Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd. today announced that the Samsung Global Goals App has won Bronze in the “Partnership or Collaboration – Responsible Technology” category of the 4^th Annual Anthem Awards, which recognizes initiatives that leverage technology responsibly through strategic partnerships to address societal challenges and promote ethical technology use. This recognition highlights Samsung’s continued dedication to fostering impactful, technology-driven solutions to some of the world’s most pressing challenges.

The Anthem Awards is one of the largest and most comprehensive social impact awards program that honors incredible, purpose-driven work from individuals, companies and organizations around the globe. The 4th Annual Anthem Awards marked the most competitive season yet, with over 2,300 entries submitted from 34 countries. By recognizing projects and initiatives that drive global change, the Anthem Awards establish a new benchmark for impactful work that inspires action in communities worldwide.

“We are truly honored to have our commitment to the Global Goals recognized by the Anthem Awards,” said Stephanie Choi, EVP & Head of Marketing, Mobile eXperience Business at Samsung Electronics. “Samsung is dedicated to harnessing the power of technology to inspire collective action, open collaboration and creating a better future for all. As we advance towards 2030 alongside the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), the Samsung Global Goals app will remain vital for driving action and progress toward achieving the Global Goals.”

Developed in partnership with the UNDP, the Samsung Global Goals app empowers millions worldwide to contribute directly to the 17 Sustainable Development Goals, also known as the Global Goals. Launched in 2019, the app now has nearly 300 million Galaxy users[1] around the world and has raised over $20 million[2] to support UNDP initiatives through user donations, in-app advertisements and matching donations from Samsung.

For more information about the partnership, read the 2024 Global Goals Report here. To learn more about the Samsung Global Goals app, download the app from the Google Play Store.

About UNDP

The United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) is one of the leading United Nations organization fighting to end the injustice of poverty, inequality, and climate change. Working with our broad network of experts and partners in 170 countries, we help nations to build integrated, lasting solutions for people and planet. www.undp.org

[1] Total number of users as of September 2024

[2] Total contributions as of September 2024

Gwynne Gauntlett, Global Digital Fundraising and Marketing Lead at United Nations Development Programme

“UNDP’s partnership with Samsung highlights the importance of integrating expertise, technology, innovation, and advocacy to effectively pursue the SDGs and inspire the next generation of global citizens to actively take meaningful actions.”

What does sustainability mean to the UNDP?

In 1987, the United Nations Brundtland Commission coined the definition of sustainability as “meeting the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs.” Subsequently, in September 2015, the General Assembly embraced the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, encompassing 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Anchored in the principle of “leaving no one behind,” the 2030 Agenda underscores a comprehensive approach to attaining sustainable development for all.

For UNDP, sustainability lies at the heart of its mission, guiding its work towards creating a more equitable and resilient world. By adopting an integrated approach that addresses environmental concerns, economic development, and peacebuilding, UNDP plays a crucial role in promoting global sustainability. To learn more about UNDP’s strategic plan, please visit this link.

What are the key sustainability goals of the UNDP and how do they contribute to the broader global agenda for sustainable development?

While UNDP is dedicated to achieving the 17 SDGs outlined in the 2030 Agenda, its specific attention lies in poverty and inequality reduction, governance, resilience, environment, energy, and gender equality. As the leading agency within the United Nations for international development, UNDP operates in 170 countries and territories to support in eradicating poverty and diminishing inequality. For instance, by 2022, 25 million people gained access to basic services, with support from 44 UNDP offices and 11 million benefited from jobs and improved livelihoods in crisis or post-crisis settings in 2022; 49% being female. UNDP also assists nations in policy development, leadership enhancement, partnership building, and institutional strengthening, all geared towards achieving the Sustainable Development Goals.

It is crucial to recognize that UNDP’s approach is multidimensional and interconnected, addressing the interdependencies between various SDGs to foster sustainable development worldwide. Visit this link to read UNDP’s Annual Report 2022.

