Uganda: Increase Agriculture Funding, Govt Told Oct 16, 2009
Kampala International charity ActionAid has asked the Government to increase funding to the agriculture sector to boost food security ... In a report on hunger and food crisis that has been released ahead of the World Food Day, Actionaid also called for effective resource utilisation ... The hardest-hit districts, according to ActionAid are in Karamoja, Budaka and Busoga. (allAfrica.com)
* More than 1,000 killed in eastern Congo: report Oct 15, 2009
The 84 groups in the coalition behind the report include ActionAid, Human Rights Watch, International Crisis Group and Oxfam. This story has been viewed 275 times. (Taipei Times, Taiwan -- World)
Gender-selective abortion in India is on the rise Oct 15, 2009
A recent study by ActionAid, a global antipoverty agency, found that the gender gap in some areas of Punjab had increased to 300 girls per 1,000 boys. The government has developed initiatives to alleviate the problem, including cash incentives to raise daughters, campaigns promoting the adoration of girls, and haven programs for abandoned baby girls. (Christian Science Monitor)
UN: World hunger on the rise for a decade Oct 15, 2009
"It's actually a world emergency that calls for action from both developing and developed countries," said Otive Igbuzor, the head of international campaigns for ActionAid International. "We know a child dies every six seconds of malnutrition," he said. (Rhinelander Daily News, WI)
Concern over Increasing rate of HIV/AIDS in Bole Oct 13, 2009
The PLWHIV chairman was speaking at a forum in Bole in the Northern Region during a sensitization and advocacy programme organized by ActionAid, an NGO, to create awareness about the AIDS pandemic. The forum which was supported by the United Nation's Population Fund (UNFPA), attracted about 50 participants. (Ghana Web, Ghana)
DR Congo: Civilian Cost of Military Operation is Unacceptable Oct 13, 2009
The following organizations are members of the coalition's steering committee: ActionAid, Enough, Human Rights Watch, Norwegian Refugee Council, Oxfam, War Child Holland, Conseil R. gional des Organisations Non Gouvernementales de D. (AlertNet)
* Aid groups target Sumatras traumatized kids Oct 12, 2009
It is not only children that suffer psychological trauma from disasters such as earthquakes, however, said Harjeet Singh, of international NGO ActionAid. Up to 10 percent of disaster survivors, including adults, can show signs of post-traumatic stress disorder for as long as 12 months, Singh said. (Taipei Times, Taiwan -- World)
Africa: Groups Oppose Fees for Healthcare [analysis] Sep 25, 2009
Those who cannot afford to go to hospital or buy medicines from private pharmacies "often opt to see a traditional healer who will allow them to pay at a later stage", said Nacima Figia, HIV coordinator for the international anti-poverty NGO, ActionAid. This report does not necessarily reflect the views of the United Nations. (allAfrica.com)
Analysing the economic pledges Sep 24, 2009
Claire Melamed, Actionaid ... Claire Melamed of Actionaid says the London summit promised them $50bn. (BBC News -- Business)
Zimbabwe: Govt Welcomes Mining Investors Sep 22, 2009
A report published earlier this year by Tax Justice Network Africa and ActionAid questioned the terms on which mining multinationals operate in Tanzania and elsewhere in Africa. It found that favourable legislation has set low royalty rates, which combines with mining contracts - often negotiated behind closed doors - to routinely grant companies further tax concessions and holidays of up to 25 years. (allAfrica.com)
The Prem Rawat Foundation Makes Two Grants to Provide Relief in Pakistan Sep 18, 2009
Non-profit organizations Shirkat Gah Women's Resource Centre and ActionAid International USA both receive funding to help Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) during the country's post-conflict period ... A second grant of US$36,800 was made to ActionAid International USA to provide long-term food security and livelihood rehabilitation ... Dr. Saman Yazdani Khan, Regional Director for Shirkat Gah, states, "[Shirkat Gah] is delighted that The Prem Rawat Foundation has been able to respond quickly... (PR Newswire)
Intel Continues with a Major Role in Asia's Foremost CSR Event Sep 17, 2009
AFCSR's notable partners include: ActionAid International Vietnam, ASEAN Foundation, Asia Pacific Philanthropy Consortium, Business Ethics Institute of Malaysia, Business in the Community-UK, Center for Development and Integration Vietnam, Centre for Social Markets India, Community Business Hong Kong, Confederation of Asia-Pacific Chambers of Commerce and Industry, Council for Better Corporate Citizenship Japan, German Technical Cooperation (GTZ), Habitat for Humanity International, Indonesia... (JCN Network, Japan)
