Human capital is a key driver of economic growth, ending extreme poverty and creating more inclusive societies. That is why investing in people is our collective duty. Hear some of the world’s leading voices on human capital share their views on why investments in nutrition, quality health care, education, jobs and skills are critical.
 | Champions compilation video Hear Human Capital Champions share their views on why it’s so important to invest in people. |
 | Doug Peterson, President & CEO, S&P Global “Investing in people is essential to ensure that we have the skills and conditions needed to grow and prosper across the globe in the future.” |
 | Penny Mordaunt, International Development Secretary, UK “Investing in people is important to me because it’s in all our interests that countries spend enough, and spend it well, so that all their people can reach their own potential, look after their families, and ultimately help their nations grow and prosper.” |
 | Achim Steiner, Administrator, UNDP “Without health and education, achieving the SDGs is almost impossible. We also know that the future with digitalization, automation, artificial intelligence will require vast investments in education of an entirely different quality. Progress is not inevitable.” |
 | Dr Tedros A. Ghebreyesus, Director General, WHO “To lead healthy lives, we all need the right support, from the food we offer our children to how we protect people from the many risks they face, like tobacco, air pollution, viruses, and more. For that to happen, I believe we must invest more, and more effectively, in people. Not just because it’s right, but because it’s smart.” |
 | Frans van Houten, CEO, Philips “We are at an exciting moment in history as technology and innovation combine to reshape the way the world literally works. For example, in health care we are seeing huge changes to the way people and patients connect to health providers. Digital technologies are being applied to serve a growing population that is living longer, albeit with an greater burden of disease.” |
 | His Majesty King Letsie III, Lesotho “We are told that a quarter of the world’s young children do not grow to their full potential because of chronic malnutrition and illness that results in stunting. This is unacceptable. This sad state of affairs has the consequence of diminishing or reducing our capabilities to realize full potential from our most important assets as humanity—and that asset is our human capital.” |
 | Joanne Carter, Executive Director, RESULTS “I’m a human capital champion because the only way we will achieve the end of extreme poverty is if we invest more in people. And we need to be prioritizing the things that make the biggest impact in people’s lives, and the things that are everyone’s right: health, nutrition, education and social protection. This is the only way that we’ll break the cycle of intergenerational poverty. “ |
 | Dr Rajiv Shah, President, The Rockefeller Foundation “Today, our work to end energy poverty continues that approach, while redefining the way we invest in power. Not only investing in generation and distribution of electricity, but also in the people, whose access to electricity enables them to start businesses and lift up their entire communities. “ |
 | Henrietta Fore, Executive Director, UNICEF “I’m a human capital champion, because I believe we have a duty to eradicate the greatest global challenges facing the world today: poverty and rising inequality. And the best way to do this is to invest in our youngest citizens, children and young people. Across the first two decades of life, quality education, skills, nutrition, health and social protection are the building blocks of a better future for people and for entire societies.” |
 | Borge Brende, President, World Economic Forum “I am a human capital champion. While machines will work more hours than humans in our global economy by 2025, I believe that human labour will remain critically important. In the emerging world of work we need a sharp focus on the true value of human capital, of the skills, knowledge, attitudes and values that humans have at their disposal to create a more equitable and prosperous world.” |
 | Shinichi Kitaoka, President, JICA “I believe we must invest more and better in people because it is not only our obligation to enable all the people in the world to live in dignity, but also the most effective way to promote economic development. “ |
