Since its founding in 2009, Global Citizen has aimed to build a movement of people to take action to end poverty. This movement has grown to millions of people around the world, all taking action on the Global Citizen platform to support the Global Goals.

Underlying our platform of action takers is technology that enables Global Citizens to sign petitions, send emails and tweets and that makes our action takers’ voices be heard. 

And now, thanks to a new three-year partnership from technology company Cisco, we will be able to power our movement to end poverty in an even bigger way.

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This partnership is now expanding to provide the technology, content, and storytelling platforms at Global Citizens festivals, thought leadership forums, and events. In addition, Cisco will provide the collaboration technology solutions used to fuel Global Citizen’s business, including connecting Global Citizen with key donors, partners, ambassadors, and festival curators. This new partnership will also provide a platform for Cisco employees to engage with the charitable causes they are passionate about. 

Cisco has already been supporting Global Citizens. In December, Wawira Njiru won the Global Citizen Prize for Youth Leadership, presented by Cisco. Her organization in Kenya, Food 4 Education, created “Tap2Eat,” a wristband that tracks students’ lunch money so they don’t have to carry cash. After piloting the wristbands with 300 students across three schools, they will soon scale up to 20 schools to reach 10,000 students, providing free meals for families who cannot afford them.

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“The power technology has to make a difference and solve for real social problems like poverty is core to our identity here at Cisco. We are excited to drive meaningful social impact with Global Citizen with the expansion of our partnership,” said Global Citizen Board Member Francine Katsoudas, who is also executive vice president & chief people officer of Cisco. 

“Global Citizen and Cisco share an affinity for using innovation and technology to amplify a single voice to effect change for many,” said Global Citizen co-founder and CEO Hugh Evans. “We use technology every day to call upon world leaders and the private sector to make commitments that can unlock billions of dollars for the fight to eradicate extreme poverty.

“2020 marks a critical moment in the fight for a sustainable future, with just ten years to go for us to achieve the UN Sustainable Development Goals,” Evans said. “Through this multi-year partnership with Cisco, we are excited to equip advocates and activists around the world with the 21st century skills and tools they will need to make a meaningful difference in the lives of the world’s most marginalized people.”

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Cisco has made impactful technological commitments towards ending extreme poverty. 

At 2018’s Global Citizen Festival Mandela 100 in Johannesburg, Cisco announced that its Networking Academy has helped to create opportunities for people around the world through training that helps train individuals with important 21st century skills. 

Cisco committed to preparing 10 million students worldwide to work and thrive in the digital economy over the next five years. Currently, more than 9 million students in 180 countries have participated in Cisco Networking Academy with the goal of doubling this over the next five years with this new commitment.

Learn more about the Cisco + Global Citizen partnership here.