IFAD International Fund for Agricultural Development [to 4 April 2015]
http://www.ifad.org/media/press/index.htm

31 March 2015:
IFAD supports livestock marketing and climate resilience in Sudan

WMO World Meteorological Organization [to 4 April 2015]
https://www.wmo.int/media/?q=news

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Inauguration of the operational centre for ocean observation in Brest
30 March 2015
The Intergovernmental Oceanographic Commission of UNESCO inaugurated the new JCOMMOPS centre with the World Meteorological Organization (WMO) on 18 March 2015.

The in situ Observing Platform Support Centre of the Joint WMO-IOC Technical Commission for Oceanography and Marine Meteorology (JCOMMOPS), which monitors ocean observing networks, is thus moving it’s centre of gravity from Toulouse to Brest in order to be closer to the high concentration of ocean professionals on the French coast.

“There are 10,000 buoys, floats and ships with equipment that take the pulse of the ocean, in addition to satellites,” explained the centre’s director, Mathieu Belbéoch. They contribute to the Global Ocean Observing System (GOOS), the permanent global system for ocean observations over the long term. GOOS plays play a vital role in improving the collection of data required for the development of climate forecasts and climate change detection.

The JCOMMOPS support centre assesses networks’ performance while encouraging their harmonization and optimization. It also assists in the establishment and maintenance of several observation networks, such as Argo and DBCP, which require 2 000 deployments per year. This colossal global effort is facilitated by a dedicated team, in constant dialogue with the ocean community, and by stakeholders of all maritime fields that contribute to the deployment of equipment and to data collection…

UNIDO United Nations Industrial Development Organization [to 4 April 2015]
http://www.unido.org/en/news-centre/news.html

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UNIDO and Developing Eight Organization for Economic Cooperation announce new institutional partnership
Thursday, 02 April 2015
VIENNA, 2 April 2015 – The United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO) and the Developing Eight Organization for Economic Cooperation (D-8) will jointly promote and accelerate inclusive and sustainable industrial development in developing countries and economies in transition with a special focus on poverty reduction and environmental sustainability.

A Joint Declaration on this purpose was signed in Vienna today by LI Yong, the Director General of UNIDO, and Seyed Ali Mohammad Mousavi, the Secretary-General of D-8.
As an inter-governmental organization D-8 focuses on economic cooperation within eight developing countries namely, Bangladesh, Egypt, Indonesia, Islamic Republic of Iran, Malaysia, Nigeria, Pakistan and Turkey. It pursues the objectives of improving Member States’ positions in the world economy, diversifying and creating new opportunities in trade relations and providing better standards of living.

Joint UNIDO and D-8 activities are foreseen in the areas of trade capacity-building, including of small and medium-sized enterprises, and the promotion of entrepreneurship; in such sectors as ceramic and glass, cement, machinery, automotive, food, iron and steel, textile, garment and petrochemical; as well as in rural renewable energy and industrial energy efficiency; climate change and cleaner production; and in investments and technology promotion.

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Africa on path of inclusive and sustainable industrialization, says UNIDO Director General
Tuesday, 31 March 2015
ADDIS ABABA, 31 March 2015 – The new industrial policy of the nineteen countries of the Common Market for Eastern and Southern Africa (COMESA) holds the key to the economic growth of the entire region…

UNESCO [to 4 April 2015]
http://www.unesco.org/new/en/media-services/for-the-press/press-releases/

03.04.15
Syrian journalist Mazen Darwish winner of UNESCO/Guillermo Cano World Press Freedom Prize
The winner of the 2015 UNESCO/Guillermo Cano World Press Freedom Prize is Syrian journalist and human rights activist, Mazen Darwish, currently imprisoned. The Prize will be awarded during the celebration of World Press Freedom Day, 3 May, which will this year be hosted by Latvia (National Library, Riga, 6 p.m.).

