J. Tuyet Nguyen, a journalist with years of experience, has covered major stories in New York City and the United Nations for United Press International, the German Press Agency dpa and various newspapers. His reports focused mostly on topics with international interests for readers worldwide.
He was president of the United Nations Correspondents Association (2007 and 2008), which is composed of more than 250 journalists representing world media with influence over policy decision makers. He has chaired the organization of the annual UNCA Awards, which seeks to reward journalists around the world who have done the best broadcasts and written reports on the UN and its specialized agencies.
He has traveled the world to cover events and write stories, from politics to the environment as well cultures of different regions. But his most important reporting work has been with the United Nations since the early 1980s.
He was bureau chief of United Press International office at the UN headquarters before joining dpa in 1997.
Prior to working at the UN, he was an editor on the International Desk of UPI World Headquarters in New York. He worked in Los Angeles and covered the final months of war in Vietnam for UPI.
Hiroshima/New York, May 21 – In blunt words, U.N. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres told the Group of Seven (G7) countries – considered the world’s richest – that it is morally wrong that the global economic and financial systems have favored them over poor countries.
Guterres, who attended the G7 meeting in Hiroshima, Japan, said his message to the group was “clear” that while the global economy faced uncertainties the majority of countries in the world are suffering through a deep financial crisis. He said the crisis resulted from the crushing economic impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, the climate crisis, Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, unsustainable levels of debt, rising interest rates and inflation.
“Poverty and hunger are rising; development is sinking,” he said, pointing out that problems facing developing countries have three dimensions: moral, power-related, and practical.
“There is a systemic and unjust bias in global economic and financial frameworks in favor of rich countries, which is naturally generating great frustration in the developing world,” he said.
The International Monetary Fund allocated US$650 billion in Special Drawing Rights (SDRs) to countries around the world during the pandemic, he said.
“The G7 countries, with a population of 772 million people, received US$280 billion. The African continent, with 1.3 billion people, received US$34 billion. This was done according to the rules, but from a moral point of view, there is something fundamentally wrong with the rules themselves.”
He pointed out the “extremely unbalanced” recovery from the pandemic between rich and poor countries, with the former printing money and spending their way out of trouble. The later, a total of 52 countries, are in debt distress, near debt distress, or face extremely expensive market financing while Middle Income Countries, many small island developing states, do not qualify for concessional funding and have no access to debt relief.
He said the Bretton Woods Agreement in 1944, which created the IMF and the World Bank, and the creation of the U.N. Security Council, reflected the power relations of 1945, which were dominated by World War II victors.
“The global financial architecture is outdated, dysfunctional and unfair,” he said. “In the face of the economic shocks from the COVID-19 pandemic and the Russian invasion of Ukraine, it has failed to fulfil its core function as a global safety net.
“It’s time to reform both the Security Council and the Bretton Woods institutions. This is essentially a question of redistributing power in line with the realities of today’s world. Even within the present unfair global rules, more can and must be done to support developing economies.”
G7 meeting in Hiroshima
National leaders of the United States, United Kingdom, France, Canada, Germany, Japan and Italy held a three-day summit that ended on May 21, focusing on the ongoing Russia’s war in Ukraine, the global economy as well as conflicts in Africa and food prices.
The European Union took part in the annual meeting. Japan, the host country, invited also leaders of Australia, India, Brazil, South Korea, Vietnam, Indonesia, Comoros (representing the African Union) and the Cook Islands (representing the Pacific Islands Forum).
United Nations correspondent journalists – United Nations correspondent journalists – United Nations correspondent journalists – United Nations journalism articles – United Nations journalism articles – United Nations journalism articles – United Nations News – United Nations News – United Nations News
Geneva/New York, May 17 – The United Nations has called for US$3 billion in urgent humanitarian aid for some 25 million Sudanese people caught in the war between rival armies as fighting entered a second month in the country.
“This conflict is a cruel blow for the people of Sudan, already staggering under the weight of a desperate humanitarian situation,” said Martin Griffiths, the U.N. Emergency Relief Coordinator. “The desire, willingness and impatience of humanitarian agencies to deliver remains as strong as ever.”
Griffiths said the organization, which has kept its humanitarian program and personnel in Sudan regardless of the fighting, now depends on “the generosity of the international community to scale up our response and reach all those in need.”
Ramesh Rajasingham, Director of Coordination Division for Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian in Geneva said fighting that pit military leaders of the Sudanese army against paramilitary forces since April 15 has killed hundreds of people, injured more than 5,000 while millions of people have been confined to their homes, unable to access basic services and essential health care..
“Today, 25 million people – more than half the population of Sudan – need humanitarian aid and protection,” he said. “This is the highest number we have ever seen in the country. The response plan we are launching today reflects that new reality. Through the plan, which is a revised version of the annual Humanitarian Response Plan for 2023, we aim to reach 18 million people.”
The Humanitarian Response Plan for Sudan previously launched was revised accordingly to meet new demands under the war by the population for food, healthcare, shelters protection and other critical assistance, the U.N. said. It said the new situation required $2.56 billion, an increase of $800 million from just a few months ago, to help 18 million people until the end of this year, making it the largest appeal ever issued for Sudan.
In addition of the response plan, the U.N. said the Sudan Regional Refugee Response Plan seeks $470.4 million to support refugees, returnees and host communities in the Central African Republic, Chad, Egypt, Ethiopia and South Sudan. The funds are intended to help over 1 million people, including refugees, returnees and third country nationals.
UN High Commissioner for Refugees, Filippo Grandi, said: “More than a month into this crisis, countless people remain terrified inside Sudan, and those who have fled across the country’s many borders are in need of help, often finding themselves in places where access is extremely hard and resources strained. Humanitarians are working hard to respond but we need – once again – to call on countries and individuals with the means, to step up and provide the resources so we can help people who have lost everything.”
The U.N. said recent fighting has displaced more than 840,000 people inside Sudan. Over 220,000 refugees and refugee returnees have fled the country, with many Sudanese escaping to Chad and Egypt, and South Sudanese refugees returning home in adverse conditions. Without an urgent resolution, many more will be forced to flee in search of safety and basic assistance.
