July | 2011 | What am I doing here?

Development Digest – 15/07/11

Sorry for the hiatus last week – I was staying in a village and happy to forget about the world’s problems for a week. Now I’m back but so behind… but here’s your partially-completed weekly development digest. I’ll post another new one on Friday. Enjoy!
Thanks Sylvie for the Canadian news!

If you only have time to read 5 articles, read the ones with the *star*.

Global news:

The struggle to eat – http://www.economist.com/node/18958475
If you build it, they may not come – http://www.economist.com/node/18929190
In a concession, rebels offer to let Gadhafi stay in Libya if he resigns – http://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/world/africa-mideast/in-a-concession-rebels-offer-to-let-gadhafi-stay-in-libya-if-he-resigns/article2084979/
Obama: ‘this may bring my presidency down, but I will not yield’ on no short-term extensions – http://blogs.abcnews.com/politicalpunch/2011/07/obama-this-may-bring-my-presidency-down-but-i-will-not-yield-on-no-short-term-extensions.html

Canada news:

My name is Michael Ignatieff, and I am Canadian – http://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/national/time-to-lead/my-name-is-michael-ignatieff-and-i-am-canadian/article2079267/
Rap it or paint it, Muslim artists tackle identity – http://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/national/time-to-lead/rap-it-or-paint-it-muslim-artists-tackle-identity/article2086667/
Quebec to introduce cap-and-trade program – http://www.cbc.ca/news/politics/story/2011/07/07/montreal-greehouse-lift.html
Union plans national fight against federal cuts – http://www.cbc.ca/news/politics/story/2011/07/07/pol-union-cuts.html
Toronto Pride rocked by ‘Israeli apartheid’ spat – http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/toronto/story/2011/07/04/to-pride-israeli-apartheid-quaia-mammoliti.html
Canada’s inter-generational voting gap – http://www.behindthenumbers.ca/2011/07/06/kids-these-days-canadas-inter-generational-voting-gap/
Oil sands monitoring needs scientific rigour – http://www.cbc.ca/news/politics/story/2011/07/05/edmonton-oilsands-monitoring-panel-report.html
Census workers getting partial answers on long forms – http://www.cbc.ca/news/politics/story/2011/07/06/pol-census-incomplete.html
Canada’s income gap growing – http://www.thestar.com/news/article/1024027–canada-s-income-gap-growing

Africa news:

*The Horn of Africa drought: The Endless Plight – http://foreignpolicyblogs.com/2011/07/10/horn-africa-drought-endless-plight/
Explainer: the east Africa food crisis – http://www.guardian.co.uk/global-development/2011/jul/12/east-africa-drought-food-crisis
East Africa drought in pictures – http://www.guardian.co.uk/global-development/gallery/2011/jul/08/east-africa-drought-in-pictures
Science in Africa: the view from the front line – http://www.nature.com/news/2011/110629/full/474556a.html
Britain suspends aid to Malawi – http://www.guardian.co.uk/global-development/2011/jul/14/britain-suspends-aid-to-malawi
Zambia: Millions meant for the poor are stolen or missing – http://www.ips.org/africa/2011/07/zambia-millions-meant-for-the-poor-stolen-or-missing/
South Sudan celebrates a sweet day of separation – http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2011/jul/10/south-sudan-celebrates-independence
South Sudan’s independence clouded by unresolved issues – http://www.ips.org/africa/2011/07/south-sudans-independence-clouded-by-unresolved-issues/
Burkina Faso: Big boost for small agricultural producers – http://www.ips.org/africa/2011/07/burkina-faso-big-boost-for-small-agricultural-producers/
New hope for malaria as river blindness drug shown to kill mosquitoes too – http://www.guardian.co.uk/society/sarah-boseley-global-health/2011/jul/06/malaria-infectiousdiseases
Zambian prostitutes in marriage appeal on reality TV – http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-africa-14154291

SPECIAL: BBC Country Profiles
Malawi – http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-africa-13864367
Zambia – http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-africa-14112449
Ghana – http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-africa-13433790
Burkina Faso – http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-africa-13072774
and more!

