There are no quick fixes for society’s problems — but every hand on deck is part of the solution. Below are some of the causes to which Mission Flywheel has made commitments.
EDUCATION
For many, access to quality education is not a fundamental right, but a privilege. While some barriers to access are falling, others remain as onerous as ever.
Technology is helping us democratize access to information. We can make labor markets more efficient by also facilitating access to marketable educational credentials, creating more stable economies for all.
HUNGER
The UN’s Food and Agriculture Organization estimates that 2.3 billion people on our planet suffer from food insecurity (lack of access to sufficient or nutritious food). Economic warfare, ethnic conflict and climate change are only complicating the problem.
Through investments like sustainable farming, micro-lending, transportation and infrastructure, organizations are making progress in breaking the vicious cycles that contribute to widespread hunger and malnutrition.
WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT
The world of work is transforming at a furious pace. Millions of jobs worldwide go unfilled, while millions of workers remain unemployed. Closing skill gaps in high-demand occupations is becoming an increasingly urgent priority.
Employers are beginning to favor job-ready skills over pedigrees, which represents a significant opportunity to match talent to job demand in innovative ways.
ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT
Rapid urbanization is creating a pair of unique challenges. Smaller communities are losing their young people, and need to counteract the brain drain. Meanwhile, larger communities are under pressure to attract and retain employers and entire industries, to ensure a strong labor market.
Communities have an unprecedented array of tools at their disposal, to improve employment and labor force participation while closing equality gaps. Programs focused on sustainable outcomes have an opportunity to attract investment and quicken their impact.
DIVERSITY, EQUITY & INCLUSION (DEI)
Access to opportunity remains out of proportion with the composition of modern society. Programs to right-size this imbalance are often difficult to measure and thus suffer from lack of investment.
Research has proven, time and again, that initiatives to promote diversity create stronger communities and drive better shareholder returns. Once proven, the scale-up of new engagement models will bring meaningful progress.
FAIRTRADE
The forces of globalization have made it more difficult for farmers from developing countries to receive sustainable income for their products. This complicates their pursuit of a reasonable standard of living.
These products are consumed, with pleasure, by the rich world and developing world alike. With thoughtful brand strategies and channel partnerships, we can appeal to growing trends in ethical consumption to enlarge the pie for all.