Posted on October 19, 2010

Living Proof Campaign Launched to Boost Development Aid

The Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, in partnership with the global advocacy organization ONE, has announced the launch of the Living Proof campaign to challenge stereotypes and misconceptions about development aid.

Launched in London, the campaign will spread the message that effective, affordable solutions to global poverty and other challenges are being delivered, having a lasting effect on people's lives and livelihoods, and advancing real progress in developing countries. "Development aid, when spent wisely, is the most effective investment that governments can make for saving lives, improving livelihoods, and building prosperous societies," said Bill Gates, co-chair of the Gates Foundation. "When we find a leverage point that's so powerful, we should do more of it."

ONE is working closely with its partners to develop open source content that the NGO community can use to mobilize people around the world to help secure long-term, sustainable support for international development. In addition, ONE's network of more than two million members worldwide will share success stories — for example, the 99 percent reduction in cases of polio worldwide and 50 percent reduction in child deaths over the past fifty years — via their social media networks and elected representatives to help change the way people think about development aid.

"As people who care about fighting extreme poverty, we often focus on the immediate issues — the current humanitarian crisis or a pressing political issue," said ONE executive director Jamie Drummond. "But we forget to tell people how valuable their efforts have been, how they have really helped to save lives or to empower a community. Living Proof is about giving people the hard evidence and inspiring stories that will encourage them to keep going in the fight against poverty and disease, but we hope to do this in a fresh and innovative way."