Save The Children [to 19 December 2015]
http://www.savethechildren.org/site/c.8rKLIXMGIpI4E/b.6150563/k.D0E9/Newsroom.htm

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Congressional Appropriations Bill A Victory for Kids
Washington, D.C. (December 18, 2015) — Save the Children and Save the Children Action Network (SCAN) today commended the passage of the Fiscal Year 2016 (FY 16) Omnibus Appropriations bill, which calls for increased investments for children around the world.
The spending bill, passed by the House and the Senate today and expected to be signed into law by President Obama, increases funding for maternal and child health and nutrition while prioritizing early childhood education programs, such as Preschool Development Grants, Head Start and other early learning programs.

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Ethiopia Drought: Schools Closing, Livestock Dying, and Wells Drying Up
December 18, 2015

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Save the Children and 100 Resilient Cities to Focus on Children in Resilience-Building Efforts
FAIRFIELD, Conn. (Dec. 16, 2015)— 100 Resilient Cities— Pioneered by The Rockefeller Foundation (100RC) today announced a partnership with Save the Children, which will offer critical resilience building support to 100RC’s member cities initially in Asia. Through the partnership, Save the Children will work on an individual basis with 100RC member cities to build custom approaches to develop early childhood education services, improve children’s health and nutrition, address child poverty and ensure children’s rights. The partnership will bring tactical support to cities, enabling them to create new programs or expand efforts in member cities through Asia.

Save the Children joins a prestigious group of other 100RC “Platform Partners” that have committed to helping cities around the world prepare for, withstand, and bounce back from the ‘shocks’ – catastrophic events like hurricanes, fires, and floods – and ‘stresses’ – slow-moving disasters like water shortages, homelessness, and unemployment – which are increasingly part of 21st Century life.The Platform Partners are a vital component of 100RC’s efforts, both providing cities with tools they need to build resilience and influencing the market as other resilience tools are developed…

SOS-Kinderdorf International [to 19 December 2015]
http://www.sos-childrensvillages.org/about-sos/press/press-releases

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Caring for refugee children and restoring their rights
02.12.2015 – SOS Children’s Villages International calls on authorities to fulfil the rights of refugee and migrant children by increasing safe and legal ways for children and their families to come to Europe, ensuring dignified and humane reception facilities, not detaining children, and helping families stay together.

Tostan [to 19 December 2015]
http://www.tostan.org/latest-news
December 16, 2015
Conflict Resolution at the Domestic and Community-Level: The Men and Women of the Gambia Show Us How It’s Done
Sona Jatta is a native of Njum Bakary in the Upper River Region (URR) of The Gambia. She is part of the Tostan program as a member of the Community Management Committee (CMC) …

The Elders [to 19 December 2015]
http://theelders.org/news-media

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Guest blog William French 15 December 2015
As COP21 ends, the fight for responsible politics begins
Our Head of International Media William French returns from a successful COP21 and argues that politicians and the press need to talk honestly about the tough choices ahead to make the global climate deal work.

Opinion Mary Robinson 14 December 2015
Paris agreement gives us momentum to build on
At the successful conclusion of the COP21 climate summit, Mary Robinson welcomes the new Paris Agreement, giving the world the opportunity to create a sustainable future.

Opinion Mary Robinson, Kofi Annan 13 December 2015
An agreement for humanity: the Elders welcome COP21 climate deal
The Elders congratulate the signatories of the COP21 climate deal in Paris for reaching “an agreement for humanity” which, if implemented fully and in good faith, could herald a turning point in the fight against climate change, poverty and injustice.

Global Fund [to 19 December 2015]
http://www.theglobalfund.org/en/news/

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Global Fund Outlines Investment Case to End Epidemics
17 December 2015
TOKYO – The Global Fund today presented its investment case for raising US$13 billion for its next three-year cycle of funding, outlining how partners in global health can contribute to ending HIV, tuberculosis and malaria as epidemics by 2030.

