Islamic Relief [to 27 February 2016]
http://www.islamic-relief.org/category/news/

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February 23, 2016
Why is the World Humanitarian Summit important?
Today, as we reach three months until the world’s first World Humanitarian Summit, Islamic Relief explains why the initiative is so important.

February 23, 2016
A Quick & Easy Guide to the World Humanitarian Summit
The World Humanitarian Summit will be held in 2016, and its focus is on innovative ways to respond to the growing humanitarian needs in the country. We explain what it’s all about and why Islamic Relief has been involved in the process from the beginning.

MSF/Médecins Sans Frontières [to 27 February 2016]
http://www.doctorswithoutborders.org/news-stories/press/press-releases

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Press Releases
Patent Challenge Hearing on Gilead Hepatitis C Drug Sofosbuvir Starts in India
February 26, 2016
New York/New Delhi—In proceedings that could have major implications for millions of people waiting for affordable access to a lifesaving hepatitis C drug, the Indian Patent Office this week began hearings to determine whether US pharmaceutical company Gilead Sciences deserves a patent for sofosbuvir, a hepatitis C drug for which the company currently charges $1,000 per pill in the US.

Press release
Developing Countries Hit with High Price Tag for Critical New TB Drug
February 24, 2016
International medical humanitarian organization Doctors Without Borders/Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF) today expressed great concern at the high price announced for the new tuberculosis (TB) drug delamanid. Japanese pharmaceutical company Otsuka said that it would make delamanid available to some developing countries at a price of $1,700 per treatment course.

Press release
Kenya: MSF Warns of Possible Cholera Spike if Poor Conditions in Wajir are Not Addressed
February 22, 2016
As the rainy season approaches in Wajir, northeastern Kenya, Doctors Without Borders/Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF) warns that the substandard water and sanitation situation is creating ideal conditions for a future increase in cholera cases. While today patient numbers in the cholera treatment center in Wajir Hospital are stable, MSF urges for an immediate improvement in sanitation services to avoid another spike in cases.

Field news
CAR: MSF Distributes Aid Following Fire
February 25, 2016
After a recent large fire destroyed the makeshift shelters and belongings of at least 449 families in the Batangafo displaced persons camp, one of the largest in Central African Republic (CAR), Doctors Without Borders/Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF) teams rapidly organized to distribute emergency kits including cooking and hygiene items for those affected.

Field news
South Sudan: Its Compound Looted, MSF Still Treats Wounded Amid Fighting in Pibor
February 24, 2016
A Doctors Without Borders/Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF) medical compound was looted during fighting that began on the afternoon of Tuesday, February 23, in the town of Pibor, in South Sudan’s Jonglei State. The fighting, which continued into today, wounded at least 35 people and drove approximately 1,000 to seek shelter at the United Nations Mission in South Sudan (UNMISS) base in the area.

Field news
Thousands Stranded by Border Restrictions in Greece and the Balkans
February 23, 2016
Thousands of men, women, and children are stranded between Greece and the Balkans after the sudden imposition of new border restrictions for Afghan refugees on the Western Balkans route this week. Refugees are being provided with no information and little-to-no humanitarian assistance, and are at risk of violence and abuse.

Mercy Corps [to 27 February 2016]
http://www.mercycorps.org/press-room/releases

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FEBRUARY 20, 2016
MERCY CORPS ON SYRIA: HUMANITARIAN AID FOR ALL, NOW
Global Organization Calls for Unfettered, Sustained Humanitarian Access across Syria
STATEMENT FROM NEAL KENY-GUYER, CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER OF MERCY CORPS

OXFAM [to 27 February 2016]
http://www.oxfam.org/en/pressroom/pressreleases

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25 February 2016
Oxfam water filters arrive in Fiji for Cyclone Winston response
Oxfam water filtering equipment that will be vital in preventing the spread of waterborne disease in the weeks following Severe Tropical Cyclone Winston has arrived on the ground in Fiji, as Oxfam steps up its response.

