Add us as your preferred source on Google to see more of our content in Search.
Add to Preferred SourcesInternational community confirms $4.4 Billion for Syria and the region in 2021, COVID-19 vaccine rollout ‘unacceptably slow’ in Europe and Cities and Pandemics: Towards a more just, green and healthy future. Here is what you missed from last week’s headlines in the international development sector:
International community confirms $4.4 Billion for Syria and the region in 2021
At the fifth Brussels Conference on “Supporting the future of Syria and the region” held virtually on March 30, the international community confirmed US$4.4 billion in funding to support humanitarian, resilience, and development activities in 2021 for the Syria crisis response, which includes pledges towards the Syria Humanitarian Response Plan (HRP), the Regional Refugee and Resilience Plan (3RP), and the ICRC Syria Crisis appeals.
This funding also includes support channelled via multi-donor mechanisms, as well as other funding for 2021.
The funding will help to meet the immediate and basic needs of those affected by the humanitarian crisis in Syria, including supporting resilience efforts as well as supporting host countries to address the impact of the protracted crisis.
These efforts will aim to secure quality education for all children and livelihood opportunities for refugees and affected communities as well as promote basic public services and economic growth for the benefit of all.
COVID-19 vaccine rollout ‘unacceptably slow’ in Europe, WHO warns
The rollout of COVID-19 vaccines in Europe is “unacceptably slow” as new cases increase among practically all age groups there, according to the regional office of the World Health Organization (WHO), which covers 53 countries and territories.
Most countries saw a rise in coronavirus transmission last week, with 1.6 million new cases and nearly 24 000 deaths, the UN office has reported.
“Vaccines present our best way out of this pandemic. Not only do they work, but they are also highly effective in preventing infection. However, the roll-out of these vaccines is unacceptably slow,” said Dr. Hans Kluge, the WHO’s Regional Director.
Among the world’s regions, Europe is the second most affected by COVID-19. Total deaths are fast approaching one million, and the caseload is set to surpass 45 million.
New cases are rising in all age groups, except for people aged 80 and older, thus “reflecting early signs of the impact of vaccination”, according to the UN agency.
Cities and Pandemics: Towards a more just, green and healthy future
UN-Habitat’s new report – Cities and Pandemics: Towards a more just, green, and healthy future – demonstrates how cities can reduce the impact of future pandemics and become more equitable, healthy, and environmentally friendly.
Urban areas have been at the forefront of the COVID-19 crisis, with 95 percent of all cases recorded in cities in the first months. Urban areas were faced with a rapidly changing public health crisis, along with challenges in safe public transport, increased water and sanitation needs, use of public spaces, and the economic consequences of lockdowns.
Despite these pressures, many local governments and community leaders responded quickly and effectively to prevent the spread of the pandemic and mitigate its effects, taking the first steps towards an accelerated recovery.
Based on the documentation of more than 1,700 cities and well-founded policy analysis, the UN-Habitat Report provides both empirical evidence on the state of cities and recommendations for actions for a sustainable recovery
Urban leaders and planners must rethink how people move through and in cities, using lessons from COVID-19, according to the UN-Habitat report. Patterns of inequality, characterized by the lack of access to basic services, poverty, and overcrowded living conditions, have been key destabilizing factors in increasing the scale and impact of COVID-19.
DevelopmentAid Editorials
More than 12 million people were displaced in the last six months due to climate-related disasters
The latest report by the International Federation of Red Cross indicates that as many as 12.6 million people were internally displaced within just the last six months as a result of natural disasters driven by climate changes.
COVID-19 vaccine inequality is on raise
Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, the United Nations World Health Organization Director-General, has said that the increasing gap between the number of vaccines that are being administered in rich countries compared to the poor is becoming “more grotesque every day,” warning that the massive vaccination program in some states while others have had no vaccines creates “a false sense of security.”
The US administration grants protection to 300,000 Venezuelans
As many as 300,000 Venezuelan migrants will be eligible for Temporary Protected Status (TPS) in the US. The administration of Joe Biden passed a decision on the matter, thus delivering on Biden’s electoral promises.
Fifteen killed, thousands left without shelter as fire destroys refugee camp in Bangladesh
Fifteen people, including children, were killed and 560 were injured as a massive fire tore through the Kutupalong Balukali refugee camp in Bangladesh on 22 March, the UN Refugee Agency (UNHCR) has reported. The toll may yet rise as up to another 400 people have been reported missing.
Here’s what else has happened
UNESCO and the WFP: The UN Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) and the World Food Programme (WFP) have renewed their partnership aimed at strengthening health and nutrition programmes for school children and will unite their expertise so that children and young people can learn, grow, and contribute to the future of their countries.
ADB: The Asian Development Bank (ADB) has approved a $300 million loan to finance the construction of a 300-megawatt hydropower plant that will increase the share of clean energy in Pakistan and improve the country’s energy security.
UNICEF: UNICEF has launched a fund to support low- and middle-income countries access to COVID-19 health supplies, including vital tests, treatments, and vaccines. The fund, which leverages UNICEF’s Procurement Services to purchase supplies, provides an opportunity for donors to join the largest health and vaccines supply operation the world has ever seen.
