DFID [to 31 October 2015]
https://www.gov.uk/government/latest?departments%5B%5D=department-for-international-development
Selected Announcements

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Factsheet: The UK’s humanitarian aid response to the Syria crisis
Updated 30 October 2015 Official Statistics DFID

Early childhood development and cognitive development in developing countries: Evidence brief
Published 30 October 2015 Research and analysis DFID Part of a collection: DFID Education Rigorous Literature Review

Pedagogy, curriculum, teaching practices and teacher education in developing countries: Evidence brief
Published 30 October 2015 Research and analysis DFID Part of a collection: DFID Education Rigorous Literature Review

Syrian vulnerable person resettlement programme fact sheet
Published 28 October 2015 Guidance DCLG, DFID and Home Office

Land tenure and property rights: rapid evidence assessment
Published 27 October 2015 Research and analysis DFID

ECHO [to 31 October 2015]
http://ec.europa.eu/echo/en/news

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EU Commission increases co-financing for assistance via the EU Civil Protection Mechanism to help in the refugee crisis
28/10/2015
The European Commission has decided to increase the level of co-financing for transport of the assistance delivered via the EU Civil Protection Mechanism for the countries needing help in the current refugee crisis from 55% to 85%.”This new…

EU brings relief to the victims of Typhoon Koppu
28/10/2015
In response to Typhoon Koppu that hit the Philippines on 18 October 2015, the European Commission is providing €124 000 in humanitarian funding to assist the most affected populations. This funding will support the Philippines Red Cross…

African Union [to 31 October 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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Oct.27.2015 The African Union Releases the Report of the AU Commission of Inquiry on South Sudan

Oct.30.2015 Opening of the Third Africa–India Forum Summit (AIFS-III) : Both Sides Commit to Open More Investment Opportunities to Enhance the Socio-Economic Development of their Populations

The African Development Bank Group [to 31 October 2015]
http://www.afdb.org/en/news-and-events/press-releases/
[We generally limit coverage to regional and global level initiatives, recognizing that a number of country-level announcements are added each week]

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AfDB Approves US$ 285 million for infrastructure, SMEs and Youth Employment projects in Tunisia, Kenya and Togo
29/10/2015 – The Board of Directors of the Africa Development Bank Group (AfDB) on Wednesday, October 28, 2015 approved combined funding amounting to US $284.97 million in support of road infrastructure projects in Tunisia, an SMEs development project in Kenya, and a youth employability and integration in growth sectors project in Togo.

AfDB unveils plan to empower Nigerian women in agriculture
28/10/2015 – The office of the Special Envoy on Gender (SEOG) and the Department for Agriculture and Agro-industry (OSAN) of the African Development Bank (AfDB) commissioned a report, “Economic Empowerment of African Women through Equitable Participation in Agricultural Value Chains”. The study, which was launched in Abidjan, Côte d’Ivoire, in August 2015, identifies opportunities for women in four subsectors including cocoa, coffee, cotton and cassava sectors in Côte d’Ivoire, Ethiopia, Burkina Faso and Nigeria, respectively.

AfDB and KfW announce broad collaboration that aims to advance agricultural transformation agenda across the African continent
26/10/2015 – On Thursday, October 22, at the “Feeding Africa” conference in Dakar, the African Development Bank (AfDB) and KfW in its role as Germany’s development bank, announced a broad collaboration that aims to advance the agricultural transformation agenda across the African continent. The collaboration seeks to develop solutions that drive inclusive growth in Africa by expanding access to financial services in the agricultural sector.

ASEAN Association of Southeast Asian Nations [to 31 October 2015]
http://www.asean.org/news
[We generally limit coverage to regional and global level initiatives, recognizing that a number of country-level announcements are added each week]

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11th Meeting of the Conference of the Parties to the ASEAN Agreement on Transboundary Haze Pollution
on Friday, 30 October 2015.
HA NOI, 29 Ocotber 2015 – Ministers responsible for the environment from ASEAN Member States (AMS) held their 11th Meeting of the Conference of the Parties to the ASEAN Agreement on Transboundary Haze Pollution on 29 October 2015 in Ha Noi, Viet Nam. The Ministers reviewed regional cooperation on a number of haze-related issues, in particular actions taken under the ASEAN Agreement on Transboundary Haze Pollution…