United Nations correspondent journalists – United Nations correspondent journalists – United Nations correspondent journalists – United Nations journalism articles – United Nations journalism articles – United Nations journalism articles – United Nations News – United Nations News – United Nations News
A mid-2023 economic report published by the United Nations says lingering effects of the Covid-19 pandemic, worsening effects of climate change and unaddressed economic issues are expected to affect the global economic growth. Following is a press release:
Amid multiple global crises, risk of prolonged period of low growth looms large,U.N. report warns Growing financing gaps, anemic investment and mounting debt vulnerabilities threaten to derail global progress on sustainable development New York, 16 May 2023 – Prospects for a robust global economic recovery remain dim amid stubborn inflation, rising interest rates and heightened uncertainties. Instead, the world economy faces the risk of a prolonged period of low growth as the lingering effects of the COVID-19 pandemic, the ever-worsening impact of climate change and macroeconomic structural challenges remain unaddressed, according to the World Economic Situation and Prospects as of mid-2023.
According to the report, the world economy is now projected to grow by 2.3 per cent in 2023 (+0.4 percentage points from the January forecast) and 2.5 per cent in 2024 (-0.2 percentage points), a slight uptick in the global growth forecast for 2023. In the United States, resilient household spending has prompted upward revision of growth forecast to 1.1 per cent in 2023. The European Union’s economy—driven by lower gas prices and robust consumer spending—is now projected to grow by 0.9 per cent. China’s growth this year is now forecast at 5.3 per cent as a result of COVID-19 related restrictions being lifted.
But a sombre picture still remains. Despite this uptick, the growth rate is still well below the average growth rate in the two decades before the pandemic of 3.1 per cent. For many developing countries, growth prospects have deteriorated amid tightening credit conditions and rising costs of external financing. In Africa and Latin America and the Caribbean, GDP per capita is projected to increase only marginally this year, reinforcing a longer-term trend of stagnating economic performance. The least developed countries are forecast to grow by 4.1 per cent in 2023 and 5.2 per cent in 2024, far below the 7 per cent growth target set in the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.
“The current global economic outlook presents an immediate challenge to delivering on the SDGs,” said UN Under-Secretary-General for Economic and Social Affairs, Li Junhua. “The global community must urgently address the growing shortages of funding faced by many developing countries, strengthening their capacities to make critical investments in sustainable development and helping them transform their economies to achieve inclusive and sustained long-term growth.”
Global trade remains under pressure due to geopolitical tensions, weakening global demand and tighter monetary and fiscal policies. The volume of global trade in goods and services is forecast to grow by 2.3 per cent in 2023, well below the pre-pandemic trend.
Inflation remains stubbornly high in many countries Inflation has remained stubbornly high in many countries even as international food and energy prices fell substantially in the past year. Average global inflation is projected at 5.2 per cent in 2023, down from a two-decade high of 7.5 per cent in 2022. While upward price pressures are expected to slowly ease, inflation in many countries will remain well above central banks’ targets. Amid local supply disruptions, high import costs and market imperfections, domestic food inflation is still elevated in most developing countries, disproporationately affecting the poor, especially women and children.
Strong labour markets in developed economies are a bright spot Labour markets in the United States, Europe and other developed economies have continued to show remarkable resilience, contributing to sustained robust household spending. Amid widespread worker shortages and low unemployment rates, wage gains have picked up. Employment rates are at record high levels in many developed economies with gender gaps narrowing since the pandemic.
Global spillovers from monetary tightening demand enhanced policy cooperation Exceptionally strong labour markets are, however, making it harder for central banks to tame inflation. The Federal Reserve, the European Central Bank and central banks in other developed countries have continued to raise interest rates in 2023, but at a slower pace than last year, which saw the most aggressive monetary tightening in decades. The banking sector turmoil in the United States and Europe has added new uncertainties and challenges for monetary policy. Although swift and decisive actions by regulators helped contain financial stability risks, vulnerabilities in the global financial architecture and the measures taken to contain them will likely dampen credit and investment growth going forward.
Rapid tightening of global financial conditions poses major risks for many developing countries and economies in transition. Rising interest rates, coupled with a shift in developed economies from quantitative easing to quantitative tightening, have exacerbated debt vulnerabilities and further constrained fiscal space. Current policy challenges call for stronger cross-border policy cooperation and concerted global actions to prevent many developing economies from becoming trapped in a vicious cycle of low growth and high debt.
Media contacts: Sharon Birch, UN Department of Global Communications, birchs@un.org Helen Rosengren, UN Department of Economic and Social Affairs, rosengrenh@un.org
United Nations correspondent journalists – United Nations correspondent journalists – United Nations correspondent journalists – United Nations journalism articles – United Nations journalism articles – United Nations journalism articles – United Nations News – United Nations News – United Nations News
New York, May 2 – The first Global Fund to Safeguard Independent Journalism is launched at the annual World Press Freedom Day event, which UNESCO said will highlight the fact that freedom of expression is the driver of all other human rights.
The Paris-based U.N. Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization, which is responsible for defending and promoting freedom of expression, media independence and pluralism, leads the organization of World Press Freedom Day each year. The event takes place (May 3) at the U.N. Headquarters in New York.
The International Fund for Public Interest Media (“International Fund” or “IFPIM”) said it launched (May 2) the first phase of the Global Fund in an effort “to arrest the decline of independent journalism and foster lasting solutions for media ecosystems around the world.”
It said the U.N. has stated that “media freedom, safety of journalists and freedom of expression are increasingly under attack, which impacts the fulfilment of other human rights.”
Following is a press release by the International Fund:
It will do so through ramping up direct financial support to media organizations and accelerating long-term, systemic initiatives that address structural challenges in global media ecosystems and enable media markets to work for democracy. It will fund experimentation and innovation in priority areas, including engagement with young audiences, promotion of inclusive newsrooms, and use of emerging technologies.
