By Filippo Grandi, United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees

Excellencies,

Ladies and gentlemen,

It is an honour to be here today, and to share the floor with such distinguished colleagues - with whom UNHCR has enjoyed a strong collaboration for many years.

The New York Declaration resonated as a bold step forward for a world struggling to meet the challenges of large-scale refugee flows, and increasingly complex migratory movements.

It reaffirmed the fundamental principle of refugee protection - an age-old value, now a universal, legally binding obligation. It underscored that this can only be fully realized through international cooperation. And in the Comprehensive Refugee Response Framework annexed to the Declaration, it set out a blueprint for securing protection and resolving displacement in practice, through concrete action based on shared responsibility.

The crises that drove its adoption have not abated. And the need for international protection for those fleeing in search of safety is more compelling than ever.

Visiting South Sudan and its surrounding countries in June, I encountered the despair of people forced to flee their homes repeatedly for decades, abandoned by their political leaders. The country is being emptied of its people, with one in three now displaced, the promise of independence squandered, and few prospects that the crisis will be quickly resolved.

Around Syria, more than five million refugees remain in exile. Inside the country complex, multiple scenarios are playing out in parallel. More than a million people have been displaced by conflict and violence this year, even as hundreds of thousands of internally displaced people are returning home, in desperate need of support to help piece together their lives amidst ongoing uncertainty.

And in Myanmar’s Rakhine State, a new and terrible wave of repression and violence has driven more than 400,000 Rohingya refugees into Bangladesh - following on decades of entrenched discrimination, denial of citizenship and rights, and chilling restrictions affecting all aspects of their lives.

These crises - and others accelerating or persisting around the world - in Central America, the Democratic Republic of Congo, Lake Chad, Afghanistan, Somalia and elsewhere - underscore the fundamental and essential character of refugee protection - and the imperative of delivering on the promise of the Declaration.

There have been important elements of progress this year - including through the application of the Comprehensive Refugee Response Framework, around which important momentum is building.

The Framework is now being applied in 11 Member States - Costa Rica, Djibouti, El Salvador, Ethiopia, Guatemala, Honduras, Mexico, Panama, Somalia, Uganda, and the United Republic of Tanzania, tailored to each context. Governments, including local authorities and a range of line ministries, are working closely with UNHCR and other partners. Important legislative and policy instruments have already been adopted in some of these countries - expanding access to education, jobs, and facilitating social and economic inclusion.

The range of institutions and actors involved is growing. The engagement of the World Bank is particularly notable, and other development actors and private sector entities are also becoming involved. Important initiatives are also being pursued at the regional level - including through the work of IGAD in relation to Somali displacement, and in the north of Central America and Mexico, a regional framework to be adopted in Honduras next month.

This work is part of a broader effort to develop a global compact on refugees, which—as you know—we will propose in 2018. Thematic discussions are already under way, and formal consultations, based on a draft document, will take place next year.

We are also actively working with Louise’s team and IOM on the global compact for safe, orderly and regular migration. A strong compact will bring coherence and order to the management of international migration and pave the way for a future system of global migration governance. It will also have a positive impact on the human rights of both refugees and migrants. Refugees have - and must retain - a distinct status, because conflict and persecution mean they cannot go home. But the root causes of refugee flows and the triggers of irregular migration are often intertwined. And in mixed migratory movements, refugees and migrants often face overlapping risks. More safe and regular pathways for admission and the creation of a more tolerant and accepting environment, would bring important benefits for both groups.

Ladies and gentlemen,

We must not underestimate the task ahead. Despite the promise of the Declaration, the momentum that is building around comprehensive responses in a number of countries and regions, and the extraordinary generosity of many host countries, the last twelve months have also seen an erosion of protection and a shrinking of space for solutions in certain respects.

The seeds for change have been planted, but the shoots beginning to emerge need nourishment. The New York Declaration was an exceptional expression of political will at the highest level, but this must be sustained and made concrete - through political engagement, funding, technical support, and concrete acts in support of refugees and host countries - including in the major crises that are currently unfolding. We have a collective responsibility to strengthen our response to refugee movements with a new sense of urgency, and redouble our efforts to address their causes.

Thank you.

GENEVA (20 September 2017) - The Commission witnessed tens of thousands of South Sudanese women and children arriving in Ethiopia just last week, after walking in some cases for months to reach safety. Like hundreds of thousands of others civilians over the last year, they were subjected to collective punishment by government forces, based on ethnicity and their perceived support for the opposition.

“This is happening on such a massive scale that it’s hard to grapple with the numbers,” said the Commission’s Chairperson, Yasmin Sooka, “and it’s occurring all the time in such remote and hard to access places that it’s simply not being reported very much”.

UNHCR and the Ethiopian Government had to open a new camp this month in Nguennyiel to accommodate the influx of 30,000 South Sudanese mainly from Pagak where there’s been fighting recently. The Commission saw refugees so desperate to be registered that they started fighting in the queue, an elderly couple collapsed at the gate while starving children just tore open packets of high protein biscuits and devoured them. One woman said she’d walked nine months with a bullet in her leg, surviving off leaves and water, to reach the camp.

The Commission was especially struck by the numbers of unaccompanied children arriving in the camp. Children described painful scenes, watching loved ones killed in attacks and friends and relatives drowning while crossing rivers and swamps. A young mother who couldn’t swim told us how her baby boy drowned as they tried to cross a swollen river. We met two young girls who fled after their father and brother were shot dead in an SPLA attack on their village. They were separated from their mother who may still be alive in another camp. On the journey to Ethiopia they watched their sister being raped and then killed. A total stranger walking with her own family took them under her wing, fed them and made sure they reached the refugee camp. Now ICRC’s reunification team are trying to find the girls’ mother. The Commission heard many stories like this of immense courage and generosity from strangers in the face of extraordinary adversity but despite this there remains a huge humanitarian need.

“Obviously the sheer scale of the millions of people now internally displaced or as refugees in neighbouring countries means the humanitarian situation is almost unmanageable,” said fellow commissioner Godfrey Musila, “Food rations are being cut in the camps in Ethiopia and Uganda because of lack of donor funds and everyone we met was complaining about the intense suffering and despair that causes”.

ENDS

For more information please contact: Joseph Bonsu, + 41 79 444 4355

Additional information about the Commission can be found here:
http://www.ohchr.org/EN/HRBodies/HRC/CoHSouthSudan/Pages/Index.aspx

* The Commission was established by the Human Rights Council in March 2016 under resolution 31/20.

Only 15 countries worldwide have three essential national policies that support families with young children – UNICEF

New report says around 85 million children under five live in 32 countries that do not offer families two years of free pre-primary education; paid breastfeeding breaks for new mothers for the first six months; and adequate paid parental leave – three critical policies to support children’s early brain development

NEW YORK, 21 September 2017 – Only 15 countries worldwide have three basic national policies that help guarantee the time and resources parents need to support their young children’s healthy brain development, UNICEF said today in a new report. Worse, 32 countries – home to one in eight of the world’s children under five – have none of these policies in place.

According to the report, Early Moments Matter for Every Child, two years of free pre-primary education, paid breastfeeding breaks during the first six months of a child’s life, and six months of paid maternity leave as well as four weeks of paid paternity leave help lay a critical foundation for optimal early childhood development. These policies help parents better protect their children and provide them with better nutrition, play and early learning experiences in the crucial first years of life when the brain grows at a rate never to be repeated.

