatesfoundation.org  
Report Link: https://www.gatesfoundation.org/goalkeepers/report/2019-report/

SOURCE Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation