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Devex •

To make food systems sustainable, investment must match policy

For the first time, the presidency of the United Nations Climate Change Conference, or COP, has made food a priority. The 134 signatories commit their countries to integrate food and agriculture into their climate strategies. It’s a conversation that is welcome and overdue, according to Anita Neville, chief sustainability and communications officer at Golden Agri-Resources. But truly prioritizing food system transformation also involves more meaningful investment.
Devex •

Why it’s time to rethink infrastructure and value nature

Nature as infrastructure, a transformative concept spearheaded by the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank, or AIIB, prioritizes investment in building and enhancing nature.

“We have spent a long time degrading nature, so we have a responsibility to rebuild it,” said Erik Berglof, AIIB’s chief economist, and that involves rethinking traditional infrastructure and looking first at what nature can deliver in terms of services, for example, rivers that have served civilizations for millennia.
Devex •

DevExplains: Why the food crisis is worse for women and girls

Globally, women play a huge role in ensuring everyone has enough to eat — with responsibility for an estimated 90% of all food purchases and preparation — yet gender inequality means that they are more vulnerable to hunger and malnutrition.

In times of crisis, it’s women who forgo the most meals. Between 2019 and 2021, the gender gap in food insecurity more than doubled from 49 million to 126 million, as the COVID-19 pandemic impacted livelihoods, income, and access to nutritious food for women
the Guardian •

Ghana’s school on stilts: the floating village where teachers are too scared to go

In west Ghana, the village of Nzulezo perches above the dark water of Lake Tadane, backed by dense swampland. Built entirely on wooden stilts and platforms carved from raffia palms, the cluster of structures is home to more than 500 people, with two churches, a small guesthouse, a bar and primary school.

Nominated in 2000 for inclusion as a Unesco world heritage site, the village is on the bucket list of visitors to the west African country, curious about a unique way of life on the water. But

To build sustainable livelihoods, there’s no one-size-fits-all approach

Approximately half the world’s population still lives on the equivalent of about $2 a day, and when global shocks occur – whether a pandemic or climate disaster – it’s marginalized communities that face the greatest challenges in rebuilding their homes and livelihoods.

In northern Uganda, for example, traditional subsistence farming is the for many households, but extreme weather, such as prolonged droughts or floods, is putting families at risk of food insecurity. Poor infrastructure also make
The New Humanitarian •

Melilla and Ceuta: What’s behind the deaths at Morocco’s land border with the EU?

Early on the morning of 24 June, around 2,000 asylum seekers and migrants – many from Sudan and South Sudan – attempted en masse to cross the border fence separating the Moroccan town of Nador from Spain’s North African exclave of Melilla.

Moroccan security forces responded by firing tear gas and wielding batons. According to government accounts, 23 asylum seekers and migrants were killed. Local human rights groups say the true toll may be as high as 37. Dozens more were injured.

Months later,
Devex •

Why marginalized voices are critical for resilient WASH services

Around the world, extreme and unpredictable weather events as a result of climate change are making it harder for rural communities to access safe, clean water — and it’s often women and people with disabilities who bear the greatest burden.

In southern Indonesia and Timor-Leste, for example, heavy rainfall means water collection points in ravines become inaccessible for people with disabilities as well as elderly people or pregnant people. Then come the dry spells and droughts, forcing communi
Devex •

How US employers can support the evacuation of Afghan staff

More than two months since the collapse of the Afghan government, many U.S.-based development employers are still working to secure visas and a safe route out for their local staff. Concerns are growing as bureaucratic processes and a backlog of applications continue to slow these efforts.

Based on conversations with implementing partners, Paul Foldi, vice president of international development affairs at the Professional Services Council, estimates that a minimum of 10,000 aid staff and their

How partnerships are driving inclusion in the WASH sector

Recent research from the Solomon Islands points to the importance of gender-inclusive decision-making processes — specifically, the involvement of women on committees appointed by local chiefs that are responsible for the water management in each community.

Across the Pacific region, WASH-related diseases are among the leading causes of death for children under 5. In the Solomon Islands, 27% of people lack access to hygiene services. There are also huge disparities in urban and rural access to
Devex •

Globaldev careers: The community accountability coordinator

A psychologist by training, Jennifer Piñeros worked in data-related and programmatic roles in the field before starting as Mercy Corps’ community accountability and reporting mechanism coordinator for Colombia.

Now responsible for ensuring that the organization is accountable to the participants and the communities it serves, her team of seven reviews feedback and brings forward allegations of fraud, waste, and corruption.
Devex •

Taking the stigma out of mental health services

While the COVID-19 pandemic has prompted more conversations around mental health, it’s a topic that remains widely misunderstood and highly stigmatized. This can make individuals reluctant to seek out support and create challenges for those delivering mental health services, with some even facing physical risks.