The report notes that Cuba, France, Portugal, Russia and Sweden are among the countries that guarantee all three policies. However, 85 million children under five are growing up in 32 countries without any of the three critical policies in place. Surprisingly, 40 per cent of these children live in just two countries – Bangladesh and the United States.

“What’s the most important thing children have? It’s their brains. But we are not caring for children’s brains the way we care for their bodies – especially in early childhood, when the science shows that children’s brains and children’s futures are rapidly being shaped,” said UNICEF Executive Director Anthony Lake. “We need to do more to give parents and caregivers of young children the support they need during this most critical period of brain development.” 

The report also highlights that millions of children under five years old are spending their formative years in unsafe, unstimulating environments:

• Around 75 million children under-five live in areas affected by conflict, increasing their risk of toxic stress, which can inhibit brain cell connections in early childhood;
• Globally, poor nutrition, unhealthy environments and disease have left 155 million children under five stunted, which robs their bodies and brains from developing to their full potential;
• A quarter of all children between the ages of 2 and 4 years old in 64 countries do not take part in activities essential for brain development such as playing, reading and singing;
• Around 300 million children globally live in areas where the air is toxic, which emerging research shows can damage children’s developing brains.

Failure to protect and provide the most disadvantaged children with early development opportunities undermines potential growth of whole societies and economies, the report warns, citing one study that revealed that children from poor households who experience play and early learning at a young age earned an average of 25 per cent more as adults than those who did not.

“If we don’t invest now in the most vulnerable children and families, we will continue to perpetuate intergenerational cycles of disadvantage and inequality. Life by life, missed opportunity by missed opportunity, we are increasing the gap between the haves and the have-nots and undermining our long-term strength and stability,” said Lake.

On average, governments worldwide spend less than 2 per cent of their education budgets on early childhood programmes. Yet, the report highlights that investment in children’s early years today yields significant economic gains in the future. Every US$1 invested in programmes that support breastfeeding generates US$35 in return; and every US$1 invested in early childhood care and education for the most disadvantaged children can yield a return of up to US$17.

The report calls for governments and the private sector to support basic national policies to support early childhood development, including by:

• Investing in and expanding early childhood development services in homes, schools, communities and health clinics – prioritising the most vulnerable children;
• Making family-friendly policies, including two years of free pre-primary education, paid parental leave and paid breastfeeding breaks, a national priority;
• Giving working parents the time and resources needed to support their young children’s brain development;
• Collecting and disaggregating data on early childhood development and tracking progress in reaching the most vulnerable children and families.

“Policies that support early childhood development are a critical investment in the brains of our children, and thus in the citizens and workforce of tomorrow – and literally the future of the world,” said Lake.

Note to Editors:

Variables in this analysis were provided to UNICEF by the WORLD Policy Analysis Center at the University of California, Los Angeles. Population figures come from 2017 UNPD. The variables include: two years of free pre-primary education; paid breastfeeding breaks for new mothers for the first six months; and six months paid maternity leave and four weeks paid paternity leave.

Countries with all three policies include: Belarus, Bulgaria, Cuba, France, Hungary, Italy, Latvia, Luxembourg, Portugal, Romania, the Russian Federation, San Marino, Sweden, Turkmenistan, and Ukraine.

Countries with none of the three policies include: Algeria, Australia, Bangladesh, Barbados, Belize, Bhutan, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Brunei, Dominica, The Gambia, Grenada, Kenya, Democratic People’s Republic of Korea, Liberia, Malawi, Malaysia, Federated States of Micronesia, Myanmar, Namibia, Oman, Sierra Leone, Singapore, South Africa, St Kitts and Nevis, St Lucia, Swaziland, Tonga, Trinidad and Tobago, Uganda, the United States, Yemen and Zambia.

The report will be launched at a high-level event, supported by UNICEF partner H&M Foundation which also funded the report, between 11:00am-12:30pm at The Every Woman Every Child Hub, North Lawn, United Nations, New York City during the 72nd Session of the United Nations General Assembly.

About UNICEF

UNICEF works in some of the world’s toughest places, to reach the world’s most disadvantaged children. Across 190 countries and territories, we work for every child, everywhere, to build a better world for everyone. For more information about UNICEF and its work for children visit www.unicef.org.

For photo and video content please visit here.

Follow UNICEF on Twitter and Facebook

For more information, a copy of the report, or interviews, please contact:

Georgina Thompson, UNICEF New York, Mobile: + 1 917 238 1559, gthompson@unicef.org

New report says around 85 million children under five live in 32 countries that do not offer families two years of free pre-primary education; paid breastfeeding breaks for new mothers for the first six months; and adequate paid parental leave – three critical policies to support children’s early brain development

NEW YORK, 21 September 2017– Only 15 countries worldwide have three basic national policies that help guarantee the time and resources parents need to support their young children’s healthy brain development, UNICEF said today in a new report. Worse, 32 countries – home to one in eight of the world’s children under five – have none of these policies in place.

According to the report, Early Moments Matter for Every Child, two years of free pre-primary education, paid breastfeeding breaks during the first six months of a child’s life, and six months of paid maternity leave as well as four weeks of paid paternity leave help lay a critical foundation for optimal early childhood development. These policies help parents better protect their children and provide them with better nutrition, play and early learning experiences in the crucial first years of life when the brain grows at a rate never to be repeated.

The report notes that Cuba, France, Portugal, Russia and Sweden are among the countries that guarantee all three policies. However, 85 million children under five are growing up in 32 countries without any of the three critical policies in place. Surprisingly, 40 per cent of these children live in just two countries – Bangladesh and the United States.

“What’s the most important thing children have? It’s their brains. But we are not caring for children’s brains the way we care for their bodies – especially in early childhood, when the science shows that children’s brains and children’s futures are rapidly being shaped,” said UNICEF Executive Director Anthony Lake. “We need to do more to give parents and caregivers of young children the support they need during this most critical period of brain development.”

The report also highlights that millions of children under five years old are spending their formative years in unsafe, unstimulating environments:

• Around 75 million children under-five live in areas affected by conflict, increasing their risk of toxic stress, which can inhibit brain cell connections in early childhood;

• Globally, poor nutrition, unhealthy environments and disease have left 155 million children under five stunted, which robs their bodies and brains from developing to their full potential;

• A quarter of all children between the ages of 2 and 4 years old in 64 countries do not take part in activities essential for brain development such as playing, reading and singing;

• Around 300 million children globally live in areas where the air is toxic, which emerging research shows can damage children’s developing brains.

• Failure to protect and provide the most disadvantaged children with early development opportunities undermines potential growth of whole societies and economies, the report warns, citing one study that revealed that children from poor households who experience play and early learning at a young age earned an average of 25 per cent more as adults than those who did not.

“If we don’t invest now in the most vulnerable children and families, we will continue to perpetuate intergenerational cycles of disadvantage and inequality. Life by life, missed opportunity by missed opportunity, we are increasing the gap between the haves and the have-nots and undermining our long-term strength and stability,” said Lake.

On average, governments worldwide spend less than 2 per cent of their education budgets on early childhood programmes. Yet, the report highlights that investment in children’s early years today yields significant economic gains in the future. Every US$1 invested in programmes that support breastfeeding generates US$35 in return; and every US$1 invested in early childhood care and education for the most disadvantaged children can yield a return of up to US$17.

