United Nations – Selected Meetings Coverage and Press Releases [to 15 March 2014]
http://www.un.org/en/unpress/

UN Meetings
Security Council Fails to Adopt Text Urging Member States Not to Recognize Planned 16 March Referendum in Ukraine’s Crimea Region (15 March 2014)
After weeks of intense diplomatic efforts to de-escalate tensions in Ukraine, the Security Council today failed to adopt a draft resolution that would have urged Member States not to recognize the results of the referendum planned for 16 March in that country’s autonomous Crimea region, or any alteration of its status.
SC/11319

United Nations Mission in Democratic Republic of Congo Must Transform into ‘Robust, Flexible, Highly Mobile’ Entity, Security Council Told (14 March 2014)
Fourteen years of a “static” approach to civilian protection in the Democratic Republic of the Congo had proven insufficient, and the United Nations mission there must transform into a robust, flexible and highly mobile entity, able to deploy across the country’s volatile eastern region, the world body’s senior official there told the Security Council today.
SC/11316

Security Council Adopts Resolution 2144 (2014), Authorizing Year-Long Mandate Extension for United Nations Support Mission in Libya (14 March 2014)
The Security Council today renewed the mandate of the United Nations Support Mission in Libya (UNSMIL) until 13 March 2015.
SC/11315

Common Position in Women’s Commission: Post-2015 Agenda Must Include Gender Equality Targets Absent from Millennium Development Goals (13 March 2014)
WOM/1983

‘Gender Lens’ Sharpens Focus of Economic and Social Council Reforms, Shapes Global Policy, Speakers Say in Women’s Commission (12 March 2014)
WOM/1982

Speakers in Women’s Commission Say Legal Gaps in Protection, Prevention, Accountability for Violence against Women Must Be Addressed (11 March 2014)
WOM/1981

Press Releases
Awareness Must Be Coupled with Concrete Action to Protect Vital Forests, Secretary-General Stresses in Message for International Observance (13 March 2014)
SG/SM/15706-ENV/DEV/1415-OBV/1305

With Violence in Syria Reaching ‘Unthinkable Levels’, Secretary-General Appeals for End to Tragedy of World’s Biggest Humanitarian, Peace, Security Crisis (12 March 2014)
SG/SM/15703

Secretary-General, Concerned about Escalating Violence in Darfur, Urges All Parties to Cease Hostilities, Ensure Protection of Civilians (10 March 2014)
SG/SM/15700-AFR/2835

Gender Equality Key to Achieving Millennium Goals, Says Secretary-General, Urging Greater Focus on Maternal Health as Commission on Status of Women Opens (10 March 2014)
SG/SM/15697-WOM/1980

UNICEF [to 15 March 2014]
http://www.unicef.org/media/media_71508.html

Media Releases [selected]
Three years of Syria conflict have devastated lives of millions of children
BEIRUT, 15 March 2014 – As the crisis in Syria reaches the end of another year of brutal violence today, five of the world’s leading aid organizations say that the three-year old conflict has devastated the lives of millions of children and young people – and a generation is at risk of being lost forever.

UNICEF supplies 150,000 mosquito nets in Bangui as rainy season approaches
BANGUI, Central African Republic/DAKAR, Senegal, 14 March 2014 – Ahead of the rainy season due to start next month in the Central African Republic (CAR), UNICEF is providing 150,000 mosquito bed nets for 75,000 people displaced in the capital, who have lost their homes because of the conflict.

UNICEF: Justice still out of reach for millions of children
GENEVA, 13 March 2014 — Millions of children across the globe have their rights violated, but only a few are able to seek recourse to improve their situation in a timely, fair and effective way, UNICEF said today.

European parliamentarians mark third year of Syrian conflict and mobilize for children of Syria
STRASBOURG, France, 12 March 2014 – Leading Members of the European Parliament today joined ‘No Lost Generation’, the global initiative launched by UNICEF and other organisations to mark the third year of the Syrian conflict, with a call on world leaders to support the children of Syria.

Number of children suffering more than doubles in third year of Syria conflict
AMMAN, Jordan/GENEVA/NEW YORK, 11 March 2014 – As the conflict in Syria approaches another sombre milestone, more than twice as many children are now affected compared to 12 months ago, says a new report by UNICEF published today. Particularly hard hit are up to a million children who are trapped in areas of Syria that are under siege or that are hard to reach with humanitarian assistance due to continued violence.

