UNISDR UN Office for Disaster Risk Reduction [to 1 August 2015]
http://www.unisdr.org/archive

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Selected Press Releases
UN backs disaster resilience plans for hotels in Asia and the Pacific
The head of the UN Office for Disaster Risk Reduction (UNISDR), Margareta Wahlström, today announced a plan to develop and pilot disaster risk management standards for the hotel industry in Asia and the Pacific, home to 80% of the world’s disaster events.
29 Jul 2015

Knowledge for Life’ – UN launches search for communities good at managing the risk of disasters
The UN Office for Disaster Risk Reduction (UNISDR) today launched a search for communities that demonstrate excellence in managing disaster risk in order to draw attention to the importance of local knowledge, traditions and customs in the struggle against extreme weather events, climate change and earthquakes.
28 Jul 2015

UNESCO [to 1 August 2015]
http://en.unesco.org/news

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Selected Press Releases
31.07.15
At Geneva meeting, UNESCO affirms its commitment to Indigenous Peoples Rights
UNESCO is fully committed to engage with indigenous peoples as a genuine wellspring of knowledge and strength, to help meet the challenges of sustainable development in all areas of its mandate. This was the key message of UNESCO’s special event that was organized at the Palais des Nations in Geneva on 22 July 2015, with the participation of Ms. Victoria Tauli-Corpuz, Special Rapporteur on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples, as one of speakers, as well as experts from UNESCO Secretariat.

The objective of this meeting, held on the margins of the 8th session of the Expert Mechanism on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples (EMRIP), was to present an update on the on-going work in the elaboration of UNESCO’s policy on engaging with indigenous peoples and to collect comments and inputs from indigenous peoples’ representatives in the process…

UNODC United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime [to 1 August 2015]
http://www.unodc.org/unodc/en/press/allpress.html?ref=f

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30/07/2015 –
On World Day against Trafficking in Persons, far more still needs to be done to help victims and end impunity for criminals

27/07/2015 –
Statement of the Executive Director of the UN Office on Drugs and Crime, Yury Fedotov, on World Hepatitis Day

FAO Food & Agriculture Organization [to 1 August 2015]
http://www.fao.org/news/archive/news-by-date/2015/en/

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Momentum gathers for international agreement to combat rogue fishing
Some 12 countries have now completed ratification of the Agreement on Port State Measures to Prevent, Deter and Eliminate Illegal, Unreported and Unregulated Fishing. The agreement comes into force when 25 countries have deposited their instrument of ratification, known as acceptance of accession
30-07-2015

IFAD International Fund for Agricultural Development [to 1 August 2015]
http://www.ifad.org/media/press/index.htm

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28 July 15: Niger receives IFAD financing to support family farmers in the regions of Maradi, Tahoua and Zinder

28 July 15: Helping farmers and buyers build mutually beneficial partnerships

ILO International Labour Organization [to 1 August 2015]
http://www.ilo.org/global/lang–en/index.htm

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World Breastfeeding Week
“Breastfeeding and Work – Let’s Make it Work!”
“Ensuring adequate maternity protection and time and space for breastfeeding at work is not only the right thing to do, it also makes economic sense,” says ILO Director-General Guy Ryder.
Statement | 31 July 2015
The theme of this year’s World Breastfeeding Week “Breastfeeding and Work – Let’s Make it Work! ” highlights the importance of supporting working mothers to breastfeed. I am pleased to endorse this workplace initiative and to align the ILO’s support with that of UNICEF and the WHO.

Breastfeeding is a cornerstone of children’s survival, health, growth and development. Ensuring adequate maternity protection and time and space for breastfeeding at work is not only the right thing to do, it also makes economic sense. Women who have adequate maternity benefits value their employers, leading to job satisfaction and loyalty. Likewise, breastfed children fall sick less often, resulting in fewer days that care givers are absent from work.