European Union [to 31 October 2015]
http://europa.eu/rapid/search-result.htm?query=18&locale=en&page=1
[We generally limit coverage to regional and global level initiatives]

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State of Play: Measures to Address the Refugee Crisis
European Commission – Press release Brussels, 30 October 2015
The European Agenda on Migration adopted b y the Commission in May 2015 set out the need for a comprehensive approach to migration management. Since then, a number of measures have been introduced – including the adoption of two emergency schemes to relocate 160,000 people in clear need of international protection from the Member States most affected to other EU Member States, and the endorsement of the Commission Action Plan on Return.
On 23 September, the European Commission presented a set of priority actions to implement the European Agenda on Migration to be taken within the next six months. This included both short term actions to stabilise the current situation as well as longer term measures to establish a robust system that will bear the test of time.
The list of priority actions set out the key measures immediately required in terms of: (i) operational measures; (ii) budgetary support and (iii) implementation of EU law.
The list was endorsed by the informal meeting of Heads of State and Government of 23 September 2015 and again on 15 October 2015.
These measures now need to be swiftly and effectively implemented at all levels.
For a state of play of the commitments made at the Western Balkans Route Leaders’ Meeting, see here.

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Speech of Commissioner Jourová at the Amsterdam Privacy conference – The protection of personal data: More than a “European” fundamental right, it is a right for “everyone”
Date: 29/10/2015

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EU Commission increases co-financing for assistance via the EU Civil Protection Mechanism
Date: 27/10/2015
European Commission – Announcement Brussels, 27 October 2015 The European Commission has today decided to increase the level of co-financing for transport of the assistance delivered via the EU Civil protection Mechanism for the countries needing help in the refugee crisis from 55% to 85%.

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Conclusions of the European Council meeting of 15 October 2015 and the Leaders’ Meeting on refugee flows along the Western Balkan route of 25 October 2015 – speech by President Juncker at the European Parliament plenary session
Date: 27/10/2015

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Meeting on the Western Balkans Migration Route: Leaders Agree on 17-point plan of action
Date: 25/10/2015
European Commission – Press release Brussels, 25 October 2015 Meeting on the Western Balkans Migration Route: Leaders Agree on 17-point plan of action

OECD [to 31 October 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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New G20/OECD Principles of Corporate Governance to promote trust and improve the functioning of capital markets in Asia
As part of continuing efforts to support market confidence and business integrity, the OECD has launched in Asia a new set of corporate governance principles that were endorsed at the G20 Finance Ministers meeting in September 2015.
29-October-2015

Organization of American States (OAS) [to 31 October 2015]
http://www.oas.org/en/media_center/press_releases.asp

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Spain to Contribute $2.7 million in 2016 to OAS Programs on Peace, Democracy, Human Rights, Security, and Development
E-326 October 29, 2015

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Open Government: Building Together the Public Sector that we Want
E-325 October 28, 2015
:: Citizen’s participation must be key in the creation and improvement of public services and in strengthening transparency and accountability.
:: Through its Fellowship on Open Government, the OAS creates spaces for young people to develop their own initiatives for the benefit of the Americas.

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OAS Electoral Observation Mission to Haiti Recognizes Efforts of Authorities in General Elections
E-322 October 26, 2015
The Electoral Observation Mission of the Organization of American States (OAS/EOM) to Haiti, led by Brazil’s former Foreign and Defense Minister Celso Amorim, recognized the efforts put forth by electoral and security authorities during Sunday´s presidential and parliamentary elections.

The Chief of Mission highlighted that “The OAS Mission witnessed a significant improvement yesterday from the August 9th elections.”

On Election Day, the OAS/EOM team of 125 observers from 27 countries was present from the opening of the polls up to the counting of the votes in all 10 departments of the country, visiting 487 voting centers.

The Mission was aware of the obstacles and challenges leading up to and during election day. In spite of some isolated instances, Haitian citizens with the will to vote were able to cast their ballots.

