tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34550720461146895542024-03-05T17:01:47.362+01:00Innovations in Development Change is ConstantAnonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07309473406587070571noreply@blogger.comBlogger105125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3455072046114689554.post-51893443472567229952018-07-05T17:15:00.002+01:002018-07-05T17:16:17.718+01:00#EvenItUp: Girls, Quality Education and Inequality, By Esther Agbarakwe<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<article class="post-single post-170007 post type-post status-publish format-standard has-post-thumbnail hentry category-opinion tag-social-inequalities-in-nigeria tag-united-nations-childrens-fund-unicef tag-womens-equality tag-womens-rights-to-education has_thumb" id="post-170007" style="border: 0px none; float: left; margin: 0px; padding: 0px 0px 2em; position: relative; width: 772.797px; zoom: 1;"><div class="post-content" style="border: 0px; float: left; font-family: inherit; font-size: 1.25em; font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: 1.75em; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 1.25em 0px 0px; vertical-align: baseline; width: 772.797px; word-wrap: break-word; zoom: 1;">
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<a href="https://i0.wp.com/media.premiumtimesng.com/wp-content/files/sites/2/2015/12/children-take-a-book-to-read.jpg" style="border: 0px; color: #242424; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration-line: none; vertical-align: baseline; zoom: 1;"><img alt="children-take-a-book-to-read" class="aligncenter size-large wp-image-170009" data-attachment-id="170009" data-comments-opened="1" data-image-description="" data-image-meta="{"aperture":"0","credit":"","camera":"","caption":"","created_timestamp":"0","copyright":"","focal_length":"0","iso":"0","shutter_speed":"0","title":"","orientation":"0"}" data-image-title="children-take-a-book-to-read" data-large-file="https://i2.wp.com/opinion.premiumtimesng.com/wp-content/files/sites/2/2015/12/children-take-a-book-to-read.jpg?fit=1024%2C768&ssl=1" data-medium-file="https://i2.wp.com/opinion.premiumtimesng.com/wp-content/files/sites/2/2015/12/children-take-a-book-to-read.jpg?fit=300%2C225&ssl=1" data-orig-file="https://i2.wp.com/opinion.premiumtimesng.com/wp-content/files/sites/2/2015/12/children-take-a-book-to-read.jpg?fit=1600%2C1200&ssl=1" data-orig-size="1600,1200" data-permalink="https://opinion.premiumtimesng.com/2015/12/16/girls-quality-education-and-inequality-by-esther-agbarakwe/children-take-a-book-to-read/" height="300" sizes="(max-width: 1000px) 100vw, 1000px" src="https://i2.wp.com/media.premiumtimesng.com/wp-content/files/sites/2/2015/12/children-take-a-book-to-read-1024x768.jpg?resize=1024%2C768" srcset="https://i2.wp.com/opinion.premiumtimesng.com/wp-content/files/sites/2/2015/12/children-take-a-book-to-read.jpg?resize=1024%2C768&ssl=1 1024w, https://i2.wp.com/opinion.premiumtimesng.com/wp-content/files/sites/2/2015/12/children-take-a-book-to-read.jpg?resize=300%2C225&ssl=1 300w, https://i2.wp.com/opinion.premiumtimesng.com/wp-content/files/sites/2/2015/12/children-take-a-book-to-read.jpg?resize=640%2C480&ssl=1 640w, https://i2.wp.com/opinion.premiumtimesng.com/wp-content/files/sites/2/2015/12/children-take-a-book-to-read.jpg?w=1600&ssl=1 1600w" style="border: 0px none; clear: both; display: block; height: auto; margin: 0.4em auto 1.625em; max-width: 100%; padding: 0px; zoom: 1;" width="400" /></a></div>
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Ending inequality is possible but it must be deliberate. Collectively, we must build trust which in turn can create social coercion, cooperation and joint problem-solving. And education, of girls and boys, makes this easier to achieve.</div>
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I am the fourth child and third daughter in a family of five children. My education was not a priority. But my mother whose secondary school education ended when she married my father made it her priority. My mother knows the value of education because she never had one. She took it upon herself to ensure that her children, boys and girls, got quality education despite low resources.</div>
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To my mother, education would give me the opportunity to shape my life. Then, I could go ahead and shape the society. Education would give me the key to lock the door of poverty and unlock a wealth of opportunities. She was right.</div>
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Education also opened my voice, and made it heard across the world, against issues around inequality. Without education, I may likely have been repeating a cycle: married off and maybe on the fourth child. No choice. No voice. Without a voice, I would not be writing this piece on inequality.</div>
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Ending inequality is possible. From my recent trip to Sweden for the Swedish Visitor’s Programme, I understood that gender equality is one of the cornerstones of modern Swedish society. The overarching principle in Swedish gender policies is that everyone, regardless of gender, has the right to work and support themselves. Everyone has a right to balance career and family. Everyone can live without the fear of abuse. This ensures that women and men enjoy the same opportunities, rights and obligations in all areas of life. Ironically, life itself is not fair. Some are born into wealth. Others are born into poverty. However, the Nigerian society, backed by the certain traditions and thought patterns, has magnified this divide. This has undesirable consequences for a modern and interconnected society like ours.</div>
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Ironically, life itself is not fair. Some are born into wealth. Others are born into poverty. However, the Nigerian society, backed by the certain traditions and thought patterns, has magnified this divide. This has undesirable consequences for a modern and interconnected society like ours.</div>
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Women and girls continue to be treated differently. When you are married, you are a good woman. When you have children, you are a better woman. When you have sons, you are the best woman. There are also women considered to be troublemakers. Those who do not fall within these structures. Those who question the structures. Those who open their mouths to challenge tradition.</div>
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Social inequality occurs when resources are distributed unevenly; typically through norms of allocation, that engender specific patterns along lines of socially defined categories of persons. From young women’s access to reproductive health services, to the disproportionate impact of climate change and women owning businesses, social inequality expresses itself through several dimensions.</div>
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In a society as diverse as Nigeria, where social inequality favours men more than women and certain parts of the country than others, inequality can be addressed through women’s participation. This starts with education. Give a girl a pen to write her future. Send her to school, that is the first step. When girls are enrolled in school, they are given a golden opportunity to shape their future positively. They are better empowered to participate actively in family and governance. This singular action can reduce poverty and end social inequality. Let me tell you how.</div>
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According to the United Nations Children Emergency Fund (UNICEF), providing girls with an education helps break the cycle of poverty. It is simple: educated women are less likely to marry early and against their will. They are less likely to die in childbirth; more likely to have healthy babies; and are more likely to send their children to school. When all children have access to a quality education rooted in human rights and gender equality, it creates a ripple effect of opportunity that influences generations to come. The UN agency also reaffirms that “Girls’ education is essential to the achievement of quality learning relevant to the 21st century, including girls’ transition to and performance in secondary school and beyond. Evidence shows that the return to a year of secondary education for girls correlates to a 25 percent increase in wages later in life.”</div>
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In Nigeria, this is not just about book knowledge. We raise girls differently. Most girls are raised to be obedient. Do not look up when adults are talking. Be respectful. For many girls, only the affirmative “yes” exists, “no” is not in their dictionary. One way to end inequality is educating girls properly. It is important for women to know that they have a voice, and they can use it. It is important to encourage young women to ask critical questions and voice their opinions on issues. Recently, many internet-based platforms are showing many young women ways to express their views and build trust among themselves.</div>
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It is important for women to know that they have a voice, and they can use it. It is important to encourage young women to ask critical questions and voice their opinions on issues. Recently, many internet-based platforms are showing many young women ways to express their views and build trust among themselves.</div>
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Social inequality is receiving deeper attention now, especially online where users of new media ‘share’ and ‘engage’ real-time. They discuss issues on inequality from personal experiences. Discussions can lead to social actions to address the issues. This avenue is encouraging more women to make their voices heard. They also connect with people who share similar views. Social inequality is related to poverty, youth unemployment, communal conflicts, climate change and HIV/AIDS. These disproportionately affect marginalised communities. Every day, these issues are thrown around with hashtags and retweets on social media, among people with access, leaving those without access behind. Yet, these problems continue to fuel social inequality especially among communities where educational background and financial status defines an individual. Communities like ours.</div>
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Ending inequality is possible but it must be deliberate. Collectively, we must build trust which in turn can create social coercion, cooperation and joint problem-solving. And education, of girls and boys, makes this easier to achieve.</div>
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<strong style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; zoom: 1;">Esther Agbarakwe is very passionate about leveraging new media to connect, inform and empower young Africans on climate change and other development issues. She is the founder of SocialGood Nigeria, advisor to +SocialGood at the United National Foundations, Washington DC and also advisor to the African Youth Initiative on Climate change (AYICC). She shares her thoughts on twitter as @estherclimate.</strong></div>
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<em style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-weight: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; zoom: 1;"><strong style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; zoom: 1;">This article is part of the #EvenItUp Campaign by BudgIT with collaboration from OXFAM, Nigeria. Originally posted on Premium Times <a href="https://opinion.premiumtimesng.com/2015/12/16/girls-quality-education-and-inequality-by-esther-agbarakwe/">here </a></strong></em></div>
