DevDispatch Recommends: September 2022 Publications
We present to you the latest offerings coming out of the global development sector this month and as always, the space is a wealth of knowledge. Our challenge for you this month is to not only consume the information, but to put it into practice. From making daily choices that benefit humanity and the planet, to promoting fair and ethical recruitment, we hope each publication encourages you to take positive action in some way.
Enjoy!
The 2021/2022 Human Development Report: Uncertain times, unsettled lives
Shaping our future in a transforming world
By the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP
The 2021/2022 Human Development Report is focused on uncertainty as it pertains to the often unpredictable challenges and conflicts that are rampant in the world, with a focus on how to thrive in the face of it. It draws from the 2019 report on inequalities and the 2020 edition reporting on the risks of the Anthropocene—where humans have become a major force driving dangerous planetary change.
This edition attempts to chart the best way forward in terms of human development under the premise that people—in all their complexity, diversity and creativity—are the real wealth of nations. It all boils down to choices and while it is not ethical to manipulate people into making specific choices, attempts can be made to shape motives towards choices that benefit the populace and stimulate human development for people and the planet to flourish in the face of new uncertainties.
Practitioners interested in human centred design, and human development will find this 320 paged report valuable.
State of the Climate in Africa 2021
By World Meteorological Organization
Produced annually, The State of the Climate in Africa report provides authoritative scientific information on climate trends, observed high-impact weather and climate events on the continent. This edition, which is the third, is centred on water resources which are pivotal for human and ecosystem health as well as sustainable socioeconomic development in Africa.
Some of the high impact events highlighted in the 52 paged publication include lingering droughts, extensive floods and tropical cyclones, compounded by ongoing conflicts, economic slowdowns and downturns.
The continent is encouraged to develop robust regional and national early warning systems and climate services for climate-sensitive sectors in order to strengthen climate resilience and adaptation capacities.
The report is recommended for African climate change policymakers and environmentalists.
Global Estimates of Modern Slavery: Forced Labour and Forced Marriage
By the International Labour Organization (ILO), International Organization for Migration (IOM), Walk Free
It is hardly believable that cases of slavery and forced labour abound in the 21st century, and yet the 2021 Global Estimates indicate that on any given day, there are 50 million people in situations of modern slavery, and forced labour accounts for 27.6 million of those in modern slavery and 22 million in forced marriages.
This report calls for urgent action from the global community to put an end to these inhumane practices. Some of the key recommendations made to end modern slavery by 2030 include respecting the freedoms of workers to associate and bargain collectively, promoting fair and ethical recruitment, addressing underlying socio-cultural norms and structures that contribute to forced marriage, and addressing the vulnerability of migrants, particularly children.
The 144 paged report is recommended for labour practitioners, social protection units, human rights practitioners and policymakers.
Tracking progress on food and agriculture-related SDG indicators 2022
By Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO)
The report tracks progress on the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), with each chapter dedicated to giving an overview of the indicators, targets and breaking down progress made, challenges and areas falling short, accompanied by statistics.
The report which is 179 pages long asserts that in order to ensure progress across all the SDGs, it is essential to improve data collection capabilities and it notes that while considerable progress has been made towards building stronger data and statistical systems for SDG monitoring, significant data gaps still exist.
Development practitioners and researchers will benefit from the detailed breakdown of each SDG.
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.
Hunger Hotspots FAO-WFP early warnings on acute food insecurity October 2022 to January 2023 Outlook
By The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) and the World Food Programme (WFP)
For quick reads, check out these blog posts
The publication issues early warnings of acute food insecurity in 19 areas deemed “hunger spots” during the outlook period from October 2022 to January 2023.
Assessed on a scale ranging from catastrophe (famine) as the highest level and minimal threat as the lowest level, Afghanistan, Ethiopia, Nigeria, South Sudan, Somalia and Yemen are placed at the highest alert level, with populations facing or projected to face starvation.
The publication also lists upcoming trends of food insecurity drivers including organized violence and conflict risks, natural‐hazard risks, animal and plant pests and diseases and economic risks.
This brief 66 paged report is recommended for Food and Agriculture ministries and researchers.
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.
Global SDG Accountability Report
By the Transparency, Accountability and Participation (TAP) Network.
This report serves to ascertain the level of accountability for the Sustainable Development Goals at a subnational, national and international level. Information gathered from the SDG Accountability Survey serves as the basis of this report by collecting reflections and inputs from stakeholders around the world.
Split into four sections the report looks at:
1. The foundations of the 2030 Agenda – which explains and contextualises the SDGs;
2. A snapshot of SDG accountability – which outlines the challenges being faced by stakeholders in implementing the SDGs especially in light of the COVID-19 pandemic
3. Building a Global Multistakeholder Movement for SDG Accountability – which focuses on case studies of different stakeholders and their role in accountability and how they can improve accountability
4. Recommendations to Advance Accountability for the SDGs & the 2030 Agenda – which summarises the findings of the report and provides recommendations for specific stakeholders.
This report is an asset for the media, parliamentarians and national human rights institutions. It’s 101 pages but is organised such that it can be read in sections relevant to the information you are looking for.
The Impact Of The Covid-19 Pandemic On Education, Livelihoods & Food Security Status: Policy Implications For Sub-Saharan Africa (SSA)
By P. Tamasiga, A.T. Guta, H. Onyeaka, H. Nkoutchou and M.S. Kalane.
Sub-Saharan countries were particularly vulnerable to the impacts of the COVID-19 as they were already experiencing weak health care systems, low financing for testing and very few resources for response measures. This data-driven report outlines the key trends of the COVID-19 pandemic by region, highlighting case trajectories, lockdown and containment measures, economic impacts, education impacts and health impacts. South Africa still accounts for the highest number of cases and deaths followed by Ethiopia and Nigeria.
Along with containing COVID-19, Central Africa is still facing the additional challenges of pre-existing health concerns, especially malaria.
The policy implications are focussed on supply chains, trade and market access, food and agricultural production, misinformation and the media, health, education and strategic communication. Sub-Saharan Africa has already been deemed to be the most at risk for food insecurity and this is expected to increase 2.5 fold.
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.