The Rashi Foundation, one of the largest and most influential philanthropies in Israel, was chosen along with other business and social organizations to present at the United Nations headquarters Israeli initiatives that advance sustainable development.
The event is part of the presentation of national reviews by 40 some countries on their activity to implement the United Nation’s sustainable development goals.
Israel’s first review was be presented on Wednesday by Ze’ev Elkin, minister of environmental protection at Jerusalem Affairs and Heritage, and Danny Danon, Israel’s ambassador to the United Nations.
“What you have seen today is only the beginning. Israel stands at the forefront of innovation and is ready to continue sharing our knowledge with the nations of the world,” Danon told participants.
Other organizations who take part in the event alongside the Rashi Foundation are Smart Water Group, NUFiltration, Social Finance Israel, SupPlant and Hilico.
In September 2015, the U.N. General Assembly has adopted the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, which lists 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), as well as associated targets and indicators, for measuring progress.
Among the SDGs are social goals, such as: quality education, gender equality, reduced inequalities and more. Member states have started to submit reviews in 2016, while the U.N. has been working to support the implementation of the 2030 Agenda, including translation of the decisions into actual policies and actions on the ground.
“We were proud to represent Israel and to represent the Rashi Foundation, whose mission is to drive social mobility in Israel,” said Rashi Foundation CEO Michal Cohen. “We will be even more proud when Israel will undertake the advancement of its underprivileged populations, in the periphery and elsewhere, as a national goal.”
About harnessing technology for the betterment of society
The Rashi Foundation, which has been working for 35 years to reduce social inequality in Israel, will present two of its recent social initiatives. These ground-breaking projects are based on capacity-building models and can be duplicated in other countries to promote social sustainability.
“City at the Center” is an initiative that helps to develop the capacity of metropolitan areas to provide opportunities and drive social mobility, with an emphasis on a shift from single-purpose interventions to long-term reinforcement of social structures. Following a successful pilot in two cities, the program is now being implemented in five more locales.
“I am happy that ‘City at the Center’ was presented at the U.N. conference on sustainability,” said its head, Erez Roimi. “I am pleased that more and more people realize that when cities have social infrastructure, they become stronger and can provide more opportunities to their children.”
The innovative “Social IT Systems” initiative harnesses technology to facilitate effective delivery of quality social services.
The solution, which was developed by Rashi as part of its involvement in social-welfare programs, supports data-based management of personal and community interventions in various social services.