Friday, 9 December 2011
Microfinance and Women's Health: What Do We Know?
This issue of Outlook reviews the evidence base for microfinance approaches to improve and address women’s health. It begins with background on the microfinance sector and links between microfinance and health. Interventions and approaches focused on family planning, women’s health services utilization and access (including health financing mechanisms), and HIV prevention are discussed. The issue concludes with suggested operational considerations for integration and priorities for future research. Some positive experiences with microfinance and women’s health signify that this area merits increased attention, yet more evidence of impact is needed. http://www.path.org/files/RH_
Cities and Climate Change 2011
The effects of urbanization and climate change are converging in dangerous ways that seriously threaten the world’s environmental, economic and social stability. Cities and Climate Change: Global Report on Human Settlements 2011 seeks to improve knowledge, among governments and all those interested in urban development and in climate change, on the contribution of cities to climate change, the impacts of climate change on cities, and how cities are mitigating and adapting to climate change. More importantly, the Report identifies promising mitigation and adaptation measures that are supportive of more sustainable and resilient urban development paths. http://www.unhabitat.org/
Transforming Education for Girls in Nigeria and Tanzania
This report analyses data from the Baseline Study conducted for the Transforming Education for Girls in Nigeria and Tanzania (TEGINT) project in Nigeria and Tanzania between 2007 and 2009. TEGINT is a Special Initiative begun in 2007 as a partnership between ActionAid, Maarifa ni Ufunguo (Maarifa) in Tanzania, and Community Action for Popular Participation (CAPP) in Nigeria funded by Comic Relief and the Tubney Charitable Trust. http://www.ungei.org/files/
African Development Support Monitor (DSM) Report 2011
African Monitor launches the Development Support Monitor (DSM) 2011, a research publication which tracks development funding commitments and delivery by African Governments and their international development partners – and it does so from the perspectives of the poor; the grassroots communities. This year, the DSM is focusing on the theme, “Unlocking the African moment: A grassroots focused agenda” http://www.africanmonitor.org/
A Fact Sheet on Large-Scale Corporate Farming Versus Small Family Farms
The assumption that large-scale mechanized agriculture is more productive and efficient than small family farms is influencing agricultural development policy around the world. From China to Ethiopia, developing countries are moving toward corporate farming as a way to boost production and jump-start agricultural development. But the basis of their strategy, the assumption that bigger farms are better farms, is one of the most enduring myths in global development. The key to solving the world’s current food crisis lies not with mechanized super-sized farms, but with better supporting small family farms. http://www.landesa.org/wp-
Global HIV/AIDS Response : Progress Report 2011
Global progress in both preventing and treating HIV emphasizes the benefits of sustaining investment in HIV/AIDS over the longer term. The latest report by the World Health Organization (WHO), UNICEF and UNAIDS Report on the Global HIV/AIDS Response indicates that increased access to HIV services resulted in a 15% reduction of new infections over the past decade and a 22% decline in AIDS-related deaths in the last five years.
"It has taken the world ten years to achieve this level of momentum," says Gottfried Hirnschall, Director of WHO's HIV Department. "There is now a very real possibility of getting ahead of the epidemic. But this can only be achieved by both sustaining and accelerating this momentum over the next decade and beyond."
Advances in HIV science and programme innovations over the past year add hope for future progress. In times of economic austerity it will be essential to rapidly apply new science, technologies and approaches to improve the efficiency and effectiveness of HIV programmes in countries.
http://www.unaids.org/en/
"It has taken the world ten years to achieve this level of momentum," says Gottfried Hirnschall, Director of WHO's HIV Department. "There is now a very real possibility of getting ahead of the epidemic. But this can only be achieved by both sustaining and accelerating this momentum over the next decade and beyond."
Advances in HIV science and programme innovations over the past year add hope for future progress. In times of economic austerity it will be essential to rapidly apply new science, technologies and approaches to improve the efficiency and effectiveness of HIV programmes in countries.
http://www.unaids.org/en/
Technology and Innovation Report 2011
This report focuses on the important role of renewable energy technologies in responding to the dual challenge of reducing energy poverty while mitigating climate change. This is particularly timely as the global community prepares for the Rio+20 Conference next year.
The Report identifies key capacity issues for developing countries and proposes concrete recommendations for the wider use of renewable energy technologies to promote sustainable development and poverty reduction.
The Report identifies key capacity issues for developing countries and proposes concrete recommendations for the wider use of renewable energy technologies to promote sustainable development and poverty reduction.
