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Add to Preferred SourcesWater crisis in Gaza, war in Ukraine enters second winter and climate change is an urgent threat to pregnant women and children. Here is what you missed from last week’s headlines in the international development sector.
Water crisis threatens the lives of hundreds of thousands in Gaza
More than six weeks since the beginning of the crisis, civilians in Gaza are facing an acute water shortage, leading to an unprecedented situation with life and death implications for the 2.3 million people living there, 70% of whom – according to the U.N. Palestinian refugee agency (UNRWA) – have no access to clean water. In desperate conditions like these, the risk to children under five is particularly acute.
This extreme scarcity of water in Gaza has been brought on by a lack of fuel to run desalination plants and pump/deliver water; as well as raw sewage contaminating water supplies, damage to pipes, ongoing bombing, and a grossly insufficient amount of humanitarian relief being allowed into the besieged area.
Ukraine: Civilian casualties mount as war enters second winter
At least 10,000 civilians, including over 560 children, have been killed and more than 18,500 injured since Russia launched its full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February last year, the UN Human Rights Monitoring Mission there said.
The Monitoring Mission stated that the casualty figure represents deaths verified according to its methodology, cautioning that the actual figure may be significantly higher given the challenges and time required for verification.
“Ten thousand civilian deaths is a grim milestone for Ukraine,” said Danielle Bell, head of the Monitoring Mission, adding that the war, now entering into its 21st month, “risks evolving into a protracted conflict, with the severe human cost being painful to fathom.”
Monitoring also showed that a significant number of civilian casualties occurred far beyond the frontlines, primarily attributed to the Russian armed forces’ deployment of long-range missiles and loitering munitions against targets in populated areas across the country.
“Nearly half of civilian casualties in the last three months have occurred far away from the frontlines. As a result, no place in Ukraine is completely safe,” Ms. Bell warned.
Climate change is an urgent threat to pregnant women and children
Pregnant women, babies, and children face extreme health risks from climate catastrophes that warrant urgent attention, according to a Call for Action released by United Nations (UN) agencies ahead of the global Conference of the Parties (COP28) negotiations on climate change in Dubai.
According to the document– Protecting Maternal, newborn and Child Health from the impacts of climate change – the effects of climate events on maternal and child health have been neglected, underreported and underestimated. It highlights that very few countries’ climate change response plans mention maternal or child health, describing this as “a glaring omission and emblematic of the inadequate attention to the needs of women, newborns, and children in the climate change discourse”.
DevelopmentAid Editorials
Hero Stories | Jose de la Maza: “The world doesn’t need another consulting report. It needs real impact”
Dive into this captivating journey with DevelopmentAid as we celebrate a leader whose narrative exemplifies the essence of our Hero Stories initiative: spotlighting the pioneers reshaping global development. Meet Jose de la Maza, the charismatic CEO of Aninver Development Partners. De la Maza’s narrative is a testament to Aninver’s commitment to shaping global development outcomes. Aninver Development Partners is a dynamic business advisory group with a global operational footprint, driven by the ambition to become the international development consultancy of reference. This ambition is rooted in its unwavering commitment to addressing the most complex challenges faced by development finance institutions, governments, and private clients.
Seven disciplines to ensure your CV is shortlisted for DevelopmentAid job opportunities
Getting ahead of the competition to secure that lucrative job in the aid sector that you really want is the primary goal when submitting a resume for a job vacancy but you will never immediately be offered the job. Your CV must firstly be shortlisted which means it will be selected from a large pool of resumes submitted by other candidates for the role. Making it onto a recruiter’s shortlist is proof of a strong, well-written, and tailored CV. It is also considered essential to achieving a successful career in the aid sector as it will give you confidence when meeting donors at the interview stage.
Five tips for development experts from the Pacific who want a career boost
The greater Pacific and Oceania region may be the least populated, but it lies at the forefront of sustainable development projects. As such, experienced professionals and junior development consultants from this highly sought-after region know that the development of their careers holds paramount significance.
Here’s what else has happened
Finland: Finland will grant EUR 3 million in additional support to improve food security in Ukraine. The funding will be used to support Ukrainian exports of grain to countries where food security is adversely affected by Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. Some of the funds will be used to help clear mines in rural Ukraine to restart agricultural production.
IRENA and DP World: The International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA) has signed a collaboration agreement with DP World, a UAE-based global supply chain solutions company. Through the agreement, the two organizations will collaborate on decarbonizing the shipping and ports sectors, aligning current infrastructure, logistics, and processes with the demands of the energy transition, and scaling up the use of renewable-based fuels and electrification.
