ECPAT [to 19 December 2015]
http://www.ecpat.net/news

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NEW RESEARCH: Piracy Website Advertising in Brazil and its Linkages to Child Exploitation Material
Posted on 12/18/2015, 11:44
A study released today shows that piracy websites visited by Brazilian children and young people are filled with “high risk” advertisements marketing child pornography, prostitution, gambling and data theft.

The study was carried out for ECPAT International by Dr. Paul Watters, Professor of Information Technology at the University of Massey in New Zealand, an author of several studies on this topic in different parts of the world.

English: http://ecpat.net/sites/default/files/Piracy%20Website%20Advertising%20in%20Brazil_ENG.pdf
Portuguese: http://ecpat.net/sites/default/files/Piracy%20Website%20Advertising%20in%20Brazil_PORTUGUESE.pdf

HelpAge International [to 19 December 2015]
http://www.helpage.org/newsroom/press-room/press-releases/

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New Tanzanian ministry for older people is a positive step, says HelpAge International
Older people in Tanzania are to have a specific ministry devoted to their welfare for the first time in the country’s history.
Posted: 16 December 2015

IRC International Rescue Committee [to 19 December 2015]
http://www.rescue.org/press-release-index

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The difficult questions Syrian children ask their parents about the escape to Europe — latest Medium post
Posted by The IRC on December 17, 2015
Forcibly uprooted from their homes, millions of Syrian children are growing up knowing nothing but war and terror. The IRC spoke with six families on the Greek island of Lesbos about the difficult questions their children ask about their escape to Europe.

A warm, safe welcome for refugees landing on Lesbos
Posted by The IRC on December 17, 2015
The IRC is preparing to open a reception center in northern Lesbos, often the first stop for thousands of exhausted refugees seeking safety in Europe

ICRC [to 19 December 2015]
https://www.icrc.org/en/whats-new
New member of ICRC appointed
News release
17 December 2015
Geneva (ICRC) – The Assembly of the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC), has appointed Laura Sadis as its newest member.
Ms Sadis, from Lugano in Switzerland, is a chartered tax adviser and holds a degree in political economy from the University of Zurich…

Strengthening the coordination of emergency humanitarian assistance of the United Nations, 2015
United Nations, General Assembly, 70th session, Plenary, statement by the ICRC, New York, 10 December 2015. First, in an exceptional joint press conference held on 30 October, United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki Moon and ICRC President Peter Mauer…
17-12-2015 | Statement

Syria: 60,000 people given aid in Homs after ceasefire agreement
The ICRC and the Syrian Arab Red Crescent (SARC) have started to deliver food and other aid to thousands of people in the Al-Waer district of Homs after a ceasefire agreement was reached between the Government of Syria and armed opposition groups.
16-12-2015 | News release

Lebanon: ICRC and UNRWA join forces again to help Palestine refugees
Beirut – Particularly vulnerable Palestine refugees from Syria in Lebanon will receive assistance to cope with the coming winter through a programme launched by the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) and the United Nations Relief and Wor
16-12-2015 | News release

Report: Sexual violence in armed conflict: Underlying causes and prevention strategies
Building on the previous panel discussion “Responding to sexual violence in conflict: can we do better?”, the ICRC and the Geneva Centre for Education and Research in Humanitarian Action (CERAH) convened a follow-up livestreamed conference on 12 November…
16-12-2015 | Report

Nagorny Karabakh: ICRC submits updated list of missing persons
More than 20 years after the ceasefire agreement, families still do not know what happened to relatives who went missing during the Nagorny Karabakh conflict.
15-12-2015 | News release

Islamic Relief [to 19 December 2015]
http://www.islamic-relief.org/category/news/

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Migrant: what’s in a name
December 18, 2015
There are many reasons for someone to leave their home.
It could be because of conflict, crippling economic poverty, wellbeing; perhaps the ground has become too dry to farm and they have nothing to eat, maybe a natural disaster has destroyed their home, possibly they are want a better life for their children.

A migrant is simply a person who moves from one place to another in order. Within the term ‘migrant’, are asylum seekers, refugees or internally-displaced people, as well as migrant workers. While Islam has no linguistic differentiation between these terms, international law makes the distinction. Those who flee their home country become refugees or asylum seekers, while those who stay in their country are referred to as internally-displaced people, or IDPs.

For International Migrants Day, Islamic Relief is examining the situation of people who remain within their country’s borders.
Currently, there are around 38 million IDPs in the world, compared to 19.8 million refugees…

MSF/Médecins Sans Frontières [to 19 December 2015]
http://www.doctorswithoutborders.org/news-stories/press/press-releases

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Field news
Kenya: Cholera Outbreak Spreads to Dadaab Refugee Camp
December 17, 2015
A cholera epidemic that has been spreading in Kenya for over a year has now hit the Dadaab refugee camp complex, on the border with Somalia. So far around 541 people have reportedly been affected, the majority of whom are living in Dagahaley camp.

