Globe and Mail: Africans’ Obama fever fades to disappointment – Following his election in 2008, Barack Obama visited Africa with a resounding reception, promising the continent his ever popular campaign slogan, “Yes We Can.” But as the years went by, Obama failed to visit Africa again, and with the foreign policy debate waning a notable absence of discussion about where Africa lies in America’s agenda, many are losing hope. (Geoffrey York)
Devex: Education for all? – Educating the world’s youth is an imperative endeavor, and when it comes to gender, many believe that there is no greater cause than to close the disparity gap between boys and girls, and that often becomes the sole focus of strategy in developing countries. There are, however, many other gaps when it comes to minority ethnic and religious groups, and students with disabilities that also historically lack education. According to the Global Campaign for Education, prioritizing gender in the school house must be done without sidelining other minority groups along the way. (Amy Lieberman)
Trust: Aid undercuts development by failing to fund media – Mae Azango, a reporter in Liberia, faced death threats after she discussed the taboo subject of female circumcisions, and the physical dangers and emotional scars that can accompany the process, in her local newspaper. While many disapproved of her reporting, she was able to help make Liberians aware of many of the risks involved with the tradition that are not often discussed before engaging in such practices. Journalists can often times be development’s best friend, with their ability to shine light on the problems that impact their countries and provide useful information to people. Despite this, many media operations in Africa fail every day, making the vital role journalists have, harder to achieve. (Prue Clarke)
World Bank Blog: Invest in nutrition to invest in the future? – Studies are repeatedly showing that wealth, access to food, and education are no guarantee against malnutrition, with one in four children from the wealthiest families affected by stunting. Anemia is also rampant in children from wealthy families at a rate no better than those who come from the poorest of families. The issue comes from not eating the right types of foods, rather than a total lack of food, making nutrition a valuable investment for the entirety of developing countries’ populations. (Janneke Hartvig Blomberg)
CSM: Confounding expectations, global hunger is down – Drought, famine, hunger, malnutrition and threats on food security is often the only news coming from Africa. However, a lesser reported fact is that global hunger is actually on a steady decline, despite the precarious whims of nature and conflict that continue to challenge progress. In 1990, the world was facing 19 percent of people living in hunger, and now it’s down to 12.5 percent. While there are still many miles to go till rest, momentum is making headway. (Howard Lafranchi)
