Goodwill Ambassador
Encyclopedia
Goodwill Ambassador is a collective term sometimes used as a substitute honorific
title or a title of honor
for an Ambassador
of Goodwill
; but, most appropriately for a generic recognition, it is a job position or description that is usually indicated following the name of the individual recognized in the position. Goodwill ambassadors generally deliver goodwill or promote ideals from one entity to another, or to a population.
A goodwill ambassador may be an individual from one country who resides in or travels to another country, in a diplomatic mission
(or international friendship
mission) at a peer to peer level; that is: country to country, state to state, city to city; or, as an intermediary representing the people at the other extreme of an organization.
Goodwill Ambassadors have been an official (or unofficial) part of governments and cultures for as long as diplomacy
has existed; to exchange gifts and presents; humanitarian relief; or development aid, using well known celebrities, scientist
s, authors, known activists, and other high society
figures. Goodwill missions of countries are usually carried out or overseen by the head of state
, and do not necessarily involve diplomatic credentials
outside of a letter of presentation (or letter of credence). However some states do issue credentials that include diplomatic immunity
for their goodwill ambassadors such as Haiti
.
Many governmental, multilateral, nongovernmental, and nonprofit organization
s utilize goodwill ambassadors to promote their programs and reach out to others with programs that are based on good relations that are usually secular and apolitical
. Among the organizations that use goodwill ambassadors to deliver agendas include Sister Cities, the United Nations
, organizations of the United Nations, the African Union
, Muscular Dystrophy Association
, Rotary International
, and many others including the government of the United States of America as seen in 2009 when former President Bill Clinton
traveled to North Korea
on a special goodwill mission.
United Nations organizations with goodwill ambassador programs
Honorific
An honorific is a word or expression with connotations conveying esteem or respect when used in addressing or referring to a person. Sometimes, the term is used not quite correctly to refer to an honorary title...
title or a title of honor
Title of honor
An honorary title or title of honor is a title bestowed upon individuals or organizations as an award in recognition of their merits.Sometimes the title bears the same or nearly the same name as a title of authority, but the person bestowed does not have to carry any duties, possibly except for...
for an Ambassador
Ambassador
An ambassador is the highest ranking diplomat who represents a nation and is usually accredited to a foreign sovereign or government, or to an international organization....
of Goodwill
Goodwill
Goodwill or Good Will may refer to:* Goodwill , the value of a business entity not directly attributable to its assets and liabilities* Goodwill, Maryland, United States...
; but, most appropriately for a generic recognition, it is a job position or description that is usually indicated following the name of the individual recognized in the position. Goodwill ambassadors generally deliver goodwill or promote ideals from one entity to another, or to a population.
A goodwill ambassador may be an individual from one country who resides in or travels to another country, in a diplomatic mission
Diplomatic mission
A diplomatic mission is a group of people from one state or an international inter-governmental organisation present in another state to represent the sending state/organisation in the receiving state...
(or international friendship
Friendship
Friendship is a form of interpersonal relationship generally considered to be closer than association, although there is a range of degrees of intimacy in both friendships and associations. Friendship and association are often thought of as spanning across the same continuum...
mission) at a peer to peer level; that is: country to country, state to state, city to city; or, as an intermediary representing the people at the other extreme of an organization.
Goodwill Ambassadors have been an official (or unofficial) part of governments and cultures for as long as diplomacy
Diplomacy
Diplomacy is the art and practice of conducting negotiations between representatives of groups or states...
has existed; to exchange gifts and presents; humanitarian relief; or development aid, using well known celebrities, scientist
Scientist
A scientist in a broad sense is one engaging in a systematic activity to acquire knowledge. In a more restricted sense, a scientist is an individual who uses the scientific method. The person may be an expert in one or more areas of science. This article focuses on the more restricted use of the word...
s, authors, known activists, and other high society
High society (group)
High society refers to a category of people deemed to have greater social status or prestige, and their related affiliations, social events and practices which together define a group variously referred to as "Society" or high society. Such groups are defined by certain key events and cultural...
figures. Goodwill missions of countries are usually carried out or overseen by the head of state
Head of State
A head of state is the individual that serves as the chief public representative of a monarchy, republic, federation, commonwealth or other kind of state. His or her role generally includes legitimizing the state and exercising the political powers, functions, and duties granted to the head of...
