Ghana’s president John Mahama and the Prime Minister of Norway, Ms. Erna Solberg, have been appointed co-chairs of a group of 16 eminent Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) Advocates to support the Secretary-General in his efforts to generate momentum and commitment to achieve the SDGs by 2030.

The SDGs adopted by world leaders at the United Nations Sustainable Development Summit on 25 September 2015 represents a commitment by all nations to work together to end poverty, achieve shared prosperity, build peace, and secure a life of dignity and a healthy planet for present and future generations.

United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon who announced the appointment in New York today said the “16 Advocates will leverage their unique standing and leadership to promote the SDGs as part of an ambitious and transformative global agenda.”

Working as champions of advocacy, the SDG Advocates will promote the universal character of the SDGs, including their commitment to leave no one behind; promote the engagement of new stakeholders in the implementation and financing of the SDGs; encourage partnerships with governments, civil society and private sector to share knowledge and resources; and raise awareness for the integrated nature of the SDGs.

Below is the full list of advocates:

Co-Chairs

His Excellency
Mr. John Dramani Mahama
President of the Republic of Ghana

Her Excellency
Ms. Erna Solberg
Prime Minister of Norway

Members:

Her Majesty
Queen Mathilde of Belgium

Her Royal Highness
Crown Princess Victoria of Sweden

Mr. Richard Curtis
Screenwriter, Producer and Film Director

Ambassador Dho Young-Shim
Chairperson, United Nations World Tourism Organization’s
Sustainable Tourism for Eliminating Poverty Foundation

Ms. Leymah Gbowee
Director
Gbowee Peace Foundation

Mr. Jack Ma
Founder and Executive Chairman
Alibaba Group

Mrs. Graça Machel
President
Foundation of Community Development and the
UNESCO National Commission in Mozambique

Ms. Alaa Murabit
Founder
The Voice of Libyan Women

Mr. Paul Polman
Chief Executive Officer
Unilever

Professor Jeffrey Sachs
Director
Earth Institute at Colombia University

Ms. Shakira Mebarak
Artist/Singer Songwriter/Advocate

Mr. Forest Whitaker
Founder and Chief Executive Officer
Whitaker Peace & Development Initiative

Professor Muhammad Yunus
Founder
Grameen Bank