Vote Now for 2006 Commitment to Development Award

Bill and Melinda Gates, Philanthropists

TIME Magazine named Bill and Melinda Gates two of its People of the Year for 2005 (Bono was the third). Five years ago most people knew Bill Gates because of Microsoft. Today, increasingly, Bill and Melinda are in the news because of the Gates Foundation, the world’s biggest. The Gates Foundation has made such significant contributions to global health and education that they have literally changed the game on the ground in many countries. The couple have given their time, and a lot of their wealth, to rid the world of some of the worst scourges and barriers to health and education.

Organization: Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation

• http://www.gatesfoundation.org/default.htm
• http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,1142278,00.html

Bono, Musician and Development Advocate

The lead singer of the Irish rock band U2 has been an influential and well-informed advocate not only for more aid but for better rich country development policies. In 2002 he helped to set up the advocacy group DATA, which stands for Debt, AIDS, Trade in Africa. In 2005 Bono, Ali Hewson and New York fashion designer Rogan Gregory launched a line of clothing, EDUN, to shift the focus from aid to trade. By using factories in Africa, South America, and India that pay fair wages and practice good business ethics, EDUN aims to encourage others to invest in developing nations.

Organization: U2 and DATA (Debt, Aid, Trade, Africa)

• http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bono
• http://www.data.org/
• http://www.happynews.com/news/4172006/One-Voted-Britains-Favorite-Lyric.htm

Doctors Without Borders/Medecins Sans Frontieres (MSF)

Raises awareness about neglected diseases and underreported humanitarian emergencies--including the malnutrition crisis in Niger and the situation in Darfur (one of the first to alert the world to the crisis in 2004, and was the only NGO on the ground for a very long time). In the wake of the 2005 tsunami, asked donors not to earmark donations to the tsunami alone, but to a fund for all emergencies. Provides rapid high quality care to populations in need; maintains operational independence from political actors by deriving its funds from private individuals.

Organization: Doctors Without Borders/Medecins Sans Frontieres (MSF)

• http://www.doctorswithoutborders.org
• http://nobelprize.org/peace/laureates/1999/press.html

Global Call to Action Against Poverty (Make Poverty History, One Campaign, etc.)

The Global Call to Action against Poverty is a worldwide alliance committed to making a breakthrough on poverty. This diverse array of actors, which includes Make Poverty History and the One Campaign, demanded an increase in aid quantity as well as aid quality, debt cancellation and trade justice.

Organization: Organization Type: Web-based campaign umbrella organization

• http://www.whiteband.org/index_html/switchLanguage?set_language=en
• http://www.makepovertyhistory.org/
• http://www.one.org/

Jeffrey Sachs, Professor and Director of the Earth Institute at Columbia University

Jeffrey Sachs has campaigned for increased aid and debt relief, and is credited with pushing the G8 to action on both fronts. As Kofi Annan’s advisor, Sachs has elevated the profile of international development – not without criticism – by including celebrities and appeals for money, most notably for Sub-Saharan Africa. His book, The End of Poverty, has been a best seller, and his Millennium Villages project has drawn significant attention for its scope and idealism. (Full Disclosure: Jeffrey Sachs is a member of the CGD Board of Directors)

Organization: Columbia Earth Institute

• http://www.earthinstitute.columbia.edu/about/director/
• http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jeffrey_Sachs
• http://www.unmillenniumproject.org/who/sachs.htm

Jim Fruchterman, Founder and CEO of Benetech.org

Founder and CEO of Benetech.org a not-for-profit organization that creates technology that serves humanity by blending social conscience with Silicon Valley expertise. Benetech builds innovative solutions that have lasting impact on critical needs around the world. Areas of work include human rights, literacy, and landmine detection.

Organization: Benetech.org

• http://www.benetech.org/about/presidents_update.shtml

Jimmy Carter, Former U.S. President

Since leaving the White House in 1981, Carter has devoted his career to solving problems in developing countries through strategic interventions. From the Atlanta-based Carter Center, he has made significant contributions to the resolution of conflicts in Haiti and Sudan, the observation of elections in countries on nearly every continent, and the advancement of the Guinea worm disease eradication campaign and the elimination of other parasitic diseases in poor countries. He arguably has done more to contribute to the world in his post-presidency than any other former US President, and for his many accomplishments deserves to be nominated for the CGD Commitment to Development Award.

Organization: The Carter Center

• http://www.cartercenter.org
• http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jimmy_Carter

Louis Michel, European Commissioner for Development and Humanitarian Aid

As European Commissioner for Development and Humanitarian Aid, Louis Michel has substantially reformed the way that donor money is used. He is working to eliminte tied aid--that is, aid that must be spent on donor country goods and services--a move so far not imaginable on the other side of the Atlantic. He has shaken all EU and non-EU countries to rethink the efficience of external assistance. He is quick, efficient and frank.

Organization: European Commission

• http://europa.eu.int/comm/commission_barroso/michel/index_en.htm
• http://europa.eu.int/comm/development/index_en.htm
• http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Louis_Michel

Nobody

No award should be given for 2005. Hunger is getting worse in developing countries (according to FAO), despite all the conferences and pledges to do something to reduce hunger and povety. Aid donors' failure to respond to appeals for assistance in Niger made things much worse. Not making an award will signal that 2005 was a terrible year for development.

Organization: The International Community

Rep. Jim Kolbe (R-AZ)

Rep. Jim Kolbe has distinguished himself as perhaps the most active champion of development in the House of Representatives. Currently serving his eleventh term, Rep. Kolbe plans to retire after this year. From his seat as chair of the Appropriations Subcommittee on Foreign Operations, Kolbe has been a supportive voice on foreign aid, smarter trade policies, and innovation through mechanisms like the Millennium Challenge Account.

Organization: House of Representatives

• http://www.house.gov/kolbe/
• http://www.cgdev.org/content/article/detail/5167/

William Clinton, Former US President

Since tackling development issues after leaving the White House, Clinton has been known for his campaign to make low cost AIDS drugs available to poor African AIDS victims. His latest venture, the Clinton Global Initiative, seeks to engage business, political, and academic leaders to commit to a global development project, and then see it through. Clinton also has worked closely with former president George H.W. Bush to raise funds and awareness for victims of the December 2004 tsunami.

Organization: Clinton Foundation

• http://www.clintonfoundation.org/
• http://www.clintonfoundation.org/cf-pgm-hs-ai-home.htm

William Easterly; Author and Professor, NYU

For injecting a dose of sanity into development with his book, The White Man's Burden: Why the West's Efforts to Aid the Rest Have Done So Much Ill and So Little Good. (Full Disclosure: Easterly is also a Non-resident Fellow at CGD)

Organization: NYU

• http://www.nyu.edu/fas/institute/dri/Easterly/
• http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/1594200378/104-2139159-8411926?v=glance&n=283155
• http://www.cgdev.org/content/article/detail/6926/