http://www.tigblog.org/group/mdg What's on the minds of young leaders from around the globe? en-us http://www.tigblog.org/group/mdg/post/650113 By Reuben Abati


"When any of my customers wants

to have sex with me without

using condoms, I usually

protest. Then we will strike a

bargain and we will do it. He

won't know that he is buying his

death with his own money.

However, there are many who will

never have sex without using

condoms. But I have a way of

dealing with them. When I am

having sex with such men, I

usually shake my buttocks

vigorously so as to burst the

condom, and if the condom bursts

and the man is carried away, he

won't bother about fixing

another condom".

These lines are taken from a

pathetic story in The Sun

newspaper of Saturday, April 18.

They belong to a young Nigerian

lady called Sandra, who has been

served the wrong end of the

stick by a crazy society where

the future is uncertain even for

young girls, and who has chosen

to become an assassin in

protest. There are probably many

others like her whose stories

move us to tears and frustration

and for whom we feel neither

disgust nor pity but sympathy.

Sandra's story holds in one

explosive capsule, many of the

disturbing issues in the

Nigerian society: the insecurity

of lives and property, the lack

of trauma care for victims of

circumstances, the abortion of

hopes, rape, prostitution,

abortion, poverty, the failure

of governance, and the likely

effect of psychological and

social violence on the society

at large. Increasingly,

everyday, Nigerians are

disappointed by society, and in

all ways, they turn upon and

against each other; such

spectacle of man's inhumanity to

man, such display of social

violence. And yet it is common

to hear them proclaim "the grace

of God" in their lives.

Sandra's story is shocking says

Henry Umahi, the reporter of her

story. Indeed it is. Four years

ago, the future lay at her feet.

She was 17, a virgin, and she

had just been offered admission

into the Delta State University,

Abraka, to study Banking and

Finance. Many young Nigerians

love to study Banking and

Finance. It is certainly not one

of those courses of study that

former President Olusegun

Obasanjo considered useless. She

must have dreamt of getting a

job in a bank, with a good

salary to go with it, nicely cut

skirts and the self-confidence

that comes with having made

something out of one's life. But

Nigerian roads are full of

dangers.

She had travelled to Asaba to

visit her elder brother, her

only sibling, who obviously was

willing to pay her school fees.

Two days after, her brother died

in a motor accident. Motor

accident is an easy cause of

death in Nigeria. The roads are

bad. The drivers are reckless.

The vehicles are mostly second

hand, used vehicles from Europe

and North America running on

used and worn tyres that are not

made for the tropics. Earlier

this year, the FRSC reported

that over 1.2 million persons

died from motor accident-related

injuries in 2008 alone! The

hospitals are ill-equipped,

there is no emergency rescue

facility, and concerned passers

-by who usually stop to help,

have no clues about how to deal

with emergencies and save lives.

Nigerians survive on the roads,

by "the grace of God".

"In fact for me", says Sandra,

"life had come to an abrupt

end." But the worst was yet to

come. "Another tragedy befell me

on my way home to tell my poor

mother. Our bus was hijacked by

five armed men. They took the

vehicle into the bush, robbed us

and raped the women. I was one

of those the bastards raped. At

that time I was still a virgin.

I had not known a man. It was a

very ugly experience and it made

me wonder what a cruel world we

live in. It was so horrible, I

passed out during the gruesome

rape. I had pleaded with them,

but they wouldn't let go. Before

the attacks, I was already in

sorrow and tears. It was the

worst thing that could happen to

anyone and it made me form an

opinion about men."

Sandra couldn't tell anyone what

had happened to her. Rape is one

of the biggest problems in

Nigeria, and the unfortunate

thing is that the extant law and

the fear of social stigma make

it extremely difficult for women

who have been so abused to get

justice. Robbery on the highways

is also rampant. Vehicles are

waylaid by armed robbers and

after looting cash and property,

the hoodlums always end up

raping the women. Rarely do the

victims go to the police. Women

are raped in police stations too

by police officers and other

uniformed men.

When soldiers raided Odi a few

years ago, after sacking the

community, they asked the women

to line up and they raped them

one after the other. The Punch

newspaper published the

photographs but there is no

record of any soldier being

punished for rape. These days,

the newspapers are full of

reports of rape: old men abuse

young girls, campus cultists

rape female students and female

lecturers, fathers rape their

daughters. The ones who get

caught blame the Devil. The

country is full of the devil's

agents. Unless rape is properly

criminalized by protecting the

interest of the victim, the

problem is bound to persist. The

highways also need to become

more secure.

Sandra couldn't "bring herself

to tell anyone what happened,

not even her mother", because

she didn't want to be

stigmatised. She couldn't seek

help, because there are no

counseling centres provided by

the state. Then all of a sudden,

she discovered that she was

pregnant. She finally had to

confide in her mother. She also

chose to abort the pregnancy:

those who insist that abortion

is anti-God should read her

story. She had no choice. Then,

after the abortion, she

discovered that she had been

infected with the dreaded HIV.

With her brother dead, there was

no way she could take up the

offer of admission into

university. With the HIV-

infection, she felt her world

had come to an end. From being a

virgin and a prospective

university student,

circumstances had conspired to

turn her into a failure, all

within six months.

When one of her friends later

suggested that she could go to

Lagos and become a commercial

sex worker, she readily agreed.

Her goal: "to make money and to

infect men with HIV". And so she

says: "for three years now, I

have been distributing the stuff

and it makes me really happy.

Men are evil; they deserve no

mercy. To hell with the men of

this world". By the reporter's

calculations, Sandra would have

infected about 4, 640 men with

HIV in the last three years, at

the rate of four men per day.

These are men who do not want to

use condom, or those who fall

victim of Sandra's buttocks-

wriggling tactics.

Is Sandra the devil-incarnate?

Is she suffering as they say

around here, "from home

trouble?". What is known is that

she thinks all the men of this

world are evil. If she was sure

that the armed robbers who raped

her were later arrested and made

to pay for their crime, perhaps

she would have been satisfied

that justice had been done. She

believes that the world is cruel

and she is willing to promote

that cruelty further. Should we

blame her? A few years ago, the

story was told of a self-

respecting lady who was raped by

armed robbers. She couldn't

stand the shame. She reportedly

committed suicide. Sandra is not

willing to die, rather she has

become an assassin: punishing

menfolk for the crime that five

of their kind committed. Imagine

the number of other women and

men that would have fallen

victim through Sandra.

Even in her unhappy state, she

had cause to smile recently when

two soldiers decided to rape her

at Tarkwa Bay. She said she not

only enjoyed the moment, she

"was shedding tears of joy".

"The only thing that I regret is

that they stole my money and

handsets". What a story. Human

lives no longer mean anything to

her. For her, money and a

handset are more important. And

"any man that comes her way is

an enemy".

And she tells her story with

utmost glee. Her story speaks to

the failure of government. It is

the responsibility of government

to inspire confidence in the

justice system, so that

aggrieved persons may seek

justice formally rather than

resort to jungle justice and

self-help. Sandra's protest is

not only directed at men, but

also at the Nigerian state which

has been unable to protect men,

women and human rights and

provide equal opportunities for

all.

This is also a story that should

be circulated among all men who

keep multiple partners,

including those who do not

patronise prostitutes, but who

like to play around all the

same, buying death with their

money. Those who argue that

abstinence and fidelity to a

single partner is the best way

to minimize the risk of HIV

infection through sex should be

excited by this story. "AIDS no

dey show for face," says one

advert on television. Sandra's

picture is published in The Sun

newspaper, with her face blocked

out to protect her identity, but

the visible outline of her body,

gait and gap-tooth suggests that

she must be quite attractive.

Who would ever suspect that she

is an assassin on the prowl? And

how many ladies are like her and

even men too, looking for ways

of spreading HIV?

The Sun newspaper should not

stop at telling her story,

efforts should be made to bring

help her way. Civil society

groups working on HIV/AIDS

issues should seek her out, and

help to wean her from her chosen

"mission to kill". She also

obviously needs psychiatric

help. But more importantly, a

lot still needs to be done to

enlighten Nigerians about the

reality of HIV/AIDS. Until Fela,

the Afro-beat maestro died of

HIV-related complications and

his family chose to disclose the

cause of death, many Nigerians

regarded HIV/AIDS as Western

propaganda. After a few years of

so-called general awareness,

Nigerians have now gone back to

their old state of denial. There

are Nigerian men who continue to

insist that they will never use

condom or that it is unnatural

to stay with one partner.

