African Development Bank Group [to 2 July 2016]

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African Development Bank Group [to 2 July 2016]
http://www.afdb.org/en/news-and-events/press-releases/
[We generally limit coverage to regional or Africa-wide initiatives, recognizing that a number of country-level announcements are added each week]

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Charting Africa’s Progress: African Development Bank launches MapAfrica 2.0
30/06/2016 – The African Development Bank has released a new online tool that enables anyone in the world to see at a glance how the Bank’s projects are boosting Africa’s economies and making Africans’ lives better.

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AfDB to improve performance, development impact under new Development and Business Delivery Model
27/06/2016 – – The African Development Bank is formally launched on a new path to deliver development impact for the people of Africa. On Friday, April 22, 2016, it reached a major milestone, with the approval by the Bank’s Board of Directors of the institution’s new Development and Business Delivery Model (DBDM). On Wednesday June 22, 2016, the Board went a step further by approving the updated Decentralization Action Plan in line with the DBDM.

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Call for Papers – African Economic Conference 2016: “Feeding Africa: Towards Agro-Allied Industrialization for Inclusive Growth”
From: 05/12/2016
To: 07/12/2016
Location: Abuja, Nigeria
Jointly organized by the African Development Bank (AfDB), the United Nations Economic Commission for Africa (ECA) and the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), the African Economic Conference (AEC) 2016 will take place in Abuja, Nigeria, from December 5 to 7, 2016 under the following theme: “Feeding Africa: Towards Agro-Allied Industrialization for Inclusive Growth”.

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African Development Bank accelerates pace with ‘High 5’ priorities
27/06/2016 – The African Development Bank is stepping up the pace by focusing on five priorities that are crucial for accelerating Africa’s economic transformation. The Bank calls them the “High 5s”: Light up and power Africa, Feed Africa, Industrialise Africa, Integrate Africa, and Improve the quality of life for the people of Africa.

Asian Development Bank [to 2 July 2016]

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Asian Development Bank [to 2 July 2016]
http://www.adb.org/news/releases
[We generally limit coverage to regional or Asia-wide initiatives, recognizing that a number of country-level announcements are added each week]

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1 July 2016
Takehiko Nakao Nominated As Voting Opens For Next Term Of ADB President
The voting process opened today for the appointment of the Asian Development Bank’s (ADB) President, for a 5-year term starting on 24 November 2016.

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28 June 2016
ADB $600 Million Loan Program To Help Pakistan Reform Public Enterprises
ADB has approved a $600 million loan program, with a first subprogram of $300 million, to help Pakistan roll out major structural reforms to improve the performance and financial sustainability of its public sector enterprises.

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28 June 2016
ADB $500 Million Loan To Indonesia To Continue Investment Reforms
ADB has approved the release of a $500 million loan to Indonesia following the roll out of agreed policy reforms to reduce barriers to investment and encourage more public-private partnerships (PPPs).

Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank [to 2 July 2016]

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Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank [to 2 July 2016]
http://www.aiib.org/html/NEWS/
[We generally limit coverage to regional or Asia-wide initiatives, recognizing that a number of country-level announcements are added each week]

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AIIB’s Board of Directors establish a Project Preparation Special Fund China provides initial $50 million start-up contribution
06/25/2016
Beijing, June 25, 2016. AIIB President Jin Liqun and Chinese Vice Minister of Finance Shi Yaobin signed a Contribution Agreement today in Beijing on China’s $50 million contribution to the newly established AIIB Project Preparation Special Fund (the Fund). The Bank’s Board of Directors approved the Rules and Regulations for the Fund during its quarterly meeting on June 24, 2016. The Fund will support Bank members in preparing sound project proposals. China’s contribution, the first to the Fund, will allow it to be operational in the fall of 2016.

During the course of the Bank’s establishment, its members expressed a need for concessional resources to strengthen their project preparation capacity. The Fund is expected to provide grants to the Bank’s low and middle income member countries for preparation activities, including environmental, social, legal, procurement and technical assessments and analyses, and advisory services. The Bank will seek additional contributions to ensure the Fund’s sustainability…

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AIIB’s First Annual Meeting of its Board of Governors held in Beijing: Governors note progress during the Bank’s first 6 months of operation 06/25/2016

:: INGO/Consortia/Joint Initiatives Watch

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:: INGO/Consortia/Joint Initiatives Watch
We will monitor media releases and other announcements around key initiatives, new research and major organizational change from a growing number of global NGOs, collaborations, and initiatives across the human rights, humanitarian response and development spheres of action.

This Watch section is intended to be indicative, not exhaustive. We will not include fund raising announcements, programs events or appeals, and generally not include content which is primarily photo-documentation or video in format.

Heifer International [to 2 July 2016]

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Heifer International [to 2 July 2016]
http://www.heifer.org/about-heifer/press/press-releases.html
July 1, 2016

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Heifer International Announces Bitcoin Donation Method
LITTLE ROCK, Ark.
Heifer International announced today that it is accepting bitcoin donations through a partnership with BitPay, the world’s leading bitcoin payment processor. Donors will have the option to select bitcoin, in addition to traditional payment methods, when they give through Heifer.org.