Oil and gas industry: Producers must choose between contributing to a deepening climate crisis or becoming part of the solution by embracing the shift to clean energy, an IEA special report says. Oil and gas producers face pivotal choices about their role in the global energy system amid a worsening climate crisis fuelled in large part by their core products, according to a major new special report from the IEA that shows how the industry can take a more responsible approach and contribute positively to the new energy economy.
Chad: The Board of Directors of the African Development Bank Group approved a donation of EUR 34.27 million to Chad in Abidjan on 17 November 2023, to implement the second phase of the Semi-urban and Rural Drinking Water Supply and Sanitation Programme in 11 of the country’s regions.
Mexico: Following the impact of Hurricane OTIS on the West coast of Mexico, the EU will provide €1.3 million in humanitarian assistance to help address the most urgent needs of the affected population. The funding will provide assistance to the most vulnerable, including shelter, water, sanitation, and hygiene, as well as support for livelihoods and other basic needs.
Сlean energy partnership: A new Clean Energy Partnership between the UK and the Republic of Korea (RoK) will be agreed to boost energy security and accelerate the clean energy transition. The partnership will be signed in London by Energy Security Secretary Claire Coutinho and RoK’s Minister for Trade, Industry and Energy, Bang Moon Kyu. It will see the UK and RoK strengthen cooperation on shared ambitions across the clean energy transition, low carbon technologies, civil nuclear, and domestic climate policies.
Reports
Health needs to be front and centre of national plans to fight climate change
Ahead of the UN Climate Change Conference (COP-28), WHO has published its “2023 review of health in nationally determined contributions and long-term strategies” highlighting the actions needed to ensure that people’s health is fully prioritized and integrated into national plans to fight climate change.
UN Women calls for bold investments to end violence against women in light of new report showing prevention is severely underfunded
Ahead of the International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women on 25 November, a report “What Counts? The State of Funding for the Prevention of Gender-based Violence against Women and Girls” by UN Women partners with the Equality Institute and the Accelerator for GBV Prevention, working together under the Collective Commitment of the Generation Equality Action Coalition on GBV reveals a concerning reality: gender-based violence, an issue of alarming proportions, garners only 0.2% of global aid and development funding.
Housing key to economic security for displaced people: Report
Internally Displaced People (IDPs) who have access to adequate housing are over three times more likely to not rely on humanitarian assistance and twice as likely to have stable income according to a study published by the International Organization for Migration Global Data Institute (GDI) in partnership with Georgetown University in the United States.
The PROGRESS report is a comprehensive analysis of the state of solutions to internal displacement worldwide.
Events
Market Systems Symposium 2023
📅 14-16 November 2023
Cape Town, South Africa
Empower your market systems development practice with inspiration, innovation, and connection.
Get ready to be inspired, equipped, and connected like never before at Market Systems Symposium 2023! Engage with industry-leading experts in Market Systems Development from around the world as we explore cutting-edge research, innovative strategies, and real-world application in this dynamic and engaging forum.
Key Themes:
Given the significant impact of climate change, conflict and food insecurity on our world today, the core themes which we will be discussing, debating, collaborating, and innovating around at MSS2023 are:
- Climate Change & Adaptation
- Conflict-Affected Contexts
- Food Security and Food Systems
Global Digital Health Forum 2023
📅 4-6 December 2023
Hybrid Event – Virtual (Asia and East Africa time zones)
In-Person – Washington D.C.
Are you passionate about digital health? Join the Global Digital Health Forum December 4-6, 2023 – the largest gathering of digital health practitioners including tech innovators, funders, policymakers, project implementers, researchers, and students.
GDHF is the leading global public health industry networking and relationship-building opportunity for technology vendors, donors, researchers, government representatives, and implementing organizations working in low- and middle-income countries.
Here’s a sneak peek at what awaits you at the event:
- Engaging with government stakeholders
- Connecting with digital health developers
- Exploring the latest research
- Collaborating with donors
- Partnering with implementers
- Learning from field experts in public health and technology from across the globe
The event will take place both virtually and in person, so you will have a chance to engage no matter where you are!
With your active participation, we’ll spearhead effective and equitable digital health innovation together!
Have any questions about the Forum? Feel free to reach out to us at[email protected].
COP28 UAE
📅 30 November – 12 December 2023
Dubai, UAE
A critical moment in global transformative climate action. In the three decades since the Rio Summit and the launch of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC), the Conference of the Parties to the Convention (COP) has convened member countries every year to determine ambition and responsibilities, and identify and assess climate measures. The 21st session of the COP (COP21) led to the Paris Agreement, which mobilized global collective action to limit the global temperature increase to 1.5C above pre-industrial levels by 2100 and to act to adapt to the already existing effects of climate change.