Urgent action on climate and health at COP28, the extension of the temporary pause in Gaza and millions bracing for winter amidst war and disasters. Here is what you missed from last week’s headlines in the international development sector.
Global health community calls for urgent action on climate and health at COP28
In the run-up to COP28, the World Health Organization (WHO) together with the global health community, is raising its voice to ensure that the impact of climate change on health takes center stage in the negotiations. It is imperative to broaden the focus to human health in global discussions, leaving no room for excuses, and compelling negotiators to recognize that they bear the responsibility for the well-being of our most invaluable asset: the health of populations worldwide.
“Prioritizing health is not just a choice; it is the foundation of resilient societies,” said Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, WHO Director-General. “Leaders must deliver in Dubai, providing the strong health outcomes their peoples expect and their economies urgently need. We must change the conversation and demonstrate the massive benefits of bolder climate action on our health and well-being.”
The extreme weather events around the world in recent months offer a terrifying glimpse of what lies ahead in a rapidly heating world. The IPCC report says about 3.5 billion people – nearly half of humanity – live in areas highly vulnerable to climate change. Heat-related deaths among those aged over 65 years have risen by 70% worldwide in two decades, according to WHO’s figures. Only a dramatic and dedicated effort to limit warming to 1.5 °C will prevent a future much worse than what the world sees.
The extension of the temporary pause in Gaza must become a permanent ceasefire
The extension of the temporary truce agreement is welcome, Islamic Relief points out, but this must be another step towards agreeing on a permanent ceasefire. The truce has ensured a pause of the bombing of civilians in Gaza for the first time in 7 weeks, and the safe release of some of the hostages and detained children.
But the aid allowed into Gaza over the last few days has been woefully insufficient to address this humanitarian catastrophe and many civilians are at risk of dying from hunger and disease. The humanitarian needs are enormous and a couple of extra days is not enough to make a big difference. People displaced to southern Gaza have still not been allowed to go to return north over the past few days, and have reportedly been shot at if they try. People continue to live in fear of what will happen after this latest extension runs out.
Millions affected by war, climate emergencies and earthquakes brace for winter
The onset of winter this year comes at a particularly dire moment for those whose lives have been upended by humanitarian crises, many of which are unfolding concurrently. While millions are reeling from war, climate emergencies, earthquakes, and other disasters, global funding to meet unprecedented needs around the world remains grossly inadequate.
In these most fragile contexts, people who were already struggling to survive, many living in tents or other makeshift shelters, must now deal with below-zero temperatures, freezing rain, and heavy snow, all while lacking basic necessities and resources.
“For those coping with such horrific loss and trauma, winter will make their situations exponentially worse. Many tents and other temporary shelters are old and dilapidated, offering little refuge from the harsh conditions. And countless families do not have the means – no suitable clothes, no blankets, no heating – to keep themselves warm. The most vulnerable – children, women, the elderly – are at higher risk during the winter months,” said Deepmala Mahla, CARE’s VP of Humanitarian Affairs.
DevelopmentAid Editorials
World AIDS Awareness Day: How far away is a cure for HIV? | Experts’ Opinions
No longer considered to be a death sentence, the Human Immunodeficiency Virus, HIV/AIDS, still steals the lives of almost 1 million people each year. The World Health Organization has designated December 1 as World HIV/AIDS Day and, since 1988, this has served as a valuable opportunity to try to prevent infection and remember those lost to this relentless virus. Take a moment today to think more about this subject by reading our Experts’ Opinion on the identification of a cure for HIV/AIDS and discover some insightful information about this disease.
Key Takeaways:
- Globally, 39 million individuals were living with HIV in 2022.
- Over the past decade, new HIV infections have decreased by 38%, dropping from 2.1 million to 1.3 million in 2022.
- Deaths caused by HIV have fallen by 69% since the peak in 2004 and by 51% since 2010.
- However, funding for HIV programs in low- and middle-income countries in 2022 totaled US$20.8 billion, 2.6% lower than in 2021.