New maps over protected areas of the Arctic
The Arctic represents a part of the world that has, so far, seen little human impact, but is threatened by mining, oil and gas development, and climate change - to name just a few possible stresses.
The Conservation of Arctic Flora and Fauna (CAFF) is a working program of the Arctic Council, tasked with monitoring and reporting on the state and trends of ecosystems in the Arctic.
To prepare a benchmark and inventory, the Protected Areas Monitoring Scheme Background Paper was prepared, examining the current status in the Arctic countries: USA (Alaska), Canada, Greenland (Denmark), Iceland, Faeroe Islands (Denmark), Norway, Sweden, Finland and Russia.
Nordpil was commissioned to handle the spatial database that had been assembled by national partners in the CAFF network, and to prepare a set of maps for the report. The maps, prepared using ESRI ArcGIS and Adobe Illustrator, highlight the current network of national, state and territorial parks, national monuments, wildlife sanctuaries, protected bird areas (Ramsar Convention), UNESCO World Heritage sites, and other protected areas.
The Conservation of Arctic Flora and Fauna (CAFF) is a working program of the Arctic Council, tasked with monitoring and reporting on the state and trends of ecosystems in the Arctic.
To prepare a benchmark and inventory, the Protected Areas Monitoring Scheme Background Paper was prepared, examining the current status in the Arctic countries: USA (Alaska), Canada, Greenland (Denmark), Iceland, Faeroe Islands (Denmark), Norway, Sweden, Finland and Russia.
Nordpil was commissioned to handle the spatial database that had been assembled by national partners in the CAFF network, and to prepare a set of maps for the report. The maps, prepared using ESRI ArcGIS and Adobe Illustrator, highlight the current network of national, state and territorial parks, national monuments, wildlife sanctuaries, protected bird areas (Ramsar Convention), UNESCO World Heritage sites, and other protected areas.
- The circumpolar protected areas map has been added to the portfolio collection.
- The full report: CAFF Monitoring Series Report No.5 - Circumpolar Protected Areas Monitoring Arctic Protected Areas Monitoring Scheme Background Paper is available on the Arctic Portal.
- Please refer to the Conservation of Arctic Flora and Fauna (CAFF) website for more information about Arctic Council conservation efforts.
WHAT IS POLITICS??
A Little boy goes to his dad and asks, 'What is Politics?'
Dad says, 'Well son, let me try to explain it this way:
I am the head of the family, so call me The President.
Your mother is the administrator of the money, so we call her the Government. We are here to take care of your needs, so we will call you the People. The Maid, we will consider her the Working Class. And your baby brother, we will call him the Future.
Now think about that and see if it makes sense.'
So the little boy goes off to bed thinking about what Dad said.
Later that night, he hears his baby brother crying, so he gets up to check on him. He finds that the baby has severely soiled his diaper.
So the little boy goes to his parent's room and finds his mother asleep.
Not wanting to wake her, he goes to the
maid's room. Finding the door locked, he peeks in the keyhole and sees his father in bed with the maid.
He gives up and goes back to bed. The next morning, the little boy says to his father, 'Dad, I think I understand the concept of politics now.'
The father says, ‘Good, son, tell me in your own words what you think politics is all about.'
The little boy replies, 'The President is screwing the Working Class while the Government is sound asleep. The People are being ignored and the Future is in deep shit’.
--
Rehema
Patriot in Kampala,East Africa
When the boot of government is on your neck,it doesn't matter if it's left or right. Today is Buganda, tomorrow is some one else. Click on both links to listen to these revolutionary songs, courtesy of UAH Forum:
http://ugandansatheart.files.
http://ugandansatheart.files.
Dad says, 'Well son, let me try to explain it this way:
I am the head of the family, so call me The President.
Your mother is the administrator of the money, so we call her the Government. We are here to take care of your needs, so we will call you the People. The Maid, we will consider her the Working Class. And your baby brother, we will call him the Future.
Now think about that and see if it makes sense.'
So the little boy goes off to bed thinking about what Dad said.
Later that night, he hears his baby brother crying, so he gets up to check on him. He finds that the baby has severely soiled his diaper.
So the little boy goes to his parent's room and finds his mother asleep.
Not wanting to wake her, he goes to the
maid's room. Finding the door locked, he peeks in the keyhole and sees his father in bed with the maid.
He gives up and goes back to bed. The next morning, the little boy says to his father, 'Dad, I think I understand the concept of politics now.'
The father says, ‘Good, son, tell me in your own words what you think politics is all about.'
The little boy replies, 'The President is screwing the Working Class while the Government is sound asleep. The People are being ignored and the Future is in deep shit’.