UNHCR [to 15 March 2014]
http://www.unhcr.org/cgi-bin/texis/vtx/home

Press Releases and Latest News
15 March 2014
Three years of Syria conflict have devastated lives of millions of children

14 March 2014
Three Years Syria Conflict: UNHCR Special Envoy Angelina Jolie’s Appeal to World Leaders

14 March 2014
Three years and counting: Syria tops world list for forcibly displaced

12 March 2014
Western Sahara: Resumption of family visit flights

Press Releases and Latest News
UNHCR condemns deadly attack in Homs on collective shelter
Press Releases, 15 March 2014
UNHCR learned this morning of an attack in Homs that has resulted in one death and others being wounded at a shelter in which scores of evacuees are being held.
The attack on the Al Andalus collective shelter – an abandoned school – occurred just after midnight local time, when mortars hit a wall. A local resident was killed, and some 10 people in the centre were wounded. All were hospitalized. UNHCR is awaiting further word on their conditions and those of others still in the shelter.

“We are taking this extremely seriously,” said Amin Awad, UNHCR’s Director for the Middle East and North Africa. “All parties to Syria’s conflict have obligations under international law relating to the protection of people not involved in the conflict.

In early-mid February, UN staff and volunteers from the Syrian Arab Red Crescent assisted more than 1,400 people to leave the Old City of Homs during a three-day “humanitarian pause”. However not everyone was able to leave, and 336 men and boys were kept behind at the Al Andalus centre for screening.

Information on the attack is still sparse. It is not fully clear at this stage whether the shelter was deliberately targeted and who the perpetrators were…

Syria tops world list for forcibly displaced after three years of conflict
More than 2.56 million Syrians have registered or are waiting to register as refugees in neighbouring countries as the number of displaced inside Syria passes 6.5 million.

UNHCR addresses alarming health situation of refugees in Cameroon
Most of the new arrivals have spent weeks living in the bush without access to water and food and have walked great distances to reach safety in the eastern Cameroon.

Former Somali refugees raise funds in Canada to build pre-school in Dadaab
More than 400 children applied to enroll in the new school in Dagahaley camp, but there is currently only room for 140. The students include refugees and local Kenyan children.

UNHCR and partners distribute aid to conflict-affected in South Sudan’s Pariang County
UNHCR estimates the number of forcibly displaced people in the seven districts of Pariang County at about 20,000. So far, the refugee agency has given aid to almost 11,500.

UNHCR calls on the Americas to keep children on the run safe from violence
UNHCR’s “Children on the Run” report also urges governments to take action to keep children safe from rights abuses, violence and crime, and to ensure their access to asylum.
[see full treatment in Week in Review above]

Briefing Notes
Refugee information presented in twice-weekly press briefings in Geneva.

:: Cameroon: UNHCR stepping up aid to CAR refugees arriving in poor conditions

:: Boat tragedy involving refugees and migrants in the Gulf of Aden

:: Date set for new camp opening in Jordan

:: Deadly attacks reported in Nigeria’s Lake Chad region, more people fleeing

:: Displacement of people continues to rise in Anbar, Iraq

UNOCHA [to 15 March 2014]
http://www.unocha.org/

Press Releases
15 Mar 2014
Syrian Arab Republic: Under-Secretary-General and Emergency Relief Coordinator Valerie Amos Statement on Syria
Source: UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs Country: Syrian Arab Republic (New York, 15 March 2014): Three years after the start of Syria’s conflict, we estimate that more than 9 million people need aid and protection inside Syria and another 2.5 million have fled the country. The humanitarian consequences of the fighting are staggering and despite our best efforts, aid workers are struggling to reach everyone who needs help…

10 Mar 2014
Central African Republic: Statement on behalf of the Humanitarian Coordinator in the Central African Republic Barbara Shenstone
Source: UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs Country: Central African Republic Bangui, 10 March, 2014: The Humanitarian Coordinator in the Central African Republic Ms. Barbara Shenstone condemns in the strongest terms the killing, on 8 March in Ndele, of a staff member of the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC). She extends her deepest condolences to the family of the victim and his colleagues and friends in ICRC…

10 Mar 2014
Philippines: Communications with Communities March Newsletter
Source: UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs Country: Myanmar, Nepal, Philippines Typhoon Haiyan Response Typhoon Haiyan destroyed or damaged an estimated 1 million homes across the Eastern and Western Visayas Regions of the central Philippines. One hundred days on from the devastating storm, the most pressing needs in the affected areas are for durable shelter and the restoration of livelihoods….