- Research explores genetic interventions such as enzymes excising HIV DNA in animal models, and boosting the immune system through gene therapy.
- Vaccination strategies also hold potential for preventing HIV and clearing the virus after infection.
- HIV is highly adaptable and can evade immune surveillance. This adaptability results in the constant evolution of the virus, making it difficult to develop effective treatments and a cure.
Sudan faces dire humanitarian crisis as conflict displaces millions
As Sudan faces a worsening humanitarian situation, a staggering 25 million people are in urgent need of aid amid prolonged internal armed conflict and severe shortages. UN Under-Secretary-General Martin Griffiths has sounded the alarm, citing significant hurdles in accessing critical services and painted a grim picture with basic services in near collapse and disproportionately affecting women and children. With famine looming and widespread displacement, Sudan stands on the brink of a dire humanitarian catastrophe.
Three professional recruitment solutions you should know about
In the dynamic world of international development recruitment, where finding the perfect fit for a vacancy can sometimes be considered to be something of an art form due to the uniqueness of the job position, DevelopmentAid Recruitment Solutions (DRS) have earned the reputation of a master over the years. From hiring a Chief of Party for a development project in Djibouti to identifying Operations Directors and Chief Delivery Officers across continents, DRS recruiters know no boundaries. In our mission to take on your hiring process and allow you to focus on other strategic business aspects, we use special techniques and exclusive tools. How exactly can we improve the hiring process of your enterprise, and which of the DRS top services can support your business? This is what our article is about.
Here’s what else has happened
Somalia: Deadly torrential rains and floods have affected more than two million people in several areas of Somalia, with over 100 killed and 750,000 displaced from their homes.
EU: At the COP28 UN Climate Change Conference starting on 1 December in Dubai, the European Union will call on all Parties to take urgent action to bring down greenhouse gas emissions this decade and respect the commitments they made under the Paris Agreement to limit global warming to below 2°C and to aim for 1.5°C.
Harry Hole Foundation: The Global Partnership for Education (GPE) welcomes a first pledge of US$1.5 million from the Norway-based Harry Hole Foundation, founded and chaired by Norwegian award-winning author Jo Nesbø.
European Solidarity Corps: Volunteering activities will get a major boost in 2024 thanks to a new funding opportunity that the Commission launched. A new call for proposals under the European Solidarity Corps, covering 2024, will support young people across the EU and beyond who wish to engage in solidarity activities. Areas covered range from social inclusion actions to helping people with fewer opportunities, contributing to green and digital transitions, democratic participation, and addressing health-related challenges.
Burkina Faso: Insecurity is pushing more than 1 in 10 children under the age of 5 into acute malnutrition in 22 out of 25 heavily affected areas surveyed in Burkina Faso, according to new data, warns UNICEF.
Canada: The Honourable Ahmed Hussen, Minister of International Development, announced that Canada is allocating the remaining $16.2 million in funding, from the already announced $60 million, for humanitarian assistance to address needs stemming from the crisis in the Gaza Strip, the West Bank and neighbouring areas.
Reports
Despite progress, adolescent girls continue to bear the brunt of the HIV epidemic with 98,000 new infections in 2022 – UNICEF
Nearly 98,000 adolescent girls aged 10-19 were infected with HIV in 2022 – or 1,900 new infections every week – according to UNICEF’s latest Global Snapshot on Children with HIV and AIDS, released ahead of World AIDS Day.
WHO’s annual malaria report spotlights the growing threat of climate change
Despite strides in expanding access to insecticide-treated nets and medicines to help prevent malaria in young children and pregnant women, more people were getting sick with malaria, according to a new report published by the World Health Organization (WHO).
In 2022, there were estimated 249 million malaria cases globally, exceeding the pre-pandemic level of 233 million in 2019 by 16 million cases. In addition to the disruptions caused by COVID-19, the global malaria response has faced a growing number of threats, such as drug and insecticide resistance, humanitarian crises, resource constraints, climate change impacts and delays in programme implementation particularly in countries with a high burden of the disease.