, and do not necessarily involve diplomatic credentials
Diplomatic credentials
Diplomatic credentials are documents presented by foreign ambassadors and ministers to the chief of state of the host government. The documents, which follow a standard text, identify the diplomats as representatives of their governments and empowered to speak for them.According to diplomatic...
outside of a letter of presentation (or letter of credence). However some states do issue credentials that include diplomatic immunity
Diplomatic immunity
Diplomatic immunity is a form of legal immunity and a policy held between governments that ensures that diplomats are given safe passage and are considered not susceptible to lawsuit or prosecution under the host country's laws...
for their goodwill ambassadors such as Haiti
Haiti
Haiti , officially the Republic of Haiti , is a Caribbean country. It occupies the western, smaller portion of the island of Hispaniola, in the Greater Antillean archipelago, which it shares with the Dominican Republic. Ayiti was the indigenous Taíno or Amerindian name for the island...
.
Many governmental, multilateral, nongovernmental, and nonprofit organization
Nonprofit organization
Nonprofit organization is neither a legal nor technical definition but generally refers to an organization that uses surplus revenues to achieve its goals, rather than distributing them as profit or dividends...
s utilize goodwill ambassadors to promote their programs and reach out to others with programs that are based on good relations that are usually secular and apolitical
Apolitical
The state or quality of being apolitical can be the apathy and/or the antipathy towards all political affiliations. Being apolitical can also refer to situations in which people take an unbiased position in regard to political matters.-References:...
. Among the organizations that use goodwill ambassadors to deliver agendas include Sister Cities, the United Nations
United Nations
The United Nations is an international organization whose stated aims are facilitating cooperation in international law, international security, economic development, social progress, human rights, and achievement of world peace...
, organizations of the United Nations, the African Union
African Union
The African Union is a union consisting of 54 African states. The only all-African state not in the AU is Morocco. Established on 9 July 2002, the AU was formed as a successor to the Organisation of African Unity...
, Muscular Dystrophy Association
Muscular Dystrophy Association
The Muscular Dystrophy Association is an American organization which combats muscular dystrophy and diseases of the nervous system and muscular system in general by funding research, providing medical and community services, and educating health professionals and the general public...
, Rotary International
Rotary International
Rotary International is an organization of service clubs known as Rotary Clubs located all over the world. The stated purpose of the organization is to bring together business and professional leaders to provide humanitarian service, encourage high ethical standards in all vocations, and help...
, and many others including the government of the United States of America as seen in 2009 when former President Bill Clinton
Bill Clinton
William Jefferson "Bill" Clinton is an American politician who served as the 42nd President of the United States from 1993 to 2001. Inaugurated at age 46, he was the third-youngest president. He took office at the end of the Cold War, and was the first president of the baby boomer generation...
traveled to North Korea
North Korea
The Democratic People’s Republic of Korea , , is a country in East Asia, occupying the northern half of the Korean Peninsula. Its capital and largest city is Pyongyang. The Korean Demilitarized Zone serves as the buffer zone between North Korea and South Korea...
on a special goodwill mission.
Alternate definition
Alternatively, Websters Online Dictionary presents a specialty definition for a goodwill ambassador as one that promotes goodwill and solicits trade for local business firms who are members of parent organization: Develops list of prospective clients from such sources as newspaper items, utility companies' records, and local merchants. Visits homes of new residents, prospective parents, recently married couples, engaged persons, and other prospects to explain and sell services available from local merchants. Usually presents token gifts or gift certificates to induce clients to use local services or purchase local merchandise. Prepares reports of services rendered and visits made for parent organization and member firms. May solicit new organization membership. May explain community services available. May organize clubs and plan parties for new residents.See also
Organizations that utilize goodwill ambassadors.- African UnionAfrican UnionThe African Union is a union consisting of 54 African states. The only all-African state not in the AU is Morocco. Established on 9 July 2002, the AU was formed as a successor to the Organisation of African Unity...
- European UnionEuropean UnionThe European Union is an economic and political union of 27 independent member states which are located primarily in Europe. The EU traces its origins from the European Coal and Steel Community and the European Economic Community , formed by six countries in 1958...
- Global Peace IndexGlobal Peace IndexThe Global Peace Index is an attempt to measure the relative position of nations' and regions' peacefulness. It is the product of Institute for Economics and Peace and developed in consultation with an international panel of peace experts from peace institutes and think tanks with data collected...