A US$13 billion investment for the 2017-2019 funding cycle would save up to eight million lives, avert up to 300 million infections and new cases of HIV, TB and malaria, and lay the groundwork for potential economic gains of up to US$290 billion in the years ahead. Strong investment in global health can significantly bolster international stability and security, while creating greater opportunity, prosperity, and well-being.

The Investment Case was reviewed and discussed by global health leaders at the Preparatory Meeting of the Global Fund Fifth Replenishment in Tokyo, hosted by the Government of Japan in conjunction with an international conference on universal health coverage…

…Programs supported by the Global Fund saved 17 million lives by the end of 2014. By leveraging advances in science and applying innovative solutions, the partnership is on track to reach 22 million lives saved by the end of 2016, the eve of a new Replenishment period. Every three years, the Global Fund seeks financial support for its mission through a Replenishment pledging conference, to be held in mid-2016…

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Private Sector Strongly Supports the Global Fund
16 December 2015
TOKYO – Private sector organizations, charities and foundations made record-breaking commitments to support the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria through an early announcement of pledges amounting to US$37 million ahead of the Global Fund Fifth Replenishment to be held in 2016…

The Sphere Project [to 19 December 2015]
http://www.sphereproject.org/news/

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Sphere Board sets future course of action, elects new leadership
14 December 2015 | Sphere Project
Meeting in Geneva in mid-November, the Sphere Project Board of directors welcomed a new member to the Sphere companion standards family and endorsed moving ahead with the Global Humanitarian Standards Partnership. They also elected new officers and gave the green light for the full integration of the Core Humanitarian Standard with its indicators and guidance notes into the Sphere Handbook…

…Global Humanitarian Standards Partnership moves ahead
The Sphere Board also endorsed the creation of a Global Humanitarian Standards Partnership.

The purpose of the partnership is to strengthen the promotion of principled, evidence-based humanitarian response. By better coordinating their action and through enhanced mutual learning and joint advocacy, the humanitarian-setting initiatives involved will be able to build greater ownership by individuals, communities and organisations.

The partnership also intends to improve and further develop consistent standards models and approaches in order to continue building greater coherence and compatibility amongst humanitarian standards.

The decision to move ahead was based on the recommendation made by the current Sphere companion standards and the support of other partners, as well as the findings of a scoping study that showed widespread support for the proposed partnership among humanitarian practitioners…

New Board officers and members
RedR UK CEO Martin McCann was elected Chair of the Sphere Project Board. McCann has over three decades of experience in both international development and humanitarian work. He joined the Sphere Board in June 2012.

The Board elected Julien Schopp as Vice Chair. Schopp is the Director of Humanitarian Practice at InterAction. He has worked in the humanitarian sector for nearly 20 years and joined the Sphere Board in 2012.

The Board expressed its gratitude to Unni Krishnan from Plan International, who concluded his term as Chair at this meeting as well as to Carsten Völz, who stepped down as Vice Chair earlier this year as he ended his work relationship with Oxfam International.

Barbara Mineo, Humanitarian Director of Oxfam Intermon was welcomed as a new Board member. She replaces Carsten Völz…

Center for Global Development [to 19 December 2015]
http://www.cgdev.org/page/press-center
Selected Press Releases, Blog Posts, Publications

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Aligning Incentives, Accelerating Impact: Next Generation Financing Models for Global Health
12/15/15
Next Generation Financing Models in Global Health Working Group
Founded in 2002, the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria (the Global Fund) is one of the world’s largest multilateral health funders, disbursing $3–$4 billion a year across 100-plus countries. Many of these countries rely on Global Fund monies to finance their respective disease responses—and for their citizens, the efficient and effective use of Global Fund monies can be the difference between life and death.

ODI [to 19 December 2015]
http://www.odi.org/media

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What works in improving the living conditions of slum dwellers: a review of the evidence across four programmes
Research reports and studies | December 2015 | Paula Lucci, Tanvi Bhatkal, Amina Khan and Tom Berliner
This paper reviews the evidence on what works in improving the living conditions in slum settlements. It focuses on physical living conditions such as access to land, housing and utilities, as these are among the most salient challenges facing the urban poor.

