African Development Bank Group [to 20 February 2016]
http://www.afdb.org/en/news-and-events/press-releases/

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19/02/2016
Boosting Affordable Housing in Africa: AfDB approves US $8.2-million equity participation in Shelter Afrique
The Board of Directors of the African Development Bank (AfDB) approved on Thursday, February 18, 2016 a US $8.2-million equity investment in Africa’s housing and habitat company, Shelter Afrique, to strengthen its balance sheet and help it achieve its objective of providing quality affordable housing in Africa. This marks an important step towards addressing the acute shortage of housing in most African countries, while creating jobs and enhancing income in Africa.

AfDB champions effective management of natural resources to attract investment
16/02/2016 – The African Development Bank, under the leadership of its African Natural Resources Center (ANRC), hosted a series of events at Mining Indaba 2016 in a concerted campaign to support African Governments in their efforts to attract sustainable and environmentally friendly investment. One of the world’s largest mining conferences in the world, Mining Indaba took place from February 8-11 in Cape Town, South Africa.

New report urges Africa to address fragility through natural resources management
16/02/2016 – The African Development Bank Group (AfDB) and the Washington-based Environmental Law Institute (ELI) have produced a new report on natural resources management in fragile and conflict-affected countries. This flagship report examines how African countries in fragile situations can work towards addressing the causes and drivers of fragility by better managing natural resources across sectors.

Kevin Urama and Maria Mulindi appointed Senior Advisors to AfDB President
15/02/2016 – The African Development Bank (AfDB) has announced the appointments of Kevin Chika Urama and Maria Mulindi as advisors to the Bank’s President, Akinwumi Adesina.
In announcements released on Sunday, February 14, 2016, the Bank’s Human Resources Department said that Urama has been Appointed Senior Policy Advisor to the President on Inclusive and Green Growth, while Mulindi will serve as Senior Advisor, Civil Society and Community Based Organizations.

Asian Development Bank [to 20 February 2016]
http://www.adb.org/news

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16 February 2016
News Releases
ADB to Deepen Partnership With PRC Under New 5-Year Strategy
MANILA, PHILIPPINES – The Asian Development Bank’s (ADB) Board of Directors has endorsed a new country partnership strategy (CPS) with the People’s Republic of China (PRC) for 2016-2020.

Based on an agreement between ADB President Takehiko Nakao and PRC Premier Li Keqiang in March 2015, the new CPS envisages broadening and deepening various aspects of the ADB-PRC partnership, including the lender-borrower relationship for the public and private sectors, knowledge partnership, collaboration in promoting regional and South-South cooperation, and the PRC’s role as a financial contributor to ADB operations…

Amref Health Africa [to 20 February 2016]
http://amref.org/news/news/

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18 February 2016
Press Statement
Amref Health Africa and the Organisation of African First Ladies against HIV/AIDS (OAFLA) have signed a memorandum of understanding for a partnership to address the health of women and children in Africa.

Ghanaian First Lady Madame Lordina Mahama, who is the current OAFLA President, signed the MOU with Amref Heatlh Africa CEO Dr Githinji Gitahi at the African Union Headquarters in Addis Ababa on January 31. The partnership seeks to use advocacy, resource mobilisation and collaboration with stakeholders at all levels to promote policy level consideration of reproductive, maternal, newborn, child and adolescent health as a major development concern…

BRAC [to 20 February 2016]
http://www.brac.net/#news

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February 17, 2016
Rebuilding Livelihood of the Ebola Affected Petty Traders project
BRAC Sierra Leone in collaboration with the Ministry of Trade and Industry launched the Rebuilding Livelihood of the Ebola Affected Petty Traders project at Njala Venue, Freetown on 8 January. As part of the project, sensitisation sessions were rolled out in different parts of the country where the project will be implemented; briefing key stakeholders on the different components of the project and creating awareness.

The project is funded by DFID and executed by a consortium consisting of BRAC, World Vision, World Hope International and Catholic Relief Services (CRS). BRAC Sierra Leone will cover 12, 036 beneficiaries in 4 districts; CRS will cover 6,110 beneficiaries in 3 districts and World Hope International will cover 3,441 beneficiaries in 2 districts. The main objective of this project is to support 29,400 petty traders affected by Ebola through soft loan, start-up business capital and capacity building training. It also aims to recapitalise micro finance institutions to ensure access to finance by petty traders and also long term sustainability.

