UN DESA United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs [to 6 February 2016]
http://www.un.org/en/development/desa/news.html

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5 February 2016, New York
Young leaders brainstorm on SDG implementation at Youth Forum
More than 900 young leaders and Government representatives gathered at the United Nations Headquarters in New York this week for the annual ECOSOC Youth Forum. The meetings this year focused on the instrumental role that young people play in the implementation and realization of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.

1 February 2016, New York
At opening of Youth Forum, UN launches new initiative to tackle employment crisis
As more than 800 young leaders gather in New York for the annual United Nations Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC) Youth Forum, UN officials today launched a new initiative to tackle youth unemployment, making it clear that success in fighting poverty and inequality will largely depend on them being a driving force.

UNESCO [to 6 February 2016]
http://en.unesco.org/news
Selected Press Releases/News

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05 February 2016
Reporters Without Borders and UNESCO launch new edition of safety guide for journalists in high-risk environments

04 February 2016
Director-General advocates for increased investment in education at London Syria Conference

04 February 2016
900-year-old consecration ceremony held for the Timbuktu mausoleums
A consecration ceremony of the Timbuktu mausoleums, last held in the 11th century, was held today at the initiative of the local community. This is the final phase of the cultural rebirth of the Timbuktu mausoleums after their destruction by the armed groups who occupied the city in 2012.

02 February 2016
250 Syrian refugees to attend secondary school newly rehabilitated by UNESCO in Kawergosk Camp

UN-HABITAT United Nations Human Settlements Programme [to 6 February 2016]
http://unhabitat.org/media-centre/news/

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Posted February 5, 2016
Over 700 applicants to International Design Collaboration for Kenya Competition
– The application for the International Design Collaboration for Kenya Competition completed midnight Feb 1. The competition saw a large number of applicants (over 700) from all over the world.

Urban Youth Take Action to Implement the 2030 Agenda
New York, 04, February 2016 – Hundreds of young people gathered at United Nations Headquarters in New York City for the 5th Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC) Youth Forum on February 1-2.
Posted February 4, 2016

UN-Habitat to lead in planning Kenya’s first Integrated Settlement in Kalobeyei, Turkana County
Kenya, 04 February 2016 – UN-Habitat has joined in the implementation of Kalobeyei Integrated Socio-Economic Development Program (KISEDP), a Turkana-based initiative that seeks to facilitate collaboration and coordination between the Kenyan Government, UN agencies, development actors, NGOs,…
Posted February 4, 2016

FAO Food & Agriculture Organization [to 6 February 2016]
http://www.fao.org/news/archive/news-by-date/2015/en/

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4-02-2016
FAO Food Price Index starts 2016 dropping to nearly 7-year low
The FAO Food Price Index fell in January, slipping 1.9 percent below its level in the last month of 2015, as prices of all the commodities it tracks fell, sugar in particular.

Support for agriculture in Syria critical with massive food insecurity adding to suffering
As world leaders met in London today to raise funds in support of millions of people affected by the ongoing conflict in Syria, FAO stressed the urgent need to help farming families produce food to meet basic needs.
4-02-2016

UN initiative targets job creation and decent work conditions for young people
Under the lead of the International Labour Organization (ILO), the Initiative was developed by 19 international organizations that are committed to increasing the impact of youth employment policies and expanding country-level action on decent jobs for young women and men.
1-02-2016

IFAD International Fund for Agricultural Development [to 6 February 2016]
http://www.ifad.org/media/press/index.htm

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4 February 2016 –
17-18 February 2016: International leaders gather in Rome for annual IFAD event

3 February 2016 –
UN agency to build climate resilience among pastoralists in Tajikistan

1 February 2016 –
Benin and IFAD work together to boost food and nutrition security while creating jobs for young people

ILO International Labour Organization [to 6 February 2016]
http://www.ilo.org/global/about-the-ilo/newsroom/news/lang–en/index.htm

