Global Citizen NOW, the summit driving action to end extreme poverty, returned to New York City for its fourth year on April 30. This one-day, action-packed event convened leaders across government, policy, advocacy, the private sector, media, entertainment, and philanthropy all together to discuss how we can collectively work to drive action to end extreme poverty — not someday, but now.
The day opened with a simple but powerful question: What does it mean to invest in the next generation? Over the course of the event, experts and panelists explored how we can create real, lasting impact through keeping education and long-term sustainability at the heart of economic development. The summit looked at what's working, what isn’t, and the urgent action that still needs to be taken to build a prosperous and sustainable future for all.
This year’s program was full of major announcements on Global Citizen’s policy initiatives and upcoming events. But we also heard intimate conversations on some of the most pressing challenges our world is facing, from tackling climate change head-on to overcoming energy poverty in Africa, all while facing a crisis in international aid. But the evening also platformed impactful stories of hope from action takers, including insights from Global Citizen and Cisco Youth Leadership Prize Winners on their inspiring work to defeat poverty across the globe.
Read on for a rundown of the day’s key events — and get a sneak peek at the powerful work still to come.
Amy Bonitatibus, Lydia Kekeli Amenyaglo, and Philip Thigo (L-R) speak onstage during Global Citizen NOW panel “From Seed to Scale: Growing Businesses, Building Communities, and Changing the Game” at Spring Studios in New York City. Photo by Noam Galai/Getty Images for Global Citizen.
An Action-Packed Day of Speakers and Panels
Taking place at Spring Studios in New York City, Global Citizen NOW was made possible thanks to the support of Major Partners Authentic Brands Group, Bridgewater Associates, Cisco, Delta Air Lines, PayPal, P&G and Verizon, as well as leading media companies and supporters including: Captivate, Branded Cities and NYC Tourism + Conventions, who share a commitment to shaping a better future through education and sustainability.
A series of engaging panels covering a range of industries and themes throughout the day included:
Investing in the Next Generation — Actor and Activist Liza Koshy, Science Educator and Global Citizen Ambassador Bill Nye, and Reproductive Rights Activist, Digital Strategist, and 2022 Global Citizen Prize Winner Deja Foxx opened the day by asking what it really means to invest in a generation shaped by crisis, focusing on how education and sustainability can drive urgent impact.
One to One: Deputy Secretary-General Amina Mohammed & Bill Nye — UN Deputy Secretary-General Amina Mohammed and Bill Nye kicked the day off with an intimate conversation about how to create bold, lasting change for future generations across climate, health, education, and equity.
Spotlight: Women’s Empowerment by the Numbers — Mia Keeys, Director of Global Health & Innovation at Hologic, presented a data-driven, engaging segment on how centering and investing in women’s health leads to long-term societal gains.
From Seed to Scale: Growing Businesses, Building Communities, and Changing the Game — Lydia Kekeli Amenyaglo, the Creative Director for Ghana Food Movement and a 2025 GC Prize Winner, Kenya’s Special Envoy for Technology Ambassador H.E. Philip Thigo, and moderator Amy Bonitatibus, Chief Corporate Affairs Officer at PayPal, discussed how local entrepreneurship, particularly among women and youth, drives economic growth and resilience.
Global Cooperation in a Changing World — José Manuel Barroso, professor, former Prime Minister of Portugal, and Chair of Gavi’s Board, and Mariana Van Zeller, Host and Executive Producer of National Geographic’s Trafficked, discussed global health, foreign aid, and how Gavi aims to save over 8 million lives by 2030.
Beyond the Game: How Sports Fuel Leadership & Learning — Delta’s Chief Marketing Officer Alicia Tillman, former professional soccer star Ashlyn Harris, and Emmy-winning Sports Commentator and Host of SiriusXM podcast Casuals Katie Nolan explored how lessons from sports — resilience, teamwork, and discipline — can equip the next generation of women leaders.
Securing Their Future: Education & Health for the Next Generation — Leaders including the Founder & Executive Lead of Gender Mobile Initiative Omowumi Ogunrotimi, Chief Minister of Sierra Leone H.E. David Moinina Sengeh, Cisco’s Executive Vice President and Chief People, Policy & Purpose Officer Fran Katsoudas, and the Gates Foundation’s President of Global Policy & Advocacy Gargee Ghosh joined moderator and Global Citizen Ambassador Rachel Brosnahan to explore bold strategies to make education and health systems more inclusive and effective for young people worldwide.