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07309473406587070571noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3455072046114689554.post-43659612225057478962015-06-02T16:57:00.000+01:002015-06-02T17:00:59.975+01:00PRESS RELEASE: Youth Group Task Nigeria President Buhari on Climate Change<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<b style="-webkit-transition: all 0.5s ease; background: 0px 0px; border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; transition: all 0.5s ease; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="-webkit-transition: all 0.5s ease; background: 0px 0px; border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: Candara, sans-serif; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; transition: all 0.5s ease; vertical-align: baseline;">Abuja-Nigeria, 29<span style="-webkit-transition: all 0.5s ease; background: 0px 0px; border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; transition: all 0.5s ease; vertical-align: baseline;">th</span> of May, 2015:</span></b><span style="-webkit-transition: all 0.5s ease; background: 0px 0px; border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: Candara, sans-serif; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; transition: all 0.5s ease; vertical-align: baseline;"> Today Nigerians has been given a new opportunity for change and transformational leadership in the fight against climate change as President Muhammadu Buhari takes over as President of Federal Republic of Nigeria.</span><span style="-webkit-transition: all 0.5s ease; background: 0px 0px; border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: Candara, sans-serif; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; transition: all 0.5s ease; vertical-align: baseline;"></span></div>
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<i style="-webkit-transition: all 0.5s ease; background: 0px 0px; border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; transition: all 0.5s ease; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="-webkit-transition: all 0.5s ease; background: 0px 0px; border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: Candara, sans-serif; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; transition: all 0.5s ease; vertical-align: baseline;">‘Climate change remain one of the biggest challenge facing the world today, from storms in America to heat waves in India and recalling the 2012 floods in Nigeria that eroded the small gains in development and democracy. We are reminded of need for leadership and the required but urgent and rigorous action on climate change’</span></i><span style="-webkit-transition: all 0.5s ease; background: 0px 0px; border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: Candara, sans-serif; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; transition: all 0.5s ease; vertical-align: baseline;">, Esther Agbarakwe.</span><span style="-webkit-transition: all 0.5s ease; background: 0px 0px; border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: Candara, sans-serif; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; transition: all 0.5s ease; vertical-align: baseline;"></span></div>
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<i style="-webkit-transition: all 0.5s ease; background: 0px 0px; border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; transition: all 0.5s ease; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="-webkit-transition: all 0.5s ease; background: 0px 0px; border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: Candara, sans-serif; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; transition: all 0.5s ease; vertical-align: baseline;">‘When it comes to climate change, people generally look towards experts for solutions forgetting to engage us, young people. As young Nigerians we are more disproportionately <wbr style="-webkit-transition: all 0.5s ease; box-sizing: border-box; outline: 0px; transition: all 0.5s ease;"></wbr>affected by the impact of climate change more than any generation and we will not watch as our future is risked by the inactions of our past leaders’</span></i><span style="-webkit-transition: all 0.5s ease; background: 0px 0px; border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: Candara, sans-serif; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; transition: all 0.5s ease; vertical-align: baseline;">, Hamzat Lawal. </span><span style="-webkit-transition: all 0.5s ease; background: 0px 0px; border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: Candara, sans-serif; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; transition: all 0.5s ease; vertical-align: baseline;"></span></div>
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<div style="-webkit-transition: all 0.5s ease; background: 0px 0px rgb(255, 255, 255); border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; color: #5e5e5e; font-family: 'Droid Sans'; font-size: 15px; line-height: 26px; margin: 0in; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: justify; transition: all 0.5s ease; vertical-align: baseline;">
<span style="-webkit-transition: all 0.5s ease; background: 0px 0px; border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: Candara, sans-serif; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; transition: all 0.5s ease; vertical-align: baseline;">We commend President Muhammadu Buhari for making Climate Change one of his top Policy actions and we express hope that the leadership we lacked in the years past will be demonstrated especially now as we transits from Millennium Development Goals to the Sustainable Development Goals and the new Climate Change Agreement to be decided in Paris during the Conference of parties (COP 21) later this year.</span><span style="-webkit-transition: all 0.5s ease; background: 0px 0px; border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: Candara, sans-serif; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; transition: all 0.5s ease; vertical-align: baseline;"></span></div>
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<i style="-webkit-transition: all 0.5s ease; background: 0px 0px; border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; transition: all 0.5s ease; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="-webkit-transition: all 0.5s ease; background: 0px 0px; border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: Candara, sans-serif; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; transition: all 0.5s ease; vertical-align: baseline;">‘We call on the President to focus on investing more in renewable energy which can create millions of job for young people and support local efforts in bridging the intergenerational gap in climate leadership. We also ask the President to give young people a voice in climate decision making at all levels’</span></i><span style="-webkit-transition: all 0.5s ease; background: 0px 0px; border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: Candara, sans-serif; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; transition: all 0.5s ease; vertical-align: baseline;"> Lawal stressed.</span><span style="-webkit-transition: all 0.5s ease; background: 0px 0px; border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: Candara, sans-serif; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; transition: all 0.5s ease; vertical-align: baseline;"></span></div>
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<i style="-webkit-transition: all 0.5s ease; background: 0px 0px; border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; transition: all 0.5s ease; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="-webkit-transition: all 0.5s ease; background: 0px 0px; border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: Candara, sans-serif; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; transition: all 0.5s ease; vertical-align: baseline;">‘As young people are working under the umbrella of the Nigeria Youth Climate Coalition (NYCC) and the African Youth Initiative on Climate change (AYICC) to empower each other through peer education, policy advocacy and social media awareness campaign such as #ClimateWednesday’</span></i><span style="-webkit-transition: all 0.5s ease; background: 0px 0px; border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: Candara, sans-serif; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; transition: all 0.5s ease; vertical-align: baseline;"> Esther confirmed.</span><span style="-webkit-transition: all 0.5s ease; background: 0px 0px; border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: Candara, sans-serif; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; transition: all 0.5s ease; vertical-align: baseline;"></span></div>
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<div style="-webkit-transition: all 0.5s ease; background: 0px 0px rgb(255, 255, 255); border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; color: #5e5e5e; font-family: 'Droid Sans'; font-size: 15px; line-height: 26px; margin: 0in; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: justify; transition: all 0.5s ease; vertical-align: baseline;">
<span style="-webkit-transition: all 0.5s ease; background: 0px 0px; border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: Candara, sans-serif; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; transition: all 0.5s ease; vertical-align: baseline;">We are hopeful that Nigeria will take her leadership place in the regional and international agenda in the fight against climate change and we are ready to support and hold the government accountable. </span><span style="-webkit-transition: all 0.5s ease; background: 0px 0px; border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: Candara, sans-serif; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; transition: all 0.5s ease; vertical-align: baseline;"></span></div>
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<span style="-webkit-transition: all 0.5s ease; background: 0px 0px; border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: Candara, sans-serif; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; transition: all 0.5s ease; vertical-align: baseline;">Esther Agbarakwe</span><span style="-webkit-transition: all 0.5s ease; background: 0px 0px; border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: Candara, sans-serif; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; transition: all 0.5s ease; vertical-align: baseline;"></span></div>
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<span style="-webkit-transition: all 0.5s ease; background: 0px 0px; border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: Candara, sans-serif; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; transition: all 0.5s ease; vertical-align: baseline;">Nigeria Youth Climate Coalition</span><span style="-webkit-transition: all 0.5s ease; background: 0px 0px; border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: Candara, sans-serif; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; transition: all 0.5s ease; vertical-align: baseline;"></span></div>
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<span style="-webkit-transition: all 0.5s ease; background: 0px 0px; border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: Candara, sans-serif; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; transition: all 0.5s ease; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="-webkit-transition: all 0.5s ease; background: 0px 0px; border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: Candara, sans-serif; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; transition: all 0.5s ease; vertical-align: baseline;">Lawal</span><span style="-webkit-transition: all 0.5s ease; background: 0px 0px; border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: Candara, sans-serif; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; transition: all 0.5s ease; vertical-align: baseline;"></span></span></div>
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<span style="-webkit-transition: all 0.5s ease; background: 0px 0px; border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: Candara, sans-serif; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; transition: all 0.5s ease; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="-webkit-transition: all 0.5s ease; background: 0px 0px; border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: Candara, sans-serif; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; transition: all 0.5s ease; vertical-align: baseline;">African Youth Initiative on Climate Change</span><span style="-webkit-transition: all 0.5s ease; background: 0px 0px; border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: Candara, sans-serif; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; transition: all 0.5s ease; vertical-align: baseline;"></span></span></div>