Farmers take to streets as Doha trade talks start in India Sep 4, 2009
Critics, including Aftab Alam Khan, of the nongovernmental organization ActionAid, contend that studies have shown even this more indirect form of aid drives down the production costs of developed world agriculture. Mr. Khan also notes that the caps on US subsidies would still allows enough room to double farm aid if wanted. (Christian Science Monitor -- World)
Violence against girls is very common in Sissala East - NGO Aug 24, 2009
Tumu, Aug 23, GNA - Madam Esther Boateng, Programme Manager of ActionAid Ghana, non-governmental organisation, has identified violence against girls in school as a common phenomenon in Sissala East District ... Madam Boateng was addressing 93 Junior High School Girls at the 2009 ActionAid Girls Camp and Science, Technology and Mathematics Education Clinic at Tumu, on Saturday ... The ActionAid Programme Manager said the NGO would use its Community-Based Anti Violence Teams formed in some... (Ghana Web, Ghana)
Clinton urges changes on African trip Aug 14, 2009
Nancy Kachingwe, a Malawian with the development group ActionAid, applauded Clinton's "very strong emphasis around women's rights.". Some of former president 's Africa initiatives, particularly on AIDS, have been widely praised in Africa. (USA Today -- News)
Africa: Relax Trade Rules, U.S. Urged Aug 6, 2009
"For [President Barack] Obama's Aid for Trade concept to help the poorest people to plug into market opportunities created by AGOA [Africa Growth and Opportunity Act] - the US must remove the hefty subsidies... [and] tariffs on all products exported from African countries," said Brian Kagoro, Pan-African policy director for ActionAid ... According to ActionAid, Kenya's sales of textiles and clothing to the US market have declined since 2003, falling more than 20 percent by the end of 2008. (allAfrica.com)
ECG kills Dahwenya/ Weija rice projects Aug 4, 2009
This is what caused the tariffs to reach that high level, said the secretary who spoke to the Financial Intelligence(FI) during a mid-year Review Workshop on Rice production organized by the General Agricultural Workers Union (GAWU) in conjunction with Actionaid in Accra last week ... GAWU and Actionaid have been advocating an Agric Development Fund (ADF) for the country ... Anna Antwi of Actionaid argues that this fund is important since currently less than 4% of the total national budget is... (Ghana Web, Ghana)
Unholy row over India mine Jul 30, 2009
The church has been condemned by campaign groups such as ActionAid and Survival International for investing in the Vedanta company, which is about to start mining bauxite - used for making aluminium - to feed what could become one of the world's biggest refineries nearby ... ActionAid has brought over a member of the Dongria Kondh tribal community to London, to make the case against the mine at Vedanta's annual general meeting in London on Monday ... Mr Kulisika is accompanied by ActionAid's... (BBC News -- South Asia)
Anglican Church in India mine row Jul 27, 2009
Ms Jagger is supported by UK-based campaign groups, including ActionAid and Survival International. "I appeal to the Church of England to realise that this mining project not only endangers the culture and beliefs of the tribal community but is also extremely damaging to the environment," she said. (BBC News -- South Asia)
Kondh representative in London to urge Vedanta shareholders to stop mining Jul 25, 2009
ACTIONAID PRESS RELEASE ... "We cannot live without our God Mountain and the forest and we will continue our peaceful struggle. It is a life and death battle and Kondh people are united on this," said Sitaram before take a flight to London supported by ActionAid ... Source: ActionAid International- India (1 minute ago). (AlertNet)
G-8 summit disappoints many, but not Berlusconi Jul 11, 2009
"Is this all really new money?" asked Otive Igbuzor of British charity ActionAid ... ActionAid issued a score card on the G-8's achievements, awarding the summit 5/10 on food security but a dismal 1/10 on climate change and 0/10 on trade. (Christian Science Monitor -- World)
Reaction from aid experts Jul 11, 2009
SARAH GILLAM, ACTIONAID. "The final pledge doesn't change much. It is a welcome step in the right direction to get food on table for the 1 billion hungry but it's not enough to feed them all. "Aid for food must reach at least $23 billion a year by 2020 to reach the millennium development goal of halving hunger by 2050. (AlertNet)
INDIA MONSOON Jul 10, 2009
"The intensity of the rains is much higher than usual for this time of year," said Parvinder Singh, communications manager of international aid group ActionAid. "This is just the beginning of the monsoons, yet embankments have been breached and we believe the situation is likely to get worse as the monsoon reaches its peak in the coming weeks.". (AlertNet)