Expanding the Playing Field: Education as the Ultimate Equalizer — Our two favorite Hughs (Global Citizen Ambassador Hugh Jackman and Global Citizen CEO and co-founder Hugh Evans) discussed how sports and education together can help break cycles of poverty in a conversation moderated by former Olympian and Professional Soccer Player Melissa Ortiz and Rachel Brosnahan.
Every Day Impact: Small Choices, Big Change — Zachary Pozniak, author of “The Laundry Book” and owner of Jeeves New York, joined Emmy-winning journalist and author Michelle Park, to demonstrate practical lifestyle hacks that reduce waste, save energy, and conserve water.
Shaping the Global Narrative — Hugh Evans and H.E. Mariam Almheiri, CEO of 2PointZero, held an in-depth discussion about challenging Western misconceptions and reshaping the global narrative around the Middle East.
Energy Access & Infrastructure in Emerging Markets — Nialé Kaba, the Minister of Economy, Planning and Development of the Republic of Côte d'Ivoire, CEO of Enabel Jean Van Wetter, CEO of Octopus Energy Generation Zoisa North-Bond, and Global Citizen co-founder and Chief Policy, Impact and Government Relations Officer Mick Sheldrick unpacked how we can overcome barriers to renewable energy access in Africa and the Caribbean and scale up sustainable infrastructure.
In Conversation: Hugh Evans & Wyclef Jean — Hugh Evans and Performing Artist, Composer, and Activist Wyclef Jean reflected together on the transformative power of music and culture to inspire movements, build community, and elevate unheard voices.
Culture Capital: Where Art Meets Economy — Nigeria’s Minister of Art, Culture, Tourism and the Creative Economy Barr. Hannatu Musawa and Michele Anthony, Executive Vice President of Universal Music Group, joined Shain Shapiro, Executive Director of the Center for Music Ecosystems, to discuss how creative industries drive economic growth and cultural influence.
The Future of Foreign Aid: Reform, Impact, and Innovation — Valeriia Rachynska, Director of Human Rights, Gender and Community Development of 100% Life, Former Member of Congress and USAID Administrator Mark Green, the Former Prime Minister of Côte d'Ivoire Patrick Achi, and moderator Raj Kumar, Editor-in-Chief of Devex, spoke on how to make foreign aid more effective, while also looking beyond traditional models toward new financing and partnership solutions.
Forecasting the Future — Bridgewater Associates CEO Nir Bar Dea spoke with Forbes' Chief Content Officer Randall Lane about the global economy’s ongoing transformation, and what it will mean for the collective future of geopolitics.
Can Development & Nature Co-Exist? — President of Institute Amazônia+21 Marcelo Thomé and Taily Terena, anthropologist and Earth and Climate Defender from the Institute of Indigenous Memory and Science, explored how sustainable growth and Indigenous stewardship can coexist to protect ecosystems while fostering economic progress in a conversation moderated by Untamed Planet co-founder and CEO Malaika Vaz. Sônia Guajajara, Minister of Indigenous Peoples of Brazil, made a surprise appearance from the audience and closed the session by reflecting on how Indigenous communities must be at the center of climate solutions.
From Paris to Pará: COP30, The World’s Next Great Climate Test — With leaders including COP30 President-Designate André Corrêa do Lago, Indigenous Environmental and Human Rights Defender Helena Gualinga, and Simon Stiell, Executive Secretary of UNFCCC — moderated by Global Citizen Board Member, PayPal’s Diego Scotti — closed the day by looking ahead to COP30 in Brazil as a pivotal moment for global climate action.
Other notable appearances were peppered throughout the jam-packed schedule.
Pedro Sánchez, President of the Government of Spain and Co-Chair of Global Citizen NOW: New York City, made a surprise video appearance, during which he called for renewed global cooperation and commitment to multilateralism in the lead-up of the Fourth International Conference on Financing for Development in Seville, Spain this year. He outlined three key priorities: boosting the effectiveness of international aid, unlocking innovative public financing flows through tools like special drawing rights, and ushering in debt relief for lower-income countries. Doubling down on Spain’s commitment to solving global challenges, Sánchez noted, “Challenges multiply as horizons appear too narrow. We must strive for a future of hope, justice, and prosperity for all.”
In another video appearance, Francia Elena Márquez Mina, the Vice President of Colombia, made a statement echoing the evening’s themes, including spotlighting protection efforts for the Amazon. She highlighted Colombia’s progress in creating a multi-donor fund for biodiversity conservation and also revealed that the government is working on creating a fund to promote culture, arts, and education. “I firmly believe in the power of art, the opportunities it creates, the dreams it makes possible, and the great changes we can accomplish. That's why I want you to continue counting on me and continue working together until dignity becomes the norm.”