The International Fund has been endorsed by UN Secretary-General António Guterres and supported by world leaders including Presidents Biden and Macron and former President John Kufuor.
Board co-chair-elect Mark Thompson, in New York for the UN events, said: “We are thrilled that after a year of successful fundraising and increasing support from governments around the world, the International Fund can mark the 30th anniversary of World Press Freedom Day by launching its first phase of operations.
“The challenges facing media entities in mid- and low-income countries are more urgent and acute than ever and collective, multilateral action is the best way to start to overcome them,” he said.
Board co-chair-elect and Nobel Peace Laureate Maria Ressa said: “We can’t keep trying old solutions to new problems. The International Fund for Public Interest Media is a new solution to counter existential problems for journalism. It will help independent media survive during these times before legislation and other systemic interventions can kick in and protect our information ecosystem.”
Khadija Patel, Journalist-in-Residence, will announce the International Fund’s launch at the U.N. event and detail the International Fund’s strategy, including its impact goals and priority regions.
She said: “Independent journalism faces an existential economic crisis: traditional business models have broken down; new ones will take time to emerge. Economic levers are being used to silence critical voices, and private and political interests are capturing economically weak media.”
As well as outlining the nature of the crises facing independent media, Patel will discuss the critical importance of independent journalism for global democracy in ensuring access to trustworthy information, countering disinformation, and holding power to account. She will call on governments, the private sector, and civil society to further their commitments in support of independent news media.
In the way that the GAVI Alliance and the Global Fund for Aids, TB and Malaria transformed access to vaccines and life-saving treatments, the International Fund seeks to radically change how independent media is financed at scale.
The International Fund has already raised close to US$50 million from more than fifteen governments, philanthropies, and corporate entities and aims to reach at least US$500 million in financial support in coming years. Overseen by an independent board, it will allocate resources to media organizations in low- and middle-income countries while supporting them to innovate towards new, more sustainable business models.
In this first phase of its operations, the International Fund will make grants available for media organizations in four focus regions: Africa & Middle East, Asia & Pacific, Latin America & the Caribbean, and Eastern Europe.
The International Fund has already completed a small-scale pilot funding round that awarded 13 pilot grants to media organizations in Brazil, Colombia, Lebanon, Nepal, Niger, Sierra Leone, South Africa, Tunisia, and Ukraine. In its first phase of operations, the International Fund will continue to work in these countries and in at least 29 others. [A full list of countries is included below].
For more information and interviews, contact: Helen Palmer hpalmer@webershandwick.com / +44 7912 242394; Nathan Carpenter ncarpenter@ifpim.org / +1 (503) 891-5208
In-person or remote interviews are available before or during the UN events with:
● Khadija Patel, IFPIM Journalist-in-Residence, Chairperson of the International Press Institute & former editor-in-chief of South Africa’s Mail & Guardian newspaper. Ms Patel will launch the International Fund for Public Interest Media at the World Press Freedom Day Global Conference in UN General Assembly.
● Mark Thompson, Co-chair at IFPIM, Former President & CEO at The New York Times Company, Director General of the BBC.
● Editors at independent media outlets chosen for IFPIM pilot grants in:
o South Africa – Bush Radio, Africa’s oldest community radio station, a valued information source and sounding board for deprived Cape Flats communities for three decades.
o Brazil – the Nexo news site, pioneering independent ‘journalism of context’ in a polarized society.
o Nepal – Himalmedia, working to ensure trustworthy news reaches underrepresented communities.
Countries of operation:
Africa & Middle East: Côte d’Ivoire, Democratic Republic of Congo, Ghana, Kenya, Lebanon, Namibia, Niger, Senegal, Sierra Leone, South Africa, Tunisia.
Asia & Pacific: Bhutan, Indonesia, Mongolia, Nepal, Philippines, Sri Lanka, Timor Leste, Federated States of Micronesia, Kiribati, Marshall Islands, Palau, Papua New Guinea, Samoa, Solomon Islands, Tonga, Tuvalu, Vanuatu
Latin America & Caribbean: Argentina, Brazil, Bolivia, Colombia, Costa Rica, Paraguay.
Eastern Europe: Armenia, Georgia, Moldova, Ukraine
————————————————————-
UNESCOhosts the 30th Anniversary of World Press Freedom Day in New York
Paris/New York – 3 May 2023 is the 30th edition of World Press Freedom Day. To mark this important occasion, UNESCO will organize two major events the day before in New York: a global conference at the United Nations headquarters and the award ceremony of the UNESCO/Guillermo Cano World Press Freedom Prize at The Shed.
As the UN Organization responsible for defending and promoting freedom of expression, media independence and pluralism, UNESCO leads the organization of World Press Freedom Day each year.
This year’s celebration will be particularly special: the international community will mark the 30th anniversary of the proclamation of the Day by the United Nations General Assembly. It will serve as an occasion to take stock of the global gains for press freedom secured by UNESCO and its partners in the past decades, as well as underline the new risks faced in the digital age.
Special Issue Briefs The “misuse” of the judicial system to attack freedom of expression: trends, challenges and responses – Read hereFreedom of expression and the safety of foreign correspondents: trends, challenges and responses – Read hereSafety of journalists covering protests: preserving freedom of the press during times of turmoil – Read hereJournalism and whistleblowing: an important tool to protect human rights, fight corruption, and strengthen democracy – Read here
United Nations correspondent journalists – United Nations correspondent journalists – United Nations correspondent journalists – United Nations journalism articles – United Nations journalism articles – United Nations journalism articles – United Nations News – United Nations News – United Nations News
Doha/New York, May 1 – U.N. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres is leading a two-day meeting in Doha to seek ways to engage with the Taliban on human rights, in particular for Afghan women and girls. The meeting is attended by special envoys for Afghanistan from 21 countries, and representatives from the European Union and the Organization of Islamic Cooperation.
“The aim is to reinvigorate international engagement around key issues, such as human rights, in particular women’s and girls’ rights, inclusive governance, countering terrorism and drug trafficking,” the U.N. said. “The meeting is intended to achieve a common understanding within the international community on how to engage with the Taliban on these issues.”