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14 February 2016
Primary education in Bangladesh goes digital
Prime Minister officially launches new interactive digital multimedia content to cover entire primary school curriculum

Clubhouse International [to 20 February 2016]
http://www.clubhouse-intl.org/news.html

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[Undated]
Michigan Clubhouses: Explosive and Exciting Growth!
In 2008, Michigan had one, lone Accredited Clubhouse. By this spring, we expect that number to jump to 15 Accredited Clubhouses. And this is just the beginning!

The Michigan Department of Health and Human Services (MDHHS) has taken notice of the dramatic improvements they have witnessed in Clubhouse outcomes in those Clubhouses that have achieved Clubhouse International Accreditation. As a result, they have made Accreditation a requirement for all Clubhouse programs in Michigan.

Clubhouse International, MDHHS and Clubhouse Michigan are partnering to ensure success. Our expectation is that the number of Accredited Clubhouses in Michigan will double to 30 in two years, and grow to 40 by December 2018, which is the MDHHS deadline for full Accreditation of all Michigan Clubhouses! We sincerely thank MDHHS for their support.

IRC International Rescue Committee [to 20 February 2016]
http://www.rescue.org/press-release-index
Latest Press Releases
19 Feb 2016
IRC Reaction to attack on Malakal, South Sudan UN base protecting civilians

19 Feb 2016
IRC: Austria decision to limit border entry is irresponsible, will exacerbate the humanitarian crisis

16 Feb 2016
The International Rescue Committee condemns the attacks on health facilities in Syria

ICRC [to 20 February 2016]
https://www.icrc.org/en/whats-new
Selected News Releases and Articles

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Syria: ICRC alarmed by deteriorating situation in Aleppo region
Damascus/Geneva – The International Committee of the Red Cross is deeply alarmed by the situation in the Aleppo region, where fighting is intensifying, hospitals and health workers have been targeted, people have no water or electricity and more than
19-02-2016 | News release

Afghanistan: ICRC staff members released in Ghazni
Geneva/Kabul (ICRC) – All five staff members of the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) who were being held since 16 February 2016 in the province of Ghazni were released unharmed today.
19-02-2016 | News release

Tackling Torture: Who are the torturers?
On 3 December 2015, the ICRC held a public conference in the Humanitarium to try to answer the following question: How can decoding the mechanisms at work in torturers help tackle the phenomenon of torture? This was the third such event as part of the Conference Cycle on Generating Respect for the Law…[overview of conference results]
15-02-2016 | Article

IRCT [to 20 February 2016]
http://www.irct.org/

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Statements & declarations
Egypt must stop obstructing the work of IRCT member El Nadeem
18 February 2016
The IRCT calls on the Government of Egypt to immediately stop the actions to obstruct the work of our Egyptian member centre, the Nadeem Center for the Rehabilitation of Victims of Violence and Torture, and desist in its attempt to close it.

On 17th February 2016, Egyptian authorities notified the Nadeem Centre of a closure order, without any substantive justification for the decision. While Nadeem was able to negotiate a delay in the execution of the order until a meeting between the Nadeem Center and the Ministry of Health, the IRCT remains deeply concerned by this action…

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News
IRCT issues second criticism of national investigation in Ali Aarrass case
18 February 2016

Islamic Relief [to 20 February 2016]
http://www.islamic-relief.org/category/news/

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[Undated]
Thousands displaced as hospitals and schools targeted
Thousands more people in Syria have been displaced in the last week after attacks on hospitals, schools, markets and bakeries.

In one week, the number of people living in camps at the Turkish border has increased by 30,000 to around 100,000 people. Many families were displaced from Azaz city, in the far north of the country, where hospitals and schools were the targets of airstrikes.

A further 40,000 people lost their home on Monday when Tell Rifaat, a city in the north, was targeted.
“Monday was a dark day for women and children in Syria,” said Ahmed Mahmoud, an Islamic Relief staff member working in Syria. “The people killed included pregnant women and new-born babies in incubators. This is simply unacceptable…

MSF/Médecins Sans Frontières [to 20 February 2016]
http://www.doctorswithoutborders.org/news-stories/press/press-releases.

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Press Releases
South Sudan: At Least 18 Killed, Including 2 MSF Staff, in Malakal
February 18, 2016
JUBA, SOUTH SUDAN — At least 18 people were killed in armed conflict that erupted last night in the Protection of Civilians site in Malakal, South Sudan, including two South Sudanese staff members of Doctors Without Borders/Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF) who were attacked in their homes, the organization said today.
Teams worked through the night to treat 36 wounded people at the MSF hospital in Malakal, including an MSF staff member. At least 25 patients had suffered gunshot wounds and eight required surgery. More casualties are continuing to arrive today.

