#MyLittleBigThing recently hosted a webinar to discuss SDG 10 in the context of the Coronavirus pandemic which has not only been a health crisis but also continues to reverse years of progress in reducing inequalities, particularly in the world’s poorest nations. The impact of COVID-19 particularly lays bare the inequalities that exist even within the world’s poorest countries.
Our guest speaker for the webinar, Sanda Ojiambo, helped us navigate this myriad of issues around inequality. Sanda is the immediate head of Safaricom’s Sustainable Business and Social Impact Department and is also the incoming CEO and Executive Director of the United Nations Global Compact. She began her presentation by illustrating how the Coronavirus pandemic had proved that this was indeed the time for innovation. Most of our resistance to technology had been quickly overcome in the past few months as business and day-to-day activities had shifted online. However, despite the spirit of Leaving No One Behind espoused by the SDGs, some segments of the population continue to be disadvantaged and are missing out on the opportunities presented by this digital evolution.
Humanity should not waste a good crisis. Now, more than ever, is the time to embrace collaboration and inclusive solutions.Sanda Ojiambo, guest speaker at #MyLittleBigThing SDG 10 Webinar
Sanda emphasised on the need for businesses to focus on innovations and ideas from young people while at the same time encouraging young people to advocate for a structured policy-focused shift in thinking about inequalities by all stakeholders in the achievement of the SDGs. This includes addressing discrimination, challenging the limitations to political inclusivity and confronting funding models that seem to drive systematic inequalities on income. The World Trade Organisation forecasts that global trade will decline between 13 and 32 per cent in 2020. Sanda encouraged countries in Africa to stimulate economic growth through domestic purchasing, which will help small businesses recover and young people find even more opportunities to innovate. Sanda concluded by encouraging young people to seize this moment in history to reset, rethink and rebuild better and more equitably.