Workplace action has a key role in increasing breastfeeding rates.
The International Labour Organization has adopted three maternity protection Conventions that stipulate protective measures for pregnant women and for women who have recently given birth. One hundred countries worldwide now provide at least 14 weeks maternity leave in accordance with the ILO Maternity Protection Convention, 2000 (No. 183) . Additionally, provisions are made in at least 121 countries for breaks, mostly paid, or reductions in daily working hours for nursing mothers…

IMO International Maritime Organization [to 1 August 2015]
http://www.imo.org/en/MediaCentre/PressBriefings/Pages/Home.aspx

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Funding agreed for Global Maritime Energy Efficiency Partnerships Project (GloMEEP)
27/07/2015
IMO, the Global Environment Facility (GEF) and the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) have signed an agreement to allocate US$2.0 million to a two-year global maritime energy efficiency partnership project, which aims to support increased uptake and implementation of energy-efficiency measures for shipping.

The so-called GloMEEP project, formally designated “Transforming the Global Maritime Transport Industry towards a Low Carbon Future through Improved Energy Efficiency”, will focus in particular on building capacity to implement technical and operational measures in developing countries, where shipping is increasingly concentrated. The aim is to promote a low-carbon maritime sector, in order to minimize the adverse impacts of shipping emissions on climate change, ocean acidification and local air quality…

WIPO World Intellectual Property Organization [to 1 August 2015]
http://www.wipo.int/pressroom/en/

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WIPO Re:Search Continues Expansion
July 28, 2015
In the first half of 2015, WIPO Re:Search partner BIO Ventures for Global Health (BVGH) brokered 12 new agreements spanning four diseases and involving 17 members from nine countries.

Out of the 89 collaborations established to date, 44 are currently active and four have advanced to the next stage of product development.

Four new “User Members” and one new “Supporter” joined the Consortium in the first six months of the year. Four of these members are located in developing countries, home to most of the people living with neglected tropical diseases, tuberculosis and malaria.

A full round up of activities are found in “Catalyzing Partnerships for Global Health” – the 2015 Partnership Hub Mid-Year Report from BVGH, based in Seattle, Washington, USA…

USAID [to 1 August 2015]
http://www.usaid.gov/news-information/press-releases

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USAID Provides Additional $65 million for Critical Food Assistance to Syrians
July 31, 2015
The United States Agency for International Development announced today a $65 million contribution through the UN World Food Program (WFP) to allow the organization to continue to reach an estimated 4 million Syrians inside the country and approximately 1.6 million refugees in Jordan, Lebanon, Turkey, and Egypt. This contribution will help keep WFP programs operating through November and avert an imminent shutdown.

Large Shipment of Life-Saving Food Assistance Arrives in Yemen
July 31, 2015
USAID food will feed more than one million people
The U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) announced the arrival of enough wheat to feed more than one million people for two months in Yemen this morning. The wheat shipment from USAID totals 35,800 tons and is valued at approximately $21 million. It will support the emergency food assistance efforts of the UN World Food Program (WFP).

President Obama Announces Major Progress Through Feed the Future Initiative
July 28, 2015
President Obama today announced that Feed the Future, his signature global hunger and food security initiative, is delivering on his promise to reduce hunger and malnutrition through agricultural development. New data demonstrate that, thanks in part to Feed the Future and other U.S. Government efforts, stunting rates have declined in Ethiopia, Ghana, and parts of Kenya by between 9 and 33 percent in recent years, while areas in Uganda have seen a 16 percent drop in poverty.

