UNODC United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime [to 31 October 2015]
http://www.unodc.org/unodc/en/press/allpress.html?ref=fp
.
30/10/2015 – World’s biggest anti-corruption conference takes place in Russia
28/10/2015 – UNODC Chief underlines rule of law’s role in shielding development at meeting with Italian President
UN-HABITAT United Nations Human Settlements Programme [to 31 October 2015]
http://unhabitat.org/media-centre/news/
.
UN-Habitat goes live with global website in Spanish and Chinese
Nairobi, 29 October 2015: As part of its advocacy, outreach and communications strategy started in 2012, UN-Habitat today launched its global website in Spanish, es.unhabitat.org and in Chinese, cn.unhabitat.org.
Posted October 29, 2015
.
UN to promote more accessible and inclusive cities for persons with disabilities
Nairobi 28 October 2015– A global United Nations meeting bringing together more than 60 urban planning and disability experts opens today at the UN Office in Nairobi. ]
Posted October 28, 2015
.
UN-Habitat goes open
Nairobi, 28 October 2015 – UN-Habitat has today launched the integration of its transparency web portal Open.unhabitat.org into its corporate website. Open UN-Habitat forms part of UN-Habitat’s reporting to the International Aid Transparency Initiative (IATI).
Posted October 28, 2015
.
Premier Asia-Pacific Urban Youth Assembly (APUFY) launched in Jakarta
Jakarta, 26 October 2015 —Some 300 young leaders selected from across the region gathered in Jakarta last week to launch the first ever Asia-Pacific Urban Youth Assembly, better known as APUFY.
Posted October 26, 2015
FAO Food & Agriculture Organization [to 31 October 2015]
http://www.fao.org/news/archive/news-by-date/2015/en/
.
Homestead gardening brings hope as Lesotho seeks to adapt to climate change
In Lesotho, FAO is distributing a series of illustrated guides, in English and Sesotho, to encourage and facilitate the construction of homestead gardens. The gardens are easily built using locally available material and are specially designed to improve soil fertility and capture moisture. With minimum maintenance, they can provide vegetables all year round.
27-10-2015
.
Vatican calls for urgent action on climate change and hunger
Hunger eradication and sustainable development will not be achieved if we do not take urgent action on climate change, said FAO Director-General José Graziano da Silva, calling on the global community to put food security and agriculture at the center of the debates on climate change.
26-10-2015
ILO International Labour Organization [to 31 October 2015]
http://www.ilo.org/global/lang–en/index.htm
.
Business and persons with disabilities
11 major companies to promote inclusion of persons with disabilities in the workplace
The new Global Business and Disability Network Charter is a global tool for businesses to promote the inclusion of persons with disabilities in the world of work
News | 28 October 2015
GENEVA (ILO News): Eleven major international companies * have become the first signatories of the newly-created “ILO Global Business & Disability Network Charter ” in a ceremony held at ILO headquarters in Geneva.
The Charter expresses their commitment to promoting and including persons with disabilities throughout their operations worldwide…
UNIDO United Nations Industrial Development Organization [to 31 October 2015]
http://www.unido.org/en/news-centre/news.html
.
Caribbean Centre for Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency inaugurated in Barbados
BRIDGETOWN, 28 October 2015 – The Caribbean Centre for Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency (CCREEE) was today inaugurated during a ceremony held in the capital of Barbados.
This follows the decision of the 36th Regular meeting of the heads of Government of the Caribbean Community (CARICOM) to establish the centre as a regional implementation hub, with Barbados as the host country.
The regional centre was developed and promoted by the CARICOM Secretariat in close partnership with the Small Island Developing States Sustainable Energy and Climate Resilience Initiative (SIDS DOCK) and the United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO).
Financial support is being provided by the governments of Austria and Germany. CCREEE will be part of a wider network of regional sustainable energy centres for Small Island Developing States (SIDS) in Africa, the Caribbean, Pacific and Indian Ocean…
ITU International Telecommunications Union [to 31 October 2015]
http://www.itu.int/net/pressoffice/press_releases/index.aspx?lang=en#.VF8FYcl4WF8
.
ITU Assembly endorses IMT process for timely development of 5G mobile systems
IMT-2020 to provide lightning speed, omnipresent, ultra-reliable mobile communications
Geneva, 29 October 2015 – The Radiocommunication Assembly today endorsed a Resolution that establishes the roadmap for the development of 5G mobile and the term that will apply to it: “IMT-2020”. The overall “Vision” for 5G systems, along with the goals, process and timeline for its development, is now in place.