Field news
Deadly Shipwreck Highlights Need for Safe Passage Into Europe
December 17, 2015
A boat carrying about 85 people capsized off the northern coast of Lesvos, Greece, yesterday, causing at least two deaths, said the international medical humanitarian organization Doctors Without Borders/Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF), which rescued survivors through a joint effort with Greenpeace.

OXFAM [to 19 December 2015]
http://www.oxfam.org/en/pressroom/pressreleases

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Two years on: Flawed peace deal in South Sudan leads to continued suffering
14 December 2015
On the second anniversary of the start of the conflict in South Sudan, civilians are paying the price of the warring parties’ failure to implement the peace agreement signed in August. Two years on, out of 32 key requirements that should have already been implemented as part of the deal only three have been fully accomplished. Fighting continues despite the ceasefire, with civilians being targeted and new battle lines being drawn in less affected areas.

Norwegian Refugee Council [to 19 December 2015]
http://www.nrc.no/

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Ethiopia
Ethiopia hit by the worst drought in decades
Patrik Ekløf (18.12.2015)
“The longer it takes for the humanitarian assistance to reach the people in need, the larger the impact of the drought will have in the worst affected areas of Ethiopia and the region”, says Deputy Secretary General Geir Olav Lisle. He has just returned from a visit to the Sitti Zone in the north-eastern part of the Somali region of Ethiopia.
Key issues:
:: 10.2 million people in need of humanitarian food assistance
:: 435,000 children severely acute malnourished
:: 1.4 billion USD humanitarian appeal for 2016 launched

Pact [to 19 December 2015]
http://www.pactworld.org/press-releases
Selected Press Releases, Blog Posts

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December 18, 2015
Pact creates new unit to connect with social enterprise investments
Last month, Pact’s Board of Directors approved a strategic investment in innovative funding mechanisms through the creation of a new business unit called Pact Ventures.

Pact works in more than 30 countries around the world to help people and communities build their capacity to generate income, improve access to quality health services, and gain lasting benefit from the sustainable use of the natural resources around them.

To date, that work has been funded by international donors through grants and cooperative agreements. However, as traditional donor funding has stagnated, Pact, like many of its international NGO peers, has begun to look to the growth of impact investing, which seeks to create both social and financial returns, as a potential new way to further its work and increase its impact.

Pact created Pact Ventures as an intentional and strategic response to this emerging opportunity. Pact Ventures is charged with creating partnerships with the private sector, both traditional corporations and the fast-growing landscape of social enterprises and impact investors, to create new endeavors that connect the best contributions of cross-sector actors while advancing Pact’s social mission at scale. Pact Ventures will build on Pact’s global assets to add resources and innovative new business models in the geographies and technical areas where Pact is strongest…

Partners In Health [to 19 December 2015]
http://www.pih.org/blog

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Small Team, Big Impact: 15 Years of Better Care for Russian TB Patients
Posted on December 18, 2015

Plan International [to 19 December 2015]
http://plan-international.org/about-plan/resources/media-centre

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Plan International Begins Delivering Emergency Aid in Areas Hit By Typhoon Melor
16 December 2015
Humanitarian response teams from child rights organization Plan International have begun arriving in communities severely affected by this week’s Typhoon Melor in The Philippines and are preparing to distribute aid to families in urgent need.

Save The Children [to 19 December 2015]
http://www.savethechildren.org/site/c.8rKLIXMGIpI4E/b.6150563/k.D0E9/Newsroom.htm

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Congressional Appropriations Bill A Victory for Kids
Washington, D.C. (December 18, 2015) — Save the Children and Save the Children Action Network (SCAN) today commended the passage of the Fiscal Year 2016 (FY 16) Omnibus Appropriations bill, which calls for increased investments for children around the world.
The spending bill, passed by the House and the Senate today and expected to be signed into law by President Obama, increases funding for maternal and child health and nutrition while prioritizing early childhood education programs, such as Preschool Development Grants, Head Start and other early learning programs.

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Ethiopia Drought: Schools Closing, Livestock Dying, and Wells Drying Up
December 18, 2015

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Save the Children and 100 Resilient Cities to Focus on Children in Resilience-Building Efforts
FAIRFIELD, Conn. (Dec. 16, 2015)— 100 Resilient Cities— Pioneered by The Rockefeller Foundation (100RC) today announced a partnership with Save the Children, which will offer critical resilience building support to 100RC’s member cities initially in Asia. Through the partnership, Save the Children will work on an individual basis with 100RC member cities to build custom approaches to develop early childhood education services, improve children’s health and nutrition, address child poverty and ensure children’s rights. The partnership will bring tactical support to cities, enabling them to create new programs or expand efforts in member cities through Asia.