The report calls for governments and the private sector to support basic national policies to support early childhood development, including by:

• Investing in and expanding early childhood development services in homes, schools, communities and health clinics – prioritising the most vulnerable children;

• Making family-friendly policies, including two years of free pre-primary education, paid parental leave and paid breastfeeding breaks, a national priority;

• Giving working parents the time and resources needed to support their young children’s brain development;

• Collecting and disaggregating data on early childhood development and tracking progress in reaching the most vulnerable children and families.

“Policies that support early childhood development are a critical investment in the brains of our children, and thus in the citizens and workforce of tomorrow – and literally the future of the world,” said Lake.

#

Note to Editors:

Variables in this analysis were provided to UNICEF by the WORLD Policy Analysis Center at the University of California, Los Angeles. Population figures come from 2017 UNPD. The variables include: two years of free pre-primary education; paid breastfeeding breaks for new mothers for the first six months; and six months paid maternity leave and four weeks paid paternity leave.

Countries with all three policies include: Belarus, Bulgaria, Cuba, France, Hungary, Italy, Latvia, Luxembourg, Portugal, Romania, the Russian Federation, San Marino, Sweden, Turkmenistan, and Ukraine.

Countries with none of the three policies include: Algeria, Australia, Bangladesh, Barbados, Belize, Bhutan, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Brunei, Dominica, The Gambia, Grenada, Kenya, Democratic People’s Republic of Korea, Liberia, Malawi, Malaysia, Federated States of Micronesia, Myanmar, Namibia, Oman, Sierra Leone, Singapore, South Africa, St Kitts and Nevis, St Lucia, Swaziland, Tonga, Trinidad and Tobago, Uganda, the United States, Yemen and Zambia.

The report will be launched at a high-level event, supported by UNICEF partner H&M Foundation which also funded the report, between 11:00am-12:30pm at The Every Woman Every Child Hub, North Lawn, United Nations, New York City during the 72nd Session of the United Nations General Assembly.

About UNICEF

UNICEF works in some of the world’s toughest places, to reach the world’s most disadvantaged children. Across 190 countries and territories, we work for every child, everywhere, to build a better world for everyone. For more information about UNICEF and its work for children visit www.unicef.org.

For photo and video content please visit here.

Follow UNICEF on Twitter and Facebook

For more information, a copy of the report, or interviews, please contact:

Georgina Thompson, UNICEF New York, Mobile: + 1 917 238 1559, gthompson@unicef.org

This study reviews the laws, policies and related frameworks in 23 countries in East and Southern Africa that create either impediments to, or an enabling environment for, adolescent sexual and reproductive health and reproductive rights (SRHR). The assessment resulted in the development of a harmonized regional legal framework, which translates international and regional legal provisions into useful strategies. It gives recommendations based on applicable core legal values and principles, gleaned from a range of conventions, charters, political commitments, guidelines and declarations.

The document provides a summary of findings from the comprehensive study and key recommendations for further legal reform to improve the SRH of adolescents and young people across the region.

It concludes that while governments are making strong progress, demonstrating that young people’s well-being is a priority, there is much more to be done. To ensure the fulfilment of young people’s potential, States need to align and harmonize with international and regional human rights laws, standards and commitments and uphold adolescents and young people’s fundamental human right to SRH.

Conflicts drag down food security amid growing global food output

FAO report notes rebounding harvests in most low-income food-deficit countries

21 September 2017, Rome-- Robust harvests in Latin America and rebounding agricultural conditions in Southern Africa are on course to improve the global food supply situation, but ongoing civil conflicts and climate-related shocks are affecting progress towards hunger reduction, according to the new edition of FAO's Crop Prospects and Food Situation report.

Hurricanes in the Caribbean and floods in West Africa are likely to hamper local farm outputs, but broader food production trends are positive, buoyed by expectations of record cereal outputs in several countries.

Some 37 countries, 28 of which are in Africa, require external assistance for food, according to the quarterly report.

The countries - Afghanistan, Burkina Faso, Burundi, Cameroon, Central African Republic, Chad, Congo, Democratic People's Republic of Korea, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Djibouti, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Guinea, Haiti, Iraq, Kenya, Lesotho, Liberia, Libya, Madagascar, Malawi, Mali, Mauritania, Mozambique, Myanmar, Niger, Nigeria, Pakistan, Sierra Leone, Somalia, South Sudan, Sudan, Swaziland, Syria, Uganda, Yemen and Zimbabwe - are unchanged from June.

Conflict continues to intensely impact agriculture and food security in Central African Republic, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Iraq, northern Nigeria, Somalia, South Sudan, Syria and Yemen, and often have further effects - due to displaced persons and increased civil insecurity - elsewhere. Weather shocks in 2017, including droughts, have also compounded the impacts in some countries, notably Somalia and southern Ethiopia.

Rebounding from El Niño

Global cereal production is forecast to reach a record level in 2017, pegged at 2 611 million tonnes.

While this is due to major gains in Argentina and Brazil, also of note is the expected rise in aggregate output in Africa by more than 10 percent this year, led by increasing maize harvests in Southern Africa, where farmers were hit hard last year by the El Nino weather phenomenon, and wheat output in North African countries.

Aggregate cereal production in Low-Income Food-Deficit Countries (LIFDCs) is also expected to rise by 2.2 percent this year, curbing import needs, according to FAO's new estimates.

Since gaining independence in 1962, Uganda has provided asylum to people fleeing war and persecution in neighboring countries, especially South Sudan, Democratic Republic of Congo, Somalia, Rwanda and Burundi. Uganda's progressive refugee policy grant refugees freedom of movement, the right to seek employment and establish businesses, and to access public services such as education, health care and justice. In refugee-hosting districts, services are integrated with government service delivery systems, whenever feasible. The Comprehensive Refugee Response Framework for Uganda was launched in March 2017, with a view to harness a whole-of-society approach in responding and finding solutions to refugee crises.

1,355,764 Total refugees and asylum-seekers in country (as of 31 August 2017)

1,021,903 Total S.Sudan refugees and asylum-seekers in country (as of 31 August 2017)

340,103 S.Sudan new arrival in country (1 Jan - 18 Sept 2017)

61% Of population are children under 18

82% of the Population are women and children <18

3% Of the population are eldery

51% Of all South Sudan refugees are in Uganda

Juba Gumbo Park and Water Port

• 325 households (1398 individuals) were registered transiting through the two FM Points installed in Juba. The overwhelming majority of them were women (808 ind. - 58%) and children (752 ind. – 54%%).
  
• 782 individuals (56% of the total) came from Juba and headed to Uganda. Among them 643 (82%) headed to Refugees Camps. Mainly reasons for movements are “Shortage of Food” (494 ind. – 63%) followed by “Insecurity” (63 ind. – 8%) and “Rejoining the family (49 Ind. – 6%).
  
• 503 individuals (36% of the total) are came from Refugee camps in Uganda to South Sudan. 484 of them (96%) cited Juba as their final destination. Main reason of the movement is “Shortage of Food” (435 ind. – 86%)
  

Bentiu PoC

• A total of 1535 individuals were recorded moving in and out of the PoC (249 individuals entering and 1286 exiting).
  