The detailed technical performance requirements for the radio systems to support 5G will be developed, in close collaboration with industry and national and regional standards organizations, following the stringent timelines defined by ITU…
CBD Convention on Biological Diversity [to 31 October 2015]
http://www.cbd.int/press-releases/
.
Biodiversity meeting to examine effectiveness of measures to implement global biodiversity plan
Montreal, 30 October 2015 – Some 600 delegates from around the world will gather together in Montreal, Canada, next week to examine the effectiveness of measures taken by Governments to implement the global biodiversity agenda and mainstream biodiversity into sustainable development through implementation of the Strategic Plan for Biodiversity 2011-2020. Discussions will focus on policy coherence and the monitoring of progress in achieving the Strategic Plan for Biodiversity and its Aichi Biodiversity Targets.
US Department of State [to 31 October 2015]
http://www.state.gov/r/pa/prs/ps/2015/index.htm
Selected Announcements
10/26/15 Dr. Jane Goodall to Discuss “The Intersection between Gender, Health and Conservation” at the U.S. Department of State’s Marshall Center; Office of the Spokesperson; Washington, DC
USAID [to 31 October 2015]
http://www.usaid.gov/news-information/press-releases
Selected Announcements
.
USAID Hosts Global Education Summit
October 28, 2015
Media Advisory
On November 2 – 4, 2015 the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) will host its 2015 Global Education Summit. The objectives of this Summit are to review lessons learned and to apply those lessons to future programs. The event will be attended by USAID education officers and partners as well as a number of high-level ministry of education leaders from Africa, Asia, Latin America and the Caribbean.
U.S. Announces Additional Humanitarian Aid to Help Indonesia Fight El Niño’s Effects
October 26, 2015
Today President Obama announced nearly $3 million in humanitarian assistance to help Indonesia fight forest fires and address the negative impacts that the fires and resulting haze are having on people’s health.
DFID [to 31 October 2015]
https://www.gov.uk/government/latest?departments%5B%5D=department-for-international-development
Selected Announcements
.
Factsheet: The UK’s humanitarian aid response to the Syria crisis
Updated 30 October 2015 Official Statistics DFID
Early childhood development and cognitive development in developing countries: Evidence brief
Published 30 October 2015 Research and analysis DFID Part of a collection: DFID Education Rigorous Literature Review
Pedagogy, curriculum, teaching practices and teacher education in developing countries: Evidence brief
Published 30 October 2015 Research and analysis DFID Part of a collection: DFID Education Rigorous Literature Review
Syrian vulnerable person resettlement programme fact sheet
Published 28 October 2015 Guidance DCLG, DFID and Home Office
Land tenure and property rights: rapid evidence assessment
Published 27 October 2015 Research and analysis DFID
ECHO [to 31 October 2015]
http://ec.europa.eu/echo/en/news
.
EU Commission increases co-financing for assistance via the EU Civil Protection Mechanism to help in the refugee crisis
28/10/2015
The European Commission has decided to increase the level of co-financing for transport of the assistance delivered via the EU Civil Protection Mechanism for the countries needing help in the current refugee crisis from 55% to 85%.”This new…
EU brings relief to the victims of Typhoon Koppu
28/10/2015
In response to Typhoon Koppu that hit the Philippines on 18 October 2015, the European Commission is providing €124 000 in humanitarian funding to assist the most affected populations. This funding will support the Philippines Red Cross…
African Union [to 31 October 2015]
http://www.au.int/en/
[We generally limit coverage to regional and global level initiatives, recognizing that a number of country-level announcements are added each week]
.
Oct.27.2015 The African Union Releases the Report of the AU Commission of Inquiry on South Sudan
The African Development Bank Group [to 31 October 2015]
http://www.afdb.org/en/news-and-events/press-releases/
[We generally limit coverage to regional and global level initiatives, recognizing that a number of country-level announcements are added each week]
.
AfDB Approves US$ 285 million for infrastructure, SMEs and Youth Employment projects in Tunisia, Kenya and Togo
29/10/2015 – The Board of Directors of the Africa Development Bank Group (AfDB) on Wednesday, October 28, 2015 approved combined funding amounting to US $284.97 million in support of road infrastructure projects in Tunisia, an SMEs development project in Kenya, and a youth employability and integration in growth sectors project in Togo.
