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Add to Preferred SourcesConcern escalates humanitarian response in Haiti, children’s lives threatened by rising malnutrition in the Gaza Strip and Yemen’s struggle 9 years on. Here is what you missed from last week’s headlines in the international development sector.
Concern escalates humanitarian response in Haiti
Concern Worldwide is scaling up its humanitarian response in Haiti where violence caused by armed groups has left the Caribbean nation in turmoil. The concern is addressing a major food insecurity crisis and responding to the needs of people displaced due to violence and extreme poverty.
It is also ensuring families have clean water and sanitation, as well as access to referrals for cases of sexual and gender-based violence in the metropolitan area of Port-au-Prince.
Haiti remains one of the top five most food-insecure countries in the world, with tens of thousands of people living one step below the technical threshold for famine in some areas.
Many areas of the small island nation are gripped by gang violence with more than 4,700 murders and over 2,500 kidnappings reported in 2023. Concern has received an additional $2.1 million in funding from USAID to assist over 32,800 people to help relieve the hunger crisis.
The aid organization also receives approximately $1 million a year from Irish Aid for its long-term development programs in Haiti.
Children’s lives threatened by rising malnutrition in the Gaza Strip
A steep rise in malnutrition among children and pregnant and breastfeeding women in the Gaza Strip poses grave threats to their health, according to a comprehensive new analysis released by the Global Nutrition Cluster.
As the ongoing conflict in the Gaza Strip enters its 20th week, food and safe water have become incredibly scarce and diseases are rife, compromising women’s and children’s nutrition and immunity and resulting in a surge of acute malnutrition.
The report – Nutrition Vulnerability and Situation Analysis- Gaza – finds that the situation is particularly extreme in the Northern Gaza Strip, which has been almost completely cut off from aid for weeks. Nutrition screenings conducted at shelters and health centres in the north found that 15.6 per cent – or 1 in 6 children under 2 years of age – are acutely malnourished. Of these, almost 3 per cent suffer from severe wasting, the most life-threatening form of malnutrition, which puts young children at the highest risk of medical complications and death unless they receive urgent treatment. As the data were collected in January, the situation is likely to be even graver.
Similar screenings in the Southern Gaza Strip, in Rafah, where aid has been more available, found that 5 per cent of children under 2 years are acutely malnourished. This is clear evidence that access to humanitarian aid is needed and can help prevent the worst outcomes. It also reinforces agencies’ calls to protect Rafah from the threat of intensified military operations.
Navigating the darkness of conflict: Yemen’s struggle 9 years on
As Yemen enters into the ninth year of a devastating civil war, the humanitarian crisis intensifies, casting a shadow over millions who are in dire need of assistance. The nation is grappling with a multitude of challenges, from the overwhelming number of displaced individuals to the distressing rates of malnutrition among children.
Although a glimmer of hope has emerged with a UN-brokered truce, the humanitarian crisis in Yemen remains deep rooted. An alarming 18.2 million people of the country’s almost 35 million population still need aid. Despite a marginal decrease in needs compared to 2023, the situation remains far from optimistic.
DevelopmentAid Editorials
How can DFIs foster private investment in sustainable infrastructure? | Experts’ Opinions
It is no secret that meeting environmental goals to mitigate climate change requires major public and private investments. One of the paths to address this is interlinked with sustainable infrastructure but unfortunately, many developing countries have insufficeint resources to fully transition to a sustainable infrastructure. According to the World Bank, low- and middle-income countries require a further US$15 trillion in investment to meet their infrastructure needs by 2040. The importance of this subject was proven by a dedicated discussion panel at the COP28 event which took place in November-December 2023. How can development financial institutions (DFIs) foster private investment in sustainable urban development? Check out some expert opinions below.
Key Takeaways:
- Sustainable infrastructure is characterized by three dimensions: social sustainability, economic sustainability, and environmental sustainability.
- DFIs offer various financial services in developing nations including providing loans or guarantees to entrepreneurs, participating in the equity of companies or investment funds, and financing public infrastructure projects.
- According to experts, DFIs can foster private investment through strategies such as co-investment, risk mitigation, capacity building, knowledge sharing, and advocating for policy-driven interventions.
- On the same note, addressing the wealth gap and inequalities within developing countries is essential for sustainable development, highlighting the importance of investments.
Immediate actions needed to cool down the planet as 1.5°C limit exceeded
The global average temperature has breached the 1.5°C benchmark for 12 consecutive months, with January 2024 being the hottest January since records began. Scientists are sounding the alarm stating that, while the global average for the last 12 months does not imply a failure to meet the Paris Agreement, the window to take immediate actions is shrinking.
According to the EU’s Copernicus Climate Change Service (C3S), the global average temperature in January 2024 was 13.14°C which is 0.70°C higher than the 1850-1900 pre-industrial average and 0.12°C above the previous warmest January in 2020.
Mastering the art of feedback: Transformative techniques for exceptional hiring experiences
In the fast-paced realm of talent acquisition, the way that feedback is delivered can make all the difference between a mediocre hiring process and one that leaves a lasting impact. As businesses strive to attract top talent and cultivate positive employer brands, mastering the art of feedback is becoming paramount. Therefore, in today’s article, we invite readers to explore the transformative techniques and life hacks that can revolutionize the feedback process.
The way feedback is delivered can have a profound impact on a candidate’s perception of an organization that could not only influence their decision to join but also their willingness to advocate for the brand.
A notable study by the Harvard Business Review found that constructive feedback significantly impacts upon employee engagement and performance. According to this survey of over 1,000 employees, 72% believed that their performance would improve if managers provided corrective feedback, while 92% agreed that negative feedback, if delivered appropriately, is effective at improving performance.
