Two Indian Projects Shine Bright At The UN Solutions Summit

These projects can align your CSR with Global Goals! Banka Bioloo, a Secunderabad based ‘human waste management system’ company and SM Sehgal Foundation Recharge Well shared the platform of 14 innovative projects selected from across the world at the UN Headquarters in New York as part of the Solutions Summit.

The Solutions Summit is a catalytic gathering that took place on Sunday, 27 September 2015 at UN Headquarters in New York to turn attention toward breakthrough solutions for achieving the new Sustainable Development Goals. The event was timed to follow the conclusion of the UN Sustainable Development Summit. The purpose of the long-term Solutions Summit effort is to lift-up exceptional innovators who are already delivering solutions that address one or more of the 17 Sustainable Development Goals, and to convene resources around them.

Sanjay Banka of Banka BioLoo presented his “bioloo” sustainable sanitation solution the Solutions Summit as part of ‘lightning talks’ profiling the 14 projects selected through an open, global application process. The project leaders then discussed how to scale these projects for greater impact with senior policymakers, investors, industry leaders, and leaders from the UN, philanthropy and civil society. After discussing these breakthrough solutions, participants gathered to celebrate the adoption of the Global Goals and commit to action for their implementation.

“The atmosphere was charged up with the 17 SDGs. We also, got the opportunity to participate in other events, such as the UN Private Sector Forum” says Banka.

“The platform gave a lot of credibility and put the company at the forefront of WaSH. Next, we aim to continue to pursue the goal of spreading eco-friendly sanitation with greater vigour, and contribute our might in eradicating open defecation, stationary or mobile” adds the optimistic ecopreneur.

The open process to identify the solutions presented at the Solutions Summit was conducted by the UN Non-Governmental Liaison Service, and involved an expert, diverse, and gender balanced Selection Committee of extraordinary innovators, which was also established through a call for applications. All projects selected are already in implementation and delivering progress on the Sustainable Development Goals. Special consideration was given to projects that benefit vulnerable or marginalized groups. 838 inspiring submissions were received from more than 100 countries. The Global Goal solutions selected for this event were:

African Prisons Project - Uganda Legislation Lab - Morocco African Design Centers - Rwanda Baidu Recycle - China Floating Fab Lab - Amazon - Peru Abze Solar S.A. - Burkina Faso BioCarbon Engineering - United Kingdom Supercomputing & Food Security - Australia ColdHubs - Nigeria SM Sehgal Foundation Recharge Well - India Banka BioLoo - India BORN Project – United States of America APOPO - Belgium Planet OS - Estonia

The Solutions Summit is led by the UN Foundation and the UN Non-Governmental Liaison Service (UN-NGLS), in collaboration with the White House Office of Science and Technology Policy, the Brazilian Ministry of Science, Technology and Innovation, the Kenyan Ministry of Information Communications and Technology, the Estonian Ministry of Foreign Affairs; the Israeli Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Government of Fiji, and Project Everyone, with the support of other global leaders and experts.

The Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), also being referred to as the Global Goals, are a set of 17 goals for global dignity, prosperity, partnership, and justice for all people and the planet. The framework was formally launched at the United Nations Sustainable Development Summit, which was attended by more than 150 Heads of State and Government. UN Member States, civil society, and private sector contributors will use the Sustainable Development Goals to shape and guide development global efforts over the next 15 years.

Watch the event video here.

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