• People entering were arrived mainly from Rubkona (85 ind – 34%), followed by Koch (53 ind. – 21%), Leer (40 ind. – 16%) and Guit (31 ind. – 13%). Main reason for moving in is “Insecurity”
  
• The majority of IDPs exited were women (959 ind. – 75%) and Children (595 ind. – 46%). They mainly left to Rubkona (648 ind. - 50%) and Guit (445 ind. - 35%). Main reason for leaving is “To Join the rest of the Family” (994 ind. – 77%). The majority (83%) stated they are going to stay at their final destination 1 to 3 months only.
  

Old Fangak Port

• 192 individuals were recorded transiting through the FM Point in the reporting period. The majority of people moving were women (107 ind. - 56%) and children (100 ind. – 52%).
  
• 93 individuals (46%) came from Sudan and all of them (100%) stated Fangak as their final destination.
  
• Main reason for movement is “Seeking for health facilities” (28%) followed by “Joining the rest of the family” (24%).

Le rapport de la FAO souligne la hausse des récoltes dans les pays aux plus faibles revenus et plus importants déficits vivriers

21 septembre 2017, Rome - Selon la dernière édition du rapport de la FAO sur les Perspectives de récolte et la situation alimentaire, des récoltes importantes en Amérique latine et de meilleures conditions agricoles en Afrique australe sont sur le point d'avoir un effet positif sur l'approvisionnement alimentaire mondial, mais les conflits civils en cours et les chocs climatiques compromettent les efforts visant à réduire les souffrances liées à la faim.

Les ouragans survenus dans les Caraïbes et les inondations en Afrique de l'Ouest auront vraisemblablement pour conséquence d'entraver la production des fermes locales, cependant les tendances pour la production alimentaire sont plutôt positives, grâce notamment à des prévisions de productions céréalières record dans plusieurs pays.

Selon le rapport trimestriel, près de 37 pays, dont 28 en Afrique, ont besoin d'une aide alimentaire externe.

Les pays - l'Afghanistan, le Burkina Faso, le Burundi, le Cameroun, la République centrafricaine, le Tchad, le Congo, la République populaire démocratique de Corée, la République démocratique du Congo, Djibouti, l'Erythrée, l'Ethiopie, la Guinée, Haïti, l'Irak, le Kenya, le Lesotho, le Libéria, la Libye, Madagascar, le Malawi, le Mali, la Mauritanie, le Mozambique, la Birmanie, le Niger, le Nigéria, le Pakistan, la Sierra Leone, la Somalie, le Soudan du Sud, le Soudan, le Swaziland, la Syrie, l'Ouganda, le Yémen et le Zimbabwe - restent inchangés depuis juin.

Les conflits continuent d'avoir un impact sévère sur l'agriculture et la sécurité alimentaire en République centrafricaine, en République démocratique du Congo, en Irak, dans le Nord du Nigéria, en Somalie, au Soudan du Sud, en Syrie et au Yémen, avec souvent d'autres répercussions - en raison des déplacements de population et de l'insécurité civile en hausse - ailleurs. En 2017, les chocs climatiques, notamment les sécheresses, ont amplifié les impacts dans certains pays, comme en Somalie et dans le Sud de l'Ethiopie.

Rebondir après El Niño

La production céréalière mondiale devrait atteindre un niveau record en 2017, avec 2 611 millions de tonnes. Des gains majeurs sont également attendus en Argentine et au Brésil, tandis qu'une hausse de la production mondialeest attendue en Afrique et devrait être supérieure à 10 pour cent. Cette hausse s'explique par l'augmentation des récoltes de maïs en Afrique australe, où les agriculteurs ont été durement touchés l'année dernière par le phénomène climatique El Niño, ainsi qu'une augmentation de la production de blé dans les pays nord-africains.

Selon les nouvelles estimations de la FAO, la production céréalière mondiale dans les pays à faibles revenus et à déficit vivrier (PFRDV) devrait également augmenter de 2,2 pour cent cette année, contribuant ainsi à réduire les besoins en importations.

El informe de la FAO indica un repunte de las cosechas en la mayoría de los países de bajos ingresos con déficit de alimentos

21 de septiembre de 2017, Roma - Las abundantes cosechas en América Latina y la recuperación de la producción agrícola en África austral van camino de mejorar la situación mundial de suministro de alimentos, pero los persistentes conflictos civiles y los impactos climáticos dificultan el avance hacia la reducción del hambre, según advierte una nueva edición del informe de la FAO Perspectivas de cosechas y situación alimentaria.

Los huracanes en el Caribe y las inundaciones en África occidental pueden mermar los rendimientos agrícolas a nivel local, pero las tendencias generales de la producción alimentaria son positivas, impulsadas por las expectativas de una producción récord de cereales en varios países.

Alrededor de 37 países -28 de ellos situados en África- requieren ayuda alimentaria externa, según el informe trimestral de la FAO. Son los mismos que aparecen en la edición anterior del mes de junio: Afganistán, Burkina Faso, Burundi, Camerún, Chad, Djibouti, Eritrea, Etiopía, Guinea, Haití, Iraq, Kenya, Lesotho, Liberia, República Popular Democrática de Corea, Malawi, Mali, Mauritania, Mozambique, Myanmar, Níger, Nigeria, Pakistán, Sierra Leona, Somalia, Sudán del Sur, Sudán, Swazilandia, Siria, Uganda, Yemen y Zimbabwe.

Los conflictos continúan afectando profundamente a la agricultura y la seguridad alimentaria en la República Centroafricana, la República Democrática del Congo, Iraq, el norte de Nigeria, Somalia, Sudán del Sur, Siria y Yemen, y con frecuencia conllevan otras consecuencias, debido a los desplazamientos de población y la mayor inseguridad civil. Los eventos meteorológicos extremos en 2017, incluidas las sequías, también han agravado su impacto en algunos países, en especial en Somalia y el sur de Etiopía.

Recuperación tras El Niño

Se prevé que la producción mundial de cereales alcance un nivel récord en 2017, con cerca de 2 611 millones de toneladas. Si bien ello obedece a los notables avances en Argentina y Brasil, también cabe destacar el aumento previsto este año de más del 10 por ciento en la producción total en África, liderado por mayores cosechas de maíz en el sur de África, donde los agricultores fueron duramente golpeados el pasado año por el fenómeno climático El Niño- y por el incremento de la producción de trigo en los países de África del norte.

The Ugandan authorities must end their absurd attempts to silence people opposed to scrapping the presidential age limit, said Amnesty International today, as a motion on the controversial proposal was brought to parliament.

Earlier today the mayor of the country’s capital, Kampala, was arrested by the police and bundled into a pick-up truck outside his home on suspicion that he was headed to a protest against the proposed change.

Some opposition MPs were blocked from accessing parliament to participate in the debate, which has now been postponed. Demonstrations against the change were also banned. “It is ironic and absurd that as the bill is tabled in parliament, the government is blocking citizens from debating the issue,” said Michelle Kagari, Amnesty International’s Deputy Regional Director for East Africa, the Horn and the Great Lakes. “All Ugandans must be allowed to freely express their views for or against issues of national importance to them. The actions the government is taking in this case amount to criminalizing dissent and contravene both Ugandan and international law.” The Executive Director of the Great Lakes Institute for Strategic Studies (GLISS), a policy think-tank, who has spoken out against the proposal, was detained in his office for most of the day today following an overnight police siege there. ActionAid, an international NGO that works to combat poverty and injustice, was also raided on the same grounds. “These raids are simply desperate attempts to harass and intimidate civil society organizations,” said Michelle Kagari. “The authorities must stop these raids immediately and ensure that all confiscated materials are returned.” The ruling party wants to amend the constitution to remove the presidential age limit of 75 years of age. The move is widely seen as a way of allowing incumbent President Yoweri Museveni, 73, to stand for President again in 2021.