In its preliminary report, the OAS/EOM observed a higher turnout than during the August 9 elections, a positive tendency the OAS would like to see increase in future elections although isolated incidents of violence occurred on polling day. However, they did not affect the overall course of the election. The OAS/EOM commended the determination and patience of the voters and urged all actors in the electoral process to act responsibly in the coming days…

Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) [to 31 October 2015]
http://www.oic-oci.org/oicv2/news/
Selected Press Releases

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The Secretary General seeks for increased ownership of OIC policies on labour, employment and social protection
The Secretary General has emphasized the significance of giving effect to the various programmes and projects on intra-OIC cooperation on labour, employment and productivity in order to address the current challenges of unemployment, low productivity and macro-economic instability prevalent in OIC countries. This declaration was contained in the speech delivered by H.E. Iyad Ameen Madani, the Secretary General of the OIC, at the opening of the 3rd Islamic Conference of Labour Ministers (ICLM), which began its proceedings in Jakarta, Indonesia yesterday, on 29 October 2015…
29/10/2015

World Trade Organisation [to 31 October 2015]
http://www.wto.org/english/news_e/news_e.htm
[We generally limit coverage to regional and global level initiatives, recognizing that a number of country-level announcements are added each week]

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DG Azevêdo: More flexibility needed to achieve outcomes in Nairobi
At a meeting of all WTO members in Geneva today (29 October), looking ahead to the WTO’s 10th Ministerial Conference in Nairobi in December, Director-General Roberto Azevêdo warned members that insufficient progress was being made…

DG Azevêdo: WTO rules help to support better public health
Opening a symposium on “Public Health, Intellectual Property and TRIPS at 20” at the WTO’s headquarters on 28 October 2015, Director-General Roberto Azevêdo emphasized that the TRIPS (trade-related aspects of intellectual property rights) Agreement can be part of the solution in tackling public health challenges in developing countries. He also recognized that enhanced cooperation and dialogue between the WTO, the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO) and the World Health Organization (WHO) is a vital contribution to creating a stronger and more stable global framework that helps people lead better and healthier lives. > Speech

IMF [to 31 October 2015]
http://www.imf.org/external/news/default.aspx
[We generally limit coverage to regional and global level initiatives, recognizing that a number of country-level announcements are added each week]

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Press Release: IMF Sees Lower Growth Ahead for Sub Saharan Africa; Calls for Economic Policies to Adjust to New Environment
October 27, 2015
Economic activity in Sub-Saharan Africa has weakened markedly although growth remains stronger than in many other regions, with growth expected at 3.75 percent in 2015 and 4.25 percent in 2016, the International Monetary Fund (IMF) said today. In its October 2015 Regional Economic Outlook for Sub-Saharan Africa, titled Dealing with the Gathering Clouds, the IMF attributed the slowdown to the combination of the sharp fall of commodity prices and more difficult financing conditions…

World Bank [to 31 October 2015]
http://www.worldbank.org/en/news/all
[We generally limit coverage to regional and global level initiatives, recognizing that a number of country-level announcements are added each week]

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Central Asian Countries among Top Improvers in Doing Business 2016 report
ALMATY, October 30, 2015 – Today, the World Bank Group hosted the regional launch of Doing Business 2016: Measuring Regulatory Quality and Efficiency in Central Asia. In this year’s report, Kazakhstan,…
Date: October 30, 2015 Type: Press Release

Ending Poverty: How health and innovation can lead the way
Global Developmentand Poverty InitiativeConference on Shared Prosperity and Health: Advancing Global Development through Innovation and Institutions, Stanford University, Palo Alto, CA
Date: October 29, 2015 Type: Speeches and Transcripts

Doing Business Report Finds More than 60% of World’s Economies Improved Their Business Rules in Past Year
WASHINGTON, October 27, 2015 – Developing economies quickened the pace of their business reforms during the last 12 months to make it easier for local businesses to start and operate, says the World Bank Group’s annual ease of doing business measurement.
Doing Business 2016: Measuring Regulatory Quality and Efficiency finds that 85 developing economies implemented 169 business reforms during the past year, compared with 154 reforms the previous year. High-income economies carried out an additional 62 reforms, bringing the total for the past year to 231 reforms in 122 economies around the world…

