BLADE

Invest in Women, it pays!

Amila de Saram Larssen, New York

This is the tagline for the Women Deliver Initiative,  an initiative that highlights the intersection between women’s health and economic growth and the fundamental right of women to safe pregnancy and childbirth. 

On a recent visit to New York, I interviewed Jill Sheffield (pictured above) who heads up the Women Deliver Initiative.  Sheffield is also President Emeritus and a founder of Family Care International (FCI), a non-profit organization based in New York committed to improving maternal health around the world.

In the excerpt below, Jill Sheffield talks about the beginnings of Family Care International, her work with the Women Deliver global conference and the importance of Millennium Development Goal 5, the improvement of maternal health.

Norway outlines Africa Policy

The Norwegian Ministry of Foreign Affairs recently released a document entitled, “The Platform for an Integrated Africa Policy”.  The document presents an overview of Norwegian cooperation with Africa, and provides a basis for implementing concrete measures.

The Platform underscores Norway’s desire to develop its foreign policy dialogue with African countries on issues such as climate change, conflict resolution, human rights and health.

Ghana: a success story or a symbol of the low expectations outsiders have for Africa?

In a recent article in The New York Times, Lydia Polgreen writes about Ghana and the perception that many have of it being one of the few success stories in Africa.  

In the article, Polgreen examines the veracity of this perception and wonders if calling Ghana a success is a sign of the low expectations outsiders have for Africa.

Rock concert at Angkor Wat raises awareness about human trafficking

Rock musicians from around the world took a stand against human trafficking at a recent concert at the Angkor Wat temple in Cambodia.  The concert was sponsored by the MTV EXIT (End Exploitation and Trafficking) campaign. 

This was the first rock concert ever performed at the massive 12th-century temple, a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

The project received support from the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID).

Click here for more information. 

Working with severely affected children in West Africa

(Photo credit: Amila de Saram Larssen)

Amila de Saram Larssen

I recently had the opportunity to interview Dr. Alice Behrendt, of the Plan West Africa Regional Office, in Oslo. Alice is a project manager for psychosocial support interventions for vulnerable children. 

The interview was fairly lengthy and covered a number of interesting topics, so will be split into several postings. Here is part 1.

In the following clip, Alice discusses her work with severely affected children in Togo, Burkina Faso, Liberia, Sierra Leone and Camaroon. 

Imams and rabbis in Paris to promote peace

The Third World Congress of Imams and Rabbis for Peace kicked off yesterday in Paris.  The event is hosted by the UN Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) and aims to bolster peace in the Middle East.  

The congress is expected to draw 85 participants, including 45 Palestinian imams, Israeli rabbis and Christians.  Religious leaders and experts from nearly two dozen countries are also expected.

Outcomes are expected to include the adoption of a final declaration and the setting up of a monitoring group to support initiatives promoting peaceful coexistence and dialogue.

Coping with climate change in Nyimba, Zambia

Newton Sibanda, Lusaka, Zambia

The people of Nyimba, a remote district about 300km east of the capital Lusaka, are innocent victims of the impact of climate change, a phenomenon they know or understand little about.

Close to 600 families in the district have been hit by hunger following the floods of the last rainy season which destroyed crops, thereby affecting their food security.

A Zambian perspective on development aid

Amila de Saram Larssen

“It is important to admit that things have not gone as well as they should have,” said Mark Chona, Chairman of Matantala Rural Integrated Development Enterprise (M-RIDE), Zambia at a recent workshop for and about Civil Society Organisations at Norad. He was referring to the millions of aid dollars that have been poured into countries like Zambia over the years.

Chona criticizes the use of foreign aid as a foreign policy instrument, saying bluntly that, “it does not work.”  According to Chona, aid that is “hands free” and designed in consultation with those who need it, is much more likely to yield positive results.  

Scientists in Kenya endorse GMO

Amila de Saram Larssen

In a recent article in Kenya’s Daily Nation, Gatonye Gathurap writes that following a 2-day conference on biotechnology at the University of Nairobi,  scientists from the College of Agriculture and Veterinary Sciences state that,  “although there are genuine concerns over the technology, genetically modified organisms are safe enough for adoption so long as there is sound legislation in place.”

The reaction of civil society to this statement remains to be seen.  So far, it has been against the introduction of GMO in Kenya.

The Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation is reportedly working with the faculty to install a state-of-the art biotechnology laboratory at the university.

Click here to read the article.

Promoting Tourism to Africa and the Indian Ocean Islands

(Photo: Reidar Dieserud)

Amila de Saram Larssen and Reidar Dieserud

Sustainable tourism has great potential to improve income and quality of life for the poor in the developing world.  Recently, 10 African countries including South Africa, Kenya, Uganda, Tanzania, Zanzibar, Zimbabwe, Zambia, Botswana, Malawi, Madagascar, Namibia, Mauritius and Egypt were in Scandinavia to promote outbound travel from Scandinavia to Africa and the Indian Ocean Islands.

Here is what some of the participants of Spotlight on Africa and Indian Ocean had to say about tourism in their countries, sustainable tourism and tourism as an engine for socio-economic growth and poverty alleviation.

Jacinta Nzioka of the Kenya Tourist Board, Nairobi.