What We’re Reading: 11/20/08

Nov 20th, 2008 11:17 AM UTC
By Chandler Smith

Reuters: UN seeks $7 billion in record humanitarian appeal
In the largest humanitarian appeal ever in United Nation’s history, the U.N. asked on Wednesday for $7 billion to help 30 million people recover from disasters and conflict in the coming year. Officials stressed that the global financial crisis did not justify cuts to foreign aid.

Associated Press: For Africa, Obama’s greatest gift may be inspiration, not handouts
Africans will have to look for solutions within themselves, not abroad, according to recent opinion article in the Kenya’s leading newspaper, the Daily Nation. The self-help theme has become increasingly prevalent with the recognition that 50 years of Western aid and emergency rescues of famine, disease and war victims have failed to cure Africa’s ills, and may even have held the continent back.

Washington Post: U.S. Aid Not Always Apolitical, Report Finds
According to a survey by a Madrid-based nonprofit group, the United States needs improvement at promoting the independence, impartiality and neutrality of humanitarian aid deliveries to needy populations. The Development Assistance Research Associates (DARA) Humanitarian Response Index 2008 measures how effectively the world’s 23 largest donors deliver aid. The U.S. ranked 15th in overall effectiveness and 13th in the level of generosity measured by the size of its economy.

Voice of America: Forum: Empowering Women May Hold Key to Africa’s Prosperity
A women’s conference in Addis Ababa this week has pulled in many high-level international figures, including the African Development Bank chief, the African Union Commission Chairman, the United Nations Economic Commission Secretary-General, and Ethiopia’s President Girma Woldegiorgis. They will be discussing how empowering women could be the key to the continent’s prosperity.

Reuters: UPDATE 1-WTO’s Lamy to decide soon on new Doha talks
After leaders of the G20 pledged on Saturday to try to get the outlines of a new accord in the WTO’s Doha round agreed by the end of the year, the WTO chief Pascal Lamy said he would decide soon whether to call a ministeral meeting on the Doha trade round. Lamy said ministers from some of the world’s poorest countries wanted a quick deal because they feared protectionist groups would use the global economic slump to push their agenda.

-Chandler Smith

TAGS: Policy News, What We're Reading