Public document

For more information or to arrange an interview, please call Amnesty International’s press office in Nairobi on +254 788 343897 or +254 20 428 3020, or email seif.magango@amnesty.org

Five projects funded under new "Urban Sanitation Challenge" address dangers of inadequate sanitation worldwide, which disproportionately affect women, girls

Affordable toilets with innovative self-closing trap door minimize odors, insects; contribute to LIXIL's goal of improved sanitation for 100 million people by end of 2020

New York City - The Water Innovation Engine, a pioneering partnership led by the Australian Government's Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT) to stimulate bold new ideas and approaches in the water sector, today launched the global "Urban Sanitation Challenge" with the announcement of a multi-million dollar investment in five projects.

The projects include an innovative line of affordable plastic toilets equipped with a simple, gravity-powered self-closing trapdoor that makes pit latrine outhouses safer, more sanitary and less unpleasant. The products, marketed under the SATO brand of Japan's LIXIL Group Corporation, are now being used in 14 countries, with more than 1.2 million toilets installed, improving the lives of 6 million people.

With today's new funding, production will be scaled up to reach 15 million additional users. Across its global sanitation and hygiene activities, LIXIL aims to provide safe sanitation for 100 million additional people worldwide by the end of 2020 - a 4 percent reduction in the 2.3 billion worldwide who lack access to basic sanitation. That would represent a significant acceleration of the world's pace towards a key United Nations Sustainable Development Goal for 2030: sanitation for all.

Each year millions of people, most of them children, die from diseases associated with inadequate water supply, sanitation, and hygiene. In 2015, 2.3 billion people still lacked even a basic sanitation service, and 892 million people still practiced open defecation.

First developed by LIXIL's American Standard brand, the SATO series feature a weighted flap under the seat that seals itself after use (installation video: http://bit.ly/2vBxXvx. Website: http://www.sato.lixil.com)

Priced from $2 to $10, depending on model and country, they use as little as 200 ml (less than a cup) of water, 80 percent less water than a flush toilet, put a barrier between fecal waste and people, block odours, flies and other disease vectors, and offer an effective, affordable way to mitigate the dangers and unpleasantness of typical pit latrines.

It is one of the initial projects scaled up under the Urban Sanitation Challenge. They will be funded by Grand Challenges Canada with the financial support of the Government of Canada through Global Affairs Canada, together with a host of partners. The announcement was made during UN General Assembly meetings in New York City.

The five projects, in Africa, Asia, and South America, will be scaled up with a total investment of CAD $8.7 million.

See further details of all projects below.

The Urban Sanitation Challenge

The Urban Sanitation Challenge will fund breakthroughs in innovative approaches that help communities deliver cost-effective universal urban sanitation so as to prevent harmful impacts to health, the environment, and the economy.

The Urban Sanitation Challenge, led by Grand Challenges Canada, is the newest initiative of the Water Innovation Engine, which was formed in response to a 2016 Call to Action from the eleven Heads of Government and State and Special Adviser who make up the UN / World Bank High Level Panel on Water (HLPW). Leaders specifically made an appeal for the launch of challenge programs to stimulate thinking that will shift the needle in implementing a new water agenda.

The Water Innovation Engine's development is being guided by a Launch Committee, whose members include the Australian Government's Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT), the World Bank, and the Rockefeller Foundation.

There is a critical need to scale up sustainable sanitation systems in urban areas, and for better global coordination in water innovation.

The world's urban population is projected to increase massively, with some two-thirds of the population projected to be living in cities by 2030, many in informal settlements with limited water and sanitation facilities. The lack of adequate sanitation in cities has dire consequence for the urban environment and public health, as well as negative impacts on economic growth and disproportionate impacts on women and girls.

The Water Innovation Engine also today announced the launch of the Water Data Challenge, led by the Global Innovation Fund, which seeks innovations -- technical, institutional or behavioural -- that use data to catalyse better water management and improve the lives of people living on less than $5 a day.

"The lack of sanitation has a disproportionate impact on vulnerable women and girls and leads to diarrhea, death and delayed child development," said Dr. Peter A. Singer, Chief Executive Officer of Grand Challenges Canada. "Investing in safe urban sanitation is key to advancing gender equality, and to ensuring the health and well-being of every woman and every child."

Project Descriptions

SATO Toilet Products to keep odours in and insects out
LIXIL (Bangladesh, Ethiopia, India, Kenya, Nigeria, Rwanda, and Uganda): $1,000,000

Having to defecate in the open or in a common pit latrine exposes millions of people to odors and disease. To combat this problem, LIXIL developed the SATO series of products with funding from the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation and launched them in Bangladesh in 2013.

Now available also in Uganda, Kenya, and India, LIXIL is establishing new manufacturing sites and distribution in Nigeria, Tanzania, Ethiopia, Rwanda, South Africa, Vietnam, Indonesia, Haiti, Ghana, Malawi, and the Philippines.

"Smart partners" in the scale up effort include the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, the Toilet Board Coalition, and local non-governmental organizations.

The SATO brand products include a variety of models tailored to meet local needs and preferences. The toilets are produced locally to keep costs down and facilitate broader distribution, and are sold through local partners to create employment and entrench local operations.

SATO V-Trap: http://bit.ly/2yklNcb

A significant, recent addition to the SATO product line is the "V-TRAP" Toilet System, designed to improve the performance and reliability of twin pit latrines. The new products include a diverter that enables users to alternate pits every two years. Left for two years, the waste in the closed pit decomposes into a safe fertilizer and is removed. The pit is then reopened and the other pit closed. The twin pit approach is championed by the government of India to achieve the goal of an open defecation-free India by 2019.

"SATO seeks to scale its operations and to develop the means to reach the millions of rural consumers currently living without access to safe and proper sanitation. Funding from Grand Challenges Canada will have a significant impact on our ability to achieve these goals. That funding represents a much appreciated vote of confidence in the SATO team's innovative and technology-focused approach to sanitation solutions," said Jin Song Montesano, Executive Officer and Senior Managing Director, LIXIL Group.

For more information: www.SATO.LIXIL.com

Bundled water and sanitation services for Laguna's informal settlements
Laguna Water (Laguna, Philippines): $873,000

With new support from Grand Challenges Canada, Laguna Water will test a sanitation business model for the Philippines' most impoverished people using two innovative container-toilet prototypes, with aspirations to scale its sanitation services in the province of Laguna by 2018.

An estimated 25 percent of the world's population live in informal settlements, a number expected to double by 2030. Many water and sewerage utilities around the world have difficulty serving households in these communities, such that sanitation services are rarely extended to these communities.

Laguna Water, a pioneering public-private partnership between the Provincial Government of Laguna and Manila Water Philippine Ventures, has been addressing the urgent need for sanitation services in Laguna's informal urban communities since the expansion of their mandate in 2015. Laguna Water is the largest water service provider in the province with more than 130,000 water service connections and about 75 percent service coverage.