Press release
Syria: Statement by Dr. Joanne Liu, International President of MSF
February 18, 2016
Statement delivered by Dr. Joanne Liu, International President of Doctors Without Borders/Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF), at the Palais des Nations, Geneva, February 18, 2016.
Today in Syria, the abnormal is now normal. The unacceptable is accepted.
Relentless, brutal, and targeted attacks on civilians are the dominant feature of this war. In addition to the countless numbers of dead, hundreds of thousands of people are fleeing for their lives. Many of them are trapped, denied the fundamental right to flee…

Press release
Syria: Civilians Under Relentless Attack
February 18, 2016
MSF reports more than one in three wounded and dead are women and children.

Press release
At Least 25 Killed in Attack on MSF-Supported Hospital in Northern Syria (Updated)
February 15, 2016
Gaziantep/Paris—At least seven people were killed and eight are missing and presumed dead following a Monday morning attack in northern Syria that destroyed a hospital supported by Doctors Without Borders/Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF) the international medical humanitarian organization said today. (As of February 17, 2016, these numbers now stand at nine hospital staff members and 16 patients/caretakers killed in the attack).

Field news
South Sudan: MSF Treats 73 Wounded in Malakal Fighting
February 19, 2016
Doctors Without Borders/Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF) teams in Malakal, South Sudan, worked through the night to treat patients injured on February 18 when fighting erupted in the UN Protection of Civilians (PoC) site in the town.

Field news
Malawi: Dire Living Conditions for Mozambican Refugees
February 17, 2016
Whitney Ward, a Doctors Without Borders/Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF) field coordinator in Malawi, explains the need for increased humanitarian assistance for over 5,000 Mozambicans who fled to Malawi’s Kapise village to escape violence.

Field news
Darfur: Thousands Flee Fighting in Jebel Marra
February 16, 2016
Fighting that began in mid-January in the Jebel Marra and Jebel Si areas of North Darfur, Sudan, has forced some 58,000 people—mostly women and children—to flee in search of protection. Many have abandoned their homes, farms and livestock for the relative safety of camps near the towns of Tawilla and Sortony. This part of Darfur is a tough semi-desert environment where little grows and temperatures regularly climb above 100 degrees Fahrenheit.

Field news
Burundi: MSF Treats More Than 60 Wounded in Grenade Explosions
February 16, 2016
Doctors Without Borders/Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF) treated more than 60 people on the morning of Monday, February 15, after a series of grenade explosions in several locations across Burundi’s capital city of Bujumbura. This influx of wounded patients occurred just five days after two other grenade attacks wounded dozens of people, 55 of whom were treated at l’Arche, MSF’s trauma center in Bujumbura.

Field news
Syria: Additional Information on Latest Hospital Bombing
February 16, 2016
An addendum to our earlier update about the February 15 bombing of a hospital in Idlib province supported by Doctors Without Borders/Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF):

OXFAM [to 20 February 2016]
http://www.oxfam.org/en/pressroom/pressreleases

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16 February 2016
The world’s poorest should not pay for the security and defense of Europe
Governments are considering diverting limited aid funds to security and defense, and may also increase the amount they use to cover refugee costs in rich countries
A large coalition of NGOs is calling for European leaders to protect refugees while ensuring aid budgets are only used for poverty eradication and sustainable development

Governments across Europe are planning to divert scarce development aid budgets to cover security and defense costs, anti-poverty campaigners understand.

Proposals that aid money can be used for ‘preventing violent extremism’, police training and financing security costs are being mooted behind closed doors, and will be formally discussed at the OECD’s Development Assistance Committee (DAC) in Paris on February 18th and 19th. At the same time, European leaders will be meeting in Brussels to discuss their migration response.

During the OECD DAC meeting, Ministers will also discuss increasing the amount of aid money that they can spend on receiving refugees in their own countries, a move criticised by development charities across Europe.

A coalition of organizations including BOND, Dochas, Global Citizen, Eurodad, ONE, Oxfam and Save the Children are calling on leaders to make sure the choices they make on aid in the coming months do not mean the poorest people lose out on vital public services like education or healthcare.