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07309473406587070571noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3455072046114689554.post-81048902348285651312015-06-02T16:40:00.001+01:002015-06-02T16:40:17.720+01:00UN Sec-Gen Advocates Youth Empowerment through Employment<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGchzr0V6dnQXadt5uR_w6Wc9NCxtVeJ75OeopnHP1_XJiPhWuWgVT5Q_OXeN_2DDVq7f8yWSl6BVnWnIXLiVChn7YrREVKV_AelZoZTiz_0yIkBcKAhig1WF4sXnnt2a3qW21B_5h24ok/s1600/DSC00837.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGchzr0V6dnQXadt5uR_w6Wc9NCxtVeJ75OeopnHP1_XJiPhWuWgVT5Q_OXeN_2DDVq7f8yWSl6BVnWnIXLiVChn7YrREVKV_AelZoZTiz_0yIkBcKAhig1WF4sXnnt2a3qW21B_5h24ok/s400/DSC00837.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
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When young people have decent jobs, political weight, negotiating muscle and real influence in the world, they will create a better future, United Nations <a href="http://www.un.org/sg/" style="color: #005689; line-height: inherit; text-decoration: none;">Secretary-General</a> Ban Ki-moon said today as he kicked off a Headquarters event on empowering youth through employment.</div>
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“A lack of jobs feeds insecurity. A jobs-rich country can have a wealth of stability. Young people are forced to bear the brunt of conflicts. They should be given the chance to carry the banner of peace,” Mr. Ban <a href="http://www.un.org/sg/statements/index.asp?nid=8691" style="color: #005689; line-height: inherit; text-decoration: none;">told</a> the General Assembly.</div>
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“The world now has the largest generation of young people in history. I place great hopes in their power to shape our future. They are part of the first generation that can end poverty and the last that can avoid the worst impacts of climate change,” he added.</div>
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Today’s <a href="http://www.un.org/pga/010615_hlte-demographic-dividend-and-youth-employment/" style="color: #005689; line-height: inherit; text-decoration: none;">High-Level Event</a>on the Demographic Dividend and Youth Employment essentially takes stock of how countries with large populations of young people and declining fertility rates stand poised to benefit the most from this so-called demographic dividend.</div>
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Co-organized by the International Labour Organization (<a href="http://www.ilo.org/global/lang--en/" style="color: #005689; line-height: inherit; text-decoration: none;">ILO</a>) and the UN Population Fund (<a href="http://www.unfpa.org/public/home" style="color: #005689; line-height: inherit; text-decoration: none;">UNFPA</a>), today’s event follows last Friday’s General Assembly <a href="http://www.un.org/apps/news/story.asp?NewsID=51007" style="color: #005689; line-height: inherit; text-decoration: none;">meeting</a> that marked the 20th anniversary of the <a href="http://www.un.org/esa/socdev/unyin/documents/wpay2010.pdf" style="color: #005689; line-height: inherit; text-decoration: none;">World Programme of Action for Youth</a> and will consist of two panel discussions on the demographic dividend and creating opportunities for employment.</div>
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“We renewed our commitment to the World Programme of Action,” Mr. Ban said about Friday’s meeting. “And I stressed that we cannot talk about sustainable development without the active involvement of youth.”</div>
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This year the United Nations hopes to change the course of human history by adopting the new development agenda at our special summit on sustainable development in New York in September and a universal climate change agreement at conference in Paris this December.</div>
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The UN chief, who was joined today by several ministers as well as his Youth Envoy, Ahmad Alhendawi and President of the General Assembly, Sam Kutesa, pointed out that some 74 million people worldwide still cannot find work. The <a href="http://www.un.org/pga/youth/" style="color: #005689; line-height: inherit; text-decoration: none;">#YouthNow</a> campaign Mr. Ban launched in February and which has generated nearly a billion digital engagements demonstrates the significance of youth issues.</div>
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He highlighted the link between development and peace and urged empowering young people to address security matters. It is also critical to invest in young women and adolescent girls who face more obstacles than young men and boys and deserve special support in seizing opportunities and claiming their rights, the Secretary-General said.</div>
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To help harness the demographic dividend, Mr. Ban proposed four steps: first, he called for increasing access to family planning and reproductive health care services so that families are able to choose the number and timing of their children. Second, there is a need to ensure that young people get quality education and training to meet the needs of labour markets. Third, there needs to be investments with a focus on human rights and finally, social protection systems must help end poverty and fight persistent inequalities.</div>
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Also speaking today, General Assembly President Sam Kutesa <a href="http://www.un.org/pga/010615_opening-statement-high-level-event-on-the-demographic-dividend-and-youth-employment/" style="color: #005689; line-height: inherit; text-decoration: none;">said</a> that countries with large populations of young people and declining fertility rates stand poised to benefit the most from the demographic dividend.</div>
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“The more young people grow into well-educated adults with fewer dependents and new opportunities to acquire wealth, savings and purchasing power, the more they will be able to accelerate economic growth and development,” he emphasized.</div>
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To harness the demographic dividend, right policies and interventions are needed in order to get a higher proportion of the youthful population into economically productive adults. For example, Asia experienced a seven-fold increase in gross domestic product (GDP) per capita by harnessing their demographic dividend, while Latin America experienced a two-fold increase.</div>
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Of the 1.8 billion young people worldwide, nine out of 10 of them live in least developed countries, and many in Africa, he added. And the number of young Africans aged 15-24 is set to double by 2045. By harnessing its demographic dividend, the African continent could add up to $500 billion per year to its economy, for as many as 30 years.</div>
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“Through vocational training, specialized and practical job-related skills can be developed that prepare young people for work in occupations more in-line with the job market needs,” the General Assembly President said.</div>
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Greater investments are required in science, technology, engineering and maths (STEM) to advance innovation. The empowerment of women and girls, particularly in educational opportunities and universal access to quality reproductive health knowledge is also critical.</div>
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“The needs of countries with large youth populations should be considered in the context of our sustainable development objectives,” he added, highlighting the need for partnerships between governments, the private sector, and other stakeholders to make the necessary investments in order to empower youth</div>
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<a href="http://www.un.org/apps/news/story.asp?NewsID=51017#.VW3qyc_BzGc">Source: UN</a></div>
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07309473406587070571noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3455072046114689554.post-20235095493998365422015-04-13T13:12:00.001+01:002015-04-13T13:12:22.610+01:00SIX Young & Powerful Nigerian Women In Politics & Policy<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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I am very pleased to share that it is a humbling experience to be listed among this very amazing women. </div>
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See Original post by WomenNg <a href="http://woman.ng/2015/04/six-young-powerful-nigerian-women-in-politics-policy/">here </a> and See the #YNaijaPowerList of Powerful Young People in Policy <a href="http://ynaija.com/ynaijapowerlist-ada-osakwe-muntaqa-umar-sadiq-olasupo-olusi-see-powerful-young-people-policy/?utm_medium=twitter&utm_source=twitterfeed">here </a></div>
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<a href="http://ynaija.com/" style="-webkit-transition: all 0.25s linear; color: #5d3a5e; outline: none; text-decoration: none; transition: all 0.25s linear;">Ynaija</a> has just released the #YNaijaPowerList for the most influential young Nigerians under 40 who are in politics and policy. Six young and influential women made this list, below is their names and profiles as on the #YNaijaPowerLists;</div>
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<span style="border: 0px; font-size: inherit; font-weight: 700; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><a href="http://woman.ng/wp-content/uploads/2015/04/josephine.jpg" style="-webkit-transition: all 0.25s linear; color: #5d3a5e; outline: none; text-decoration: none; transition: all 0.25s linear;"><img alt="josephine" class="alignleft wp-image-32785 size-thumbnail" src="http://woman.ng/wp-content/uploads/2015/04/josephine-150x150.jpg" height="150" style="border: 0px; display: block; float: left; font-size: inherit; margin: 0.5em 1.5em 1em 0px; max-width: 100%; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;" width="150" /></a>Josephine Washima</span><br />
Washima is an accomplished business transformation expert but it is her position as the Special Adviser to President Goodluck Jonathan on Job Creation that earns her a spot on this list. Ms Washima brief includes coordinating and monitoring all job creation activities nationwide as well as generating a verifiable unemployment database. Formerly of the Abuja Enterprise Agency, Washima takes some credit for the perceived success of YouWin and G-Win<br />
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<a href="http://woman.ng/wp-content/uploads/2015/04/moji.png" style="-webkit-transition: all 0.25s linear; clear: left; color: #5d3a5e; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em; outline: none; text-decoration: none; transition: all 0.25s linear;"><img alt="moji" class="alignleft wp-image-32786 size-thumbnail" src="http://woman.ng/wp-content/uploads/2015/04/moji-150x150.png" height="150" style="border: 0px; display: block; float: left; font-size: inherit; margin: 0.5em 1.5em 1em 0px; max-width: 100%; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;" width="150" /></a><span style="border: 0px; font-size: inherit; font-weight: 700; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Moji Rhodes</span><br />
For 8 years, Governor Babatunde Fashola of Lagos state has been quite the performer. Granted but a lot of this is made possible because of the careful, deliberate work of Moji Rhodes who functions as his deputy chief of staff. Rhodes’ office coordinates the activities and itinerary of her principal. Reportedly a privileged member of his inner circle, anyone hoping to score an audience with BRF probably has to go through her to ease out the process.<br />
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<a href="http://woman.ng/wp-content/uploads/2015/04/ada.jpg" style="-webkit-transition: all 0.25s linear; clear: left; color: #5d3a5e; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em; outline: none; text-decoration: none; transition: all 0.25s linear;"><img alt="ada" class="alignleft size-thumbnail wp-image-32784" src="http://woman.ng/wp-content/uploads/2015/04/ada-150x150.jpg" height="150" style="border: 0px; display: block; float: left; font-size: inherit; margin: 0.5em 1.5em 1em 0px; max-width: 100%; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;" width="150" /></a><span style="border: 0px; font-size: inherit; font-weight: 700; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Ada Osakwe</span><br />