Laguna Water will bundle water and sanitation services, which will be financially sustained through a cross-subsidy model. The company will simultaneously test two innovative container-toilet prototypes with the goal of meeting the needs of informal communities while also working within the operating and cost parameters of the utility.

With the new funding, Laguna Water will pilot its approach with 30 households, reaching 150 people with improved sanitation, and demonstrating a sustainable model that could be replicated by other utilities around the world. If the pilot is successful, Laguna Water plans to expand the project with the aim of reaching 30,000 households.

Partnering to provide support to Laguna Water are Grand Challenges Canada, Toilet Board Coalition, LIXIL, Loowatt and Laguna's Provincial Government led by its Governor, Hon. Ramil L. Hernandez. Bringing reliable, safe, and sustainable sanitation to low-income urban households without toilets in Peru

X-runner subscription sanitation services
X-runner, Peru: $660,000

Thanks to new support delivered through the Urban Sanitation Challenge, X-runner will expand its subscription sanitation services in nine communities in Peru, improving the lives of 3,500 users.

Preventing human contact with fecal-born contamination is a cross cutting health priority. Poorly managed toilets and toilet waste causes acute disease outbreaks like cholera, periodic illnesses like diarrhea and intestinal worms, and chronic health damages like stunting.

X-runner, the first certified Peruvian B Corporation, delivers hygienic in-home sanitation by combining a portable dry toilet, a subscription-based weekly pick-up system and high quality customer care.

With new support, X-runner will increase its coverage to a new district in Lima during 2017 and will add at least 500 new service households in more than 200 communities by 2018. In doing so, X-runner will remove 62 tonnes of feces per month from these communities.

X-runner's partners include Hilti Foundation, Swiss Re Foundation, and Avina Foundation.

Improving dignity, health, and the environment through clean, safe, and efficient sanitation services
Sanivation (Kenya): $290,000

New funding from the Urban Sanitation Challenge will enable Sanivation, a social enterprise, to scale-up its sanitation services in Naivasha, Kenya, reaching 2,500 users with its affordable, serviceable toilets.

Some 842,000 people in low- and middle-income countries die as a result of inadequate water, sanitation and hygiene each year. Better water, sanitation and hygiene could prevent the deaths of 361,000 children aged under 5 each year.

Sanivation improves sanitation by installing modern, hygienic container-based toilets in people's homes for free and charging a small monthly fee to service them. Instead of dumping the waste, Sanivation safely disposes of it by transforming it into high-performing fuel briquettes.

Sanivation's fuel briquettes are then sold to businesses like restaurants, and have earned a reputation for burning longer and with less smoke than traditional charcoal. Sanivation has sold 100 percent of the fuel briquette that have been produced, and demand outstrips supply.

With new support, Sanivation will also begin working the municipal government to build partnerships to reach even more residents.

Sanivation's partners include Toilet Board Coalition, Naivasha Municipality, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, and USAID.

Converting the human waste of Rwanda's capital city into renewable fuel
Pivot Works (Kigali, Rwanda): $1,000,000

Funding from Grand Challenges Canada will enable Pivot Works, a social enterprise based in Kigali, Rwanda, to prepare to scale-up its sanitation services to serve 700,000 low-income residents. Pivot Works will refine its fecal sludge conversion process and extend operations of its pit latrine emptying service city-wide, reaching a capacity to empty 12,000 pits annually.

Pivot Works factories convert human waste into renewable fuel using a three-step process. First, Pivot uses mechanical dewatering to extract solids from human waste. Pivot then dries the solid content using greenhouses and thermal dryers. The final product, Pivot Fuel, is sold to industries as a replacement for coal or other biomass.

By selling the fuel to industrial customers, Pivot Works factories generate a revenue stream that significantly offsets the cost fecal sludge treatment for cash-strapped governments and citizens. Pivot's pit latrine emptying arm, Pit Vidura, offers Kigali's only safe, hygienic, and legal emptying service for low-income households. Pit Vidura has developed a suite of hardware and software that to make pit emptying clean, efficient and affordable.

With earlier support from Grand Challenges Canada, Pivot Works demonstrated the feasibility of its model and improved its greenhouse technology for rapidly desiccating fecal sludge in Kenya.

Pivot's smart partners include the City of Kigali, the Water and Sanitation Corporation, the Rwanda Ministry of Infrastructure, and the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation.

About the Water Innovation Engine
Established by the United Nations High Level Panel on Water and led by the Australian Government's Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT), the Water Innovation Engine is a pioneering partnership to stimulate more innovation and investment in the water sector. The Engine brings together governments, funders, and entrepreneurs to foster innovations that accelerate impact for water-related aspects of the Sustainable Development Goals, with the aim of advancing the wellbeing of less-advantaged populations in low- and middle-income countries.
www.globalinnovationexchange.org/programs/water-innovation-engine

About Grand Challenges Canada
Grand Challenges Canada is dedicated to supporting Bold Ideas with Big Impact. Funded by the Government of Canada and other partners, Grand Challenges Canada funds innovators in low- and middle-income countries and Canada. The bold ideas Grand Challenges Canada supports integrate science and technology, social and business innovation - known as Integrated Innovation. One of the largest impact-first investors in Canada, and with a feminist investment approach, Grand Challenges Canada has supported a pipeline of over 800 innovations in more than 80 countries. Grand Challenges Canada estimates that these innovations have the potential to save up to 1 million lives and improve up to 28 million lives by 2030.www.grandchallenges.ca

Philippe Roudier, Chargé de recherche agriculture, climat et sécurité alimentaire, AFD (Agence française de développement)

Disclosure statement: Philippe Roudier does not work for, consult, own shares in or receive funding from any company or organisation that would benefit from this article, and has disclosed no relevant affiliations beyond the academic appointment above.

Countries in the Horn of Africa – particularly Somalia, Ethiopia and Kenya – are suffering from severe drought due to historically low rainfall and high temperatures.

The Famine Early Warning System network reports that the rainfall recorded during the short rainy season, from August to October 2016, and the main season, from March to May 2017, has been especially low in large areas. Some areas in Somalia are suffering the worst drought in the past 35 years.

According to data released by USAID the drought has led to a major food crisis in the region. Somalia and southern Ethiopia are the most affected regions. Certain areas of Somalia could reach a state of famine by the end of the year, particularly if there is an interruption in humanitarian aid. While there’s cause for concern in Kenya, it remains less critical.

At first sight, there would clearly appear to be a link between drought and famine. This is particularly true in a region in which agriculture is mainly non-irrigated. A lack of rain results in poor harvests and livestock are left with no grazing land and water.

But the link is not so direct and the processes which lead to famine are much more complex.

What the philosophers have to say

According to specialists working on the path initiated by Indian philosopher and economist Amartya Sen, famines have multiple institutional causes and don’t necessarily correspond to production crises. According to the Malthusian theory, which predicts that populations grow geometrically and outgrow resources, famines can be attributed to demography. More recently, environmental causes, especially due to the climate, have been blamed. This aspect has aroused great interest in academic literature since the severe droughts of the 1970s.

Yet certain authors, such as the historian Philip Slavin, argue that we tend to overestimate climate’s role in creating famines or wars: this is what Climatologist Mike Hulme calls climate reductionism.