"How can a man be eating the

same thing everyday?", they

query. "Do you know anybody who

is living with HIV/AIDS.?

Everywhere you turn: AIDS AIDS,

AIDS but I don't know anybody

who has died of AIDS. Look more

people are dying from malaria

and heart attack", one fellow

once argued. I have heard people

declare cynically that "man must

die of something." When you

point to national statistics and

the HIV sero-prevalence, they

readily tell you that those

figures have been manufactured

by NGOs and government agencies

in order to attract foreign

funding. And these are supposed

to be educated Nigerians.

And so they fall into the hands

of the likes of Sandra, with a

fine face, murderous condom-

negotiating skills and the heart

to kill. And the tragedy

spreads. What does the law say?

Is she insane? Or she should be

recommended for arrest, but she

would probably end up sleeping

with an entire police station,

spread more HIV, and walk free.]]> Mon, 27 Apr 2009 17:22:00 EDT http://www.tigblog.org/group/mdg/post/650113 http://www.tigblog.org/group/mdg/post/504875
The International Food Policy Research Institute (IFPRI) estimates that at least $14 billion (Shs23.8 trillion) per annum is needed to address this challenge. In Sub-Saharan Africa, the annual additional investment is estimated to be about $5 billion (Shs8.5 trillion).

Mr Joachim von Braun, IFPRI director general in his remarks about the 2008 Global Hunger Index report released ahead of the 'World Food Day' which is marked on October 16 said: "Priorities for action at the national and global level must address the immediate food needs of poor people priced out of food markets".

"At the same time, national governments and the global community should begin to correct previous failures in agricultural policy by investing in agriculture and food production, setting up reliable systems for assisting the most vulnerable people in a timely way, and establishing a fair global trading system and a conducive investment environment," Braun said.

He added that the strategic way forward must be facilitated by international cooperation and guided by strong global governance architecture of agriculture, food, and nutrition.

"To substantially improve food security in the 21st century, changes need to be made now," he added. In Uganda, this financial year, government has earmarked a total of Shs50 billion as credit guarantees for banks that lend for agriculture.

Government also provided tax exemptions to encourage enterprises to go into agricultural processing in rural areas and tax exemptions were provided to encourage investment in the construction of hotels, hospitals and educational institutions.

To address the current food crisis and improve the long-term functioning of the world food system, IFPRI recommends productivity and research, which undertake fast-impact food production programmes in key areas and scale up investments for sustained agricultural productivity, including agricultural science policy and appropriate finance.

Another recommendation is nutrition and social protection, which expands emergency responses and humanitarian assistance to food-insecure people and invest in social protection for nutritional improvement.

In terms of markets and trade recommendations demand elimination of agricultural trade restrictions and facilitate rule-based and fair global and regional trade openness; change biofuel policies; support market-oriented regulation of speculation, and implement innovative virtual grain reserve policies. ]]> Fri, 17 Oct 2008 14:32:00 EDT http://www.tigblog.org/group/mdg/post/504875 5.5333333 7.48333335.53333337.4833333 http://www.tigblog.org/group/mdg/post/503207
The study, released on 14 October by anti-hunger non-profits the US-based International Food Policy Research Institute, Ireland's Concern Worldwide and Germany's Welthungerhilfe, compiled the most recent country data available - from 2006. It calculated the rankings based on the percentage of malnourished people, under-five underweight children, and under-five child mortality for 120 countries where hunger is a concern.

The study indicated that the hunger snapshot "offers a picture of the past, not the present," because of the two-year data gap.

Since then, the UN Food and Agricultural Organization (FAO) has measured a more than 50-percent increase in food prices; the price of rice, a staple in most of sub-Saharan Africa, has quadrupled worldwide.

Only Burkina Faso was listed among West African countries as a net exporter of cereals.

Liberia

Liberia's Deputy Information Minister for Public Affairs, Gabriel Williams, told IRIN the index means little for Liberia since the study gathered data from the country's years of civil conflict and economic collapse, and did not cover the most recent post-war gains: "This does not represent the reality on the ground. Within the past two years, the economy is growing and the government is making efforts to ensure full sufficiency."

Williams said President Ellen Johnson-Sirleaf launched a campaign in 2007 - called "Back to the Soil" - to increase agricultural self sufficiency.

Niger

Niger had the highest level of hunger in the region. Though its score improved since 1990, this was not enough to inch it out of the study's "extremely alarming" hunger group. But the UN World Food Programme's deputy country director in Niger, Gianluca Ferrera, told IRIN in August the country's global acute malnutrition rate has decreased from 15.3 to 10.7 percent between 2005 and 2008 due to improved treatments for malnutrition.

Sierra Leone

The rank of the third West African country in the "extremely alarming" group, Sierra Leone, stayed the same during the period of the study, which overlapped with the country's 11-year civil war that ended in 2002.

Cyril Lahai, Sierra Leone's FAO representative, told IRIN the government is doing as much as it can to fight hunger, with limited resources. "There are factors that impede the fight, including the high cost of agricultural inputs for farmers to grow their own food, which leads to low levels of crude production. The government is trying to modernise the country's agricultural system and move it into commercial production."

Lahai said the government is looking to complete the transformation within the next five years. "There is hope for the country. I have hope."
]]> Tue, 14 Oct 2008 14:33:00 EDT http://www.tigblog.org/group/mdg/post/503207 5.5333333 7.48333335.53333337.4833333 http://www.tigblog.org/group/mdg/post/455803
Many other young Ghanaians have either left agriculture or dream of doing so. But Mr. Kwaku, now 25 years old, thinks he can stay on the land. "I will continue to farm," he told Africa Renewal. "I got income and food. I got enough from the farm."


With world food prices rising, it is a good time to push for higher production, argues Isaac Kankam-Boadu, the agriculture and environment facilitator of the Millennium Villages Project in Bonsaaso, a cluster of poor and remote settlements in Ghana's Ashanti Region. "The high food prices are an opportunity," he says. "The farmers can earn more money."

Last year, Mr. Kankam-Boadu reports, Bonsaaso's maize farmers managed to quadruple their yields from an average of about one tonne per hectare (two and a half acres) to four tonnes. Besides boosting their own incomes, the farmers contributed about a tenth of their crop to the area's new school feeding programme, which helps many of the area's children.

Millennium Villages

Such linkages are at the heart of the Millennium Villages Project. The first Millennium Village was launched in 2004 in Sauri, Kenya, as an integrated development initiative. Besides Ghana, the project soon expanded to also include villages in Ethiopia, Malawi, Mali, Nigeria, Rwanda, Senegal, Tanzania and Uganda. The sites were selected on the basis of their poverty indicators and to represent Africa's different ecological and climate zones. Altogether, more than 400,000 people now live in villages chosen for the project.

The idea grew from research and policy deliberations of the Millennium Task Force, directed by the UN Secretary-General's special adviser on the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs), Jeffrey Sachs. The MDGs, adopted by world leaders in 2000, strive to drastically reduce poverty and deprivation around the world.

Expanding access to clean water is one of the goals of the Millennium Villages Project.

The Millennium Villages approach is based on two central ideas: The first is that simple and inexpensive changes in nutrition, health, water, sanitation, education, women's status, agriculture, communications, roads and electricity can lift rural Africans out of severe poverty. The second is that a combination of community mobilization, government support and external aid can fund these efforts for only about $110 per person per year. Most of the Millennium Village projects are being implemented by the UN Development Programme (UNDP).

Initial funders included the government of Japan, which gave more than $9 mn, and the US-based financier and philanthropist George Soros, who gave $5 mn. On 13 March, the Japanese government decided to extend its assistance by an additional $11.4 mn.

Japan's assistance to the project is part of that country's wider programme of support for Asia-Africa cooperation, known as the Tokyo International Conference on African Development (TICAD). The fourth conference was held in Yokohama, Japan, on 28-30 May, and was attended by Ghanaian President John Kufuor and nearly 40 other African heads of state (see article). Near the top of TICAD's agenda was achievement of the MDGs, which is also central to the New Partnership for Africa's Development (NEPAD), Africa's own blueprint for economic, social and political progress.