USAID [to 4 April 2015]
http://www.usaid.gov/news-information/press-releases

Research Shows that Simple Treatments Can Help Save the Lives of Babies Who Lack Access to Hospital Care
April 1, 2015
New evidence shows that treating severe infections closer to home with fewer antibiotic injections could save lives by increasing access to care when hospitalization is not possible
Simple antibiotic regimens for newborns with severe infections – such as pneumonia and sepsis – in lower income countries is as effective as the standard course of twice daily injections and hospitalization over the course of a week, according to research conducted in Bangladesh, Nigeria, Kenya, and Democratic Republic of Congo…

African Union [to 4 April 2015]
http://www.au.int/en/
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Apr.02.2015 China supporting continent-wide efforts to strengthen disease surveillance, emergency preparedness and response
Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, 2 April 2015- Ahead of the operationalisation of the African Centre for Disease Control and Prevention in July 2015 African and Chinese officials met from 26 to 28 March 2015 in Beijing, China to discuss strengthened health collaboration. The roundtable endorsed policy recommendations on disease control and prevention including ways to engage new partners and build strong health systems. The meeting particularly focused on ways to support the African CDC’s continent-wide work in disease surveillance, emergency preparedness and response.

“We deliberated on a set of policy recommendations that we will consider at this year’s ministerial gathering where we will call for strengthened dialogue between China and African countries” said Dr. Mustapha Sidiki Kaloko, the Commissioner for Social Affairs at the African Union Commission, “the roundtable committed to tailoring Chinese support to African health priorities and increased Chinese and African investments in health” he added.

The key policy recommendations from the roundtable include strengthening health collaboration between China and Africa governments. The meeting further recommended collaboration in the development of resilient and sustainable health systems to support the goal to reach universal health coverage, provision of adequate healthcare and financial protection of all citizens. African and Chinese pharmaceutical companies and the China Chamber of Commerce for Imports and Export of Medicines and Health Products were urged to explore the means of collaboration including joint ventures, technology transfers and shared industrial parks…

The African Development Bank Group [to 4 April 2015]
http://www.afdb.org/en/news-and-events/press-releases/

Seychelles: AfDB Approves US$ 26 million for Mahe Water Project
03/04/2015 – The African Development Bank Group (AfDB) has allocated a loan and a grant amounting to US$ 25.995 million dollars to finance a water project in Mahe in the Seychelles.

Progress made on the Africa Regional Integration Index presented to African Ministers
02/04/2015 – The African Development Bank (AfDB), the African Union Commission (AUC) and the Economic Commission for Africa (ECA), recently in Addis-Ababa, presented preliminary data on the continent’s Regional Integration Index to the 8th AU-ECA Conference of Ministers.

AfDB Board approves US $123.77 million for Angola Urban Water Project
01/04/2015 – The Board of Directors of the African Development Bank Group (AfDB) on Wednesday, April 1, 2015 approved a US $123.77-million loan to the Republic of Angola to finance the country’s Institutional and Sustainability Support to Urban Water Supply and Sanitation Service Delivery Project.

AfDB approves US $100-million Risk Participation Facility for FirstRand Bank S.A. to boost trade finance in Africa
01/04/2015 – The Board of Directors of the African Development Bank (AfDB) approved on Wednesday, April 1, 2015 a US $100-million unfunded Risk Participation Agreement (RPA) for FirstRand Bank Limited South Africa (FRB), under which the two banks will share the default risk on a portfolio of trade transactions originated by issuing banks in Africa and confirmed by FRB.

World Bank [to 4 April 2015]
http://www.worldbank.org/en/news/all
[We generally limit coverage to regional and global level initiatives, recognizing that a number of country-level announcements are added each week]

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Developing Common Principles for Tracking Climate Finance
This week, more than two dozen of the world’s largest development finance institutions – including multilateral development banks like the World Bank Group and regional and national development banks like Agence Française de Développment – agreed to a common set of principles that each will use to consistently track financial commitments that help reduce the drivers of climate change. Tracking climate mitigation finance is the first step. The group is also developing principles for tracking adaptation finance and the ability to leverage finance, with frameworks possible mid-year.“
Date: April 3, 2015