USG Statements and Speeches
Statement on Syria, 15 March

Latest Map: Central African Republic: Central African Republic: Who has a Sub-Office/Base…

UN Division for Sustainable Development [to 15 March 2014]
Department of Economic and Social Affairs, http://sustainabledevelopment.un.org/index.html

Latest contributions from Major Groups
:: MEANS OF IMPLEMENTATION: THINKING WITH PEOPLE LIVING IN EXTREME POVERTY (International Movement ATD Fourth World)

:: The Path toward Truly Universal Quality Education (International Movement ATD Fourth World)

:: Good Governance and Extreme Poverty (International Movement ATD Fourth World)

:: POLICY BRIEF AND PROPOSALS: COMMON BUT DIFFERENTIATED RESPONSIBILITIES (International Movement ATD Fourth World)

UNDP  United Nations Development Program [to 15 March 2014]
http://www.us.undp.org/content/undp/en/home.html

14 Mar 2014
Grassroots women: game changers in the fight against corruption
The United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) and the Huairou Commission, a global network of grassroots women’s organizations, convened a global dialogue to discuss how supporting women can further contribute to building transparent and effective governance, including the context of the Post-2015 development agenda.

13 Mar 2014
UNDP steps up its support for sound public finance in Africa
The United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) will train a diverse range of partners during the second phase of a comprehensive programme designed to mobilize tax revenues and improve budget management in Africa.

10 Mar 2014
Lebanon – Reviving Markets and Stimulating the Local Economy
Renovated with support from UNDP and UNHCR, Lebanon’s Al-Marj market is stimulating the local economy in host communities in the Bekaa Valley, Lebanon.

UN Women  [to 15 March 2014]
http://www.unwomen.org/

Press release: UN Women and Cherie Blair Foundation for Women form new partnership to accelerate women’s economic empowerment
Posted on March 14, 2014
At the 58th session of the Commission on the Status of Women, UN Women and the Cherie Blair Foundation for Women today announced a new partnership which will see the collaboration between UN Women’s Knowledge Gateway for Women’s Economic Empowerment and the Cherie Blair Foundation’s Mentoring Women in Business Programme. More

“What matters gets measured, and what we measure is what ends up mattering” – Deputy Executive Director John Hendra
Posted on March 13, 2014
Remarks by UN Women Deputy Executive Director Policy and Programme John Hendra, at the CSW58 side event on “Indicators for monitoring gender equality: Lessons learned from the MDGs”, New York, 12 March 2014. More

UN Women Arab States office launches Arabic version of the UN Women “One Woman” song
Posted on March 13, 2014
As part of this International Women’s Day commemoration on 8 March, UN Women Arab States office unveiled to the public the Arabic version of the UN Women “One Woman” song. More

Media advisory: CSW side event “Voices of African Women and Girls for the Post-2015 Development Agenda”
Posted on March 13, 2014
UN Women, the Agency for Cooperation and Research in Development (ACORD) and the World YWCA is co-hosting this event during the 58th session of CSW to amplify the voices of African women and girls in the post-2015 discussions. More

Remarks by Executive Director at the Nordic Council of Ministers’ side event on Promoting Gender Equality and Empowering Women and Girls through Education
Posted on March 12, 2014
Remarks by UN Women Executive Director Phumzile Mlambo-Ngcuka, at the Nordic Council of Ministers’ side event on Promoting Gender Equality and Empowering Women and Girls through Education, New York, 12 March 2014 More

Opening remarks by UN Women Executive Director at High-level event on MDG progress
Posted on March 12, 2014
Opening remarks of UN Women Executive Director Phumzile Mlambo-Ngcuka during the High-Level event with Heads of UN Agencies “Accelerating progress on the MDGs for women and girls”, New York, 11 March. A joint statement by the Heads of UN organizations was also adopted at the event. More

I Got Flowers Today: Ending violence against women – the missing MDG
Posted on March 12, 2014
At a 11 March reception in honour of Mr. Stavros Lambrinidis, the European Union Special Representative for Human Rights, UN Women Executive Director Phumzile Mlambo-Ngcuka highlighted the importance of ending violence against women and read adapted excerpt from the poem “I Got Flowers Today”. More