From school meals to cell phones

The Millennium initiative came to Bonsaaso in March 2006, initially in 10 localities. By the end of that year the project had expanded to 30 communities, covering some 400 square kilometres and affecting more than 30,000 people. The area was selected because many residents were very poor, malnutrition was common, there were few health services, many children did not go to school and numerous other indicators of human development lagged.

Rather than focusing on just one or two sectors, the project's designers want to show that poverty can be attacked across a wide front. If successful here and in other countries, says Sam Asare Afram, the Millennium Village manager in Bonsaaso, the project could provide a "model" for the continent.

Although the project is only two years old, communities in Bonsaaso are already enjoying real results. Rita Adjei, head nurse at the health clinic in Watreso, says that the new anti-mosquito bed nets mean that fewer children get malaria, although diarrhoea is still a serious problem caused by a lack of clean water and sanitation. She points to a bank of solar-powered chargers for cell phones, donated by Sony Ericsson. Once the Bonsaaso area comes under better cell phone coverage, Ms. Adjei and her assistant nurses will be able to quickly obtain better information and advice for their patients.

Nana Dapaah Siakwan, the traditional chief of Aboaboso, estimates that enrolment in the local primary school has increased from 200 to 500, largely thanks to the school feeding programme that began in March 2007. There also is a new health clinic. Until it opened, seriously ill patients had to be carried many kilometres along forest paths to a distant clinic-on a tabletop, since there was no stretcher, explains the chief. Now, he adds, "We have seen the benefits."

Mohammed Salifu, a cocoa farmer, produced nine 64-kilogramme bags in 2007, up from just four the year before, simply by following the advice of an agricultural extension officer sent to Bonsaaso by the Ministry of Food and Agriculture. With new seedlings of a higher-yielding and faster-growing variety of cocoa, he hopes to do even better this year.

Bigger cocoa and food harvests will bring new challenges, however. The abysmal state of the roads within Bonsaaso and with other parts of Ghana makes it hard for farmers to get their crops to market. But Chinese road contractors hired by the government are busy at work, and the project has acquired two five-tonne trucks to help transport produce. Developing physical infrastructure is not one of the MDGs, notes Ernest Mensah, a project facilitator. "But if you want to eradicate poverty," he adds, "you need infrastructure."

Avoiding dependency

Critics of donor-aided development projects in Africa point out that they often tend to make the beneficiaries dependent on outside assistance, and frequently collapse if that money eventually dries up. The Millennium Villages Project does rely on significant inflows. On average, about 60 per cent of project financing comes from donors, 30 per cent from national and local governments and the rest from the communities themselves.

In part, the project is designed to convince donors to provide more financing over the long term, by demonstrating concretely that aid can be used effectively to reduce poverty. A careful tally is kept of every dollar spent in Bonsaaso and other Millennium Villages, not only to avoid waste and inefficiency, but also to demonstrate to donor governments that simple interventions can make a real impact. "They don't know how practical the solutions are," says Mr. Sachs, referring to donor agencies. "They don't realize that at very low cost - just a few dollars - you can save children's lives."

By showing that external aid can indeed be effective in Africa, Mr. Sachs and his colleagues hope to convince the major industrialized countries to live up to their commitments. The 2005 summit meeting of the Group of Eight industrialized countries, for example, pledged to provide Africa with about $50 bn in aid annually by 2010 - still about twice what donors are giving so far.

To help guard against local expectations that such outside assistance will continue to keep the Millennium Villages functioning, project planners stress that certain forms of aid will be steadily reduced and that governments and villagers will need to take up a greater share of the cost. The new higher-yielding cocoa seedlings provided to farmers are currently subsidized, notes Mr. Kankam-Boadu. But as farmers earn more from their cocoa sales, by next year the subsidies will begin declining, "to let them know the realities of the market."

Similarly, health care in Bonsaaso's new clinics is free for the time being, to encourage poor villagers to use their services. But, explains Mr. Afram, free care is not sustainable over the long term. Project workers therefore are helping villagers sign up for Ghana's national health insurance scheme.

In various ways, project organizers are encouraging national and local government bodies to expand their presence in Bonsaaso: by building roads, extending electricity connections and sending in more teachers, health care workers and agricultural extension advisers.

Building up community institutions and a spirit of self-help are also vital for long-term sustainability. Local residents regularly participate in the construction of new schools, teachers' quarters, clinics and community centres by providing labour and contributing sand, stones, timber and other construction materials.

The project employs several "facilitators" to help strengthen school management committees, parents' associations, water committees and other bodies, and to engage traditional chiefs, who play a major role in mobilizing people. Stephen Antwi, the project's community development coordinator, told Africa Renewal that community structures will help Bonsaaso keep developing even when outside aid eventually falls. "We'll likely have the capacity for many years."
]]> Fri, 15 Aug 2008 14:06:00 EDT http://www.tigblog.org/group/mdg/post/455803 5.5333333 7.48333335.53333337.4833333 http://www.tigblog.org/group/mdg/post/350183
According to the World Bank’s latest World Development Report, growth in the agricultural sector in Africa is vital to poverty reduction and to the achievement of the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs). “Strategic public and related private investment in water management will be essential for the intensification of agricultural production and for meeting targets for poverty alleviation, food production and economic recovery by 2015,”said Richard Mkandawire, NEPAD’s Agriculture Advisor. “Reliance on irregular and unreliable rainfall for agricultural production is a major constraint on crop productivity in the region,” Mkandawire added.

The Tunis meeting discussed the agricultural water strategy: Investment in agricultural water for poverty reduction and economic growth in sub-Saharan Africa which was jointly prepared by the World Bank, AfDB, Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD) and International Water Management Institute (IWMI), in response to NEPAD’s desire to implement land and water management (Pillar I) of the Comprehensive Africa Agriculture Development Program (CAADP). The CAADP encompasses among other objectives an increase in the area under sustainable water management in Africa to 20 million hectares, up from less than 7 million hectares at present.

“Developing water resources and rural infrastructure are among the key priority areas of the African Development Bank in Africa. The ongoing agriculture portfolio of the Bank comprises 240 projects covering 28 countries with a total investment of US$3 billion. More than a third of the investment portfolio, ie US$1.37 billion, has been assigned to agriculture water development covering 53 projects and programs, and benefiting 23 African countries,” said Aly Abou-Sabaa, Director of the Agriculture and Agro-Industry Department of the AfDB. “The initiative is timely in view of the rising food prices across the globe and the World Bank is committed to investing up to US$1 billion in sustainable agricultural water projects over the next 5 years”, said John Stein, Acting Director of the Sustainable Development Department, Africa Region, World Bank.]]> Fri, 28 Mar 2008 14:36:00 EDT http://www.tigblog.org/group/mdg/post/350183 5.5333333 7.48333335.53333337.4833333 http://www.tigblog.org/group/mdg/post/349797


Harry Edwards, a press officer for USAID said, "Commodity and ocean freights costs are increasing globally; as these two factors comprise the majority of food aid budgets, the price increases are reducing the tonnage of food aid available". Food prices have risen in part because of increased demand. But the cost of food aid has also been directly hit by freight charges, which have shot up because of rising oil prices. The price spike at the beginning of 2008 follows a 34 percent increase last year. The USAID annual budget for food aid, with supplemental appropriations, is about $1.5 billion. The food aid cuts will affect the agency's emergency operations in more than 40 countries across the world.



The US is the world's biggest food aid donor, contributing an average of six million tonnes of cereal annually since 1970. It funds half of the UN's World Food Programme (WFP), which is responsible for 40 percent to 50 percent of global food aid. Besides emergency food, the US also provides monetised food aid, when food is bought at subsidised prices in the donor country and sold in the recipient country to generate funds for development projects. The US is one of very few countries that does this; most donors give food in kind or supply cash to UN agencies or NGOs for buying food on national or world markets. "The prospect of the food aid budget in the US going up is very dim - so it will have to make the donated dollar work more efficiently and prioritise," explained Christopher Barrett, who teaches development economics at Cornell University and edits the American Journal of Agricultural Economics.



Remove restrictions



"In cases where the US is the primary donor, it will have to relax its binding restriction, which does not allow food aid to be procured locally [in the recipient country] and regionally; improve timeliness of response and focus on emergency food aid." Almost all food aid donated by the USA is tied to domestic requirements for procurement, processing and shipping. "Freight costs form a major portion of the costs of food aid," said Barrett. According to him, it costs more than two dollars of US taxpayers' money to deliver one dollar's worth of food procured as in-kind food aid.