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Modern Credit Infrastructure Allows for Quicker Loans
Information a click away
Recent credit infrastructure modernization in the banking sector have made transactions easier to process, and have facilitated access to loans for small businesses such as Alam’s. FMFB-A’s deputy of the operations department, Nawid Rahyab, says: “Banks used to have lots of challenges in issuing loans as there was no organized online structure for assessing and managing risks. However, now it is very easy to access information to assess and manage risks.” A key improvement was the establishment of the Collateral Registry (CR) and Public Credit Registry (PCR) systems, which has enabled FMFB-A to expedite the process of loan issuance, according to Rahyab. The core objectives and priorities of the CR and PCR systems are to provide secure loans and facilitate private sector access to much needed loans…
Date: April 2, 2015

Amref Health Africa [to 4 April 2015]
http://amref.org/news/news/

Gunmen Attack Kenyan University
April 2, 2015
An unknown number of armed gunmen this morning launched a deadly attack on the Garissa University in North Eastern Kenya. The attackers struck at 5.30am and began shooting indiscriminately. Kenyan military stationed near the university arrived soon afterwards and cordoned off the university, forcing the attackers to take refuge in the classrooms, where they are currently holed up, having taken hundreds of students hostage.

So far, 25 bodies have been retrieved from one of the classrooms, while 65 people are being treated at the Garissa General Hospital and other health facilities. Amref staff were the first to respond to the distress calls using one of the office vehicles to transport the injured to hospital. Amref Flying Doctors has also sent a medical team aboard three aircraft to Garissa – two King Lear and one Caravan – to help with managing the casualties and possible evacuation.

Amref Health Africa has 33 employees in Garissa, working in the Afya Plus Imarisha project. All staff and their families are safe and have been advised to work from home, while all travel by staff to the area has been halted until further notice.

This is a very sad situation indeed. Amref Health Africa sends our condolences to the families of those who have been affected and stand in solidarity with the people of Garissa at this time.

BRAC [to 4 April 2015]
http://www.brac.net/content/stay-informed-news#.VPstwC5nBhV

Frugal innovation – the secret to scaling sustainably
April 2, 2015 by Farazeh Mahboob and Anjali Sarker
In the changing landscape of development, long standing boundaries between non-profit and for profit models are merging while social enterprises are emerging. Even the most generous aid models are not enough to provide basic services to the 1.2 billion poor people living in middle income countries. In this context, the third Frugal Innovation Forum hosted by the BRAC Social Innovation Lab explored how we can serve millions in a sustainable manner. Under the theme ‘pushing the boundaries of development’, several speakers from the development sector, multinational corporations and social enterprises expressed that we need frugal innovations that can create more impact with less resources and institutions that can scale sustainably…

WASH & CLEAN in the labour ward
A knowledge dissemination workshop on ‘WASH & CLEAN in the labour ward: A situation analysis in India and Bangladesh” was held on 25 March 2015 at BRAC Centre Auditorium. The Bangladesh part of this study is a collaboration between BRAC and the University of Aberdeen, UK with funding support from the Soapbox Collaborative, UK. In the workshop, findings of the study on water, sanitation and hygiene (WASH) and infection prevention practices in maternity unit of hospital was shared with stakeholders working in the field of maternal health…

Danish Refugee Council [to 4 April 2015]
http://drc.dk/news/archive/

DRC stays in Yemen despite current crisis
(02.04.15)
Category: Press releases
The situation in Yemen continues to deteriorate with thousands of civilians forced to flee their homes because of the ongoing conflict. Refugees, migrants, and internally displaced persons in Yemen are finding themselves in an even more precarious situation and at risk of secondary displacement. The Danish Refugee Council (DRC) continues to deliver life-saving services in the country amidst the fragile situation despite its recent evacuation of expatriate staff out of Yemen.