The participants in the meeting are from the following countries and organizations: China, France, Germany, India, Indonesia, Iran, Japan, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Norway, Pakistan, Qatar, Russia, Saudi Arabia, Tajikistan, Türkiye, Turkmenistan, United Arab Emirates, United Kingdom, United States, Uzbekistan, European Union and the OIC.
The 15-nation U.N. Security Council, which is divided by various issues, including the war in Ukraine, unanimously adopted on April 27 a resolution which unequivocally condemned the de facto authorities in Kabul for banning Afghan women from working for U.N. humanitarian operations and Afghan girls from schools. The council demanded a “swift reverse” of the bans and called for the “full, equal, meaningful and safe participation of women and girls in Afghanistan.”
The resolution, which was co-sponsored by the United Arab Emirates and Japan, expressed “deep concern at the increasing erosion of respect for the human rights and fundamental freedoms of women and girls in Afghanistan by the Taliban” and reaffirmed their “indispensable role” in Afghan society.
The resolution called on the Taliban to swiftly restore their access to education, employment, freedom of movement and equal participation in public life. And it urged all other U.N. member nations to use their influence to promote “an urgent reversal” of the Taliban’s policies and practices toward women and girls.
The U.N. said there were about 600 international staffers in Afghanistan and 3,300 Afghan nationals, including 2,700 men and 600 women, who worked for the U.N. in the country before the Taliban banned the women. The international humanitarian programs were assisting more than 28 million Afghan people.
U.N. News reported that a recent study conducted by the U.N. Development Program, titled Afghanistan Socio-Economic Outlook 2023, depicted Afghanistan’s economic recovery as grim as long girls are banned from attending schools and women are not allowed to hold jobs. The study said the country’s economic output collapsed by 20.7 percent following the Taliban takeover in 2021 and the shock has kept Afghanistan among the world’s poorest countries. The country’s GDP declined by 3.6 percent in 2022.
“A sustained inflow of foreign aid, to the tune of $3.7 billion in 2022, has helped avert the total collapse of Afghanistan,” said UNDP Resident Representative in Afghanistan Abdallah Al Dardari. The U.N. contributed $3.2 billion of the overall $3.7 billion in foreign aid to Afghanistan in 2022.
The new report projects that the 2023 GDP in Afghanistan could increase by 1.3 percent if the level of foreign aid remains at $3.7 billion. However, prospects for economic recovery remain weak and insufficient over the long term, especially if foreign aid is withheld as a result of restrictive Taliban policies.
“There will be no sustainable recovery without the active participation of Afghan women in the economy and in public life, which includes delivering on humanitarian and livelihoods-saving projects,” said UNDP Regional Director for Asia and the Pacific, Kanni Wignaraja. “Only the full continuity of girls’ education and women’s ability to pursue work and learning can keep the hope of any real progress alive.”
“Afghanistan is on the brink of economic collapse, exacerbated with the takeover in August 2021. The effects of the pandemic, followed by an extraordinary 20.7 percent contraction of the economy, and an unusually severe drought, have resulted in the loss of food, livelihoods and access to basic services,” said UNDP Administrator Achim Steiner in a statement. “Only the continued provision of international aid and basic services to millions of Afghans have prevented a full collapse.”
United Nations correspondent journalists – United Nations correspondent journalists – United Nations correspondent journalists – United Nations journalism articles – United Nations journalism articles – United Nations journalism articles – United Nations News – United Nations News – United Nations News
New York, April 24 – India will get the title as the world’s most populous nation when its population grows to 1.429 billion by mid-2023 with 40 per cent of the people under 25 years old, the U.N. and the Pew Research Center said.
The U.N. estimated that India’s population will surpass China’s population of 1,426 billion, which peaked in 2022, by the end of April and will continue to grow for several more decades. By contrast China’s population could drop below 1 billion before the end of this century as the country now has the world’s lowest fertility rates of 1.2 births per woman while India’s current fertility rate is 2.0 births per woman.
China conducted a census in November 2020 while India’s planned census in 2021 was postponed until 2024 because of the Covid pandemic.
The world population now stands at 8 billion people.
The U.N. said the number of older persons is growing rapidly in both China and India. But it said the number of persons aged 65 or over in China is expected to increase and nearly double those of the same age in India.
“The number of adults of working age in India is projected to continue increasing both in number and as a proportion of the total population through mid-century, providing opportunities for faster economic growth over the next few decades,” the U.N. said. But it said projections indicated that the percentage of the population at ages 25-64 in China will peak in the coming years, “closing the window of opportunity created by the changing age distribution.”
While studying and projecting population growth, the U.N. warned of uncertainties associated with estimating and projecting populations. It said the specific date on which India is expected to surpass China in population size is approximate and subject to revision. The U.N. has called for national censuses to be taken at least once every 10 years.
The Pew Research Center said in its most recent report that India’s population has grown by more than 1 billion people since 1950 and the exact size of the population is not yet known but it is estimated at over 1.4 billion.
It said India has not conducted a census since 2011.
Compared with India’s population, Europe has a total population of 743 million, the Americas have a total of 1.04 billion.
Pew Research said 40 per cent of Indian people are under 25 and globally one in five people under that age group is an Indian because there are so many Indians in this age group. It said india’s median age is 28. By comparison, the median age is 38 in the United States and 39 in China.
It said, according to the U.N., China and the United States, the world’s second and third countries with largest populations, have rapidly aging populations – unlike India. It said India’s adults ages 65 and older comprise only 7 per cent of the population this year compared with 14 per cent in China and 18 per cent in the U.S. (By J. Tuyet Nguyen)
United Nations correspondent journalists – United Nations correspondent journalists – United Nations correspondent journalists – United Nations journalism articles – United Nations journalism articles – United Nations journalism articles – United Nations News – United Nations News – United Nations News
New York, April 11 – Current efforts fighting the food crisis to relieve hunger worldwide are marred by funding gaps and lack of coordination, the Rockefeller Foundation said in a new report that called for new approaches to make humanitarian operations work.