American legislation requires that 50 percent of commodities be processed and packed before shipment; and that 75 percent of food aid managed by USAID, and 50 percent of the food aid managed by the US Department of Agriculture, be transported in "flag-carrying" US-registered vessels. "The agency is looking for opportunities to reduce costs where possible," said Edwards. "It is seeking to reduce commodity costs by working with aid agencies implementing food aid programmes to use lower cost commodities and reduce transport costs by consolidating small orders."



Jeff Borns, director of USAID's Food for Peace programme was quoted in the Washington Post as saying, "We're in the process now of going country by country and analysing the commodity price increase on each country. Then we're going to have to prioritise." But these are "short-term responses" to the situation, added Barrett. "Fuel and food prices are going to continue to rise; in the long term the solution lies in stimulating smallholder farmers into producing more food in poor countries."
]]> Thu, 27 Mar 2008 14:17:00 EDT http://www.tigblog.org/group/mdg/post/349797 5.5333333 7.48333335.53333337.4833333 http://www.tigblog.org/group/mdg/post/345711
A response that is based on 'human rights' and education and leadership!]]> Wed, 19 Mar 2008 09:35:00 EDT http://www.tigblog.org/group/mdg/post/345711 5.5333333 7.48333335.53333337.4833333 http://www.tigblog.org/group/mdg/post/323571
A Bahia possui uma das festas populares mais belas do mundo. Povo rico em manifestações culturais, o baiano apresenta ao mundo toda sua hospitalidade, alegria e espontaneidade durante o Carnaval. É também durante esta festa que demonstramos organização e trabalho para que milhões de pessoas que invadem as ruas da cidade de Salvador possam aproveitar bem o reinado de Momo. O Carnaval de Salvador também é famoso por comportar, num só evento, uma pluralidade de ritmos, cores, credos pouco vista em outras localidades. Por isso, não encontramos dificuldades de identificar um espaço para a divulgação de informações sobre a prevenção da DST/Aids e a promoção da saúde.
Quando saiu pela primeira vez pelas ruas de Salvador, no Carnaval de 1996, o Bloco da Camisinha chamou a atenção dos foliões e da mídia pela novidade que representava. A distribuição de 200 mil preservativos mais materiais informativos como folders, pulseiras, adesivos e cartazes colocou a prevenção a AIDS definitivamente na agenda da folia da capital baiana, uma festa que pela sua própria natureza estimula a libido e, caso não haja cuidados, torna propícia a transmissão de Doenças Sexualmente Transmissíveis (DST).
Como a Aids não escolhe etnia, sexo, idade, muito menos festa, o Bloco da Camisinha volta às ruas em 2008 para chamar a atenção e conscientizar a população sobre a importância do isso do preservativo na prevenção de doenças sexualmente transmissíveis, principalmente a Aids.
Em 2007, ao desfilar pelas ruas de Salvador, o bloco conseguiu reunir servidores da Fiocruz e das redes municipais e estadual de saúde, estudantes, autoridades, artistas e parceiros de organizações não-governamentais em prol do seu objetivo. A ação ocorre em parceria com a Secretaria Municipal de Saúde, que vai instalar pontos fixos de distribuição em localidades espalhadas pelos circuitos oficiais da folia. Em 2007, o Ministério da Saúde distribuiu cerca de 10 milhões de preservativos, já em 2008 espera-se que esse número seja maior.
Principal ação do Programa de Prevenção Contra a Aids no Carnaval de Salvador, o bloco participa da festa há mais de 12 anos como fruto inicial de uma parceria entre a Fiocruz -BA e a Escola Nacional de Saúde da Universidade de Harvard. Neste período, o bloco tornou-se a representação lúdica do trabalho cotidiano de diversos setores da saúde.
Hoje, a ação constitui-se como resultado de um esforço conjunto envolvendo as três esferas de governo: 1) Federal, pelo Ministério da Saúde através da FIOCRUZ, Secretaria de Vigilância e Saúde (SVS) e Programa Nacional de DST-Aids (PN-DST/Aids); 2) Estadual, pela Secretaria de Saúde do Estado da Bahia através da Superintendência de Vigilância e Proteção à Saúde (Suvisa-Divep), Coordenação Estadual de DST/Aids (CE-DST/Aids) e Centro de Referência Estadual de Aids (Creaids); e 3) Municipal, pela Secretaria Municipal de Saúde (SMS) através da Coordenação Municipal de DST/Aids (CM-DST/Aids), além das Organizações Não-Governamentais de assistência a portadores de HIV/Aids e demais parceiros das esferas governamentais e não-governamental.
É com este espírito que em 2008 o Bloco da Camisinha volta às ruas de Salvador, com a seguinte programação.

Programação

Quinta-Feira - 31/01/08
Concentração às 19:00hs no Campo Grande (Estátua do Caboclo)
Atração: Carla Cristina com a Banda Tribahia.

Sábado - 02/02/08
Concentração às 13:00hs na Barra (Farol da Barra)
Atração: Simone Sampaio

Segunda – 04/02/08
Concentração às 10:00hs no Largo do Garcia (Módulo Policial)
Atração: Fred Dantas]]> Thu, 17 Jan 2008 16:48:00 EST http://www.tigblog.org/group/mdg/post/323571 -14.6833333 -41.0333333-14.6833333-41.0333333 http://www.tigblog.org/group/mdg/post/318843 Aquí en la ciudad del Salvador, Bahia, Brasil, montamos un proyecto para acercar la comunidad de Canabrava, barrio desprovisto de la ciudad al objetivo número 2. Nuestro foco es poder realizar la reforma del centro de guardería comunitaria, así pudendo proporcionar un ambiente mejor para los 70 niños que se toman cuidado gratuito cerca de la institución. En esta iniciativa contamos con la ayuda de la oficina del PNUD en Salvador. Más allá de la participación de Marta Sachy y de Iala Queiroz. Nos preponemos concluir la reforma en mazo de 2007.

English
Here in the city of Salvador, Bahia, Brazil, assemble a project to bring the community Cañabrava, neighborhood devoid of the city to target number 2. Our focus is to make the reform of community daycare center, as well pudendo provide a better environment for the 70 children who are taken care free near the institution. In this initiative we have the assistance of the UNDP office in Salvador. Beyond the involvement of Martha Sachy and Iala Queiroz. We conclude preponemos deck of reform in 2007.]]> Sun, 06 Jan 2008 20:10:00 EST http://www.tigblog.org/group/mdg/post/318843 -14.6833333 -41.0333333-14.6833333-41.0333333 http://www.tigblog.org/group/mdg/post/222845 HERE!

Don’t forget to mark Global Youth Service Day 2008 on your calendar for April 25-27.]]> Sun, 24 Jun 2007 15:27:00 EDT http://www.tigblog.org/group/mdg/post/222845 38.8950000 -77.036666738.8950000-77.0366667 http://www.tigblog.org/group/mdg/post/221289
Mrs. Bush, who has been an active supporter of the George W. Bush administration in specific domestic and foreign policy areas, will be visiting Senegal, Mali, Zambia and Mozambique, according to her press office at the White House.]]> Thu, 21 Jun 2007 04:14:00 EDT http://www.tigblog.org/group/mdg/post/221289 9.0833333 7.53333339.08333337.5333333 http://www.tigblog.org/group/mdg/post/211197
The president of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, President Olusegun Obasanjo, emphasised at the prorgramme that the Child’s Right Act 2003 guarantees the rights of Nigeria’s children to life, health, education, non-discrimination and protection from all forms of abuse. In recognition of the importance of the full potentials of children as well as growth and development of nations, five of the eight Millennium Development Goals have captured the most fundamental of these rights and articulated specific targets for their achievement.

He said, "To do that, we must fully mainstream the United Nations convention on the rights of the child through the enactment of Child’s Right Laws in all states of the federation."]]> Mon, 28 May 2007 02:58:00 EDT http://www.tigblog.org/group/mdg/post/211197 9.0833333 7.53333339.08333337.5333333 http://www.tigblog.org/group/mdg/post/210237
The project, which will improve the quality of basic education particularly for the girls and the poor in the benefiting states, will spread over four years between 2007 and 2011. It is hoped that the project would help each state improve the quality of basic education in the targetted local government areas and strengthen their capacity for management, planning and monitoring of the delivery of education services.
The benefiting states were selected based on their demonstrated commitment to and ownership of well developed education sector, the quality of their education sector as well as plans for growth and their education indicators, especially girls’ participation.

