UNICEF [to 31 May 2014]
http://www.unicef.org/media/media_71508.html

Media Releases [selected]
UNICEF, UNFPA stand behind Africa’s biggest anti child marriage push
ADDIS ABABA, Ethiopia, 29 May 2014 – UNICEF and the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) welcomed the first African Union campaign to end child marriage launched in Addis Ababa today.

Preventing newborn deaths must be a global priority: UNICEF
TORONTO, 29 May 2014 – Every minute, 10 babies die or are stillborn across the world, a staggering 5.5 million lives ended every year just as they start. The majority of those deaths are from preventable causes, including prematurity, childbirth complications and newborn infections.

UNICEF and Socialab announce winners of “First 72 Hours” – a global innovation challenge for emergencies
NEW YORK/SANTIAGO, Chile, 27 May 2014 – UNICEF and Socialab, a leading Chilean innovation non-profit, today announced the winners of a four–month-long innovation challenge aimed at creating new solutions for people hit by disasters.

Ending violence against children: Translating data into action
MBABANE, Swaziland, 26 May 2014 – Ways to translate data on violence against boys and girls into concrete measures to stop it will be discussed at a global meeting to be held in the capital of Swaziland, 28-30 May 2014.

UNHCR [to 31 May 2014]
http://www.unhcr.org/cgi-bin/texis/vtx/hom

Refugee cancer patients go untreated for lack of funds, warns the UN Refugee Agency
Press Releases, 26 May 2014
Excerpt
The number of refugees with cancer is overwhelming health systems in Jordan and Syria, the UN Refugee Agency’s top medical expert has warned, forcing UNHCR offices and partners to make agonising decisions over who does and doesn’t receive care.
In a new study published today (Sunday 25 May) in The Lancet Oncology, Dr Paul Spiegel documented hundreds of refugees in Jordan and Syria denied cancer treatment due to limited funds, and called for urgent new steps to tackle cancer in humanitarian crises.
“We can treat everyone with measles, but we can’t treat everyone with cancer,” says Dr Spiegel. “We have to turn away cancer patients with poor prognoses because caring for them is too expensive. After losing everything at home, cancer patients face even greater suffering abroad – often at a huge emotional and financial cost to their families.”
The Lancet Oncology study – which looked at refugees in Jordan and Syria from 2009-2012 – says the number of documented refugee cancer cases in the region have risen because there are more refugees overall, and because more people are fleeing middle income countries like Syria. Cancer is also a growing issue amongst refugees from low-income countries, where the focus had traditionally been on infectious diseases and malnutrition…

UNOCHA [to 31 May 2014]
http://www.unocha.org/

Press Releases
30 May 2014
Philippines: Philippines: Region VI (Western Visayas): Food security and Agriculture and Early Recovery & Livelihoods clusters ongoing response activities cluster in Iloilo province as of 23 May 2014
Source: UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs Country: Philippines

30 May 2014
Philippines: Philippines: Region VI (Western Visayas): Ongoing Response Activities of Shelter Cluster in Iloilo province, as of 23 May 2014
Source: UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs Country: Philippines

30 May 2014
Philippines: Philippines: Region VI (Western Visayas): Summary of completed Response activities in Iloilo Province as of 23 May 2014
Source: UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs Country: Philippines

29 May 2014
Syrian Arab Republic: Note to Correspondents: ASG Kang briefed Security Council on Syria
Source: UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs Country: Syrian Arab Republic Assistant Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs and Deputy Emergency Relief Coordinator, Kyung-wha Kang, briefed members of the Security Council today on the situation in Syria. ASG Kang noted with deep regret that, three months since Security Council resolution 2139 was passed, it has not delivered what it intended. She said that violence continues relentlessly, killing and maiming women,…

29 May 2014
Serbia: Serbia: Floods – Situation (as of 28 May 2014)
Source: UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs, MapAction Country: Serbia Situation in most affected areas as of 28 May: Stagnation is expected on the Rivers Danube and Sava . Several cities and municipalities continue to be severely affected. Critical infrastructure compromised, including industrial sites near river and excavation mines. Numerous landslides, causing damage to buildings, roads and critical infra structure. Many road closures. Threat of further landslides….