--
Rehema
Patriot in Kampala,East Africa
When the boot of government is on your neck,it doesn't matter if it's left or right. Today is Buganda, tomorrow is some one else. Click on both links to listen to these revolutionary songs, courtesy of UAH Forum:
http://ugandansatheart.files.
http://ugandansatheart.files.
Corporate Social Responsibility: Private Self-Regulation is Not Enough
While corporate social responsibility (CSR) has become an established part of the global landscape, there is no universal concept of CSR. How can we figure out what CSR actually is? What drives emerging countries to support a concept that they previously feared would pose a protectionist threat to them? Michel Doucin begins his article with a fascinating historical analysis of the CSR concept. He identifies its pioneers, including those in emerging markets, and the different interpretations of CSR. He concludes by arguing for genuine international rules to shape a universal CSR framework. The challenge is to build a balance between collective private self-regulation and government regulations. http://www.gcgf.org/ifcext/
Elections in the Democratic Republic of the Congo: Local Matters
- Facing a likely choice between accepting a democratically-dubious result and risking chaos by rejecting it, it is perhaps unsurprising that the international community has quietly declined to involve itself too deeply in the Democratic Republic of Congo's 2011 election
- However, as politics gets closer to home, first with the election of Provincial Assembly members, then of local Mayors, administrators and council members, so issues of real salience to communities will come to the fore, and the risk of a series of brushfire local conflicts will become ever more acute.
- The international community should remain alert and engaged as the coming high-stakes local elections could be transformative.
HOW DO WE STOP HOMOSEXUALITY IN AFRICA WITH DONORS POURING MONEY IN IT?
This 93-page report is based on more than 120 interviews conducted in six provinces. Human Rights Watch found that lesbians and transgender men face extensive discrimination and violence in their daily lives, both from private individuals and government officials. The abusers of people known or assumed to be lesbian, bisexual, or transgender act with near-total impunity, Human Rights Watch found.
http://www.hrw.org/sites/
http://www.hrw.org/sites/
ICASA leaders’ panel: Keeping the promise in the HIV response
African leaders met on Monday 5 December at a special roundtable session during the International Conference of AIDS and STIs in Africa (ICASA 2011) to take stock of the efforts and promises made towards the AIDS response, the challenges and the way forward to fulfill these commitments.
Participants at the roundtable session were UNAIDS Executive Director Michel Sidibé, former president of Botswana, Mr Festus Gontebanye Mogae, Ambassador Eric Goosby, United States Global AIDS Coordinator, Minister of Health of Algeria, Mr Oueld Zbel Yastahel Kadad, Minister of Health of Rwanda, Dr Agnes Binagwaho, Minister of Health of Mali, Ms Madeleine Ba Diallo, African Union Social Affairs Commissioner Ms Bience Gawanas and the President of the World Council of Churches, Abune Paulos I.
Participants at the roundtable session were UNAIDS Executive Director Michel Sidibé, former president of Botswana, Mr Festus Gontebanye Mogae, Ambassador Eric Goosby, United States Global AIDS Coordinator, Minister of Health of Algeria, Mr Oueld Zbel Yastahel Kadad, Minister of Health of Rwanda, Dr Agnes Binagwaho, Minister of Health of Mali, Ms Madeleine Ba Diallo, African Union Social Affairs Commissioner Ms Bience Gawanas and the President of the World Council of Churches, Abune Paulos I.
World Migration Report 2011
The World Migration Report 2011 presents available evidence on public perceptions and attitudes regarding migration globally. It analyses the way in which they are shaped and how they can influence and be influenced by policy as well as the media. Furthermore, the media’s role in communicating opinions, reporting trends and framing migration discourse is analyzed. Examples of good practice in communicating a positive and balanced image of migrants among government, civil society and the media are also included. Finally, the report suggests several ways to improve communication about migration in order to promote a better understanding and recognition of the benefits of migration, more evidence based policymaking and effective engagement with migrants themselves. http://publications.iom.int/
Global Imbalances in a World of Inflexible Real Exchange Rates and Capital Controls
This paper addresses the issue of international payments in a stock-flow framework, by capturing the interaction between the current account balance and international assets portfolios of domestic and foreign investors. It is argued that the stability of such interaction may be affected by shifts in the preferences of investors, by the relative rate of return of different assets, and—more in general—by institutional settings. The model is then used for policy analysis purposes to derive the conditions for the existence of dynamic equilibria, and if they can be attained, under the assumption of market-distorting policy choices. http://adbi.org/files/2011.12.
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