Other factors that worked in favour of the chosen states were their expressed interest in education reforms, including the achievement of the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) and Universal Basic Education (UBE).]]> Sat, 26 May 2007 11:57:00 EDT http://www.tigblog.org/group/mdg/post/210237 9.0833333 7.53333339.08333337.5333333 http://www.tigblog.org/group/mdg/post/195079


International agencies must provide coordinated support to help countries produce both, say the authors. Otherwise, there will always be holes in the data. But, in a separate correspondence, Paul Cheung from the UN statistics division argues that real progress has already been made. UN statisticians have reviewed monitoring data and made recommendations for improvement. Efforts to help countries produce and use data have been scaled up — a global statistical system has helped to conduct surveys and censuses in difficult areas and improve registration systems. Now, all but 17 of the countries involved in monitoring the MDGs have trend data for at least half the indicators, says Cheung. And many countries are researching and assessing their own programmes and implementing goal-based strategies based on the data.
]]> Wed, 02 May 2007 06:37:00 EDT http://www.tigblog.org/group/mdg/post/195079 5.5333333 7.48333335.53333337.4833333 http://www.tigblog.org/group/mdg/post/191683
Salako, a guest lecturer at the sixth yearly conference of the School of Clinical Science, College of Medicine, University of Lagos, Idi-Araba and "2007 African Malaria Day" held on Wednesday, said it had been computed that if malaria had been eradicated in 1960, the Gross Domestic Product (GDP) of Africa would have been $400.

He noted that countries that are highly endemic have an estimated GDP growth deficit of at least 1.3 per cent each year.

Speaking on "Malaria: The Unabating Scourge," Salako, who was the first Director- General of the Nigerian Institute of Medical Research, Yaba in Lagos, stated that "malaria has proven not only to be a disease of the poor, but has made Africa poor and keeps her poor."

He said: "It is one of the commonest causes of ill health in Africa, south of the Sahara with almost the entire population being at risk as about 500 million cases of malaria illness occur yearly in Africa, 70-80 per cent of them in the rural areas."

Salako said the disease has remained highly endemic in Nigeria, with most citizens remaining at risk because of the intensity of transmission. He remarked however, that infection with the parasite does not necessarily result in malaria illness.

Salako canvassed early diagnosis and prompt effective treatment, reduction of transmission through vector control and, strategic and operational research as options to pursue towards learning more about the disease and its transmission and improving methods for achieving the control objective.

Salako told the audience that "malaria is preventable, treatable and curable," with the tools presently available and need not continue to be a scourge if initiatives like Roll Back Malaria are adequately implemented.

Chairman of the conference organising committee, Dr. Dayo Adeyemi, said the forum would focus on malaria for as along as the tragedies occasioned "by this preventable disease remain in Nigeria and the world without any foreseeable indication of its permanent extirpation."]]> Fri, 27 Apr 2007 04:44:00 EDT http://www.tigblog.org/group/mdg/post/191683 9.0833333 7.53333339.08333337.5333333 http://www.tigblog.org/group/mdg/post/189417
The theme of this year's Conference was: “Accelerating Africa's growth and development to meet the millennium development goals-emerging challenges and the way forward”.

The ECA organizes the Conference of African Ministers of Finance, Planning and Economic Development every year. The meetings have become a key forum for agreement on strategies for tackling critical challenges facing the continent
]]> Wed, 25 Apr 2007 06:06:00 EDT http://www.tigblog.org/group/mdg/post/189417 5.5333333 7.48333335.53333337.4833333 http://www.tigblog.org/group/mdg/post/185721
The initiative aimed at safeguarding 21 of the world’s most critical food crops through securing their seeds was a joint programme of Global Crop Diversity Trust and the United Nations Foundation.

Also in boosting the implementation of the new Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) international treaty on plant genetic resources.

In a statement made available to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) yesterday in Abuja, the Director of the trust, Mr. Cary Fowler, said the grants would finance research into the world’s most important food crops that were critical to the poor, but largely neglected by plant breeding.

Some of the orphan crops are potato, yam, cassava and coconut among others.

"Although some orphan crops like yam cannot be grown from seeds, but needed to be cultivated from cuttings, roots or cell cultures thereby making their conservation more complex and expensive, but it would be included because it is important to the poor,’’ he said.

The initiative will fund 400,000 samples of more than 2,000 species of 150 crops amounting to 85 per cent of the diversity of all agricultural crops.

It would also develop state of art genetic bank management software system and enter at least 50 priority collections for 100 different traits of hidden genetic resources.

He said the efforts would secure more than 95 per cent of the under funded, disrepair and endangered crop diversity held in developing country genetic banks.

Fowler said the new technologies were expected to reduce conservation cost by 75 per cent and improve the security of collections of such crops.

He said the initiative would also transform communications for plant breeders and farmers around the world to search genetic banks for traits needed to combat new diseases and cope with climate change.

The President of the Gates Foundation, Mr. Sylvia Burwell, said the efforts was to help hundreds of millions of rural farmers and their families to overcome poverty and hunger rested in part on food security.

"There can be no food security without first securing the basis of food production,’’ he said.

He said crop diversity was vital part of the solution to many of the world’s great challenges from environmental conservation to climate and food security.

Burwell said that plant breeders across Africa would be able to adapt their crops to varieties that would grow in different climate conditions.

"Out of the total grant, 15 million dollars would go to the trust’s endowment while the proceeds would be used to maintain the collections of the 21 most important crops,’’ he said.

The UN foundation was created in 1998 with entrepreneur Ted Turner’s historic one billion dollars gift to support UN causes and activities.

While the Global Crop Diversity Trust was to ensure the conservation and availability of crop diversity for food security worldwide.
]]> Fri, 20 Apr 2007 02:19:00 EDT http://www.tigblog.org/group/mdg/post/185721 9.0833333 7.53333339.08333337.5333333 http://www.tigblog.org/group/mdg/post/184691
Vigilante men don’t bother these ones because they know what they are searching for in the early hours of the day when they should be sleeping or doing some other household chores. Moreover, their wives could probably be among those in the early morning search for water. An hour later, some of these people would be seen returning to their homes with big basins of water, sometimes muddy, on their heads while pulling buckets or kegs of water along. More pathetic are the cases of women who, in addition to the heavy water containers, have babies strapped on their backs, and little kids following them with small containers on their heads. Ironically, they always come back smiling and chatting, and calling on neighbours, who are yet to go on water search, to rejoice with them.

In Oja Oba area of Ibadan, Oyo State recently, a public tap (as is custom) that had not run for weeks suddenly had water flowing from it. The residents alerted one another and within minutes, the place was jam-packed with people, buckets and the likes. However, the water flow was rather slow; it could take an hour for a bucket to fill up. After waiting endlessly for the current to increase to no avail, the people discovered the cause of the slow flow – a pipe had burst and water that was supposed to be flowing to the tap was gushing out of the broken pipe. Though the pipe had been covered with refuse and mud, the people simply saw it as a miracle; they shifted the long queue to the broken pipe, scooping water from the dirt while some that couldn’t stand the putrid smell coming from refuse covered their noses.

The situation in other states is not any better. In fact, water crisis is a national problem in Nigeria, as the national water coverage is about 40 per cent for major cities like Lagos, Ibadan and Abuja, with a miserable five per cent in few local government areas. The most populous city in Africa, Lagos, has sufficient water resources that could meet the needs of its people, but actual water supply is very poor in most parts of the state.

But unlike Ibadan, most Lagos residents had stopped waiting for Water Corporation to bring succour to them. They have now found a solution in boreholes. Many drill boreholes for private use and, sometimes, commercial purposes. While the borehole alternative is easier in places like Lagos with high water level; the rocky terrain of Ibadan make it difficult for people to dig wells that will sustain them all year round.