Remarks by Executive Director at a side event on How the Sirleaf Market Women’s Fund of Liberia is Spearheading the Market Women’s Movement across Africa
Posted on March 12, 2014
Remarks by UN Women Executive Director Phumzile Mlambo-Ngcuka, at a side event on How the Sirleaf Market Women’s Fund of Liberia is Spearheading the Market Women’s Movement across Africa, New York, 12 March 2014 More

Remarks by Executive Director at the a side event on Engaging Men and Boys to achieve the Millennium Development Goals for Women and Girls
Posted on March 12, 2014
Remarks by UN Women Executive Director Phumzile Mlambo-Ngcuka, at a side event on Engaging Men and Boys to achieve the Millennium Development Goals for Women and Girls, New York, 12 March 2014 More

UN Women congratulates Michelle Bachelet on her inauguration as President of Chile
Posted on March 12, 2014
UN Women congratulates Michelle Bachelet for her inauguration as President of Chile on 11 March in a ceremony held in the Chilean Congress in Valparaiso. More

“We can get to ZERO!” – UN Women Executive Director
Posted on March 11, 2014
Remarks by UN Women Executive Director Phumzile Mlambo-Ngcuka, UNAIDS special event on HIV and gender equality as part of the post-2015 agenda, New York, 11 March 2014 More

Remarks by John Hendra at a side event on Women and Water: Multipliers of Development
Posted on March 11, 2014
Remarks by UN Women Deputy Executive Director Policy and Programme John Hendra, at a side event on Women and Water: Multipliers of Development, New York, 11 March 2014 More

Progress for women in politics, but glass ceiling remains firm
Posted on March 11, 2014
The Women in Politics Map 2014 launched by the Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU) and UN Women today shows that while progress on women’s political participation continues to be largely positive across the world, glass ceilings remain firmly in place for women at the highest levels. More

Women in Politics Map 2014 – Statement by John Hendra
Posted on March 11, 2014
Statement by UN Women Deputy Executive Director Policy and Programme John Hendra, New York, 11 March 2014 More

Opening statement by UN Women Executive Director Phumzile Mlambo-Ngcuka at CSW58
Posted on March 10, 2014
In her opening statement at the 58th session of UN Commission on the Status of Women, UN Women Executive Director Phumzile Mlambo-Ngcuka outlined gaps and progress towards achieving the MDGs, and highlighted the #HeforShe campaign as part of an upcoming global campaign entitled “Empowering women empowering humanity – Picture it”. New York, 10 March 2014. More

UNFPA  United Nations Population Fund [to 15 March 2014]
http://www.unfpa.org/public/

Empowering Youth to End Female Genital Mutilation/Cutting
12 March 2014
UNITED NATIONS, New York – “We want to stress the fact that youth cannot and will not be ignored. We may be young, but we have experienced female genital mutilation. We know how it feels. We understand it. Ending it is a battle we can win. It can end with us. We are ready for action.” This was the voice of Aissata Camara, one of the young participants invited to take part in a side-event of the 58th Commission on the Status of Women focusing on ending female genital mutilation/cutting (FGM/C).

Building the Future of Africa by Empowering Women and Youth
11 March 2014
UNITED NATIONS, New York – As the 58th session of the Commission on the Status of Women opened in New York, UNFPA, the United Nations Population Fund, and the World Bank Group convened a high-level side event to focus efforts on a landmark partnership to promote regional peace, security and development in Sub-Saharan Africa.

FAO Food & Agriculture Organization [to 15 March 2014]
http://www.fao.org/home/en/

Family Farming in Asia-Pacific  
14 March 2014, Rome – The International Year of Family Farming was launched as part of a global campaign to reinforce awareness and support for small scale and family farmers around the world. The move to focus on family farmers for the international year was driven by strong advocacy from civil society, mainly the World Rural Forum. According to FAO, the contributions of these important agricultural producers is critical to the fight against hunger and malnutrition. Both in developing and developed countries, family farming is the predominant form of agriculture in the food production sector.

