Archive for category: Global Poverty

Key articles and information on global poverty.

Boghuma Kabisen Titanji’s TED Talk on Ethical Riddles in HIV Research

Medical doctor and PhD candidate at University College London, Boghuma Kabisen Titanji, is dedicated to the study of HIV drug resistant viruses and seeks to better understand the mechanisms of drug resistance. When she did the research in Africa, she found that there are so much we need to do to protect participants who are in HIV research.

In Titanji’s TED Talk, she mentions a story about a HIV research participant and how this gave her ideas to think about what we need to protect participants’ rights and how it is important that we should talk about ethical riddles in HIV research. Titanji also brought up four areas that need to be improved in the clinical trial in developing countries to protect participants and to be more ethically acceptable.

The first point is informed consent which means participants must be given relevant information. The second area is the standard of care provided by any clinical trials. After the research ends, they should take responsibility for their participants. What happens to participants once the clinical trial is completed needs to be decided before the clinical trial. Thirdly, local governments should pay more attention to the ethical review of research even before the trial has started. And the final point is that all clinical trials should have clear plans about what happens to all the participants when research is completed.

-Caiqing Jin(Kelly)
Source: TED Talks

History of the IMF

History of the IMF
The IMF, or International Monetary Fund, was founded in July of 1944 at the International Monetary and Financial Conference, in New Hampshire. The organization was entered into force in 1945, and the laws were adopted in March of 1946. In the months following the organization’s creation, executive directors and the first managing director, Camille Gutt of Belgium, were elected.

The harsh economic circumstances of the 1930’s and 40’s led the founders of the IMF to plan an institution charged with overseeing the international monetary system in order to prevent self-defeating financial policies. The formation of the IMF would ensure that exchange rate stability was maintained and encourage its member countries to eliminate exchange restrictions that could potentially hinder or complicate trade. In March of 1947, France became the first country to borrow from the IMF.

 

The IMF: A Cornerstone of the Global Economy

Between 1945 and 1971, member nations of the IMF agreed to keep their exchange rates at a level that could be adjusted only to correct disequilibrium in the balance of payments and only with the IMF’s consent. This system, known as the Bretton Woods system, remained in place until 1971 when the US suspended the convertibility of USD into gold.

After the collapse of the Bretton Woods system, IMF members have been free to choose any form of exchange agreement they wish, other than pegging their currency on gold. Countries are free to allow their currency to float freely, peg it to a different currency, adopt another country’s currency, or other methods.  The IMF’s transition to floating exchange rates made it easier for economies to adjust to external shocks.

The IMF has since been redefined by the major global economic crises around the world. Since the mid-1970s, the IMF has helped many of the world’s poorest countries by providing concessional loan programs. These programs came during the oil crisis of the 1970s. The oil crisis forced many countries to borrow from commercial banks, which led to interest rate increases, and subsequently, an international debt crisis. The soaring interest rates caused poorer, developing, and non-oil-producing countries to pay roughly $22 billion dollars between 1978-81.

The financial crisis continued to worsen into 1982, when the IMF coordinated global response, realizing that nobody would benefit if the country after the country failed to repay its debts. This strategy calmed the initial panic; however, it also highlighted the long road needed to eliminate the problem.

After the fall of the Berlin wall in 1989, the organization witnessed its greatest influx of member states since the 1960s. The IMF was essential in assisting countries from the Soviet Bloc transition from central planning to market-driven policies. After several years of intense reform and IMF guidance, most economies had transitioned to market economy status.

In 1997, the Asian financial crisis taught the IMF several important things. First, they would need to pay a great deal more attention to weaknesses in countries’ banking sectors and to the effects those weaknesses had on their macroeconomic stability.  The IMF also realized that the institutional prerequisites for successful liberalization of international capital flows were more daunting than they had realized. And finally, the IMF realized that they needed to re-evaluate how fiscal policy should be adjusted in a time of economic crisis.

The global economic crisis of 2008 was preceded by large imbalances in global capital flows. This financial crisis uncovered fragility in advanced markets. In response to the recognition that the IMF would be strained during this financial crisis, the fund lending capacity was tripled to $750 billion. They implemented a variety of lending policies and flexible credit lines to countries with strong economic fundamentals, while also assisting poorer, less developed nations.

The IMF has been and continues to be a quintessentially important monetary cornerstone of the international global economy. The IMF is responsible for many of the world’s most comprehensive and influential economic decisions of the 20th and 21st centuries. Without the IMF the global economy would be a drastically different place.

– Caitlin Zusy
Source IMF

Boeing’s Dreamliner Does Africa

Boeing's Dreamliner Does Africa
Ethiopian Airlines has become the first airline outside of Japan to own a Boeing 787 Dreamliner. Ethiopian Airlines has managed to maintain an impressive business record in the face of a harsh economic crisis. The airline has seen substantial economic growth over the last seven years.