Wildfires intensify the alarming deterioration of U.S. air quality
Whereas poor air quality is often thought to be the result of industrial pollution, particularly in developed countries, extreme heat, drought, and wildfires are playing an increasingly important role in the deterioration of air quality in the United States. According to a new report by First Street entitled “Atrocious Air,” air pollution is predicted to increase by as much as 50% in the Western United States over the next 30 years, largely due to climate change. This air pollution is primarily in the form of growing pockets of exposure to ozone and from upticks in particulates (known as PM 2.5) generated from wildfire smoke.
Here’s what else has happened
Global Fund: The Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria (the Global Fund) has approved over US$4.7 million in emergency funding to deliver HIV, tuberculosis (TB) and malaria services to the 1.3 million Afghans who have been living in Pakistan who must now return to their country in the coming year.
Ukraine: Two years of Russia’s full-scale war in Ukraine has taken thousands of lives, caused untold destruction, displaced millions, traumatized a generation, torn families and communities, and devastated the economy. The total cost of reconstruction and recovery in Ukraine is estimated by the World Bank, European Commission, United Nations, and the Government of Ukraine at USD 486 billion over the next decade. This war, like all wars, takes a bigger toll on women and girls, who disproportionally carry its burden.
UNICEF and WFP: The United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) and the World Food Programme (WFP) are calling for immediate action to protect children and families caught in the escalating violence in Eastern Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) where an increasing number of people, including children, have been wounded or killed near makeshift camps. Both agencies call on all parties to the conflict to prioritize the protection of civilians and allow humanitarian agencies to do their work.
Jajarkot earthquake: In early November, 2 powerful earthquakes struck Nepal’s western Jajarkot district, killing more than 150 people and injuring close to 400. More than 250,000 people were left in need of humanitarian assistance. In the most affected area, Jajarkot, more than half of the buildings were damaged by the earthquakes.
Ukraine and Moldova: The Commission is announcing an initial €83 million in humanitarian aid to support the people affected by Russia’s war against Ukraine in 2024. Russia’s targeted attacks on Ukraine’s key energy and civilian infrastructure like hospitals, schools and power grids are seriously hampering people’s access to basic services.
Sudan: At least 25 million people are struggling with soaring rates of hunger and malnutrition as the crisis in Sudan sends shockwaves around the region, the United Nations World Food Programme (WFP) warns, with thousands of families being displaced and forced across borders into Chad and South Sudan each week.
Reports
Ukraine two years on: Destruction and displacement, the devastating impacts of the escalation of war revealed in new NRC report
New data from a survey conducted by the Norwegian Refugee Council (NRC) with over 1,000 participants across Ukraine has revealed the devastating impacts of the escalation of the war, two years on. The survey which covered topics related to displacement, access to services, and the ability of Ukrainians to meet their basic needs, paints a complex picture of a population, particularly those in the east and south, who have been pushed to the limit to survive.
High unemployment rates to worsen despite optimistic economic outlook in Arab States
The region’s unemployment rate is expected to remain high at 9.8 per cent in 2024, above pre-pandemic levels, reflecting various factors that affect the region’s labour markets such as segmentation, political instability, conflict, economic crises, a weak private sector and demographic pressures, a new report published by the ILO Regional Office for Arab States has found.
The report, titled Arab States Employment and Social Outlook – Trends 2024: Promoting social justice through a just transition , also projects that GDP in the region is expected to grow by 3.5 per cent in 2024, with faster growth in Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries than in non-GCC countries (3.7 per cent versus 2.6 per cent).
Millions assisted, millions more still in need two years into Ukraine war, says IOM
Two years since the escalation of the war in Ukraine, the International Organization for Migration (IOM) has supported 6.5 million people in the country and across 11 neighbouring countries, providing critical and life-saving aid to those most in need.
“The destruction is widespread, loss of life and suffering continues,” said IOM Director General Amy Pope. “Through it all, IOM has been a constant presence in Ukraine and neighbouring countries, supporting a vast number of people fleeing for their lives. The needs are enormous, however, so much more needs to be done.”
Events
How to Identify Jobs and Projects via DevelopmentAid
DevelopmentAid invites you to attend the webinar presented by Irina Bondarenco, Head of the Career Center for over 10 years, and learn “How to Identify Jobs and Projects via the DevelopmentAid platform,” scheduled for 29 February 2024 at 3 pm (Brussels)/9 am (Washington DC).
Key takeaways
1. How to use advanced search filters to find the most relevant jobs and tender opportunities in just seconds.
2. How to customize job and funding alerts to be the first to learn about each newly posted opportunity.
3. How to select a consulting company based on its project awards history
4. How to find your future employer if they rarely post any jobs.
5. How to check if any organization has been sanctioned by donors or organizations and why.
Keeping up with the raters – The industry today | Associate Writer Webinar
📅 March 6th 2024, 12 – 12.30 pm (GMT)
Online
In this latest SLR webinar series, we offer our view on the ‘Raters & Rankers’ industry. Much has changed in the past few years, so we want to guide you through what’s been taking place in this evolving and complex space.
The world of voluntary disclosure can resemble something of a Wild West with a confusing array of investor indices, sustainability assessors and other ESG questionnaires all demanding your attention. So with some time yet before the dust settles, you may need to appoint a sheriff to bring order to how you disclose. Among the questions you might be asking are:
- What is the value of sharing sustainability data?
- How should you prioritise assessments?
- What are the keys to high performance?
This series seeks to answer these questions and more, helping to put minds at ease so you can make reporting more meaningful.
Our first webinar will introduce the industry, looking at the types of assessors, how they are scoring companies’ sustainable performance and some best practice approaches to juggling the requirements of several at once.
Speakers: James Scott & David Fatscher