UNDP at 50: World must step up to beat poverty by 2030

Women in a training centre for traditional handicrafts in Bangladesh

New York City - Meeting the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) is only possible with a broad coalition of leaders from government, civil society, multilaterals and the private sector, said Helen Clark, Administrator of the United Nations Development Programme, (UNDP) on the eve of a major Ministerial Meeting to mark the organisation’s 50th anniversary.

The SDGs are the 17 ambitious goals that set out the world’s development agenda between now and 2030, and include a commitment to eradicate poverty, reduce inequality and spread peace and justice.
“Government leadership is vital for achieving the SDGs, together with partnerships with civil society, the private sector, philanthropy and the multilateral system. Working together, we can achieve our goals of a world which is free of poverty and inequality,” Helen Clark said.

AU-IBAR, World Bank in collaboration with USAID to edified journalists on African Fisheries

The African Union Inter-African Bureau for Animal Resources (AU-IBAR) and the World Bank in collaboration with USAID and the West Africa Sub-Regional Fisheries Commission will jointly host the Fisheries Communication Workshop, according to a media alert made available to Mansa Banko blog. 

The Ghana, workshop will be held in Elimina, Accra from 29th February – 4th March, 2016.
 
The workshop will bring together print, online, radio and TV journalists under the theme “Harnessing the Power of Media to Raise Awareness on Africa’ Fisheries”.

The AU/IBAR and World Bank will cover the cost of participation for sponsored participants including air tickets and accommodation.

Participants attending the high level workshop to gather more than 140 journalists with vast experience in reporting and broadcasting from the print, electronic, online and TV from 40 African countries. 

Gambia’s Honorary Consular to Egypt courtesy call on Minister Bojang

From L-R: Hatem Raslan & Minister Sheriff Bojang

The Gambian Honorary Consular in Egypt, Hatem Raslan on Monday 22^nd February, 2016 paid a visit to Honorable Sheriff Bojang, Minister of Information and Communication Infrastructure in his office at GRTS Building, MDI Road in Kanifing.

The Honorary Consular is currently in the country for an official visit to meet government with government officials as well as to discuss with top government officials on opportunities avail in Egypt in the ‘best interest’ of The Gambia.

Speaking in his office, Minister Bojang welcomes Raslan and congratulates him on his appointment to serve his country- The Gambia.

Mr. Bojang stated that The Gambia and Egypt has a long relationship and the relationship of the two countries has also been very coordinal saying that His Excellency Sheikh Professor Alhagie Dr. Yahya A.J.J Jammeh has always been empathizing in his statements that Egypt has been very supportive to his government.

Minister Bojang assured the Gambia's Consular that the two countries will continue working together to promote the development agenda thus improve the socio-economic development of the Islamic Republic of The Gambia.

Access to information and independent media are essential to development

A joint statement from freedom of expression advocacy organisations.

Human development in the coming decades will depend on people’s access to information. Ground-breaking new media and technology are enabling major expansion of economic, social and political progress.

We believe that freedom of expression and access to independent media are essential to democratic and economic development. Freedom of speech and the media are means to advance human development and are ends in their own right.

Achieving new Global Goals will require increased investments in smallholder agriculture say development leaders at Rome conference

IFAD President, Kanayo F. Nwanze

Rome, 17 February 2016 – Development leaders, heads of state and government representatives gathered for the opening of the 39th Session of the Governing Council of the International Fund forAgricultural Development (IFAD) to explore ways of boosting investments in smallholder agriculture that are essential to achieving the Global Goals of ending poverty and hunger.
In his opening statement, Sergio Mattarella, the President of the Italian Republic, said investing in smallholder agriculture in developing countries was a cross-cutting issue that helps to stabilize communities and countries and reduce migration and conflict.

Civil society calls on Uganda to respect citizens’ rights and media freedom ahead of elections

MEDIA STATEMENT:  Civil society groups are urging Ugandan authorities to respect citizen and media freedoms ahead of the 18 February parliamentary and presidential elections.

In the months leading up to election day, Ugandan authorities have restricted the ability of ordinary citizens, civil society activists and journalists to engage in open debates on sensitive issues such as official corruption, high rates of unemployment, rising costs of living, human rights violations and succession in the presidency, say CIVICUS and the Foundation for Human Rights Initiative (FHRI).

“It appears that attacks on the media and journalists aim to restrict coverage of events and discussions that appear to challenge the actions and performance of the current government that has been in power for 30 years,” said David Kode, Policy and Research Officer at CIVICUS, a global alliance of civil society organisations. “Worryingly, freedom of assembly of members of the political opposition has also been restricted, while civil society organisations have been intimidated.”