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Global Initiative on Decent Jobs for Youth
Guy Ryder announces Global Youth Initiative
01 February 2016
…The Global Initiative on Decent Jobs for Youth was launched at UN headquarters today by Guy Ryder, the Director-General of the International Labour Organization (ILO), at the opening of the UN’s annual Youth Forum.
In describing the Initiative, Ryder stated that it is a unique partnership with governments, the UN system, businesses, academic institutions, youth organizations and other groups to scale-up action to create new opportunities and avenues for quality employment in the global economy and “assist young people in developing the skills needed to compete in today’s job market”…

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Blog
How do we know if we’re really helping migrant workers?
05 February 2016
The ILO GMS Triangle project has provided counseling and support services to over 60,000 migrant workers across the Greater Mekong Subregion and Malaysia. But understanding if those services were really helping them to realize their rights proved easier said than done. In our latest blog post, researcher Ben Harkins explains his approach.

ICAO International Civil Aviation Organization [to 6 February 2016]
http://www.icao.int/Newsroom/Pages/pressrelease.aspx

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5/2/16
ICAO Council President Aliu, UNSG Ban Ki-moon, Explore Opportunities to Assist African Member States

4/2/16
ICAO Council President Advances Aviation Cooperation in Africa

WMO World Meteorological Organization [to 6 February 2016]
https://www.wmo.int/media/news

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1 February 2016
UAE Awards for Rain Enhancement Science
Research groups from Japan, the United Arab Emirates and Germany have won the US$5 million grant awarded by the inaugural edition of the UAE Research Program for Rain Enhancement Science.

This research program was launched by the UAE’s Ministry of the Presidential Affairs (MOPA) and is managed by the UAE’s National Center for Meteorology and Seismology (NCMS). The program offers an annual grant of US$5 million to be shared among up to five winning proposals for a period of three years.

CBD Convention on Biological Diversity [to 6 February 2016]
http://www.cbd.int/press-releases/

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2016-02-01
Statement by Mr. Braulio Ferreira de Souza Dias, CBD Executive Secretary, on the occasion of the Expert Group Meeting on Article 10 of the Nagoya Protocol on Access and Benefit-Sharing, Montreal, Canada, 1 – 3 February 2016
…As you are all aware, the Nagoya Protocol on Access to Genetic Resources and the Fair and
Equitable Sharing of Benefits Arising entered into force just over one year ago, on 12 October
2014. The Protocol supports the further implementation of one of the three objectives of the Convention: the fair and equitable sharing of benefits arising from the utilization of genetic resources, including by appropriate access to genetic resources.

In October 2014, when the Protocol entered into force, it had 51 Parties , but the number of
ratifications continues to grow, and the Protocol now has 70 Parties, with more ratifications expected in the coming months. Our objective is to reach 100 ratifications by the time of the second meeting of the Parties to the Protocol, which will be held in Cancun, Mexico, in December of this year.

The theme for the meetings in Mexico in December is “Integration of biodiversity for well-being”. This is linked to this year’s International Day for Biological Diversity on May 22nd when we will be celebrating biodiversity and its role in sustaining people and their livelihoods. ABS is an important component of this theme. Maintaining the diversity of our genetic resources and their associated traditional knowledge is critical to both the development of new products and services that can improve all our lives as well as to the people who already depend on genetic diversity and traditional knowledge for their day-to-day well-being. The equity dimension of access to genetic resources an d associated traditional knowledge in exchange for the sharing of benefits also holds great potential to contribute to sustainable development…

US Department of State [to 6 February 2016]
http://www.state.gov/r/pa/prs/ps/2016/index.htm

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-02/05/16
Ambassador Jenkins Promotes Professional Exchange in Support of the Global Health Security Agenda;
Office of the Spokesperson; Washington, DC

02/04/16
New U.S. Assistance to Respond to Syria Crisis;
Office of the Spokesperson; Washington, DC

-02/04/16
Remarks at the Syria Donors Conference;
Secretary of State John Kerry; London, United Kingdom

USAID [to 6 February 2016]
http://www.usaid.gov/news-information/press-releases

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February 1, 2016
USAID Announces Awards to Support Schools and Hospitals Abroad
The U.S. Agency for International Development’s Office of American Schools and Hospitals Abroad (USAID/ASHA) announced $23 million in funding to U.S. organizations and their overseas partners to support construction projects and to purchase equipment for 15 hospitals and clinics, 6 secondary schools, 16 universities, and 1 library. This year’s projects, spanning 25 countries, are funded through a competitive annual award and directly support schools, libraries and medical centers outside the United States that advance innovation and best practices and build bridges between citizens of the United States and other countries.

