| To ensure delivery to your inbox, please add info@devex.com to your address book. |  QUOTABLE | | "People no longer want to give with the idea that it may help today, they want to know what their investment is doing for tomorrow." |  - Vicki Escarra, CEO of Opportunity International
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| | | DEVELOPMENT BUZZ |
 It wasn't even a year ago when the political stalemate that caused jitters across the EU ended with the formation of the new Italian government led by Enrico Letta. Now, Letta is out, and Matteo Renzi is in, bringing along a Cabinet whose composition marks a first in the country's history: Women make up half of it, including the one at the helm of the ministry in charge of Italian development cooperation.
Who is Federica Mogherini and how will she impact Italian aid policy?
The 40-year-old Mogherini isn't the first woman to take charge of the foreign ministry. Her immediate predecessor, Emma Bonino, was. Bonino's tenure, short as it was, didn't make much of a mark. Nonetheless, it was during her tenure that we saw a major milestone on efforts to reform Italian development cooperation.
On Jan. 24, following a long and in-depth debate, the Italian Council of Ministers approved the bill revamping Law 49 of 1987. Introduced by Lapo Pistelli, the vice minister in charge of international cooperation, the reform is designed to bring Italy's foreign aid practice in line with that employed by other European donors.
Mogherini was among those who firmly defended and supported the bill.
"We can't lose this chance, [to have it approved], we have been working on it since 20 years, now we managed to have a draft, and by all means we can't waste this chance, because there won't be another one," she told during a meeting on the reform in January.
| |  Western donors are now mulling changes in development assistance to Ukraine following the ouster of President Viktor Yanukovich, whose rejection of an EU trade deal had led to violent protests on Kiev's streets for weeks now. Ukraine is seeking $35 billion over two years; that would be a big jump from the amount of foreign aid it has received in recent years.
Check out the infographic for more on Ukraine's development challenges and its foreign aid.
| | | PHOTO OF THE WEEK | A reason to celebrate
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In some African societies, girls are deprived of education. But the girl pictured above is among the lucky ones. Learn who she is and what organization is working to help her have a better chance at a good future.
Check out the photo here and share your own with us on Facebook.
| | | #INNOV8AID |
 There's no cash benefit involved, but the DAC Prize for Taking Development Innovation to Scale means honor and lots of publicity for the winner.
| | | VUVUZELA |  Prejudice exists no matter where you are. Aid workers constantly face them, too, not only when the public question their mission but also due to cultural differences. In many places around the world, discrimination is rampant, and government protections are few. "It's a delicate balance many aid workers must strike: respecting a different culture while staying true to themselves, their ideals and often a sense of duty to combat prejudice," Kate Warren, director of global recruiting services at Devex, said in a recent Career Matters column. Many Devex readers wrote to agree with Warren's argument. Read more and join the conversation! | | | | | | |
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