GM crops in traded food  
13 March 2014, Rome – There is a steady increase in incidents where low levels of GM crops are being detected in traded food and feed, FAO has said today. It is noted that this can be attributed to the increased production of genetically modified crops (GMOs) around the globe. According to FAO, the trace amounts of GM crops become mixed with non-GM food and feed crops as a result of accidents occurring during field production – for example, a field trial of a GM crop grown near a field of a non-GM crop. This could also by (…)

Asia and the Pacific: increase production
10 March 2014, Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia— Government Ministers and high-level officials from nearly 40 countries are set to gather in Asia’s largest land-locked country this week to discuss ways and means to bring an end to hunger and improve food security across this vast continent. The 32nd Regional Conference for Asia and the Pacific (APRC) being held in Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia, is being hosted by the Government of Mongolia and the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO). FAO has warned that governments in Asia and the Pacific should take some major, fundamental decisions – and soon – about (…)

UNESCO  [to 15 March 2014]
http://www.unesco.org/new/en/media-services/for-the-press/all-news//

16 March 2013 – UNESCO and Samsung announce partnership

16 March 2013 – Education is everybody’s business

14 March 2013 – Multi-stakeholder Consultation on UNESCO’s Comprehensive Study on the Internet

14 March 2013 – Reconstruction of World Heritage mausoleums starts in Timbuktu (Mali)

13 March 2013 – Promoting the use of solar energy by empowering women of remote rural communities in Volcans Biosphere Reserve, Rwanda

13 March 2013 – Global Education & Skills Forum to address urgent educational needs of girls and women

13 March 2013 – Early “Science” is vital for girls

13 March 2013 – UN Ambassadors pledge to promote culture on the post 2015 agenda

12 March 2013 – Irina Bokova, Ban Ki-Moon, Lakhdar Brahimi: “The destruction of Syria’s cultural heritage must stop”

12 March 2013 – Puberty is not a problem to be solved: Empowering girls to succeed at school

12 March 2013 – Commission on the Status of Women highlights need for women in the media

12 March 2013 – UNESCO raises the flag for sustainable development through sustainable water management

12 March 2013 – UNESCO calls for youth empowerment through education to end Female Genital Mutilation

11 March 2013 – Director-General Champions girls’ education at a High-level Inter-Agency Event on MDGs for girls and women in New York

11 March 2013 – UNESCO and UN Women join efforts to promote gender equality through education

10 March 2013 – New global education goals must prioritize girls

WIPO  (World Intellectual Property Organization) [to 15 March 2014]
http://www.wipo.int/portal/en/index.html

US and China Drive International Patent Filing Growth in Record-Setting Year
The United States of America and China drove record-level patent-filing activity via WIPO in 2013 as the number of annual international patent applications surpassed the 200,000 mark for the first time. International trademark and industrial-design filings also achieved new record-breaking levels.
Mar 13, 2014 PR/2014/755

USAID [to 15 March 2014]
http://www.usaid.gov/

Press Releases
Administrator Shah to deliver remarks at Women and Girls Lead Global event
Tuesday, March 11, 2014
On March 13, U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) Administrator Rajiv Shah will participate in a panel discussion highlighting Women and Girls Lead Global, a public-private partnership between USAID, CARE, the Ford Foundation and the Independent Television Service (ITVS).  The discussion will take place at Meridian’s White-Meyer House in Washington, D.C.  Read more

Impact Blog
Cooking With Green Charcoal Helps to Reduce Deforestation in Haiti
March 13, 2014 — Anna-Maija Mattila Litvak
An organization in northern Haiti is promoting a cooking fuel made from agricultural waste that can save trees, help farmers increase their yields and generate additional income. Read More

Bringing Hope to Women in Sri Lanka’s Former Conflict Zones
March 13, 2014 — Passanna Gunasekera, USAID/Sri Lanka
Like most places that have experienced conflict throughout the world, women were deeply affected by Sri Lanka’s 26-year conflict. Several USAID initiatives continue to support these women by integrating them into society and bringing normalcy back into their lives. Read More

DFID  [to 15 March 2014]
https://www.gov.uk/government/organisations/department-for-international-development

New UK support for Syria
15 March 2014  DFID  Press release
UK allocates over £36 million to organisations working inside Syria and across the region.

PM announces UK boost for Palestinian economy
14 March 2014  DFID, UKTI and British Council   Press release
David Cameron announces a range of initiatives to support the Palestinian economy.

