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COVID-19 as a Springboard for Education Reforms in SSA

The COVID-19 pandemic has had a global impact on education. The regions most affected are those with a less robust education system.  This is an opportunity for governments in sub-Saharan Africa to reform their school systems.  Click here to read five actions for the way forward.

Ten Crises that will Change Lives around the World in 2022

The New Humanitarian has released its annual assessment of global crises and trends to watch for in the year ahead.  Among them, the hidden health risks of climate change, global inequities and poverty laid bare by the pandemic, and unprecedented hunger.   Click here for the full report and here for an 8-minute video summary.

How Badly Are We Doing in Distributing COVID Vaccines to Those that Need Them Most?

Listen to this 20-minute segment from CBC radio program The Current on the growing call for vaccine equity. Pauline Worsfold, a registered nurse and a member of the Canadian Federation of Nurses Unions, explains how waiving patent protections would help ramp up vaccine production. Dr. Githinji Gitahi, Global CEO of Amref Health Africa and Dr. Wafaa El-Sadr, epidemiologist, explain what needs to be done now to address the current inequities in global vaccine distribution.

World AIDS Day 2021

This World AIDS Day, UNAIDS is highlighting the need to end the inequalities that drive AIDS and other pandemics around the world.  Economic, social, cultural and legal inequalities must be ended as a matter of urgency if we are to end AIDS by 2030.  Read the UNAIDS call to action here.

16 Days of Activism Against Gender-Based Violence

The United Nations is marking the 16 Days of Activism Against Gender-Based Violence from 25 November to 10 December 2021 under the global theme set by the UN Secretary-General’s UNiTE Campaign: Orange the World: End Violence against Women Now!  Follow this link to find out more about the issue and to read inspiring stories of change from around the world.

Africa's Great Green Wall

The project that doesn’t involve the community is doomed to failure.”  -- Diegane Ndiaye, SOS Sahel

Only 4% of Africa’s Great Green Wall’s original goal has been met, and an estimated $43 billion would be needed to achieve the rest. Organizers have shifted their focus from planting a wall of trees to trying a mosaic of smaller, more durable projects to stop desertification, including community-based efforts designed to improve lives and help the most vulnerable agriculture.  Read more here.

 

Canadian Civil Society Reacts to COP26: Incremental Inadequate Progress

Leading Canadian climate activists and organizations have responded with disappointment to the outcomes of COP26.

Click here to read more.

 

What Has Worked to Improve Education for Girls?

A recent study of large-scale interventions to improve girls’ education worldwide identifies four successful strategies:

  1. Make school cheaper.
  2. Make schools more accessible.
  3. Teach better.
  4. Explicitly address gender barriers. 

Click here to read more.

 

The Great Vaccine Bake Off?

Since the pharmaceutical company Moderna is unwilling to share its “recipe”, the World Health Organization has hired a start-up company in South Africa to figure out how to make an mRNA vaccine against COVID that is as close as possible to Moderna’s version.  Click here to read more.

Groundbreaking Malaria Vaccine for Children at Risk

"For centuries, malaria has stalked sub-Saharan Africa, causing immense personal suffering,” said Dr Matshidiso Moeti, WHO Regional Director for Africa. “We have long hoped for an effective malaria vaccine and now for the first time ever, we have such a vaccine recommended for widespread use. Today’s recommendation offers a glimmer of hope for the continent which shoulders the heaviest burden of the disease and we expect many more African children to be protected from malaria and grow into healthy adults.”

Click here for more details about what this vaccine will mean for children in sub-Saharan Africa.

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IWD March 8

Mar 07, 2024

 “To support women’s health, we need to protect women’s rights.  And to protect women’s rights we need to support the women frontline defenders of these rights.” --  Winnie Byanyima,... Read more