According to Forbes magazine, Ada Osakwe is a huge part of the Nigerian agricultural sector’s $4billion private sector investment commitments. At 34, Osakwe serves as the Senior Investment Adviser to the performing Minister of Agriculture, Akinwunmi Adesina, and in this capacity, advises on policies regarding private sector investments, while interacting with prospective agribusiness investors. Osakwe has also served as Vice President of Kuramo Capital, a New York-based investment management firm.</div>
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<a href="http://woman.ng/wp-content/uploads/2015/04/esther-150x150.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 1.5em;"><img alt="esther" border="0" class="alignleft size-thumbnail wp-image-32790" src="http://woman.ng/wp-content/uploads/2015/04/esther-150x150.jpg" height="150" style="border: 0px; display: block; font-size: inherit; margin-top: 0.5em; max-width: 100%; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;" width="150" /></a><span style="border: 0px; font-size: inherit; font-weight: 700; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Esther Agbarakwe</span><br />
Esther Climate as she is fondly called, Is the founder of the Nigerian Youth Climate Coalition. An environmental activist with over 10 years experience, Agbarakwe has represented both country and African youth at many global interactions and assemblies. In 2013, she was elected the convener of Actionaid Nigeria general assembly and serves as technical advisor to the Africa Youth Initiative on Climate Change (AYICC). She works as communications officer, (Global Fund) for the Association For Reproductive & Family Health</div>
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<img alt="joycee" class="alignleft size-thumbnail wp-image-32789" src="http://woman.ng/wp-content/uploads/2015/04/joycee-150x150.jpg" height="150" style="border: 0px; display: block; float: left; font-size: inherit; margin: 0.5em 1.5em 1em 0px; max-width: 100%; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;" width="150" /><span style="border: 0px; font-size: inherit; font-weight: 700; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Joyce Awojoodu</span><br />
Awojoodu is a renewable energy advocate who has worked in the renewable energy research and development team at the Nigeran Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC) and also as the technical assistant on research, analysis and informatics to the Minister of Power. She has started the Solar and Alternative Resources (SOAR) to illuminate remote and rural communities lacking grid connectivity and is a World Economic Forum Global shaper.</div>
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<img alt="kat" class="alignleft size-thumbnail wp-image-32788" src="http://woman.ng/wp-content/uploads/2015/04/kat-150x150.jpg" height="150" style="border: 0px; display: block; float: left; font-size: inherit; margin: 0.5em 1.5em 1em 0px; max-width: 100%; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;" width="150" /><span style="border: 0px; font-size: inherit; font-weight: 700; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Katja Schiller Nwator</span><br />
This vibrant and accomplished young woman is the director, Elumelu Nigeria Empowerment Fund, a non-profit organisation tasked with the responsibility of transforming post-conflict and post-disaster communities into thriving and economically sustainable communities. She also doubles as head of the The Tony & Awele Elumelu Prize, a reward and opportunity platform for African students. She has also worked as the leadership director and CSR manager at the TEF. She is a member of the independent audit committee, The Future Awards Africa prize.</div>
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07309473406587070571noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3455072046114689554.post-79522985296949740462015-04-09T09:08:00.000+01:002015-04-09T09:08:24.660+01:00Beyond the drum beat: Social Media for behavior change<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<a class="cb-lightbox" href="http://adoptanegotiator.org/wp-content/uploads/2013/10/Old-school-BBM.jpeg" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.298039); box-sizing: border-box; color: #575aff; font-size: 15px; font-weight: 800; text-decoration: none;"><img alt="Esther shares with us her insights and thoughts on opportunities to use social media more effectively in the African context." class="alignright size-medium wp-image-27206" height="225" src="http://adoptanegotiator.org/wp-content/uploads/2013/10/Old-school-BBM-300x225.jpeg" style="border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; display: inline; float: right; height: auto; margin: 0px 0px 20px 1.5em; max-width: 100%;" width="300" /></a><span style="font-size: large;"><b>S</b></span><span style="font-size: 15px;">ocial media is accessible in most part of Africa through, laptops, mobile phones and tablets. Yet many still lack the much needed access to information on climate change and other environmental issue. Why? Lack of interest is certainly not one of it.</span></div>
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Previously we usually go out to look for information, like travel long distance to Internet café to use the internet and other facilities (that is when the electricity is available). Information now find us wherever we are; home, work or school through digital technology including new media. Many of us young people across Africa are very excited about this, as our ability to communicate with our peers has been enhanced especially for those of us that know how to use it. Social media has the power to change the way we access and use information, permitting us to bypass the gatekeepers – reporters, editors and government officials – who shape or control the press agenda. The Arab spring in 2010 – 11 revealed how social networks such as Twitter, Facebook and YouTube revolutionized political communication in North Africa.</div>
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We are currently witnessing an unusual changing climate. It is affecting every aspect of our life, education, food, forced migration and security. Climate has changed on all time scales throughout Earth’s history. Some aspects of the current climate change are not unusual, but others are. Although climate change is a global issue, likewise its impacts, but the biting effects are felt more by poor and developing countries especially those in Africa due to low level of infrastructural development, awareness and coping capacities. But this can change, if people have access to correct information on adaption and holding their government accountable.</div>
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Let me share the Story of how we use social media for climate change and environmental education/awareness and advocacy. First we saw and acknowledged the presence of many young Nigerians on Facebook and twitter, engaging constantly and having great fun. Amidst the sound of the drum beat, we decided to throw in climate change information into their conversations, sharing where, what and when off line climate change education will or have taken place.</div>
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We came to realized that for those that are already interested in environmental issues, social media made it possible for them to be updated instantly on recent reports and environmental issues, such as 2012 flooding in Nigeria (#NGFloods), oil spill in the Niger Delta, etx, engaging their thoughts and allowing them to make their voice heard. During 2012 Floods that devastated many part of Nigeria, families were displaced, schools were destroyed, young people lost their means of livelihoods and other exisiting ‘manageable’ infrastructure such as roads, etc damaged thereby impacting children’s rights to education, as many of them are cut off from their schools or become refugees in refugee camps where there is no room for education. Peasant farmers had their own story to tell....</div>
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Continue reading <a href="http://adoptanegotiator.org/beyond-the-drum-beat-social-media-for-behavior-change/">here</a></div>
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<span style="color: #999999; font-family: Oswald, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; letter-spacing: 1px;">This piece was originally posted on </span><a href="http://adoptanegotiator.org/beyond-the-drum-beat-social-media-for-behavior-change/" style="font-family: Oswald, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; letter-spacing: 1px;">adoptanegotiator</a></div>
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07309473406587070571noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3455072046114689554.post-50633728478267609722015-04-07T17:43:00.000+01:002015-04-08T10:05:54.655+01:00President-Elect, General Mohammed Buhari Promises To Fight Climate Change in Nigeria<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<b><span style="line-height: 24.5333347320557px;">“I assure all foreign governments that Nigeria will become a more forceful and constructive player in the global fight against terrorism and in other matters of collective concern, such as the fight against drugs, climate change, financial fraud, communicable diseases and other issues requiring global response,” - Buhari</span></b></h4>
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The President elect General Mohammed Buhari (Rtd) has promised to fight Climate Change in Nigeria. He made this pledge through his Party Manifesto and reaffirmed this commitment during his his acceptance speech on Wednesday 1st of April 2015<br />
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<b><span style="line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></b><b><span style="line-height: 115%;">‘’I must also add my appreciation for
the role played by civil societies, national and International observers, other
world leaders in ensuring that Nigeria holds free and fair elections. I assure
all foreign governments that Nigeria will become a more forceful and
constructive player in the global fight against terrorism and in other matters
of collective concern, such as the fight against drugs, <u><span style="color: lime;">climate change,
</span></u>financial fraud, communicable diseases and other issues requiring global
response’’- Buhari</span></b></h4>
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In 2014 when he officially started his campaign, I engaged him on twitter about his vision for environmental sustainable Nigeria and I got a response!</div>
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respect for the environment as my friend <a href="https://twitter.com/estherclimate">@estherclimate</a> has asked me; education that is outcome-oriented in a knowledge-economy.<br />
— Muhammadu Buhari (@ThisIsBuhari) <a href="https://twitter.com/ThisIsBuhari/status/550250545492291584">December 31, 2014</a></blockquote>
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My colleagues and I through the Nigerian Youth Climate Coalition (NYCC) are looking forward to engaging the new government when they officially take over in May as this year is an important year for climate Action and especially now on the Road to Paris Campaign. We will continue to use all available resources accessible to engage while holding the president elect accountable to all his promises.<br />
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Nigeria can no longer afford to be left behind. This is the change we seek!<br />
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07309473406587070571noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3455072046114689554.post-55876825952817897222015-04-06T17:54:00.001+01:002015-04-07T18:36:16.961+01:00#ID100 Paper Published! 100 Key Questions for Development Policy and Research<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<span style="background-color: #fff9ee; color: #222222; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, 'Palatino Linotype', Palatino, serif; font-size: 15.3999996185303px; line-height: 21.5599994659424px; text-align: justify;"><br /></span>
