United Nations

Great news for Global Health

Sep 24th, 2009 1:12 PM UTC
By Steve Wilson

It’s a crazy week with all that’s been going on in New York at the UN and Clinton Global Initiative but before the world’s attention turns to the G20 Summit in Pittsburgh, I wanted to flag two pieces of great news on global health that came out this afternoon, which you understandably may have missed.

First, it was announced that an extra $1 billion has been secured in support of the Global Alliance for Vaccines and Immunization (GAVI), which funds major programmes to protect children from preventable diseases, such as pneumonia, measles, meningitis and diarrheal diseases. UK Prime Minister Gordon Brown helped make the announcement yesterday during one of the many events in New York. GAVI will use the additional funding not only to support and distribute more vaccinations to save more children’s lives from these diseases, but also to improve health systems in comprehensive ways in poor countries.

ONE sees this as an especially important announcement in light of the fact of last week’s historic UNICEF report on child mortality, which found the number of children dying before their fifth birthdays each year had been cut to the lowest level ever on record—8.8 million. This progress was largely thanks to scaled up support for relatively inexpensive solutions, many of which GAVI supports, such as vaccinations and supplements.

However, the UNICEF report also found that although great gains were made thanks to the targeting of many major diseases, a lack of investment in pneumonia and diarrheal diseases have made them the two main causes of children’s deaths worldwide. Today’s $1 billion announcement means that vaccines that can help prevent deaths from these two diseases—which account for 3 million deaths each year—will be available soon at greatly reduced costs through GAVI.

As ONE’s President David Lane said in a press release ONE put out: “We know how to stop deaths from pneumonia and diarrheal diseases, but these conditions are the biggest killers of children under five. Today’s GAVI announcement is an important step to accelerate progress in areas where we’ve seen big results, but will also target more diseases that so far have not been targeted and that needlessly take the lives of children.”

The second big announcement was a new airline ticket programme that will allow you to voluntarily contribute $2 each time you fly to help fight global disease. The programme was announced today, also in New York, by the U.N. agency UNITAID, which is attached to the World Health Organization. UNITAID helps reduce the costs of treatment for HIV/AIDS, tuberculosis and malaria, making these lifesaving medicines available to those that need them.

As David Lane said in the press release: “Paying $2 to help save lives in the fight against preventable disease sure beats baggage fees.”

The initiative, which in particular will help fight HIV/AIDS, malaria and tuberculosis in Africa as well as help improve maternal health, is backed by several major travel industry companies, the Clinton Foundation and the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation. Recipients of the donations will include UNICEF and the Clinton Foundation. It looks like you can expect to see the initiative start at airports this January.

We expect lots more news in the days ahead, so stay tuned to the blog. To read more about ONE’s reaction to today’s two announcements, you can see ONE’s full press release here.

-Steve Wilson

Era of engagement

Sep 24th, 2009 11:35 AM UTC
By Jessica Gomez-Duran

This morning, US President Obama addressed the UN General Assembly in New York, saying that it was time to “embrace a new era of engagement based on mutual interests and mutual respect.”

He noted that over the past nine months, the US has tried to lead by example on issues of national security, climate change and food security. But he said that this was just the beginning—and the U.S. couldn’t go it alone. He said that it was time for leaders from across the globe to “take their share of responsibility for a global response to global challenges.” He noted that the UN was founded on the belief that nations could work together to solve global issues, but that too often, it became a place to play politics and air grievances. Leaders gathered there today could either be remembered as the generation that put off hard choices and defined themselves by their differences, or the generation that worked together to build on common interests.

President Obama then laid out four pillars to achieving this future. The first was non-proliferation and disarmament. The second was the pursuit of peace and security, both by targeting violent extremists and strengthening peacekeeping efforts. He noted in particular the importance of securing peace in Darfur. The third pillar was the preservation of the planet. He noted that the dangers of climate change could no longer be ignored—land will disappear, wars will erupt over resources and “development will be devastated by drought and famine.” President Obama said the U.S. would press ahead with deep emission cuts and would share new technologies with countries around the world. And while the wealthy nations must take the lead, he noted that “any effort that fails to help the poorest nations both adapt to the problems that climate change has already wrought–and travel a path of clean development—will not work.

The final pillar was a global economy that promotes opportunities for everyone. As President Obama noted:

“At a time of such interdependence, we have a moral and pragmatic interest in broader questions of development. And so we will continue our historic effort to help people feed themselves. We have set aside $63 billion to carry forward the fight against HIV/AIDS; to end deaths from tuberculosis and malaria; to eradicate polio; and to strengthen public health systems. We are joining with other countries to contribute H1N1 vaccines to the World Health Organization. We will integrate more economies into a system of global trade. We will support the Millennium Development Goals, and approach next year’s Summit with a global plan to make them a reality. And we will set our sights on the eradication of extreme poverty in our time.”

-Kara Arsenault

Assembly time

Sep 18th, 2009 11:57 AM UTC
By Jessica Gomez-Duran

On Tuesday, the UN General Assembly began its 64th session in New York City. But what does this group really do—and why should we pay attention?

Founded in 1945, the General Assembly is (among other things) the chief policymaking arm of the United Nations (the UN consists of five main bodies: General Assembly, Security Council, Economic and Social Council, Trusteeship Council and International Court of Justice). Made up of all 192 members of the UN, the Assembly provides a unique opportunity to discuss a range of issues affecting countries across the globe. It also gives each member state—regardless of size or stature—one equal vote. That means that developing countries can often help determine the agenda of the Assembly and the character of its debates.

