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Add to Preferred SourcesRussia invades Ukraine and civilians desperately seek safety, children’s lives and wellbeing at risk in Ukraine, Caribbean health and climate focal points receive funding. Here is what you missed from last week’s headlines in the international development sector:
Russia invades Ukraine and civilians desperately seek safety
The International Rescue Committee (IRC) is extremely alarmed by Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. As the bombs and shelling have continued to escalate throughout the day, people are fleeing their homes and desperately seeking safety. The IRC strongly supports the UN Secretary General’s call for the protection of civilians and adherence to international humanitarian law to avert what would be the worst humanitarian crisis Europe has seen in decades.
Lani Fortier, Senior Director of Emergencies at the IRC said “We truly hope we can avert disaster and avoid the human suffering we will inevitably see if this conflict continues to escalate. However, the IRC is ready and preparing for the worst. We are working to quickly mobilize resources and connect with partners to establish a response that will provide life-saving support to civilians forced to flee their homes. The IRC is meeting with partners and local civil society organizations in Poland and Ukraine to assess capacity for responding to an increase of refugees and people in need. We will work to respond where we are needed the most and with the services that are needed urgently. Whatever the needs are, we are preparing to meet them.”
As the situation teeters on the edge of full-scale war, civilians must be protected, the UN Charter respected and International Humanitarian Law adhered to. People must be allowed to move freely, and aid agencies must be granted unfettered humanitarian access to those in need of aid. The international community must remain united and apply diplomatic pressure to focus on a political settlement. At the same time, the world must prepare for the worst by investing in humanitarian relief services inside and outside Ukraine to save lives and alleviate human suffering. European countries must welcome their neighbors fleeing Ukraine by keeping borders open and ensuring full access to asylum and adequate reception.
Children’s lives and wellbeing at risk in Ukraine
Plan International is deeply concerned by the escalation of hostilities in Ukraine which is putting the lives and wellbeing of children at risk. The organization urges all parties to respect their obligations under international humanitarian and human rights law, and ensure the protection of children from harm. At no time, must any parties attack the facilities that children need such as health services, schools, water, and the vital supplies of power that are needed to keep children warm.
“Our thoughts are with the children and young people of Ukraine today and we are concerned for their lives and wellbeing. We are deeply saddened to see the shocking escalation of the conflict and heavy weapons fire and join the international call for an immediate cessation of hostilities. This conflict poses a major threat to life and will cause further suffering to the people of Ukraine”.
Protection, including child protection and the prevention of gender-based violence, access to water, food and health services, and education are among the greatest needs, especially for families displaced from their homes. Military escalation could lead to an increase in the trafficking of people, especially women and children. Plan International urges all authorities concerned to respect the human rights of children and humanitarian access for organizations providing support for communities in the impacted areas.
Caribbean health and climate focal points receive funding
Caribbean countries are for the first time receiving significant funding and support from the Pan American Health Organization (PAHO) and the Caribbean Community Climate Change Centre (CCCCC) to prepare health Vulnerability and Adaptation Assessments (V&As), a key step in the development of Health National Adaptation Plans (HNAPs) and the development of climate financing concept notes.
Some of the benefits outlined were the integration of climate change responses into health and disaster management planning, greater awareness around climate and health, in particular, among health care staff, and the identification of climate-sensitive diseases, like vector, foodborne, and water-related illnesses and the impact of extreme weather events on the health system. So far, only one Caribbean country has completed an HNAP, five countries are in the development phase, seven have a NAP or a similar document that includes health, one country has a NAP that does not include health and two countries have neither a NAP nor a similar document.
DevelopmentAid Editorials
Almost 16,000 Ukrainians flee to Moldova within 24 hours after Russia’s military attacks
As many as 15,816 Ukrainian citizens have crossed the border with Moldova over the last 24 hours in an attempt to escape the military conflict unleashed following Russia’s attacks. Only a minor number of these have so far requested asylum and refugee status, according to the Moldovan Interior Ministry.
Top recommendations from the busiest people about how to be productive
While surfing social networks, we have all come across the profiles of successful people who manage to keep the balance between work and family, friends, and hobbies. They are always smiling, optimistic and seem to have a strategy for any situation. No wonder we all want to be like them.
Growing interests towards carbon-capture technologies
As the world is constantly threatened by global warming and countries are pushing to meet net-zero emission targets, carbon-capture technologies have become more attractive and inevitable. While only 19 direct air capture plants are currently operating around the world, scientists have created new initiatives to progress towards the elimination of harmful gases.
Here’s what else has happened
ECW: The statement is attributed to Yasmine Sherif, Director of Education Cannot Wait (ECW), the UN’s global fund for education in emergencies and protracted crises. The escalating conflict and ongoing military actions in Ukraine are putting children and adolescents at grave risk.
UN: The United Nations allocated US$20 million from the Central Emergency Response Fund (CERF) to immediately scale up life-saving humanitarian assistance and protection to civilians in Ukraine following the recent increase in hostilities.