DFID [to 1 August 2015]
https://www.gov.uk/government/latest?departments%5B%5D=department-for-international-development

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UK-IRAQ: CONFLICT, STABILITY AND SECURITY FUND
Updated 30 July 2015 Guidance DFID, FCO, Home Office and MOD

Rapid evidence assessments
Published 28 July 2015 Collection DFID
:: Free trade agreements: rapid evidence assessment
:: Urban finance: rapid evidence assessment
:: Trade facilitation: rapid evidence assessment

ECHO [to 1 August 2015]
http://ec.europa.eu/echo/en/news

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EU increases humanitarian aid for Burundi refugees
30/07/2015
The European Commission is releasing €4.5 million in humanitarian assistance to help the increasing number of refugees from Burundi that have fled to neighbouring countries. More than 175 000 people, the majority of them women and children…

African Union [to 1 August 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]

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Jul.28.2015 – Jul.31.2015 Regional Consultative Meeting for Eastern Africa for the Development and Consolidation of the Common African Position on the World Humanitarian Summit, Istanbul, Turkey 2016

Jul.28.2015  President Obama hails Africa’s development in a historic visit to the African Union Headquarters

Jul.28.2015  U.S. President on historic visit to the African Union

Jul.24.2015 – Sep.15.2015  The African Union is pleased to announce the call for the submission of project proposals under Theme No. 4 of the African Women’s Decade, namely « Education, Science and Technology ».

The African Development Bank Group [to 1 August 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]

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Infrastructure : Africa50, a step change for infrastructure financing and development in Africa
30/07/2015 – Casablanca, Morocco, 29 July 2015 – Africa50, the new and innovative infrastructure investment platform promoted by the African Develop-ment Bank (AfDB) held its Constitutive General Assembly on the 29th of July 2015 in Casablanca, Morocco. Twenty (20) African countries and the AfDB have subscribed for an initial aggregate amount of USD 830 million in share capital.

ASEAN Association of Southeast Asian Nations [to 1 August 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]

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ASEAN Prepares Future Leaders in Disaster Management
KUALA LUMPUR, 31 July 2015 –The ASEAN Coordinating Centre for Humanitarian Assistance on disaster management (the AHA Centre) has officially concluded the second batch of its signature programme – the AHA Centre Executive Programme (ACE Programme) today in Kuala Lumpur. Sixteen disaster management officers from ASEAN Member States’ National Disaster Management Offices (NDMOs) from Cambodia, Indonesia, Lao PDR, Malaysia, Myanmar, Philippines, Thailand and Viet Nam have successfully completed the six-month training with satisfactory performance.

European Union [to 1 August 2015]
http://europa.eu/newsroom/index_en.htm
[We generally limit coverage to regional and global level initiatives]

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EIGE launches Gender Equality Index 2015: Marginal improvements in gender equality
Justice and citizens rights | 01/08/2015 14:50 | European Institute for Gender Equality

Spring 2015 Standard Eurobarometer : Citizens see immigration as top challenge for EU to tackle
31/07/2015 12:00 | European Commission

EU increases humanitarian aid for Burundi refugees
30/07/2015 12:00 | European Commission

Organization of American States (OAS) [to 1 August 2015]
http://www.oas.org/en/media_center/press_releases.asp
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S-031/15
July 30, 2015
Human Trafficking, the Slavery of the 21st Century [op-ed]

E-212
July 29, 2015
OAS Proposes Mechanisms for Dominican Republic-Haiti Dialogue and Support for Displaced Persons

S-030/15
July 29, 2015
REPORT OF THE TECHNICAL FACT-FINDING MISSION ON THE SITUATION IN THE BORDER REGION BETWEEN THE DOMINICAN REPUBLIC AND HAITI

Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) [to 1 August 2015]
http://www.oic-oci.org/oicv2/news/

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Selected Press Releases
OIC Strongly Condemns Arson Attack on Palestinian Child by Extremist Settlers
The General Secretariat of the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) condemned in the strongest terms the horrendous crime by extremist settlers who attacked and burned a house in Nablus, in the West Bank, leading to the burning to death of a Palestinian child, Ali Dawabsheh, and the severe wounding of his family…
31/07/2015

