Leveraging blockchain technology to improve financial mechanisms in the humanitarian sector
START Network
July 17, 2015
Posted by Paul Currion in News.

The humanitarian system faces a range of challenges in ensuring that people affected by crisis receive the most appropriate aid in a timely and efficient manner. Systemic problems include waste (through transaction and administration costs), corruption (both active and passive), lack of responsiveness (due to individual or institutional bottlenecks) and lack of transparency and accountability. The humanitarian sector has seen many initiatives over the past years to address these issues, and the international community has reaffirmed the need for action around them. This has led to two contradictory impulses. On the one hand, there are calls for a more centralised system that is able to make rapid disbursements at scale without losing speed and value due to the intervention of middlemen. On the other hand, there is recognition that disaster-affected communities and people need to be included in responses, which calls for shifting control over financial resources to the local level where they can be used most effectively. These two impulses are presented as being mutually exclusive – but this may not be the case.

A different approach
One key factor in this set of problems is reliance on existing financial mechanisms, which have high overheads and are vulnerable to international, regional and national instability or inadequacy. This vulnerability is due to financial mechanisms having a single point of failure, which means that the resilience of the system is threatened by accidental and purposeful interruptions. To mitigate this vulnerability, both donors and actors in the humanitarian sector currently work in a risk adverse manner and create layers of control mechanisms. This risk averseness, which is in essence due to the lack of trust in the current infrastructure, is severely hampering effective and efficient delivery of humanitarian aid. If we want to address this lack of trust, the humanitarian sector needs to look beyond its current narrow focus on the system as we currently use it, and explore solutions that might be found at a more systemic and abstract level. If it is really a structural problem that is underlying the impossibility of solving the issues that face humanitarian aid, then that means we should look for answers that address this structure.

Examples of such a structural rethink can be found in other sectors facing difficulties. Crises create critiques, and the banking crisis of 2008 caused a rethink of the systems that the global financial system is based on. This critique identified as important culprits those centralising institutions operating in a non-transparent manner – and therefore susceptible to corruption and malpractice. In search of a structure that would not allow for a repeat of such a crisis, the critique has advocated for two goals of decentralisation and transparency.

The task may not be to improve the functioning of central institutions, but rather creating more resilient structures that do not rely on these institutions to function. We suggest that only a new and different structure can really deliver the change that is needed to improve the humanitarian sector.

Technology responds
This structure might come with a set of assumptions different to those normally applied. It may be possible to create systems in which: no one can corrupt, control or sabotage the system; that you don’t have to trust other participants but that this trust is embedded in the system itself; that you can have access to all information that you consider relevant while still retaining anonymity at the appropriate level; and that activity in the system can be held to account through radical transparency.

This is a structure that would change the humanitarian sector for the better, and a set of financial tools which might enable it have recently appeared. The financial crisis created a window of opportunity for cryptocurrencies, and their underlying blockchain structures, which were in effect the result of the 2008 financial crisis. A parallel can be drawn here between the financial and humanitarian sectors; in both, centralised institutions not operating in a transparent manner are widely recognised as hindering efficiency and effectiveness.

In addition the structure of blockchains is much more suitable for decentralised networks and organisations. The Start Network is built on the premise that constant adaptation to a rapidly changing world cannot be driven from the centre. The Start Network strategy therefore sets out a shift towards enabling decentralised initiatives with appropriate governance mechanisms, which requires a constantly evolving organisational form.

These two developments have been followed by another financial tool, the smart contract, all of which fall under the new category of Financial Technology (FinTech) The humanitarian community should explore these in order to address some of these structural problems.

Block chain
Block chains are distributed databases that operate as digital ledgers, in which all transactions are verified by peers in the network. It is resilient, secure and transparent, since information is publicly accessible for everyone who has downloaded the software. While they have not yet been tested at scale, block chains are being investigated by banks (a recent Santander report estimated that it could save bank infrastructure costs by as much as $20bn pa) and governments (including the UK government). Such databases could be established for a range of different humanitarian functions related to humanitarian logistics, but block chain technology also supports two specific functions.

Smart Contracts
Smart contracts are computer-based automated contract processes that implement real-world outcomes, such as payments. Such contracts can be established between multiple parties without requiring third-party involvement (such as a bank), and can deliver gains in efficiency – by lowering transaction costs – and in security – by introducing cryptographic principles. We believe that smart contracts may provide a way of decentralising decision-making processes within the humanitarian system, and are currently in discussions to develop smart contracts to manage the Start Fund as a proof of concept. Transparency will be vital to this project, both in the design and the operationalisation.