Southern Africa faces “litmus test” to help millions of people now suffering from worsening regional food crisis
24 February 2016
Aid donors and southern African governments must take immediate and substantial action to help poor people cope with a rapidly-deteriorating regional food crisis, fuelled by El Nino-related drought and crop failures.

Oxfam water & hygiene expert reports back from cyclone hit Fiji
24 February 2016
Oxfam water and hygiene expert Carlos Calderon has landed in Fiji, where Oxfam is gearing up its aid efforts following the complete destruction left by Cyclone Winston.

Oil, gas and mining transparency initiative facing crisis of relevance and legitimacy: Oxfam
23 February 2016
Oxfam raised the alarm today that a leading global transparency initiative for the oil, gas and mining sector faces a crisis of relevance and legitimacy. As the Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative (EITI) meets for its Global Conference in Lima, Peru this week, Oxfam calls on the EITI Board and stakeholders to regain its position as a leader in reforming the industry.

Winnie Byanyima appointed to UN High-Level Panel on Women’s Economic Empowerment
23 February 2016
Oxfam International Executive Director Winnie Byanyima says she is “honored” at her appointment by United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-Moon to the first-ever High-Level Panel on Women’s Economic Empowerment.

Water high priority in Cyclone Winston response
23 February 2016
Access to clean water and sanitation will be one of the greatest needs in Fiji’s Tropical Cyclone Winston response, and must be prioritised, Oxfam said today. Clean water for drinking and hand washing is essential for the prevention of waterborne diseases after a disaster.

Fiji Government trying to contact Tropical Cyclone Winston blackspots as death toll rises
22 February 2016
The Fijian Government is still trying to contact areas that haven’t been heard from since being struck by Severe Tropical Cyclone Winston on the weekend. Oxfam in the Pacific Regional Director Raijeli Nicole said communication blackspots were making it very hard to assess damage and determine the scale of the response required.

Norwegian Refugee Council [to 27 February 2016]
http://www.nrc.no/

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Colombia
New tensions affect the peace process
Oda Lykke Mortensen (25.02.2016)
New tensions arise in the three-year-long peace process between the Government of Colombia and the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC). It is believed to be less likely the parts will meet the deadline of 23 March. Our Country Director in Colombia, Christian Visnes, explains the situation.

PATH [to 27 February 2016]
http://www.path.org/news/index.php

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Press release | February 22, 2016
Meningitis A nearly eliminated in Africa through vaccination, reaching more than 235 million people
Officials at Addis conference plan transition from mass campaigns to use in childhood immunization programs to prevent resurgence of deadly epidemics.

Save The Children [to 27 February 2016]
http://www.savethechildren.org/site/c.8rKLIXMGIpI4E/b.9357111/k.C14B/Press_Releases_2016/apps/nl/newsletter2.asp

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Press Releases
Thousands of Children Affected by Cyclone Winston in Fiji Could Face Prolonged Stays in Evacuation Centers, Warns Save the Children
February 22, 2016

Families in Fiji Prepare for Impacts of Category 5 Cyclone Winston, Most Powerful Storm to Hit the Island Nation Since Records Began
February 20, 2016

Growing Fears for Remote Communities in Aftermath of Cyclone Winston as Monster Storm Finally Leaves Fiji
February 20, 2016

Tostan [to 27 February 2016]
http://www.tostan.org/latest-news

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February 22, 2016
Abandonment of Harmful Practices: A Growing Movement
As Tostan approaches the celebration of its 25th Anniversary this week, we want to take a moment to reflect on the incredible changes we’ve witnessed over the past 25 years. This has included major progress in the community-led movement for the abandonment of female genital cutting (FGC) since the village of Malicounda Bambara in Senegal first declared their public abandonment of this harmful traditional practice in 1997.