Kenya ending drought emergencies policy review: Scenarios for building resilience in ASALs
Working and discussion papers | December 2015 | Elizabeth Carabine, Marie-Agnes Jouanjean, Josephine Tsui
A review of policies in the IGAD (Intergovernmental Authority on Development) member states in the Horn of Africa region’s arid and semi-arid lands.

Challenges to a comprehensive EU migration and asylum policy
Research reports and studies | December 2015 | Raphaelle Faure, Mikaela Gavas and Anna Knoll
This research report sets out three reasons behind the European Union’s failure to deliver a comprehensive and effective approach to the Syrian refugee crisis.

Why people move: understanding the drivers and trends of migration to Europe
Research reports and studies | December 2015 | Clare Cummings, Julia Pacitto, Deletta Lauro and Marta Foresti
While Europe is in need of an effective policy response to the migration crisis, policy-makers lack an understanding of what drives people to migrate. This Rapid Evidence Assessment seeks to fill this gap.

Use of country systems in fragile states
Research reports and studies | December 2015 | Tom Hart, Sierd Hadley and Bryn Welham
‘Leaving no one behind’ increasingly means working in fragile states. We present several principles that can guide decisions on the use of country systems in these areas.

The role and impact of philanthropic and religious schools in developing countries
Bibliography and literature reviews | December 2015 | Joseph Wales, Monazza Aslam, Sebastien Hine, Shenila Rawal and Leni Wild
Can philanthropic and religious schools improve education for children in developing countries? A rigorous review of the evidence.

World Economic Forum [to 19 December 2015]
https://agenda.weforum.org/news/

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New International Alliance to Speed Implementation of WTO Trade Facilitation Deal
Community News 17 Dec 2015
:: The Global Alliance for Trade Facilitation, a major business-led initiative, was launched today to assist developing countries and speed implementation of the World Trade Organization’s Trade Facilitation Agreement
:: The landmark trade agreement could add over $1 trillion to global trade flows with huge gains for developing markets; but implementation will require significant private-sector support
:: The new alliance is hosted by the World Economic Forum, the Center for International Private Enterprise and the International Chamber of Commerce, with support from the governments of Canada, Germany, the United Kingdom and the United States; the Australian government will add to the donor support shortly

Nairobi, Kenya, 17 December 2015 – The World Economic Forum, the Center of International Private Enterprise and the International Chamber of Commerce along with the governments of Canada, Germany, the United Kingdom and the United States have today launched a major new partnership to support effective implementation of the World Trade Organization’s (WTO) landmark Trade Facilitation Agreement (TFA)—which could reduce trade costs by an average of 14.3% and create up to 20 million jobs, mostly in developing countries.

The Global Alliance for Trade Facilitation will provide a unique platform to leverage business expertise and resources in the implementation of customs and border reforms. While it is widely recognized that private-sector engagement will be critical for successful implementation of the TFA, the alliance is the first initiative to provide a global platform to bring business closer to the process of enacting reforms under the agreement…

Annie E. Casey Foundation [to 19 December 2015]
http://www.aecf.org/contact/newsroom/

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New Casey Foundation Initiative Aims to Improve Job Prospects for Young Adults
Posted December 16, 2015
The Annie E. Casey Foundation announced today that it plans to award $6 million in grants over the next four years to increase job opportunities for America’s young adults in five cities, enabling them to begin building careers and develop the skills employers need.

Clinton Foundation [to 19 December 2015]
https://www.clintonfoundation.org/press-releases-and-statements

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Press Release
Clinton Development Initiative and Visa Announce Partnership to Link Farmers in Rwanda to Digital Payments
December 15, 2015
Partnership will connect smallholder farmers to digital payments and bank accounts that improve financial literacy and security
New York — The Clinton Development Initiative (CDI), an initiative of the Clinton Foundation, and Visa today announced a partnership to enable farmers in Rwanda to conduct business transactions digitally. This effort will connect individual farmers and cooperatives with banks, agrodealers, retailers, commodity processers, crop buyers, and other producers, creating a digital payments ecosystem. These connections help improve farmers’ financial security and empower them economically to make purchases with greater knowledge and ease.