Cryptocurrencies
Discussions around cryptocurrency have been dominated by Bitcoin, a virtual currency introduced in 2008 that is both decentralised and transparent. However this is only the most well-known example of the new type of cryptocurrency that combines the management benefits of alternative currencies, the flexibility of digital currencies, and the security provided by computer cryptography. We are exploring the idea of an “AidCoin” cryptocurrency that could be implemented as part of cash-based programming in specific situations. This would allow for transferring humanitarian aid streams in a rapid and transparent manner, tailoring the response to the need identified by affected communities or people. This virtual currency would not disrupt local economies, would protect communities against price volatility, and would prevent some types of corruption.

Conclusion
The humanitarian community, while lacking resources for extensive research and development, should partner with specialised organisations to explore the possibilities in this new field of FinTech. This comes with the recognition that the technologies discussed are still in an immature phase, and that further R&D is required. We hope that the High Level Panel will consider this as part of its wider discussions about improving the humanitarian system, and embrace the potential it has for a radically new way of working for and with disaster-affected communities.
Prepared by Paul Currion (humanitarian.info) and Annemarie Poorterman (Start Network) for the Start Network, July 2015

OECD Digital Economy Outlook 2015
Published on July 15, 2015 :: 284 pages
Abstract
The digital economy now permeates countless aspects of the world economy, impacting sectors as varied as banking, retail, energy, transportation, education, publishing, media or health. Information and Communication Technologies are transforming the ways social interactions and personal relationships are conducted, with fixed, mobile and broadcast networks converging, and devices and objects increasingly connected to form the Internet of things.

This report assesses how countries can maximise the potential of the digital economy as a driver for innovation and inclusive growth, and discusses the evolutions in the digital economy that policy makers need to consider as well as the emerging challenges they need to address as a part of national digital strategies. Chapters include an overview of the current status and outlook of the digital economy; the main trends in the ICT sector, and developments in communication and regulation policy; and overviews of ICT demand and adoption, plus the effects of the digital economy on growth and development. This volume also includes a chapter on developments related to trust in the digital economy and on the emerging Internet of things.

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Press Release
Countries should address disruptive effects of the digital economy
15/07/2015 – Countries are making increased efforts to develop their digital economies in a way that will maximise social and economic benefits, but now need to address the risk of disruption in areas like privacy and jobs, according to a new OECD report.

The OECD Digital Economy Outlook 2015 finds that most countries have moved from a narrow focus on communications technology to a broader digital approach that integrates social and economic priorities. Yet no OECD country has a national strategy on online privacy protection or is funding research in this area, which tends to be viewed as a matter for law enforcement authorities to handle.

The report – which covers areas from broadband penetration and industry consolidation to network neutrality and cloud computing in OECD and partner countries like Brazil, Colombia and Egypt – also says more should be done to offer information and communication technology (ICT) skills training to help people transition to new types of digital jobs.

“The digital economy has enormous potential for economic growth and well-being – but only if people trust it enough to fully engage,” said OECD Science, Technology and Innovation Director Andrew Wyckoff. “Things are moving very fast, with the arrival of Big Data analytics and the Internet of Things, and we must make sure we are ready for the impact this will have on digital privacy, security and trust as well as on skills and employment.”

In a 2014 OECD survey, 26 out of 29 countries rated building broadband infrastructure as their top priority and 19 of 28 countries put digital privacy and security second and third. Asked about the future, countries placed skills development as their top objective, followed by public service improvements and digital content creation. (

Other findings in the Digital Economy Outlook:
:: Of 34 countries surveyed, 27 have a national digital strategy. Many were established or updated in 2013 or 2014. Most focus on telecoms infrastructure, broadband capacity and speed. Few cover international issues such as internet governance.
:: Seven of the OECD’s 34 member countries count more than one mobile broadband subscription per person. Around three-quarters of smartphone use in OECD countries occurs on private Wi-Fi access via fixed networks.
:: All OECD countries have at least three mobile operators and most have four. Prices for mobile services fell markedly between 2012 and 2014 with the biggest declines in Italy, New Zealand and Turkey. Prices rose in Austria and Greece, however. (p.118)…
An embeddable version of the Digital Economic Outlook is also available together with information about downloadable and print versions of the report.

IIX’s Women’s Livelihood Bond to Improve Lives of Half a Million Women
[undated]  SINGAPORE—Impact Investment Exchange Asia (IIX) has kicked-off a first-of-its-kind Women’s Livelihood Bond due to be launched in early 2016, as part of its commitment to the Clinton Global Initiative.

