Celebrities and International Development

David Beckham, Harry Belafonte, Jackie Chan, Judy Collins, Mia Farrow, Whoopi Goldberg, Jessica Lange, Sir Roger Moore, Youssou N'Dour, Vanessa Redgrave, Sebastião Salgado, Susan Sarandon. What do they have in common? They belong to the goodwill ambassadors pool for UNICEF.

"Celebrities attract attention, so they are in a position to focus the world’s eyes on the needs of children, both in their own countries and by visiting field projects and emergency programmes abroad. - states the UNICEF website - They can make direct representations to those with the power to effect change. They can use their talents and fame to fundraise and advocate for children and support UNICEF’s mission to ensure every child’s right to health, education, equality and protection.

UNICEF was the first of many ‘causes’ to enlist the help of celebrities. Danny Kaye pioneered the role of Ambassador-at-Large in 1954; it was taken on by Audrey Hepburn and others, building up into the current distinguished roster of international, regional and national goodwill ambassadors."

Many agencies can count on their own ambassadors. Geri Halliwell and Miss Universe 2000 support the cause of UNFPA, Zidane and Ronaldo UNDP's, Armani and Sofia Loren but most of all Angelina Jolie are more concerned with refugees and joined the UNHCR's cause. Clooney wants to stop the war in Darfur while Brad Pitt adopts kids in Cambodia, builds houses for the poor and teaches us trade issues, diving into why much of Africa is so impoverished and how it can be turned around. "Industrialized nations cost Africa three times what we give it in aid," he says. "We buy their coffee beans, but we don't let them process the beans, which is where the real money is. So what we're doing is digging a hole for them that they can't get out of, and then throwing a little money in the hole. The odds are just stacked against them." .

Anyone interested in microfinance? Of course! The actress Natalie Portman traveled to Uganda, Guatemala, and Ecuador in her role as Ambassador of Hope for FINCA International, and currently serves as co-chair of FINCA’s Village Banking Campaign. She completed a documentary about FINCA Mexico in April 2007.