CDI’s work in Rwanda focuses on helping farmers improve their livelihoods through better training, improved connection to markets and inputs, and stronger linkages between farmers, producers, and other stakeholders in the agricultural sector. This work, coupled with Visa’s expertise in global electronic payment systems and promoting financial literacy, will allow farmers to take a larger role in agricultural financing…

Ford Foundation [to 19 December 2015]
http://www.fordfoundation.org/?filter=News

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News — December 16, 2015
Foundation to renovate landmark NYC headquarters, create global center for philanthropy and civil society
The foundation is embarking on a mission-driven renovation of its landmark NYC headquarters, bringing it up to municipal code while expanding spaces for convening and creating a global center for social justice.

GHIT Fund [to 19 December 2015]
https://www.ghitfund.org/
GHIT was set up in 2012 with the aim of developing new tools to tackle infectious diseases that devastate the world’s poorest people. Other funders include six Japanese pharmaceutical companies, the Japanese Government and the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation.

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2015.12.17 Events
Event Report: International Conference on Universal Health Coverage in the New Development Era
The Government of Japan, Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) and Japan Center for International Exchange (JCIE) co-hosted the International Conference on Universal Health Coverage (UHC) in the New Development Era: Toward Building Resilient and Sustainable Health Systems on December 16, 2015 in Tokyo, Japan. The conference explored the role of the UHC in the transition from the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) to the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and in enhancing preparedness and responses to health crises based on lessons learned from the recent Ebola crisis. Experts in global health, such as leaders from the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, Global Fund, World Bank Group, and World Health Organization participated.

MacArthur Foundation [to 19 December 2015]
http://www.macfound.org/

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Publication
Juvenile Justice Reform Takes Root Across States
Published December 14, 2015
Every state has implemented developmentally-appropriate juvenile justice reform over the last 15 years, according to a report supported by the MacArthur Foundation’s Models for Change initiative. The report provides a snapshot of nationwide progress as states have evolved many tough on crime policies that treat young offenders as adults to foster a system that considers youth’s developmental needs and capacity for change. From state efforts to raise the age of juvenile court jurisdiction to protecting juvenile records, the report illustrates a growing understanding of the intersection of adolescent neurological development and juvenile justice – a field bolstered by the MacArthur Research Network on Adolescent Development and Juvenile Justice – that is driving reform in support of better outcomes for young offenders and their communities.

Robert Wood Johnson Foundation [to 19 December 2015]
http://www.rwjf.org/en/about-rwjf/newsroom/news-releases.html

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Report Finds Gaps in Country’s Ability to Prevent Infectious Disease Outbreaks
Thu Dec 17 10:00:00 EST 2015
Washington, D.C.—A report released today found that more than half (28) of states score a five or lower out of 10 key indicators related to preventing, detecting, diagnosing and responding to outbreaks. The report, from Trust for America’s Health (TFAH) and the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation (RWJF), concluded that the United States must redouble efforts to better protect the country from new infectious disease threats, such as MERS-CoV and antibiotic-resistant superbugs, and resurging illnesses like whooping cough, tuberculosis and gonorrhea.

Five states—Delaware, Kentucky, Maine, New York and Virginia—tied for the top score, achieving eight out of 10 indicators. Seven states—Idaho, Kansas, Michigan, Ohio, Oklahoma, Oregon and Utah—tied for the lowest score at three out of 10…

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Four Foundations Come Together to Fund Expansion of the OpenNotes Movement
Tue Dec 15 09:00:00 EST 2015
Cambia Health Foundation, Gordon and Betty Moore Foundation, Peterson Center on Healthcare and the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation announce $10 million in funding to spread access to clinical notes to 50 million patients nationwide via OpenNotes.