The Women’s Livelihood Bond is the first among IIX’s Sustainability Bonds—a series of replicable innovative financial instruments that mobilize private capital for development. Designed to transform the lives of over half-a-million women in Asia, IIX’s Women’s Livelihood Bond is set to raise $20 million in capital for a pool of underlying issuers, consisting of social enterprises and micro-finance institutions, that focus on empowering women.

“Women are critical stakeholders in equitable and sustainable development and yet, current funding channels fall tragically short of supporting women to achieve development goals in a large-scale way,” said Professor Durreen Shahnaz, Founder of IIX and Impact Investment Shujog Limited (Shujog). “IIX’s Women’s Livelihood Bond represents a bold step in changing this; it is designed to empower over half a million women and their families in the most vulnerable communities in Asia, to shift from subsistence living towards sustainable and resilient livelihoods.”

Supported by key partners that include The Rockefeller Foundation, Japan Research Institute Limited, Center for High Impact Philanthropy of the University of Pennsylvania, and Shearman and Sterling LLP, IIX’s Women’s Livelihood Bond is en route to becoming listed on the Impact Exchange, the world’s first Social Stock Exchange started by IIX. Structured to unlock capital from impact investors, the funds raised by the Women’s Livelihood Bond will enable high-impact social enterprises and micro-finance institutions to scale their operations and magnify their impact on women across Asia by providing them with increased access to skills, capital, market linkages and natural resources.

Through IIX, a pipeline of potential borrowers with proven track record of positive impact on women’s lives, clear intention to scale, capital requirements, and viable bond-repayment avenues, are currently being lined. Thus, this bond will pool together a group of issuers and diversify the risk-return structure of the bond, in effect ensuring repayment of the bond and the social impact deliverables. Concurrently, IIX’s sister company Shujog, will also be applying its tailored, bottom-up approach in measuring impact to ensure that demonstrable social outcomes are achieved.

With support from The Rockefeller Foundation, Shujog will develop a Blueprint Paper of the Women’s Livelihood Bond, which will capture the entire mechanism of the bond, from design to issuance on the Impact Exchange.

“We believe that IIX’s Women’s Livelihood Bond is a very promising innovation with the potential of unlocking large amounts of new capital for sustainable development, and The Rockefeller Foundation is proud to support this work as part of its Zero Gap effort,” said Saadia Madsbjerg, managing director at The Rockefeller Foundation. “We are excited to share the blueprint paper and look forward to the possibilities that this could open up for mobilizing capital for social good.”

“Scaling up impact is at the core of our business. By sharing the blueprint openly, we want to enable uptake and replication of the instrument, and to open the floodgates of private capital in accelerating the development agenda,” added Professor Durreen Shahnaz.

About Impact Investment Exchange Asia (IIX)
IIX is a Singapore-based organization with a mission to provide Social Enterprises (SEs) in Asia greater access to investment capital, allowing them to more rapidly expand the impact of their activities. IIXnow offers three investment platforms—Impact Accelerator™, Impact Partners™ and Impact Exchange™. Impact Accelerator™ provides seed-stage SEs with mentorship and private capital through a structured and customized process. Impact Partners™ connects accredited impact investors to selected growth-stage SEs who are looking to raise investment capital. Impact Exchange™, the world’s first social stock exchange operated by the Stock Exchange of Mauritius in collaboration with IIX, is a regulated stock exchange dedicated to listing and trading securities issued by mature SEs and other socially-driven organizations. Lastly, Shujog, IIX’s not-for-profit sister organization, assists social enterprises through its proprietary impact assessment, research, advocacy and advisory work. To date, IIX has facilitated $11 million of investment impacting more than 8 million people across Asia with nearly $19.5 million in social value created. IIX is based in Singapore.

EBOLA/EVD [to 18 July 2015]
Public Health Emergency of International Concern (PHEIC); “Threat to international peace and security” (UN Security Council)

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Ebola Situation Report – 15 July 2015
[Excerpts]
SUMMARY
:: There were 30 confirmed cases of Ebola virus disease (EVD) reported in the week to 12 July: 13 in Guinea, 3 in Liberia, and 14 in Sierra Leone. Although the total number of confirmed cases is the same as the previous week, there has been a shift in the foci of transmission. For the first time in several months, most cases were reported from Conakry and Freetown, the capitals of Guinea and Sierra Leone, respectively. All 9 of the cases reported from Conakry and all 10 of the cases reported from Freetown were either registered contacts of a previous case or have an established epidemiological link to a known chain of transmission. One of the 30 cases reported in the week to 12 July arose from a yet unknown source of infection. However, a substantial proportion of cases (7 of 30: 23%) continue to be identified as EVD-positive only after post-mortem testing. This suggests that although improvements to case investigation are increasing our understanding of chains of transmission, contact tracing, which aims to minimise transmission by identifying symptoms among contacts at the earliest stage of infection, is still a challenge in several areas…