- IIMSAMIIMSAMThe Intergovernmental Institution for the use of Micro‐algae Spirulina Against Malnutrition is an intergovernmental organization based in New York City that has a Permanent Intergovernmental Observer status with the United Nations Economic and Social Council.-Purpose:IIMSAM has been established...
- Lions Clubs InternationalLions Clubs InternationalLions Clubs International is a secular service organization with over 44,500 clubs and more than 1,368,683 members in 191 countries around the world founded by Melvin Jones Headquartered in Oak Brook, Illinois, United States, the organization aims to meet the needs of communities on a local and...
- Muscular Dystrophy AssociationMuscular Dystrophy AssociationThe Muscular Dystrophy Association is an American organization which combats muscular dystrophy and diseases of the nervous system and muscular system in general by funding research, providing medical and community services, and educating health professionals and the general public...
- National Down Syndrome SocietyNational Down Syndrome SocietyThe National Down Syndrome Society is an American organization which offers support to people and families with Down syndrome, as well as educating the general public about Down syndrome. The organization was founded in 1979...
- Olympic GamesOlympic GamesThe Olympic Games is a major international event featuring summer and winter sports, in which thousands of athletes participate in a variety of competitions. The Olympic Games have come to be regarded as the world’s foremost sports competition where more than 200 nations participate...
- Rotary InternationalRotary InternationalRotary International is an organization of service clubs known as Rotary Clubs located all over the world. The stated purpose of the organization is to bring together business and professional leaders to provide humanitarian service, encourage high ethical standards in all vocations, and help...
- Sister Cities InternationalSister Cities InternationalSister Cities International is a nonprofit citizen diplomacy network that creates and strengthens partnerships between United States and international communities. More than 2,000 cities, states and counties are partnered in 136 countries around the world...
- Tipperary Peace Convention
- United NationsUnited NationsThe United Nations is an international organization whose stated aims are facilitating cooperation in international law, international security, economic development, social progress, human rights, and achievement of world peace...
- United Nations AssociationUnited Nations AssociationThe United Nations Associations are non-governmental organizations that exist in various countries to enhance the relationship between the people of a member state and the United Nations, raise public awareness of the UN and its work, promote the general goals of the UN and act as an advisory body...
United Nations organizations with goodwill ambassador programs
- United Nations Messengers of PeaceUnited Nations Messengers of PeaceUnited Nations Messenger of Peace is a title bestowed by the United Nations to "distinguished individuals, carefully selected from the fields of art, music, literature and sports, who have agreed to help focus worldwide attention on the work of the United Nations.The messengers are initially chosen...
- FAO Goodwill AmbassadorFAO Goodwill AmbassadorThe FAO Goodwill Ambassadors Programme was initiated in 1999. The main purpose of the programme is to increase public awareness and to disseminate information on issues related to food security, hunger and poverty in the world...
s - UNAIDS Joint United Nations Programme on HIV and AIDS
- UN Environment Programme
- UNDP Goodwill Ambassadors
- UNESCO Goodwill AmbassadorUNESCO Goodwill AmbassadorUNESCO Goodwill Ambassadors are celebrity advocates of UNESCO who use their talent or fame to spread the UNESCO ideals, especially attracting media attention...
s - UNODC United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime
- UNFPA Goodwill AmbassadorUNFPA Goodwill AmbassadorUNFPA Goodwill Ambassadors are celebrity advocates of the United Nations Population Fund and use their talent and fame to advocate for the human right of reproductive health.-Current Goodwill Ambassadors:...
s - UNHCR Goodwill AmbassadorUNHCR Goodwill AmbassadorUNHCR Goodwill Ambassadors are celebrity representatives of the Office of the UN High Commissioner for Refugees who use their talent and fame to advocate for refugees.-Current Ambassadors:...
s - UNICEF Goodwill Ambassadors
- UNIDO Goodwill AmbassadorUNIDO Goodwill AmbassadorUNIDO Goodwill Ambassadors are expert advocates of the United Nations Industrial Development Organization and use their talent and experience to advocate for sustainable industrial development in developing countries...
s - UNIFEM Goodwill Ambassadors
- WFP World Food Programme
- WHO Goodwill AmbassadorWHO Goodwill AmbassadorWHO Goodwill Ambassadors are celebrity advocates of the World Health Organization and use their talent and fame to advocate for health and well-being.-List of Goodwill Ambassadors:WHO Goodwill Ambassadors, and the year they were appointed:...
s