28 May 2014
Solomon Islands: United Nations releases $1.8 million to support life-saving activities in flood-affected Solomon Islands
Source: UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs Country: Solomon Islands (Suva, 29 May 2014): The United Nations Central Emergency Response Fund (CERF) has released US$1.8 million (SBD 13.1 million) to provide critical humanitarian support to flood-affected people in the Solomon Islands. The UN Children’s Fund (UNICEF), UN Population Fund (UNFPA) and the World Health Organization (WHO) will use the funds to deliver life-saving activities, including health, nutrition,…

Under-Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs and Emergency Relief Coordinator Valerie Amos Statement on Syria – 25 May 2014

Darfur: New Humanitarian Needs and Aid Delivery Fact Sheet, 25 May 2014

Latest Map
Sudan: Sudan: Displacement in Darfur since late February 2014 (26 May 2014)

WHO & Regionals [to 31 May 2014]
http://www.who.int/en/

WHO/Europe responds to Balkan floods
27-05-2014
Since 13 May 2014, communities in Bosnia and Herzegovina, Croatia and Serbia have been severely affected by floods.
Due to the scale, urgency, complexity and context of the flooding, WHO has categorized the event as a Grade 2 emergency according to the Emergency Response Framework.
A lack of safe drinking water and the displacement of communities increasing the risk of communicable disease outbreaks, and greater numbers of mosquitoes due to standing water and rising temperatures, are particular health concerns.
In response, WHO/Europe’s support to the countries and communities affected includes:
:: the provision of emergency health kits with medicines and supplies to cover the health needs of 90 000 people for 1 month, as well as water purification equipment and water tanks, shipped from United Nations response depots with financial support from Italy, Norway and the Russian Federation;
:: public health advice for the general public on the health effects of the floods and appropriate preventive measures, developed jointly by the ministries of health in Bosnia and Herzegovina, Croatia and Serbia and WHO, and provided to affected communities through leaflets distributed in local languages;
:: continuing in-depth health needs assessments, despite limited access to some of the affected areas due to damaged bridges and roads; and
:: support for post-disaster needs assessments, to be conducted in Bosnia and Herzegovina and Serbia, with expertise mobilized from WHO/Europe and WHO headquarters to address the health sector needs.

UNDP United Nations Development Programme [to 31 May 2014]
http://www.undp.org/content/undp/en/home/presscenter.html

29 May 2014
Helen Clark reiterates support for Chernobyl assistance strategy
UNDP Administrator Helen Clark commended Belarus for the progress made on the recovery from the Chernobyl nuclear disaster during her four–day trip to Belarus which includes a visit today to Homiel, a region of Belarus most affected by the nuclear disaster.

29 May 2014
Strengthening rule of law key to ending crises in CAR and South Sudan
The head of the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) has called on international donors to bolster justice, security and rule of law for countries in conflict, singling out both South Sudan and the Central African Republic (CAR) for immediate attention.

27 May 2014
Helen Clark: Speech at the Annual UNDP Meeting on Strengthening the Rule of Law
United Nations, New York

UN Women [to 31 May 2014]
http://www.unwomen.org/

In Rwanda, Executive Director gains insight into greenhouse agriculture Kinazi, Rwanda
Posted on May 30, 2014
UN Women partners with Terimbere Mutegarugori, a cooperative bringing together 93 women from various backgrounds to enable them to financially support themselves and their families. This group is just one of 11 cooperatives that are supported through the Imali Project, meaning “wealth.” Currently, the groups are being given seed money and training in income-generating activities, particularly the increase of tomato and mushroom production.