The 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, adopted by all United Nations Member States in 2015, provides a shared blueprint for peace and prosperity for people and the planet, now and into the future.

The 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, adopted by all United Nations Member States in 2015, provides a shared blueprint for peace and prosperity for people and the planet, now and into the future.

How important is it to leverage innovation and technology to raise awareness and promote the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)?

In today’s rapidly evolving world, the significance of leveraging innovation and technology to raise awareness and promote the SDGs cannot be overstated. Without the advancements brought about by technology, we would not only be disconnected from the reality of our global challenges but also miss out on crucial opportunities to address the “Global Goals” outlined in the 2030 Agenda. In fact, flagship research by UNDP and the University of Denver found that targeted investments in digitalization, social protection, and the green economy could cut the number of people living in extreme poverty by 146 million by 2030. Hence, UNDP has made substantial investments in transforming into a digitally proficient organization that not only utilizes cutting-edge technology in its own operations but also assists developing nations in leveraging the benefits of the digital revolution.

We believe that, by harnessing the power of technology, fostering awareness, and promoting the SDGs, we are able to effectively reach and engage with a variety of audiences, inspire collective action, and mobilize resources to accelerate progress towards a sustainable future for all.

The Samsung Global Goals app enables Galaxy users to actively participate in creating a more promising future by learning more about the SDGs.

Could you elaborate on the UNDP’s approach to partnering with companies like Samsung to achieve sustainability goals? How do these partnerships contribute to the overall mission of the UNDP?

Addressing the most pressing challenges to achieve sustainable development is a shared responsibility, and today, we witness growing partnerships between various sectors, working together to tackle these challenges head-on. At UNDP, we highly value private-public sector partnerships as they play a pivotal role in advancing the SDGs and generating widespread awareness about them, which remains one of our top priorities.

UNDP’s work with Samsung shows how a strong and uniquely innovative digital partnership can take shape. Partnerships like this have the potential to act as models for upcoming resource mobilization approaches across the private sector. UNDP’s partnership with Samsung highlights the importance of integrating expertise, technology, innovation, and advocacy to effectively pursue the SDGs and inspire the next generation of global citizens to actively take meaningful actions to achieve them.

What specific areas or projects have the UNDP and Samsung collaborated on to address sustainability challenges? How have these collaborations made a tangible impact on the ground?

Since 2019, Samsung and UNDP have collaborated on advancing the SDGs through the Samsung Global Goals app and the Generation17 initiative.

The Samsung Global Goals app offers Galaxy users the opportunity to familiarize themselves with all 17 SDGs and their impact on communities worldwide. Through the app, users actively contribute to the achievement of these Global Goals by learning about each goal and making direct donations to UNDP to support its ongoing development work. With the app already installed on over 300 million Galaxy devices globally and accessible in 92 different languages, it has significantly expanded UNDP’s global outreach. While the donations received through the app have surpassed $10 million so far, it’s important to note that the primary objective of the partnership is not financial. Instead, the focus lies on leveraging our organizational strengths to make a tangible impact in advancing the SDGs.

Generation17 young leaders featured on the Samsung Global Goals app, so that users can engage with their work and feel inspired to join them in driving change.

Another significant collaboration within the partnership is Generation17, which places youth at the forefront of UNDP’s work. Through Generation17, UNDP and Samsung empower exceptional young leaders from diverse backgrounds worldwide, providing them with mentorship, access to Galaxy technology, and networking opportunities to advance their work and education towards the achieving the SDGs. Generation17 also fosters young leaders’ meaningful engagement by offering them a platform to share their insights with decision-makers, inspiring them with their innovative ideas and actions.

Generation17 young leaders, Daniel Calarco, Kristian Kampmann, and Thuy Anh Ngo, are seen in this photo, standing alongside other young leaders from around the world at the ECOSOC Youth Forum 2023, which took place in New York in April 2023.