Airline CEO Tewolde GebreMariam is helping his company use its impressive economic growth and its strategic location to its advantage. Ethiopia is located in the middle of the developing world. However, if the airline is to be successful with their Boeing endeavor, they will need to deal with the economic stress of being an airliner in Africa.

The airline needs to combat a poor African airline infrastructure. Additionally, Ethiopian airlines will need to invest in the education and training of their pilots and technicians. GebreMariam has answers for these problems. He says Ethiopian Airlines is working with African governments to improve airport infrastructure. Ethiopia, he says, is building a huge aviation academy that has grown to 1000 graduates a year. He is confident that the airline can give an opportunity for the country.

GebreMariam believes the new airliner has a great deal to offer passengers as well. He boasts the more humid air on the aircraft, wider windows allowing passengers to take in more scenery, and better fuel efficiency, all of which he hopes will increase business to the airline.

GebreMariam believes the airline can generate over ten billion dollars annually in revenue citing Ethiopia’s growing GDP as one of the world’s fastest-growing economies. He expects its growth to continue because of its strategic location. Economies such as China, African economies, India and Brazil are all growing economies, and GebreMariam believes he can use the Boeing Dreamliner to help boost Ethiopian Airlines’ profits with customers from those countries.

The Boeing Dreamliner will fly in Africa for the time being. When they are able to purchase a second Dreamliner, GebreMariam says Ethiopian Airlines will utilize it on the Washington route.  They have already ordered ten Boeing Dreamliners and are expecting to have four of them delivered by year-end.

– Caitlin Zusy
Source: CNN
Photo: Ethios Sport

Nicole Kidman: Ambassador for UNIFEM

Nicole Kidman: Ambassador for UNIFEM
Nicole Kidman has a history of being involved in philanthropic endeavors with dual citizenship in the United States and Australia. In January of 2006, Kidman took on the role of goodwill ambassador of the United Nations Development Fund for Women, also known as UNIFEM, and now called UN Women.

Kidman works primarily towards raising awareness on the infringement of women’s human rights around the world with her main focus on violence against women. According to the UN, violence affects nearly one in three women around the world.

Kidman has been particularly involved in UN Women’s Say NO- Unite to End Violence Against Women Initiative. This initiative has become a global advocacy effort that has galvanized millions on the issue. Additionally, she has worked to make the voices of women survivors of violence heard in the media and has helped to raise funds for programs addressing violence against women.

Kidman’s philanthropic work does not stop with UN Women. She has also done a great deal for UNICEF serving as the UNICEF ambassador for Australia. Kidman has also served as a patron of the Australian Theatre for Young People in Sydney, Australia. Over the past three years, she has also served as an honorary patron of FARA, an organization working to help orphaned children in Africa. In the United States, Kidman has also advocated for women’s cancer research, recently becoming the first chair of the Women’s Health Fund at UCLA.

– Caitlin Zusy
Source UNIFEM
Photo M&C

Beyoncé Takes on Global Poverty

Beyoncé Takes on Global Poverty
Beyoncé has joined the Global Citizen Tickets Initiative alongside artists such as Pearl Jam, Foo Fighters, Bruce Springsteen, Kanye West, Jay-Z and more. Beyoncé’s involvement comes as a part of the Global Poverty Project. Global Citizen Tickets are designed to provide incentives to concertgoers and fans to take social action to combat poverty.

The website encourages individuals to raise awareness about poverty by signing petitions and calling their representatives to discuss these issues. Pearl Jam’s manager, Kelly Curtis, started the initiative alongside Global Poverty Project CEO Hugh Evans. The organizers knew that star power like Beyoncé, Jay-Z, and other superstars would give the cause real drive, and get people involved.

The initiative works through a points system. Individuals participating in social actions will be rewarded with points which in turn can be used to win free concert tickets from the Global Citizen Tickets Initiative “pool.” The tickets have been donated by the artists for each concert throughout their concert circuit.

The project is connected with several other organizations including ONE, Malaria No More, Living on One, and The ISIS Foundation. The Global Citizen Ticket Initiative is hoping to make impacts in the areas of polio, malaria, women’s empowerment, food security, academic success, and others.

The chairwoman of the Global Citizen’s Ticket Initiative, Michele Anthony, believes the universal appeal and non-partisan nature of poverty-related issues make the attraction to these events so strong. Issues like poverty and women’s empowerment are no brainers for music stars to back.

Beyoncé has donated tickets for over twenty-five shows between now and the beginning of August.  Individuals are invited to take social action in the hopes of winning tickets to see Ms. Knowles perform songs from her recent album “4”.