IOM: Civilians in Syria face extraordinary levels of displacement and humanitarian need after nearly a decade of conflict. On the final day of the fifth Brussels conference for Syria (30/03), the International Organization for Migration (IOM) joins UN partners to call for greater solidarity and support to the life-saving humanitarian response.
Bangladesh: This appeal follows an independent visit by representatives from the Bangladesh Red Crescent Society and the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC) to Bhasan Char.
Reports
New UNDP study reveals the magnitude of limited debt relief eligibility for developing economies
Bold new mechanisms are urgently needed to help low- and middle-income countries address crippling debt, sharply worsened by the COVID-19 pandemic, threatening vital investment to tackle poverty and climate change for years to come, the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) says in a new report. The study, published on April 1, echoes a call by the UN Secretary-General for more aggressive moves to fight debt distress in countries lacking resources to manage it.
Read the full Sovereign Debt Vulnerabilities in Developing Economies report.
Nordic Development Fund Report 2020
The year 2020 shows NDF is well-positioned to further advance ambitions by taking an active role in coordinating the sustainable green recovery, delivering Nordic values, and providing much-needed finance to fight climate change in developing countries, as the NDF annual report shows.
The full NDF annual report.
Recovery offers the chance to build back better in Latin America and the Caribbean
Latin America and the Caribbean (LAC) suffered more health and economic damage from the COVID 19 pandemic than any other region, although there is potential for significant transformation in key sectors as the region begins to rebound, according to a new World Bank Report.
Events
The Rise of the Green Economy and Availability of Green-Climate Financing | Webinar
? 15 April 2021 ? 4 PM (Brussels) / 10 AM (Washington DC)
Webinar
Join the DevelopmentAid webinar to find out about the rise of the green economy and the availability of green-climate financing.
Topics to be discussed:
- Opportunities and threats for Africa’s agriculture in the global green economy transition
- Assessment of green projects’ investments in agriculture
- Green Taxonomy as an opportunity for the financial sector
- Green economy transition in the eyes of donors, perhaps explaining how projects need to be green or greener, as well as climate-friendly
- Availability of green-climate financing as a demand-driven process towards greening the economy
- Examples from the field on how to introduce green – climate-friendly investments
Webinar speakers :
Dr. Zelda Anne Elum, a private capacity consultant with Mothergold Ltd (Nigeria) – Dr. Elum is a seasoned lecturer and researcher with the Department of Agricultural Economics and Extension, University of Port Harcourt, Nigeria. Dr. Elum obtained an MSc (Agricultural Economics) from Imperial College London; a Ph.D. (Agricultural Economics) from Tamil Nadu Agricultural University, India, and was a postdoctoral research-visiting fellow at the University of South Africa.
Enrique Rebolledo Garza, Head of Climate Action, IDOM (Spain) – is a climate and green finance expert with more than 20 years of experience in designing and managing green and climate finance architecture, with some personal private equity participation. He has prepared several financing proposals for sustainable infrastructure, particularly in urban environments, and drafted internal policies and procedures to integrate climate risk assessments into investment processes, including climate and energy sector framework documents for the Inter-American Development Bank, and conceptualizing a climate risk certification scheme for the Fonplata / EIB project.
You will have the possibility to ask questions directly at the webinar.
HOST: Ana Marin, Sr. Business Development Manager, DevelopmentAid
2021 UN Biodiversity Conference (COP 15)
? 17 – 30 May 2021
Kunming, China
The 15th meeting of the Conference of the Parties (COP 15) to the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD), the tenth Meeting of the Parties to the Cartagena Protocol on Biosafety (Cartagena Protocol COP/MOP 10), and the fourth Meeting of the Parties to the Nagoya Protocol on Access and Benefit-sharing (Nagoya Protocol COP/MOP 4) are expected to address a series of issues related to the implementation of the Convention and its Protocols.
Workshop | Integrated Marine Spatial Planning and Sustainable Blue Economy
? 19 – 23 April 2021
Workshop
Strategic Marine Spatial Planning and Sustainable Blue Economy Workshop in Brussels, Belgium is a unique program that has been specifically designed for those professionals who intend to employ MSP for marine conservation, support sustainable blue economy growth, and promote responsible and accountable maritime industry organizations. The program bridges the gap between marine science, management, and spatial planning, and therefore, equips its delegates with unmatched skills and knowledge to embark on new levels in their career.
ECOSOC Youth Forum 2021 | Virtual
? 07-08 April 2021
Virtual
The annual Youth Forum of the Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC) will celebrate its 10thAnniversary on 7-8 April 2021. The Forum is being organized at a time when the world is witnessing an unprecedented global emergency with the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic.
The 2021 Forum’s discussions will be guided by the overall theme of the 2021 ECOSOC and HLPF: “Sustainable and resilient recovery from the COVID-19 pandemic, that promotes the economic, social and environmental dimensions of sustainable development: Building an inclusive and effective path for the achievement of the 2030 Agenda in the context of the decade of action and delivery for sustainable development”.