Save the Children joins a prestigious group of other 100RC “Platform Partners” that have committed to helping cities around the world prepare for, withstand, and bounce back from the ‘shocks’ – catastrophic events like hurricanes, fires, and floods – and ‘stresses’ – slow-moving disasters like water shortages, homelessness, and unemployment – which are increasingly part of 21st Century life.The Platform Partners are a vital component of 100RC’s efforts, both providing cities with tools they need to build resilience and influencing the market as other resilience tools are developed…

SOS-Kinderdorf International [to 19 December 2015]
http://www.sos-childrensvillages.org/about-sos/press/press-releases

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Caring for refugee children and restoring their rights
02.12.2015 – SOS Children’s Villages International calls on authorities to fulfil the rights of refugee and migrant children by increasing safe and legal ways for children and their families to come to Europe, ensuring dignified and humane reception facilities, not detaining children, and helping families stay together.

Tostan [to 19 December 2015]
http://www.tostan.org/latest-news
December 16, 2015
Conflict Resolution at the Domestic and Community-Level: The Men and Women of the Gambia Show Us How It’s Done
Sona Jatta is a native of Njum Bakary in the Upper River Region (URR) of The Gambia. She is part of the Tostan program as a member of the Community Management Committee (CMC) …

The Elders [to 19 December 2015]
http://theelders.org/news-media

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Guest blog William French 15 December 2015
As COP21 ends, the fight for responsible politics begins
Our Head of International Media William French returns from a successful COP21 and argues that politicians and the press need to talk honestly about the tough choices ahead to make the global climate deal work.

Opinion Mary Robinson 14 December 2015
Paris agreement gives us momentum to build on
At the successful conclusion of the COP21 climate summit, Mary Robinson welcomes the new Paris Agreement, giving the world the opportunity to create a sustainable future.

Opinion Mary Robinson, Kofi Annan 13 December 2015
An agreement for humanity: the Elders welcome COP21 climate deal
The Elders congratulate the signatories of the COP21 climate deal in Paris for reaching “an agreement for humanity” which, if implemented fully and in good faith, could herald a turning point in the fight against climate change, poverty and injustice.

Global Fund [to 19 December 2015]
http://www.theglobalfund.org/en/news/

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Global Fund Outlines Investment Case to End Epidemics
17 December 2015
TOKYO – The Global Fund today presented its investment case for raising US$13 billion for its next three-year cycle of funding, outlining how partners in global health can contribute to ending HIV, tuberculosis and malaria as epidemics by 2030.

A US$13 billion investment for the 2017-2019 funding cycle would save up to eight million lives, avert up to 300 million infections and new cases of HIV, TB and malaria, and lay the groundwork for potential economic gains of up to US$290 billion in the years ahead. Strong investment in global health can significantly bolster international stability and security, while creating greater opportunity, prosperity, and well-being.

The Investment Case was reviewed and discussed by global health leaders at the Preparatory Meeting of the Global Fund Fifth Replenishment in Tokyo, hosted by the Government of Japan in conjunction with an international conference on universal health coverage…

…Programs supported by the Global Fund saved 17 million lives by the end of 2014. By leveraging advances in science and applying innovative solutions, the partnership is on track to reach 22 million lives saved by the end of 2016, the eve of a new Replenishment period. Every three years, the Global Fund seeks financial support for its mission through a Replenishment pledging conference, to be held in mid-2016…

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Private Sector Strongly Supports the Global Fund
16 December 2015
TOKYO – Private sector organizations, charities and foundations made record-breaking commitments to support the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria through an early announcement of pledges amounting to US$37 million ahead of the Global Fund Fifth Replenishment to be held in 2016…

The Sphere Project [to 19 December 2015]
http://www.sphereproject.org/news/

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Sphere Board sets future course of action, elects new leadership
14 December 2015 | Sphere Project
Meeting in Geneva in mid-November, the Sphere Project Board of directors welcomed a new member to the Sphere companion standards family and endorsed moving ahead with the Global Humanitarian Standards Partnership. They also elected new officers and gave the green light for the full integration of the Core Humanitarian Standard with its indicators and guidance notes into the Sphere Handbook…

…Global Humanitarian Standards Partnership moves ahead
The Sphere Board also endorsed the creation of a Global Humanitarian Standards Partnership.

The purpose of the partnership is to strengthen the promotion of principled, evidence-based humanitarian response. By better coordinating their action and through enhanced mutual learning and joint advocacy, the humanitarian-setting initiatives involved will be able to build greater ownership by individuals, communities and organisations.

The partnership also intends to improve and further develop consistent standards models and approaches in order to continue building greater coherence and compatibility amongst humanitarian standards.

