DevDispatch Recommends: July 2023 Publications
If you are looking to add to your knowledge base but have no clue where to begin, you are in for a treat! In this edition of DevDispatch recommends, we point you in the direction of the latest publications released in July. Delve into sustainable management of water and sanitation with a special focus on gender, explore the fascinating world of geopolitics related to energy transition, discover the state of food security around the world, learn about measuring digital trade, and tuck into the FAO Strategy on Climate Change.
Enjoy!
Progress on household drinking-water, sanitation and hygiene 2000-2022: Special focus on gender
By The World Health Organization (WHO)
This report pays attention to SDG 6 which aims to ‘ensure availability and sustainable management of water and sanitation for all,’ as it relates to SDG 5 which is concerned with realising gender equality and empowerment of all women and girls. It indicates how addressing gender inequalities can accelerate progress on water, sanitation and hygiene (WASH), and highlights opportunities for enhanced national and global monitoring in the future.
The 172 paged report argues that achieving SDG WASH targets by 2030 will require a three- to sixfold increase in current rates of progress. We recommend this report for WASH and gender equality advocates.
Geopolitics of the Energy Transition: Critical Materials
By The International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA)
The transition to renewables-based energy is projected to increase the demand for certain minerals and metals categorized as ‘critical materials’ in this IRENA report. These materials include cobalt, copper, graphite, iridium, lithium, manganese, nickel, platinum, and selected rare earth elements. A challenge is faced however in that their production and processing is highly concentrated geographically, posing challenges related to resource security and geopolitical dynamics.
Readers can expect to find a comprehensive summary of these critical materials for policy makers, policy considerations and recommendations. One of the main recommendations is that developing countries tap into their mineral resources and retain more economic value, forming the cornerstone of a diversification strategy that also contributes to global equity and stability.
This report which is 150 pages long is recommended for policymakers overseeing renewable energy spheres.
The State of Food Security and Nutrition in the World 2023
By The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO)
In 2022, there were approximately 3.8 million fewer people suffering from hunger than in 2021 according to this FAO report and although the modest decline is commendable, the world is still a far cry from ending global hunger and malnutrition by 2030.
Some of the key areas covered in the report include the cost and affordability of a healthy diet by region, subregion, country and country income group from 2017 to 2021, the role of urban proximity in agricultural intensification using case studies in Ethiopia and India, and inclusive agrifood systems governance mechanism in Kisumu County, Kenya, linking urban and rural areas.
It is a lengthy read at 316 pages, but a worthy resource for government departments overseeing food security.
Handbook on Measuring Digital Trade
By the World Trade organization (WTO)
Digital technologies are transforming economic and societal processes and international trade has not been spared. The report assesses the multilayered impact of digitalisation on international trade. This 178 paged handbook is recommended for This Handbook provides a common basis from which statistical compilers can work to produce measures of digital trade.
It looks at the conceptual framework for measuring digital trade, differentiates between digitally ordered and digitally delivered trade, lists digital intermediation platforms and shares case studies for measuring digital trade.
Transit Oriented Development in practice.
A powerful example of impact on the ground in the area of Housing by our Brazil Cities team – and a story of how interventions in one city led to an approach that was scaled up and adopted as part of a Brazilian national law that set the standards for better quality social housing.
Three Challenges to Safe and Affordable Urban Housing
The blog raises three critical challenges: (i) importance of core services in informal settlements and slums, (ii) need to support housing rental markets, and (iii) making better use of underutilized land in city centers.
Can Housing Be Affordable Without Being Efficient?
The blog highlights the importance of giving due attention to building efficiency in affordable housing projects, both location efficiency and on-site energy and water efficiency. The key message: over their lifetimes, efficient homes are more affordable, healthier and provide better opportunities for residents than conventional buildings.
FAO Action Plan 2022–2025 for the implementation of the FAO Strategy on Climate Change
By The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO)
For quick reads, check out these blog posts
This FAO action plan was developed to support the implementation of the FAO Strategy on Climate Change 2022–2031 with a goal to ensure that “agrifood systems are sustainable, inclusive, resilient and adaptive to climate change and its impacts and contribute to low-emission economies, while providing sufficient, safe and nutritious foods for healthy diets, as well as other agricultural products and services, for present and future generations, leaving no one behind.
Audiences are taken through its three pillars and their accompanying outcomes including strengthened global and regional climate policy and governance, developing countries’ capacity for climate action and scaling up climate actions on the ground.
This 22 paged brief is recommended for climate change policymakers.
Transit Oriented Development in practice.
A powerful example of impact on the ground in the area of Housing by our Brazil Cities team – and a story of how interventions in one city led to an approach that was scaled up and adopted as part of a Brazilian national law that set the standards for better quality social housing.
Three Challenges to Safe and Affordable Urban Housing
The blog raises three critical challenges: (i) importance of core services in informal settlements and slums, (ii) need to support housing rental markets, and (iii) making better use of underutilized land in city centers.