– Caitlin Zusy
Source Global Citizen, Global Citizen

8 Steps To Start a Charitable Foundation

Start-A-Foundation
Have you ever considered starting your own charitable foundation to give back to your community? Charitable foundations are a great way to contribute lasting and meaningful social change in a community, and can be a much-needed resource to those in need. Creating and running a charity is very similar to creating and running a business, except for a couple differences. It requires much more financial support to keep a non-profit organization going, because most, if not all, of the proceeds are naturally not retained by the organization. There are also different laws that founders must be aware of when starting their own foundation, which can often be quite complex.

Here are 8 steps to take that will get you on your way to creating your own charitable foundation:

1. Make (and keep) your commitment to the foundation.

2. Get advice from an experienced attorney who is familiar with non-profit laws and regulations.

3. Create bylaws to govern your organization.

4. Develop criteria to determine which organizations or programs you will support with your funding.

5. Find an experienced group of people for your organization’s board.

6. Create a plan to keep your foundation alive as long as possible, which includes how you will fund the organization’s day-to-day needs and pay salaries, as well as how you will raise money for the programs you support.

7. Avoid conflicts that could turn your charitable foundation into a profitable business.

8. Know how to manage your funds and be sure that the money you use to run your organization is not the money you receive from donors.

– Katie Brockman

Source Entrepreneur

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Top 10 Global Poverty Blogs

impatient-optimists-blog-bill-gates
These top 10 global poverty blogs are some of the best of the best in addressing the issues, solutions, and concerns surrounding the global battle against extreme poverty.

1. The Borgen Project – Works with US Congressional leaders to improve the USAID response to the global poverty crisis; advocacy to secure crucial poverty-reducing legislation, mobilization and awareness campaigns making poverty a political priority. The blog addresses the impact of poverty from every angle, and highlights innovative and dynamic development successes.

2. The Impatient Optimist – The Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation blog features the work of the foundation’s grantees, partners, leadership, and staff, as well as other bloggers, to provide commentary and insight on the issues of poverty. Stories and updates from the people working every day to help alleviate poverty, help promote health, and to help every student in the United States realize his or her full potential through education.

3. The Huffington Post – The highly respected news agency developed their Impact blog with reputable contributors from around the world, renowned journalists, stories about celebrities and average people, domestic and global poverty concerns and innovations, and good-news-stories. Type in the search word “poverty” and find a vast archive of videos and articles covering poverty concerns.

4. The World Bank – “Working for a world free of poverty,” this blog is a forum for discussing development issues and provides open access to WB data. Open access to data is a key part of the WB’s commitment to sharing knowledge to improve people’s lives.  The Open Data Initiative believes that “statistics tell the story of people in developing countries, and can play an important part in helping to overcome poverty” – WB’s President, Robert Zoellick.

5. The United Nations Development Programme – Details the UNDP’s 6,000+ development projects and 8,000 outputs in 177 countries and territories worldwide; comprehensive, qualitative and timely information about how aid flows and its results. The blog is also part of the International Aid Transparency Initiative (IATI) to which UNDP is a signatory, advocating voluntary transparency aimed at making information about aid spending easier to access, understand and use.

6. The U.S. Department of State – Mission: to create a more secure, democratic, and prosperous world for the benefit of the American people and the international community. Blogs.state.gov offers up to the minute news coverage of U.S. foreign policy information; their blog offers the opportunity for participants to discuss important foreign policy issues with senior Department officials. Blog.usaid.gov shows exactly what America is doing around the world to help reduce poverty and improve development.

7. InterAction – An alliance organization of more than 180 U.S. based non-governmental organizations (NGOs), working around the world. InterAction serves as a convener, thought leader and voice of their member community. Their blog represents the collective mobilization of its members in: international development, humanitarian aid, accountability and policy creation.

8. ONE – Is a global mobilization of over three million people, unifying to fight “the absurdity of extreme poverty.” Co-founder Bono is part of the group’s influential leadership team, joined by other political and humanitarian experts from around the world. Their blog aims to educate and facilitate the general public in direct action for poverty reduction, and subsequent issues resulting from poverty.

9. Oxfam America – “Working together to end poverty and injustice,” Oxfam America is a global organization working to right the wrongs of poverty, hunger, and injustice and to develop long-term solutions for social change. The international Oxfam confederation works in more than 90 countries, and their blog is a comprehensive look at all political, economic, humanitarian angles of poverty issues.

10. Business Fights Poverty – The world’s largest network of business and development professionals, NGOs and academia all focused on fighting poverty through business. Their blog highlights how business can combat poverty, providing resources, methods and tools for business and thus economic development, showing impact and opportunities.