While the Assembly issues only non-binding recommendations for member nations, many of these proposals have affected the lives of millions across the globe. In 2000, for example, the Assembly adopted the Millennium Declaration, a landmark agreement highlighting eight goals to reduce global poverty and disease by 2015, now commonly referred to as the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs). Since 2000, substantial progress has been made toward some of the MDGs. For example, an estimated 3.2 million HIV-positive Africans are currently on antiretroviral treatment and 88 million bed nets have been delivered by the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria, substantially reducing malaria deaths in Ethiopia, Rwanda and Kenya.

The General Assembly is one of the few world bodies that has representation from every country—and while it’s voice may not be binding, it is representative and resounding. And this year, there is much that needs to be done in the fight against extreme poverty and disease—including accelerating progress toward the MDGs—particularly in light of the food, financial and climate crises. Next week as the General Assembly meets, and the G20 gather in Pittsburgh, let’s hope for some important life-saving action.

The UN General Assembly’s yearly regular session runs from September to December. We’ll keep you posted on any news during this year’s session.

-Kara Arsenault

Busy September

Sep 17th, 2009 11:04 AM UTC
By Jessica Gomez-Duran

It’s hard to keep track of our calendars here at ONE these days, as the next two weeks are jam-packed with important development events over in the US. Over the coming days, folks at ONE will be attending the G20 Summit in Pittsburgh (September 24-25), the UN General Assembly (the 64th session opened yesterday), a UN Summit on Climate Change (September 22), the Clinton Global Initiative (September 22-25) and a special seminar organised by the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria in New York.

It’s an important two weeks for the development community, as critical issues—innovative financing for global health, climate change funding, women’s empowerment, global economic recovery—will all be put on the table. Make sure to stay tuned to ONE’s blog, as we’ll provide updates on our travels throughout the coming weeks.

-Kara Arsenault

Negotiations Heat Up at Climate Change Conference

Dec 5th, 2008 2:27 PM UTC
By Beth Adler

Representatives from 192 nations are currently gathered in Poznan Poland for a round of climate change negotiations as part of the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change. The conference, which runs from December 1st to 12th, aims to construct a collective vision of how to reduce carbon emissions and slow global warming. The talks mark the halfway point towards the target date (which was set last year in Bali) to develop a comprehensive plan to address climate change. The outcome of these talks – which culminate with a conference on Copenhagen in December of 2010 – will replace the 1997 Kyoto Protocol, which set emissions caps for developed countries.

This conference is an excellent opportunity for the global community to address the concerns of developing countries around climate change. Evidence shows that climate change will have serious consequences for developing countries. It is the world’s poorest countries that will be hit first and hardest by the effects of climate change. Projected outcomes include a decrease in agricultural yields by 50% in 2050 and 90% by 2100. It is also possible that Africa will see an increase in malaria infestation with an additional 260-320 million people living in malaria-infested areas by 2080. In addition, increased water stress will be likely for 75-250 million people. Rising sea levels also could engulf some island nations and low-lying areas in the developing world.

Developing countries like Brazil, India, China, and 43 island nations are pushing developed countries like the U.S. to commit to particular targets for 2020 for reducing carbon emissions, in addition to committing funding to assist the developing world in implementing green technologies and adapting to the effects of climate change. The UN estimates that developing countries will need $130 billion per year by 2030 to adapt to global warming and curb their carbon emissions. Many are hoping that the conference will yield some innovative mechanisms that are linked to emissions reduction and financial support developing countries.

We’ll bring you updates on the negotiations next week, so be sure to check back here.

-Beth Adler

Bono Blogs on Meeting French President Sarkozy

Sep 22nd, 2008 12:59 PM UTC
By Virginia Simmons

Bono has been blogging today from the United Nations’s Summit on the MDG’s in NYC. The below post he wrote after meeting with the President of France, Nicolas Sarkozy. You can read his complete posts at FT.com.

Tough meeting with the Président de la République of France. He’s a tough guy. We like tough guys because they get straight down to business. They don’t waste their time or yours. The French budget is out this Friday and in it we will see if France intends continuing its leadership role on the continent of Africa. In the last few years, French aid has been falling.

My point was that as much as Africa needs French aid and the energy that Sarkozy himself provides, he/we need Africa. Why? Africa has never been so strategically important as it is now, economically and politically. Just ask…

Read the full post here.

-Virginia Simmons

Sanitizing Water, Not Facts.

Nov 21st, 2007 2:42 PM UTC
By Virginia Simmons

Yesterday, U.N. Secretary General Ban Ki-moon announced 2008 the “Year of Sanitation” and urged the world to increase investment in providing clean water and sanitation throughout the world.

From a Tuesday Reuters article:

“Investing approximately $10 billion per year can halve the proportion of people without basic sanitation by 2015,” [the U.N. statement] said.

The U.N.’s drive for better sanitation will involve regional conferences and public campaigns to raise awareness and implement projects to improve sanitation in developing countries through public and private partnerships.

UK-based charity WaterAid said the absence of clean toilet facilities, access to safe water and efficient sanitation was directly related to the spread of diseases that killed 1.8 million children a year.

It estimated the economic cost of not investing in sanitation and clean water at $38 million a year resulting from infant deaths, lost work days and school absences due to disease.”

Read the full article here.

-Virginia Simmons