Remarks by John Hendra at a side event on “Gender equality, women’s empowerment and the realization of youth rights: opportunities for the new urban agenda”
Posted on May 30, 2014
Remarks by John Hendra, UN Women Deputy Executive Director Policy and Programme, at a side event on “Gender equality, women’s empowerment and the realization of youth rights: opportunities for the new urban agenda”, organized by the ECOSOC Integration Segment: Sustainable Urbanisation, New York, 28 May 2014.

Speech by Lakshmi Puri at an International Meeting ahead of the G77 Summit
Posted on May 29, 2014
Keynote address by UN Women Deputy Executive Director Lakshmi Puri at the International Meeting ahead of the G77 Summit: “Women’s Proposals for a New World Order”, in Santa Cruz, Bolivia, 29 May 2014.

Statement by UN Women Executive Director Phumzile Mlambo-Ngcuka on the “Honour Killing” of Farzana Parveen in Lahore, Pakistan
Posted on May 29, 2014
In a statement on the “Honour Killing” of Farzana Parveen in Lahore, Pakistan, UN Women Executive Director Phumzile Mlambo-Ngcuka calls for justice for this crime that is “utterly without honour”.

Joint Press Statement on peace and stability in the Central African Republic
Posted on May 27, 2014
UN Women Executive Director Phumzile Mlambo-Ngcuka, AU Special Envoy for Women, Peace and Security, Bineta Diop and the ECCAS Special Representative in the Central African Republic (CAR), emphasize that women’s rights, participation and leadership are vital to peace and stability in the CAR.

UNFPA United Nations Population Fund [to 31 May 2014]
http://www.unfpa.org/public/

UNFPA News
30 May 2014 – Dispatch
Somali midwifery school helps tackle harsh conditions for women
MOGADISHU, Somalia — Somalia is one of the worst places in the world to be a woman, especially a pregnant woman. According to recent statistics, one in 18 Somali women die from complications of pregnancy or childbirth – one of the highest lifetime risks of maternal death in the world. But the new Mogadishu Midwifery School, in the Xamar Jajab District of Mogadishu, aims turn this situation around.

28 May 2014 – Dispatch
Myanmar’s “red angel” midwives bring care to displaced women in Rakhine
YANGON, Myanmar – Twenty-three-year-old Ma Thae Ei Phyu is one of five “red angel” midwives to participate in a recent UNFPA-supported intensive training programme at a maternity ward on the outskirts of the Myanmar capital, Yangon. The programme prepared the red angels – named for their red ‘longyi’ garments – to carry out life-saving work in camps for internally displaced people (IDPs) in the Sittwe and Myebon townships of Rakhine State.

27 May 2014 – Dispatch
In Nigeria, fight against fistula points to problem of early marriage
ABUJA, Nigeria – Since her marriage at age 14, Zuera Mustapha, now 21, has experienced two stillbirths and a recurrent obstetric fistula. Yet even with these hardships, she has been luckier than some; her mother and sister both died of complications in childbirth. In northern Nigeria, where she lives, fistula and maternal death are alarmingly common – a fact UNFPA is working to change.

UNESCO [to 31 May 2014]
http://en.unesco.org/
1 Jun 2014
:: “Cities are motors of dynamism, growth, innovation and living together”
:: “Synergies for sustainability,” Director-General in Singapore
30 May 2014
:: UNESCO fine-tunes its programme of action for Africa
28 May 2014
:: UNESCO Director-General, Irina Bokova, salutes the memory of Maya Angelou, “a immense poet of equality.”
:: UNESCO to create an Observatory for the Safeguarding of Syria’s Cultural Heritage
:: UNESCO Director-General calls for the protection of all religious heritage in Syria, after the destruction of historical synagogue in Damascus
:: Irina Bokova highlights the importance of strengthening coordination of UNESCO’s work in Latin America and the Caribbean
27 May 2014
:: Africa’s minds: Equipping girls with science to drive change
:: New biosphere reserves to be designated at MAB meeting in Sweden
:: Uniting for quality education
:: The UN Development Group launches consultations on culture and development for post-2015 implementation
:: Francisco d’Almeida: “Culture is a resource for development in Africa”
:: Irina Bokova: “Respect for cultural diversity is the only way to be universal”

