EU farmers can derogate from certain agricultural rules for one year, trade support for Ukraine and Moldova and 170,000 children displaced due to the escalating violence in Haiti. Here is what you missed from last week’s headlines in the international development sector.
Commission proposes to allow EU farmers to derogate for one year from certain agricultural rules
The European Commission proposes to allow EU farmers to avail of derogations for the year 2024 from Common Agricultural Policy rules obliging them to keep certain areas non-productive. The Commission’s proposal, sent to Member States who will vote on it in a committee meeting, provides the first concrete policy response to address farmers’ income concerns. It also follows requests outlined by several Member States in Agriculture Council meetings.
To receive the CAP support they are entitled to, farmers must respect an enhanced set of nine standards beneficial to the environment and climate. This principle of conditionality applies to close to 90% of the utilized agricultural area in the EU and plays an important role in mainstreaming sustainable farming practices. This set of basic standards is referred to as GAECs, meaning “good agricultural and environmental conditions”.
EU reaffirms trade support for Ukraine and Moldova
The Commission has proposed to renew the suspension of import duties and quotas on Ukrainian exports to the EU for another year while reinforcing protection for sensitive EU agricultural products.
This is done in line with EU commitments to support Ukraine for as long as it takes. These Autonomous Trade Measures (ATMs) have been in place since June 2022 and are a key pillar of the EU’s unwavering support for Ukraine and its economy. The measures help alleviate the difficult situation faced by Ukrainian producers and exporters as a consequence of Russia’s unprovoked and unjustified war of aggression.
While the main objective of the ATMs is to support Ukraine, the measures are also mindful of EU farmers’ and other stakeholders’ sensitivities. To this end, and considering a significant increase in imports of some agricultural products from Ukraine to the EU in 2022 and 2023, the renewed ATMs contain a reinforced safeguard mechanism. This makes sure that quick remedial action can be taken in case of significant disruptions to the EU market, or to the markets of one or more Member States.
At least 170,000 children displaced amid escalating violence in Haiti
The surge in armed violence across Haiti has triggered a profound humanitarian crisis, with the number of internally displaced children soaring to 170,000. This alarming figure represents a twofold increase from last year, highlighting the rapidly deteriorating situation and its deep impact on the country’s most vulnerable children and families
As of January 2024, the latest figures reveal that nearly 314,000 people have been uprooted across the country, mostly in Port-au-Prince and the Artibonite department, half of them estimated to be children. In less than two weeks, nearly 2,500 people, most of them women and children, have been newly displaced following clashes in the areas of Solino and Gabelliste, in Haiti’s capital, Port-au-Prince. The current situation is placing an enormous strain on the already limited resources of host communities and existing social services.
“In Haiti, children and families are enduring relentless waves of brutal violence, with each day bringing new horrors, the loss of loved ones, homes being destroyed by fire, and an ever-present shadow of fear,” said UNICEF Representative in Haiti, Bruno Maes, who visited three displacement sites in downtown Port-au-Prince’s. “Deprived of essentials like food, healthcare, and education, they are mired in a crisis that strips away the very essence of childhood. This is a humanitarian catastrophe unfolding before our eyes.”
DevelopmentAid Editorials
Famine on the horizon: the dire state of food security in Gaza
The embattled Gaza Strip is currently in the throes of a severe humanitarian crisis, grappling with the aftermath of hostilities, including bombardments and ground operations, which have taken the lives of about 30,000 people. These events have led to catastrophic levels of acute food insecurity and have displaced approximately 85% of the population or 1.9 million people.
Food insecurity likely to deepen in Uganda as development aid shrinks
Uganda, a landlocked country in East Africa, is renowned for its natural beauty, diversified cultures, and huge agricultural potential. The country’s natural resource base is believed to be among the richest and most diverse in Africa. Boasting fertile soil, 64.5% of the country’s land area is suitable for agriculture and 27% is cultivable and it has reasonably plentiful water resources for cultivation. The nation’s agricultural industry is booming and becoming increasingly focused on the market.
However, despite its potential for agricultural productivity, food insecurity remains a significant issue in Uganda, with a large proportion of the population facing challenges in accessing and affording adequate and nutritious food. While over the years development aid has contributed to improving this state of affairs, from the second half of 2023 when the Anti-Homosexuality Act was enacted, Uganda has recorded a significant reduction in development funding.
DFI Files: The British Business Bank
In DevelopmentAid’s series of articles on development finance institutions, so far we have looked at those that focus on supporting private businesses in developing and poorer countries. However, the range of work undertaken by development banks is much wider with multiple governmental financial organizations supporting small businesses within developed nations themselves. In today’s article, we focus on the British Business Bank which aims to secure sustainable growth for smaller businesses in the UK to enable the transition to a net zero economy.
Founded by the UK government in 2014 with the main goal of improving the efficiency of the financial markets for Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs), which are an essential part of the British economy, the British Business Bank has since expanded steadily, offering Start Up Loans, the Bounce Back Loan Scheme, the Recovery Loan Scheme, and Pay As You Grow solutions to help smaller firms to expand and grow.