Ghana news:

Bunkpurugu-Yunyoo DCE denies Bimoba-Konkomba conflict – http://allafrica.com/stories/201107110701.html
Ghana’s Nana Rawlings fails in NDC bid for presidency – http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-africa-14106937
Midfielder Essien out for 6 months – http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/14087070.stm
Boost for organic farming in Ashanti region – http://allafrica.com/stories/201107141015.html
Physically challenged feel abandoned despite passage of bill – http://allafrica.com/stories/201107141025.html

Agriculture news:

$170 million research program to help maize farmers worldwide – http://allafrica.com/stories/201107061512.html
Kenya makes it legal to produce and import GM foods – http://www.africanagricultureblog.com/2011/07/kenya-makes-it-legal-to-produce-and.html
Kenya to attempt to prevent imported GM maize use as seed – http://www.africanagricultureblog.com/2011/07/kenya-to-attempt-to-prevent-imported-gm.html
Kenya GM foods decision faces criticism from organic activists – http://www.africanagricultureblog.com/2011/07/kenya-gm-foods-decision-faces-criticism.html
Uganda: technology to take advantage of high food prices introduced – http://allafrica.com/stories/201107130182.html
How smartphones can safeguard the future of agriculture in Uganda (CKW program) – http://www.huffingtonpost.com/deborah-bassett/smartphones-safeguarding-future-agriculture_b_881919.html
IFPRI launches unique new tool that provides early warning of extreme price variability – http://www.ifpri.org/pressrelease/ifpri-launches-unique-new-tool-provides-early-warning-extreme-price-variability
Why food price volatility doesn’t matter – http://www.foreignaffairs.com/articles/67981/christopher-b-barrett-and-marc-f-bellemare/why-food-price-volatility-doesnt-matter
Graziano’s five major challenges (FAO) – http://www.guardian.co.uk/global-development/poverty-matters/2011/jul/04/five-challenges-facing-fao-head-graziano
Hedging food security through winter cultivation: the agronomy of dimba cultivation in Malawi – http://www.eldis.org/go/display&type=Document&id=58544
The global supply and demand for agricultural land in 2050: a perfect storm in the making? – http://www.eldis.org/go/display&type=Document&id=58728

Development thinking:

World Bank is opening its treasure chest of data – http://www.nytimes.com/2011/07/03/business/global/03world.html
*How can theories of change help in working with the private sector? – http://www.oxfamblogs.org/fp2p/?p=6094
Making aid really transparent – http://nedbreslin.tap.waterforpeople.org/blog-archives/making-aid-really-transparent
*Tomorrow morning I will not wake up on the Africa continent – http://aidthoughts.org/?p=2661
Adventures in Voluntourism: they have become part of the tourism mainstream – http://aidnography.blogspot.com/2011/07/adventures-in-voluntourism-they-have.html
How do NGOs work with the private sector? – http://www.oxfamblogs.org/fp2p/?p=6030
Sustainable livelihoods approaches: past, present and… future? – http://www.eldis.org/go/display&type=Document&id=58724
*How 28 countries escaped the poverty trap (including Ghana and Zambia) – http://www.guardian.co.uk/global-development/poverty-matters/2011/jul/12/world-bank-reclassifies-28-poor-countries
The Price is Right – http://www.foreignpolicy.com/articles/2011/07/18/the_price_is_right
In school not learning – http://www.owen.org/blog/4715
Can aid work? – http://www.owen.org/blog/4738
Make learning part of your brand – http://kmonadollaraday.wordpress.com/2011/07/15/make-learning-part-of-your-brand/
Tax is power – http://buildingmarkets.org/blogs/blog/2011/07/07/tax-is-power/
Changing the Story: The Cheetah generation – http://buildingmarkets.org/blogs/blog/2011/07/06/the-emergent-continent-part-2-of-4/

5-part series: Becoming an aid worker – http://morealtitude.wordpress.com/2011/07/05/5-part-series-becoming-an-aid-worker/
Part 2: Aid work is a profession – http://morealtitude.wordpress.com/2011/07/07/becoming-an-aid-worker-part-2-aid-work-is-a-profession/
Part 3: Experience, education and personality – http://morealtitude.wordpress.com/2011/07/12/becoming-an-aid-worker-part-3-experience-education-and-personality/
Part 4: Where do you fit? – http://morealtitude.wordpress.com/2011/07/13/becoming-an-aid-worker-part-4-what-do-you-want-to-do/
Part 5: Count the cost – http://morealtitude.wordpress.com/2011/07/15/becoming-an-aid-worker-part-5-count-the-cost/

