United Nations (UN) secretary-general Ban Ki-moon has appointed a group of renowned Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) advocates in an effort to help world leaders achieve the SDGs they adopted at the UN Sustainable Development Summit, which took place in September, last year.

The SDGs represented a commitment by all nations to work together to end poverty, achieve shared prosperity, build peace, and secure a life of dignity and a healthy planet for present and future generations.

The advocates, including the late President Nelson Mandela’s widow Graca Machel, Ghana President John Dramani Mahama, Queen Mathilde of Belgium and actor, founder and CEO of Whitaker Peace & Development Initiative Forest Whitaker, among others, would build on their unique standing and leadership to promote the SDGs as part of an ambitious and transformative global development agenda.

They would support Ki-moon in his efforts to generate momentum and commitment to achieve these SDGs by 2030.

The SDG advocates would promote the universal character of the SDGs, including their commitment to “leave no one behind”; promote the engagement of new stakeholders in the implementation and financing of the SDGs; encourage partnerships with governments, civil society and the private sector to share knowledge and resources; and raise awareness for the integrated nature of the SDGs.

Other notable advocates included Norway Prime Minister Erna Solberg, Crown Princess Victoria of Sweden, Qatar Foundation founder Sheikha Moza bint Nasser and Chinese businessperson Jack Ma.