Weekly roundup: Top international development headlines

Gender-based violence, humanitarian support to people in conflict areas in Latin America and the Caribbean, support for refugees and host communities and EU action to protect the world’s forests. Here is what you missed from last week’s headlines in the international development sector:

New partnership between UNFPA, Rutgers University aims to end gender-based violence

UNFPA, the United Nations sexual and reproductive health agency, signed a Memorandum of Understanding with the Center for Women’s Global Leadership (CWGL) from Rutgers University to work towards eliminating all forms of gender-based violence. The agreement will support the organizations’ goals of achieving sexual and reproductive health for all, promoting gender equality and protecting human rights.

The partnership will expand discourse on women’s human rights, and influence policy, processes and practice in the field. Its activities will include working with news media to raise awareness and enhance global discourse about gender-based violence and building a knowledge base on the links between sexual and reproductive health, gender-based violence, economic policy and other relevant issues.

“We at UNFPA welcome this partnership with the Center for Women’s Global Leadership, which has played such a pivotal role in raising awareness and driving action to end gender-based violence around the world. Through greater collaboration with strategic partners like CWGL, we will ensure that every woman and girl can live free of discrimination and violence and exercise her right to sexual and reproductive health,” said Dr. Natalia Kanem, Executive Director of UNFPA.

EU mobilises further €15.2 million humanitarian support for food safety, epidemics preparedness and support to people in conflict areas in Latin America and Caribbean

The European Union has allocated a further €15.2 million in assistance to Latin America and the Caribbean. This support will focus on food assistance in El Salvador, Guatemala and Honduras, support to forcibly displaced Venezuelans and host communities, and essential needs and nutritional support to Haiti.

This support package comes in addition to the €88.548 million funding already announced earlier this year and includes an extra €286,000 to support epidemics preparedness in dengue-affected Central American countries.

“The humanitarian situation in Latin America and the Caribbean, notably in Haiti, has been drastically worsening over the last months. It was urgent to address the situation and take action before the year is over. The European Union is, therefore, stepping up its aid operations in the region, in order to provide assistance to those in need. We are committed to continue supporting the region as long as necessary,” said Janez Lenarčič, European Commissioner for Crisis Management.

World Bank announces $2.2 billion scale-up in support for refugees and host communities at Global Refugee Forum

Up to $2.2 billion will be available for a dedicated window for refugees and host communities over the next three years, the World Bank announced at the first Global Refugee Forum (GRF). The financing is part of the recently-approved 19th replenishment of the International Development Association (IDA19), the World Bank’s fund for the poorest, that will run from July 2020 to June 2023.

The World Bank has been scaling up its support to refugees and host communities for several years, in response to the growing global crisis of forced displacement.

EU action to protect the world’s forests – Council adopts conclusions

The Council adopted conclusions which provide political guidance on protecting and restoring the world’s forests. Member states welcome the Commission’s communication on stepping up EU action in this area.

Forests have a key role in climate action given their power to absorb greenhouse gases. Forests host the majority of Earth’s biodiversity. Population growth and growing demand for food lead to forests being turned into agricultural land, and to an increased focus on agricultural productivity.

The Council and the member states are deeply concerned that current policies and action at the global level on the conservation, restoration and sustainable management of forests are insufficient to halt deforestation. They agree that enhanced EU action is needed, and encourage the Commission to urgently prioritise and implement the actions set out in its communication, together with the member states, industry, organisations and institutions, civil society and partner countries as part of the European Green Deal.

Here’s what else has happened

The Asian Development Bank (ADB): The Asian Development Bank (ADB) and RG Brands (RGB), a leading food and beverage group in Kazakhstan, signed a $20 million loan to modernize operations along the company’s regional distribution chain. The assistance will improve the livelihoods of shopkeepers and support women’s empowerment in Kazakhstan and in neighboring the Kyrgyz Republic.

Jordan: The Council adopted a decision to provide up to 500 million euros of macro-financial assistance to Jordan. The EU assistance will support the restoration of a sustainable external financing situation in Jordan, thereby supporting its economic stability, reform agenda and social development.