It’s obvious that climate parameters (rain, temperature) influence production levels. But climate shocks lead to shortages, such as major production deficits – not to famines. The transition from shortages to famine is related to anthropological and demographic factors. These include factors that prevent the implementation of conventional mitigation mechanisms (stocks, imports or external aid).

In the food crisis affecting the Horn of Africa we must bear in mind the fact that Somalia is highly prone to armed conflicts stretching back over the past 20 years. These have had multiple repercussions, such as the difficulty of distributing imported food goods to make up for the production deficit.

Similarly, the conflicts involve groups such as the al-Shabaab militants, which prohibit humanitarian aid being brought into certain areas. Finally, Somalia’s state structures are extremely weak and are therefore unable to manage this type of production shock effectively.

It’s essential to take a holistic approach to attempt preventing such crises. Action needs to be taken on socioeconomic aspects, such as strengthening states, securing conflict zones, inclusive development policies, as well as on environmental aspects.

The recent lack of rainfall had been quite accurately predicted during the Greater Horn of Africa Climate Outlook Forum in 2016 and again in 2017. These expert meetings, which are held periodically for each African region, allow forecasts to be produced for the rainfall expected for the coming season.

The last forum report, released in February 2017, predicted: “The seasonal forecast indicates that most countries in the regions will receive depressed rainfall during the March-April-May 2017 rainfall season.”

It also specified that the below average rains “will likely have a negative impact on food security and water availability in the region.”

Similar forecasts were made for the famine in Somalia in 2011, and proved to be right.

Unfortunately, while they are generally backed up with advice to farmers, the forecasts aren’t common knowledge in rural areas. Yet users could certainly benefit from them, as they would allow them to adapt their practices by, for example, choosing resistant plant varieties and adjusting fertiliser purchases.

What this means is that disseminating the information and ensuring it’s taken on board by farmers is essential.

It’s also unfortunate that these forecasts, combined with an assessment of the situation, do not allow swifter emergency action. This is a well-known problem and has been seen during a number of natural disasters, especially during floods: aid often arrives too late. This is exactly what happened in recent weeks during the floods in Sierra Leone.

But solutions exist.

The answers

One example is an innovative mechanism, forecast based financing, which has been developed, for example, by the Red Cross Centre on Climate Change. It has been set up in various parts of the world and its usefulness was demonstrated in the 2015 Ugandan floods. When a given forecast exceeds a defined alert threshold, funds – from a donor to an actor established in the zone (in this case, the Uganda Red Cross) – are automatically released to provide the affected populations with necessary aid such as water sanitation kits.

Although only in the development phase, the approach gives us cause to hope that aid could arrive more quickly in crisis zones in the near future. But it does require donors and authorities involved in distributing aid to accept that the forecast may sometimes lead to action being taken in vain. Nevertheless, it’s a political and economic cost that needs to be accepted.

A step has perhaps recently been made in this direction in Ethiopia with the creation, in August this year, of a special drought committee, which aims to mitigate crises when they are forecast and imminent.

River flooding and above-average rainfall continue in Nigeria and Sudan

Africa Weather Hazards

1. Since early August, above-average seasonal rainfall caused flooding in some areas. With well above-average moisture conditions, additional rain in September may trigger flooding in parts of Senegal,
   The Gambia, Guinea-Bissau, Guinea, and Sierra Leone.

2. Recent heavy rains have caused the Benue River in Nigeria to overflow its banks. Reports indicate that 100,000 people may have been displaced by flooding. Continued rainfall will keep rivers high.

3. Heavy rainfall triggered flooding in Sudan during the last week. Both the Blue and White Nile rivers are effected, and a dam has reportedly broken along the White Nile.
   Although rainfall is expected to decrease throughout the region in early September, saturated ground conditions sustain the risk for additional flooding.

4. Heavy rains along the Kenyan coast over the last 24 hours have caused flash flooding. Rainfall is expected to continue through early next week.

21 septembre 2017 – Seuls 15 pays dans le monde disposent des trois politiques nationales de base qui contribuent à garantir que les parents disposent du temps et des ressources nécessaires pour soutenir le développement cérébral sain de leurs jeunes enfants, selon un nouveau rapport du Fonds des Nations Unies pour l'enfance (UNICEF) publié jeudi.

Selon ce rapport intitulé 'Les premiers moments comptent pour chaque enfant', deux années d'enseignement préscolaire gratuit, des pauses rémunérées pour l'allaitement au cours des six premiers mois suivant la naissance et six mois de congé maternité payé ainsi que quatre semaines de congé paternité payé contribuent à jeter des fondations solides pour un développement optimal de la petite enfance.

Ces politiques aident les parents à mieux protéger leurs enfants et à leur offrir une nutrition, des jeux et des expériences d'apprentissage précoce de meilleure qualité au cours des cinq premières années de leur vie, une période cruciale où la croissance du cerveau atteint un rythme qui ne sera plus jamais égalé.

Le rapport indique que Cuba, la France, le Portugal, la Russie et la Suède figurent parmi les pays qui garantissent ces trois politiques. Cependant, 85 millions d'enfants de moins de cinq ans doivent grandir dans 32 pays où aucune de ces politiques essentielles n'est en place. Étonnamment, 40% de ces enfants vivent dans seulement deux pays : le Bangladesh et les États-Unis.

« Quelle est la chose la plus précieuse que possède un enfant ? Son cerveau. Malgré tout, nous ne prenons pas soin du cerveau des enfants comme nous prenons soin de leur corps, surtout pendant la petite enfance, une période où la science nous montre que le cerveau d'un enfant, et son avenir, se dessinent rapidement », affirme Anthony Lake, Directeur exécutif de l'UNICEF. « Nous devons redoubler d'efforts pour donner aux parents et aux éducateurs le soutien dont ils ont besoin pendant cette étape critique du développement cérébral ».

Le rapport met en garde contre l'incapacité à protéger les enfants les plus désavantagés et à leur offrir des possibilités de développement précoce, car elle sape la croissance potentielle de sociétés et d'économies entières. Il cite pour cela une étude qui révèle que les enfants de ménages pauvres qui peuvent jouer et bénéficier d'un apprentissage précoce au cours de la petite enfance gagnent en moyenne 25% de plus à l'âge adulte que ceux qui n'ont pas pu en profiter.

« Si nous n'investissons pas dès maintenant en faveur des enfants et des familles les plus vulnérables, nous continuerons d'alimenter les cycles intergénérationnels de la pauvreté et de l'inégalité », affirme M. Lake.

En moyenne, les gouvernements du monde dépensent moins de 2% de leur budget d'éducation dans des programmes consacrés à la petite enfance. Toutefois, le rapport souligne qu'investir dans les premières années de vie des enfants d'aujourd'hui apportera des bénéfices économiques significatifs à l'avenir. Chaque dollar investi dans des programmes en faveur de l'allaitement maternel génère 35 dollars en retour, et chaque dollar dédié aux soins et à l'éducation pendant la petite enfance pour les enfants les plus défavorisés peut rapporter jusqu'à 17 dollars en retour.