OpenNotes is a national initiative that urges doctors and other clinicians to offer patients ready access to their visit notes. Neither a software program nor a new technology, experts say this change in practice represents an aggressive step in the movement toward greater transparency in health care. The results of an OpenNotes experiment involving 100 primary care doctors and 20,000 of their patients were published three years ago in the Annals of Internal Medicine. Since then, the OpenNotes movement has spread well beyond primary care to more than 5 million Americans.

Wellcome Trust [to 19 December 2015]
http://www.wellcome.ac.uk/News/2015/index.htm

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Wellcome Trust reaction to the Paris Agreement on climate change
Wellcome Trust Director Jeremy Farrar has issued the following statement in reaction to the international agreement on climate change reached at COP21.
14 December 2015

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After two weeks of negotiation at the UN climate conference of parties (COP) nearly 200 countries have agreed a deal to limit the rise in global temperatures to less than 2 degrees.

The Paris Agreement, which was adopted on Saturday 12 December 2015, is the first to commit all countries to cutting carbon emissions with the aim of reducing the threat of climate change caused by human activities.

“I welcome the ambitious agreement announced in Paris on Saturday and I hope that in the coming months it will drive significant change across the globe. The collective political will already demonstrated in Paris shows what is possible when the world works together. We now have the opportunity to make changes today that will produce immediate and lasting benefits for the planet and for human health, and we must take it.”

In September 2015 the Wellcome Trust launched Our Planet, Our Health: a major new initiative to build understanding of the complex links between the environment and human health. Full details of the initiative and the call for research proposals are available at: wellcome.ac.uk/OurPlanetOurHealth

BMC Health Services Research
http://www.biomedcentral.com/bmchealthservres/content
(Accessed 19 December 2015)

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Research article
Intellectual capital in the healthcare sector: a systematic review and critique of the literature
Jenna M. Evans, Adalsteinn Brown and G. Ross Baker
BMC Health Services Research 2015 15:556
Published on: 15 December 2015
Abstract
Background
Variations in the performance of healthcare organizations may be partly explained by differing “stocks” of intellectual capital (IC), and differing approaches and capacities for leveraging IC. This study synthesizes what is currently known about the conceptualization, management and measurement of IC in healthcare through a review of the literature.
Methods
Peer-reviewed papers on IC in healthcare published between 1990 and 2014 were identified through searches of five databases using the following key terms: intellectual capital/assets, knowledge capital/assets/resources, and intangible assets/resources. Articles deemed relevant for inclusion underwent systematic data extraction to identify overarching themes and were assessed for their methodological quality.
Results
Thirty-seven papers were included in the review. The primary research method used was cross-sectional questionnaires focused on hospital managers’ perceptions of IC, followed by semi-structured interviews and analysis of administrative data. Empirical studies suggest that IC is linked to subjective process and performance indicators in healthcare organizations. Although the literature on IC in healthcare is growing, it is not advanced. In this paper, we identify and examine the conceptual, theoretical and methodological limitations of the literature.
Conclusions
The concept and framework of IC offer a means to study the value of intangible resources in healthcare organizations, how to manage systematically these resources together, and their mutually enhancing interactions on performance. We offer several recommendations for future research.

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Research article
Use of peers, community lay persons and Village Health Team (VHT) members improves six-week postnatal clinic (PNC) follow-up and Early Infant HIV Diagnosis (EID) in urban and rural health units in Uganda: A one-year implementation study
Zikulah Namukwaya, Linda Barlow-Mosha, Peter Mudiope, Adeodata Kekitiinwa, Joyce Namale Matovu, Ezra Musingye, Jane Ntongo Ssebaggala, Teopista Nakyanzi, Jubilee John Abwooli, Dorothy Mirembe, Juliane Etima, Edward Bitarakwate, Mary Glenn Fowler and Philippa Martha Musoke
BMC Health Services Research 2015 15:555
Published on: 15 December 2015

BMC Medicine
http://www.biomedcentral.com/bmcmed/content
(Accessed 19 December 2015)

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Guideline
How should individual participant data (IPD) from publicly funded clinical trials be shared?
Individual participant data (IPD) from completed clinical trials should be responsibly shared to support efficient clinical research, generate new knowledge and bring benefit to patients.
C. Tudur Smith, C. Hopkins, M. R. Sydes, K. Woolfall, M. Clarke, G. Murray and P. Williamson
BMC Medicine 2015 13:298
Published on: 17 December 2015

