Bloomberg Philanthropies organization announced today the 15 winning cities of the 2021-2022 Global Mayors Challenge, a worldwide innovation competition that supports and spreads cities’ most promising ideas. These 15 winners are being recognized for designing the boldest and most ambitious urban innovations to emerge from the global COVID-19 pandemic.
In addition to being awarded US$1 million, the Bogotá Care System will receive technical support and advice for three years. This Care System is the greatest social innovation in Bogota, as it integrates the city's services to provide close and simultaneous care to caregivers and those in need of care.
Throughout 2021, the Care System provided more than 63,000 training, respite and care services that transformed the lives of thousands of people in the city and in rural areas. The main goal of Bogotá’s Care System is to recognize, redistribute and reduce unpaid domestic and care work, and to serve those who perform it, 90% of whom are women.
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Last January, @BloombergDotOrg put out a call for the boldest ideas to emerge from cities during #COVID19.
— Bloomberg Cities (@BloombergCities) January 18, 2022
More than 600 cities around the world answered the call.
Today, we are excited to unveil the 15 winning cities of the Global #MayorsChallenge:https://t.co/bu6lhwVuxgpic.twitter.com/LF57UtWCZY
The system delivers services for those requiring care and their unpaid female caregivers, which frees up time for women to pursue professional development and well-being. It also trains male family members in care work and addresses gender norms that perpetuate the inequality.
“This is an award for innovation and development. Winning with this initiative that recognizes, reduces and redistributes unpaid care work is a recognition of Bogotá's work to close gender gaps and align its Development Plan with the Sustainable Development Goals”, said Mayor López.
Bogotá’s Care System will have long-lasting impact on the well-being of city residents, with comprehensive services for nearly 61% of the population, including women, children, the elderly and people with disabilities.
The System offers concrete services to respond to one of the problems that increased the most during the COVID-19 pandemic: the increase in unpaid care work, which continued to fall disproportionately on women. Among the services provided for caregivers are: flexible high school completion, certification with the National Learning Service (SENA) in care work, training in entrepreneurship and income generation, as well as recreational and respite activities, and socioemotional and legal assistance, among others.
The Care System currently operates through seven care blocks and two mobile units where caregivers and people in need of care can access services. With this award, we will reach those women who cannot go to the blocks or mobile units because they cannot leave their homes due to the conditions of the people they care for. They will be relieved from care so that they can use that time for training, rest, or physical activity.
“As the world works to address the profound public health and economic effects of the ongoing pandemic, cities can implement innovative ideas at a pace that national governments simply can’t match,” said Michael R. Bloomberg, founder of Bloomberg Philanthropies and Bloomberg L.P. and 108th Mayor of New York City.
“Our fifteen winners offer bold, achievable plans to improve health, reduce unemployment, empower women, and more. Collectively, they have the potential to improve millions of their residents' lives and the most successful solutions will inspire cities around the world to embrace them”, former Mayor Bloomberg added.
About the Global Mayors Challenge
The 15 winning cities hail from 13 nations and collectively represent more than 30 million residents. They were selected from among 50 Champion Cities that spent the past four months rigorously testing and refining their projects. When the competition launched in January 2021, mayors from 631 cities in 99 countries submitted their boldest ideas to the competition.
The Mayors Challenge selection committee helped Bloomberg Philanthropies select the 15 winners. The committee is co-chaired by Bloomberg Philanthropies board member Mellody Hobson, Co-CEO & President, Ariel Investments, and David Miliband, President & CEO, International Rescue Committee, and includes a wide range of global experts.
The winning ideas address one or more of four current issue areas in cities, including economic recovery and inclusive growth; health and wellbeing; climate and environment; and gender and equality.
Moving Forward
The 15 winning cities will now enter a three-year execution period with a $1 million grant and robust technical assistance. During this time, the cities will work diligently to evolve and scale their idea into a real-life program to improve their residents’ lives. The cities will also work to share their ideas with other cities around the world in order for these tested innovations to spread.
“The Mayors Challenge shows that there can be a positive legacy to emerge from all the hardship of the past two years – and that its happening in our cities,” said James Anderson, who leads the Government Innovation program at Bloomberg Philanthropies. "Now we turn to help these mayors implement their ideas, evaluate, and spread the ideas that produce big impact,” he added.
For more information about the Bogota Care System, please visit:
For more information about the Bloomberg Philanthropies Global Mayors Challenge, please visit:
- Mayorschallenge.bloomberg.org and @BloombergCities on Twitter and Instagram.
- Click here for more details on the 15 winning Global Mayors Challenge ideas.
