Gaza faces widespread hunger, the global measles threat continues to grow and the gender pay gap. Here is what you missed from last week’s headlines in the international development sector.
Gaza faces widespread hunger as food systems collapse, warns WFP
With only ten percent of necessary food supplies entering Gaza since the beginning of the conflict, the Strip now faces a massive food gap and widespread hunger as nearly the entire population is in desperate need of food assistance, the UN World Food Programme (WFP) warned.
“Supplies of food and water are practically non-existent in Gaza and only a fraction of what is needed is arriving through the borders. With winter fast approaching, unsafe and overcrowded shelters, and the lack of clean water, civilians are facing the immediate possibility of starvation,” said WFP Executive Director Cindy McCain. “There is no way to meet current hunger needs with one operational border crossing. The only hope is opening another, safe passage for humanitarian access to bring life-saving food into Gaza.”
WFP confirmed the closure of the final bakery operating in partnership with the agency due to a lack of fuel. Fuel shortages have triggered a crippling halt in bread production across all 130 bakeries in Gaza. Bread, a staple food for people in Gaza, is scarce or non-existent.
Global measles threat continues to grow as another year passes with millions of children unvaccinated
Following years of declines in measles vaccination coverage, measles cases in 2022 have increased by 18%, and deaths have increased by 43% globally (compared to 2021). This takes the estimated number of measles cases to 9 million and deaths to 136,000 – mostly among children – according to a new report from the World Health Organization (WHO) and the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).
Measles continues to pose a relentlessly increasing threat to children. In 2022, 37 countries experienced large or disruptive outbreaks compared with 22 countries in 2021. Of the countries experiencing outbreaks, 28 were in the WHO Region for Africa, six in the Eastern Mediterranean, two in Southeast Asia, and one in the European Region.
“The increase in measles outbreaks and deaths is staggering, but unfortunately, not unexpected given the declining vaccination rates we’ve seen in the past few years,” said John Vertefeuille, director of CDC’s Global Immunization Division. “Measles cases anywhere pose a risk to all countries and communities where people are under-vaccinated. Urgent, targeted efforts are critical to prevent measles disease and deaths.”
Gender pay gap in the EU remains at 13% on equal pay day
Women in the European Union continue to earn less than men with the average gender pay gap in the EU standing at 13%. This means that for every €1 a man earns, women will make only €0.87. Equal Pay Day marks the date that symbolizes how many extra days women must work until the end of the year to earn what men earned in the same year. This year Equal Pay Day falls on 15 November.
Ahead of this symbolic day, Věra Jourová, Vice-President for Values and Transparency, and Helena Dalli, Commissioner for Equality, said: “Equal Pay Day serves to remind us to continue our efforts to close the gender pay gap. Equal pay for the same work or work of equal value is one of the founding principles of the EU. It was laid down in the Treaty of Rome in 1957. Yet progress on the elimination of the gender pay gap is stagnant this year and has been slow over the years. This reminds us that gender stereotypes continue to affect women and men in all spheres of life, including in the workplace, and that specific action is necessary to implement the principle of equal pay”.
The Commission works consistently to advance equality between women and men in the EU. This June, the Pay Transparency Directive entered into force. Under this new law, employees will be able to enforce their right to equal pay for equal work or work of equal value through a right to pay information.
DevelopmentAid Editorials
Don’t use ChatGPT to write your proposal: Utilize it for these 5 tasks instead | Opinion
Nowadays it is widely recognized by NGO staff that ChatGPT has become a game changer in proposal writing and grant management. Many have started to utilize it as a key tool with which to draft their proposals or reports, inputting details such as the donor name, location, and sectors, and then allowing Chat GPT to generate content. However, I believe this approach is not particularly successful as it often results in content that feels disconnected from the actual operations on the ground.
Progress on development goals in low-income countries deadlocked over unprecedented debt burden – report
To achieve the Sustainable Development Goals, least-developed countries (LDCs) need to spend an additional $372 per person yearly, the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD) said in its biannual report. As LDCs are faced with skyrocketing debt burdens, increasing public spending for the implementation of the UN 2030 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), including SDG 13 on climate change. becomes increasingly difficult.
DFI Files: FMO – the Dutch Development Bank – investments in emerging markets and developing economies
For half a century, FMO, the Dutch Development Bank, has supported private and public entities around the globe to achieve both economic growth and development but also sought to gain profit from its operations. As a development finance institution (DFI), FMO, just like other similar entities, aims to obtain profit from providing funding to various development projects but at the end of 2022 (its 52nd year of operation), the bank’s profit was just €1 million compared to €491 million the year before.
Here’s what else has happened
USAID: The United States has long been a leader in providing vital humanitarian assistance to the most vulnerable around the world. In Ethiopia, USAID remains committed to delivering life-saving aid to those in need.
Sudan: The war between rival militaries in Sudan, which has been raging for over seven months has further intensified in recent weeks, particularly in the volatile Darfur region, a senior UN official said. His briefing came on the same day as Khartoum asked the Security Council to immediately terminate the UN mission there.
ADB: The Asian Development Bank’s (ADB) Sanitation Financing Partnership Trust Fund has received an $8 million replenishment from the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, further scaling up the partnership between the two institutions to improve access to safe sanitation in Asia and the Pacific.
Canada: The Government of Canada has contributed CAD 40 million (USD 28.9 million) to UNDP‘s regular ‘core’ resources for 2023. UNDP thanks Canada for its continued and reliable support, enabling UNDP to support those who need it most.
Ukraine: As heavy shelling and attacks intensify, harsh winter conditions, snow, and heavy winds present a double threat to the already dire humanitarian situation for people in Ukraine.
Reports
Autumn 2023 Economic Forecast: A modest recovery ahead after a challenging year
The European economy has lost momentum this year against the background of a high cost of living, weak external demand and monetary tightening. While economic activity is expected to gradually recover going forward, the European Commission‘s Autumn Forecast revises EU GDP growth down compared to its summer projections. Inflation is estimated to have dropped to a two-year low in the euro area in October and is set to continue declining over the forecast horizon.
1 in 3 children exposed to severe water scarcity – UNICEF
1 in 3 children – or 739 million worldwide – already live in areas exposed to high or very high water scarcity, with climate change threatening to make this worse, according to a new UNICEF report.
Further, the double burden of dwindling water availability and inadequate drinking water and sanitation services is compounding the challenge, putting children at even greater risk.
The Climate Changed Child – released ahead of the COP28 climate change summit – throws a spotlight on the threat to children as a result of water vulnerability, one of the ways in which the impacts of climate change are being felt. It provides an analysis of the impacts of three tiers of water security globally – water scarcity, water vulnerability, and water stress.
Offshore wind patents on the rise, new study by IRENA and EPO shows
Innovation is crucial to develop new foundations for turbines far off the coast or boost sector coupling. A joint study published today by the International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA) and the European Patent Office (EPO) assesses patent statistics to reveal the most recent technological trends that have been taking place in the offshore wind industry. The Offshore Wind Energy Patent Insights Report shows that between 2002 and 2022 patent filings for offshore wind technologies have grown on average by 18%. This growth stagnated between 2014-2017 but, in recent years, has witnessed a sharp increase in filings.
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 atsupport@techchange.org.
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.