IPU Inter-Parliamentary Union [to 31 October 2015]
http://www.ipu.org/english/news.htm
Selected Press Releases/Briefings

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MPs propose action to boost peace and security through gender equality
29 OCTOBER 2015
MPs have called for fresh action to help ensure that UN Security Council resolution 1325 on women, peace and security is more widely implemented and respected as they marked its 15th anniversary. Their recommendations, aimed at boosting parliamentary involvement in promoting the women, peace and security agenda, include speeding up the adoption of National Action Plans on 1325; increasing the participation and leadership of women in parliaments, particularly in work relating to peace and security; and ensuring that 15 per cent of peace and security funding is dedicated to gender-related issues such as boosting women’s political participation and protecting women and girls from violence. The recommendations followed a discussion by IPU’s Meeting of Women MPs on gender equality as an indispensable element of sustainable peace and security. The Meeting of Women MPs, a permanent fixture of IPU Assemblies, works to advance gender equality and women’s rights. This includes promoting the UN Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women (CEDAW) and working alongside the CEDAW Committee.

WHO call for stronger parliamentary engagement on health
29 OCTOBER 2015
World Health Organization (WHO) Director General Dr Margaret Chan has urged MPs around the world to step up their efforts to improve the health of their citizens, stressing the importance of political solutions in a new generation of complex challenges. In her first address to an IPU assembly, Dr Chan stressed the vital role of MPs in a wide range of strategies including delivering universal health coverage, taxing tobacco, improving food labelling and fighting tax, trade and insurance policies which impacted on the poor. She warned of new threats including drug-resistant pathogens, the globalized marketing of unhealthy products, and the growing rates of chronic non-communicable diseases such as heart disease, cancer and diabetes – which have overtaken infectious diseases as the world’s biggest killers. Dr Chan also offered to strengthen WHO’s collaboration with IPU through structured technical support to IPU’s advisory bodies and confirmed a new role for parliamentarians in jointly organized side events at WHO assemblies, the organization’s supreme decision-making body. Her address builds on the existing cooperation between WHO and IPU in fields including women’s and children’s health, family planning, violence against women and girls and harmful traditional practices.

New guidelines help MPs step up HIV action
29 OCTOBER 2015
New guidelines on how parliamentarians can speed up HIV treatment have been published by IPU and UNAIDS. Fast-tracking HIV treatment: Parliamentary action and policy options defines a range of measures parliaments can take to try and ensure all citizens with HIV have access to treatment. HIV treatment is a cornerstone of the AIDS response – helping prevent deaths and new infections – but is still not accessible to all who need it. Vital agents of change, MPs have a pivotal role in delivering social justice and human rights, including access to HIV treatment. The guidelines provide examples of good practice by parliaments and individual members on the issue. The wealth of information in the publication includes details of the fast-track targets the world must meet to end the AIDS epidemic as a global health threat by 2030, the human rights-based approach to HIV, the patenting of drugs and ensuring it does not restrict access to treatment, and how to mobilize resources and finance treatment of the disease.

Crucial tool for MPs to tackle migration issues
29 OCTOBER 2015
A new Handbook for Parliamentarians giving vital guidance to MPs and parliaments on migration has been published by IPU and partners, the International Labour Organization (ILO) and the UN’s Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR). Handbook no.24 “Migration, human rights and governance covers the issues and provides the tools and policy responses to the international movement of people. A complex and highly divisive issue, international migration is motivated by a range of economic, political and social factors. With xenophobia growing and the migration debate predominantly negative, parliamentarians must help ensure there is a meaningful, balanced and informed response to migration through fair and effective policies that maximize the benefits of human mobility whilst addressing the challenges that origin, transit and destination countries and migrants face. This latest Handbook for Parliamentarians offers policy responses to questions such as root causes for migration, social cohesion and migration governance.

