Global Citizen is the world’s largest movement of action takers and impact makers dedicated to ending extreme poverty by 2030. With other 10 million monthly advocates, people’s voices have the power to drive lasting change around sustainability, equality, and humanity. Global Citizens post, tweet, message, vote, sign, and call to inspire those who can make things happen to act — government leaders, businesses, philanthropists, artists, and citizens — together improving lives.

In 2020, with the growing spread of COVID-19, Global Citizen immediately realized that this virus would have a massive impact on the ability to end extreme poverty by 2030. Estimates have stated that the economic impact of COVID-19 could force an additional 150 million people into extreme poverty, and push those who are already struggling into a deeper hole. Global Citizen immediately pivoted their work to lead the global response to the pandemic. In just three weeks at the beginning of the virus’ spread in the U.S., Global Citizen produced “One World: Together at Home.”

Global Citizen’s goal for the “One World: Together at Home” broadcast was to raise awareness about social distancing guidelines, secure funding for frontline healthcare workers, the World Health Organization’s COVID-19 Solidarity Response Fund, and local organizations, and - most importantly - to provide a sense of hope and community to people around the world dealing with the confusion and frightening impact of the pandemic. By featuring artists in their homes, the Global Citizen team hoped to provide a sense of solidarity and comfort to those feeling alone. In three weeks in April, at the beginning of the COVID-19 spread in the U.S., Global Citizen produced the “One World: Together at Home” special.

Given the rapid spread of the pandemic and the constantly changing nature of health guidelines, Global Citizen created new processes in order to execute the special. Because it was the first national broadcast under quarantine conditions - not only were producers and staff stuck at home in the planning process, for the first time many artists were having to set up their own cameras, lights and sound equipment to film their performances by themselves. Ultimately, the digital and broadcast programs totaled eight hours of entertainment, all geared to the purpose of encouraging audiences to abide by social distancing precautions and supporting the WHO’s COVID-19 Solidarity Response Fund.

"The “One World: Together at Home” special was hosted by Jimmy Fallon, Stephen Colbert and Jimmy Kimmel, and curated by Lady Gaga. It featured performances and appearances by the world’s biggest artists and celebrities including Alicia Keys, Awkwafina, Beyoncé, Billie Eilish, Camila Cabello, Celine Dion, Jennifer Lopez, John Legend, Lizzo, Oprah Winfrey, Shawn Mendes, Taylor Swift, and others. It was the first broadcast special created during quarantine. The special attracted more than 300 million viewers globally, and reached 180 countries. It aired on 3 U.S. broadcast networks, 20 cable networks, 56 international networks, and over a dozen streaming platforms.

The special resulted in 1 million new registrants on the Global Citizen website, and inspired 500,000 actions. The special resulted in an increase of 900,000 new social media followers, and created 4.9 million engagements online. It mobilized 127.9 million - $55.1 million for the COVID-19 Solidarity Response Fund and $72.8 million for first responders. As the first special created during quarantine that featured artists performing in their homes, Global Citizen led the way for COVID-19 programming. The format of the special became a blueprint for others. It broke two Guinness Book of World Records - one for the most money generated by a remote music festival (overtaking the famed 1985 Live Aid concert), and the highest number of musical acts to perform in a remote music festival - at 72 acts.