The agriculture sector employs about 70 percent of Uganda’s working population, yet the country’s smallholder farmers face a myriad of problems – from over-dependence on weather patterns, crop diseases, counterfeit acaricides or pesticides, unstable prices to unscrupulous middlemen. Furthermore, most of the smallholder farmers are unbanked, have scattered market information, limited access to agriculture extension services and thus scanty information about agro-inputs. While the emergent … [Read more...] about Digital Community Entrepreneurs making Technology Work for Ugandan Rural Farmers
COVID-19: Vaccinations begin in Brazil’s hard-hit Amazonas state
The Brazilian city of Manaus has begun administering vaccinations against COVID-19, providing some hope as the local health system is under severe strain amid a surge in infections and dwindling oxygen supplies. The Amazonas state government on Tuesday started distributing vaccine doses to municipalities, where the priority in the first phase of inoculations will be health workers, elderly people above age 80 and Indigenous people in about 265 villages. Governor Wilson Lima led a ceremony … [Read more...] about COVID-19: Vaccinations begin in Brazil’s hard-hit Amazonas state
€30 Million Financial Agreement to expand pharmaceutical distribution network in PRC
The Asian Development Bank (ADB) and Jointown Pharmaceutical Group Co., Ltd. (Jointown) signed an agreement of up to €30 million ($37 million) to expand pharmaceutical distribution facilities in the People’s Republic of China (PRC). Director General of ADB's Private Sector Operations Department Suzanne Gaboury, said: “This financing will help Jointown to expand its distribution capacity of medical supplies and medicines to hospitals and retail pharmacy outlets in underserved areas of the … [Read more...] about €30 Million Financial Agreement to expand pharmaceutical distribution network in PRC
Jordan: EBRD and UK support wastewater treatment
The European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD), the Global Concessional Financing Facility (GCFF) and the United Kingdom’s Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) have launched the construction of a wastewater pipeline that will relieve pressure on the country’s capital Amman and generate water available for irrigation. The pipeline will connect the existing Ain Ghazal pre-treatment plant in the capital with the As-Samra wastewater plant in the north of Jordan, … [Read more...] about Jordan: EBRD and UK support wastewater treatment
Tajikistan: EBRD, EU, GCF and South Korea support green farming
A female agri-entrepreneur, Shamsihol Sultonova owns a farm in the Shahritus region of Tajikistan. She grows cotton and vegetables that are well sought after on the market. The EBRD, European Union (EU), Green Climate Fund (GCF) and the Republic of Korea (ROK), under the Green Economy Financing Facility, support small and medium-sized entrepreneurs, such as Ms Sultonova, with their ambition to grow their businesses by making them more climate-friendly and resilient. Ms Sultonova says: “Our … [Read more...] about Tajikistan: EBRD, EU, GCF and South Korea support green farming
Assyrian castle in Turkey’s southeast eyes UNESCO’s World Heritage List
An official application has been made to include the Assyrian Castle and the King Tombs in the southeastern Anatolian province of Diyarbakır’s Eğil district to the UNESCO World Heritage Temporary List. Located on the side overlooking the Tigris Dam Lake, Eğil district is a favorite spot for religious tourism with Ziyaret Hill, featuring the tombs of Dhu al-Kifl, Elisha, Nabi Harun, Nabi Omar and a castle, believed to have been built during the Assyrian period. The castle was built on the … [Read more...] about Assyrian castle in Turkey’s southeast eyes UNESCO’s World Heritage List
Gender & Family Head urges NGOs to get compliant in order to access greater funding
The Director of the Department of Gender and Family Affairs in the Ministry of Social Services and Urban Development, Dr. Jacinta Higgs, is urging those Non-Governmental Organizations (NGOs) in The Bahamas that haven’t already done so, to complete the process towards being registered as Non-Profit Organizations in order to position themselves to be better able to receive grant funding at the national, regional and international levels. The invitation is also extended to Faith-Based … [Read more...] about Gender & Family Head urges NGOs to get compliant in order to access greater funding
UN Global Compact Announces New 2021 Action Pledge to Help End Child Labour
The United Nations Global Compact announced a new pledge aimed at mobilizing its over 12,000 business participants to renew and expand their efforts towards eradicating child labour and forced labour. This new pledge builds upon the existing commitment by businesses participating in the UN Global Compact. Companies begin their participation by signing up at the CEO-level to embed the initiative’s Ten Principles in the areas of human rights, labour, environment and anti-corruption into … [Read more...] about UN Global Compact Announces New 2021 Action Pledge to Help End Child Labour
United Nations raises US$36.6 million to tackle deepening Humanitarian Crisis in Tigray
With the worsening military conflict in the Ethiopian Tigray region costing many lives and having left civilians with no access to basic services, the United Nations has released US$36.6 million from the UN pooled funds for urgent assistance in dealing with this regional crisis. According to the latest reports, hundreds of people have died and thousands have been displaced as a result of the military conflict in Tigray in the northern region of Ethiopia. Over 50,000 people – with over … [Read more...] about United Nations raises US$36.6 million to tackle deepening Humanitarian Crisis in Tigray
UNESCO Calls for Proposals for the 2021 Silk Roads Youth Research Grant
UNESCO launches a call for young women and men under the age of 35 to apply for the 2021 ‘Silk Roads Youth Research Grant’. 12 research grants of USD10,000 will be awarded. The Grant aims to mobilize young researchers for further study of the Silk Roads shared heritage. The Silk Roads Youth Research Grant is a new initiative that UNESCO has organized with the support of the National Commission of the People's Republic of China for UNESCO, in the context of its Silk Roads and MOST Programmes … [Read more...] about UNESCO Calls for Proposals for the 2021 Silk Roads Youth Research Grant