Water has always been a big problem in Ibadan. During the dry season, the situation is unbearable. Many wells get dry and water stops flowing even in the few areas that normally enjoy treated water during rainy season and many people have to rely on the few wells and boreholes around them. Speaking with the Nigerian Tribune, Alhaji Akorede, a resident of Isale Ijebu area of Ibadan, said everyone in the vicinity depends on the public tap, but unfortunately, the tap has not been functioning well since the dry season began. “Sometimes, the tap doesn’t run for two months and when it does, the flow is usually slow,” he said. “People have to walk long distance in search of water. Wells around here are already dried up; likewise the borehole that was constructed by UNICEF a couple of years ago has stopped functioning for over a year. We will be lucky if water tankers come around.

“Buying water is not easy for us as well. For instance, a basin of water sells for N40. The people around are poor; the average family can only afford two basins of water and you know the implication of that.” On the potability of water that flows from the tap, Mr Demola, another resident who spoke with Nigerian Tribune said: “The water is usually dirty; I guess is it because some pipes are broken and dirt filters into them. By the time the water comes out of the pipes, it would be brownish and smelly. Pointing at burst pipe, he said: “It has been broken for a long time. Despite the fact that the place is muddy and dirty, people would scoop from water from it. We can’t blame them because they don’t know when next they would come across water.

Asked how come the pipes were broken, he said: “We really don’t know, and if the pipes were broken by residents, it couldn’t have been an intentional act. Come to think of it, these pipes are really old, nobody cares about them, I don’t think officials of Water Corporation check on them. The best we can do is to secure the broken points with nylon or rubber so that the water will not get contaminated. Our fear is that if something is not done, there could be an outbreak of cholera.”

Without any doubt, the scarcity of water has disrupted the day-to-day activities of the residents. A clergy, Pastor Moses Daramola, narrated his ordeal as a pastor in a CAC church at Inalende, an area where water is next to gold. “During dry season like this, the turnout of my congregation is always poor,” he said. “ “Many of them complain that they couldn’t make church services because they had no water to bath. Sometimes after the service, I would see them still queuing up for water; some of them would be full of apologies saying, ‘Pastor, we are sorry. We’ve been here since 3 am…’ I know they are not lying because it is really difficult getting water in this part of the city.”

Business has not been as usual with businessmen that cannot do without water. Mr. Taiwo Akinola, a printer at Mokola hills said the non-availability of water has affected their businesses. “Printing needs water, and unfortunately, most printers are located in Mokola where water is very scarce,” he says. “We get water from wells, most of which are being locked up because of the drought. “Alternatively, we buy water from tankers and when they don’t come, we just have to go to areas like Eleyele, where we will be sure that water would flow.”

Areas where residents have access to water include Eleyele, Agodi, Bodija, Idi Isin, Montana and so on. These areas, however, rely on private boreholes. Areas like Agbowo, Inalende, Orita Aperin, Oke Agala and Aremo are untouched where treated water is concerned, while only some parts of Oja Agbo, Oje, Alajare, Idi Arere, Oke Ado have assess to treated water. Outskirts of the state are out of the question where water is concerned. Reacting to this situation, Mrs. Busola Adetunji, the Public Relation Officer of the Oyo State Water Corporation, said the government is aware of the water situation. “The government is not neglecting anyone,” she says. “Presently, we are working on extension areas and we would ensure that everyone gets water.”

In the meantime, the scarcity is really biting hard. It is hoped that a prompt and lasting solution will be sought before there is outbreak of cholera and other water related diseases.]]> Wed, 18 Apr 2007 10:48:00 EDT http://www.tigblog.org/group/mdg/post/184691 9.0833333 7.53333339.08333337.5333333 http://www.tigblog.org/group/mdg/post/183319
DFID: Duty press officer + 44-20 70230600

UNDP: Benjamin Craft +1-212-906-5344, benjamin.craft@undp.org

World Bank: Sergio Jellinek +1-202-294-6232, Sjellinek@worldbank.org

WASHINGTON, APRIL 14, 2007 – New commitments were today expressed by donors, international development institutions and developing countries to tackle the water and sanitation crisis that affects the world’s poor. Over a billion people in developing countries lack access to a reliable water supply and half the population of developing countries are without proper sanitation.

This global response took shape during a special event held during the World Bank and IMF Spring Meetings co-hosted by the World Bank, the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), and the UK Department for International Development (DFID). The meeting brought together developed and developing country government representatives along with civil society leaders and development agencies to galvanize common action on access to clean water and sanitation.

A number of donors present committed to increase and improve support to countries to expand water and sanitation services, including:

· Supporting those governments which already have plans in place and have committed to invest their own resources;

· Helping countries without water and sanitation plans to prepare them;

· Renewing commitment to the African Development Bank’s Rural Water Supply and Sanitation Initiative. This provides a unique opportunity to harmonize, increase and improve donor support behind national plans;

· Giving special treatment to those countries that, despite their needs, do not receive sufficient attention from donors. As a first step this will include, reporting shortfalls in their funding and agreeing who will do what.

· Focusing on sanitation services and hygiene education. Both are cost-efficient and effective live savers.

In addition, participants agreed to better coordinate their actions at a global level to deliver a greater impact on the ground, and identified some practical initiatives, such as:

· A proposed annual global monitoring report prepared by UN Water and its members, to be launched with a special focus on sanitation in 2008, the year of sanitation. This will set out progress towards achieving the water and sanitation Millennium Development Goal (MDG) targets;

· Agreement that there should be one annual meeting to discuss this report and agree actions on it. The Stockholm World Water Week in August 2007 was identified as the venue at which these future annual meetings will be identified.

· ‘Follow up’ to existing water action plans; and

· A common approach on sanitation.

World Bank President Paul Wolfowitz, said:

“Public spending on water and sanitation has declined to less than 1 percent of the GDP in most countries, and in poorest countries, private sector financing is nearly non-existent. Overseas development assistance for water has remained stable at best. What we need is for investments to be doubled, from $15 billion to $30 billion a year. Water, sanitation, and hygiene services save lives. The international community has an obligation to respond to this crisis with commitment and passion.”

Kemal Derviş, Administrator of the United Nations Development Programme, said:

“As we have seen in last year’s Human Development Report and other analyses, ensuring that the poor have access to sanitation and water is central to achieving all the MDGs. Reaching the Goals, including those for water and sanitation, is possible. We have the knowledge and the financial capacity needed to address the water crisis. What is missing now is sufficient political will, and concerted and agreed action. This is where our collective commitment and support is needed.”

Ugandan Minister of State for Water, Maria Mutagamba who also chairs the African Ministers’ Council on Water (AMCOW) said:

“Our message to you is clear. Africa is ready to scale up and provide sanitation and water supply to all. We need donor support. Particular attention must focus on sanitation and hygiene. Over sixty percent of Africans is forced to defecate in the open. Toilets save lives and provide dignity. But more toilets will not improve health on their own. Better hygiene is what matters. And that means making hand-washing a part of normal everyday behavior in every family.”

The UK Secretary of State for International Development Hilary Benn said:

“I’m delighted that today we’ve agreed some really practical steps for tackling the global water and sanitation crisis – that takes the lives of 5,000 children a day. These include agreeing what will now be an annual report on water and sanitation, identifying an annual event when we get together to make decisions on the basis of this report, and agreement that the UN will identify one lead body on water and sanitation in each country.”

Notes to editors:

The side event took place today in Washington ahead of the World Bank/IMF Development Committee (comprised by Ministers of finance and development) meetings on Sunday.

For more information, please see the websites:

www.dfid.gov.uk and www.dfid.gov.uk/pubs/files/global-action-plan-water.pdf

www.undp.org/hdr2006

www.worldbank.org/watsan]]> Mon, 16 Apr 2007 03:33:00 EDT http://www.tigblog.org/group/mdg/post/183319 9.0833333 7.53333339.08333337.5333333 http://www.tigblog.org/group/mdg/post/183317
Over a billion people in developing countries lack access to a reliable water supply and half the population are without proper sanitation.

This global response came at a special event held during the World Bank and International Monetary Fund (IMF) Spring Meeting co-hosted by the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) and the United Kingdom (UK) Department for International Development (DFID.

The meeting brought together developed and developing countries' government representatives, civil society leaders and development agencies to galvanise common action on access to clean water and sanitation.