Germany: The government of Germany has committed EUR 1.3 million (just over CHF 1.4 million) to the Enhanced Integrated Framework (EIF) for 2020 to help spur trade growth across the world’s poorest countries.

USAID: In response to growing needs in the Republic of Haïti amid a socio-political impasse, the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) is providing $1 million to the United Nations World Food Programme (WFP) to support ongoing humanitarian operations. This funding will pay for the WFP to provide air, sea, and road transport to help move emergency assistance to vulnerable Haitians amidst considerable insecurity and difficult access. It will also finance the storage of humanitarian supplies, as well as information management and coordination support to keep the WFP’s operations efficient and effective.

WFP: A massive expansion of humanitarian assistance by the United Nations World Food Programme in Yemen this year has alleviated the worst suffering in Yemen and so far prevented famine, but over 11 million people continue to face a daily struggle to find enough food, according to WFP’s latest food security monitoring data.

Reports

WHO launches new report on global tobacco use trends

For the first time, the World Health Organization projects that the number of males using tobacco is on the decline, indicating a powerful shift in the global tobacco epidemic. The findings, published in a new WHO report, demonstrate how government-led action can protect communities from tobacco, save lives and prevent people suffering tobacco-related harm.

“Declines in tobacco use amongst males mark a turning point in the fight against tobacco,” said Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, WHO Director-General. “For many years now we had witnessed a steady rise in the number of males using deadly tobacco products. But now, for the first time, we are seeing a decline in male use, driven by governments being tougher on the tobacco industry. WHO will continue working closely with countries to maintain this downward trend.”

Read and download the WHO global report on trends in prevalence of tobacco use 2000-2025, third edition.

Low level of hunger but high prevalence of moderate food insecurity, overweight, and obesity in Europe and Central Asia

Hunger in Europe and Central Asia is low, but a high number of people are affected by moderate food insecurity, such as limited food and access to nutritious food, as well as overweight and obesity, revealed a new FAO report.

The Regional Overview of Food Security and Nutrition in Europe and Central Asia 2019, provides specific recommendations for policymakers for targeted interventions on nutrition, inequalities and rural development, and achieving the global goals of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.

In Europe and Central Asia, food security has improved substantially over the past two decades and the vast majority of the 50 or so countries monitored managed to keep the prevalence of undernourishment below 5 percent – less than half of the world average (10.8 percent).

Read and download the report: Regional Overview of Food Security and Nutrition in Europe and Central Asia 2019.

Drop-in cholera cases worldwide, as key endemic countries report gains in cholera control

The number of cholera cases decreased globally by 60% in 2018, the World Health Organization (WHO) announced in a report that points to an encouraging trend in cholera prevention and control in the world’s major cholera hotspots, including Haiti, Somalia and the Democratic Republic of the Congo.

“The decrease we are seeing in several major cholera-endemic countries demonstrates the increased engagement of countries in global efforts to slow and prevent cholera outbreaks and shows the vital role of mass cholera vaccination campaigns,” said WHO Director-General Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus. “We continue to emphasize, however, that the long-term solution for ending cholera lies in increasing access to clean drinking water and providing adequate sanitation and hygiene.”

There were 499 447 cases of cholera and 2990 deaths in 2018, according to reports from 34 countries. While outbreaks are still ongoing in various countries, the caseload represents a significant downward trend in cholera transmission that has continued into 2019, according to data collected by WHO.

Read and download the report: Ending Cholera: A Global Roadmap to 2030.

Events

Land and Poverty Conference 2020: Institutions for Equity and Resilience

Washington, DC, USA
16-20 March 2020

The Land and Poverty conference 2020 presents the latest research and innovations in policies and good practice on land governance around the world. This conference has become one of the largest international events on land governance, attracting over 1,400 participants from governments, academics, civil society, and the private sector.

2020 Global Forum on Environment: March on Gender

Paris, France
5-6 March 2019

The Global Forum on Environment brings together policymakers and experts from OECD member and partner countries to share best practices and discuss policy challenges related to the environment agenda.

CSW64 / Beijing+25

New York City, USA
9-20 March 2020

In 2020, the global community will mark the twenty-fifth anniversary of the Fourth World Conference on Women and adoption of the Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action (1995).