Eddie Ndopu at the SDG Media Zone in Davos

On January 21, SDG Advocate Edward “Eddie” Ndopu participated in a one-on-one discussion at the SDG Media Zone at the World Economic Forum’s Annual Meeting in Davos.

Mr. Ndopu spoke about the imperative to leave no one behind and to pay particular attention to vulnerable and marginalized communities. He described the Secretary-General’s call for a Decade of Action to Deliver the SDGs as an invitation for leaders in all sectors, private and public, to redouble efforts to create positive externalities for everybody. Mr. Ndopu reminded the audience that people with disabilities represent the world’s largest minority group: 15% of the world’s total population, or 1.2 billion people. “It is also the world’s most invisible minority group” noted Mr Ndopu. He presented the Valuable 500 Initiative, thanks to which business is starting to recognize the value that people with disabilities bring, not only to the workforce but to society at large. Calling on businesses, Mr. Ndopu said: “The world has graduated from the mere recognition of our humanity as people who are excluded, we passed that conversation. What we are talking about now is access to influence, power and economic participation. We want to be part of shaping the discourse and of leading humanity into the new era of a sustainable world.”

Watch Mr. Ndopu’s full interview here.