In addition to the world leaders and changemakers, major performing artists electrified the stage throughout the day. Award-winning music artist James Blake made a special appearance and performed “Seance” from the critically acclaimed film Sinners on a grand piano, as well as the song “Trying Times.” Brazilian ballerina and choreographer Ingrid Silva also stunned the crowd with a performance piece titled “The Story of the Amazon,” with backdrop visuals featuring this vibrant ecosystem. And ending the day on a high note, Global Citizen NOW closed out with an inspiring performance by one of Brazil’s most celebrated international artists, actor and musician Seu Jorge, who played his song “Hagua” for attendees.
Seu Jorge performs “Hagua” onstage during Global Citizen NOW at Spring Studios in New York City. Photo by Noam Galai/Getty Images for Global Citizen.
Co-chairs for this year’s summit included: Pedro Sánchez, President of the Government of Spain; Ralph Gonsalves, Prime Minister of Saint Vincent and the Grenadines; Natalia Kanem, Executive Director, UNFPA; Barr. Hannatu Musa Musawa, Honourable Minister of Art, Culture, Tourism and the Creative Economy, Nigeria; Hugh Jackman, Global Citizen Ambassador; Hans Vestberg, Chairman & CEO, Verizon; David Moinina Sengeh, Chief Minister of Sierra Leone; Rachel Brosnahan, Global Citizen Ambassador; Wyclef Jean, Performing Artist, Composer, Activist; André Corrêa do Lago, COP30 President-Designate; Nir Bar Dea, CEO, Bridgewater Associates; Amy Bonitatibus, Chief Corporate Affairs Officer, PayPal; Patrick Achi, State Minister and Senior Advisor to the President, Former Prime Minister of the Republic of Côte d'Ivoire; Alicia Tillman, Chief Marketing Officer, Delta Air Lines; and Volker Türk, United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights.
Commitments to Fight Extreme Poverty and Defend the Planet
In a series of powerful on-stage moments, Global Citizen and its partners revealed high-impact announcements that will drive global change in the months and years to come.
Pledges to Support Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance
Early during the summit, Croatia’s Prime Minister Andrej Plenković announced via video a €1 million commitment to Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance, marking the country’s first-ever pledge to the organization. With this announcement, Croatia joins the coalition of countries supporting turning Gavi’s goal of vaccinating 500 million children and saving more than 8 million lives by 2030 into a reality. The timing is critical, with Gavi’s upcoming replenishment summit — during which countries and donors make funding commitments to support the organization’s vital work — being held in June.
(L-R) Mariana van Zeller and José Manuel Durão Barroso speak onstage about the importance of investing in global health and equitable vaccine access for all during Global Citizen NOW at Spring Studios in New York City. Photo by Noam Galai/Getty Images for Global Citizen.
Portugal’s Prime Minister Luís Montenegro appeared via video message and followed suit with a €2.5 million pledge to Gavi spanning 2026 to 2030 to help expand access to vaccines in lower-income countries. In his remarks, Prime Minister Montenegro lauded the organization’s commitment to putting global health and innovation at the service of those who need it most, no matter where they’re from. “Gavi is an example of the best that humanity has to offer.”
Everland Launches $50 Million Capital Markets Initiative
Another powerful moment came when Everland, in partnership with BNP Paribas, announced a $50 million capital markets initiative to fund the development of the first 20 Indigenous- and traditional community-led forest conservation projects in the Amazon under the new Equitable Earth Standard. By generating verified carbon credits, these projects aim to create a long-term funding model that supports both environmental protection and local development. This marks a meaningful step toward ensuring Indigenous communities are at the center of global climate solutions.
Unveiling The Music Economic Development Initiative
Shain Shapiro and Nigeria’s Minister of Art, Culture, Tourism and the Creative Economy H.E. Hannatu Musawa jointly announced the Music Economic Development Initiative, or MEDI Portal, a landmark project between Global Citizen, The Center for Music Ecosystems, and the International Finance Corporation (IFC). This first-of-its-kind platform will offer governments, investors, and artists a place to access research, data, and fact-based investment frameworks to support the growth of local creative industries and harness the power of music to drive economic growth, create jobs, and attract investment. With initial plans to launch across 22 countries in Africa, the Government of Côte d’Ivoire is helping support the pilot phase of this initiative.
Inspiring Prize Winners Earned The Spotlight
Global Citizen NOW also featured the winners of the Global Citizen Prize and Cisco Youth Leadership Award. These prizes honor five exceptional young leaders from around the world taking action to combat climate change, address systemic barriers, empower girls, and champion change, reminding us that these issues are deeply connected.