Can Housing Be Affordable Without Being Efficient?
The blog highlights the importance of giving due attention to building efficiency in affordable housing projects, both location efficiency and on-site energy and water efficiency. The key message: over their lifetimes, efficient homes are more affordable, healthier and provide better opportunities for residents than conventional buildings.
Malawi Economic Monitor, December 2020 : Doing More with Less - Improving Service Delivery in Energy and Water
By the World Bank
The pandemic has induced a sharp recession in many countries across the globe. Malawi’s economy has been heavily affected, with growth projected at 1.0 percent in 2020, down from earlier projections of 4.8 percent. With population growth around 3.0 percent, this represents a 2.0 percent contraction in per capita GDP. Political stability has returned following the June 2020 Presidential elections, which should support investment. However, global and domestic factors emanating from the pandemic are affecting Malawi’s economy, including: 1) disruption in global value chains and trade and logistics; 2) decrease in tourism; and 3) decrease in remittances. This has combined with social distancing policies and behavior to also reduce domestic demand. The Malawi Economic Monitor (MEM) provides an analysis of economic and structural development issues in Malawi. The publication intends to foster better-informed policy analysis and debate regarding the key challenges that Malawi faces in its endeavor to achieve high rates of inclusive and sustainable economic growth.
Energizing health: accelerating electricity access in health-care facilities
By the World Health Organization (WHO), International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA), World Bank Group
This 240 paged report makes a case for renewable energy as a catalyst for universal health coverage, highlighting how access to affordable, reliable, sustainable and modern energy, particularly electricity in health facilities, is critical to meeting Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 3. It delves into what delivering healthcare in the climate change era looks like, techno-economic considerations for electrification of health-care facilities and shares case studies on India, Uganda and Nepal, to assess the state of electrification in the three countries.
Practitioners interested in energizing health will find this report insightful.
AfCFTA: A New Era for Global Business and Investment in Africa
By the World Economic Forum, AfCFTA Secretariat
The report details how public-private partnerships can support the implementation of the AfCFTA. It outlines high-potential sectors eyed to facilitate the AfCFTA through high trade volumes including the automotive industry, agriculture, pharmaceuticals, transport and logistics. For each one, it highlights key trends and opportunities. One of the report’s go to chapters is an offering of operational tools for companies wishing to conduct operations in Africa.
Businesses within the continent and those wishing to invest in Africa should get hold of this 37 paged report.
Global progress report on HIV, viral hepatitis and sexually transmitted infections, 2021
By WHO
This report looks into how effective the strategies planned for 2016-2021 have been in the fight against HIV, viral hepatitis and STIs. Progress has indeed been made despite the disruption of the global pandemic but in the same breath, there are still many targets that have not been reached. The number of new HIV infections has fallen by 23% to its lowest rate since 2010 with 1.7 million new infections in 2019 however this is far from the target of only 500 000 new infections.
Stigma and lack of resources to implement people-centred policies and services still remain the largest hindrance. COVID-19 severely affected the ability for people to get tested easily. This report analyses the success and shortfalls of each WHO region. The report recommends that the only way to try and get back on track is for governments to collaborate their efforts into universal health care systems beneficial for the most vulnerable.
This report is targeted at anyone who works with marginalised communities of people infected by HIV, hepatitis or any STIs and is also a good read for health care workers and policy makers. It is moderately long at 108 pages.
Mainstreaming gender in urban public transport
By Stockholm Environment Institute
Africa is the fastest urbanizing continent, yet walking still remains the most affordable mode of transport in urban areas. This is due to a lack of service provision. There is also a large gender inequality problem when it comes to transport both in operation and in use. This report seeks to shed light on the under researched matter of women’s participation in transport decision making and their use of public transport systems.
The report uses the case studies of Nairobi, Dar es Salaam and Kampala by interviewing all members of society from taxi drivers to policy makers in the ministries of transport and transport planners. The report identifies accessibility and safety of public transport systems, sexual assault and harassment, lack of integrated and gender sensitive urban planning and underrepresentation as larger barriers towards gene=der mainstreaming in transport.
This report is the perfect short read for city and transport planners at only 40 pages.
Terrorism in the Sahel Facts and Figures
By NATO Strategic Direction- South, ACSRT
The fight against terrorism in the Sahel is still a major issue that deserves attention as the number of terrorist attacks has increased by 18.5% in 2020. This report analyses current and past data to show a conclusive analysis on the rate of terrorism. The largest threats come from the following terrorist groups Boko Haram, ISGS, JNIM and ISWAP and the most affected countries are Mauritania, Mali, Niger, Burkina Faso, and Chad.
This analysis is taken in the form of quantitative analysis with a lot of informative graphs and infographics as well as qualitatively by looking at the types of attacks. The report concludes that 2020 has been the most intense year in terms of terrorism in the Sahel.
This report is target to all members defence ministries and counter-terrorism organisations. It is a very brief read with only 37 pages.