FAO (Food & Agriculture Organization) [to 31 May 2014]
http://www.fao.org/home/en/

FAO and Chinese partners working to unlock carbon finance for herders and grazers
A new FAO methodology can help channel international climate change funding to grasslands restoration, trapping atmospheric carbon and improving livelihoods
30-05-2014

EXPO Milan 2015 and November nutrition conference to galvanize action on food security
FAO Director-General says upcoming hunger and nutrition events in Italy of “paramount importance” in tackling urgent challenges.
29-05-2014

UNCTAD [to 31 May 2014]
http://unctad.org/en/Pages/Home.aspx

The world needs a ‘transformative agenda’ to promote prosperity for all, UNCTAD secretary-general tells Astana forum
UNCTAD/PRESS/IN/2014/004
Geneva, Switzerland, (27 May 2014)
Excerpt
The need for a transformative global agenda to ensure a prosperous and stable future for humanity was underscored by UNCTAD Secretary-General Mukhisa Kituyi at an international forum on global economics held in Astana, Kazakhstan on 22 May 2014.
Moderating a panel discussion at the Seventh Astana Economic Forum, Dr. Kituyi brought together eminent discussants, including former Prime Minister of Italy and tenth President of the European Commission Romano Prodi and Nobel Prize-winning economist Christopher Pissarides, to reflect on UNCTAD’s fiftieth anniversary and its continuing goal to realize prosperity for all.
“When we look at the development framework for after 2015 … we are talking about an agenda that is transformative. By this we mean an agenda that addresses the need for development that is economically, socially and environmentally sustainable,” Dr. Kituyi said in opening remarks at the panel, which was held under the title “Transformation for Prosperity? Fifty Years of Continuity and Change”.
“This agenda needs to create conditions that will allow more countries to achieve the kind of ‘virtuous circles’ of productive investment, rising incomes, poverty reduction and expanding markets that bring about lasting economic and social transformation,” Dr. Kituyi said…

CBD (Convention of Biological Diversity) [to 31 May 2014]
http://www.cbd.int/

Guiana Shield Action Plan to Facilitate Biodiversity Corridors, Achieve Aichi Targets
To avoid landscape fragmentation and loss of species and habitats for biodiversity, participants to a three-day workshop in Kurupukari, Guyana, have agreed on a Regional Action Plan related to biological corridors, connectivity conservation and trans-boundary conservation within the Guiana Shield Ecoregion.

USAID [to 31 May 2014]
http://www.usaid.gov/

Press Releases
USAID Administrator Shah Travels to Toronto for Maternal, Newborn and Child Health Summit
May 28, 2014
ON FRIDAY, May 30, U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) Administrator Rajiv Shah will travel to Toronto, Canada, to participate in a global summit on maternal, newborn, and child health, hosted by Canadian Prime Minister Stephen Harper. The summit will bring together global leaders to discuss how to reduce preventable deaths associated with pregnancy, child birth, and the first 5 years of life in the developing world. Shah will discuss USAID’s high-impact, evidence-based interventions that help save the lives of 6 million children under the age of 5 each year.

U.S. Government, Althelia Climate Fund Mobilize $133.8 Million for Forest Conservation and Alternative Livelihoods
May 28, 2014
The U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) announced today its support for the Althelia Climate Fund to lend up to $133.8 million in commercial financing for forest conservation and sustainable land use, helping to remove 100 million tons of carbon—the equivalent of 18.5 million cars—from our atmosphere.

DFID [to 31 May 2014]
https://www.gov.uk/government/organisations/department-for-international-development

Press release
29 May 2014
UK demands tougher action in UNSC on Syria
UK stepping up efforts to ensure Syrian people receive aid they desperately need.

ECHO [to 31 May 2014]
http://ec.europa.eu/echo/index_en.htm

EU deploys expert team to Georgia following landslide
26/05/2014 – Following a request for assistance from the Government of Georgia, the European Commission has activated the EU Civil Protection Mechanism to respond to the landslide which occurred on 17 May.