AfDB unveils plan to empower Nigerian women in agriculture
28/10/2015 – The office of the Special Envoy on Gender (SEOG) and the Department for Agriculture and Agro-industry (OSAN) of the African Development Bank (AfDB) commissioned a report, “Economic Empowerment of African Women through Equitable Participation in Agricultural Value Chains”. The study, which was launched in Abidjan, Côte d’Ivoire, in August 2015, identifies opportunities for women in four subsectors including cocoa, coffee, cotton and cassava sectors in Côte d’Ivoire, Ethiopia, Burkina Faso and Nigeria, respectively.
AfDB and KfW announce broad collaboration that aims to advance agricultural transformation agenda across the African continent
26/10/2015 – On Thursday, October 22, at the “Feeding Africa” conference in Dakar, the African Development Bank (AfDB) and KfW in its role as Germany’s development bank, announced a broad collaboration that aims to advance the agricultural transformation agenda across the African continent. The collaboration seeks to develop solutions that drive inclusive growth in Africa by expanding access to financial services in the agricultural sector.
ASEAN Association of Southeast Asian Nations [to 31 October 2015]
http://www.asean.org/news
[We generally limit coverage to regional and global level initiatives, recognizing that a number of country-level announcements are added each week]
.
11th Meeting of the Conference of the Parties to the ASEAN Agreement on Transboundary Haze Pollution
on Friday, 30 October 2015.
HA NOI, 29 Ocotber 2015 – Ministers responsible for the environment from ASEAN Member States (AMS) held their 11th Meeting of the Conference of the Parties to the ASEAN Agreement on Transboundary Haze Pollution on 29 October 2015 in Ha Noi, Viet Nam. The Ministers reviewed regional cooperation on a number of haze-related issues, in particular actions taken under the ASEAN Agreement on Transboundary Haze Pollution…
European Union [to 31 October 2015]
http://europa.eu/rapid/search-result.htm?query=18&locale=en&page=1
[We generally limit coverage to regional and global level initiatives]
.
State of Play: Measures to Address the Refugee Crisis
European Commission – Press release Brussels, 30 October 2015
The European Agenda on Migration adopted b y the Commission in May 2015 set out the need for a comprehensive approach to migration management. Since then, a number of measures have been introduced – including the adoption of two emergency schemes to relocate 160,000 people in clear need of international protection from the Member States most affected to other EU Member States, and the endorsement of the Commission Action Plan on Return.
On 23 September, the European Commission presented a set of priority actions to implement the European Agenda on Migration to be taken within the next six months. This included both short term actions to stabilise the current situation as well as longer term measures to establish a robust system that will bear the test of time.
The list of priority actions set out the key measures immediately required in terms of: (i) operational measures; (ii) budgetary support and (iii) implementation of EU law.
The list was endorsed by the informal meeting of Heads of State and Government of 23 September 2015 and again on 15 October 2015.
These measures now need to be swiftly and effectively implemented at all levels.
For a state of play of the commitments made at the Western Balkans Route Leaders’ Meeting, see here.
.
EU Commission increases co-financing for assistance via the EU Civil Protection Mechanism
Date: 27/10/2015
European Commission – Announcement Brussels, 27 October 2015 The European Commission has today decided to increase the level of co-financing for transport of the assistance delivered via the EU Civil protection Mechanism for the countries needing help in the refugee crisis from 55% to 85%.
.
Meeting on the Western Balkans Migration Route: Leaders Agree on 17-point plan of action
Date: 25/10/2015
European Commission – Press release Brussels, 25 October 2015 Meeting on the Western Balkans Migration Route: Leaders Agree on 17-point plan of action
OECD [to 31 October 2015]
http://www.oecd.org/newsroom/publicationsdocuments/bydate/
[We generally limit coverage to regional and global level initiatives, recognizing that a number of country-level announcements are added each week]
.
New G20/OECD Principles of Corporate Governance to promote trust and improve the functioning of capital markets in Asia
As part of continuing efforts to support market confidence and business integrity, the OECD has launched in Asia a new set of corporate governance principles that were endorsed at the G20 Finance Ministers meeting in September 2015.