DFID [to 6 February 2016]
https://www.gov.uk/government/organisations/department-for-international-development

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UK to invest an extra £1.2 billion supporting Syria and the region
4 February 2016 DFID and Number 10 Press release

UK partners with Jimmy Carter to eradicate Guinea Worm
3 February 2016 DFID Press release

ECHO [to 6 February 2016]
http://ec.europa.eu/echo/en/news

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04/02/2016
EU pledges over €3 billion for the Syria crisis at London event
At the Supporting Syria and the Region conference which took place in London today, the EU and its Member States pledged over €3 billion to respond to the Syria crisis. The pledge triples the EU support offered at the last donor conference…

African Union [to 6 February 2016]
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]

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February 05, 2016
Chad becomes 30th AU Member State to ratify the Protocol on the establishment of the African Court on Human and Peoples’ Rights

February 04, 2016
5th Intergenerational Dialogue: The responsibilities of youths towards the development of the continent reaffirmed

New edition
African Integration and Development Review, Vol.8 No.2, July 2015

ASEAN Association of Southeast Asian Nations [to 6 February 2016]
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]

ASEAN Leaders Programme Demonstrates True Potential of the ASEAN Community
JAKARTA, 1 February 2016 – Demonstrating how the potential benefits of the ASEAN Community are more than just economic, a new initiative has been launched to bring together senior leaders from all ten ASEAN countries. The ASEAN Leaders Programme is being launched to bring together 70 senior leaders from across the ASEAN, from all sectors and walks of life, to work on a challenge relevant to the region. The inaugural programme will be held in Singapore in May 2016 and will pose the challenge: “What makes a city smart?”

The programme will act as a catalyst, bringing together leaders from the world of finance, manufacturing, civil service, statutory bodies, academia, the not-for-profit sector and more, to spark a robust exchange of ideas. It aims to help leaders build strong connections, share knowledge and develop the Cultural Intelligence needed to grow ASEAN both in the context of its cities and as a region…

European Union [to 6 February 2016]
http://europa.eu/rapid/search-result.htm?query=18&locale=en&page=1
[We generally limit coverage to regional and global level initiatives]

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Questions and Answers about Female Genital Mutilation/Cutting (FGM/C)
Date: 05/02/2016
European Commission – Fact Sheet Brussels, 5 February 2016 Female genital mutilation consists of the (partial or complete) removal of the external female genitalia, and the infliction of other injuries to the female genitalia for no medical reasons. The EU contributes to eliminating FGM/C globally.

EU support in response to the Syrian crisis
Date: 05/02/2016
European Commission – Fact Sheet Brussels, 5 February 2016 The Syrian crisis has become the world’s worst humanitarian disaster. The EU is the leading donor in the international response to the Syrian crisis, with over €5 billion from the EU and Member States collectively in humanitarian, development, economic and stabilisation…

Statement by European Commissioner for Humanitarian Aid and Crisis Management, Christos Stylianides, on new mass displacements in Aleppo, Syria
Date: 05/02/2016
European Commission – Statement Brussels, 5 February 2016 Yesterday the international community came together in London to express its solidarity with the people of Syria and pledged more than $10 billion in support of the people of Syria suffering from nearly five years of war.