The coalition strongly urges European leaders to:
:: Ensure that the definition of what can be counted as Official Development Assistance (ODA), does not include any defense and security costs or in-country refugee costs.
:: Include developing countries and non-governmental organizations in the process of modernizing ODA.
:: Ensure that refugees are afforded the protection they need…

Norwegian Refugee Council [to 20 February 2016]
http://www.nrc.no/

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Colombia
Education creates strength
Oda Lykke Mortensen (18.02.2016)
The indigenous peoples of Colombia have fought a long and tough battle for their rights. By giving their children an education, they stand stronger.

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Press Release
Closed borders could result in large refugee camps on European soil
(17.02.2016)
The Norwegian Refugee Council warns against the closing of European national borders, as this could result in large and unsustainable refugee camps elsewhere on European soil.

Ahead of the European Summit on 18 and 19 February where European leaders will discuss the migration and refugee crisis, NRC is calling on the European Union and its member states to resist the imposition of new border controls and instead agree a credible collective strategy to respond to the current migration challenge. If not, long-term and large scale refugee camps in Greece, the Balkans and elsewhere may be the end result.

“A European fortress approach, with closed borders, will only serve to dilute EU laws and values and send an appalling signal to the rest of the world regarding our commitment to uphold international refugee law”, said Secretary General of the Norwegian Refugee Council Jan Egeland…

Partners In Health [to 20 February 2016]
http://www.pih.org/blog

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Feb 19, 2016
The Zika Virus in Haiti
Partners In Health serves 32,000 pregnant women in Haiti every year, which puts it front and center in the debate over how to deal with the Zika virus and its carrier mosquitoes, the Aedes aegypti and Aedes albopictus. After seeing thousands of cases, experts are investigating a link between babies born with small heads, a condition called microcephaly, and Zika contracted during the mothers’ pregnancies.

Many questions remain about Zika and its current impact on the Haitian population. Until more answers surface, PIH staff strive to find the best solutions for women, men, and children who may be adversely affected by the virus.

We spoke with Dr. Louise Ivers, PIH’s senior health and policy advisor and an infectious disease expert, about the mosquito’s resiliency, efforts to control it in Haiti, and how PIH is working to prevent Zika infections and treat those who might be suffering from complications…

Save The Children [to 20 February 2016]
http://www.savethechildren.org/site/c.8rKLIXMGIpI4E/b.9357111/k.C14B/Press_Releases_2016/apps/nl/newsletter2.asp

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February 16, 2016
Statement from Carolyn Miles on Yesterday’s Attacks on Seven Healthcare Facilities in Syria

Fairfield, Conn. (February 16, 2015) — In response to yesterday’s attacks on healthcare facilities in Syria, Carolyn Miles, President & CEO of Save the Children U.S. says: “Save the Children is appalled by the growing trend for health facilities, schools and other civilian infrastructure to be the targets of deadly attacks in Syria.

“Monday was the worst day for attacks on healthcare facilities for more than six months. New information gathered by Save the Children and other organizations suggests that in total, seven facilities were bombed in air strikes, more than was first reported. The attacks happened across Syria, in Aleppo, Idlib and Dara’a provinces…

SOS-Kinderdorf International [to 20 February 2016]
http://www.sos-childrensvillages.org/about-sos/press/press-releases

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19.02.2016
Ukraine: Children sketch a future without war
– An exhibition of drawings from talented and vulnerable children living on both sides of the conflict in the Lugansk and Donetsk regions was recently organised by SOS Children’s Villages Ukraine in partnership with Swiss Embassy and the Maximal youth organisation in Donetsk.

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18.02.2016
SOS Children’s Villages International announces changes to top management team
INNSBRUCK, Austria – SOS Children’s Villages International has announced that Richard Pichler, who served as Secretary General and CEO for more than 20 years, will assume a new role in the organisation as of May 2016. Mr Pichler will take on the newly created position of Special Representative for External Affairs and Resources, in which he will focus on high level external relations and partnerships. The International Senate expressed its appreciation for the achievements of Mr Pichler during his tenure as Secretary General and CEO, and is very much looking forward to continue the cooperation with him.

SOS Children’s Villages’ new global strategy – expected to be confirmed at its General Assembly in June – calls for the federation to work more closely with partners in civil society, global foundations, international forums and multilateral organisations, as well as to raise the global profile of the organisation, thus increasing the organisation’s impact for children. To deliver this step change, Richard Pichler will take on this challenging task. In recent years, he has successfully led the organisation to increase its engagement on the international stage in efforts such as contributing to the UN Sustainable Development Goals and the UN Guidelines for the Alternative Care of Children, and forging closer ties with the other child-focused INGOs.

Until a new CEO joins, management responsibilities will be collectively shared by the Management Team: CFO Norbert Meder, COO Carsten Völz, and Tom Malvet, Director of International Competence Centres.