29-October-2015
Organization of American States (OAS) [to 31 October 2015]
http://www.oas.org/en/media_center/press_releases.asp
.
Spain to Contribute $2.7 million in 2016 to OAS Programs on Peace, Democracy, Human Rights, Security, and Development
E-326 October 29, 2015
.
Open Government: Building Together the Public Sector that we Want
E-325 October 28, 2015
:: Citizen’s participation must be key in the creation and improvement of public services and in strengthening transparency and accountability.
:: Through its Fellowship on Open Government, the OAS creates spaces for young people to develop their own initiatives for the benefit of the Americas.
.
OAS Electoral Observation Mission to Haiti Recognizes Efforts of Authorities in General Elections
E-322 October 26, 2015
The Electoral Observation Mission of the Organization of American States (OAS/EOM) to Haiti, led by Brazil’s former Foreign and Defense Minister Celso Amorim, recognized the efforts put forth by electoral and security authorities during Sunday´s presidential and parliamentary elections.
The Chief of Mission highlighted that “The OAS Mission witnessed a significant improvement yesterday from the August 9th elections.”
On Election Day, the OAS/EOM team of 125 observers from 27 countries was present from the opening of the polls up to the counting of the votes in all 10 departments of the country, visiting 487 voting centers.
The Mission was aware of the obstacles and challenges leading up to and during election day. In spite of some isolated instances, Haitian citizens with the will to vote were able to cast their ballots.
In its preliminary report, the OAS/EOM observed a higher turnout than during the August 9 elections, a positive tendency the OAS would like to see increase in future elections although isolated incidents of violence occurred on polling day. However, they did not affect the overall course of the election. The OAS/EOM commended the determination and patience of the voters and urged all actors in the electoral process to act responsibly in the coming days…
Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) [to 31 October 2015]
http://www.oic-oci.org/oicv2/news/
Selected Press Releases
.
The Secretary General seeks for increased ownership of OIC policies on labour, employment and social protection
The Secretary General has emphasized the significance of giving effect to the various programmes and projects on intra-OIC cooperation on labour, employment and productivity in order to address the current challenges of unemployment, low productivity and macro-economic instability prevalent in OIC countries. This declaration was contained in the speech delivered by H.E. Iyad Ameen Madani, the Secretary General of the OIC, at the opening of the 3rd Islamic Conference of Labour Ministers (ICLM), which began its proceedings in Jakarta, Indonesia yesterday, on 29 October 2015…
29/10/2015
World Trade Organisation [to 31 October 2015]
http://www.wto.org/english/news_e/news_e.htm
[We generally limit coverage to regional and global level initiatives, recognizing that a number of country-level announcements are added each week]
.
DG Azevêdo: More flexibility needed to achieve outcomes in Nairobi
At a meeting of all WTO members in Geneva today (29 October), looking ahead to the WTO’s 10th Ministerial Conference in Nairobi in December, Director-General Roberto Azevêdo warned members that insufficient progress was being made…
DG Azevêdo: WTO rules help to support better public health
Opening a symposium on “Public Health, Intellectual Property and TRIPS at 20” at the WTO’s headquarters on 28 October 2015, Director-General Roberto Azevêdo emphasized that the TRIPS (trade-related aspects of intellectual property rights) Agreement can be part of the solution in tackling public health challenges in developing countries. He also recognized that enhanced cooperation and dialogue between the WTO, the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO) and the World Health Organization (WHO) is a vital contribution to creating a stronger and more stable global framework that helps people lead better and healthier lives. > Speech
IMF [to 31 October 2015]
http://www.imf.org/external/news/default.aspx
[We generally limit coverage to regional and global level initiatives, recognizing that a number of country-level announcements are added each week]
.
Press Release: IMF Sees Lower Growth Ahead for Sub Saharan Africa; Calls for Economic Policies to Adjust to New Environment
October 27, 2015
Economic activity in Sub-Saharan Africa has weakened markedly although growth remains stronger than in many other regions, with growth expected at 3.75 percent in 2015 and 4.25 percent in 2016, the International Monetary Fund (IMF) said today. In its October 2015 Regional Economic Outlook for Sub-Saharan Africa, titled Dealing with the Gathering Clouds, the IMF attributed the slowdown to the combination of the sharp fall of commodity prices and more difficult financing conditions…
GE2P2 Global :: Knowledge Sharing; Ideas; Operations 