A number of donors present committed to increasing and improving support to countries to expand water and sanitation services by:

* supporting governments which already have plans in place and are ready to invest their own resources;

* helping countries without water and sanitation plans to prepare them;

* renewing commitment to the African Development Bank's Rural Water Supply and Sanitation Initiative. This provides a unique opportunity to harmonise, increase and improve donor support behind national plans;

* giving special treatment to those countries that, despite their needs, do not receive sufficient attention from donors. As a first step, this will include, reporting shortfalls in their funding and agreeing who will do what; and

* focusing on sanitation services and hygiene education. Both are cost-efficient and effective lifesavers.

In addition, participants agreed to better co-ordinate their actions at global level to deliver greater impact and identified some practical initiatives, such as:

* a proposed annual global monitoring report prepared by UN Water and its members to be launched with a special focus on sanitation in 2008, the Year of Sanitation. This will set out progress towards achieving the water and sanitation Millennium Development Goal (MDG) targets;

* agreement that there should be one annual meeting to discuss this report and agree actions on it. The Stockholm World Water Week in August 2007 was identified as the venue at which these future annual meetings will be identified;

* follow up to existing water action plans; and

* a common approach on sanitation.

Uganda's Minister of State for Water, Maria Mutagamba, who also chairs the African Ministers' Council on Water (AMCOW), said: "Our message to you is clear. Africa is ready to scale up and provide sanitation and water supply to all. We need donor support. Particular attention must focus on sanitation and hygiene.

"Over 60 per cent of Africans are forced to defecate in the open. Toilets save lives and provide dignity. But more toilets will not improve health on their own. Better hygiene is what matters. And that means making hand-washing a part of normal, everyday behaviour in every family."]]> Mon, 16 Apr 2007 03:25:00 EDT http://www.tigblog.org/group/mdg/post/183317 9.0833333 7.53333339.08333337.5333333 http://www.tigblog.org/group/mdg/post/181031
The disease, which kills an African child every 30 seconds, is entirely preventable and curable, and its symptoms such as headaches and fever often send patients to pharmacies.

The proposal is currently being put together to be presented to potential donor countries such as the Netherlands and Britain. A first draft has already been submitted and it is hoped the subsidy will get under way by the end of this year or early 2008.

Millions contracting malaria on the continent develop a resistance to cheap anti-malaria drugs like chloroquine, used for over 50 years, and governments have been forced to come up with alternative ways to provide the sick with effective medication.

Currently the only effective treatment is a combination drug based on artemisinin, a plant mostly grown in China.

"Even though the price of new medicines has come down, it is still too expensive for Africa. We need to find sustainable solutions to raise new money to make medicines available and affordable to the poor," said Tanzanian Health Minister David Hameli Mwakuysa.

"These drugs are 20 to 30 times more expensive than chloroquine. The poorest of the poor have no access to these drugs," said Awa Marie Coll-Seck, executive director of the Roll Back Malaria Partnership which is spearheading the proposal.

Coll-Seck said donors are eager to participate in the subsidy that will see up to $300 million making up the price difference between the cost to buy the medicines and the production.

The high cost of artemisin-based combination therapies is exacerbated when accessed through the private sector.

Currently sold to buyers at $1, and up to $10 in the private sector, the course of treatment is beyond the reach of impoverished Africans.

"Malaria is preventable, treatable and curable and there is no excuse for an African to die of malaria," said Mwakuysa.]]> Fri, 13 Apr 2007 03:38:00 EDT http://www.tigblog.org/group/mdg/post/181031 9.0833333 7.53333339.08333337.5333333 http://www.tigblog.org/group/mdg/post/179859
“When my husband died, I stopped having any income and for some time I didn’t have enough money to buy materials to weave,” she explains. Mrs. Bakeo was one of the women who made a lasting impression in February of 2005, when then-World Bank President James Wolfensohn visited Mahaxay to take part in local consultations as part of the Nam Theun 2 (NT2) project. Mr. Wofensonh promised to find ways to help these women.

“These women were so candid, and they were eager to be able to continue to weave and contribute to their family’s income,” explains Country Director for Lao PDR Ian C. Porter. “Mr. Wolfensohn thought ‘there must be a way we can help them’ and through the Community Connections Fund, the Bank has been able to make a very positive difference in their lives.”

As a result of Mr. Wolfensonh’s visit, a year later, in February 2006, the World Bank’s Community Connections Fund—a nonprofit corporation organized for charitable purposes—granted the Mahaxay Women’s Handicraft Group a US$4,000 grant. Fifty-seven families in four villages benefit, including Mrs. Bakeo. The money is administered through a revolving fund that the women can draw money from to buy materials they need to weave such as silk, cotton and bamboo combs; interest paid goes back into the fund.
With the money, I have been able to buy materials and I sell everything I make to my neighbors and people around my village,” explains Mrs. Ni Boan, who also lives in Mahaxay. “I can make around 3 sinhs (traditional Lao skirts) per day and sell them at $2 each […] almost all the income in my family comes from my weaving.” Mrs. Ni Boan has four kids and they all attend school. A more experienced weaver, she is able to make large textiles with more complicated patterns that she sells in the nearby city of Thakek for up to $50 each.

Complementing the work taking place

The Mahaxay women are also benefiting from training on improved weaving techniques such as natural dying, as part of the Nam Theun 2 (NT2) hydroelectric power project. Due to increased water levels in rivers in areas around Mahaxay—part of what is known as the “downstream areas”—a livelihood restoration program is in place to mitigate potential project impacts and develop new alternatives of living.

“The money was not given in isolation,” explains World Bank Country Manager in Lao PDR, Patchamuthu Illangovan, “it actually builds on activities taking place on the ground, so basically we are not duplicating efforts or working in silos but looking at the wider picture.”

The training on weaving techniques led by the NT2 project developer, the Nam Theun 2 Power Company, is taking place in various villages, but the women in the four villages in Mahaxay that benefit from the World Bank grant are seeing increased returns. “The women in these villages can see the difference,” explains Ms. Keota, President of the Lao Women’s Union in Mahaxay district, responsible for administering the revolving fund. “They have more materials because they have more money than the other villagers due to the World Bank grant.”

Lack of markets, however, remains a major obstacle. “Dealing with traders and linking with new markets is still hard,” explains Ms. Keota. “A shop or something more stable would be useful. That would save me transportation costs and the time I spend trying to sell the sinhs,” adds Mrs. Ni Boan.

Market availability also came up when East Asia Vice President Jim Adams visited the Mahaxay weavers in February 2007. He assured the women the World Bank staff would work alongside the Women’s Group to asses the opportunity of using the remaining grant money to set up a shop.

“Thank you very much,” said Mrs. Bakeo. “Weaving is helping me buy rice to eat and with the extra money I can even support my grandchildren.”

www.worldbank.org]]> Wed, 11 Apr 2007 04:24:00 EDT http://www.tigblog.org/group/mdg/post/179859 9.0833333 7.53333339.08333337.5333333 http://www.tigblog.org/group/mdg/post/179187
The Ministry of Women and Child Development, Government of India is happy to share the report of the National Study on Child Abuse titled "Study on Child Abuse: INDIA 2007", which was launched by the Hon'ble Minister of State Smt. Renuka Chowdhury this afternoon.

The aim of the study was to develop a dependable and comprehensive understanding of the phenomenon of child abuse, with a view to facilitate the formulation of appropriate policies and programs meant to effectively curb and control the problem of child abuse in India. The National Study on Child Abuse is one of the largest empirical in-country studies of its kind in the world. This study also complements the UN Secretary General's Global Study on Violence against Children 2006.

The initiative of the Ministry to conduct this study was supported by UNICEF and Save the Children. A Delhi based NGO, Prayas was contracted to design and conduct the research and submit a preliminary report. After the submission of the preliminary report, the MWCD appointed a Core Committee to review the complete data, analyze the findings and produce the final report along with recommendations.

The study has provided revealing statistics on the extent and magnitude of various forms of child abuse- an area by and large unexplored. The study has also thrown up data on variations among different age groups, gender variations, state variations and variations within evidence groups. The findings will help to strengthen the understanding of all stakeholders including families, communities, civil society organizations and the state.