COUNTRIES WITH WIDESPREAD AND INTENSE TRANSMISSION
:: There have been a total of 27,642 reported confirmed, probable, and suspected cases of EVD in Guinea, Liberia and Sierra Leone (figure 1, table 1) up to 12 July, with 11,261 reported deaths (this total includes reported deaths among probable and suspected cases, although outcomes for many cases are unknown). A total of 13 new confirmed cases were reported in Guinea, 3 in Liberia, and 14 in Sierra Leone in the week to 12 July…

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WHO Stories from Countries
Ebola diaries: Lessons from previous Ebola outbreaks help with the response in Guinea
15 July 2015
Getting back to work: Training health staff for life and work after Ebola
14 July 2015

United Nations – Secretary General, Security Council, General Assembly  [to 18 July 2015]
http://www.un.org/en/unpress/

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Selected Press Releases/Meetings Coverage
16 July 2015
SG/SM/16948-DEV/3192
Secretary-General Praises Adoption of Addis Ababa Action Agenda at Development Financing Conference as ‘Major Step Forward’ towards Prosperous World

16 July 2015
DEV/3191
World Conference on Financing for Development Forges ‘New Financial Alliance’ as Global Leaders Conclude Summit with Adoption of Addis Ababa Action Agenda
ADDIS ABABA, 16 July — World leaders agreed that strengthening cooperation in technology, infrastructure and social protections to drive prosperity was key to realizing inclusive, sustainable development, as the Third International Conference on Financing for Development concluded this evening in Addis Ababa with the adoption of an outcome text — described by some as a “new financial alliance”

15 July 2015
DEV/3190
Speakers at Addis Conference Urge ‘Fully Operational’ Development Financing Scheme to Minimize Effects of World’s Crises on Vulnerable States
ADDIS ABABA, 15 July – Ministers of countries that had made strides in the complex task of sustaining social cohesion and growing their economies, nevertheless urged the adoption at the Third International Conference on Financing for Development, in Ethiopia, of an effective framework for assistance that would help build the resilience of all States to the multiple crises the world currently faced.

14 July 2015
DEV/3187
As Developing Countries Strive to Enhance Economic Performance, Developed Partners Should Honour or Surpass Aid Pledges, Addis Conference Hears
ADDIS ABABA, 14 July — Developing countries were committed to resolving their development challenges but required “space and autonomy” to mobilize domestic resources, senior officials attending the Third International Conference on Financing for Development said today, pressing partner countries to honour — or surpass — overdue assistance pledges and revitalize cooperation so they could catalyse genuine change in the post-2015 era

14 July 2015
SG/SM/16943
Secretary-General Congratulates P5+1, Iran for Reaching Historic Agreement

14 July 2015
SG/SM/16944-AIDS/198
Secretary-General, at AIDS-Related Millennium Development Goal Report Launch, Says ‘World Has Delivered’ on Halting, Reversing Epidemic Globally

13 July 2015
SG/SM/16938-DEV/3186
Secretary-General Launches New Financing Model Aimed at Improving Health for Women, Children, Adolescents, Ending Preventable Deaths
Following are UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon’s remarks at the “Every woman, every child” launch of the Global Financing Facility.

UN OHCHR Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights [to 18 July 2015]
http://www.ohchr.org/EN/NewsEvents/Pages/media.aspx?IsMediaPage=true

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UN experts: Corporations must contribute to sustainable development by respecting human rights
7/14/2015
Working Group on the issue of human rights and transnational corporations and other business enterprises
GENEVA (14 July 2015) – The United Nations Working Group on business and human rights today urged Governments across the world to ensure that corporations do not undermine sustainable development, and called for greater transparency and accountability for how businesses address human rights risks and impacts.

“States must set a clear vision for connecting the increasing role of the private sector and businesses in development with accountability and agreed standards for business practices aligned with human rights,” the independent expert group said in a letter* to lead negotiators as they enter the final stages of negotiating the ‘Post-2015 Sustainable Development Agenda.’…

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Human Rights Committee discusses draft General Comment on the right to life
7/14/2015
Human Rights Committee
The Human Rights Committee this morning held a half-day discussion on a draft General Comment on Article 6 of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights on the right to life, hearing statements from 40 non-governmental organizations and individuals.

Topics discussed included death penalty, abortion, assisted suicide, right to life and international humanitarian law, right to life and economic, social and cultural rights, and right to life and lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender persons.