To date, over 7,500 communities across West Africa—who have directly and indirectly participated in our human rights-based education program, the Community Empowerment Program (CEP)—have participated in public declarations to promote human rights and abandon harmful practices like FGC, child marriage, and gender-based violence…

Gavi [to 27 February 2016]
http://www.gavialliance.org/library/news/press-releases/

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26 February 2016
Positive impact of Advance Market Commitment highlighted in report
Innovative financing mechanism helping pneumococcal vaccines reach poorest children in record time.
Geneva,– Children in the world’s poorest countries are being protected against the leading cause of pneumonia more quickly than ever thanks in part to the influence of the pilot Advance Market Commitment (AMC) for pneumococcal vaccines, an independent evaluation report published today confirms.

The AMC Outcomes and Impact Evaluation examined the role of the AMC in the successful introduction of the pneumococcal vaccine into the routine immunisation programmes of more than 50 developing countries since 2010. Historically it has taken more than a decade for the first children in developing countries to access the same new, effective vaccines as children in richer countries. In this case, newly developed pneumococcal vaccines were provided to developing countries within a year.

The report concludes that “the introduction of pneumococcal conjugate vaccines through the AMC pilot has accelerated immunisation coverage against pneumococcal disease across 53 Gavi counties to date, with 49 million [children] fully immunised [against the disease]”. The report also confirms that manufacturers made decisions to expand capacity to serve Gavi countries’ requirements in response to the AMC and its supply agreements…

Global Fund [to 27 February 2016]
http://www.theglobalfund.org/en/news/

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25 February 2016
Global Fund Supports Health Investments in Mali
BAMAKO, Mali – Mali and the Global Fund strengthened their partnership by signing three new grant agreements totalling €108 million to achieve greater impact against AIDS, tuberculosis and malaria and to build sustainable systems of health.

The financial resources provided through the Global Fund come from many sources and partners, including France, which was represented at a signing ceremony this week…

…The HIV grant of €46 million aims to provide access to anti-retroviral treatment for people living with HIV and by ensuring that at least 65 percent of HIV-positive pregnant women receive treatment to prevent the transmission of the virus to her child.

The malaria grant of €55 million will permit the distribution of mosquito nets in three highly affected regions of the country and the provision of effective treatment for all adults and children diagnosed with malaria.

Mali will use the tuberculosis grant of €7.5 million to increase the treatment success rate for patients with tuberculosis and to ensure that, by 2017, 90 percent tuberculosis patients co-infected with HIV also receive anti-retroviral treatment…

Global Humanitarian Assistance (GHA) [to 27 February 2016]
http://www.globalhumanitarianassistance.org/

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Report Synopsis
Date: 2016/02/24
Displacement due to conflict, Sudan
On 23 February 2016 we responded to a funding alert in response to displacement upsurge as a result of conflict in Sudan.

An estimated 73,000 people are reported to be displaced from Jebel Marra to North and Central Darfur. Because of this escalation in displacement there are increased needs for water, sanitation and hygiene.

According to the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA)’s Financial Tracking Service (FTS), donors have committed/contributed US$37.1 million of humanitarian assistance to Sudan since the start of 2016. In 2015, a total of US$650.1 was committed/contributed.

:: Read our full analysis of the current funding situation. Accompanying data is available in Excel and Open Document.

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GHA AND THE START NETWORK
The GHA Programme is partnering with the START network to help to inform its funding allocation decisions. The START network is a consortium of British-based humanitarian INGOs, which has recently launched its own fund to help fill funding gaps and enable rapid response to under-reported crises where need is great.

When the START members issue a funding alert, we produce (within 12 hours) a rapid overview of the humanitarian funding picture – recent funding, an overview of appeals and funds, and analysis of donor trends. The analysis is targeted not only at the START network but also to a wider set of stakeholders engaged in these crises – including donors, humanitarian organisations, analysts, advocates and citizens

The Sphere Project [to 27 February 2016]
http://www.sphereproject.org/news/

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24 February 2016 | Sphere Project
Sphere e-learning course now available to UN humanitarian staff
The UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) is offering the Sphere Handbook in Action e-learning course to its over 2,000 staff across the world. The course has been incorporated into the new OCHA learning platform, being launched in February.