OIC Organizes Roundtable Discussion on the Role of Civil Society in Electoral Processes
In collaboration with the United Nations Electoral Assistance Division (UNEAD), the OIC General Secretariat organized a Roundtable Discussion on the Role of Civil Society and Domestic Observer Groups in Enhancing the Integrity of Electoral Processes during the period of 27-29 July 2015…
29/07/2015

OIC Condemns Terrorist Attack in Bahrain
The Secretary General of the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC), Iyad Ameen Madani, condemned the terrorist attack that occurred in Sitra village, Kingdom of Bahrain, on 28 July 2015, killing policemen and wounding others as they performed their duties of protecting the country and the people….
29/07/2015

Secretary General Strongly Condemns Incursion into Al-Aqsa Mosque and Attack on Worshipers
The Secretary General of the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC), Iyad Ameen Madani, strongly condemned the incursion into and desecration of the blessed Al-Aqsa Mosque by groups of extremist settlers under the protection of the Israeli occupation forces. The settlers blocked access to the mosque and savagely attacked the worshippers in the mosque’s compound, which is an act of provocation and blatant violation of relevant international resolutions and instruments…
26/07/2015

World Trade Organisation [to 1 August 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]

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DG Azevêdo: Expect “intense, relentless” engagement on DDA issues in September
Director-General Roberto Azevêdo told a meeting of all WTO members today (31 July) that there had not been sufficient progress to deliver a work programme on remaining issues of the Doha Development Agenda (DDA) by the 31 July deadline. He said that while this is a “very disappointing result”, it should not become an obstacle to achieving outcomes at the WTO’s Ministerial Conference in Nairobi in December. “This missed deadline does not represent a barrier to delivering in Nairobi – but it should be a wake-up call about our prospects for success,” he said.

World Bank [to 1 August 2015]
http://www.worldbank.org/en/news/all
[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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PRESS RELEASE
Boosting Regional Trade Policies to Bring Food Security to West Africans
WASHINGTON, JULY 28, 2015 ‒ A new World Bank report says that although 60% of West Africans work in agriculture, these countries still depend heavily on food imports which have tripled over the past 10 years. According to the Bank, West African farmers could expand agriculture production to feed the largest and fastest growing population if governments can work more closely with institutions such as the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) to develop regional trade policies and remove cross border restrictions on food trade.

According to the report—Connecting Food Staples and Input Markets in West Africa: A Regional Trade Agenda for ECOWAS Countries—production of food staples in West Africa such as rice could double and maize could nearly triple if governments rethink their policies and support to agriculture and agribusiness by opening up trade within the region.
The report builds on the 2012 World Bank report, “Africa Can Help Feed Africa,” and explores the specific circumstances in West Africa, home to one-third of the continent’s population and many of the most vulnerable countries, and brings new analysis to the food staples trade, the multiple regional policies in place, and the implementation of those policies from the perspective of regional institutions…

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WBG and ILO co-launch a joint plan of action on Universal Social Protection
July 27, 2015
On June 30, 2015, World Bank Group (WBG) President Jim Yong Kim and International Labor Organization’s Director-General Guy Ryder co-launched a joint plan of action on Universal Social Protection to ensure that no one is left behind.

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Getting Quality Textbooks to Every Child in Sub-Saharan Africa is Possible
ABIDJAN, July 27 – Every child in sub-Saharan Africa can have access to affordable and good quality textbooks if policy measures are taken to reduce the cost of textbooks and sustainable financing is ensured…
Date: July 27, 2015 Type: Press Release

Aravind Eye Care System [to 1 August 2015]
http://www.aravind.org/default/currentnewscontent

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Aravind Pays Respect to Dr. APJ Abdul Kalam
[undated]
It was with great shock and grief that staff at Aravind received the news of Dr. APJ Abdul Kalam’s passing away on July 27. Dr. Kalam, a long-time friend of Aravind was familiar to many here that they felt like the loss of their own family member. Staff across the centres assembled to pay homage to this noble soul and great son of India.