RYB Global Development
A space where global policy meets local action.
RYB connects citizens, NGOs, and changemakers across 193 countries through physical spaces built around the Sustainable Development Goals and the Universal Declaration of Human Rights.
RYB
Understanding Global Development
Global development is the collective effort of 193 UN member states, thousands of non-governmental organisations, and millions of citizens working toward a more equitable, sustainable, and peaceful world. At the centre of this effort are two foundational frameworks: the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, with its 30 articles protecting the dignity and freedom of every person, and the 17 Sustainable Development Goals, which set the global agenda for ending poverty, protecting the planet, and ensuring prosperity for all by 2030.
These frameworks shape the work of the United Nations, international development banks, national governments, and grassroots organisations. Yet for many people, this global infrastructure remains distant — discussed in conference halls and policy documents rather than in the communities, where change actually happens.
RYB exists to bridge that gap.
Explore 193 Countries
Every country on Earth faces its own unique challenges in advancing human rights and sustainable development. Some grapple with access to clean water and quality education. Others focus on gender equality, climate resilience, or building institutions that serve all citizens fairly. Each nation contributes its own priorities, resources, and innovations to the global effort.
Our interactive world map lets you explore this landscape country by country. Click any nation to discover its SDG priorities, learn about the organisations working there, and see how RYB initiatives like Culture Women’s Days are taking root in communities around the world.
Colorful geometric building structures with a blue sky background, featuring bold primary colors | photo Mehmet Turgut Kirkgoz
Flagship Framework: The Cosmology of Peace
To scale our global development mission from a universal point of view, RYB Global Development presents the Cosmology of Peace. True cosmology is the study of the overall nature, origin, structure, and future of the universe as a single, interconnected system. By shifting our perspective to this macro-level, we define peace not as a temporary political truce, but as a fundamental, permanent law of universal harmony.
The Cosmology of Peace explores how natural order, material heritages, and human communities naturally align across time and borders. Under this overarching cosmic architecture, we manage our three foundational pillars:
I. The Red Yellow Blue Silk Road: A River of Knowledge
Long before red, yellow, and blue defined modern art movements, they served as a shared human inheritance across ancient trade routes. This global research initiative and touring exhibition maps how unrelated civilizations independently converged on this exact primary palette to record history, dye textiles, and weave sacred cultural narratives.
From the five-colour Wu Fang Zheng Se cosmology of ancient imperial China to the protective geometric languages of nomadic Anatolian kilims and the radical primary grids of Mondrian’s De Stijl in the Netherlands, this project traces the deep material and spiritual lineages of natural dyes. It manifests physically as a multi-module touring program featuring immersive art galleries and The Agora of Knowledge—a shared, fluid forum space for community dialogue and cross-cultural masterclasses.
II. Women, Culture and Peace: Culture Women’s Days
Dedicated to highlighting the intersection of gender, heritage, and peacebuilding, this cornerstone initiative celebrates the historical and contemporary contributions of women to global harmony. Within a cosmic framework of societal balance, women have long functioned as the primary preservers of community knowledge, textile arts, oral histories, and foundational peace codes.
Through local cultural preservation, international public dialogue, and creative expressions, we empower women as foundational pillars in establishing a universal culture of peace. This project ensures that the living archives and structural contributions of women are sustained at the forefront of modern global development.
III. Creative Cities for Culture of Peace: A New UNESCO Concept
A strategic policy proposal focused on introducing a new operational theme into the established UNESCO Creative Cities Network. While cities historically utilize creative industries to drive economic growth, this initiative aims to mobilize design, art, music, literature, and architecture specifically as active tools for global peacebuilding and cross-border diplomacy.
As a pioneering hub for diversity, international law, and a thriving creative sector, Amsterdam is uniquely positioned to become the first city to hold this designation. From there, it will lead a global network of creative municipalities collaborating with UN-Habitat, International Cities of Peace, and local civic organizations to place culture at the absolute heart of urban development and peace.
→ Explore the Creative Cities for Culture of Peace Initiative
Our Platform & Network
RYB is part of a growing ecosystem of websites and initiatives connecting global development with the creative industries. Each project explores a different facet of our mission — from fashion and trade to cultural policy and local community spaces.
Europa Regina — europaregina.eu
A portal website about the creative industries with a focus on fashion weeks and B2B trade shows worldwide. Europa Regina tracks trends, market data, and industry news across fashion, design, art, and live events. We are a member of the European Fashion Council (EFC) and manage its projects in the Netherlands. The site serves as a bridge between commerce and culture, showing how creative industries drive economic growth and global connection.
Culture of Peace NL — cultureofpeace.nl
Our Dutch chapter explores how Amsterdam can become a UNESCO Creative City for Culture of Peace. We research the cultural landscape and arts & culture policies of the Netherlands, connecting local creative energy with UNESCO’s global peacebuilding agenda. For development professionals, students, and artists asking how culture can transform cities, this is where that question takes shape.
Bali International — bali.international
A news and information portal for Bali and Indonesia, published by Europa Regina and connected to RYB Global Development. We collect and share stories about culture, community, and global development on the island. Our long-term aim is to build a physical global development space in Bali — a place where local NGOs, changemakers, and international visitors can meet, collaborate, and advance the SDGs together.
About RYB
We are a social enterprise and start-up building a platform for global development. Our work begins with information — helping people understand the global infrastructure of development, the role of the UN and NGOs, and the frameworks that guide international cooperation. From there, we create spaces and initiatives that turn understanding into action.
Learn about our mission, our approach, and the concepts behind our work.
RYB Global Development — Informing. Connecting. Acting.