<span style="background-color: #fff9ee; color: #222222; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, 'Palatino Linotype', Palatino, serif; font-size: 15.3999996185303px; line-height: 21.5599994659424px; text-align: justify;">From Monday June 30th to July 3rd 2014, I was a guest of the University of Sheffield, Sheffield in the UK, as part of the </span><a href="http://siid.group.shef.ac.uk/id100/" style="background-color: #fff9ee; color: #888888; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, 'Palatino Linotype', Palatino, serif; font-size: 15.3999996185303px; line-height: 21.5599994659424px; text-align: justify; text-decoration: none;">#ID100 Project: Identifying critical questions for development research& policy</a><span style="background-color: #fff9ee; color: #222222; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, 'Palatino Linotype', Palatino, serif; font-size: 15.3999996185303px; line-height: 21.5599994659424px; text-align: justify;">. Participants who are experts in International development were invited to identify and agree on the most important questions in International Development (ID). With the deadline of the MDGs fast approaching, these questions will define how the post-2015 agenda can be addressed in a realistic and evidenced way. </span><br />
<span style="background-color: #fff9ee; color: #222222; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, 'Palatino Linotype', Palatino, serif; font-size: 15.3999996185303px; line-height: 21.5599994659424px; text-align: justify;"><br /></span>
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<iframe allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen" frameborder="0" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/HQdMRFAaeVU?rel=0" style="border-width: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;" width="560"></iframe></div>
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How can research best contribute to a new global agenda for international development? SIID has just published the results of a global consultative exercise called <a href="http://siid.group.shef.ac.uk/project/id100/" style="border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; color: black; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;" target="_blank" title="ID100">ID100</a>, which sought to identify 100 key questions for development policy and research. These 100 questions, published in an <a href="http://id100.group.shef.ac.uk/include/A-Hundred-Key-Questions-for-the-Post-2015-Development-Agenda.pdf"><span style="color: black;"><span style="box-sizing: border-box;">open access working paper</span></span> </a>with the United Nations Research Institute for Social Development (UNRISD), were gathered and selected via a broad participatory consultative exercise involving more than 700 people from 34 countries.</div>
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They include a combination of long-standing problems as well as new challenges emerging from recent socio-political and environmental changes. Well-established concerns about the rights of women, and of vulnerable groups such as poor workers, small-scale farmers, people with disabilities, children and ethnic minorities feature alongside emerging issues, including the role of business in protecting human rights, and information and communication technologies as tools for empowerment and the value of art in development</div>
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07309473406587070571noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3455072046114689554.post-34676407662849719222015-04-06T17:30:00.000+01:002015-04-06T17:44:52.080+01:00CONNECTING THE DOTS: USING TECHNOLOGY TO SHAPE SOCIAL JUSTICE IN NIGERIA <div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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“<span style="box-sizing: border-box; color: black; font-weight: 700;"><em style="box-sizing: border-box;">In a fast-growing world where technology has become an essential part of the human life and activity, Esther shows an example of how tech can be used to shape the society for justice and the greater good.</em></span>” – Editor’s note.</div>
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<span style="box-sizing: border-box; color: black; font-weight: 700;">Guest Writer</span>: Esther Agbarakwe</div>
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<a href="http://writeparagraphs.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/02/world-day-of-social-justice-300x169.jpg" imageanchor="1"><img alt="World Day of Social Justice | Credit: sabc" border="0" src="http://writeparagraphs.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/02/world-day-of-social-justice-300x169.jpg" height="225" style="background-color: transparent;" width="400" /></a>As the world’s population continue to increase, so is the population of young people, the largest in human history. Nigeria, Africa’s most populous and biggest economy has seen the growth in the number of young people as an opportunity and a challenge.</div>
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Technology continues to shape this opportunity, providing young people with inspiration and knowledge to shape their future. In 2012, the Occupy Nigeria movement was birthed; the same year we experienced the biggest flood disaster in Nigerian history in more than 40 years. The Occupy Nigeria was a socio-political protest movement that began on Monday, 2 January 2012 in response to the fuel subsidy removal by the federal government of the current President – Dr. Goodluck Jonathan (GCFR). This movement was inspired by young Nigerians and shaped by technology – social media.</div>
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<span style="line-height: 1.8em;">Read more </span><a href="http://writeparagraphs.com/2015/02/connecting-the-dot-using-technology-to-shape-social-justice-in-nigeria-guest-post-for-world-day-of-social-justice/" style="line-height: 1.8em;">here </a></div>
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07309473406587070571noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3455072046114689554.post-53182118426134459512014-07-04T12:53:00.002+01:002014-07-06T22:33:45.681+01:00#ID100: Identifying Critical Questions for Development Research & Policy<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQgHpRpva2OCl89Y8hcYEpYLl_A5r8J0cn3wOzYq0idfetM0ZAPaA7bNpg6qSgbL5-ro4XEvTKm1Uq3Y6DqJYo48XdEGieqA_Vj-TZve5aT6kN-pRo0nks9Nq4nZPcOXX98Mr2PsiKkDef/s1600/ID100+blog.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQgHpRpva2OCl89Y8hcYEpYLl_A5r8J0cn3wOzYq0idfetM0ZAPaA7bNpg6qSgbL5-ro4XEvTKm1Uq3Y6DqJYo48XdEGieqA_Vj-TZve5aT6kN-pRo0nks9Nq4nZPcOXX98Mr2PsiKkDef/s1600/ID100+blog.png" height="214" width="400" /></a></div>
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From Monday June 30th to July 3rd 2014, I was a guest of the University of Sheffield, Sheffield in the UK, as part of
the <a href="http://siid.group.shef.ac.uk/id100/">#ID100 Project: Identifying critical questions for development research& policy</a>. Participants who are
experts in International development were invited to identify and agree on the
most important questions in International Development (ID). With the deadline
of the MDGs fast approaching, these questions will define how the post-2015
agenda can be addressed in a realistic and evidenced way. The event started on July 1st 2014 in Sheffield, UK was hosted by the
<a href="http://siid.group.shef.ac.uk/">Sheffield Institute for International Development</a>, a flagship research
institute within the University of Sheffield, UK.</div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The Moment when the last of the 100 questions was identified and voted for. </td></tr>
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The ID100 Project opened a
worldwide consultation with individuals and organizations from across policy,
practice and academia, inviting them to submit questions that address the
world’s biggest environmental, political and socio-economic problems. So over
the course of the two-day research workshop, over 30 leading international
experts in fields directly related to international development debated and
voted on the submitted questions in order to short-list the 100 most important
ones. I was part of those invited experts.<o:p></o:p></div>
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This final list (100 questions) will be published as an
influential policy report and as an open-access article in a leading academic
journal. All workshop participants will be co-authors. Similar priority-setting
exercises, in fields ranging from biodiversity conservation to food security,
have been instrumental in framing global research priorities for policy
development and implementation.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzYfl-NSqXwqm-_yMydkTZ450jb5PrPvR45edBC9Uzdlz5HqT5Rw2JigmhnVCIV-5PneWBTxF3xLL6691dyH1Milsul3zlWETXMx0UOHqa-mWt-g_mNSr32eCDD3bT1XkFisuMtG0fFsos/s1600/ID100+blog+3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzYfl-NSqXwqm-_yMydkTZ450jb5PrPvR45edBC9Uzdlz5HqT5Rw2JigmhnVCIV-5PneWBTxF3xLL6691dyH1Milsul3zlWETXMx0UOHqa-mWt-g_mNSr32eCDD3bT1XkFisuMtG0fFsos/s1600/ID100+blog+3.jpg" height="300" width="400" /></a></div>
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I believe that that I made a
significant contributions to the debate particularity in Rights, Governance and Participation as well as in the Development & Aids Politics Working Groups. (Inspired by the activism part of my career) You can see some of my tweets via <a href="https://twitter.com/search?f=realtime&q=%23ID100&src=typd">#ID100 </a>. </div>
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For now I am in London for a short summer holidays. </div>
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07309473406587070571noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3455072046114689554.post-39491820389031169202014-06-10T17:38:00.001+01:002014-06-10T17:38:25.695+01:00Social Mobilization in the Fight Against Aids,...<a href='http://dy.si/b2hF' target='_blank'><img src='https://ae2e950570ee050103f2-06d1f696271f3d7befcd1d73ea57948d.ssl.cf2.rackcdn.com/113101/article/07d8f553-cdea-485f-9914-e5aa46352868_B320'></a><h2><a href='http://dy.si/b2hF' target='_blank'>Social Mobilization in the Fight Against Aids,...</a></h2> The continued efforts in the fight against HIV, AIDS & its accompanying opportunistic infections see an increasing collaboration between governments & organizations at various levels all over the world. Among leading world leaders in this fight is The Global Fund to fight AIDS, TB & malaria. From the streets of Abuja during the Abuja+12 AU Special summit on AIDS, TB & Malaria, through those of Capetown during ICASA, on to a boardroom in Nairobi and many more, one of the most prominent issues clamoured for among others, is the actualization of the commitments made to health financing as part of resource mobilization efforts in the fight against AIDS, TB & malaria in Africa. Thus as an emerging health advocate,...<a href='http://dy.si/b2hF' target='_blank'>Read More</a><hr /><a href='http://www.plussocialgood.org' target='_blank'>+SocialGood</a>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07309473406587070571noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3455072046114689554.post-91568266717655593542014-06-10T09:43:00.001+01:002014-06-10T09:43:08.545+01:00World Cup + Global Health +SocialGood | Virtual...<a href='http://dy.si/X4AH' target='_blank'><img src='https://ae2e950570ee050103f2-06d1f696271f3d7befcd1d73ea57948d.ssl.cf2.rackcdn.com/113101/article/a9fc7144-424b-4ef0-9330-1174db30d974_B320'></a><h2><a href='http://dy.si/X4AH' target='_blank'>World Cup + Global Health +SocialGood | Virtual...</a></h2> [video will appear above when the virtual panel is live] WORLD CUP + GLOBAL HEALTH +SOCIALGOOD VIRTUAL PANEL WHEN: Tuesday, June 10, 2014 | 11:00am-12:00pm ET WHERE: Above or on Google+: World Cup + Global Health +Social Good Google+ Hangout WHAT: A look at the ONE Campaign’s “Going for the Goal: Immunisation and the Case for GAVI” centered on bringing attention to a global movement for vaccines. HASHTAGS: #WorldGoals #Vaccines #SocialGood SPEAKERS: Moderator: Devi Thomas, Shot@Life Dr. Akira Homma, Head of Vaccines FIOCRUZ Institute Natasha Bilimoria, Director of U.S. Strategy, GAVI Erin Hohlfelder, Director of Global Health Policy, ONE Campaign WHAT IS WORLD CUP...