Professionals in Humanitarian Assistance and Protection (PHAP) [to 27 February 2016]
https://phap.org/

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25 February 2016
Cautious optimism from NGOs in PHAP event on Summit report
On 18 February 2016, PHAP hosted an online event in collaboration with the Norwegian Refugee Council (NRC) on “One Humanity: Shared Responsibility,” the Report of the U.N. Secretary-General for the World Humanitarian Summit (WHS). The event provided a platform for NGO

Center for Global Development [to 27 February 2016]
http://www.cgdev.org/page/press-center
Selected Press Releases, Blog Posts, Publications

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Global Health Donors Viewed as Regulators of Monopolistic Service Providers: Lessons from Regulatory Literature – Working Paper 424
2/26/16
Han Ye
Controlling healthcare costs while promoting maximum health impact in the recipient countries is one the biggest challenges for global health donors. This paper views global health donors as the regulators of monopolistic service providers, and explores potential optimal fund payment systems under asymmetric information. It provides a summary and assessment of optimal price regulation designs for monopolistic service providers.

Designing Contracts for the Global Fund: Lessons from the Theory of Incentives – Working Paper 425
2/26/16
Liam Wren-Lewis
This paper uses contract theory to suggest simple contract designs that could be used by the Global Fund. Using a basic model of procurement, we lay out five alternative options and consider when each is likely to be most appropriate. We ultimately provide a synthesis to guide policy makers as to when and how ‘results-based’ incentive contracts can be used in practice.

Balancing Financial Integrity with Financial Inclusion: The Risk-Based Approach to “Know Your Customer”
2/25/16
Alan Gelb
Recognizing the importance of financial inclusion as a policy objective, regulators have endorsed the use of a risk-based approach (RBA) towards know-your-customer (KYC) requirements aimed at strengthening financial integrity. This paper considers applications of the RBA in domestic banking, mobile money and international financial transactions against the features of a rigorous RBA where both the rigor and level of due diligence and the structure and balance of incentives should be proportional to the balance of risks, including that of exclusion. Recommendations include greater attention to national identification systems and to encourage the use of digital technology to shift from cash-cash wire transfers to more transparent account-account transactions between identified holders.

Urban Institute [to 27 February 2016]
http://www.urban.org/about/media

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Testimony
Understanding the Rates, Causes, and Costs of Churning in the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP)
Gregory B. Mills February 26, 2015
Testimony before the Committee on Agriculture, Subcommittee on Nutrition, United States House of Representatives
In this testimony before the U.S. House of Representatives Committee on Agriculture’s Subcommittee on Nutrition, Greg Mills presents research findings on participant churning in the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) including the rates, causes and costs of participant churn in SNAP, which occurs when households receiving SNAP exit the program and then re-enter within several months. Findings include that churn rates across the six states that were studied range from 17 to 28 percent for FY 2011 and that the causes of churn are due primarily to procedural difficulties experienced by participants rather than fluctuations in the earnings of SNAP recipients.
View the testimony here.

World Economic Forum [to 27 February 2016]
https://agenda.weforum.org/news/

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News 25 Feb 2016
Social Innovation: Proving the Link between Corporate and Societal Value
:: A new World Economic Forum study shows how social innovation is increasingly entering the business mainstream
:: The report profiles best practices from major multinationals and leading regional companies; hotspot reveals social innovation highly active in healthcare, pharmaceuticals, financial services, IT, agriculture, consumer goods and retail, chemicals, energy and telecommunications

Geneva, Switzerland, 25 February 2016 – The World Economic Forum today launched a new report, “Social Innovation: A Guide to Achieving Corporate and Societal Value”, profiling companies helping underserved communities and showing why social innovation is becoming an increasingly relevant strategy for companies to pursue. The report illustrates what social innovation strategies and business models look like, what the range of opportunities are, and the business benefits companies can get from pursuing them. It also covers best practices from companies on how best to implement such models in ways that support business goals.