“If the world does not act now, there will be as many hungry people in 2030 as there were in 2015, a devastating backslide – and one that could accelerate amid the worsening climate crisis,” said Dr. Rajiv J. Shah, President of The Rockefeller Foundation. “The goal of ending hunger once and for all is still achievable, but it requires stakeholders coming together in public-private-philanthropic partnerships behind big bets to scale innovative solutions, including those identified in this report.”
The United Nations has set the goals of ending poverty and hunger by 2030. The World Food Program (WFP) estimated that more than 345 million people worldwide are facing crisis levels of food insecurity, an increase of almost 200 million since the early 2020. It said 43 million of those people are just steps away from famine.
“Ration cuts are coming if we don’t have the money to get food to those who need it most,” said Cindy McCain, the new executive director of WFP on April 5. “My priorities are clear: increase our resources, improve our effectiveness and scale up partnerships and innovation to bring modern solutions to those most in need.”
“No organization can solve world hunger alone,” she said. “Today we are asking new friends – especially from the private sector – to step up and join us.” McCain said she will work in particular with the private sector to raise funds and identify new ideas to help the most vulnerable people.
The Rockefeller Foundation said its new report provides “constructive steps forward in leveraging resources to end hunger and build sustainable food security” and it called on donors to “align more closely with solutions that strengthen food system resilience to climate change, conflict, and other shocks.” The report was the second of four reports that presents a unified roadmap for achieving global food and nutrition security, the foundation said.
In the face of the global food crisis, the international community has responded with unprecedented pledges of humanitarian aid, but funding gaps still remain, the report said. “More broadly, there are concerns that humanitarian food assistance, as currently structured and delivered, is not the way to achieve resilient and sustainable food security,” the foundation said in a press release to present the report. Following are excerpts from the press release:
Report’s Recommendations Break with Funding Orthodoxy – The four key recommendations in the report are as follows:
1.Fund anticipatory action and make smarter investments. The report urges donors to spend 1% of their 2024 budgets on such action, increasing that share by 1% for the next 10 years. Furthermore, investments must be smarter than in the past, helping farmers to rapidly adapt to climate change, including through a focus on regenerative agriculture.
2. Fund localization by increasing the share of funding that goes to local organizations to 25% of their total expenditure over the next five years. This would support the role of local communities as effective first responders. National governments are urged to invest a similar share of their spending on domestic food security in local approaches.
3. Crack funding siloes by establishing United Nations country teams that unify funding and strategies that address humanitarian need, social and economic development, and peace, including in food insecurity hotspots affected by armed conflict.
4. Make the investment case through a campaign to put under-utilized working solutions to the test in a real-time situation of food insecurity.
“We have the largest humanitarian appeals, the largest numbers of people who are food insecure and the largest funding gaps in history,” said Carol Bellamy, writer of the report and former Executive Director of United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF). “The numbers force new thinking about how we can both improve the effectiveness of existing aid and also reduce the need for aid through building more sustainable food systems.”
The humanitarian assistance system is comprised of several actors, including the multi-agency United Nations; governments; multilateral development banks; nongovernmental organizations; and private donors.
Yet, despite the enormous resources deployed, coordination is weak. Major shortcomings have included a failure to anticipate crisis and invest proactively; a failure to tailor aid to local needs through local partners; and a failure to join the funding “dots.”
“The sliver of funding that went to sustainable solutions demonstrates the most dangerous gap of all: the gap between short-term thinking and long-term solutions,” said Catherine Bertini, Managing Director, Global Nutrition Security at The Rockefeller Foundation, former Executive Director of the World Food Programme, and 2003 World Food Prize Laureate. “Until we address the underlying issues of the resilience and sustainability of food systems, the need for humanitarian food aid will continue to escalate.”
In addition to the solutions highlighted above, the report calls for weaving three common threads into every policy, program and approach: a gender lens, the meaningful inclusion of those most directly affected by food insecurity, and intensive collaboration.
The report draws on insights of The Rockefeller Foundation-sponsored Convening Group on Funding for Sustainable Food Security.* The Rockefeller Foundation convened nearly two dozen experts in food insecurity and food aid from around the world. Over the course of two months, November through December 2022, they examined how to best mobilize and leverage funding to ensure food security for all.
“Millions of people are in desperate need of food assistance today – and as we deliver this aid, it is critical to invest in systemic change that will build sustainable food security in the longer term,” continued Ms. Bertini. “To solve these interconnected global challenges, governments and organizations must be willing to abandon cherished notions of what works for them in favor of what can work to bring food security to all.”
Anticipate and localize: Leveraging humanitarian funding to create more sustainable food systems is the second of four reports in a series on achieving global food and nutrition security supported by The Rockefeller Foundation. The first report, Defining the Path to Zero Hunger in an Equitable World, was recently published by the Chicago Council on Global Affairs and offers a framework to reimagine a hunger-free world.
United Nations correspondent journalists – United Nations correspondent journalists – United Nations correspondent journalists – United Nations journalism articles – United Nations journalism articles – United Nations journalism articles – United Nations News – United Nations News – United Nations News
Kabul/New York, April 5 – The United Nations has condemned in the strongest terms and rejected the decision by Taliban authorities to ban Afghan women from working with the U.N. in the country.
The President of the U.N. General Assembly, Csaba Kőrösi, strongly condemned the decision and said that the ban will undermine the U.N. work in the country.
“This step is a blatant violation of the human rights of women and undermines the work of the United Nations in Afghanistan, the people of which are in dire need of humanitarian assistance,” he said. “The consequences of this decision would harm the Afghan people, in particular the most vulnerable segments of the population. Afghanistan needs sustained development, and for that, it should mobilize the country’s full potential.”
Roza Otunbayeva, the U.N. special representative for Afghanistan, said: “In the history of the United Nations, no other regime has ever tried to ban women from working for the Organization just because they are women. This decision represents an assault against women, the fundamental principles of the U.N., and on international law.”
“This is yet another cruel and devastating blow against the women of Afghanistan, and one which carries grave consequences for all Afghans. The country is at further risk of even greater economic misery and isolation from the community of nations,” the envoy said.
