Private funding for humanitarian response: Trends and challenges – According to a new report by the Global Humanitarian Assistance program, “private donors have become increasingly important to the international humanitarian community . . . consistent despite the global financial crisis and even without mega-disasters.” Between 2006 and 2010, private donors accounted for about a quarter of all humanitarian aid. (Devex, Ivy Mungcal)
Mali crisis raises West Africa famine threat – The political crisis in Mali “is worsening an already precarious situation [as] Mali’s food reserves aren’t accessible, and the borders are closed.” In addition, people from Mali are migrating to neighboring countries to find work and food and rising food prices and food shortages are now threatening the lives of 15 million people in the Sahel region. (CBC News, Laura Payton)
Canada’s aid overhaul ignores the needy: critics – In late March, Canadian Prime Minister Harper “slashed its development assistance to poorer countries by 7.5 percent,” as Canada radically changes “how it doles out foreign aid, funding partnerships with chosen mining giants and development groups while ignoring those most in need.” The Canadian International Development Agency defends the alterations saying that “the most effective way to reduce poverty is to stimulate a country’s economy, creating more opportunities and jobs for people in need.” (AFP, Guillaume Lavallee)
Brazil says BRICS to Make Joint W. Bank Decision – The BRICS group of emerging market countries, which includes Russia, India, China and South Africa will make “a joint decision on who to support for the World Bank presidency as soon as Friday.” The candidates include Colombian Finance Minister Jose Antonio Ocampo, Nigerian Finance Minister Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala and Jim Yong Kim, a Korean-American health expert. (Reuters)
