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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
“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.
Leading Canadian climate activists and organizations have responded with disappointment to the outcomes of COP26.
A recent study of large-scale interventions to improve girls’ education worldwide identifies four successful strategies:
Click here to read more.
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.
Nov 15, 2024
“A group of governments, multilateral development banks, UN agencies, and some of the world’s largest philanthropic organizations are announcing expanded efforts and increased coordination and... Read more
Nov 12, 2024
“The right funding now can protect the frontlines of the climate crisis from the worst effects of extreme weather events. For many developing countries, particularly in Africa, the cost of... Read more
Oct 15, 2024
“Everyone should have access to enough, nutritious, diverse, affordable, and safe foods.” -- FAO October 16 is marked each year as World Food Day. This year the UN invites us to focus on foods... Read more