The decision to move ahead was based on the recommendation made by the current Sphere companion standards and the support of other partners, as well as the findings of a scoping study that showed widespread support for the proposed partnership among humanitarian practitioners…

New Board officers and members
RedR UK CEO Martin McCann was elected Chair of the Sphere Project Board. McCann has over three decades of experience in both international development and humanitarian work. He joined the Sphere Board in June 2012.

The Board elected Julien Schopp as Vice Chair. Schopp is the Director of Humanitarian Practice at InterAction. He has worked in the humanitarian sector for nearly 20 years and joined the Sphere Board in 2012.

The Board expressed its gratitude to Unni Krishnan from Plan International, who concluded his term as Chair at this meeting as well as to Carsten Völz, who stepped down as Vice Chair earlier this year as he ended his work relationship with Oxfam International.

Barbara Mineo, Humanitarian Director of Oxfam Intermon was welcomed as a new Board member. She replaces Carsten Völz…

Center for Global Development [to 19 December 2015]
http://www.cgdev.org/page/press-center
Selected Press Releases, Blog Posts, Publications

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Aligning Incentives, Accelerating Impact: Next Generation Financing Models for Global Health
12/15/15
Next Generation Financing Models in Global Health Working Group
Founded in 2002, the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria (the Global Fund) is one of the world’s largest multilateral health funders, disbursing $3–$4 billion a year across 100-plus countries. Many of these countries rely on Global Fund monies to finance their respective disease responses—and for their citizens, the efficient and effective use of Global Fund monies can be the difference between life and death.

ODI [to 19 December 2015]
http://www.odi.org/media

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What works in improving the living conditions of slum dwellers: a review of the evidence across four programmes
Research reports and studies | December 2015 | Paula Lucci, Tanvi Bhatkal, Amina Khan and Tom Berliner
This paper reviews the evidence on what works in improving the living conditions in slum settlements. It focuses on physical living conditions such as access to land, housing and utilities, as these are among the most salient challenges facing the urban poor.

Kenya ending drought emergencies policy review: Scenarios for building resilience in ASALs
Working and discussion papers | December 2015 | Elizabeth Carabine, Marie-Agnes Jouanjean, Josephine Tsui
A review of policies in the IGAD (Intergovernmental Authority on Development) member states in the Horn of Africa region’s arid and semi-arid lands.

Challenges to a comprehensive EU migration and asylum policy
Research reports and studies | December 2015 | Raphaelle Faure, Mikaela Gavas and Anna Knoll
This research report sets out three reasons behind the European Union’s failure to deliver a comprehensive and effective approach to the Syrian refugee crisis.

Why people move: understanding the drivers and trends of migration to Europe
Research reports and studies | December 2015 | Clare Cummings, Julia Pacitto, Deletta Lauro and Marta Foresti
While Europe is in need of an effective policy response to the migration crisis, policy-makers lack an understanding of what drives people to migrate. This Rapid Evidence Assessment seeks to fill this gap.

Use of country systems in fragile states
Research reports and studies | December 2015 | Tom Hart, Sierd Hadley and Bryn Welham
‘Leaving no one behind’ increasingly means working in fragile states. We present several principles that can guide decisions on the use of country systems in these areas.

The role and impact of philanthropic and religious schools in developing countries
Bibliography and literature reviews | December 2015 | Joseph Wales, Monazza Aslam, Sebastien Hine, Shenila Rawal and Leni Wild
Can philanthropic and religious schools improve education for children in developing countries? A rigorous review of the evidence.

World Economic Forum [to 19 December 2015]
https://agenda.weforum.org/news/

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New International Alliance to Speed Implementation of WTO Trade Facilitation Deal
Community News 17 Dec 2015
:: The Global Alliance for Trade Facilitation, a major business-led initiative, was launched today to assist developing countries and speed implementation of the World Trade Organization’s Trade Facilitation Agreement
:: The landmark trade agreement could add over $1 trillion to global trade flows with huge gains for developing markets; but implementation will require significant private-sector support
:: The new alliance is hosted by the World Economic Forum, the Center for International Private Enterprise and the International Chamber of Commerce, with support from the governments of Canada, Germany, the United Kingdom and the United States; the Australian government will add to the donor support shortly

Nairobi, Kenya, 17 December 2015 – The World Economic Forum, the Center of International Private Enterprise and the International Chamber of Commerce along with the governments of Canada, Germany, the United Kingdom and the United States have today launched a major new partnership to support effective implementation of the World Trade Organization’s (WTO) landmark Trade Facilitation Agreement (TFA)—which could reduce trade costs by an average of 14.3% and create up to 20 million jobs, mostly in developing countries.

The Global Alliance for Trade Facilitation will provide a unique platform to leverage business expertise and resources in the implementation of customs and border reforms. While it is widely recognized that private-sector engagement will be critical for successful implementation of the TFA, the alliance is the first initiative to provide a global platform to bring business closer to the process of enacting reforms under the agreement…