Looking ahead, what are the future aspirations of the UNDP in terms of its partnership with Samsung to accelerate sustainable development? How do you envision this unique collaboration evolving in the coming years?

At this pivotal midpoint in our collective pursuit of achieving the 2030 Agenda and acknowledging the significant work that lies ahead, it is crucial that we continue to join forces and work together to drive action. The future is hopeful because more people than ever are working together for sustainable development, including through partnerships with UNDP. We look forward to further strengthening our partnership with Samsung, prioritizing initiatives such as raising awareness about the SDGs, expanding our impact, and fostering meaningful youth engagement, education, and empowerment.

When I started my career at Samsung 25 years ago, I was a young engineer with a passion for technology and all it could do. Over the years, the capacity of mobile innovation has exceeded even my ambitious expectations. It has brought us conveniences and capabilities that make our lives better, but it has also given us the opportunity to be better. The ability to connect without proximity empowers us to break down barriers and work together to make progress. And with humanity facing some of its most complex challenges yet, we need to collaborate and innovate solutions more than ever before. That’s why I believe mobile technology has a vital role to play in helping us protect our planet.

Samsung has always challenged what’s possible with technology. And now, we are taking our next step towards putting sustainability at the centre of our innovations. From eco-conscious materials to global partnerships, we are exploring every opportunity to help power the world with mobile technology that serves as a tool for positive change.

Innovation with Impact

We’ve been on a journey for years at Samsung, marrying sustainability and innovation by using recycled materials in our smartphones, wearables and accessories. In addition to our on-going effort to use more eco-conscious materials including recycled PCM (post-consumer materials), the new Galaxy smartphones and tablets that were unveiled at our latest Unpacked used select components containing 20% recycled ocean-bound plastic[1] from discarded fishing nets[2].

We focused our innovation efforts on a pervasive and especially hazardous type of plastic waste that is harming marine life and our natural ecosystems – discarded fishing nets. Every year, 640,000 tons of fishing nets are abandoned in and around our oceans. With help from like-minded partners, we found a way to repurpose them into a new, high-performance material that can be incorporated into critical components of the Galaxy S22 series. From now on, more and more Galaxy devices will play a small part in reducing plastic waste in our oceans.

I know we still have a long way to go. And at Mobile World Congress 2022, we will share our next wave of innovations that incorporate recycled ocean-bound plastics.

Using Technology as a Force for Good

At Samsung, we believe in making mobile technology that has positive environmental impact and putting the power of our Galaxy ecosystem into the hands of passionate change makers.

I’ve seen this first-hand with our growing Generation17 initiative, which Samsung leads in partnership with the United Nations Development Programme. Generation17 empowers young activists to take on pressing issues like climate change, education, and more, so the world can make headway towards achieving the Sustainable Development Goals, also known as the Global Goals, by 2030. And with the recent addition of six new Young Leaders, the program now spans countries in Africa, Asia & The Pacific, Europe, North America, Latin America and the Middle East and supports work across all 17 Global Goals.

That’s how mobile innovation fuels transformation. It amplifies simple actions and individual voices and brings them together to amount to big, global change.

We Need Collective Action

I am in awe of the impactful ways people are helping to change the world with Galaxy, and I promise our work does not end here. Samsung will continue developing innovative technology that bridges barriers, connects communities and addresses the climate crisis.

Samsung is ready to do more. We will take real action, hold ourselves accountable and share our journey – from our successes to our challenges and lessons learned. We will act with our industry peers, with developers, with the Galaxy community, with everyone, to strengthen technology as a force for good.

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[1] Ocean-bound plastic is abandoned plastic waste of all sizes (micro-plastics, mezzo-plastics and macro-plastics) that are located within 50km of shores in communities or areas where waste management is inexistent or very inefficient.

[2] Discarded fishing nets are purchased through Samsung’s partner that works with local fishermen who collect them from the Indian Ocean and neighboring coastal areas. Samsung does not directly recover fishing nets from the ocean.