ODI   [to 15 March 2014]
http://www.odi.org.uk/

Review of evaluation approaches and methods used by interventions on women and girls’ economic empowerment
Publication – Research reports and studies – 14 March 2014
Georgia Taylor and Paola Pereznieto
There is substantial work currently being done by the international development community to empower women and girls economically. This review assesses the quality and effectiveness of evaluation methods and approaches used to analyse the effects of programmes or projects on women and girls’ economic empowerment (WGEE).
Download

Measuring women’s empowerment and social transformation in the post-2015 agenda
Publication – Research reports and studies – 11 March 2014
Caroline Harper, Keiko Nowacka, Hanna Alder and Gaelle Ferrant
As the development community continues to discuss what should replace the MDGS in 2015, ODI and OECD researchers propose that most effective approach for achieving social transformation for women and girls is to focus on tackling discriminatory social norms. Progress should then be measured through transformative indicators, both under a dedicated gender goal and mainstreamed throughout all other goals.
Download

The technical is political: understanding the political implications of sector characteristics for the delivery of sanitation services
Publication – Research reports and studies – 11 March 2014
Nathaniel Mason, Richard Batley and Daniel Harris
The characteristics of service delivery sectors have political and technical implications. These characteristics, relating to market, task and demand as well as the type of good produced, can be applied to sanitation services in order to explore and respond to some of the problems of individual and collective action that affect the sector.
Download

Rapid Review of DFID’s Humanitarian Response to Typhoon Haiyan in the Philippines
Publication – Research reports and studies – 11 March 2014
Steven A Zyck
In January 2014, ICAI sent a small team, led by Commissioner Mark Foster, to assess and provide prompt and timely feedback on the appropriateness and effectiveness of the UK Government’s response to Haiyan.
Find out more

What’s behind the demand for governance? An assessment of people’s views
Publication – Research reports and studies – 10 March 2014
Gina Bergh, Alina Rocha Menocal and Laura Rodriguez Takeuchi
This paper analyses emerging data from the United Nations’ MY World survey of people’s priorities for the future and how they have voted on governance-related issues. We compare this with a review of available evidence from global perception surveys and participatory research on people’s views and experiences relating to governance.

IMF  [to 15 March 2014]
http://www.imf.org/external/index.htm

March 13, 2014
IMF Conference Highlights Central Africa’s Investment Needs in Infrastructure
Press Release No. 14/95
March 13, 2014
The Government of Cameroon and the International Monetary Fund (IMF) jointly organized a high-level conference entitled “Financing the Future: Infrastructure Development in Central Africa” in Yaoundé, Cameroon on March 10, 2014

The conference brought together ministers, governors and more than 250 senior officials, academics, and representatives of financial institutions and civil society from across countries of the Economic Community of Central African States and beyond to discuss international experience and best practices to finance infrastructure development. The outcome of this conference will be presented at the high level Africa Rising conference organized by the government of Mozambique and the IMF in Maputo on May 29-30, 2014.

Participants agreed that investment in infrastructure can drive growth, raise productivity, and help reduce poverty, but also acknowledged that large infrastructure gaps remain in central Africa. The lack of infrastructure is a key obstacle to achieving faster growth because higher transportation, water, and power costs are estimated to reduce private sector productivity by almost half. Regional infrastructure projects and good coordination of national investment will  also foster regional integration.

Upgrading infrastructures is, however, very costly and implies large financing needs. For Central African countries, scaling up investment without taking on excessive debt constitutes a crucial policy challenge…

World Bank [to 15 March 2014]
http://www.worldbank.org/en/news/all

World Bank Presents Views on Post-2015 Framework for MDGs
March 13, 2014 – As the 2015 deadline for achieving the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) gets closer, the World Bank Group (WBG) is setting ambitious targets and reforming the way it does business to support a sustainable post-2015 development framework. The WBG is working with the United Nations (UN) and other multilateral development banks (MDBs) to make MDGs meet their objectives. While member states are the ones driving the Post-2015 agenda, the World Bank’s contribution from its ability to push the “data revolution,” or to help build a consensus on a new financing framework is being recognized by the international community. The WBG  is also committed to better leverage resources and knowledge to support strong economic growth and to tackle rising income equality, gender imbalance, climate change and fragility…