<a href='http://dy.si/X4AH' target='_blank'>Read More</a><hr /><a href='http://www.plussocialgood.org' target='_blank'>+SocialGood</a>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07309473406587070571noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3455072046114689554.post-8925658006434494592014-06-10T09:34:00.001+01:002014-06-10T09:34:12.220+01:002014 World Cup +SocialGood<a href='http://dy.si/9Mj3' target='_blank'><img src='https://ae2e950570ee050103f2-06d1f696271f3d7befcd1d73ea57948d.ssl.cf2.rackcdn.com/113101/article/0791458f-9f48-47dc-bbbd-02ea36a43e7f_B320'></a><h2><a href='http://dy.si/9Mj3' target='_blank'>2014 World Cup +SocialGood</a></h2> As the world gathers in Brazil for the World Cup, be part of this global conversation. <hr /><a href='http://www.plussocialgood.org' target='_blank'>+SocialGood</a>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07309473406587070571noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3455072046114689554.post-50427444206097780352014-06-10T09:33:00.001+01:002014-06-10T09:33:14.560+01:00#BringBackOurGirls<a href='http://dy.si/ZB3Wa' target='_blank'><img src='https://ae2e950570ee050103f2-06d1f696271f3d7befcd1d73ea57948d.ssl.cf2.rackcdn.com/113101/article/fecaa11c-01b1-4916-a042-10c79d591fe5_B320'></a><h2><a href='http://dy.si/ZB3Wa' target='_blank'>#BringBackOurGirls</a></h2> How new media is helping to reinforce the need to invest in girl's education in Nigeria. <hr /><a href='http://www.plussocialgood.org' target='_blank'>+SocialGood</a>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07309473406587070571noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3455072046114689554.post-11500980942955945522014-05-27T08:03:00.001+01:002014-05-27T08:03:20.945+01:002014 World Cup +SocialGood<a href='http://dy.si/BkMX' target='_blank'><img src='https://ae2e950570ee050103f2-06d1f696271f3d7befcd1d73ea57948d.ssl.cf2.rackcdn.com/113101/article/0791458f-9f48-47dc-bbbd-02ea36a43e7f_B320'></a><h2><a href='http://dy.si/BkMX' target='_blank'>2014 World Cup +SocialGood</a></h2> As the world gathers in Brazil for the World Cup, be part of this global conversation. <hr /><a href='http://www.plussocialgood.org' target='_blank'>+SocialGood</a>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07309473406587070571noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3455072046114689554.post-90555281954694401662014-05-27T08:00:00.001+01:002014-05-27T08:00:56.843+01:00Education Designed for a Global World<a href='http://dy.si/PVfY' target='_blank'><img src='https://ae2e950570ee050103f2-06d1f696271f3d7befcd1d73ea57948d.ssl.cf2.rackcdn.com/113101/article/7048ff8b-9b65-462f-b153-f2845b12a26f_B320'></a><h2><a href='http://dy.si/PVfY' target='_blank'>Education Designed for a Global World</a></h2> 1World-Kids look to make a long-term, positive impact to the lives of children by igniting a passion for lifelong learning that supports the global need for a renewed sense of responsibility and care. Our aim is to help children recognise that everything we do has consequences and that by making simple changes to the way we live our lives, that we can just save the life of another. We believe that it is time for us all to consume less, appreciate more, take time to give thanks for all that we have and learn compassion for all those that have nothing, not because of who they are, but simply because of where they live. “Educating our kids about the world today will help shape the face of the world tomorrow....<a href='http://dy.si/PVfY' target='_blank'>Read More</a><hr /><a href='http://www.plussocialgood.org' target='_blank'>+SocialGood</a>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07309473406587070571noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3455072046114689554.post-47648094918313829892014-05-27T07:58:00.001+01:002014-05-27T07:58:06.252+01:00Preparing for the Digital Age<a href='http://dy.si/QyiY' target='_blank'><img src='https://ae2e950570ee050103f2-06d1f696271f3d7befcd1d73ea57948d.ssl.cf2.rackcdn.com/113101/article/188b8e8b-8421-43c3-874e-736cb1869a00_B320'></a><h2><a href='http://dy.si/QyiY' target='_blank'>Preparing for the Digital Age</a></h2> The ASEAN region is the fastest growing consumer of digital content and services. The traditional enterprise will need to transform its business to address new consumers of the region. - Affecting change in corporate culture Technology disruption Understanding shifting consumer behavior - Technology disruption - Understanding shifting consumer behavior <hr /><a href='http://www.plussocialgood.org' target='_blank'>+SocialGood</a>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07309473406587070571noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3455072046114689554.post-91691858961949105102014-05-11T21:25:00.001+01:002014-05-11T21:25:44.814+01:00World Health+SocialGood<a href='http://dy.si/EZdK' target='_blank'><img src='https://ae2e950570ee050103f2-06d1f696271f3d7befcd1d73ea57948d.ssl.cf2.rackcdn.com/113101/article/07e1b7cf-8c22-461c-a4a3-5d6c876b6702_B320'></a><h2><a href='http://dy.si/EZdK' target='_blank'>World Health+SocialGood</a></h2> A five-day digital event covering the World Health Assembly <hr /><a href='http://www.plussocialgood.org' target='_blank'>+SocialGood</a>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07309473406587070571noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3455072046114689554.post-23209846342882546552014-05-11T14:12:00.003+01:002014-05-11T14:12:59.199+01:0011 Social Innovators You Need To Know About<a href='http://dy.si/ZFW5' target='_blank'><img src='https://ae2e950570ee050103f2-06d1f696271f3d7befcd1d73ea57948d.ssl.cf2.rackcdn.com/113101/article/c984bd9d-56c8-4823-b772-6571d54e1da0_B320'></a><h2><a href='http://dy.si/ZFW5' target='_blank'>11 Social Innovators You Need To Know About</a></h2> photo by: Missy Schmidt Social Innovation is all around us these days. All across the globe there are incredible people using incredible technology to enhance our world. Here are 11 social innovators that I think you should know about. These individuals are creating amazing ways to help, transform, and inspire the way we solve issues. Eric Woods - Switchboard Before leading @Switchboard , Eric was the Executive Vice President, COO & Co-Founder of EconoMEDics, a medical device start-up that designed a rugged, low-cost, power-generating pulse oximeter for the developing world. With a degree in Bioengineering from UC San Diego and a term as an engineering Project Manager at the medical device company DJO, Eric is now...<a href='http://dy.si/ZFW5' target='_blank'>Read More</a><hr /><a href='http://www.plussocialgood.org' target='_blank'>+SocialGood</a>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07309473406587070571noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3455072046114689554.post-28072888341657944172014-05-11T14:12:00.001+01:002014-05-11T14:12:32.258+01:005 Things We Learned About Urban Food Insecurity<p>Takeaways from Urban Food Security +SocialGood #SocialGood #Rffood</p><a href='http://dy.si/C3p2' target='_blank'><img src='https://ae2e950570ee050103f2-06d1f696271f3d7befcd1d73ea57948d.ssl.cf2.rackcdn.com/113101/article/da1f9a56-917c-447e-a874-4a974cd44bcb_B320'></a><h2><a href='http://dy.si/C3p2' target='_blank'>5 Things We Learned About Urban Food Insecurity</a></h2> Takeaways from Urban Food Security +SocialGood <hr /><a href='http://www.plussocialgood.org' target='_blank'>+SocialGood</a>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07309473406587070571noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3455072046114689554.post-52250099287098649072014-05-09T13:36:00.000+01:002014-05-09T13:36:00.806+01:00An intergenerational dialogue on the World You Want<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;">As the 2015 deadline of the Millennium Development Goals draws near, the </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;">international community is preparing to define a new global framework for the </span></div>
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<a href="http://www.plussocialgood.org/Post/you-global-leaders-socialgood/eefa6ed0-d0cc-42d9-af8c-2194aa161921" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGLpkrTT5YqTsTEBYyjKaYDM9LSmHtoYlBSb-Se4s5zbbB3wH7vYQkR4Ncjo_EpwM6Wc5Ec1lGGl3qlxta7HBoQvRsvL9IrFK0k1nMg90agdBFCavVJ3_SfJbj76DoXLVTcLDCYfG6J9c_/s1600/1.jpg" height="150" width="400" /></span></a><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;">future. With half of the world’s population under 25 and set to inherit this post 2015 world, it is critical that the views and perspectives of young people are at the heart of this discussion and that they have their say in the post-2015 decisions.</span></div>
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<a href="http://www.plussocialgood.org/Post/you-global-leaders-socialgood/eefa6ed0-d0cc-42d9-af8c-2194aa161921" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxWuHZcymcU-4Kx6zYPwEKxG22q0AVikBPvk9CyX4csAUx_jVvPPKFUZgT6rGzqr-IEp1sdFpCRFAjxvV1QajYhLvVTaYWXJyJM5ICt46KLshGNTO6einEyMDay7VEPL-E5-jyIMEt78oL/s1600/2+.jpg" height="195" width="400" /></a><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;">Recognising the valuable role that young people can play in shaping future </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;">development goals, the Kofi Annan Foundation and the United Nations </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;">Foundation are hosting a dialogue between global leaders and young people on </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;">the development priorities of particular importance to them: a good education, </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;">better job opportunities, better healthcare and action on climate change</span>. <a href="http://www.plussocialgood.org/Post/you-global-leaders-socialgood/eefa6ed0-d0cc-42d9-af8c-2194aa161921">More</a></div>
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You can start now to participate by sharing this tweets: </div>
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Join You + Global Leaders +SocialGood on 13 May and have your say on the world you want: http://trib.al/G3IS79m #WorldWeWant</div>
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• Join May 13th as @KofiAnnan & @unfoundation host an open dialogue with global leaders and young people: http://trib.al/G3IS79m #worldwewant</div>