Social innovation is defined by the Forum’s Global Agenda Council on Social Innovation as “the application of innovative, practical, sustainable, market-based approaches to benefit society in general, and low-income or underserved populations in particular”. The report released in collaboration with Oliver Wyman draws from workshops and interviews with over 30 executives from major multinationals and leading companies and advice from the Forum’s Global Agenda Council on Social Innovation to offer recommendations for companies…

Aga Khan Foundation [to 27 February 2016]
http://www.akdn.org/pr.asp

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Press Releases
UCA Launches its Inaugural Admissions Campaign for the 2016 Academic Year
19 February 2016 – The University of Central Asia (UCA) has launched its undergraduate admissions campaign to encourage qualified students from rural and urban schools across Central Asia to apply.

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Aga Khan says: Africa’s moment has come
Please also see: Keynote Address by His Highness the Aga Khan, Video
Sharm el-Sheikh, Egypt, 21 February 2016 – His Highness the Aga Khan today extolled Africa’s resilience, economic progress and new willingness to accept diversity.

“What I see emerging today is a refreshingly balanced confidence in Africa – a spirit that takes encouragement from past progress, while also seeking new answers to new challenges,” he said.

The Imam (Spiritual Leader) of the Shia Ismaili Muslims made the remarks in a keynote address to the “Africa 2016: Business for Africa, Egypt and the World” conference in Sharm el-Sheikh, Egypt, hosted by Egypt’s president, His Excellency Abdel Fattah el Sisi…

Annie E. Casey Foundation [to 27 February 2016]
http://www.aecf.org/contact/newsroom/

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Posted February 25, 2016
New $5 Million Grant Program Will Connect Youth Facing Obstacles to Higher Education and Employment
In partnership with the Corporation for National and Community Service’s Social Innovation Fund, the Annie E. Casey Foundation announced today that it plans to award $5.4 million in grants over the next three years to help more teens and young adults complete high school and postsecondary education and build paths to careers.

Kellogg Foundation [to 27 February 2016]
http://www.wkkf.org/news-and-media#pp=10&p=1&f1=news
Feb 23, 2016
“Managing Lead in Drinking Water at Schools and Early Childhood Education Facilities” report released
The Kellogg Foundation (WKKF) has released a timely, commissioned report on “Managing Lead in Drinking Water at Schools and Early Childhood Education Facilities.”

As parents and communities throughout the country discover high levels of lead present in their drinking water, this report provides specific criteria and guidelines for schools and early childhood education (ECE) facilities to remediate lead levels.

Lead is recognized as the single most significant environmental health threat to America’s children. Its toxicity in relatively small doses is associated with learning disabilities, poor attention spans and lowered IQ scores. Furthermore, children of color and children living in low-income communities bear a disproportionately high burden of lead exposures and lead toxicity.

Today, of course, the corrosion of lead pipes distributing water to the citizens of Flint contaminated the city’s potable water, resulting in elevated blood lead levels in the city’s nearly 9,000 children under the age of 6.

This guide, prepared by the Horsley Witten Group, is a comprehensive source of best practices for lead sampling and analysis in schools and ECE facilities across the country. It also includes reference guidance from federal, state, local government agencies and other organizations, and case studies with examples from schools and ECE facilities that have experienced lead contamination in drinking water sources.

“The presence of lead in drinking water represents a crisis of environmental justice, falling woefully short in our basic function as a democracy to educate and keep our children safe,” WKKF President and CEO La June Montgomery Tabron said. “Yet, it also presents an opportunity for all of us to proactively engage and be accountable to each other and for each other, especially in our schools and early childhood education facilities.”

MacArthur Foundation [to 27 February 2016]
http://www.macfound.org/

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Publication
The Human Toll of Jails
Published February 23, 2016
The Human Toll of Jail project by the Vera Institute of Justice, supported by MacArthur’s Safety and Justice Challenge, tells the story of real people affected by America’s excessive and inappropropriate use of jails. Through the perspectives of the incarcerated, their families and local justice system workers, the project sheds light on the experiences of the more than 12 million people admitted to U.S. jails annually.