Laverne Cox present Valeriia Rachynska with her Global Citizen Prize award onstage during Global Citizen NOW at Spring Studios in New York City. Photo by Noam Galai/Getty Images for Global Citizen.
Lydia Kekeli Amenyaglo – Food Security. Amenyaglo is the Creative Director of Ghana Food Movement, an organization reshaping Ghana’s food system and showcasing the power of youth-led entrepreneurship, cultural pride, and sustainability. Through her work, she connects chefs, farmers, and young entrepreneurs through a dynamic food education hub. Her “Buy Ghana, Build Ghana” campaign fosters national pride in local ingredients, while her regenerative cocoa project reclaims cocoa farming for Ghanaians, transforming narratives about food systems in Africa through empowering young people to embrace their identity and creativity.
Omowumi Ogunrotimi — Gender Equity. Nigerian lawyer Ogunrotimi battles on-campus sexual assaults and violence through a combination of advocacy and tech. As the founder of the Gender Mobile Initiative, she is working to transform the country’s fight against gender-based violence through policies and workshops to safeguard students across 22 sub-national governments and over 150 universities. She was instrumental in the passage of the landmark Sexual Harassment Bill and remains a national force pushing for legal reform and gender equity.
Valeriia Rachynska — Human Rights. Rachynska is a fearless advocate for vulnerable communities in Ukraine, leading efforts to advance civil rights and support people living with HIV. She champions legal reforms to decriminalize sex work and HIV transmission, improve access to treatment, and recognize civil partnerships. Her leadership has supported over a million Ukrainians amid an ongoing war, earning her the World Without AIDS Award and affirming her global impact in the fight for health, justice, and equality.
Taily Terena — Climate. Terena is an Indigenous leader from the Terena Nation in Brazil and a powerful voice for climate and Indigenous rights. An advocate of over 15 years, she represents her People in international forums like the UN Climate Change Convention. Terena works to protect Indigenous lands and cultures, empower youth and women, and uphold ancestral knowledge as a vital solution to the climate crisis.
In addition, Fran Katsoudas of Cisco sat down with 2025 Cisco Youth Leadership Award winner Esther Kimani for an inspiring fireside chat on the intersection of tech innovation and food security. Just 29, Kimani is the founder of Farmer Lifeline Technologies, an agritech company that harnesses artificial intelligence and machine learning to help smallholder farmers across Africa. Kimani noted on stage that Africa loses about half of its produce every year to pests and diseases — enough food to feed millions of people, wasted. Her solution to this pervasive problem is simple and scalable: An affordable AI-powered camera to scan crops and alert farmers when issues are first detected. Kimani’s work has already impacted thousands across her home country of Kenya, and with the grant received through this award, she plans to expand into Tanzania, Uganda, Rwanda, Nigeria, and Zambia by 2026, and reach 1 million farmers by 2030.
A Series of Game-Changing Announcements Made on Stage
Throughout the summit, several groundbreaking initiatives and partnerships were unveiled live to the audience — each one marking a bold step forward towards achieving Global Citizen’s mission of ending extreme poverty.
Global Citizen Festival NYC Returns
The Global Citizen Festival will return to New York City’s Central Park on Saturday, September 27, 2025, bringing together world-renowned artists, grassroots advocates, and global leaders to call for urgent action on the biggest challenges facing humanity and the planet. This year’s campaign will spotlight critical issues, including: protecting the Amazon rainforest, ensuring universal access to education, and scaling renewable energy solutions across Africa. Hosted in partnership with Live Nation and produced by Diversified Production Services (DPS), the festival will continue to champion sustainability, showcasing the latest in climate-conscious event production. Stay tuned for the full lineup to be revealed in the coming months.
As always, tickets are free and can be earned by taking action through the Global Citizen app or at globalcitizen.org. But in a Festival first, Global Citizen is teaming up with Colossal to launch America’s Next Top Hitmaker, a nationwide competition giving rising artists the chance to perform for thousands from the Central Park stage. Musicians across the US can enter here, with one winner earning a spot alongside some of the world’s biggest acts.
FIFA Global Citizen Education Fund
In a bold new effort to respond to this global education crisis, FIFA and Global Citizen have launched the FIFA Global Citizen Education Fund aiming to raise $100 million to transform the lives of millions of children through access to education and football. This initiative follows the announcement of FIFA and Global Citizen’s four-year partnership made at last September’s Global Citizen Festival.