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07309473406587070571noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3455072046114689554.post-11384322808148802612014-05-06T11:27:00.002+01:002014-05-06T11:27:50.190+01:00IN READINESS FOR THE RETURN OF OUR GIRLS A PRESS STATEMENT ON THE MISSING CHIBOK SCHOOL GIRLS BY THE #CHOICE4LIFE ADVOCATES <div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<span lang="EN-US"><b><u><span style="color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 11pt;">May 5t</span><span style="font-size: 15px;">h</span><span style="font-size: 11pt;"> 2014: </span></span></u></b></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 11pt;">Since Monday, April 14, 2014, more than 200 girls, mostly teenagers, were reportedly abducted by heavily armed men from their school in Chibok, Borno State, Northeast Nigeria. The news of this event sent ripples across the nation, and many are yet to recover from the shock of such a catastrophe. While some of the abducted girls have escaped and returned home, the exact whereabouts of the others remain<ins datetime="2014-05-02T13:23"> </ins>unknown.</span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 11pt;">Reports regarding this event, are increasingly dominating the media, especially the new media with the launch of the<i>#BringBackOurGirls</i> campaign. Also, Nigerians, especially women and some parents of the abducted girls have taken to the streets in different states and countries around the world. They all show solidarity through protests pressurizing government to swiftly and continuously take necessary actions to ensure the girls are returned home alive.</span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 11pt;">Apparently, incessant kidnappings have recently being on the increase in Nigeria. Victims suffer untold traumatic physical, psychological and emotional consequences. In this particular case, it is imperative to note that these girls are at high risk of sexual violence. While we earnestly anticipate their quick return in order to stop the continuous abuse they may be going through, it is imperative that we consider our readiness, especially our legal and health systems, to ensure that the victims immediately commence the process of full recovery upon their return.</span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 11pt;">We recognize the challenges of handling insurgencies such as this, as we unreservedly acknowledge and appreciate the efforts of our military, para-military and other security personnel towards ensuring that peace, order, and security of lives and properties is restored in Nigeria.</span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 11pt;">We commend all the efforts of well-meaning Nigerians who have toiled over the last couple of weeks, to raise awareness about the kidnapped girls, and who have worked to pressure the government to go the extra mile towards bringing our girls home.</span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 11pt;">We appreciate the support from non-Nigerians, global leaders and the international media to the campaign for government to rescue our girls and bring them back alive.</span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 11pt;">We commiserate with the families and relatives of all the kidnapped girls, assuring them that Nigerians stand as one with them through these trying times.</span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 11pt;">To this end, we, the #Choice4Life Advocates, a group of young Nigerians from diverse ethno-religious and social background across Nigeria, who use social media to advocate for non-violence and promulgation of relevant policies needed to protect sexual and reproductive health and rights of women; therefore demands that;</span></div>
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<li class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0px 0px 0px 15px; text-align: justify;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 11pt;">The Federal Government and the Borno State Government, through relevant security agencies, intensify and strengthen all current efforts being made towards the quick release of the girls.</span></li>
<li class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0px 0px 0px 15px; text-align: justify;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 11pt;">Given the fact that our current laws on violence against persons, especially women, is insufficient in ensuring justice for the abducted girls upon their much-anticipated return, we request the National Assembly pass the Violence Against Persons Prohibition Bill (#VAPPbill) without further delay so as to guarantee a robust legal framework needed to seek justice for the girls. The swift passage of the VAPP Bill will also, among others, boost the confidence of the citizens in the polity as well as serve as a legal protection of citizens against all forms of violence regardless of sex, age, culture, tribe or religion.</span></li>
<li class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0px 0px 0px 15px; text-align: justify;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 11pt;">A policy on the right of every Nigerian to education should be formulated and included in our National Constitution and/or relevant documents so as to protect and guarantee the right of citizens to education regardless of cultural and religious beliefs. This is expected to take preeminence over any local, cultural, and/or religious policies, which are against right of citizens to education.</span></li>
<li class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0px 0px 0px 15px; text-align: justify;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 11pt;">The education and empowerment of women should be given the adequate priority and urgent attention it requires. </span></li>
<li class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0px 0px 0px 15px; text-align: justify;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 11pt;">All necessary structures and actions should be put in place immediately to forestall a repeat of this and similar incident in any part of Nigeria.</span></li>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 11pt;">We do look forward to the earnest return of all the girls unharmed. It is time to #BringbackOurGirls Alive! Thank you.</span></div>
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<b><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 11pt;">Signed:</span></b></div>
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<li class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0px 0px 0px 15px; text-align: justify;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 11pt;">Mr Francis Anyaegbu</span></li>
<li class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0px 0px 0px 15px; text-align: justify;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 11pt;">Mrs. Bukky Shonibare</span></li>
<li class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0px 0px 0px 15px; text-align: justify;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 11pt;">Dr Chijioke Kaduru</span></li>
<li class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0px 0px 0px 15px; text-align: justify;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 11pt;">Mr. Alkasim Abdulkadir</span></li>
<li class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0px 0px 0px 15px; text-align: justify;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 11pt;">Pharm. Tolu Ogunlesi</span></li>
<li class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0px 0px 0px 15px; text-align: justify;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 11pt;">Dr Sylva Nze Ifedigbo</span></li>
<li class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0px 0px 0px 15px; text-align: justify;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 11pt;">Ms Busolami Tunwase</span></li>
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<li class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0px 0px 0px 15px; text-align: justify;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 11pt;">Ms Oluwabusayo Sotunde</span></li>
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<li class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0px 0px 0px 15px; text-align: justify;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 11pt;">Barr. Gabriel Okoro</span></li>
<li class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0px 0px 0px 15px; text-align: justify;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 11pt;">Mr. Moses Nwokedi (Big Mo)</span></li>
<li class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0px 0px 0px 15px; text-align: justify;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 11pt;">Dr Ugochi Nnaji</span></li>
<li class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0px 0px 0px 15px; text-align: justify;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 11pt;">Mr. ‘Fisayo Soyombo</span></li>
<li class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0px 0px 0px 15px; text-align: justify;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 11pt;">Dr Isa Jiddah Mohammed</span></li>
<li class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0px 0px 0px 15px; text-align: justify;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 11pt;">Ms Joy Odiete (J’odie)</span></li>
<li class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0px 0px 0px 15px; text-align: justify;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 11pt;">Mr. Ayodele Fanida</span></li>
<li class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0px 0px 0px 15px; text-align: justify;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 11pt;">Mr. Stephen Oguntoyinbo</span></li>
<li class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0px 0px 0px 15px; text-align: justify;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 11pt;">Dr Chioma Enyi</span></li>
<li class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0px 0px 0px 15px; text-align: justify;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 11pt;">Engr. Stanley Azuakola</span></li>
<li class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0px 0px 0px 15px; text-align: justify;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 11pt;">Mr. Kamil Alebiosu</span></li>
<li class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0px 0px 0px 15px; text-align: justify;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 11pt;">Mr. Franklin C. Uzor</span></li>
<li class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0px 0px 0px 15px; text-align: justify;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 11pt;">Dr Patrick Ezie</span></li>
<li class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0px 0px 0px 15px; text-align: justify;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 11pt;">Mr. David Nnaji</span></li>
<li class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0px 0px 0px 15px; text-align: justify;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 11pt;">Mr. Jeremiah Agenyi</span></li>
<li class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0px 0px 0px 15px; text-align: justify;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 11pt;">Mr. Stanley Achonu</span></li>
<li class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0px 0px 0px 15px; text-align: justify;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 11pt;">Ms Tosin Ajibade</span></li>
<li class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0px 0px 0px 15px; text-align: justify;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 11pt;">Dr Hamid Adediran</span></li>
<li class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0px 0px 0px 15px; text-align: justify;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 11pt;">Mazi Moses Idika</span></li>
<li class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0px 0px 0px 15px; text-align: justify;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 11pt;">Mr. Uche Njoku</span></li>
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07309473406587070571noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3455072046114689554.post-24612316270633983502014-04-23T14:48:00.004+01:002014-04-23T14:48:56.291+01:00Opinion on the Fifth Assessment Report of the IPCC<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Desert encroachment in Northern Nigeria | Photo Credit: Esther Agbarakwe</td></tr>