Action pledge follows nutrition seminar
29 OCTOBER 2015
MPs from nine countries in the Southern African Development Community (SADC) pledged parliamentary action to tackle malnutrition, which affects more than 180 million of the world’s under-fives, during a meeting in Namibia earlier this month. The MPs examined issues such as the stubbornly high rates of malnutrition as well as the emerging challenge of obesity in their region. They recognized the critical importance of food and nutrition security to economic development, the survival and healthy growth of children, and breaking intergenerational cycles of poverty. The MPs made a commitment to ensure that the necessary laws and budgets on nutrition were in place, to scrutinize government policies, galvanize action by raising awareness of the unacceptably high malnutrition rates, and work in cooperation with other groups and bodies. The meeting, hosted by the Namibian Parliament, was organized by IPU and UNICEF.

Conference to focus on answers to statelessness
29 OCTOBER 2015
A conference in South Africa will explore how parliaments can combat statelessness, which deprives many people of basic rights but which can be solved with relatively simple changes to laws and practices. Statelessness, caused by a variety of factors including discrimination and the redrawing of national boundaries, affects some 10 million people around the world. MPs attending the conference on 26-27 November in Cape Town, organized by IPU, the South African Parliament and the UN refugee agency, UNHCR, will learn more about the impact of legal reforms such as changes to the law in Senegal and Algeria that have enabled women to transfer their nationality to their children and end a major cause of statelessness. They will also learn more about promoting accession by their States to two UN conventions on statelessness which provide the framework for a united international response. The conference is expected to result in a parliamentary action plan to end statelessness.

International Criminal Court (ICC) [to 31 October 2015]
http://www.icc-cpi.int/en_menus/icc/Pages/default.aspx

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30/10/2015
President of Palestine, H.E. Mr Mahmoud Abbas visits the ICC Prosecutor
Today, Friday 30 October 2015, the Prosecutor of the International Criminal (“ICC” or the “Court”), Mrs Fatou Bensouda and representatives of her Office received H.E. Mr Mahmoud Abbas, the President of Palestine and his delegation at the Seat of the Court in The Hague, Netherlands. The meeting was held in the margins of President Abbas’ official visit to the Kingdom of The Netherlands.

CARE International [to 31 October 2015]
http://www.care-international.org/news/press-releases.aspx

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Koppu Leaves Huge Damage in Northern Philippines, CARE Immediately Responds
PHILIPPINES
26 OCTOBER 2015
CARE immediately deployed an emergency response team in Nueva Ecija and Aurora provinces to conduct damage and needs assessment, as well as provide immediate food assistance to severely affected families in the province of Nueva Ecija.

CARE: Europe Still Failing to Prevent Humanitarian Crisis in the Balkans
BALKANS
26 OCTOBER 2015
CARE welcomes new EU commitment to provide shelter to an additional 100,000 migrants and asylum-seekers arriving in the Balkans. However, with winter approaching and increasing numbers of women and children travelling to and through Europe, these commitments are completely insufficient to prevent suffering and fear on Europe’s borders.

ECPAT [to 31 October 2015]
http://www.ecpat.net/news

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NEW THEMATIC REPORT: Unrecognized Sexual Abuse and Exploitation of Children in Child, Early and Forced Marriage
Posted on 10/28/2015, 14:18
The 10th Asia Pacific Regional Conference on Child Abuse and Neglect (APCCAN2015) took place from 25-28 October 2015 in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, with the theme of ‘Investing in Children: Every Child Counts’.

ECPAT, Plan International and APCCAN co-hosted a Panel on Child Marriage during the conference, and a new Thematic Report supported by Plan International was launched, titled, ‘Unrecognised Sexual Abuse and Exploitation of Children in Child, Early and Forced Marriage’.

The paper aims to contribute to examining the broadly unexplored, yet critical links existing between two kinds of severe violations of children’s rights – Child, Early and Forced Marriage and Sexual Abuse and Exploitation of Children.

As a joint effort of ECPAT International and Plan International, the paper argues that early marriage acts as a major channel to child sexual exploitation, and can also amount to a form of sexual exploitation of children in itself. It investigates, in particular, the impact of early marriage on child protection, focusing on ways by which, in most regions of the world where this traditional harmful practice is perpetuated, it exposes child brides to early forced sexual initiation and activity, non-consensual sex, unwanted pregnancies, trafficking, forced child labour, and being exchanged for the payment of a bride price…

The full Thematic Report is available here.

