{UAH} FW: A deadly week and Peace Corps for millennials: This week in development news

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Date: Thu, 2 Jun 2016 23:01:01 -0500
From: info@devex.com
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Subject: A deadly week and Peace Corps for millennials: This week in development news

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To ensure delivery to your inbox, please add info@devex.com to your address book. June 2, 2016 THIS WEEK'S MUST-READ DEVELOPMENT STORIES A deadly week and Peace Corps for millennials: This week in development news By Michael Igoe @AlterIgoe The U.S. Peace Corps gets a fresh new logo, the mayor of Paris plans to build a refugee camp, and the creators of Airbnb join the Gates and Buffett club for generous billionaires. This week in development news. 1,000 refugees are feared to have drowned in the Mediterranean Sea this week, as warmer weather has seen more overcrowded vessels attempting to make the dangerous crossing from Libya to Europe. NGOs and volunteer organizations assisting migrants stranded at sea are decrying European Union policies for failing to provide safe avenues of migration for people fleeing war and other crises. "The vast majority of children using the crossing are unaccompanied adolescents and they have faced appalling abuses, exploitation and the possibility of death at every step of their journey," said UNICEF in a statement. The Giving Pledge has 17 new members, representing billions in new charitable commitments to development causes. The Warren Buffett and Bill and Melinda Gates-inspired club of rich people who commit to giving away half their wealth announced its new members Wednesday. Among the 17 uber-wealthy philanthropists are three co-founders of Airbnb, the lodging rental website. Saudi business magnate Prince Alwaleed, chairman of Alwaleed Philanthropies, is also among the new signatories, making him the first Arab Muslim to take the pledge. Since its founding in 2010, the Giving Pledge has sought to diversify its commitment base, especially by drawing in emerging philanthropists from developing and middle-income countries. While Kenya plans to close refugee camps, Paris's mayor wants to open a camp. Anne Hidalgo said this week she plans to build a reception center and modular shelter for refugees somewhere in north Paris. City officials have regularly removed makeshift settlements and shelters, and Hidalgo's plan to construct a new encampment is meant to provide an officially sanctioned alternative. Meanwhile in Kenya, the decision to close Dadaab refugee camp, one of the largest in the world, as well as the smaller Kakuma camp, is a final decision and, according to Kenya's interior minister, who said it would take place by November. The closure is in response to security concerns, the official said. Dadaab is home to over 300,000 Somali refugees. The Peace Corps has a new logo. The 55-year old government agency that sends U.S. citizens on 27-month stints in developing countries is looking for ways to appeal to a new generation of prospective volunteers. Peace Corps worked with public relations firms Ogilvy Washington and Forum One to create a new logo — which merges the emblematic peace dove with the U.S. flag — for the first time in four decades. The agency also updated its website. In 2015 Peace Corps broke its applications record, receiving the highest number of applications since 1975. Last week during his trip to Asia, President Obama announced the agency is adding Vietnam to its list of partner countries. Scientists in Australia believe they might have a better understanding of how to prolong the effectiveness of malaria vaccines. A study from QIMR Berghofer Medical Research Institute showed that activating immune cells known as CD8+ helped extend the effectiveness of malaria resistance in mice beyond the resistance timeframe achieved using traditional antibodies. The findings could play a role in protecting people against the disease with vaccines that last longer than just a few years. The United Nations secretary general has asked for an additional 2,500 peacekeepers to be deployed to Mali, in response to a series of attacks by the Al Qaeda affiliate in the West African country. Twelve peacekeeper are among the victims of recent attacks. "It remains critical that [the U.N. mission in Mali] urgently address outstanding gaps in force requirements, enhance its capabilities — including intelligence and use of technologies — and continue to adjust its posture to be responsive to the deteriorating security situation," Ban ki-moon wrote in a report seen by Reuters. FROM THE EDITOR Top picks this week By Devex @devex Local innovations often offer solutions for many global development challenges. Top stories for this week include a successful Kickstarter campaign for the first Kenyan running shoes; a clean energy alternative in Senegal; World Bank's investment in emerging tech hubs such as Nairobi, Kenya; a controversial answer to Afghanistan's brain drain; and MSF's successes in the Central African Republic and Mali. The 'first Kenyan running shoe' hits its stride Devex spoke with Weldon Kennedy, co-founder of Enda Athletic, about his vision to help Kenyans benefit more from their reputation as the world's elite runners. On Wednesday the startup reached its initial Kickstarter fundraising target. Cow to stove: Why this biogas farm in Senegal smells like success Clean energy alternatives in West Africa can be expensive and hard to come by, but biogas farms are digging into a solution that's been waiting right under our feet. Devex visited a biogas facility in Senegal to find out how it's tackling energy access with the help of a few generous cows. Why the World Bank's venture capital arm is investing in Silicon Valley The International Finance Corp.'s venture capital arm has raised some eyebrows with investments in Silicon Valley startups. Some critics would like to see more capital flow to emerging market startups instead. The IFC says their investments are part of a broader evolution. Should donors pay locally hired staff less to avoid government 'brain drain'? Donor agencies are considering options to harmonize pay scales between locally hired staff and public officials in Afghanistan in an effort to stem "brain drain" away from government posts — but some international stakeholders worry the measure would introduce new risks to development contracting. A PEEK into MSF's field-led innovations Médecins Sans Frontières staff from around the world gathered in London in mid-May to present current field-led innovations during the medical humanitarian organization's annual Scientific Days. Devex caught up with two MSF staff members on the innovations their respective teams are piloting. SPONSORED ANNOUNCEMENT Earn Your Master's in Emergency and Disaster Management at Georgetown Georgetown University offers three distinct master's degree formats in Emergency and Disaster Management that are designed to shape the next generation of practitioners and leaders in this evolving field. Available in online, on-campus and executive formats, these programs emphasize the critical skills and leadership strategies that you need to take action and manage response efforts when disaster strikes. Take a closer look at our program formats and see which degree is right for you. SPECIAL NOTICE The global development event of the year Will you be at the global development event of the year? Will your organization be represented? Devex World is more than a conference: This first-of-its-kind event is just days away on Tuesday, June 14, at The Mead Center for American Theater in Washington, D.C. More than 200 organizations will be there — from xPrize to Uber, Cordaid to Oxfam, Malala Fund to Omidyar Network — and attendees are the thinkers and doers, change-makers and expert practitioners who make global development happen. Where else can you discuss today's most pressing topics with a doctor who fought Ebola on the front lines, a Syrian refugee turned activist, leaders from donor agencies, private philanthropies, and corporations, venture capitalists and a former special forces soldier turned humanitarian leader? Global development has become a more global, dynamic, competitive ecosystem brimming with possibility, and we'll help you understand and chart this future. Check out our speakers and partners and reserve your place for groundbreaking global development event. Global Development Briefing - Your inside guide to the week's must-read development stories. Copyright 2016 Unauthorized commercial reapplication, reproduction or retransmission, in whole or in part, is prohibited. Manage your newsletter subscriptions | Read the latest Devex News | RSS Feed Connect with us Devex is the media platform for the global development community. Corporate Headquarters: 1341 Connecticut Ave. NW, Washington, DC 20036 USA Main +1.202.249.9222  |  Fax +1.202.318.2456   www.devex.com

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