The U.N. mission in Afghanistan said in a statement that Otunbayeva is engaging with the highest levels of the de facto Taliban authorities to protest and seek an immediate reversal of the order. It said the Taliban has issued over the past 20 months measures that increasingly restricted women and girls from participating in social, economic and political life.
The mission said it was informed by the Taliban, which took over the country in 2021, that the ban was to take effect immediately and will be actively enforced.
The U.N. said its mission in Afghanistan has about 3300 Afghan nationals and 600 internationals, including about 400 Afghan women and 200 women internationals.
The U.N said the ban is unlawful under international law and unacceptable. It also constitutes an “unparalleled violation of women’s rights, a flagrant breach of humanitarian principles, and a breach of international rules on the privileges and immunities of the United Nations, including those extended to all U.N. personnel.”
It said the ban will further impact the international community’s engagement with Afghanistan, and the U.N.’s ability to support the population as they experience an unprecedented humanitarian crisis. The U.N. said both Afghan women and men are essential to all aspects of U.N. work and the ban will impose “further psychological and emotional harm on Afghan women who have already endured so much.”
It said two-thirds of the Afghan population – some 28.3 million people – require life-saving assistance to survive, including 20 million people who are food insecure, six million of whom are one step away from famine. The order will also further negatively affect humanitarian partners’ ability to reach those most vulnerable, especially women and girls. (By J. Tuyet Nguyen)
The Norwegian Refugee Council (NRC) has launched a report analyzing over-compliance and misconceptions about the scope of international sanctions that have led to severe obstacles for the Afghan business community. Read the report here. Following is a press release:
The Taliban’s new extension of last year’s ban on female aid workers to the UN threatens to throw delivery of urgent life-saving humanitarian action into disarray, making the role of the private sector even more critical for the recovery of the Afghan economy.
Report: Afghanistan should be open for business, but misconceptions about sanctions are increasing suffering for millions
Over-compliance and misconceptions about the scope of international sanctions have led to severe obstacles for the Afghan business community, including for businesses that import and export food and other essential goods, finds a new report commissioned by the Norwegian Refugee Council (NRC).
The report, based on in-depth interviews with Afghan businesspeople and other private sector stakeholders, calls on the international community to improve awareness about sanctions and reduce over-compliance. It argues that concrete steps must be taken to address the crippled Afghan economy and ongoing unprecedented humanitarian crisis.
“Humanitarian aid alone cannot meet the needs of the millions of Afghans who have lost their jobs and been forced to take on huge debts and sell their possessions just to be able to buy food needed for survival,” said Neil Turner, NRC’s country director in Afghanistan. “We must reverse this devastating economic disaster. A stable economy, thriving private sector, and the reintroduction of development programmes are important to complement the work of humanitarian organisations.”
Since the Taliban returned to power in 2021, international actors have pursued political and economic isolation policies towards Afghanistan, in reaction to the Taliban’s increasingly restrictive governance, that have contributed to the current economic crisis and the population’s reliance on humanitarian assistance. More than 28 million people are now on the brink of survival.
There are comprehensive exemptions to the sanctions that should enable the transfer of money in and out of Afghanistan for activities designed to address the basic needs of the population, but banks continue to restrict businesses’ access to financial services despite the exemptions in place. Afghan businesses highlighted that payment instructions for any international bank transaction that mention Afghanistan get blocked, even for transactions for food shipments via the United Nations.
“We need to educate overseas companies and banks that Afghanistan itself is not under sanctions. There is a real lack of understanding about this – particularly among key sectors in our main export and import markets,” said an executive of a large agricultural firm in Afghanistan.
The Taliban’s stance towards women has also led to the loss of many women from the Afghan workforce. These restrictions pose substantial challenges to the Afghan people and the economic prospects of the country as well as serious practical and ethical dilemmas for international donors and aid agencies.
To address the complex political, economic, and social changes since the return to power of the Taliban, NRC calls on major governments, financial institutions, UN agencies and relevant regional actors to urgently convene to establish measures to stabilise and support Afghanistan’s economy for the benefit of all the Afghan people.
“Concrete steps must be agreed to address the barriers faced by critical private sector actors in Afghanistan, including challenges in accessing financial services. On top of this, it’s vital that mechanisms are stepped-up to provide technical assistance to the Afghanistan Central Bank to support its resumption of core functions that are critical to support the Afghan economy, private sector actors, and ultimately the Afghan people who have already endured so much,” added Turner.
For more information, please contact: NRC global media hotline: media@nrc.no, +47 905 62329. Christian Jepsen, Regional Communications Adviser for Asia and Latin America: christian.jepsen@nrc.no, +254 706 248 391
Facts and Figures:
28.3 million people, two thirds of Afghanistan’s population will need urgent humanitarian assistance in 2023 to survive. This makes Afghanistan one of the world’s worst humanitarian crises (OCHA).
The main driver of humanitarian need is the extremely high levels of food insecurity, with nearly 20 million people in Afghanistan acutely food-insecure (IPC 3+), including more than 6 million people on the brink of famine-like conditions in IPC Phase 4 (Emergency). Four million people are acutely malnourished, including 3.2 million children under the age of five (WFP).
According to the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), Afghanistan’s real GDP contracted by 20 percent between 2021 to 2022, equating to a loss of $5 billion, which had taken almost ten years to generate.As a consequence, per capita income declined by 14–28 percent and an estimated 700,000 jobs were lost during the same period.
Banking sector de-risking and overcompliance to sanctions continues to create challenges for private businesses and international banks. In the linked report, one European Bank reportedly needed 40-50 staff members to facilitate one financial transaction to Afghanistan.
Despite the broad exemptions to sanctions, humanitarian actors continue to face challenges accessing domestic and international banking services for Afghanistan (NRC), and remain mostly reliant on UN cash shipments (UNAMA).
A recent report by ACAPs demonstrates the Afghani has maintained its stability through foreign currency inflows that are part of humanitarian aid. These inflows have been vital to help stabilise the price volatility of essential food and non-food items, but if jeopardised it will have a serious impact on the stability of the economy and banking sector.