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Commentary
Subnational benchmarking of health systems performance in Africa using health outcome and coverage indicators
National health systems performance (HSP) assessments and benchmarking are critical to understanding how well the delivery of healthcare meets the needs of citizens.
Abdisalan Mohamed Noor
BMC Medicine 2015 13:299
Published on: 14 December 2015

BMC Pregnancy and Childbirth
http://www.biomedcentral.com/bmcpregnancychildbirth/content
(Accessed 19 December 2015)

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Research article
Innovative approaches for improving maternal and newborn health – A landscape analysis
Essential interventions can improve maternal and newborn health (MNH) outcomes in low- and middle-income countries, but their implementation has been challenging.
Karsten Lunze, Ariel Higgins-Steele, Aline Simen-Kapeu, Linda Vesel, Julia Kim and Kim Dickson
BMC Pregnancy and Childbirth 2015 15:337
Published on: 17 December 2015

BMC Public Health
http://bmcpublichealth.biomedcentral.com/articles
(Accessed 19 December 2015)

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Research article
Implementation of a national school-based Human Papillomavirus (HPV) vaccine campaign in Fiji: knowledge, vaccine acceptability and information needs of parents
S. F. La Vincente, D. Mielnik, K. Jenkins, F. Bingwor, L. Volavola, H. Marshall, P. Druavesi, F. M. Russell, K. Lokuge and E. K. Mulholland
BMC Public Health 2015 15:1257
Published on: 18 December 2015
Abstract
Background
In 2008 Fiji implemented a nationwide Human Papillomavirus (HPV) vaccine campaign targeting all girls aged 9–12 years through the existing school-based immunisation program. Parents of vaccine-eligible girls were asked to provide written consent for vaccination. The purpose of this study was to describe parents’ knowledge, experiences and satisfaction with the campaign, the extent to which information needs for vaccine decision-making were met, and what factors were associated with vaccine consent.
Methods
Following vaccine introduction, a cross-sectional telephone survey was conducted with parents of vaccine-eligible girls from randomly selected schools, stratified by educational district. Factors related to vaccine consent were explored using Generalised Estimating Equations.
Results
There were 560 vaccine-eligible girls attending the participating 19 schools at the time of the campaign. Among these, 313 parents could be contacted, with 293 agreeing to participate (93.6 %). Almost 80 % of participants reported having consented to HPV vaccination (230/293, 78.5 %). Reported knowledge of cervical cancer and HPV prior to the campaign was very low. Most respondents reported that they were satisfied with their access to information to make an informed decision about HPV vaccination (196/293, 66.9 %). and this was very strongly associated with provision of consent. Despite their young age, the vaccine-eligible girls were often involved in the discussion and decision-making. Most consenting parents were satisfied with the campaign and their decision to vaccinate, with almost 90 % indicating they would consent to future HPV vaccination. However, negative media reports about the vaccine campaign created confusion and concern. Local health staff were cited as a trusted source of information to guide decision-making. Just over half of the participants who withheld consent cited vaccine safety fears as the primary reason (23/44, 52.3 %).
Conclusion
This is the first reported experience of HPV introduction in a Pacific Island nation. In a challenging environment with limited community knowledge of HPV and cervical cancer, media controversy and a short lead-time for community education, Fiji has implemented an HPV vaccine campaign that was largely acceptable to the community and achieved a high level of participation. Community sensitisation and education is critical and should include a focus on the local health workforce and the vaccine target group.

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Research article
Challenges to the surveillance of non-communicable diseases – a review of selected approaches
The rising global burden of non-communicable diseases (NCDs) necessitates the institutionalization of surveillance systems to track trends and evaluate interventions. However, NCD surveillance capacities var …
Mareike Kroll, Revati K Phalkey and Frauke Kraas
BMC Public Health 2015 15:1243
Published on: 16 December 2015