ICRC [to 2 July 2016]

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ICRC [to 2 July 2016]
https://www.icrc.org/en/whats-new
Selected News Releases and Articles

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Lebanon: Collection of biological samples renews hope for families of the missing
Beirut (ICRC) – The International Committee of the Red Cross has begun collecting Biological Reference Samples (BRS) from the families of people who went missing during the Lebanese civil war, in a step to help ease the suffering of relatives left in
01-07-2016 | News release

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Juan Arredondo wins Humanitarian Visa d’Or for photojournalism on children and conflict in Colombia
The jury of the sixth edition of the ICRC’s Humanitarian Visa d’Or has unanimously awarded the photojournalism prize to Juan Arredondo for his work entitled “Born into conflict: child soldiers in Colombia”. Between 2014 and 2016 the Colombian photoj
29-06-2016 | News release

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South Sudan: New fighting forces thousands of civilians to flee
Renewed clashes in and around Wau, in northwestern South Sudan, have forced thousands of civilians to flee their homes. The ICRC is seriously concerned by the immediate humanitarian consequences on the civilian population.
25-06-2016 | News release

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Sudan: ICRC postpones operation to transfer detainees
The ICRC in Khartoum has postponed an operation scheduled for 23 and 24 June, to transfer detainees held by the Sudan People’s Liberation Movement – North (SPLM-N) in Blue Nile and South Kordofan states, to the Sudanese authorities in Khartoum.
25-06-2016 | News release

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Colombia: Cease-fire agreement major step towards peace
The ICRC shares the optimism regarding the partial agreement signed today by the Colombian government and FARC-EP, putting a permanent end to hostilities.
23-06-2016 | Statement

IRC International Rescue Committee [to 2 July 2016]

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IRC International Rescue Committee [to 2 July 2016]
http://www.rescue.org/press-release-index
Selected Press Releases

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Press Release
Niger: Civilians caught in the crossfire and left behind
Victims of Boko Haram’s war urgently need protection and humanitarian assistance
Diffa, June 27, 2016 — Two of the largest attacks in the history of the current conflict in Niger killed unknown numbers of civilians and displaced over 40,000 people on May 19 and June 3, 2016. Three weeks later, families continue to live in the open, under trees, without adequate access to basic life-saving assistance.

The rains have started and children are at particular risk of illness and disease. Save the Children estimates that 60% of the displaced are children. Families are still not safe and those that fled faced a repeat attack on 16 June. 280,000 people are now living in displacement in Niger contributing to the 2.7 million people displaced across the Lake Chad Basin region…

IRCT [to 2 July 2016]

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IRCT [to 2 July 2016]
http://www.irct.org/

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Statements & declarations
Turkey: Sebnem Korur released from prison
01 July 2016

News
IRCT members from seven countries launch national reports on torture and Right to Rehabilitation
29 June 2016

Statements & declarations
NGOs strongly condemn new EU policies to contain migration
28 June 2016

Statements & declarations
IRCT and the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights call on states in the Americas to make rehabilitation a priority
27 June 2016

Islamic Relief [to 2 July 2016]

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Islamic Relief [to 2 July 2016]
http://www.islamic-relief.org/category/news/

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July 1, 2016
Q&A with Naser Haghamed, CEO of Islamic Relief Worldwide
IRW’s new leader speaks about his experience as a child refugee, the challenge of Islamophobia and his vision for the future.
Naser Haghamed joined Islamic Relief as an IT manager in 1993 and went on to help set up IRUSA, to spearhead the development of TIC and to lead the International Programmes Division.
He has lived in six countries and speaks English, Arabic and Tigrinya.
Today, he lives with his wife, Samia, and their five children in Yardley, Birmingham. Here, he speaks about his experience as a child refugee, the challenge of Islamophobia and his vision for the future as CEO of Islamic Relief Worldwide.

MSF/Médecins Sans Frontières [to 2 July 2016]

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MSF/Médecins Sans Frontières [to 2 July 2016]
http://www.doctorswithoutborders.org/news-stories/press/press-releases

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Press release
60,000 Trapped Along Syria/Jordan Border Desperately Need Aid, Protection
June 30, 2016
Amman, Jordan—About 60,000 people trying to flee Syria are trapped without aid in extremely harsh conditions near Jordan’s northeastern border, the international medical humanitarian organization Doctors Without Borders/Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF) said today, calling for an immediate resumption of humanitarian assistance and international efforts to protect and relocate this population.

OXFAM [to 2 July 2016]

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OXFAM [to 2 July 2016]
http://www.oxfam.org/en/pressroom/pressreleases

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27 June 2016
Growing humanitarian crisis in Niger as more civilians displaced by Boko Haram attacks
With at least 40,000 civlians displaced by two major Boko Haram attacks in the last 6 weeks, this situation in the Diffa region of Niger is becoming a growing humanitarian crisis – a total of 280,000 people have been forced to flee their homes since the conflict began two years ago.