United Nations correspondent journalists – United Nations correspondent journalists – United Nations correspondent journalists – United Nations journalism articles – United Nations journalism articles – United Nations journalism articles – United Nations News – United Nations News – United Nations News
New York, March 24 – Dubbed as a once-in-a-generation international conference, the U.N. 2023 Water Conference closed with the adoption of a Water Action Plan, which contains almost 700 commitments to protect “humanity’s most precious global common good.”
The U.N. said the agenda is a guide for action-oriented game changing commitments, from making smarter food choices to re-evaluating water as a powerful economic driver, and part of the Earth’s cultural heritage. The agenda also calls for action to protect the spread of disease to fighting poverty, the natural resource also flows through the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and its 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) at a time when the world is grappling with climate change, water scarcity and pollution.
“Your dedication to action and transformation is propelling us towards a sustainable, equitable and inclusive water-secure future for people and planet alike,” U.N. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres said of the estimated 2,000 participants to the highly anticipated conference. The last one was held 46 years ago.
“This conference demonstrated a central truth: as humanity’s most precious global common good, water unites us all, and it flows across a number of global challenges.” He said. “That’s why water needs to be at the center of the global political agenda,” he said. “All of humanity’s hopes for the future depend, in some way, on charting a new science-based course to bring the Water Action Agenda to life.”
U.N. General Assembly President Csaba Kőrösi said the $300 billion in pledges made to buoy the transformative Water Action Agenda has the potential of unlocking at least $1 trillion of socioeconomic and eco-system gains, U.N. News reported.
“The outcome of this conference is not a legally binding document, but it still turns the page of history,” Korosi said in closing remarks. “You have reconfirmed the promise to implement the human right to water and sanitation for all.”
“We will keep our ears and minds open to scientific evidence as we move forward to realize the transformation discussed,” he said. “Today, we hold the pieces of a water-secure and more peaceful world in our hands. Together, we can launch the transformation for a water-secure world, and these gamechangers can take us there.”
How can you help? (From U.N. News)
Here’s a sampling from the UN’s #WaterAction guide:
💧 Turn off those appliances, computers and other tech, when you’re not using them. Currently, 90 per cent of power generation is water intensive. Turning off devices when they are not in use means less energy needs to be produced.
💧 Build up a head of steam over the issue. Write to elected representatives about budgets for improving water conservation at home and abroad.
💧 Create an action list. Choose and share what you are going to do to help solve the water and sanitation crisis, right here.
💧 Get informed. Explore the water and sanitation crisis, read inspirational stories from around the world, read a book from the suggested SDG Book Club list, and follow your local news on water supply issues and check out SDG 6 online or on social media at @GlobalGoalUN.
💧 Use your social media voice. Amplify messages promoting SDG 6, participate in #WorldWaterDay to generate debate and raise awareness, available here. www.worldwaterday.org/share
💧 Shop sustainably. The 10,000 litres of water used to produce a pair of jeans is the same amount the average person drinks in a decade.
World leaders tackle global water shortage; billions of people without safe water
New York, March 22 – Leaders of government and organizations showed up in force at a U.N.-led conference to find urgent solutions to the global water shortage crisis, which has deprived safe water to billions of people and caused an estimated over 800,000 people to die each year from diseases directly tied to unsafe water and poor hygiene practices.
The U.N. World Water Development Report 2023, which sets the goals to be achieved at the conference March 22 to 24 at the U.N. headquarters in New York, said global water use has increased by about 1 per cent annually in the past five decades. It said water use is expected to “grow at a similar rate through to 2050, driven by a combination of population growth, socio-economic development and changing consumption patterns.”
Richard Connor, leader of the report, said the estimated cost of meeting the goals of bringing safe water to the world population by 2030 is between $600 billion and $1 trillion a year. He said meeting the goals would require forging partnerships with investors, financiers, governments and climate change communities.
The report said 2 billion out of the world population of 8 billion people do not have safe drinking water and 3.6 billion lack access to safely managed sanitation. The global urban population facing water scarcity is projected to potentially double from 930 million in 2016 to between 1.7 and 2.4 billion people in 2050.
The report said extreme and prolonged droughts are stressing the ecosystems leading to dire consequences for both plant and animal species.
The U.N. Development Program (UNDP), which leads U.N. development activities worldwide, said the global water crisis constitutes a real risk to progress towards achieving the 17 Sustainable Development Goals. One of the goals, SDG 6, calls for universal and equitable access to safe and affordable drinking water by 2030. UNDP said climate change, pollution and mismanagement of resources have sharply decreased water access and security every day.
U.N. Secretary-General Antonio Guteres said in an opening address to the conference that water is a human right and it is “a common development denominator to shape a better future. But water is in deep trouble. We are draining humanity’s lifeblood through vampiric overconsumption and unsustainable use, and evaporating it through global heating. We’ve broken the water cycle, destroyed ecosystems and contaminated groundwater. “
“This conference must represent a quantumleap in the capacity of member states and the international community to recognize and act upon the vital importance of water to our world’s sustainability and as a tool to foster peace and international co-operation,” he said.
Guterres called for closing the water gap, massive investment in water and sanitation systems, focusing on resilience and addressing climate change.
While calling on governments and civil society worldwide to attend the conference, the U.N. said the water crisis is threatening sustainable development, biodiversity and people’s access to water and sanitation. The last such conference was held 46 years ago.
Studies carried out in past decades by universities and responsible organizations showed that over half of the world population are concerned about fresh water shortages and the link between climate change and drought. The water crisis is derailing efforts and progress in providing universal access to safe water and sanitation by 2030.
“Water supports all aspects of life on earth, and access to safe and clean water is a basic human right,” the U.N. said. “However, decades of mismanagement and misuse have intensified water stress, threatening the many aspects of life that depend on this crucial resource.”
The most recent State of the Climate Services on Water report by the World Meteorological Organization (WMO) said floods have increased by 134 per cent and the duration of droughts has increased by 29 per cent since 2000.