Heifer International [to 4 April 2015]
http://www.heifer.org/about-heifer/press/press-releases.html

April 2, 2015
Heifer Awarded $750,000 From Starbucks Foundation to Support Coffee Farmers in Tanzania
LITTLE ROCK, Ark.
Heifer International was awarded a Starbucks Foundation grant of $750,000 to help fund the Mbozi Farmer Livelihood Improvement Project in Tanzania, which will help improve livelihoods and quality of life for smallholder coffee growing communities in the East African country.

HelpAge International [to 4 April 2015]
http://www.helpage.org/newsroom/press-room/press-releases/

Project launch: EU joins HelpAge International in promoting and protecting older women’s rights in Tanzania
Project launch: EU joins HelpAge International in promoting and protecting older women’s rights in Tanzania On 1st April 2015 HelpAge International will launch a two years project with funding from the European Union (EU) that aims at Promoting and Protecting Older women’s Rights in Tanzania…
Posted: 01 April 2015

International Rescue Committee [to 4 April 2015]
http://www.rescue.org/press-release-index

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U.S. must meet the needs of vulnerable Syrian refugees for resettlement
Posted by The IRC on April 3, 2015
The war in Syria has caused extreme trauma and suffering for survivors, especially children and youth. The IRC, along with other aid agencies responding to the crisis, spotlights the potential needs of the most vulnerable refugees, as the United States prepares to resettle some of them.

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Cash helps Syrian refugees to survive
Posted by The IRC on April 1, 2015
Most Syrian refugees in Lebanon can’t afford rent, to buy food and fuel, or pay for schooling for their children. The IRC provides cash assistance, accessed through reloadable debit cards, to thousands of the most vulnerable.

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The IRC temporarily suspends its programs in Yemen due to escalating violence
Posted by The IRC on March 31, 2015
NEW YORK—As the ongoing conflict in Yemen continues to escalate, the International Rescue Committee has been forced to temporarily suspend its programs in the south of the country. The IRC has been working in Yemen since 2012 providing water, health, nutrition, and other essential assistance to vulnerable Yemenis.

According to the United Nations, 267 people were killed and 994 injured between March 20-26. The UN also estimates that airstrikes in the capital Sana’a have forced 300 families to flee from their homes. Large numbers of people are seeking refuge with relatives outside the city.

The IRC’s Yemen country director, Mohamed Elmontassir Hussei said:
“The decision to suspend IRC operations reinforces the need to end the violence in Yemen and resume the delivery of vital humanitarian aid to Yemen’s most vulnerable. The new wave of violence is especially concerning, and we have no choice but to temporarily suspend our humanitarian relief programs in the south of the country,” he said.
“We are considering contingency plans, which include responding to new emergency needs. We are in constant contact with our government partners and the health clusters at national and sub-national levels. Those parties have informed us that they are fast running out of medical supplies and we are therefore looking at how the IRC can assist as soon as possible.”…

ICRC – International Committee of the Red Cross [to 4 April 2015]
http://www.icrc.org/eng/resources/index.jsp

Yemen: Immediate 24-hour humanitarian pause needed to bring in medical help
News release
04 April 2015
Sana’a / Geneva – The International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) is alarmed by the dire humanitarian situation in Yemen and calls for an immediate humanitarian pause. All air, land and sea routes must be opened without delay for at least 24 hours to enable help to reach people cut off after more than a week of intense air strikes and fierce ground fighting nationwide.

Lebanon: providing life-saving knowledge
News release
02 April 2015
In March 2015, the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) launched refresher first-aid sessions for members of different factions in the Palestinian refugee camp in Ein El Helwe, in the Lebanese city of Sidon. The training is combined with information sessions on the rules of armed conflict as well as the importance of respecting healthcare personnel. The project was launched a year ago and has reached more than 170 people so far.

IRCT [to 4 April 2015]
http://www.irct.org/

Statements & declarations
Fundamental rights in the EU: Where to next?
30 March 2015
(This opinion piece was originally published in the EUobserver and signed by: AGE Platform Europe; European Disability Forum; European Network Against Racism; European Youth Forum; European Women’s Lobby; ILGA-Europe – the European Region of the International Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Trans and Intersex Association; International Rehabilitation Council for Torture Victims; Save the Children EU Office and Social Platform. To read the article in the EUobserver click here.)