– Mary Purcell

Photo Source: Impatient Optimist

Best Mother’s Day Gift

heifer international mother's day gift

While you’re eating brunch with your mother this weekend and toasting her for all she’s done for you, anti-hunger organizations think a better tribute would be a gift to help other mothers around the world. Well-known anti-hunger organizations are offering Mother’s Day themed donations this month.

Action Against Hunger has a dedicated section of gifts for your mom on its website. In the organization’s virtual gift catalog you can find the perfect gift for your mother: help for another mother who desperately needs it. There are gifts for every wallet. A $20 donation provides a fuel efficient stove for a mother trying to provide cost-effective, home-cooked meals to her family; an emergency hygiene kit is $25; an $87 donation gets a pregnant mother-to be or nursing new mother a full month of fresh, nutritious food; $100 buys a family a dairy goat; $525 gives 25 women access to a fruit and vegetable garden; and $1,200 gives a group of 10 moms microfinance seed capital to start a business.

Heifer International is also marketing meaningful gifts for mom, urging donors to “gift different” this year by giving the gift of livestock to mothers around the world. The organization’s site says a donation “helps moms in need around the world reach lives of dignity and self-reliance. Instead of just a Mother’s Day card, gift basket or flowers for mom, donate a goat or give a tree to help end hunger in her name. Support mothers around the world this year.”

On the Heifer International site $20 gets a flock of chicks, $60 gets a tree and $120 buys a goat for a family in need. There are also smaller donations possible to buy a share towards one of the more expensive items.

What better way is there to honor all that mothers do for the world than helping a struggling family in need? Sharing a gift with the people who need it most may be the best Mother’s Day gift of all.

– Liza Casabona

Sources: Action Against Hunger

Art4Sight Raises Funds for the Blind

art4sight-art-auction
Forty Arab and international artists donated a total of 47 pieces of artwork to raise funds for Noor Dubai Foundation’s Art4Sight art auction on April 24-25. Held at the Zabeel Ladies Club, the auction helped raise AED 1.2 million (approximately 327,000 USD) for the Noor Duabai Foundation and programs to provide housing, prevention, education and training programs for the blind in various countries, specifically the United Arab Emirates.

Participating artists included Abdulqader Al Rais, Najat Makki, and Fatima Lootah, and Her Highness Sheikha Latifa Bint Maktoum. A young artist, Aliya Hussein Lootah, donated a piece that was made in honor of the UAE’s 40th National Day and was signed by His Highness Shaikh Maktoum, Vice-President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai.

CEO of the Noor Dubai Foundation, Dr. Manal Taryam, gave thanks to the artists and reiterated the importance of the programs Art4Sight funds. “Providing the gift of sight aids both economic and social development in countries of need,” she said. In the last year, the foundation has helped raise AED 5.6 million (approx USD $1.5 million) to fund humanitarian and social aid programs to needy citizens and families living in the United Arab Emirates.

On the second day of the event, a panel discussion was held and addressed the specific topic of supporting art and philanthropy services in the UAE.  Participants in the discussion included eminent personalities such as director of the Easa Saleh Al Gurg Group and chairwoman of the Young Arab Leaders Muna Al Gurg.

With the success of the auction, the Noor Dubai Foundation is planning the third mobile eye camp for 2013 that will be held in Tamale, Ghana.

-Kira Maixner
Source: Khaleej Times
Photo: Oasis Unedited

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Global Poverty Education for University Students

Global Poverty Education
On April 25 at the University of Kentucky, Habitat for Humanity and the Global Poverty Project hosted a free, educational event that was open to the public. Representatives from the Global Poverty Project made a multimedia presentation that addressed issues surrounding poverty in the world. Questions about global poverty were answered such as ‘What is extreme poverty?’, ‘What are the barriers to ending extreme poverty?’ and ‘Why should we care?’ Currently there are 1.2 billion people living in poverty and living on less than $1.50 a day. Logistics Coordinator for the Global Poverty Project Michelle Riepe said that strategies for reducing poverty are working. As announced by the World Bank, in the last 30 years, the number of people living in poverty has decreased significantly from the 1.4 billion of the past. The Global Poverty Project works around the world to educate people about extreme poverty and to mobilize supporters in taking action to end it. The organization advocates for action from government, businesses, and consumers to create important systemic change for the world’s extreme poor. This is a goal that is shared by Habitat for Humanity, the sponsor of the event at the University of Kentucky. “The Global Poverty Project shares the same vision as Habitat for Humanity- to improve the lives of people around the globe who are struggling,” said Emily Andrews, UK Habitat for Humanity president. The Global Poverty Project frequently tours the country to offer global poverty education to students and to draw support. To attend an event or to host one, visit the GPP website. – Kira Maixner Source: UK Now Photo: Gender and Poverty