Hero Stories | Building a bridge, not walls: Dr. El Omrani on connecting medicine, environment, and justice
In the realm where climate action intersects with youth empowerment, Dr. Omnia El Omrani from Egypt stands as a trailblazer by breaking barriers and reshaping narratives. As the inaugural Youth Envoy for the President of the 27th UN Climate Change Conference (COP27) and holding a Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery Residency, her journey is a testament to the amalgamation of medicine, activism, and global leadership.
The importance of a recruiter’s feedback in the application process
Being accepted or not for a role is all part of the joys of job seeking. However, what makes one job-hunting experience different from another one is the quality of the hiring process which includes a very delicate yet powerful instrument – the “feedback” provided by the hiring party. Why should applicants get feedback, when is the best time to receive this and what type of feedback is most important? This week, we’ll explore these hot topics from the perspective of recruiters and offer some exclusive expertise shared by TOP recruiters in the development sector.
Here’s what else has happened
Sudanese refugees: The humanitarian crisis in Chad, currently hosting the largest number of refugees fleeing the conflict in Sudan, has reached a critical juncture. The humanitarian needs for the refugees, returnees, and host communities are rising every day against the backdrop of a lack of global attention and financial support.
UNWRA: As the UN chief prepares to meet representatives from countries who donate to the UN Agency for Palestinian Refugees (UNRWA) following allegations of collusion with Hamas, the UN health agency, WHO, reiterated that was not the time to abandon the people of Gaza.
Myanmar: Three years after the military deposed the elected Government in Myanmar, the ever-deteriorating human rights crisis in the country is in freefall, the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights said, appealing for greater attention from the international community.
Gaza: Ongoing hostilities across the Gaza Strip have been “particularly intense” in the southern city of Khan Younis, UN humanitarians warned, as the UN agency for Palestinians, UNWRA, reported that its shelters were four times over-capacity.
IOM Chief: The International Organization for Migration (IOM) has revealed that nearly 100 people have died or disappeared in the Central and Eastern Mediterranean since the beginning of 2024. The toll is over twice as high as the figure for the same period of 2023, the deadliest year for migrants at sea in Europe since 2016.
Reports
New report on platform economy marks first step towards considering a new international labour standard
A new Law and Practice report, Realizing Decent Work in the Platform Economy, has been published by the ILO. The report marks a crucial milestone in the process that can lead to a new international labor standard on decent work in the platform economy. It will be discussed at the 2025 and 2026 International Labour Conferences.
Intellectual property: A potential game-changer for least developed countries
In a global economy increasingly driven by innovation and knowledge, intellectual property (IP) can propel sustainable development and economic transformation in the world’s 45 least developed countries (LDCs).
IP rights, including patents, trademarks, and copyrights, protect the myriad creations of the mind – from inventions and designs to literary and artistic works.
A new report by UNCTAD and the Commonwealth sheds light on a range of tools and options to help LDCs create an enabling environment for IP rights and use them strategically to unlock innovation, boost trade, attract investment, and promote technological upgrading.
“The essence of our journey is not merely about adopting IP rights, but about revolutionizing the way we perceive and utilize them. Not all IP policies will work in all LDCs. But all LDCs can implement successful IP policies,” UNCTAD Secretary-General Rebeca Grynspan said on 29 January at an event to launch the report, joined by the heads of the Commonwealth and the UN’s World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO).
Global gas demand set for stronger growth in 2024 despite heightened geopolitical uncertainty
Demand is rebounding as a result of expected colder weather and lower prices, IEA’s latest Gas Market Report says, but limited new LNG production means supply will remain tight.
Events
Exploring the Top NGO Roles Affected by AI | Webinar
As the influence of Artificial Intelligence (AI) expands across numerous industries, including NGOs, its impact on job roles within these organizations has become a significant topic of discussion. AI is reshaping critical functions such as program and grant management, compliance, advocacy, and communication. Nonetheless, despite its potential threat to jobs, AI can also serve as a tool of empowerment and cause a revolution in the workplace.
DevelopmentAid, in collaboration with Ali Al Mokdad, Senior Strategic Manager in the nonprofit sector, will be holding a webinar to delve into the transformative effects of AI on key roles within the NGO sector. The event aims to provide NGO professionals with insights into how, rather than replacing jobs, AI can enhance and revolutionize them, empowering workers to focus on the more strategic and impactful aspects of their roles.
Key takeaways:
- The Top Roles Impacted: A look at the NGO roles most likely to be influenced by generative AI between 2024 and 2025.
- Key Risks and Ethical Considerations: An exploration of the potential challenges and ethical dilemmas posed by AI integration in NGOs including data privacy, biases, and the balance between automation and human judgement.
The list of major upcoming events in development sector in February 2024
Keep up to date on key events about emerging funding strategies, environmental policies, climate change, technological development, labour standards and energy issues in the development sector via our compiled list.
Track events hosted by reputable international organisations, donors, NGO’s and IFIs that bring together the biggest change-makers and stakeholders in international development cooperation.
Save the date to register and attend the upcoming events in February.
Download the comprehensive schedule of major online events.