South Sudan: World Bank Mobilizes US$44 Million to Provide Critical Health Services and Fight Hunger
WASHINGTON, March 13, 2014 – The World Bank’s Board of Executive Directors today approved US$44 million in additional financing to help South Sudan boost health services, fight hunger and assist people displaced by conflict in Jonglei, Upper Nile and other areas of the conflict affected country.“ South Sudan is facing a difficult time in its short history with conflict affecting six of ten states in the country,” said Bella Bird, World Bank Country Director for South Sudan. “The World Bank Group is mobilizing efforts in two very important life-saving ways, by expanding access to much-needed basic health services and helping to meet basic food needs of poor and vulnerable populations. “The first of the two projects approved by the Bank consists of a $25 million grant and a $10 million International Development Association (IDA*) credit and will support the Health Rapid Results project in Jonglei and Upper Nile states which are most affected by conflict…

Latin America: Increase in Number of Retirees with the Right to a Pension
   Beyond Contributory Pensions:  Fourteen Experiences in Latin America (Más allá de las Pensiones Contributivas: Catorce experiencias en América Latina) — notes that recent reforms of pension systems adopted in 14 Latin American countries in the last decade have helped reduce the proportion of the population over 65 with no access to benefits by almost 33%, a change that represent the most dramatic coverage improvement in decades.
The report also focuses on how LAC countries are addressing the urgent need to prevent its rapidly ageing population from falling into poverty. In 1950, life expectancy in the region was 52 years; it reached 74 in 2010 and is expected to exceed 85 by 2100.
Click here to read the full report.

Speeches & Transcripts
Speech by Makhtar Diop at the High-level Forum on Higher Education, Science and Technology in Africa
Makhtar Diop, World Bank’s Vice President for the Africa Region
High-level Forum on Higher Education, Science and Technology in Africa
Kigali, Rwanda
March 13, 2014
Full text – As Prepared for Delivery: http://www.worldbank.org/en/news/speech/2014/03/13/speech-by-makhtar-diop-at-the-high-level-forum-on-higher-education-science-and-technology-in-africa

BMC Public Health
(Accessed 15 March 2014)
http://www.biomedcentral.com/bmcpublichealth/content

Research article
Residential characteristics as correlates of occupants’ health in the greater Accra region, Ghana
Emilia Asuquo Udofia, Alfred E Yawson, Kwesi Adu Aduful and Francis Mulekya Bwambale
Author Affiliations
BMC Public Health 2014, 14:244  doi:10.1186/1471-2458-14-244
Published: 11 March 2014
http://www.biomedcentral.com/1471-2458/14/244/abstract

Abstract (provisional)
Background
Housing has been a relatively neglected site for public health action. However, it remains a place where human beings spend the most part of their day. As a result, the quality of housing has consequences for human health. We investigate residential characteristics associated with self-rated occupant health in five neighbourhoods in the Greater Accra Region, Ghana.

Methods
A cross sectional study using a semi-structured questionnaire was conducted among 500 informed adults aged 18 years and above to investigate residential characteristics associated with self-rated occupant health in five neighbourhoods in the Greater Accra Region, Ghana. Correlates of occupant rated health were determined using Pearson chi-square test and binary logistic regression.

Results
Forty-two per cent of houses were rented, 44% required repair and 46% shared sanitation facilities. One in twenty occupants reported poor health. Gender, employment status, income, ventilation, house wall material, odours, stale air, privacy, shared facilities, hand washing facility, type of house and house repair status were associated with poor health in the bivariate analysis. Only two variables were independently associated with poor self-rated health: occupants who lacked privacy were eight times more likely to report poor self-rated health when compared to peers who did not lack privacy [OR = 8.16, 95% CI 2.86-23.26] and women were three times more likely than men to report poor health [OR = 2.98, 95%CI 1.06-8.35].

Conclusion
The results provide further evidence of housing as a determinant of occupants’ health, and identify housing characteristics and living conditions as issues for public health action in Ghana.

Developing World Bioethics
April 2014   Volume 14, Issue 1  Pages ii–ii, 1–57
http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/dewb.2014.14.issue-1/issuetoc

ARTICLE
Impact of Three Years Training on Operations Capacities of Research Ethics Committees in Nigeria
Morenike Oluwatoyin Folayan, Aisha Adaranijo, Florita Durueke, Ademola Ajuwon, Adebayo Adejumo, Oliver Ezechi, Kola Oyedeji and Olayide Akanni
Article first published online: 24 SEP 2012
DOI: 10.1111/j.1471-8847.2012.00340.x
http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/j.1471-8847.2012.00340.x/abstract

Abstract
This paper describes a three-year project designed to build the capacity of members of research ethics committees to perform their roles and responsibilities efficiently and effectively. The project participants were made up of a cross-section of the membership of 13 Research Ethics Committees (RECs) functioning in Nigeria. They received training to develop their capacity to evaluate research protocols, monitor trial implementation, provide constructive input to trial staff, and assess the trial’s success in promoting community engagement in the research.

