Google the words “African Union” and you will find two out of the four top questions are “What is the purpose of the African Union?” and “Why was the African Union formed?” The answers? The African Union (AU) was formed for times like these – a global moment that requires global collaboration. The AU was formed to increase cooperation and integration of African states to drive Africa’s growth and economic development. With a crisis of a century such as the...
The news cycle has been dominated by coverage of COVID-19 — and while we have some news for you on the pandemic’s impact in Africa, we also have promising developments in the search for a vaccine, profiles of women who are changing the world, and some stories of hope and joy amid global shutdowns. Countries brace for the spread of COVID-19 in Africa Earlier this week, Rwanda became the first sub-Saharan African nation to order a total shutdown as COVID-19 spreads...
This week, the UK government launched the “Integrated Review of foreign policy, defence, security and international development”. This review will set the tone for Britain’s role in the world for years to come, so it’s important that it genuinely looks to the future. However, the sad truth is that these reviews often simply end up preparing us for the last war or crisis. At best they might make us slightly better prepared for the next crisis — but they rarely,...
During ONE Valentine’s week, ONE’s UK youth activists headed to Parliament to declare their love for life-saving vaccines. At ONE, we brought together voices from across the UK, including volunteers, charities and MPs for a jam-packed day of action to talk about Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance. Great to see @ella_r03 again campaigning on vaccinations. One of the best uses of the #UKAid budget. Saves huge numbers of lives and helps global health security. @gavi @DFID_UK @ONECampaign pic.twitter.com/KOr6jXgpqe — Penny Mordaunt (@PennyMordaunt)...
As the UK Department for International Development welcomes Anne-Marie Trevelyan as the sixth secretary of state in four years, ONE UK & Ireland Director Romilly Greenhill reflects on the legacy and future of UK aid. My first job was in the Ugandan Finance Ministry. This was the early 2000s, and Uganda was getting a lot of aid and debt relief, including from the UK. My job was to monitor the money and check that it was spent on things that...
In 2019 everything was on the line — and we held the line. So much of what we care about was on the line last year. We faced some major roadblocks as we kept on fighting to build the world we want to see — one where everyone, everywhere can lead a life of dignity and opportunity. The world has made massive progress in reducing poverty, but extreme poverty in Africa is rising, and inequality is increasing across the globe. Over...
Following the Presidents of the EU’s institutions discussions on the Future of Europe and their joint op-ed, we ask them to ensure that the long-term budget strengthens both the quantity and quality of EU aid. Here’s what they need to do — and how you can help. Dear European Presidents, Europe is at a crossroads, and as you discussed this week, the decisions you are contemplating will have a significant and wide-reaching impact on our planet and our futures. Under your leadership,...
With so much news on political infighting and royal departures, it’s easy to miss some crucial stories that highlight key global issues and show progress on Global Goals. So we’ve rounded up six underreported stories that you might have missed in January, including Gavi’s anniversary, the potential of Fitbits to track infectious disease outbreaks, and new efforts to tackle corruption. Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance, turns 20 World leaders recently gathered for the World Economic Forum’s Annual Meeting in Davos, Switzerland. Among...
Isabel dos Santos is Africa’s richest woman, worth an estimated $3 billion. She has amassed a global empire of businesses, luxury apartments, and artwork, and built a reputation as a self-made woman who succeeded through hard work and determination. But new reporting by investigative journalists has revealed she may have used secrecy and her government connections to help amass her fortune. Those connections included her father, who was president of Angola for 38 years until he stepped down in 2017....
It’s that time of year again. The world’s most powerful leaders will soon be making their way to Davos for the annual World Economic Forum (WEF) meeting, where they will spend a week in their mountain conclave discussing the world’s problems. Those problems are mounting up. The Iran crisis has prompted renewed questions about peace, security and stability in the world’s most volatile region. The bushfires in Australia provide a daily reminder of our failure to respond adequately to the...