Article 6 states that every human being has the inherent right to life. This right shall be protected by law. No one shall be arbitrarily deprived of his life. In countries which have not abolished the death penalty, sentence of death may be imposed only for the most serious crimes in accordance with the law in force at the time of the commission of the crime. This penalty can only be carried out pursuant to a final judgement rendered by a competent court.

The following non-governmental organizations, individuals and other organizations took the floor during the discussion: Amnesty International, Centre for Global Non-Killing, Penal Reform International, International Commission against the Death Penalty, Quaker United Nations Office, International Commission of Jurists, Redress, Centre for Reproductive Rights, Society for the Protection of Unborn Children, Association of the Catholic Doctors of Bucharest, Mindy Jane Roseman, Centre for Family and Human Rights, Autistic Minority International, Safe Abortion Women’s Right, Priests for Life, Canada Silent No More, Latin American NGOs, Asian-Pacific Resource & Research Centre for Women, Family & Life, WOOMB International, ADF International, European Centre for Law and Justice, Legal representative as guardian of German unborn children regarding abortions, Reproductive Health Matters, National Rights to Life Educational Trust Fund, International Humanist and Ethical Union, Pro Life Campaign, IPAS, TRIAL, Ka Lok Yip, International Fellowship of Reconciliation, Milena Costas Trascasas, ESCR-Net, Minnesota Citizens Concerned for Life, Justice for Girls International and Just Planet, Geneva Academy of International Humanitarian Law and Human Rights, UNAIDS, ILGA and the Coalition for Children and Family in Israel…

UNICEF [to 18 July 2015]
http://www.unicef.org/media/media_78364.html

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Selected press release and news notes
UNICEF’s U-Report social platform hits 1 million active users
NEW YORK, 16 July 2015 – U-Report, UNICEF’s groundbreaking, text-message based innovation that amplifies the voices and views of young people in developing countries, has reached 1 million active users.

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Brazil: Homicides of children and teenagers double in 20 years – UNICEF report
BRASÍLIA, Brazil, 16 July 2015 – The number of children and teenagers murdered in Brazil has more than doubled in 20 years, according to a new UNICEF report marking 25 years since the introduction of the Child and Adolescent Statute.

IOM / International Organization for Migration [to 18 July 2015]
http://www.iom.int/press-room/press-releases

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Selected Press Releases
IOM Advocates for Safe and Voluntary Movement of People in High Risk Areas in Nepal
07/14/15
Nepal – IOM is actively involved in supporting the government’s decision to temporarily relocate people living in areas at risk from landslides.

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IOM, UN-Habitat Cooperate on the New Urban Agenda in Latin America and Caribbean
07/14/15
Buenos Aires – IOM and UN-Habitat have agreed to work together to identify opportunities and create synergies to promote sustainable urban development initiatives aimed at urban populations including migrants, in Latin American and Caribbean.

WHO & Regionals [to 18 July 2015]
The Weekly Epidemiological Record (WER) 17 July 2015, vol. 90, 29 (pp. 365–372) includes:
:: Global Advisory Committee on Vaccine Safety, 10–11 June 2015

WHO’s new guidelines on HIV testing services
17 July 2015 — Globally only 51% of people living with HIV know of their status. The new guidelines provide a recommendation to support HIV testing services by trained lay providers and considers the potential of HIV self-testing to increase access to and coverage of HIV testing. The guidelines also address issues and elements for effective delivery of HIV testing services that are common in a variety of settings, contexts and diverse populations.
Read the new guideline

Deworming campaign improves child health, school attendance in Rwanda
17 July 2015 — Soil-transmitted helminth is one of the most common infections worldwide, with roughly 2 billion people affected, mostly in poor and deprived communities. WHO supported the Ministry of Health in Rwanda to launch a deworming campaign, which has lowered the prominence of Soil-transmitted helminth by nearly 20% in the Musanze region. WHO aims to achieve 75% coverage, of all children, by 2020 against soil-transmitted helminth in the 10 most populous countries…

Global health workforce, finances remain low for mental health
14 July 2015 — Worldwide, nearly 1 in 10 people have a mental health disorder, but only 1% of the global health workforce is working in mental health. This means, for example, that nearly half of the world’s population lives in a country where there is less than one psychiatrist per 100 000 people.
:: WHO Regional Offices
WHO African Region AFRO
:: Delegation from MERCK pays courtesy call to WHO Regional Office for Africa
Brazzaville, 16 July 2015 – A high level delegation from MERCK, a drug pharmaceutical company has paid a courtesy call to the World Health Organization Regional Office in Djoue, Brazzaville where they were received by Dr Matshidiso Moeti, Regional Director for Africa.Dr. Frank Stangenberg-Haverkamp, Chairman of the Board of partners of Merck KG was accompanied by Dr. Karim Bendhaou, President of Merck North West Africa Group, Mr. Frank Gotthardt, Head of public affairs, and the WHO Representative to Congo Dr Fatoumata Diallo. The purpose of the visit was to discuss the ongoing partnership between WHO and Merck, specifically the scaling up of deworming of school age children in the Region, and the control of schistosomiasis in the Republic of Congo…

WHO Region of the Americas PAHO
No new digest content identified.