OECD [to 31 May 2014]
http://www.oecd.org/

27 May 2014
More efforts needed to tackle rising obesity, says OECD
Most people in OECD countries are overweight or obese. The social and economic consequences of this epidemic are dramatic, exposing an increasing number of people to chronic diseases such as diabetes, heart disease and cancer.

World Trade Organisation [to 31 May 2014]
http://www.wto.org/english/news_e/news13_e/news13_e.htm

28 May 2014
Seven universities added to WTO Chairs Programme
The WTO has announced the addition of seven academic institutions —in Benin, Brazil, Indonesia, Oman, South Africa, Tunisia and Turkey — to its roster of schools participating in the WTO Chairs Programme.

27 May 2014
Yemen to become 160th WTO member
Yemen deposited its “Instrument of Acceptance” on 27 May 2014 with Director-General Roberto Azevêdo, confirming its membership terms. According to WTO rules, Yemen will become a full-fledged member on 26 June 2014.

IMF [to 31 May 2014]
http://www.imf.org/external/index.htm

Maputo Joint Declaration Africa Rising: A Shared Vision For Sustained Growth And Prosperity
Press Release No. 14/251
May 30, 2014
Excerpt
Meeting in Maputo on May 29-30, 2014, Finance Ministers and Governors from sub-Saharan Africa and the IMF took stock of sub-Saharan Africa’s impressive achievements over the past two decades, its increased resilience to shocks and economic policy challenges for sustaining growth and development. An increasing number of countries in sub-Saharan Africa have registered strong economic performance, reflecting skillful macroeconomic policymaking, stronger institutions, increased aid, and higher investment in both human and physical capital. But in many countries, the benefits of this growth are not well-shared, there remain wide infrastructure gaps, and job creation falls short of expectations. The drive towards structural transformation and diversification, combined with a young, dynamic population, offers an opportunity to accelerate progress with poverty reduction, inclusive growth and job creation.
African Ministers and Governors and the IMF Managing Director agreed to further strengthen the partnership between the Fund and its African membership and respond to the evolving needs of the sub-continent. Policy dialogue and capacity building will reflect the ambitious agenda aimed at: upholding macroeconomic stability with policy actions designed to foster structural transformation and sustain strong and inclusive growth; overcoming fragility; ensuring adequate financing for Africa’s development; and building institutional capacity, including in human resources. The engagement will take into account the different needs of the African membership, ranging from countries facing challenges of fragility and conflict, to middle-income and emerging market economies…

Keynote Address: Africa Rising—Building to the Future
by Christine Lagarde, Managing Director, International Monetary Fund
Maputo, May 29, 2014

BMC Public Health
(Accessed 31 May 2014)
http://www.biomedcentral.com/bmcpublichealth/content

Research article
Correlates of stunting among children in Ghana
Eugene Kofuor Darteh, Evelyn Acquah and Akwasi Kumi-Kyereme
Author Affiliations
BMC Public Health 2014, 14:504 doi:10.1186/1471-2458-14-504
Published: 26 May 2014
Abstract (provisional)
Background
Stunting, is a linear growth retardation, which results from inadequate intake of food over a long period of time that may be worsened by chronic illness. Over a long period of time, inadequate nutrition or its effects could result in stunting. This paper examines the correlates of stunting among children in Ghana using data from the 2008 Ghana Demographic and Health Survey (GDHS).
Methods
The paper uses data from the children recode file of the 2008 Demographic and Health Survey (DHS), a nationally representative cross sectional survey conducted in Ghana. A total of 2379 children under five years who had valid anthropometric data were used for the study. Data on the stunting of children were collected by measuring the height of all children under six years of age. Measuring board produced by Shorr Productions was used to obtain the height of the children. Children under 2 years of age were measured lying down on the board while those above 2 years were measured standing. In the DHS data, a z-score is given for the child’s height relative to the age. Both bi-variate and multi-variate statistics are used to examine the correlates of stunting.
Results
Stunting was common among males than females. Age of child was a significant determinant of stunting with the highest odd of stunting been among children aged 36-47 months. Region was significantly related to stunting. Children from the Eastern Region were more likely to be stunted than children from the Western Region which is the reference group (OR = 1.7 at p < 0.05). Number of children in household was significantly related to stunting. Children in households with 5-8 children were 1.3 times more likely to be stunted compared to those with 1-4 children (p < .05). Mothers age was a significant predictor of stunting with children whose mothers were aged 35-44 years being more likely to be stunted.
Conclusion
Culturally appropriate interventions and policies should be put in place to minimise the effects of the distal, proximal and intermediate factors on stunting among under 5 children in Ghana.