Kenya: Fears Over New Land Deal Jul 6, 2009
"This is land held in trust of the people of that region by the government. In giving out the land, have you consulted them? By leasing out the land which they use to feed their animals, you are making them vulnerable to drought," says Nixon Otieno, the head of policy and governance for ActionAid. Similar concerns have been expressed by analysts who state that the local population may not have power to bargain to their advantage. (allAfrica.com)
Famine relief Jun 25, 2009
While day-to-day manufacturing is managed by industrialists with experience in food manufacturing in the world's largest companies, the board is made up of humanitarians who have worked for major NGOs such as ActionAid and Plan International. "It's a lovely form of business," says Dr Steve Collins, who set up the company with colleague Dr Alistair Hallam. (BBC News -- Business)
Bangladeshis face contaminated water after cyclone-IRIN Jun 2, 2009
Meanwhile, the UN Children's Fund and the government's Department of Public Health Engineering are working with Action contre la Faim, ActionAid, BRAC [see: http://www. brac. (AlertNet)
Epidemic looms large in cyclone affected areas: ActionAid May 29, 2009
"The cyclone survivors are now staring at the prospect of an epidemic outbreak," says P.V. Unnikrishnan, who leads ActionAid International's emergencies work in Asia. "The stagnant water has started stinking due to lot of organic matter and rotting cattle strewn around. This looks bleak," says Swapan from ActionAid supported organisation Digambarpur Angikar ... According to a quick situation assessment by ActionAid, and its partner working in the South 24 Parganas that has been worst hit, has... (AlertNet)
Guinea Bissau: Lowering the Light-Weapon Load May 23, 2009
Farmers in southern Guinea-Bissau keep weapons to protect their livestock from a "mounting problem" of cattle-rustling, said Carlos Rui Ripeiro, head of non-profit ActionAid in Guinea-Bissau. Cattle-rustling, once associated with a male coming-of-age ritual, is now occurring on a wider scale and increasingly involves the threat of violence through light weapons, Ripeiro said. (allAfrica.com)
Ghana: NGO Sounds Alarm Over GM Crops May 16, 2009
This position is backed by the ActionAid International, a global non-governmental agency which says the impact of GMOs on health and the environment has not been ascertained. "Even the producers of GMOs do not fully know how the introduction of foreign genes affect human beings or plants, when the foreign gene combination is likely to break away and what effect it will have in the human body or plants," said Eric Mgendi, ActionAid's international coordinator for communications in Africa told... (allAfrica.com)
More Business Stories Technology Headlines Charities battle world's woes with technology Apr 10, 2009
"Especially in places where there is no technology. "These groups compete on the donor side, but on the IT end they are working together to solve common problems in a unique interagency collaboration," he said. NetHope began eight years ago with help from California computer networking firm Cisco and has grown into a nonprofit cooperative that brings together charities, technology companies and philanthropic foundations. NetHope represents two dozen non-governmental organizations (NGOs)... (Yahoo! Asia News)
Government is right to fund charity campaigning, ActionAid says Apr 9, 2009
ActionAid's head of policy and campaigns, Belinda Calaguas, today defended the right of charities to campaign, and welcomed the Government's 750,000 plan to support 'innovative political campaigning' by smaller charities. She said: "Saying that charities should not campaign is like saying that fire brigades should stick to fighting fires and stop doing fire prevention work."Like most anti-poverty charities, ActionAid decided years ago that to fight poverty, we had to fight the causes of poverty... (AlertNet)
Mother of 5 adoptees: 'I admire Madonna' Apr 4, 2009
"I think it really highlights the bigger picture that there are so many children living in poverty in Malawi, and while Madonna has good intentions ... children would be better off staying in their own communities whenever possible," said Karen Hansen-Kuhn, policy director for ActionAid USA, a development group that also works in Malawi. "We really need to stay focused on the needs of and of all the children there," she added. (CNN -- Showbiz)
Bangladesh clamps down on beggars Apr 3, 2009
ActionAid Bangladesh country director Farah Kabir said that while the government's aim to eliminate begging was "laudable" it had given no indication yet as to how it would achieve this objective. "If we could remove begging from our streets obviously we would welcome it," she told the BBC, "but bearing in mind that about 40% of the people of this country are below the UN-designated poverty line it seems to be a somewhat over-ambitious target. "We don't know what will happen to people who are... (BBC News -- South Asia)