Joint Statement on the International Day against Female Genital Mutilation
Date: 05/02/2016
European Commission – Statement Brussels, 5 February 2016 High Representative/Vice-President Federica Mogherini and Commissioners Vĕra Jourova and Neven Mimica call for zero tolerance against Female Genital Mutilation. Ahead of the International Day of Zero Tolerance against Female Genital Mutilation (6 February 2016) High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs…

EU pledges more than €3 billion for Syrians in 2016 at the London conference
Date: 04/02/2016
European Commission – Press release Brussels, 4 February 2016 The European Union and its Member States pledged today more than €3 billion to assist the Syrian people inside Syria as well as refugees and the communities hosting them in the neighbouring countries for the year 2016.

EU-Turkey Cooperation: Commission welcomes Member State agreement on Refugee Facility for Turkey
Date: 03/02/2016
European Commission – Press release Brussels, 3 February 2016 EU-Turkey Cooperation: Commission welcomes Member State agreement on Refugee Facility for Turkey The European Commission today welcomed the agreement by Member States on the details of the €3 billion Refugee Facility for Turkey, which the Commission proposed on 24 November in…

Commission adopts Schengen Evaluation Report on Greece and proposes recommendations to address deficiencies in external border management
Date: 02/02/2016
European – Press release Commission Strasbourg, 2 February 2016 Commission adopts Schengen Evaluation Report on Greece and proposes recommendations to address deficiencies in external border management Following a positive opinion by the Schengen evaluation committee on Friday, the College of Commissioners has today adopted the Schengen Evaluation Report on Greece…

Commission presents Action Plan to strengthen the fight against terrorist financing
Date: 02/02/2016
European – Press release Commission Strasbourg, 2 February 2016 The European Commission is today presenting an Action Plan to strengthen the fight against the financing of terrorism. The recent terrorist attacks in the European Union and beyond demonstrate the need for a strong coordinated European response to combatting terrorism.

OECD [to 6 February 2016]
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]

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4-February-2016
Political finance needs tighter regulation and enforcement
Many economically advanced countries are failing to fully enforce regulations on political party funding and campaign donations or are leaving loopholes that can be exploited by powerful private interest groups, according to a new OECD report.

Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) [to 6 February 2016]
http://www.oic-oci.org/oicv2/news/

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03/02/2016
Madani stresses the importance of multiculturalism to counter violence and intolerance in Australia
The Secretary General of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC), Iyad Ameen Madani stressed in his meetings with officials in Australia on the importance of multiculturalism in countering violence and intolerant discourse…

Group of 77 [to 6 February 2016]
http://www.g77.org/
[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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Rethinking and strengthening social development in the contemporary world (New York, 3 February 2016)
Statement on behalf of the Group of 77 and China by H.E. Mr. Virachai Plasai, Ambassador and Permanent Representative of the Kingdom of Thailand to the United Nations, at the Fifty-fourth Session of the Commission for Social Development on Agenda Item 3 (a)

IPU Inter-Parliamentary Union [to 6 February 2016]
http://www.ipu.org/english/news.htm

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3 FEBRUARY 2016
Halting spread of WMDs in Africa
IPU and the Parliament of Côte d’Ivoire are organizing a workshop to deliver vital information on how parliaments can stop the spread of weapons of mass destruction (WMDs). The event will give MPs from across Africa practical training on the risks posed by WMDs, the role of UN Security Council Resolution 1540 in dealing with the threat, and the pivotal role of parliaments in implementing the resolution. It is being organized in partnership with the 1540 Committee, which oversees implementation of the resolution, and the UN Office for Disarmament Affairs.
WMDs are most likely to spread in areas of fighting and terrorist activity, making this a key issue for a number of countries across Africa which are dealing with the challenges of conflict and terror groups operating across national borders.

Resolution 1540 (PDF) obliges governments to implement effective laws, rules and regulations to prevent terrorists and other groups from acquiring WMDs. The seminar will include information on practical steps to achieving this, such as closing loopholes in national laws and regulations, and will examine the strengths and weaknesses of existing laws. It aims to strengthen parliaments’ ability to assess and lower the risks posed by WMDs, and to trigger informal cross-border networks and contacts between the MPs who attend…