The 2023 World malaria report delves into the nexus between climate change and malaria. Changes in temperature, humidity and rainfall can influence the behaviour and survival of the malaria-carrying Anopheles mosquito. Extreme weather events, such as heatwaves and flooding, can also directly impact transmission and disease burden. Catastrophic flooding in Pakistan in 2022, for example, led to a five-fold increase in malaria cases in the country.
New handbook published on getting people with disabilities into the workplace
Guidance on practical ways to include more people with disabilities in the corporate workplace, collected from 30 leading multinational companies, has been published by the ILO Global Business and Disability Network (GBDN), to mark the International Day of Persons with Disabilities, on 3 December.
In Businesses Leading the way on disability inclusion: A Compilation of good corporate practices, each company presents one best practice it uses, to inspire and encourage other companies to improve the inclusion of persons with disabilities in their workforces.
2023 shatters climate records, with major impacts
The WMO provisional State of the Global Climate report confirms that 2023 is set to be the warmest year on record. Data until the end of October shows that the year was about 1.40 degrees Celsius (with a margin of uncertainty of ±0.12°C )above the pre-industrial 1850-1900 baseline. The difference between 2023 2016 and 2020 – which were previously ranked as the warmest years – is such that the final two months are very unlikely to affect the ranking.
Events
The list of major upcoming events in development sector in December 2023
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 December 2023.
Download the comprehensive schedule of major online events.
Networking Mastery: How to Excel in Professional Engagement | Webinar
DevelopmentAid, in collaboration with experts Roberto Amorosino and Irina Bondarenco, invites you to attend the webinar on “Networking Mastery: How to Excel in Professional Engagement” scheduled for 12 December 2023 at 3 pm (Brussels)/9 am (Washington DC).
Key takeaways
- The Art of Networking Excellence: Understand the significance of networking and professional engagement in career development
- Visibility and Communication Skills: Improve your visibility within the industry and refine your communication skills, including perfecting your elevator pitch
- Confidence Building: Boost your confidence in professional settings to foster meaningful connections
- Targeted Connections: Learn how to strategically connect with individuals aligned with your career goals
Speakers
Roberto Amorosino is a Career Coach who supports senior and young professionals to make informed, strategic decisions about their career path, job search and professional development. He previously worked at the World Bank Group (1994-2019) as a Senior HR Specialist – based in Washington DC, Paris and Rome – with his main expertise being external recruitment, diversity and outreach. He previously worked for Italian-based recruitment companies. Roberto holds a Law Degree (Masters’ equivalent) from Università’ La Sapienza, Roma.
Irina Bondarenco, Career Center Director at DevelopmentAid. Irina has held this role for more than 10 years. Together with her team, Irina helps individual consultants to create winning CVs, connect with potential employers, and identify short- and long-term projects in the development sector. She is an expert on the DevelopmentAid platform and all the career aid tools that can help experts to secure international projects.
Host
Elizaveta Gładun, External Relations & Events Coordinator at DevelopmentAid.
Networking Mastery: How to Excel in Professional Engagement | Webinar
DevelopmentAid invites you to attend the online webinar on how to “Unlocking the Power of Tender Tracking and Advanced Business Intelligence Tools” which will take place on 07 December 2023 at 3 pm (Brussels)/9 am (Washington DC).
Key takeaways
- Optimize the tracking of donor-funded projects with easy-to-use business intelligence tools. Acquire knowledge on procurement processes, donor strategies, and eligibility criteria.
- Stay informed with regular updates on tenders, grants, and funding alerts.
- Access the comprehensive databases of partners, individual professionals and donors.
- Learn about competitors’ pricing strategies based on previous financial proposals.
Speaker
Sergiu Casu, the Director of Business Development at DevelopmentAid, has extensive experience of tender tracking and business intelligence. Sergiu has been instrumental in the growth of DevelopmentAid from its early stages to its current status as an international company with over 250 professionals. Sergiu’s prior experience spans various international organizations, government entities, and the private sector.
Host
Elizaveta Gładun, External Relations & Events Coordinator at DevelopmentAid.