Conference participants are called to agree on a Water Action Agenda that will specify urgent actions to deal with the crisis and achieve one of the Sustainable Development Goals, which is universal access by people to safe water and sustainable management of water and sanitation by all by 2030. The Conference will feature five “interactive dialogues” to strengthen and accelerate action for key water areas, as reported by U.N. News.
United Nations correspondent journalists – United Nations correspondent journalists – United Nations correspondent journalists – United Nations journalism articles – United Nations journalism articles – United Nations journalism articles – United Nations News – United Nations News – United Nations News
New York, March 21 – A United Nations-led conference will tackle the global water crisis as billions of people still lack access to safe water and an estimated over 800,000 people died each year from diseases directly tied to unsafe water and poor hygiene practices.
While calling on governments and civil society worldwide to attend the 2023 U.N. Water Conference, March 22-24 at UN headquarters in New York, the U.N. said the water crisis is threatening sustainable development, biodiversity and people’s access to water and sanitation. The last such conference was held 46 years ago.
Studies carried out in past decades by universities and responsible organizations showed that over half of the world population are concerned about fresh water shortages and the link between climate change and drought. The water crisis is derailing efforts and progress in providing universal access to safe water and sanitation by 2030.
“Water supports all aspects of life on earth, and access to safe and clean water is a basic human right,” the U.N. said. “However, decades of mismanagement and misuse have intensified water stress, threatening the many aspects of life that depend on this crucial resource.”
The most recent State of the Climate Services on Water report by the World Meteorological Organization (WMO) said floods have increased by 134 per cent and the duration of droughts has increased by 29 per cent since 2000.
Conference participants are called to agree on a Water Action Agenda that will specify urgent actions to deal with the crisis and achieve one of the Sustainable Development Goals, which is universal access by people to safe water and sustainable management of water and sanitation by all by 2030. The Conference will feature five “interactive dialogues” to strengthen and accelerate action for key water areas, as reported by U.N. News.
The five interactive dialogues are::1.Water for Health: Access to safe drinking water, hygiene, and sanitation, 2.Water for Sustainable Development: Valuing Water, Water-Energy-Food Nexus and Sustainable Economic and Urban Development., 4.Water for Cooperation: Transboundary and International Water Cooperation, Cross Sectoral Cooperation and Water Across the 2030 Agenda, 5.Water Action Decade: Accelerating the implementation of the objectives of the Decade, including through the UN Secretary-General’s Action Plan.
Global survey: 58 per cent percent of people are seriously concerned about fresh water shortages
A new research from GlobeScan highlights the global impact of worsening water shortages which are disrupting societies, economies, the environment, and every aspect of life as we know it.
Fifty-eight per cent of people across the world are very concerned about fresh water shortages, while 30 per cent say they have personally been “greatly” impacted by a lack of fresh water.
Additionally, climate change is strongly connected to water shortages, with nearly four in ten people who have been personally affected by climate change saying they experienced it through drought. Together with Circle of Blue and WWF, GlobeScan released these key water findings from its GlobeScan Radar Survey ahead of the U.N. Water Conference.
. Key research findings include: Fifty-eight percent of people globally believe that fresh water shortages is a “very serious” issue. Mexicans, Colombians, and Brazilians report the most concern about access to water, while people in China, Hong Kong, Japan, and South Korea are the least likely to say fresh water shortages is a “very serious” issue
Strong concern about fresh water shortages has increased over the past few years, from a low of 49 percent in 2014 to 61 percent in 2022 among 17 countries consistently tracked, along with concern about climate change (45% in 2014 to 65% in 2022).
People in Argentina, South Korea, Vietnam, Colombia, Germany, and Peru report the largest increases in concern about water shortages over the past year.
30 percent of people globally claim they are “greatly” personally affected by fresh water shortages, while a global majority feel at least moderately personally affected (56%). Only one-quarter (25%) say they are not affected at all.
Majorities of people surveyed in Colombia, Italy, Mexico, Peru, and Turkey say they are greatly personally affected by a lack of fresh water. In contrast, fewer than one in ten say they are greatly affected in Germany, Japan, and the Netherlands.
Globally, people in urban areas (32%) are more likely than those in rural (28%) or towns and suburban areas (26%) to feel greatly affected by a lack of fresh water.
As many as 38 percent of people say they have been “greatly” personally affected by climate change, while as many as 75 percent have been at least “moderately” affected.
People who say they have been personally affected by climate change often mention drought as one of the ways they have been impacted; 37 percent of those experiencing climate change personally claim this is through experiencing drought.
“We are seeing a rare convergence, when public opinion is aligning with profound realities as the world faces compounding water challenges that are affecting how we grow our food, generate our power, and support a sustainable economy and environment,” said J. Carl Ganter, Managing Director at Circle of Blue.
“This survey of some 30,000 people definitively shows that citizens around the world are feeling and talking about the effects of water and climate stress. On the eve of the UN Water Conference, this is a crucial barometer that reveals increasing public demand for action from political and corporate leaders,” Ganter said.
Alexis Morgan, WWF Global Water Stewardship Lead comments: “Water doesn’t come from a tap – it comes from nature. But with nature loss and climate instability increasing, water scarcity will only worsen, impacting societies and economies across the globe. Yet through collaboration, restoring wetlands, re-connecting rivers, and replenishing aquifers, we have proven ways to tackle these shared water challenges. It’s time to urgently invest in these solutions.”
Perrine Bouhana, Director at GlobeScan comments: “It comes as no surprise that people are becoming more and more worried about the availability of fresh water. Last year droughts affected the lives of countless numbers of people on every continent. Indicators suggest this is likely to get worse. High levels of public concern about water means there is an opportunity right now for governments and NGOs to help people and businesses understand how their actions can genuinely make a difference to this globally important problem that affects all of us.”
United Nations correspondent journalists – United Nations correspondent journalists – United Nations correspondent journalists – United Nations journalism articles – United Nations journalism articles – United Nations journalism articles – United Nations News – United Nations News – United Nations News
