Media CenterCRS PARTNERS WITH NETHOPE TO PUBLISH TECHNOLOGY GUIDE FOR ACHIEVING SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT GOALS

CRS joins NetHope in publishing an innovative guide that equips organizations to use technology as they work to achieve the United Nations (UN) Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). The SDGs are a proposed set of targets and framework by the UN for public and private actors to address global challenges over the next 15 years.

Baltimore, Maryland, Sept.29 –In partnership with the leading international nonprofit NetHope, Catholic Relief Services (CRS) has published the SDG ICT Playbook: From Innovation to, in collaboration with sponsors Intel Corporation, Microsoft, and CDW.

Intended for senior managers in nonprofits and governments, the SDG ICT Playbook investigates the use of Information Communications Technology (ICT) as a strategic enabler to accelerate progress against Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). The report includes recommendations to organizations regarding investment choices they make in technology to address needs within each development sector, and outlines approaches to implementing those technologies.

CRS’s Chief Knowledge Officer Carol Bothwell, Vice President of Global Knowledge and Information Management Organization, served as the guide’s lead author and executive editor.  

Carolyn Woo, CRS President and Chief Executive Officer stated, “The International NGOs that comprise NetHope’s membership are privileged to do the work they do in serving poor and vulnerable communities around the world.  To continue to earn that privilege, we must up our game and embrace the innovation and partnerships that ICT enables to make sustainable development a reality.”

CRS firmly believes that technologies are key to accelerating the end to poverty and inequality – an essential enabler of all nations’ ability to develop a strong, viable local economy and to offer a safe, inclusive, and healthy environment to all its citizens, now and for decades to come. 

“The SDGs are a unique opportunity for diverse players to work together to improve the lives of millions,” said NetHope’s Chief Executive Officer, Lauren Woodman. “Reaching the SDGs are critical to end poverty, protect the planet and ensure prosperity for all. To make meaningful progress, we need to make the best tools available, use them, and elevate knowledge and resource sharing to tackle these extraordinary tasks.”

Michael Jacobson, Director of Corporate Responsibility at Intel also values the SDG opportunity, “The SDGs represent a global, multi-stakeholder, action-oriented commitment and an opportunity for collaboration on driving economic, social and environmental development for all. ICTs will play a critical role in the implementation of the SDGs by fueling the knowledge economy and creating possibilities, innovation, and sustainable economic empowerment.”

Designed with organizations in mind, the SDG ICT Playbook is a highly useful resource, designed to be both informative and actionable – ensuring that organizations walk away prepared to leverage promising ICT tools against the highest priority challenges our world faces.

“Sustainable development requires the close collaboration of governments, business communities and civil society organizations throughout the world. The need for coordinated action has never been greater, nor has the use of information and communications technology to support that action,” said Kathy Calvin, UN Foundation President & CEO, who authored a Foreword to the Playbook. “It is only through this deliberate and sustained effort that we will collectively accelerate our global achievements in reaching the Sustainable Development Goals.”

NetHope plans to assist the 43 international NGOs in its membership with putting the playbook into practice, so that they may use it to accelerate their field work and impact all over the world.

The full report can be downloaded for free from NetHope’s website at: sdgictplaybook.nethope.org.

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Catholic Relief Services is the official international humanitarian agency of the Catholic community in the United States. The agency alleviates suffering and provides assistance to people in need in more than 100 countries, without regard to race, religion or nationality. CRS’ relief and development work is accomplished through programs of emergency response, HIV, health, agriculture, education, microfinance and peacebuilding.  For more information, visit www.crs.org or www.crsespanol.org.

NetHope empowers committed organizations to change the world through the power of technology. By facilitating collaboration between NetHope’s nonprofit members, foundations, and tech sponsors, NetHope is a catalyst for productive innovation and problem-solving in humanitarian and conservation work. Since its founding in 2001, NetHope has grown to represent 43 international NGOs working on some of the world’s toughest challenges including poverty and hunger, refugee displacement, human trafficking, gender inequality, and environmental protection.