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"The one message that comes out very clearly is that the world has to adapt and the world has to mitigate ... and the sooner we do that, the less the chances of some of the worst impacts of climate change being faced in different parts of the world." When Rajendra Pachauri, Chair of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) made this statement at the presentation on the fifth assessment report of the IPCC, it sounded like a bitter pill to swallow. The Report titled ‘Climate Change 2014: Impacts, Adaptation, and Vulnerability” places human activities at the front of climate change, and paints a glaring picture of a dark future the world faces if mitigation and adoption measures are not taken urgently against climate change.<u></u><u></u></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;">As Environmentalists world over struggled to take in this "prophesy of doom", their Nigerian counterparts found it much more depressing to imagine the catastrophic impacts this portends for a country really doing nothing on climate change, despite it's already existing impacts.<u></u><u></u></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;">For Nigerian environmentalist and Founder of FADE Dr Newton Jibunoh, the report has brought further attention to the need to tackle climate change with urgency especially for developing countries because of their poor capacity to mitigate the impact of disasters and poor governance that leads to the mismanagement of disaster relief efforts. <i>"As I approach my late seventies, it is indeed heart warming to know that issues that I have been advocating for, over the last thirty years, have now come to the fore"<b>,</b>he says<b>. </b></i>He also alluded that citizens of these countries including Nigeria are becoming more aware of the volumes in resources that have been poorly managed in efforts to reconstruct communities and relieve suffering, making them more disenchanted.<u></u><u></u></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;">The IPCC report indicates that overall crop yields in Africa and South Asia could decline by eight percent by 2050 and yields from tropical fisheries could decline by as much as 40 percent, while demand for food surges as diets change and populations rise in the developing world. In Africa, there will be twice as many people in 2050 as there are today, with Nigeria probably hitting 440million, surpassing that of the United States of America. Food crises will worsen for the country as the price of food is already rising due to the security unrest in some parts of Northern Nigeria where most food for the country is farmed. The developing world has smallholder farms that are responsible for up to 80 percent of food production and it is critical that we act now by investing in practical solutions that strengthen the resilience of smallholder famers and improve the sustainability of their livelihoods. Protocols and initiatives proposed in climate change conventions have not translated into positive progress in developing and underdeveloped countries because the groups who are most against legally binding adaptation and mitigation responses stand to lose a great deal, therefore they will do everything to stall the international cooperation process.<u></u><u></u></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;">On the report, the Executive Secretary UNFCCC, Ms. Christiana Figueres had this to say, “This report is a tale of two futures – one of inaction and degradation of our environment, our economies, and our social fabric. The other is to seize the moment and the opportunities for managing climate change risks and making transformational change that catalyzes more adaptive and resilient societies where new technologies and ways of living open the door to a myriad of health, prosperity and job-generating benefits. The path of <span class="aBn" data-term="goog_531461452" style="border-bottom-color: rgb(204, 204, 204); border-bottom-style: dashed; border-bottom-width: 1px; position: relative; top: -2px; z-index: 0;" tabindex="0"><span class="aQJ" style="position: relative; top: 2px; z-index: -1;">tomorrow</span></span> is undoubtedly determined by our choices today. We must decide which path to follow”.<u></u><u></u></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;">Following the African Development Bank’s (AfDB) decision to create a N1billion Fund to support climate change projects in African countries, the Director the AfDB Energy, Environment and Climate Change Department, Alex Rugamba ascertains that Africa remains the most vulnerable continent to climate change impacts however the region receives a very small portion of climate finance in comparison to other continents.<u></u><u></u></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;">While majority of developed countries keep the rest of the world waiting for a climate deal, it has become essential for developing nations to begin to chart their own plan for adaptation, and some mitigation, as at least contributors to climate change. Nigeria must create its adaptation measures, not waiting for foreign aid. We must begin to focus on building a climate smart generation, stop unfettered exploitation of natural resources and careless growth in carbon emissions, while creating greener jobs, in a green economy.<u></u><u></u></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;">As an organization, which has been at the forefront of promoting advocacy for over 10 years on mitigating the effects of climate change especially in Nigeria while also proffering adaptation measures to reduce impending disasters, here are some steps we proffer, which are globally accepted in tackling our climate crises;<u></u><u></u></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;">1.<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 7pt;"> </span></span><span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;">Increased use of Renewable sources of energy<u></u><u></u></span></div>
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<i><span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;">2.<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 7pt; font-style: normal;"> </span></span></i><span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;">Adopt a cohesive and sustainable region-wide tree planting campaign framework.<i><u></u><u></u></i></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;">3.<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 7pt;"> </span></span><span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;">Invest in climate smart agriculture, empowering small scale farmers<u></u><u></u></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;">4.<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 7pt;"> </span></span><span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;">Environmental advocacy to classrooms and boardrooms thereby raising a climate smart generation<u></u><u></u></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;">5.<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 7pt;"> </span></span><span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;">Urging companies and industries to join the green transition.<u></u><u></u></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;">6.<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 7pt;"> </span></span><span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;">Research on combating health issues that will get unique and worse in the future due to the changing climate<u></u><u></u></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;">With our initiatives such as the Desert Warriors Reality Show, Tree planting campaigns across the six geo-political zones and more recently our“<i>Small Gardens Today, Small Forests <span class="aBn" data-term="goog_531461453" style="border-bottom-color: rgb(204, 204, 204); border-bottom-style: dashed; border-bottom-width: 1px; position: relative; top: -2px; z-index: 0;" tabindex="0"><span class="aQJ" style="position: relative; top: 2px; z-index: -1;">Tomorrow</span></span>”…The Forest Rangers Initiative</i>”, it is our hope that small efforts like ours will be replicated globally so that we may collectively join hands and fight for a sustainable environment.<u></u><u></u></span></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;">THE TIME TO ACT IS NOW!!!</span></b></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;">Written and shared by </span></b></div>
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<b style="background-color: transparent; text-align: center;">Fight Against Desert Encroachment (FADE)</b></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; font-size: 19px; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #222222; font-family: HelveticaNeue, Helvetica Neue, Helvetica, Arial, Lucida Grande, sans-serif;"><b>http://www.fadeafrica.org/</b></span></span></div>
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07309473406587070571noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3455072046114689554.post-1785217049456246442014-04-16T13:10:00.002+01:002014-04-16T13:24:04.367+01:00 GLOBAL GOALS, CITIZEN SOLUTIONS: 2014 Global Philanthropy Forum Conference:<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzZYRu_sZp3f5pSYUuXHxOORajVhUYDeglOXFoCtPuny5LtcrtX5Ub6pHyWeZX9j1nE2E-YCfq9oJFFGtE1-fBB6ikC98mO2Tvj4Fsc73LUUC5lioQc8RQGeti87W8lwYzgd0kT5tS8N0l/s1600/GPF+photo.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzZYRu_sZp3f5pSYUuXHxOORajVhUYDeglOXFoCtPuny5LtcrtX5Ub6pHyWeZX9j1nE2E-YCfq9oJFFGtE1-fBB6ikC98mO2Tvj4Fsc73LUUC5lioQc8RQGeti87W8lwYzgd0kT5tS8N0l/s1600/GPF+photo.png" height="284" width="640" /></a></div>
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Next week, I will travel to Redwood City in California, USA to speak at the 2014 Global Philanthropy Forum Conference on Advocating for the Environment. According to the organisers, governments can set goals, mobilize resources and coordinate action. But to combat poverty in all of its dimensions and meet ambitious new development goals, they must join forces with citizen innovators from the private and social sectors and take into account the role that both human nature and human ingenuity can play. </div>
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Local philanthropy on the other hand is rising in Africa with strong private sector engagements in job creation and economic growth but are such investments working with strong ethical considerations to the environment? </div>
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Follow the <a href="https://twitter.com/gpforg">@gpforg </a> and <a href="https://twitter.com/estherclimate">@estherclimate</a> on twitter to get updates and join the conversations via #gpf14<br />
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For more info on the event, Click<a href="https://philanthropyforum.org/gpf-2014"> here</a></div>
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07309473406587070571noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3455072046114689554.post-51378864157707655412014-04-16T12:34:00.001+01:002014-04-16T12:35:38.604+01:001 Billion + 3 Reasons to Think about 2030<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<span style="background-color: white; color: #7f7f7f; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 20px;">There is a lot to think about when you are in a room filled with social media pioneers, global thinkers, and experts from one of the world’s most populous countries: India. Everything you think about, in fact, starts with the reminder that 1 billion people are counting on the answers to how we tackle the big challenges: improving global health, empowering girls and women, confronting the realities of climate change, and leveraging technology and new media to advocate for economic and social development.</span><br />
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<a href="http://dy.si/DvJP" target="_blank"><img src="https://ae2e950570ee050103f2-06d1f696271f3d7befcd1d73ea57948d.ssl.cf2.rackcdn.com/113101/article/e6ae15e5-e503-41f9-929f-95e75aa40068_B320" /></a><br />
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<a href="http://dy.si/DvJP" target="_blank">1 Billion + 3 Reasons to Think about 2030</a></h2>
Lessons learned from #India +SocialGood <br />
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<a href="http://www.plussocialgood.org/" target="_blank">+SocialGood</a></div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07309473406587070571noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3455072046114689554.post-45551888647198716502014-04-16T12:30:00.001+01:002014-04-16T12:32:08.018+01:00300 Million People Need Your Help, Are You In?<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<a href="http://dy.si/hFp9" target="_blank"><img src="https://ae2e950570ee050103f2-06d1f696271f3d7befcd1d73ea57948d.ssl.cf2.rackcdn.com/113101/article/942d2e70-43d6-49ba-83c1-1898bd85f7e1_B320" /></a><br />
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<a href="http://dy.si/hFp9" target="_blank">300 Million People Need Your Help, Are You In?</a></h2>
Last week in Paris marked the second meeting of the G20 Employment Taskforce- one of the six official working groups of the world’s premier economic and financial forum. At the St Petersburg G20 Summit in 2013, world leaders committed to come to Brisbane in 2014 with a concrete action plan referred to as a ‘comprehensive growth strategy’ that outlines the steps they will commit to taking to drive economic growth in their respective countries. Within each of these plans lies an ‘individual country employment plan’ that focuses on boosting employment and lifting participation. It’s the latter of these two strategies that the taskforce on employment is responsible for. As Chair of the G20 Youth Summit, I headed to Paris with a...<a href="http://dy.si/hFp9" target="_blank">Read More</a><br />
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<a href="http://www.plussocialgood.org/" target="_blank">+SocialGood</a></div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07309473406587070571noreply@blogger.com0