WHO South-East Asia Region SEARO
:: Timor-Leste launches campaign to protect 500 000 children against Measles, Rubella and Polio
13 July 2015
H.E. Prime Minster of Timor-Leste, Dr Rui Maria de Araújo and H.E. Minister of Health, Dr Maria do Céu Sarmento Pina da Costa launched a National Measles, Rubella and Polio Immunization Campaign on July 13th 2015, supported by Measles and Rubella Initiative, WHO, UNICEF and global immunization partners. This campaign targets 500 000 children throughout the country.

WHO European Region EURO
:: Uzbekistan strengthens the safety and resilience of its hospitals 14-07-2015
:: New report: Investing in public health offers large gains in health, the economy and other sectors 14-07-2015
:: Building capacity for laboratory services 14-07-2015

WHO Eastern Mediterranean Region EMRO
:: WHO delivers urgently needed health supplies to Aden as part of United Nations convoy
13 July 2015, Sana’a, Yemen — WHO has delivered 46.4 tonnes of medicines, medical supplies, and water and sanitation supplies to Aden in Yemen. Access to health care in Aden is extremely limited due to fighting and most of the governorate’s 31 health facilities are non-functional due to critical shortages in medical supplies and fuel needed for generators. To date, WHO has distributed more than 175 tonnes of medicines and medical supplies in Yemen, reaching a total of almost 5 million people.
Read more about the shipment

WHO Western Pacific Region
:: The Western Pacific Region scales up response to antimicrobial resistance
MANILA, 14 July 2015 – The World Health Organization (WHO) in the Western Pacific Region continues to scale-up efforts in the fight against antimicrobial resistance (AMR). Left unaddressed, antimicrobial resistance has the potential to increase the cost of health care, hamper the control of infectious diseases and damage trade and economies…

UNDP United Nations Development Programme [to 18 July 2015]
http://www.undp.org/content/undp/en/home/presscenter.html

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Selected Press Releases
Helen Clark: Statement on the outcome of the Third International Conference on Financing for Development
Jul 16, 2015 Addis Ababa, Ethiopia

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Toward landmark elections in Haiti: International partners reaffirm strong commitment
Jul 16, 2015
Starting 9 August, almost six million Haitians will choose 1,280 local administrations, 140 municipal administrations and 139 Parliamentarians in an electoral process with several rounds that could last until the end of the year.

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New UNDP reports put spotlight on development finance needs and challenges for Small Island Developing States
Jul 15, 2015
Addis Ababa, Ethiopia – Small Island Developing States (SIDS) share a number of common challenges—from exposure to natural hazards and economic shocks, to slow economic growth, limited capacities to raise domestic resources and high debt—and urgently need increases in all forms of financing if they are to meet the post 2015 development goals, according to two new UN Development Programme (UNDP) reports launched today, during the Third International Conference on Financing for Development.

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Powered by environmental finance, Africa’s largest gene bank helps to bolster biodiversity, food security
Jul 15, 2015
Addis Ababa, Ethiopia – On the occasion of the Third International Conference on Financing for Development, United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) Administrator Helen Clark and the Global Environment Facility’s (GEF) Chief Executive Officer Naoko Ishii visited today Africa’s largest gene bank, an initiative that links scientists with small-scale farmers to collectively revive and conserve traditional, indigenous seeds in the face of drought, climate change, and progressive erosion of traditional agricultural varieties that will prove vital for the future of food security in Africa.

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Helen Clark: Speech at High-Level Event on “Building a New Vision to Address Long-term and Recurrent Humanitarian Crisis”
Jul 14, 2015 Addis Ababa, Ethiopia

FAO Food & Agriculture Organization [to 18 July 2015]
http://www.fao.org/news/archive/news-by-date/2015/en/

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European Union and FAO launch new programmes to boost food and nutrition security, sustainable agriculture and resilience
The European Union and FAO have launched a new partnership agreement to boost food and nutrition security, sustainable agriculture and resilience in at least 35 countries
16-07-2015

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Initiative with Ethiopia aims to boost opportunities for rural youth
The improved evidence on rural migration trends and impacts will help policy-makers, improve agricultural and rural development policies in order to increase employment opportunities, and make rural areas more attractive to young people.
16-07-2015