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27 June 2016
Just five food commodities produce more greenhouse gases than any country except emissions giants China and the US
Rice, soy beans, corn, wheat and palm oil together lead to more greenhouse gas emissions than any country’s individual footprint, apart from China and the United States, according to new Oxfam research into the food industry and climate change.

SOS-Kinderdorf International [to 2 July 2016]

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SOS-Kinderdorf International [to 2 July 2016]
http://www.sos-childrensvillages.org/about-sos/press/press-releases

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28.06.2016
New report: “In the Blind Spot”
SOS Norway launches report on the situation of children without parental care or at risk of losing it
28.06.2016 – An estimated 151 million children worldwide have lost one or both parents. Millions more are at risk of losing parental care. Nevertheless, these children are often not recognised in international development policies. In a new report, SOS Children’s Villages Norway puts the spotlight on children who cannot be raised by their parents or are at risk of losing parental care…

Tostan [to 2 July 2016]

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Tostan [to 2 July 2016]
http://www.tostan.org/latest-news

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June 28, 2016
Celebrating the Rights and Needs of All Children During the “Week of the African Child”
The crowd bursts into laughter as minors at the Diourbel prison in Senegal present a skit, with interjections from local actor and comedian Sonokho….
This play was part of the celebration for the Day of the African Child on June 16, organized by Tostan’s Prison Project in partnership with the prison administration, UNFPA Senegal, and the Association of Women Doctors of Senegal (AWDS). It contextualized and underscored the importance of current efforts to provide positive support structures that enable detainees to reintegrate and become functional members of society.

This special day marked the start of an entire “Week of the African Child” in many African Union countries. In Senegal, specialists, government officials and local organizations, like Tostan, met across various forums to celebrate and raise awareness for children’s rights and child protection initiatives around the country. Most discussions focused on the importance of quality education and the implementation of national protection strategies as means to protect all children, especially those at high risk…

Women for Women International [to 2 July 2016]

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Women for Women International [to 2 July 2016]
http://www.womenforwomen.org/press-releases

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Press Release
In Iraq, Refugee Crisis Worsens as Displaced Syrian and Yezidi Women’s Needs Are Not Addressed, Says Women for Women International
Organization supports critical psychosocial services and business training to help women recover from trauma and provide for families in camps and host communities.
June 20, 2016, Washington, D.C. – Displaced Syrian and Yezidi women in northern Iraq are facing deepening crises and lack of critical support that threaten their basic security, economic well-being, and survival, says Women for Women International (WfWI) on World Refugee Day.

Working with at-risk women in the region, WfWI urges immediate investment in services that target women and families to help them stabilize and begin to rebuild their lives.

“The situation on the ground is quickly becoming desperate for many Syrian and Yezidi women living in camps and host communities,” says Mandana Hendessi OBE, WfWI Country Director for Iraq. “Many women tell us their families are starving, they have no way to earn money, they are not safe, and they are struggling each day with the debilitating effects of extreme trauma. We are trying to help them address both their immediate and long-term needs.”…

Amnesty International [to 2 July 2016]

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Amnesty International [to 2 July 2016]
https://www.amnesty.org/en/search/?q=&resourceType=pressrelease
Selected Press Releases, Statements

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Press Release
Brazil: Huge spike in number of deaths committed by Police in Rio ahead of the Olympic Games
1 July 2016, 14:59 UTC

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Press Release
Malaysian entrepreneur Tony Fernandes joins Amnesty International’s Global Council
1 July 2016, 00:00 UTC
Malaysian entrepreneur and founder of AirAsia, Tony Fernandes is joining Amnesty International’s prestigious Global Council, the organization announces today.

The Global Council was established in 2013 to help raise public support and the financial resources to fuel the organization’s expansion in Africa, Asia, Latin America and the Middle East…

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Press Release
Mexico: Sexual violence routinely used as torture to secure “confessions” from women
28 June 2016, 05:00 UTC
An unprecedented Amnesty International investigation of 100 women arrested in Mexico reveals that they are routinely sexually abused by the security forces who want to secure confessions and boost figures in an attempt to show that they are tackling rampant organized crime.

All of the 100 women held in federal prisons who reported torture or other ill-treatment to Amnesty International said they had experienced some form of sexual harassment or psychological abuse during their arrest and interrogation by municipal, state or federal police officers or members of the Army and Navy. Seventy-two said they were sexually abused during their arrest or in the hours that followed. Thirty-three reported being raped.

Sixty-six of the women said they had reported the abuse to a judge or other authorities but investigations were opened in only 22 cases. Amnesty International is not aware of any criminal charges arising from these investigations…

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Press Release
Reject dangerous migration response plan, more than 100 NGOs tell EU leaders
27 June 2016, 10:48 UTC
The European Union (EU) is set to open a dark chapter in its history unless it rejects the European Commission’s proposal on migration, a coalition of more than 100 NGOs warned on Monday. Shifting towards a foreign policy that serves the single objective of curbing migration, the EU and its member states risk further undermining their credibility and authority in the defence of human rights, the organizations say. They call on European leaders to reject the Commission proposal that would cement this approach, making deterrence and return of people the main objective of the EU’s relationship with third countries.
[See Week in Review above for more detail]