USAID: The U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) is providing $100,000 in immediate humanitarian assistance to support people affected by severe flooding and landslides following an intense storm in Brazil’s Petrópolis city, Rio de Janeiro State.
Reports
9 in 10 people think it is important to have a global treaty to combat plastic pollution
An average of nearly nine in 10 people surveyed across 28 countries think it is important to have a global treaty to combat plastic pollution but whether this overwhelming global public support will result in the adoption of an ambitious, legally binding global treaty remains uncertain.
Ipsos polled over 20,000 adults in late 2021 for the Plastic Free Foundation, with WWF partnering to release the results, and this is the first comprehensive global polling on the need for a plastic pollution treaty, which should further strengthen the case for a treaty that sets high global standards for addressing all stages of plastic’s lifecycle and a pathway to ending plastic pollution by 2030.
Rising incomes more harmful to environment than population growth
The Global Population Growth and Sustainable Development report, launched is the latest in a series on major demographic trends. The number of people on the planet more than tripled since 1950 and could reach nearly 11 billion by the end of the century, according to the study, which examines the links between population growth and the social, economic, and environmental dimensions of sustainable development.
Development finance institutions need proactive approach to remedy to avoid human rights violations
Bilateral and multilateral development finance institutions (DFIs) should routinely plan to ensure the projects they finance do not harm people, and they and their clients should ensure the effective remedy is readily available for any victims, the UN Human Rights Office said in a report published.
Events
Launch of IPCC Working Group II contribution to the Sixth Assessment Report
📅 28 February 2022 🕐 06:00 EDT (New York) | 12:00 noon CET (Berlin) | 14:00 EAT (Nairobi)
Virtual
The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) will hold a virtual press conference to present the Summary for Policymakers of the Working Group II contribution to the Sixth Assessment Report entitled Climate Change 2022: Impacts, Adaptation, and Vulnerability
UNEA-5.2
📅 28 February – 2 March 2022
Nairobi, Kenya / Online
Hosted by the UN Environment Programme, the United Nations Environment Assembly (UNEA) brings together representatives of the 193 Member States of the UN, businesses, civil society, and other stakeholders to agree on policies to address the world’s most pressing environmental challenges.
Fourth Global Standards Symposium
📅 28 February 2022
Geneva, Switzerland
The Global Standards Symposium (GSS) provides a high-level forum for discussion and coordination open both to ITU members and non-members. This year’s GSS-20 will be chaired by H.E. Ms. Nele Leosk, Ambassador-at-Large for Digital Affairs, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Estonia. The theme of GSS-20 is “International standards to enable the digital transformation and achieve the sustainable development goals (SDGs)”.
Fifth session of the United Nations Environment Assembly
📅 28 February – 2 March 2022
Hybrid
Hosted by the UN Environment Programme, the United Nations Environment Assembly (UNEA) brings together representatives of the 193 Member States of the UN, businesses, civil society, and other stakeholders to agree on policies to address the world’s most pressing environmental challenges.
High Level Panel Discussion at UNEA 5.2 – From Recovery to Transformation: Greening Economies for People and Planet
📅 1 March 2022
Virtual
The UNEA-5.2 official side-event by the Partnership for Action on Green Economy (PAGE) highlights the opportunity for countries to respond to the impacts of COVID-19 through a green economic recovery. Leaders from across sectors discuss the shifts needed in policy and investment for stimulating the economic transformation that tackles the root causes of the triple planetary crisis of climate change, nature loss, and pollution.
Natural Resource Management for Biodiversity Governance
📅 1 March 2022
Virtual
Action on the key drivers of biodiversity loss must be taken at upcoming global events – particularly the Convention on Biological Diversity’s (CBD) 15th Conference of the Parties (COP15). Last year, the International Resource Panel (IRP) Co-Chairs Janez Potocnik and Izabella Teixeira outlined principles for halti
How to Secure Jobs and Assignments in the Development Sector: Tips from Top Recruiters | Webinar
📅 03 March 2022 🕟 4 PM (Brussels)/ 10 AM (Washington DC)
Virtual
DevelopmentAid, as the largest hub for jobs and individual assignments in the development sector, invites professionals at all levels to join a thematic webinar on “How to secure jobs and assignments in the development sector: Tips from top recruiters” to learn how to identify suitable opportunities, tailor your professional profile and avoid the most common pitfalls.
Key Takeaways:
- Learn how to monitor, apply for and land rewarding jobs and assignments
- Discover what recruiters take into account when evaluating CVs
- Find out the importance of CV tailoring to match the donor’s format and requirements
- Learn how to avoid the most common pitfalls
Speakers:
Giulia Pilia, Business Developer at NAXTA
Valeria Bobeica, Senior Recruiter for International Projects at DRS
Host:
Ion Ilasco, External Relations and Events at DevelopmentAid