Now or Never: Acting on Climate Change in Nigeria

    

(Abuja-Nigeria, 29^th of May, 2015): Today Nigerians has been given a new opportunity for change and transformational leadership in the fight against climate change as President Muhammadu Buhari takes over as President of Federal Republic of Nigeria.

‘Climate change remain one of the biggest challenge facing the world today, from storms in America to heat waves in India and recalling the 2012 floods in Nigeria that eroded the small gains in development and democracy. We are reminded of need for leadership and the required but urgent and rigorous action on climate change’, Esther Agbarakwe.

International Education Summit Brings Global Education to Gambia

According to a media dispatch made available to Mansa Banko blog, EDGE Institute in partnership with Side-by-Side Organization will conduct educational conference for teachers and students from across The Gambia between June 5th to 10th, 2015.

Washington, D.C. (EDGE Institute) - For the first stop on its 2015 TARGET trip, EDGE Institute is traveling to Banjul, The Gambia to conduct a six-day International Education Summit in partnership with Side-by-Side Organization The Gambia.

The summit will feature three days of academic and practical skills training with secondary school students followed by three days of intensive teacher training.

The role of biological diversity in sustainable development

22 May 2015 – As the post-2015 development agenda emerges, this year's theme for International Day of Biological Diversity reflects the importance of biodiversity in achieving sustainable development. Smallholder farmers in rural areas of developing countries produce much of the food in the developing world, and given that food availability needs to increase by 60-70 per cent by 2050, in the future we will depend on them to produce even more. Biodiversity plays a vital role in smallholder farmer food production systems and contributes to increased crop yields and incomes, maintaining healthy ecosystems, mitigating climate change, and securing sustainable livelihoods and access to clean and safe water.

Beakanyang presents 50k soft loans to 15 youths

GYINer Fanta Kongira

As part of its Youth and Women Revolving Fund Scheme, the Beakanyang Kafoo  on Tuesday 19 May 2015 handed over fifty thousand dalasis (50,000.00) to  15 young people across the country to support their petty trading.

The beneficiaries received the disbursement amounting between D3000.00 and D5000.00 which is due for repayment within 6 months.

“Access to capital is key for any kind of business especially as young entrepreneurs. Entrepreneurship is one of the most important inputs in the economic development of a country,” says the Beakanyang

GYINer Bintou Faye

executive director, Mr Nfamara Jawneh while disbursing the soft loans to the beneficiaries at a ceremony held at Beakanyang head office in Churchill’s town.

He noted that this is not the first time that Beakanyang is providing such opportunities to vulnerable people in the society.

Last year, he said, they supported some 100 women in URR with soft loans amounting to over D300, 000.00 to start or strengthen their existing small scale businesses.

“The capital might look small but to us it's important to have a little than none,” Mr Jawneh noted, adding that this funds are their internally generated resources aimed at empowering the youth especially those badly in need of such support.

YJAG vs. SJAG: Commemorating World Press Freedom Day

YJAG SG Sulayman Ceesay

As part of events marking the commemoration of the World Press Freedom Day in The Gambia, the Young Journalists Association of The Gambia (YJAG) will be playing a friendly football match with the Sports Journalists Association of The Gambia (SJAG).

“The match is aimed at promoting the cordial relationship that exists between the two journalists bodies in the country,” said Sulayman Ceesay, YJAG Secretary General. “It will also promote the understanding and friendship between media practitioners in the country.” 

The match will be played at the Serekunda East Mini Stadium on Tuesday May 19, 2015 at 4:00pm prompt.

“This is the second year that YJAG is marking the Day in this fashion. Last year, YJAG engaged the The Gambia Police Force in a friendly match to foster better understanding between the police and the journalists,” Ceesay added.

Time for action on land rights; governments, civil society and community leaders come together in Dakar, Senegal

Dakar, Senegal (11 May 2015) -  In order for land laws to serve those living on and from the land, decision makers need to hear the voices of the women, men and communities on how they want to use their land to build their future. From 12-16 May, 2015 in Dakar, 700 officials, community leaders, practitioners, development partners, activists, research centres and journalists from 80 countries will meet at the Global Land Forum to examine the status of land rights, share success stories, identify threats and push towards more effective action.
Organised by the International Land Coalition (ILC), and hosted by Coalition member CICODEV and the National Land Reform Commission of Senegal, the Forum will convene under the theme: Land Governance for Inclusive Development, Justice and Sustainability: Time for Action.

"An event like this gives an opportunity for governments to hear the voices of community members and those who work hand in hand with them, to start a dialogue and understand how their rights can be secured. That is why we are here; to learn from each other, what has been done well in other countries, how Senegal's plans for Land Reform are progressing, and to plan how we can work together better for greater impact", said Mike Taylor, Director of the International Land Coalition.

Joint Declaration on Freedom of Expression and Responses to Conflict Situation

The United Nations (UN) Special Rapporteur on Freedom of Opinion and Expression, the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE) Representative on Freedom of the Media, the Organization of American States (OAS) Special Rapporteur on Freedom of Expression and the African Commission on Human and Peoples’ Rights (ACHPR) Special Rapporteur on Freedom of Expression and Access to Information,

Having discussed these issues together with the assistance of ARTICLE 19, Global Campaign for Free Expression and the Centre for Law and Democracy;

Recalling and reaffirming our Joint Declarations of 26 November 1999, 30 November 2000, 20 November 2001, 10 December 2002, 18 December 2003, 6 December 2004, 21 December 2005, 19 December 2006, 12 December 2007, 10 December 2008, 15 May 2009, 3 February 2010, 1 June 2011, 25 June 2012, 4 May 2013 and 6 May 2014;

IFAD Vice-President to visit Senegal to meet with Ministers and development partners

IFAD VP- Michel Mordasini,

Rome, 8 May 2015 – The Vice President of the International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD), Michel Mordasini, will visit Senegal from 12 to 16 May 2015 to meet Papa Abdoulaye Seck, Minister of Agriculture and Rural Infrastructure, Amadou Ba, Minister of Economy, Finance and Planning and, Aminata Mbengue Ndiaye, Minister of Livestock and Animal Production to discuss their continued partnership.

“Our partnership with Senegal is an excellent example of how rural transformation can occur when targeted investments are made within a strong agricultural policy environment,” Mordasini said.

In addition, Mordasini will meet the representatives of other United Nations’ agencies and development partners working in the country, as well as with Samba Guèye, President of the National Framework of Rural Consultation of Senegal. Following these meetings, Mordasini will travel to the Kaolack region in Senegal’s centre-west to see first-hand how the IFAD-financed Agricultural Value Chains Support Project has helped to create more jobs in the community, and increase sales of local farmers’ produce.

IFAD to showcase the importance of investing in rural people at the G20 Agricultural Ministers Meeting

The International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD) will join the world’s leaders of agriculture today in Istanbul, Turkey at the meeting of the G20 Agriculture Ministers to advocate on behalf of the 76 per cent of the world poorest people who reside in rural areas and depend on agriculture for their livelihoods.

Josefina Stubbs, Associate Vice-President of IFAD, who will represent the Fund at the meeting, will take critical messages to the ministers about the importance of investing in rural people in developing countries.

“IFAD believes it is essential to bring millions of smallholder farmers and small-scale entrepreneurs, women and men, into the financial mainstream, if we want them to become capable investors who can drive sustainable and inclusive agriculture and food systems,” Stubbs said prior to her departure. “IFAD is proud to be on the frontline of this area, through our support to rural finance institutions across the developing world.”