Revealed on stage by FIFA President Gianni Infantino, Global Citizen CEO Hugh Evans, Hugh Jackman, and Michael Isaacman, Chief Commercial Officer of Shift4, the fund will support grassroots education programs in over 200 countries. Half of the fund’s resources will go toward FIFA’s Football for Schools (F4S) program, a collaboration with UNESCO that uses football to teach life skills, build community, and support learning. As Infantino said, “Football unites the world, and over the coming years, we will harness that unity to improve education for millions of children globally.”
While announcing the FIFA Global Citizen Education Fund, Hugh Jackman speaks with kids onstage during Global Citizen NOW at Spring Studios in New York City. Photo by Noam Galai/Getty Images for Global Citizen.
In a major show of support, Infantino also confirmed that $1 from every ticket sold to the FIFA Club World Cup™ 2025 will be donated to the fund, which will additionally raise money from philanthropies, businesses, and individuals. Other contributions will include portions of proceeds from major entertainment events, including concerts by performing artist The Weeknd during his upcoming tour. The fund will also be powered in part by Shift4, a global leader in commerce technology that will enable more than 200,000 merchants across North America to accept donations to the fund when customers make a purchase. Additional announcements are expected in the lead-up to the FIFA Club World Cup™ 2025 and as plans unfold for the FIFA World Cup™ 2026.
Bridgewater and Global Citizen Challenge
Bridgewater CEO Nir Bar Dea announced that in partnership with Global Citizen, Bridgewater will launch “Forecasting the Future: A Modern Economics Challenge.” Recognizing that we’re living through one of the most significant global shifts in modern history, this unique challenge is a call to action to bold thinkers and analysts, inviting them to tackle one of the most pressing global questions: the rise of modern mercantilism and its impact on international trade, policy, and power dynamics. Participants will be asked to help understand and predict how the next era will transform the emerging new world order, and bring fresh insights and innovative solutions to the table in assessing who will be the most impacted. The top five applicants will each receive $25,000.
Global Citizen Festival: Amazonia Headliners Drop
To close out the evening, Diego Scotti, General Manager of PayPal’s Consumer Group, Indigenous Leader of the Manchineri People Toya Manchineri, and Prisca Sánchez, Vice President of Global Marketing at Global Citizen, took the stage to announce more details about the upcoming Global Citizen Festival: Amazonia. This landmark event will take place on November 1, 2025 at the Estádio Olímpico do Pará (Mangueirão) in Belém, Brazil — just days before the UN climate conference COP30 convenes in the same city. The first edition of the festival to be hosted in Latin America will spotlight the leadership of Indigenous peoples and local communities in the Amazon and amplify urgent calls to protect and restore this vital ecosystem. The festival will be the culmination of a bold campaign to drive $1 billion to safeguard and restore rainforests, accelerate a just energy transition worldwide, and support those most affected by the climate crisis.
(L-R) Diego Scotti, Simon Stiell, Helena Gualinga and André Corrêa do Lago onstage together discussing what needs to happen at the next COP in Belém at Global Citizen NOW at Spring Studios in New York City. Photo by Noam Galai/Getty Images for Global Citizen.
And we were at last able to reveal the event’s headliners: Belém’s very own Gaby Amarantos will join fellow Brazilian superstars Anitta and Seu Jorge, as well as Coldplay’s Chris Martin and appearances by local Indigenous leaders such as Chief Raoni Metuktire. Free tickets are exclusively available to residents of Pará State. Committed to being one of the most sustainable, large-scale events ever to take place in South America, this festival will catalyze commitments from world leaders and the private sector to protect local communities and ensure the Amazon’s long-term survival.
What’s Coming Up Next
As Global Citizen continues to expand its footprint across the globe, this year’s Global Citizen NOW summit marks a powerful new chapter. Building on the success of previous gatherings in New York, Melbourne, Rio de Janeiro, and Paris, the summit series is officially hitting the road once again in 2025 — bringing Global Citizen’s spin on fresh, bold ideas and conversations to communities at the forefront of change.
Announced live, the next stop will be Detroit, where Global Citizen NOW: Detroit (July 8–11), held in collaboration with Bedrock at Hudson’s Detroit, will spotlight how the city has transformed through community-first investment and health-centered development.
From there, the momentum continues to build with summits in Belém, Seville, and Johannesburg — each bringing a unique regional lens to the shared global mission of ending extreme poverty. Whether touching down in the Amazon, South Africa, or Europe, Global Citizen NOW will continue to unite leaders, advocates, and citizens to drive impact, city by city and issue by issue.