Like all health programs, buy-in from local leaders and context-appropriate sensitization activities are critical in getting communities on board, but additional considerations around l
Devex •

Globaldev careers: The reproductive health expert

For more than five years, Dr. Mirela Rista has been working with Youth Center “PO” — the only clinical center in Tirana, Albania, that provides free services related to sexual and reproductive health, or SRH. It is a branch of the Albanian Center for Population and Development, or ACPD — a member association of the International Planned Parenthood Federation — and trains health personnel in reproductive health, post-delivery contraception, and safe abortion techniques.

As a gynecologist, Rista
Devex •

How to rise above the noise on social media

Social media use has been on the rise for some time, even before the COVID-19 pandemic. A recent report suggests that more than 3.8 billion people use social media, spending an average of almost 2 1/2 hours per day on these platforms.

Recognizing its importance, many global development organizations have been steadily expanding their expertise in this area. With so many existing platforms, as well as new ones constantly emerging, social media teams increasingly require creative people and a ran
Devex •

Leyla Hussein: Donors can change attitudes toward aid worker mental health

The emotional well-being of aid workers and advocates is still not prioritized by employers — but donors could play a key role in changing this, according to Leyla Hussein, a psychotherapist and campaigner against female genital mutilation.

In an interview with Devex, Hussein — who was made an officer of the Order of the British Empire in 2019 for her advocacy work — said donors can help protect the mental health of grassroots campaigners and others working on the projects they fund. She said t
Devex •

Pandemic puts reproductive health care out of reach for millions, new data shows

BARCELONA — Disruptions to reproductive health services since the start of the COVID-19 outbreak could result in more than 1 million unsafe abortions and 900,000 unintended pregnancies, according to Marie Stopes International.

New data released by the organization, based on findings from online surveys of women in the U.K, South Africa, and India with more than 1,000 respondents per country, shows that sexual and reproductive health services have been hit hard during the pandemic. Almost 2 mill
Devex •

Dramatic rise in Kenya early pregnancies amid school closures, IRC data suggests

BARCELONA — The number of teenage pregnancies has increased dramatically in regions of northern Kenya as a result of recent school closures and lockdowns, according to new data from the International Rescue Committee.

In Turkana County, 558 adolescent pregnancies were reported between March and June — almost a threefold increase from the same period last year, the organization said.

The data, sent to Devex but not yet publicly available, is some of the first hard evidence that measures to slow
Devex •

As eye hospitals and clinics prepare to reopen, here's what they need to consider

BARCELONA — After months of lockdowns and restrictions, which saw all but essential eye services put on hold, eye hospitals and clinics in some countries are preparing to reopen but grappling with the challenges of doing so in the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic.

It is a tough situation for these organizations, many of which have struggled over the last months to make ends meet and avoid staff layoffs, said Rahul Ali, vice president of Orbis International’s Asia and Africa programs. Now, reopeni
Devex •

Maternal health and COVID-19: The race to avert a long-term crisis

GLASGOW, Scotland — Disruptions to maternal health services over the last few months could endanger the lives of expectant mothers long after the COVID-19 pandemic.

While there is still a lack of official data, anecdotal evidence suggests that the global health crisis is already having a devastating effect on pregnant women. Concerted efforts are needed now to ensure pregnancies are safe and wanted and to save lives, according to several sexual and reproductive health experts.

Anneka Knutsson,
Devex •

Health workers speak out on the need for better mental health support

GLASGOW, Scotland — Shortages of protective equipment, long shifts, and fear of taking the virus home to their families — these are just some of the challenges facing health professionals supporting the COVID-19 response. And, while some are hailed as heroes, others face stigma from local communities who fear they could spread the coronavirus further.

Even outside of a pandemic situation, health workers face tough conditions in their jobs. But the toll this can take on their mental health is ra
Devex •

How COVID-19 is impacting vision work

GLASGOW, Scotland — Vision programs across the world have largely been put on hold as a result of lockdowns, restrictions on movement, and concerns for staff safety during the COVID-19 crisis. Outreach activities such as eye screenings and nonemergency surgeries have been suspended, and providers expect a greater demand for these services when normal programming resumes.

The current situation is likely to have a hugely negative impact on eye care and the quality of care in general, said Dr. Jam
Devex •

These countries have only a handful of ventilators

GLASGOW, Scotland — The Central African Republic has just three ventilators to serve the entire country, while South Sudan has only four.

That’s according to a report by the International Rescue Committee looking at preparedness among fragile and conflict-affected countries in responding to the COVID-19 pandemic.

The humanitarian aid and relief organization says such countries are likely to face a “double emergency,” with the direct impact of COVID-19 playing havoc on humanitarian, economic, a
Devex •

Ebola vaccine given the go-ahead in 5 African countries

BARCELONA — Five African countries have become the first to license a highly effective Ebola vaccine, meaning it can now be administered without being subject to clinical trial or research protocols.

Regulatory bodies in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Burundi, Ghana, Zambia, and Guinea all approved the vaccine in the past week. Several other countries are expected to do so in the coming weeks.

When the current Ebola outbreak began in DRC, a vaccine had been developed but not yet approve
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