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Investing in a future free from hunger
Highlighting the historic opportunity to become the “Zero Hunger generation”, FAO Director-General José Graziano Da Silva called for additional investment in social protection and rural development at the Third International Conference on Financing for Development in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, today.
15-07-2015

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New partnership between European Investment Bank and FAO to bolster private sector investment in agriculture
Highlighting a renewed global interest in agriculture, the European Investment Bank and FAO signed a five-year Memorandum of Understanding to promote collaboration in expanding and deepening investment in agriculture in countries outside of the European Union.
14-07-2015

UNIDO United Nations Industrial Development Organization [to 18 July 2015]
http://www.unido.org/en/news-centre/news.html

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UNIDO and Volvo Group to collaborate on developing industrial skills of young people in Africa
Wednesday, 15 July 2015
ADDIS ABABA, 15 July 2015 – The United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO) and the Volvo Group will collaborate on expanding the access of youth in developing countries to job-oriented and demand-driven skills…

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Partnerships key for implementation of post-2015 development agenda and financing inclusive and sustainable industrialization, say participants at Addis event
Tuesday, 14 July 2015
ADDIS ABABA, 14 July 2015 – Multi-stakeholder partnerships for mobilizing financing for industrial infrastructure and industrial projects, ranging from small and medium-sized enterprises to international large-scale investments, were the focus of an international event that took place in the Ethiopian capital today…

UNWTO World Tourism Organization [to 18 July 2015]
http://media.unwto.org/news

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UNWTO calls for higher financing for tourism in development cooperation
15 July 2015
Despite its wide-reaching socio-economic impacts, tourism still receives limited attention as a tool for development. On the occasion of the Third International Conference on Financing for Development (Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, 13-16 July), UNWTO calls for higher support for tourism in international financing for development flows to maximize the sector´s contribution to sustainable development across the globe.

ITU International Telecommunications Union [to 18 July 2015]
http://www.itu.int/net/pressoffice/press_releases/index.aspx?lang=en#.VF8FYcl4WF8

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New edition of ITU’s flagship global ICT regulatory report
Trends in Telecommunication Reform 2015 tracks increasingly complex ICT ecosystem of traditional and new-generation players
Geneva, 17 July, 2015 – The latest edition of ITU’s comprehensive report on global ICT regulatory developments, Trends in Telecommunication Reform 2015, reveals a fast-evolving ICT landscape, as devices and services proliferate, broadband connectivity becomes increasingly pervasive, and the hyper-connected world of the ‘Internet of Everything’ starts to become a reality.
The world’s most comprehensive overview of the policy trends and challenges facing today’s ICT regulators, ITU’s Trends in Telecommunication Reform 2015 provides a host of data and analysis to help regulators, ICT analysts and tech journalists navigate the issues surrounding so-called ‘fourth-generation’ ICT regulation…

CBD Convention on Biological Diversity [to 18 July 2015]
http://www.cbd.int/press-releases/

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New report demonstrates that we are jeopardizing the planet’s capacity to sustain a healthy future
Montreal, 16 July 2015 – Though there have been rapid advances in human health, the continuing degradation of our planetary systems does not bode well for its future. Today, The Rockefeller Foundation–Lancet Commission on Planetary Health launched a comprehensive report entitled “Safeguarding human health in the Anthropocene epoch” in New York City. This innovative report demonstrates the extent to which human activity is pushing the safe boundaries of our natural systems beyond thresholds required for humanity to continue to thrive and flourish.

DFID [to 18 July 2015]
https://www.gov.uk/government/latest?departments%5B%5D=department-for-international-development

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Greening: FFD outcome is historic
Published 15 July 2015 News story DFID
Speaking at the UN Financing for Development in Addis Ababa, Secretary of State Justine Greening said:
:: This is a historic international deal that takes us beyond aid. It is the first ever agreement that allows us to harness private sector investment and developing countries’ domestic resources, including tax revenues, to turbo charge development.
:: The significance of today’s unique agreement cannot be underestimated. This deal would have been unthinkable just a few years ago and is a major step towards getting the resource levels we need if we are to fast track economic growth in the developing world and eradicate extreme poverty.
:: On top of this historic agreement, the UK’s launch of the ground-breaking Addis Tax Initiative alongside the Netherlands, Germany, Ethiopia, Kenya and others, combined with key agreements on extra private sector finance, now put us firmly on the path towards ending aid dependency.’