The nomination – for the first time – of a Vice-President of the European Commission in charge of fundamental rights gave rise to high expectations among citizens and human rights organisations in the European Union. It triggered hopes that the European Union would finally make the respect of fundamental rights enshrined in the EU treaties a priority, not just outside the European Union but also within its borders. We hope the European Commission will live up to these expectations…

MSF/Médecins Sans Frontières [to 4 April 2015]
http://www.doctorswithoutborders.org/news-stories/press/press-releases

Selected Press Releases/Field News
Press release
MSF Medical Team Helps Treat More Than 70 Wounded in Kenya Garissa University Attack
April 03, 2015
In response to the April 2 attack on Garissa University a Doctors Without Borders/Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF) medical team is providing support to the Kenyan Ministry of Health at Garissa Hospital. Currently, MSF is treating survivors of the attack suffering from gunshot and blast wounds, as well as people who sustained cut injuries from shattered glass during their escape.

Field News
Restoring Public Health Services in Liberia
April 02, 2015
While the number of Ebola-infected patients in Liberia has steadily declined, MSF is assisting the local health system to safely restore medical services.

Press release
Yemen: Medical Supplies and Personnel Unable to Reach Conflict Areas
March 31, 2015
SANA’A/PARIS—More medical supplies and trained health personnel are urgently needed in Yemen as the violence there escalates, but with air and sea transport obstructed, it is currently impossible to bring in this essential support, the international medical humanitarian organization Doctors Without Borders/Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF) said today.

Press release
Yemen: MSF Treats 34 Wounded After Airstrike on Camp for Displaced People
March 30, 2015
More than two dozen people injured in an airstrike today at a displaced persons camp in northern Yemen have been treated by the international medical humanitarian organization Doctors Without Borders/Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF), the organization announced.

Mercy Corps [to 4 April 2015]
http://www.mercycorps.org/press-room/releases

Press Releases
Colombia: Mercy Corps Receives $750,000 Grant from Starbucks Foundation to Support Coffee Farmers in Rural Colombia
April 2, 2015
Washington, DC — Global humanitarian organization Mercy Corps has received a $750,000 grant from the Starbucks Foundation to boost food security, formalize property rights and improve sustainable water and land management for more than 1,000 coffee growing families in Southern Tolima, Colombia. Working with coffee farmers in Colombia since 2013, Mercy Corps will expand its reach and impact to an additional 5,000 people by 2016 thanks to support from Starbucks Foundation.

OXFAM [to 4 April 2015]
http://www.oxfam.org/en/pressroom/pressreleases
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Billions in “out of control” IFC investments into third-parties causing human rights abuses around the world
2 April 2015
IFC investment portfolio in financial intermediaries grows to $36 billion in four years – three times as much as World Bank global education lending – needs urgent reform
The International Finance Corporation has little accountability for billions of dollars’ worth of investments into banks, hedge funds and other financial intermediaries, resulting in projects that are causing human rights abuses around the world.
The claim is part of a new report by Oxfam International and other NGOs, released a week before the World Bank Spring meetings. “The Suffering of Others” says that the IFC (the World Bank’s private sector lending arm) is failing to perform due diligence and to identify or effectively manage risk in many of its investments in third-party lenders…

Partners In Health [to 4 April 2015]
http://www.pih.org/blog

Apr 01, 2015
PIH Mexico Expands to Two New Sites in Chiapas
CES (Compaňeros En Salud, PIH’s sister organization in Mexico) partners with Mexico’s Ministry of Health to recruit and train young doctors, who manage public clinics throughout Chiapas during their social service year. The first-year doctors, or pasantes, have conducted more than 45,000 patient visits in eight communities throughout the southeastern state since CES began providing services there in 2012. CES expanded to Letrero and Monterrey in February, pushing its reach farther into the surrounding Sierra Madre mountains.