WSJ: How to Measure the Developing World – In a video produced for the release of Bill Gates’s 2013 Annual Letter today, Swedish academic Mr. Rosling argues that people “incorrectly divide the world into two” between developed countries and developing countries “based on the number of children a woman has and how long the children live.” In the 2013 letter, Gates focuses on Measurement, with the thesis that “anyone who wants to make steady progress against difficult global challenges needs to first find a way of measuring progress.” (Robert Guth)
Guardian: Liberia buzzes as latest talks on post-2015 development agenda begin – On Tuesday, the technical sessions of the UN high-level panel, “which has until May to come up with a vision to shape the post-2015 development agenda, began.” The first communique is expected to mention job creation, corruption and transparency. The UN MY World global survey asks participants to choose their six priorities, out of 16 options, for what they would like to see included in the post-2015 goals. Frecheville, co-chair of the Beyond 2015 campaign, said that “we’ve moved beyond the point where a powerful elite can dictate development pathways to the rest of the world.” (Liz Ford)
NYTimes: Nigeria: Money Promised to Clean Up Lead That Killed Hundreds of Children – President Goodluck Jonathan promised this week to release $4 million to clean up villages where hundreds of children have died in the world’s worst outbreak of lead poisoning. More than 400 children have already died from lead released by wildcat gold-mining in seven villages in Zamfara state. (Donald McNeil Jr)
New Yorker: Everyday Africa Takes Over Instagram – This week, the photo collective Everyday Africa, “a project focusing on images of daily life in Africa,” will be featured on The New Yorker’s Instagram feed. Nine photographers spread out across the continent, from Mali to Kenya, are contributing. (Maria Lokke)
VOA: Democratic Participation Said to Be Deepening in Africa – The outgoing chairman of the African Peer Review Mechanism Panel of Eminent Persons, Amos Sawyer, said that “the process has increased democratic dialogue across Africa.” APRM’s mandate to “encourage conformity among African countries in regard to political, economic and corporate governance values” and requires countries to discuss development issues, political issues, and socio-economic development.” (James Butty)