ECHO [to 18 July 2015]
http://ec.europa.eu/echo/en/news

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EU assists Greece in fighting forest fires
17/07/2015
In an immediate response to a request for assistance from Greece, the EU provided firefighting planes to help stop the spread of forest fires in several parts of the country, including in the outskirts of Athens, Greece has activated the EU Civil…

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EU boosts humanitarian aid for Sudan by €4 million
17/07/2015
The European Commission has announced additional humanitarian aid of €4 million for Sudan, bringing the total of the Commission’s assistance to the country in 2015 to €32 million.The new funding follows an increase in refugees from neighbouring…

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EU releases further €64 million for worsening Syrian crisis
16/07/2015
Faced with a worsening humanitarian situation, the EU has increased its humanitarian funding for the Syria crisis by €64 million. The funding comes at a time when there are new displacements inside Syria, and a growing concern over the…

African Union [to 18 July 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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Third International Conference on Financing for Development, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia Jul.13.2015 – Jul.16.2015
Health financing takes centre stage at Financing for Development Meeting
Addis Ababa, 14 July 2015- Leaders meeting in Addis Ababa Monday urged concerted continental and global efforts to accelerate efforts for accelerated domestic financing for health. The meeting also emphasised the continued importance of international support to Africa’s disease responses in the spirit of shared responsibility and global solidarity.
“The transformation of our economies and our countries will never be complete without claiming victory over diseases, particularly, the three big epidemics of our time – HIV, tuberculosis and malaria” said Prime Minister Hailemariam Desalegn, the Prime Minister of the Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia. “Our founders urged us to unite. To defeat these diseases, we must unite not only amongst ourselves but also with our international development partners in order to raise enough resources for the final push against these diseases”…

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Jul.13.2015
Statement by HE Dr Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma, Chairperson of the Africa Union Commission Malaria Financing for a New Era: An Exceptional Case For Investment A High Level Luncheon at the 3rd International Financing for Development Conference

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Jul.13.2015
Leaders call for Increased Investment in Nutrition as key to Africa’s Development
Joint Press Release
High Level Panel on “Harnessing Innovative Financing for Nutrition in Africa”
Third International Conference on Financing for Development
Leaders call for Increased Investment in Nutrition as key to Africa’s Development

Addis Ababa, Ethiopia –13 July 2015: The African Union Commission in collaboration with the UN Economic Commission for Africa (ECA), the UN World Food Programme (WFP) and UN Children’s Fund (UNICEF), held a high level advocacy side event to advocate for increased investment in nutrition in order to “end all forms of malnutrition” as articulated in the post 2015 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

The event was held on the margins of the Third International Conference on Financing for Development, which aimed at securing appropriate global action for implementing the SDGs.

The occasion was also used to launch the African Regional Nutrition Strategy (ARNS) for the the period 2016 – 2025, an AU Roadmap to enhance and promote nutrition in Africa. The ARNS (2016 – 2025) incorporates emerging nutrition concerns and sets clear targets, which includes the attainment of a 40 per cent reduction in stunting and a 5 per cent reduction in wasting among children under five years by 2025.

Delivering the keynote statement, the African Nutrition Champion, His Majesty King Letsie III, observed that Africa is the only region in the world where the number of stunted children has increased over the past 20 years, hence, providing the urgent need for increasing resources to improve nutrition as a vital ingredient to social development…

European Union [to 18 July 2015]
http://europa.eu/newsroom/index_en.htm
[We generally limit coverage to regional and global level initiatives]

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EU boosts humanitarian aid for Sudan by €4 million
17/07/2015 12:00 | European Commission

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EU boosts humanitarian support for Syria crisis by €64 million
16/07/2015 12:00 | European Commission

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Statement by the Spokesperson on the Law on Associations and NGOs in Cambodia
External relations and foreign affairs | 15/07/2015 17:42 | European External Action Service (EEAS)

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Statement by the Spokesperson on recent developments in the human rights situation in China
External relations and foreign affairs | 15/07/2015 16:52 | European External Action Service (EEAS)

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Statement by the spokesperson on the implementation of the law on “undesirable organization in Russia
External relations and foreign affairs | 15/07/2015 | European External Action Service (EEAS)

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EU leads in mobilising resources for sustainable development
External relations and foreign affairs | 13/07/2015 12:00 | European Commission

OECD [to 18 July 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]

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Countries should address disruptive effects of the digital economy
13-July-2015
Countries are making increased efforts to develop their digital economies in a way that will maximise social and economic benefits, but now need to address the risk of disruption in areas like privacy and jobs, according to a new OECD report.

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Tax Inspectors Without Borders: OECD and UNDP to work with developing countries to make tax audits more effective
13-July-2015
The OECD and the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) have launched a new initiative to help developing countries bolster domestic revenues by strengthening their tax audit capacities.