Development in Practice
Volume 24, Issue 2, 2014
http://www.tandfonline.com/toc/cdip20/current
“Perennial issues Around agriculture, rural development and related water management…”

Cultivating “success” and “failure” in policy: participatory irrigation management in Nepal
Manpriet Singh*, Janwillem Liebrand & Deepa Joshi
DOI: 10.1080/09614524.2014.885494
Abstract
Introduced over a decade ago and considered largely successful by irrigation professionals, Irrigation Management Transfer and Participatory Irrigation Management (IMT/PIM) policies were recently reviewed and seen to have resulted in more cases of “failure” than “success”. Primary research on two IMT/PIM projects in Nepal, which were among the few “successes” in the assessment supporting a “failed” PIM, shows how such policy-driven evaluations, when defining success, overlook incongruities between policies, institutions, and the evolving dynamics around class, caste, ethnicity, and gender. Without exploring the dynamics of practice, the process of “cultivating” success and/or failure in evaluations provides little insight on how irrigation management works on the ground.

Social compacts for long-term inclusive economic growth in developing countries
John M. Luiz*
DOI: 10.1080/09614524.2014.885496
pages 234-244
Abstract
The notion of a social compact between government, business, and civil society as a basis for long-term economic development and growth underpins economic models in many industrialised countries. The search for a new social order is pressing in developing countries where high levels of economic growth exposes the growing gaps between those who participate economically and those who are left behind. This creates new interest groups and alliances and sees old social orders collapse. Finding ways to bring about more inclusive development in developing countries through a social compact is the focus of this paper.

Globalization and Health
[Accessed 31 May 2014]
http://www.globalizationandhealth.com/

Research
Scaling up antiretroviral treatment and improving patient retention in care: lessons from Ethiopia, 2005-2013
Yibeltal Assefa, Achamyeleh Alebachew, Meskele Lera, Lut Lynen, Edwin Wouters and Wim Van Damme
Abstract (provisional)
Background
Antiretroviral treatment (ART) was provided to more than nine million people by the end of 2012. Although ART programs in resource-limited settings have expanded treatment, inadequate retention in care has been a challenge. Ethiopia has been scaling up ART and improving retention (defined as continuous engagement of patients in care) in care. We aimed to analyze the ART program in Ethiopia.
Methods
A mix of quantitative and qualitative methods was used. Routine ART program data was used to study ART scale up and patient retention in care. In-depth interviews and focus group discussions were conducted with program managers.
Results
The number of people receiving ART in Ethiopia increased from less than 9,000 in 2005 to more than 439, 000 in 2013. Initially, the public health approach, health system strengthening, community mobilization and provision of care and support services allowed scaling up of ART services. While ART was being scaled up, retention was recognized to be insufficient. To improve retention, a second wave of interventions, related to programmatic, structural, socio-cultural, and patient information systems, have been implemented. Retention rate increased from 77% in 2004/5 to 92% in 2012/13.
Conclusion
Ethiopia has been able to scale up ART and improve retention in care in spite of its limited resources. This has been possible due to interventions by the ART program, supported by health systems strengthening, community-based organizations and the communities themselves. ART programs in resource-limited settings need to put in place similar measures to scale up ART and retain patients in care.