Developing countries want say in world finance Apr 1, 2009
And a coalition of groups including ActionAid International and Oxfam said Brown must be held to his promise to crack down on tax havens, noting that multinational corporations' tax evasion alone is estimated to cost developing countries $160 billion each year more than the $100 billion they receive in aid. 1. (MSNBC -- Business)
Africa seeks shelter from global meltdown Mar 30, 2009
ActionAid, a South African charity, says the global economic downturn translates into about a $50 billion or 10 percent drop in income for Africa by the end of the year. "Although developing countries didn't make this crisis, it has become all too clear that they are in the firing line when it comes to suffering its worst effects," says Claire Melamed of ActionAid. (San Francisco Chronicle -- Politics)
Recession rage Mar 25, 2009
The alliance brings together household names, such as development charities ActionAid, Oxfam and Plan, green campaigners Geenpeace, Friends of the Earth and Stop Climate Chaos, and jobs and homelessness groups like the TUC, the Salvation Army and Shelter ... "Many people think things are possible now who didn't think so six months ago," says Dr Claire Melamed, head of policy at ActionAid. (BBC News -- UK)
PHOTO GALLERY Mar 22, 2009
Reuters AlertNet - World Water Day. Sat, 15:37 21 Mar 2009 GMT. (AlertNet)
Global meltdown can be a blessing, says Okonjo -Iweala Mar 17, 2009
" However, while Okonjo-Iweala was buoying the courage of her country, a global body, ActionAid has warned that the global recession will see African economies lose up to $49 billion by the end of this year. According to research by the body, about $27 billion of this was a fall in aid, export earnings and income from richer recession-hit nations. The lost income is equivalent to a 10 per cent pay cut for the continent, it added. The report found that countries, which liberalised their markets,... (Guardian News, Nigeria)
PAKISTAN: How best to tackle different strains of polio? Mar 17, 2009
Source: ActionAid (1 minute ago). Author: Andrew Stroehlein (1 minute ago). (AlertNet)
S. Africa gangs using rape to 'cure' lesbians Mar 14, 2009
NGO ActionAid said in a report titled "Hate Crimes: the rise of corrective rape in South Africa" lesbians were increasingly at risk of rape, particularly in South African townships where homosexuality is largely taboo ... "We get insults every day, beatings if we walk alone, you are constantly reminded that you deserve to be raped," ActionAid quoted one lesbian as saying ... Homophobic attacksOne lesbian and gay support group told ActionAid it was dealing with 10 new cases of lesbians being... (MSNBC -- International)
South African men are 'raping women to cure them of being lesbians'... Mar 14, 2009
The report, commissioned by international NGO ActionAid, called for South Africa's criminal justice system to recognise the rapes as hate crimes as police are reportedly failing to take action over the spiralling violence ... Laura Turquet, ActionAid s women s rights coordinator, said: 'So-called "corrective" rape is yet another grotesque manifestation of violence against women, the most widespread human rights violation in the world today. (The Drudge Report)
Human Rights Watch Film Festival Mar 10, 2009
In association with the Human Rights Watch International Film Festival (18 27 March) ActionAid is pleased to present Firaaq, Nandita Das s layered and diverse look at the impact of communal violence in Gujarat; and the UK premiere of Gabriela and Sally Gutierrez Dewar s Tapologo ... Source: ActionAid (1 minute ago). (AlertNet)
Africa: Eliminate Corruption for Better Governance, African Govts Told Mar 5, 2009
The stakeholders in Africa's development, convened in Midrand, under the sponsorship of the NEPAD Secretariat and ActionAid International, to critically engage on the nature and implications of the current global financial crisis on Africa as well as an all-inclusive Africa's response. Speaking on action points, the participants observed that the current global financial and economic crisis is a result of failure in the model of development, characterised by excessive deregulation and... (allAfrica.com)
CIVILIAN SAFETY Feb 7, 2009
Members of the coalition's steering committee include: ActionAid, ENOUGH Project, Human Rights Watch, Mercy Corps, Norwegian Refugee Council (NRC), Oxfam, Conseil Rgional des Organisations Non Gouvernementales de Dveloppement (CRONGD) - North Kivu, Promotion et Appui aux Initiatives Fminines (PAIF) - North Kivu, Institut Congolaise pour la Justice et la Paix (ICJP) - South Kivu, and Association des Femmes Juristes du Congo (AFEJUCO) - South Kivu. Other Signatories. (AlertNet)