You should probably quit your job – http://buildingmarkets.org/blogs/blog/2011/07/12/you-should-probably-quit-your-job/
A political history of Africa since 1900 (interactive) – http://www.guardian.co.uk/global-development/interactive/2011/jul/11/a-political-history-of-africa-interactive
Women in political dynasties – http://www.oxfamblogs.org/fp2p/?p=6070

July 19, 2011 | Categories: Development Digest | 2 Comments

Development Digest – 01/07/11 (Happy Canada Day!)

Hey everyone,

Here’s your weekly development digest. Enjoy!
Thanks Sylvie for the Canadian news!

If you only have time to read 5 articles, read the ones with the *star*.

—–

Global news:

ICC issues Gaddafi arrest warrant – http://english.aljazeera.net/news/africa/2011/06/20116278148166670.html
Ex-IMF head Dominique Strauss-Kahn freed without bail – http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-us-canada-13993866
Egypt protesters clash with police – http://english.aljazeera.net/news/middleeast/2011/06/2011628223426192676.html
Unlucky camel finds Libya’s largest minefield – http://english.aljazeera.net/indepth/features/2011/06/201162892022264206.html
On the mend? America comes to its senses – http://english.aljazeera.net/indepth/opinion/2011/06/201162812411022924.html
To celebrate communism in China, a party as disciplined as the Party – http://www.nytimes.com/2011/07/02/world/asia/02china.html

Canada news:

How safe is Canada’s drinking water? It’s tough to know – http://www.theglobeandmail.com/life/health/new-health/andre-picard/how-safe-is-canadas-drinking-water-its-tough-to-know/article2080746/
AECL sold for $15m to SNC-Lavalin: http://www.cbc.ca/news/politics/story/2011/06/29/aecl-sale.html
Omnibus Crime Bill an Injustice: http://www.behindthenumbers.ca/2011/06/29/omnibus-crime-bill-an-injustice/
Don’t count on grants, Flaherty warns art groups: http://www.cbc.ca/news/politics/story/2011/06/28/pol-flaherty-cultural-funding-arts.html
Postal workers taking fight to court: http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/story/2011/06/29/postal-union-court.html
Canada wins battle to keep asbestos off hazardous list: http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/story/2011/06/24/pol-harper-asbestos.html
Critics push for full G20 inquiry: http://www.thestar.com/news/article/1014825–critics-push-for-full-g20-inquiry
The irrelevance of separatism – http://www.economist.com/node/18867600?fsrc=scn%2Ffb%2Fwl%2Far%2Ftheirrelevanceofspearatism
Canadians divided on expats’ right to vote: survey – http://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/national/time-to-lead/canadians-divided-on-expats-right-to-vote-survey/article2078072

Africa news:

President Sirleaf’s ambition for Liberia: aid-free in a decade – http://blogs.cgdev.org/globaldevelopment/2011/06/president-sirleaf%E2%80%99s-ambition-for-liberia-aid-free-in-a-decade.php
Did Ghana register 8000 homosexuals? The facts behind the hype – http://grahamghana.wordpress.com/2011/06/18/did-ghana-register-8000-homosexuals-the-facts-behind-the-hype/
Malaria: on the long, slow but steady road to elimination – http://www.guardian.co.uk/society/sarah-boseley-global-health/2011/jun/28/malaria-infectiousdiseases
*Africa’s biggest market lies within – http://www.ips.org/africa/2011/07/africa8217s-biggest-market-lies-within/
Morocco votes on King Mohammed’s reforms – http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-africa-13976480
Missing – proper toilets for 2.6 billion – http://allafrica.com/stories/201106290553.html

Agriculture news:

Fighting desertification: the great green wall of the Sahara – http://www.africanagricultureblog.com/2011/06/fighting-desertification-great-green.html
Kenya to allow GM maize to alleviate shortage – http://www.africanagricultureblog.com/2011/06/kenya-to-allow-gm-maize-to-alleviate.html
Can biofuels save Africa? – http://www.africanagricultureblog.com/2011/06/can-biofuels-save-africa.html
Innovating our way to a second green revolution – http://blogs.state.gov/index.php/site/entry/second_green_revolution
Political will – http://globalfoodforthought.typepad.com/global-food-for-thought/2011/06/roger-thurow-outrage-and-inspire-political-will.html
*Roads and rice: how innovation and infrastructure can feed the world – http://www.guardian.co.uk/global-development/poverty-matters/2011/jun/21/roads-rice-to-feed-world
Brazil’s Lula, Ghana’s Kufuor win World Food Prize – http://af.reuters.com/article/topNews/idAFJOE75L05020110622
*G-20 Agriculture Ministers’ Summit: Everyone is for food security, as long as it doesn’t cost anything – http://blogs.cgdev.org/mca-monitor/2011/06/g20-agriculture-ministers-summit-everyone-is-for-food-security-as-long-as-it-doesn%E2%80%99t-cost-anything.php
A Missed Opportunity: The G20 action plan on food price volatility and agriculture – http://www.future-agricultures.org/index.php?option=com_easyblog&view=entry&id=50&Itemid=473
World Bank offers farmers money to hedge against volatile food prices – http://www.guardian.co.uk/global-development/2011/jun/27/world-bank-farmers-hedge-against-food-prices

Development thinking:

Corporations unite to fight for development – http://thecable.foreignpolicy.com/posts/2011/06/22/corporations_unite_to_fight_for_development
Next USAID innovation: Learning from Failure – http://blogs.cgdev.org/mca-monitor/2011/06/next-usaid-innovation-learning-to-love-failure.php
Social cause marketing is made to stick. But can we make it also not suck? – http://findwhatworks.wordpress.com/2011/06/25/social-cause-marketing-is-made-to-stick-but-can-we-also-make-it-not-suck/
*Results 2.0: Towards a portfolio-based approach – http://aidontheedge.info/2011/06/30/results-2-0-towards-a-portfolio-based-approach/
Humanitarian Aid 101: Aid cannot and will not fix anything – http://talesfromethehood.com/2011/06/27/humanitarian-aid-101-1/
In defence of duplication, waste and inefficiency – http://buildingmarkets.org/blogs/blog/2011/06/30/in-defence-of-duplication-waste-and-ineffeciency/
Three angles on ‘green growth’ – http://www.iied.org/sustainable-markets/blog/three-angles-green-growth
*Fair trade: still centred on smallholders? – http://www.iied.org/sustainable-markets/blog/fair-trade-still-centred-smallholders
Donor aversion to ‘unsexy’ water projects threatens development goal – http://www.guardian.co.uk/global-development/poverty-matters/2011/jun/27/donor-aversion-water-projects
Inequality needs to move up the development agenda – http://www.guardian.co.uk/global-development/poverty-matters/2011/jun/27/inequality-move-up-development-agenda

EWB blog posts:

Lisa: Salima: Motorcycle riding, lake visits and bad karma – http://pumpsandprosperity.wordpress.com/2011/07/01/salima-motorcycle-riding-lake-visits-and-bad-karma
Geneviève: Stories from the road – http://alittlegirlintheworld.blogspot.com/2011/06/stories-from-road.html
Anthony: Visibility – http://www.investinpeople.ca/iip/795
Colleen: Pragmatic Development – http://www.whereintheworldiscolleen.com/archives/1536
Jordan: Oh right, stuff gets hard sometimes – http://whatyoumightbemissing.wordpress.com/2011/06/30/oh-right-stuff-gets-hard-sometimes/

Amusing and interesting things:

How not to kill animals (or yourself) driving a moto in Ghana – http://www.econgirl.com/1/post/2011/06/how-not-to-kill-animals-or-yourself-driving-moto-in-ghana.html
Zombie apocalypse warning in St. John`s: http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/newfoundland-labrador/story/2011/06/27/nl-zombie-warning-gallery-627.html
Somaliland – http://morealtitude.wordpress.com/2011/06/29/somaliland/

July 1, 2011 | Categories: Development Digest | Comments Off on Development Digest – 01/07/11 (Happy Canada Day!)

What am I doing here? Thoughts from an agricultural development gal in Ghana

Archive for July, 2011

Development Digest – 15/07/11

Development Digest – 01/07/11 (Happy Canada Day!)

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