Le rapport exhorte les gouvernements et le secteur privé à soutenir les politiques nationales de base en faveur du développement de la petite enfance, notamment en investissant en faveur de services de développement de la petite enfance et en les étendant dans les maisons, les écoles, les communautés et les centres de soin – en accordant la priorité aux enfants les plus vulnérables ; en élevant les politiques familiales, y compris les deux années d'enseignement préscolaire gratuit, les congés parentaux payés et les pauses pour l'allaitement rémunérées, au rang de priorité ; en accordant aux parents qui travaillent le temps et les ressources nécessaires pour contribuer au développement cérébral de leurs jeunes enfants ; en collectant et analysant les données relatives au développement de la petite enfance et en suivant les progrès pour toucher les enfants et les familles les plus vulnérables.

A tale of two countries: Different pathways towards refugee self-reliance

The vast majority of refugees are hosted in developing countries, and Africa is the region with the highest refugee population. Conflict and food insecurity in countries in the Horn of Africa and the Great Lakes Region, as well as in South Sudan and Yemen have contributed to large refugee populations in Ethiopia and Uganda. Both Ethiopia and Uganda are attempting to deal with these sizable refugee populations and ongoing influxes of refugees. Donors have provided assistance to both countries to support development and each host government’s ability to assist refugees.

This case study looks at efforts by the international community to support the approaches adopted in Ethiopia and Uganda towards refugee self-reliance. It compares outcomes in the countries, with a specific focus on access to employment and business creation. The case study draws from a number of evaluations and recent reports.

African countries are facing a maize shortage and losses running into billions of dollars due to the devastation caused by the fall armyworm.

A new report released by the Centre for Agriculture and Biosciences International (Cabi) shows that improper management of the armyworm could cost 10 of the continent’s major maize producing economies between $2.2 billion and $5.5 billion per year in lost maize harvests.

According to the report, the armyworm is now a permanent challenge to the continent that largely depends on maize, spreading to 28 African countries just a year after it was first reported.

“Enabling our agricultural communities with quick and co-ordinated responses is now essential, to ensure the continent stays ahead of the plague,” said Joseph DeVries, vice-president of programme development and innovation at Alliance for a Green Revolution in Africa (Agra).

Malawi will be the most affected by the armyworm, with the report forecasting that the infestation could wipe out between 12.5 per cent and 30 per cent of the country’s agricultural economies.

In East Africa, Tanzania is expected to be the most affected by the destructive pest, with estimated yield loss of up to 3,238,980 tonnes, ahead of Uganda and Ethiopia with estimated yield losses of 1,391,109 tonnes and 3,054,727 tonnes respectively.

According to Uganda’s agriculture ministry, the worm wiped out 450,000 tonnes of maize worth $192.8 million in the past crop season.

READ: Armyworm invasion wipes off 12pc of Uganda's yield

In Kenya, the pest has attacked more than 250,000 hectares of agricultural land, accounting for 11 per cent of the country’s maize crop, according to the latest statistics from the Ministry of Agriculture.

The report asked farmers to monitor susceptible crops to detect egg masses and young larvae; governments were asked to promote the awareness of the fall armyworm among farmers and communicate the recommended pesticides.

“Research is urgently needed, and an awareness and education effort is required so that farmers can monitor their fields and make decisions,” said Roger Day, Cabi’s sanitary and phytosanitary (SPS) co-ordinator.

However, experts have warned farmers about overusing pesticides to combat the pest as it may cause resistance — as witnessed in the America’s where the pest was first reported.

Although previous studies have shown that the worm feeds on more than 80 crops including millet, sorghum, rice, wheat and legumes, the pest prefers maize. The report estimates that it could cut yields of maize by up to 60 per cent.

The African Union said the fall armyworm is now “high” on its agenda. Commissioner Josefa Sacko said that additional resources have been assigned to address the menace.

READ: Scientists mull using biological agents to fight armyworm

Understanding context and conflict drivers related to forced displacement and conditions for voluntary return

South Sudan became an independent state in 2011, separating from Sudan following decades of armed conflict. High hopes for South Sudan’s future were soon dashed when fighting broke out in December 2013, and optimism regarding South Sudan’s prospect for peace has now faded. The country is currently facing famine, ongoing conflict, persistent ethnic tensions and severe economic challenges. The humanitarian crisis and continued fighting across the country have led to large-scale forced displacement.

This case study examines conditions within South Sudan as a major country of origin in today’s refugee crisis. In 2016, South Sudan became the largest refugee crisis in sub-Saharan Africa, and the world’s third largest after Syria and Afghanistan. More importantly, this case study looks at the conditions of South Sudanese who are forcibly displaced. It underscores the linkages between the large numbers of internally displaced persons (IDPs) and South Sudanese refugee populations abroad, and reviews past efforts to help returnees resettle back in the country. The case study also highlights the importance of understanding local contexts and root causes of conflict and displacement. Finally, it reviews evaluations of past donor programmes in South Sudan, including past efforts at state building, which suggest that learning within the international community could be significantly improved.

Highlights

More than 102,010 cholera / AWD cases and 1548 deaths (Case Fatality Rate: 1.5%) have been reported in 11 of 21 countries of Eastern and Southern Africa Region (ESAR) since the beginning of 2017. These countries include; Angola, Burundi, Kenya, Malawi, Mozambique, Rwanda, Somalia, South Sudan, Tanzania, Zambia and Zimbabwe. Somalia accounts for 76.1% of the total cases reported in 2017, followed by South Sudan at 15.8%.

In the past 4 weeks (Week 34-37), 6 out of the 21 countries in ESAR have reported active transmission of cholera / AWD (Burundi, Malawi, Somalia, South Sudan, Kenya and Tanzania), with Tanzania reporting the highest number of new cases (148) in week 36. Cumulatively, South Sudan has recorded the highest CFR (1.9%) followed by Kenya (1.8%) and Tanzania (1.7%) in 2017. CFR for Somalia was above 2% at the beginning of 2017 but has since dropped to 1.4%.

Somalia: There has been a decrease in the epidemic trend. During week 36 (week ending 10 September 2017), 22 new cases were reported in the country; compared to 137 cases including 2 deaths reported in week 35 (Week ending 3 September 2017). The 22 new cases reported in week 36 emerged from Somali land. Most affected regions areTogdheer and Sool.

Kenya: 5 out of the 47 Counties (Nairobi, Vihiga, Nakuru, Kajiado and Machakos) have an active cholera outbreak. During week 37 (Week ending 17 September 2017), 49 new cases including 1 deaths (CFR 2%) were reported compared to 46 cases in week 36.

South Sudan: A declining trend in cholera cases has been noted over the past 3 weeks. 5 Counties have active transmission (Juba, Budi, Kapoeta South, Kapoeta and Yirol East). During week 34 (Week ending 27 August 2017), 39 new cases were reported; compared to 73 cases including 1 death (CFR 1.4%) in week 33 (week ending 20 August 2017).

Tanzania: An increase in epidemic trend was noted in week 36, 148 cases including 1 death (CFR 0.7%) have been reported; compared to 116 cases including 3 deaths (CFR 2.6%) in week 35. Cases emerged from Kigoma, Tanga, Mbeya, Njombe and Katavi regions during the week under review.

Malawi: The current outbreak started within the catchment area of the Chikwawa Hospital. 4 new cases have been reported in the past 2 weeks (Week 35-36); compared to 11 cases in week 34.

Burundi: There has been a decrease in the epidemic trend. During week 36, 5 new cases were reported; compared to 24 cases in week 34. These cases emerged from the city center of Nyanza Lac (Makamba) and Bubanza province.