SOS Children’s Villages International President Siddhartha Kaul expressed his appreciation of Mr Pichler: “Richard Pichler has done exceptional work for SOS Children’s Villages International as its Secretary General and CEO for over 20 years. In his new role, Richard will continue to have a profound impact on our work by serving as one of the key voices of SOS Children’s Villages on the international stage. We know he will be a passionate spokesman and advocate for our organisation and give a voice to the needs of vulnerable children.”

Mr Pichler said: “It has been both exciting and humbling to be part of the organisation’s journey on this rapid development until now. I thank all colleagues who supported me along that way. In recent times it has become evident that we can increase our impact by partnering and by developing a stronger global positioning of our organisation. In the past, as CEO, I could initiate some developments. After 20 years in daily management I now look forward to fully concentrating on partnerships and positioning for the benefit of the most vulnerable children. I am convinced together we can increase our impact.”

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17.02.2016
Measuring impact
– With the help of a major global management consultancy, SOS Children’s Villages has developed a system for measuring how a donor’s contribution translates into improving children’s lives.

Tostan [to 20 February 2016]
http://www.tostan.org/latest-news

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February 17, 2016
Malian Communities Take Abandoning Harmful Practices Into Their Own Hands
In southwestern Mali, a small, but powerful movement is growing. In 2014, 40 Malian communities started Tostan’s Community Empowerment Program …

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February 16, 2016
Youth Voices: The Next Generation of Changemakers in West Africa
The latest film in our Breakthrough Generation series, “Youth Voices: The Next Generation of Changemakers in West Africa,” follows young people who came together in December …

ChildFund Alliance [to 20 February 2016]
http://childfundalliance.org/news/

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[undated]
ChildFund supporting European refugees
Author: Avril MacDonald
ChildFund Alliance is supporting children and families on their way to Europe from countries such as Syria, Afghanistan and Iraq. Next to the border controls in Macedonia and Serbia, contemporary aid stations have been constructed where people can stop to receive medical support, warm clothes and food. In cooperation with Terre des Hommes, ChildFund is supporting a local partner, providing children and families with friendly spaces and psychosocial support. In the child friendly spaces children can play and parents can change their babies’ diapers and receive counselling in both practical matters, and how they can protect their children from danger such as getting lost along the road…

The Elders [to 20 February 2016]
http://theelders.org/news-media

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News 15 February 2016
The Elders statement on the death of Boutros Boutros-Ghali (1922-2016)
The Elders extend their deepest condolences to the family of Boutros Boutros-Ghali, former UN Secretary-General.

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News Lakhdar Brahimi 15 February 2016
Syria: time to put an immediate halt to all the fighting
As the violence engulfing Syria continues, veteran mediator and former UN Special Envoy to Syria Lakhdar Brahimi calls on all parties to end the violence, prioritise the needs of the Syrian people and for European governments to agree a coordinated response to the refugee crisis.

Global Fund [to 20 February 2016]
http://www.theglobalfund.org/en/news/

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17 February 2016
Organization of Islamic Cooperation and the Global Fund Strengthen Partnership
JEDDAH, Saudi Arabia – The Secretary General of the Organization of the Islamic Conference (OIC), Iyad Ameen Madani, praised the support that the Global Fund extends to the member states of the OIC.
At a meeting with senior representatives of the Global Fund on 16 February, the Secretary General stressed that the OIC will continue to support the Global Fund’s efforts…

…The Global Fund is a major supporter of health efforts in OIC member states. Today, 50 of the 57 OIC member states are implementing programs supported by the Global Fund to fight diseases and build resilient and sustainable systems for health.

With US$11.3 billion signed in grants, 2.7 million people are currently receiving treatment for HIV, 5.3 million cases of TB have been detected and treated, 320 million mosquito nets have been distributed to prevent malaria and 1.6 million orphans and vulnerable children are receiving basic care and support services.

Hilton Prize Coalition [to 20 February 2016]
http://prizecoalition.charity.org/
An Alliance of Hilton Prize Recipients

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Part 2 of the Storytelling Series in Nepal: Crew
Posted February 18, 2016 ·
Photojournalist and documentary filmmaker Steve Connors serves as the Master Storyteller for the Hilton Prize Coalition Storytelling Program. He is traveling throughout Nepal this month to capture the experiences of the six Coalition member organizations who mobilized in response to the devastating earthquakes of 2015 – and share stories about their staff and personnel, the individuals […]