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How one NGO stepped back from its vision of youth development to allow young local people to identify that for themselves
For many small non-profit organisations, achieving measurable, long-term change can feel like pushing water up a hill. Grassroots, bottom-up social projects are just as essential as high-level policy development. However, trying to effect change while working within systems beleaguered with endemic corruption, poverty, and fixed mindsets can be tiring at best and a poor investment at worst.
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Somali president expected to present plans for rebuilding military, police and justice systems, as civil society calls on nascent government to empower women and provide jobs
On Tuesday next week, the UK hosts yet another big conference on Somalia, bringing together officials from 50 countries and organisations, including the UN, African Union and International Monetary Fund.
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After collapse of illegally built Rana Plaza factory, EU intends 'to turn up diplomatic heat' on Bangladesh garment industry
The EU is considering trade action against Bangladesh, which has preferential access to EU markets for its garments, to pressure the country to improve safety standards after a building collapse killed more than 400 factory workers.
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Nearly 260,000 people died in parts of Somalia between October 2010 and April 2012, including 133,000 children
More than a quarter of a million people are estimated to have died during the recent famine and food crisis in Somalia, and more than half were children under five, making it the worst famine in the past 25 years, according to figures published on Thursday (pdf).
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In Africa, microinsurance offers poor people a financial cushion in case of catastrophe while winning loyalty to mobile operators
Hanging on to customers can be a nightmare for mobile phone operators, particularly in Africa where users juggle different phones or sim cards on a daily basis to get the cheapest rates.
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Campaigners say there is a pressing need for independent leadership to tackle modern day slavery
As the British government makes a renewed commitment to eradicate human trafficking, policy experts are warning that the system itself is still working against the effective protection of victims.
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Pharmaceutical firms would need to compensate indigenous people for using their knowhow in creating new medicines
The European parliament is debating a draft biopiracy law requiring industry to compensate indigenous people if it makes commercial use of local knowledge such as plant-based medicines.
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Logging firms secretly given permits for land while communities in DRC, Liberia, Ghana and Cameroon struggle for timber
Collusion between political elites, civil servants and logging companies is systematically robbing people of their livelihoods, says a report (pdf) into corrupt forestry practices in Africa.
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Africa Europe Platform project shows how diasporas can overcome limitations and influence global development initiatives
Funding and working in partnership emerged as the key challenges and limitations for diaspora organisations in a recent study conducted by the Centre of African Studies and School of Oriental and African Studies, University of London.
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Member of UN taskforce on population says for young people, sex is not as controversial as it is for governments
Ishita Chaudhry spent 36 hours listening to UN delegates discuss population growth and development. She noticed that on "controversial" topics, such as sexual and reproductive rights, young people's voices often get lost.
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