Major Findings:
1. Across different forms of abuse, and across different evidence groups, the younger children (5-12 years of age) have reported higher levels of abuse than the other two age groups
2. Boys, as compared to girls, are equally at risk of abuse
3. Persons in trust and authority are major abusers
4. 70% of abused child respondents never reported the matter to anyone

Physical Abuse
1. Two out of every three children are physically abused
2. Out of 69% children physically abused in 13 sample states, 54.68% were boys
3. Over 50% children in all the 13 sample states were being subjected to one or the other form of physical abuse
4. Out of those children physically abused in family situations, 88.6% were physically abused by parents
5. 65% of school going children reported facing corporal punishment i.e.two out of three children were victims of corporal punishment
6. The State of Andhra Pradesh, Assam, Bihar and Delhi have almost consistently reported higher rates of abuse in all forms as compared to other states
7. Most children did not report the matter to anyone
8. 50.2% children worked seven days a week

Sexual Abuse
1. 53.22% children reported having faced one or more forms of sexual abuse.
2. Andhra Pradesh, Assam, Bihar and Delhi reported the highest percentage of sexual abuse among both boys and girls.
3. 21.90% child respondents reported facing severe forms of sexual abuse and 50.76% other forms of sexual abuse.
4. Out of the child respondents, 5.69% reported being sexually assaulted.
5. Children in Assam, Andhra Pradesh, Bihar and Delhi reported the highest incidence of sexual assault.
6. Children on street, children at work and children in institutional care reported the highest incidence of sexual assault.
7. 50% abuses are persons known to the child or in a position of trust and responsibility.
8. Most children did not report the matter to anyone

Emotional Abuse and Girl Child Neglect
1. Every second child reported facing emotional abuse
2. Equal percentage of both girls and boys reported facing emotional abuse
3. In 83% of the cases parents were the abusers
4. 48.4% of girls wished they were boys

The gravity of the situation demands that the issue of child abuse be placed on the national agenda. The Ministry on its part has taken measures such as the enabling legislation to establish the National and State Commissions for Protection of Rights of the Child, the Integrated Child Protection Scheme, the draft Offences against Children Bill etc. These are a few important steps to ensure protection of children of the country. But clearly, this will not be enough, the government, civil society and communities need to complement each other and work towards creating a protective environment for children. The momentum gained needs to enhance further discussion on the issue amongst all stakeholders and be translated into a movement to ensure protection of children of this country.

The report can be accessed from the Ministry's website http://www.wcd. nic.in/childabus e.pdf

For any further queries on the study, please feel free to contact me through email loveleenkacker@ gmail.com or phone 91-11-23387683.

Thanks

Dr. Loveleen Kacker
Joint Secretary (Child Welfare)
Ministry of Women and Child Development
Government of India
Shastri Bhawan
New Delhi-110001 INDIA


]]> Tue, 10 Apr 2007 04:41:00 EDT http://www.tigblog.org/group/mdg/post/179187 9.0833333 7.53333339.08333337.5333333 http://www.tigblog.org/group/mdg/post/179167
The call came as Sudanese, AU and UN officials met in Addis Ababa yesterday to discuss the exact nature of UN support for the 7,000-strong African contingent currently deployed in Darfur.

Annan last year floated a plan for the UN to prop up the embattled African Union (AU) peacekeeping force in Darfur, but Khartoum has stalled, arguing that it would amount to the deployment of Western troops on its soil.

Beijing's rare prod to its top African ally came as the plan was being discussed in Addis Ababa and two days ahead of a visit to Sudan and neighbouring countries by United States (U.S.) Deputy Secretary of State, John Negroponte.

"China appreciates Sudan's efforts in restoring peace in Darfur, but is expecting more flexibility on the Annan plan," Chinese envoy Zhai Jun told reporters in Khartoum.

The international community has urged China to start using its economic leverage to put pressure on Khartoum over Darfur, where four years of U.S.-backed diplomacy have failed to stem the bloodshed.

The UN said about 200,000 people have been killed and more than two million displaced in Darfur since the fighting erupted in February 2003. Some sources say the death toll is much higher.

China is the leading foreign investor in Sudan, absorbs almost two thirds of its oil output and has repeatedly shielded Khartoum from UN sanctions.

Implementation of the Annan plan has already started but differences have emerged over the third and final phase, which is supposed to lead to a joint - or "hybrid" - peacekeeping force grouping AU and UN troops.

"We hope our Sudanese friends will accept this plan. The name of the force, joint or hybrid, is not important," said Zhai.

Negroponte is expected to kick off a week-long mission to Sudan and its neighbours tomorrow in a bid to clinch Khartoum's support for a more robust peacekeeping force in Darfur.

"Certainly he's going to encourage the Sudanese government to give the green light to the AU-UN hybrid package, which is fundamental to providing security and greater stability in Darfur," State Department spokesman, Sean McCormack, said.

As part of his tour, Negroponte will also visit Chad, Libya and Mauritania.

Meanwhile, Sudan has said it may not ease its opposition to the deployment of UN troops in Darfur this week when Negroponte visits, but there are signs it may be flexible on boosting African troops in the troubled region.

South African President Thabo Mbeki, who is known for his diplomatic skills and is promoting his country as a mediator in African affairs, will also arrive in Sudan today and is expected to discuss the Darfur issue.

At the heart of the debate is the outcome of a November meeting in Addis Ababa. The

UN says Khartoum agreed then to a three-phase plan that would end with a hybrid AU-U.N. operation in Darfur.

Sudan said it only agreed to the first two phases of UN logistical and financial support.

After a meeting with Sudanese leader al-Bashir at the weekend, AU Chairman Alpha Oumar Konare backed Khartoum, saying that there had been a clear agreement in Addis Ababa that there would be a hybrid force consisting of an African force under AU command with logistical, financial and administrative assistance from the UN.

But he said the size of the African force had yet to be determined. The AU and United Nations were holding discussions on the issue on Monday in a technical meeting in Addis Ababa.

Bashir, who said UN troops would amount to foreign occupation, has made a vague reference to "reviewing" issues related to Darfur.

U.S. officials have said they were close to imposing new measures against Sudan but an announcement appears to have been put on hold after UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon said he wanted more time to convince Bashir to accept a hybrid force.

The measures contemplated include adding more firms to a U.S. sanctions list as well as further limits on Sudanese firms doing business in dollars and slapping travel and banking restrictions on at least three more Sudanese individuals.

Washington also aims to pressure Bashir militarily by helping rebuild the forces of the Sudan People's Liberation Army which was at war with the north until a 2005 peace deal.

But Sudan, which has faced little pressure from the AU and enjoys growing ties with China, has remained defiant.

Sudan accused European countries on Saturday of withholding support for AU troops in Darfur to try to force the need for UN military intervention.

Efforts are currently under way to revive a peace deal signed between a rebel group and the government almost a year ago.

The Abuja agreement was endorsed by only one of three negotiating rebel factions. Violence has since continued unabated, deepening what is considered the world's worst unfolding humanitarian crisis.

The AU earlier this month suffered its deadliest attack since it was deployed in 2004 when five soldiers were shot dead by gunmen.

During his trip to Sudan, Zhai met al-Bashir and visited several parts of Darfur.

"The situation seems quite stable in the areas I visited but there are too many displaced people, which is a human tragedy," the Chinese official said.]]> Tue, 10 Apr 2007 04:02:00 EDT http://www.tigblog.org/group/mdg/post/179167 9.0833333 7.53333339.08333337.5333333 http://www.tigblog.org/group/mdg/post/177949
People living with HIV should be involved in developing funding priorities and in the choice, design, implementation, monitoring and evaluation of HIV programmes from their inception, it said. The idea that personal experiences should shape the HIV/Aids response was first expressed by people living with HIV in Denver, US, in 1983. Gipa wants to demystify false assumptions that those living without HIV are "service providers" and as those living with HIV are "service receivers". "Positive people bring the unique perspective of their experience to the range of organisations and agencies working in Aids," says Dr Keven Moody, International Coordinator for the Global Network of People Living with HIV/Aids.

Over 40 million people are living with HIV/Aids in the world, about 60 per cent of them in sub-Saharan Africa. Kenya has about 1.5 million people infected with HIV/Aids, with almost a similar number of children orphaned by the epidemic. The Kenya Network of Women with Aids (Kenwa) supports over 6,000 people - women with HIV/Aids and their children.

]]> Sat, 07 Apr 2007 07:59:00 EDT http://www.tigblog.org/group/mdg/post/177949 5.5333333 7.48333335.53333337.4833333