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Refugee crisis in Europe and rights of children
ECPAST Statement
Posted on 10/28/2015, 13:54

Heifer International [to 31 October 2015]
http://www.heifer.org/about-heifer/press/press-releases.html

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Heifer International Weekly
Tuesday, Oct. 27, 2015

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Six Months After Earthquake, Heifer Participants and Communities Recovering
25 Oct 2015
Six months ago, a 7.8-magnitude earthquake devastated Nepal. Heifer International and Heifer Nepal immediately acted to provide temporary shelter supplies to nearly 23,000 families in 97 Village Development Committees (VDCs) and across 13 districts who lost their homes and livelihoods.

Members of Heifer’s Self-Help Groups and Cooperatives played a key role in immediate relief support before government or other assistance arrived, ensuring distributions went smoothly and each family received some support.

After those immediate needs were met by Heifer and other relief organizations working in the country, and because it was clear the rebuilding and recovery would require a long-term approach, Heifer established a revolving fund for communities that saw the worst damage. Participants advocated for this approach and felt it would allow the communities to make joint decisions about how to best distribute and utilize funds…

IRC International Rescue Committee [to 31 October 2015]
http://www.rescue.org/press-release-index

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Press Release
30 Oct 2015
IRC: Refugees Continue to Surge into Lesbos Despite Onset of Winter; Lack of European Support Hindering Overall Response

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Remembering Bob DeVecchi, former IRC President and champion of refugees
Posted by The IRC on October 30, 2015
The Board of Directors, Overseers and staff of the International Rescue Committee are deeply saddened by the loss of Bob DeVecchi, our former President and CEO

ICRC [to 31 October 2015]
https://www.icrc.org/en/whats-new

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Philippines: Farmers in Negros enjoy benefits of new corn mill
Farmers Segondo Cañafuego and Cenona Estrada used to grind corn manually – a process that takes long hours with very little output.
30-10-2015 | Video

Israel: Access to health care is non-negotiable
Jerusalem (ICRC): The International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) is concerned about the difficulties faced by hospitals to provide medical and health care services in light of the current situation.
30-10-2015 | Article

Ukraine: 80,000 receive help in Lugansk as winter approaches
With winter looming people living close to the front line are even more vulnerable.
29-10-2015 | Video

Philippines: Improving lives in conflict-affected communities
In parts of Luzon and the Visayas, communities suffer from the effects of a protracted armed conflict between government security forces and the New People’s Army.
29-10-2015 | Article

Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas visits ICRC Headquarters
The Vice-President of the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC), Christine Beerli, met with an official delegation from Palestine today led by President Mahmoud Abbas, to discuss the humanitarian situation in Israel and the occupied Palesti
28-10-2015 | Statement

Afghanistan / Pakistan: Earthquake injures over 2,000 people
Afghan and Pakistan Red Crescent Societies are helping people affected by Monday’s M7.5 earthquake whose epicentre was in Jerm district in the Afghan province of Badakhshan close to the border with Pakistan.
28-10-2015 | News release

Iraq: Food and relief aid for tens of thousands in Abu Ajil
Over a year of heavy fighting in the town of Abu Ajil, Salahuddin province in Iraq resulted in massive displacement of people and destruction of houses and infrastructure.
27-10-2015 | Video

Lebanon: New diploma offers specialized training for weapon-wounded
The ICRC and the Lebanese University have launched a new “diplôme universitaire” on the clinical management of weapon-wounded patients. The new Module is integrated in the curriculum of the Faculty of Medical Sciences of the Lebanese University duri
26-10-2015 | Article

Jordan: ICRC continues to assist Syrians at the northeastern border
With the Syrian crisis showing no signs of abating, people continue to cross into Jordan through the northeastern border seeking safety and international protection.
26-10-2015 | Article

Islamic Relief [to 31 October 2015]
http://www.islamic-relief.org/category/news/

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Health care for refugees
October 28, 2015
Mobile clinics are being used in Jordan to help Syrian refugees and poor Jordanians access free health care.

Disaster experts travel to remote areas
October 27, 2015
Experts from our Afghanistan and Pakistan offices have travelled to areas affected by the earthquake to assess the needs of the local communities.