Following the training, technical assistance was provided to participants on an ongoing basis and the project’s impacts were assessed quantitatively and qualitatively. Results indicate that sustained investment in capacity building efforts (including training, ongoing technical assistance, and the provision of multiple tools) improved the participants’ knowledge of both the ethical principles relevant to biomedical research and how effective REC should function. Such investment was also shown to have a positive impact on the knowledge levels of other RECs members (those who did not receive training) and the overall operations of the RECs to which the participants belonged. Building the capacity of REC members to fulfill their roles effectively requires sustained effort and investment and pays off by enabling RECs to fulfill their essential mission of ensuring that trials are conducted safely and ethically.

Developing World Bioethics
April 2014   Volume 14, Issue 1  Pages ii–ii, 1–57
http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/dewb.2014.14.issue-1/issuetoc

ARTICLE
The Ethics of Engaged Presence: A Framework for Health Professionals in Humanitarian Assistance and Development Work
Matthew R. Hunt, Lisa Schwartz, Christina Sinding and Laurie Elit
Article first published online: 21 DEC 2012
DOI: 10.1111/dewb.12013
http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/dewb.12013/abstract

Abstract
In this article, we present an ethics framework for health practice in humanitarian and development work: the ethics of engaged presence. The ethics of engaged presence framework aims to articulate in a systematic fashion approaches and orientations that support the engagement of expatriate health care professionals in ways that align with diverse obligations and responsibilities, and promote respectful and effective action and relationships. Drawn from a range of sources, the framework provides a vocabulary and narrative structure for examining the moral dimensions of providing development or humanitarian health assistance to individuals and communities, and working with and alongside local and international actors. The elements also help minimize or avoid certain miscalculations and harms. Emphasis is placed on the shared humanity of those who provide and those who receive assistance, acknowledgement of limits and risks related to the contributions of expatriate health care professionals, and the importance of providing skillful and relevant assistance. These elements articulate a moral posture for expatriate health care professionals that contributes to orienting the practice of clinicians in ways that reflect respect, humility, and solidarity. Health care professionals whose understanding and actions are consistent with the ethics of engaged presence will be oriented toward introspection and reflective practice and toward developing, sustaining and promoting collaborative partnerships.

Globalization and Health
[Accessed 15 March 2014]
http://www.globalizationandhealth.com/

Research
Local production of pharmaceuticals in Africa and access to essential medicines: ‘urban bias’ in access to imported medicines in Tanzania and its policy implications
Phares GM Mujinja, Maureen Mackintosh, Mary Justin-Temu and Marc Wuyts
Author Affiliations
Globalization and Health 2014, 10:12  doi:10.1186/1744-8603-10-12
Published: 10 March 2014
http://www.globalizationandhealth.com/content/10/1/12/abstract

Abstract (provisional)
Background
International policy towards access to essential medicines in Africa has focused until recently on international procurement of large volumes of medicines, mainly from Indian manufacturers, and their import and distribution. This emphasis is now being challenged by renewed policy interest in the potential benefits of local pharmaceutical production and supply. However, there is a shortage of evidence on the role of locally produced medicines in African markets, and on potential benefits of local production for access to medicines. This article contributes to filling that gap.

Methods
This article uses WHO/HAI data from Tanzania for 2006 and 2009 on prices and sources of a set of tracer essential medicines. It employs innovative graphical methods of analysis alongside conventional statistical testing.

Results
Medicines produced in Tanzania were equally likely to be found in rural and in urban areas. Imported medicines, especially those imported from countries other than Kenya (mainly from India) displayed ‘urban bias’: that is, they were significantly more likely to be available in urban than in rural areas. This finding holds across the range of sample medicines studied, and cannot be explained by price differences alone. While different private distribution networks for essential medicines may provide part of the explanation, this cannot explain why the urban bias in availability of imported medicines is also found in the public sector.

Conclusions
The findings suggest that enhanced local production may improve rural access to medicines. The potential benefits of local production and scope for their improvement are an important field for further research, and indicate a key policy area in which economic development and health care objectives may reinforce each other.