News

South Sudan: Black Gold Burning: In Search of South Sudan’s Oil Pollution

Jan 23, 2020 | Wim Zwijnenburg, Bellingcat

Since the discovery of oil in what is now known as South Sudan, bloody conflicts have been waged over control of areas rich with this…

Syria: Health Services for Syrian Women Caught Up in War, Foster Safety and Hope

Jan 23, 2020 | United Nations Population Fund

More than 70,000 people from the northeast remain displaced in Al-Hasakah, Ar-Raqqa and Aleppo governorates due to ongoing conflict in the area. Over 17,500 of…

Gender and the Environment: What Are the Barriers to Gender Equality in Sustainable Ecosystem Management?

Jan 22, 2020 | Frederique Holle

A gender gap is a gender-based inequality; it is any disparity in treatment or situation between women and men, often rooted in social, cultural and legal norms…

How Can We Address Climate Change, Pollution and Women's Empowerment? Clean Cooking

Jan 22, 2020 | Anne-Sophie Garrigou and Dymphna van der Lans

From the World Wildlife Fund to the Clinton Foundation, and BP Alternative Energy, Dymphna van der Lans has been working in global development, energy and…

Afghanistan: Afghanistan Improves Its Growth by an Estimated 2.9 Percent

Jan 22, 2020 | TOLOnews

Afghanistan’s economy has grown by an estimated 2.9 percent in 2019, driven mainly by strong agricultural growth following recovery from drought, but lingering political uncertainty dampens…

Nigeria: Conflict over Fertile Lands Threatens Nigeria’s Food Security

Jan 22, 2020 | Andres Schipani, Financial Times

The pastoralist Fulanis have traditionally migrated south during the dry season in search of water and grazing land for their cattle. But as climate change…

Why We Need Gender Equality in the Fight Against Climate Change

Jan 21, 2020

Climate change affects everyone globally, but its impact worsens in those sections of the population that are most vulnerable. Social, economic, political and historical factors…

Myanmar: Solar Mini-Grids to Take off in Myanmar, Support Electrification Ambitions

Jan 21, 2020 | John Liu, Myanmar Times

Solar mini-grids in Myanmar are expected to take off as the private sector sees solar energy as a potentially commercially viable solution in Myanmar’s journey…

Iraq: BP Pulls out of Iraq's Kirkuk Field as Expansion Plans Stall

Jan 21, 2020 | Dmitry Zhdannikov and Ahmed Rasheed, Reuters

BP has pulled out of Iraq’s giant Kirkuk oilfield after its $100 million exploration contract expired with no agreement on the field’s expansion, dealing a…

Liberia: Fisheries Sector Attracts US$40M to Boost Revenue

Jan 21, 2020 | Joaquin M. Sendolo, Observer

The National Fisheries and Aquaculture Authority (NaFAA) and the World Bank are expected to sign a $3.7 million agreement today, January 21 to improve the…

Myanmar: Conservation Group Says Mandalay Birds Need Help

Jan 21, 2020 | Phyo Wai Kyaw, Myanmar Times

A local conservation group will present to the Mandalay Region Forest Department a list of birds that need to be protected. Daw Thiri Dae We…

Gender-Focused Policies in Cuban Farming

Jan 21, 2020 | Ivet Gonzalez

The first gender-focused strategy implemented by the Cuban Ministry of Agriculture raised female participation within a key sector for the economy and food security, although…

It's Time We Think beyond "Threat Multiplier" to Address Climate and Security

Jan 21, 2020 | Josh Busby

If you have even a passing familiarity with the climate and security literature, you undoubtedly have come across the phrase “threat multiplier.” The phrase conveys…

Operational Challenges for the Women, Peace and Security Agenda in South Sudan

Jan 20, 2020 | Angeline Lewis

Experience in the UN Mission in South Sudan (UNMISS) highlights many of the operational challenges in implementing the UN’s agenda of women, peace and security…

Afghanistan: How the Helmand Food Zone Undermined Governance, Stabilisation and Drug Control

Jan 20, 2020 | Khaama Press

The Afghanistan Research and Evaluation Unit (AREU) today presented the findings of its recent research synthesis paper, “The Helmand Food Zone: The Illusion of Success”,…

Liberia: At 22, This Liberian Created a Sustainable Way to Increase Palm Oil Yields to Curb Deforestation

Jan 20, 2020 | Theodora Aidoo, Face2Face Africa

Liberian entrepreneur, Mahmud Johnson, has come up with a possible solution for deforestation caused by oil palms which are already threatening biodiversity. He is doing…

"You Need to Act Now": Meet 4 Girls Working to Save the Warming World

Jan 19, 2020 | Anya Kamenetz

A teenage girl, Greta Thunberg, has become the world-famous face of the climate strike movement. But she's far from alone: Thunberg has helped rally and inspire…

Iraq: Death Of Suleimani Jeopardizes Iraq’s Oil Production Growth

Jan 19, 2020 | Scott Carpenter, Forbes

The death of Iranian commander Qasim Soleimani on January 3rd in an American drone strike has roiled Iran and Iraq. It has also jeopardized the…

Sudan: Darfur Holdout Group Strengthens Military Capacity Thanks to Gold Mining

Jan 19, 2020 | Sudan Tribune

The holdout Sudan Liberation Movement led by Abdel Wahid al-Nur (SLM-AW) has strengthened its military capability thanks to the significant goldfields in a rebel-controlled area…

Gender Activists in a March Dubbed Usawa Demand Action Against GBV, Youth Empowerment, Women Land Rights

Jan 18, 2020 | Louise Donovan and Kamau Maichuhie

A section of gender rights activists on Friday held a peaceful march in Nairobi to press for gender equality in the country.

The march dubbed Usawa kicked-off at…

Colombia: The Amazon's Lost Tribes Are Inspiring Colombia's Cocaine Farmers to Become Conservationists

Jan 18, 2020 | Luke Taylor, ABC News

Most of this region is legally protected, experts say, yet deforestation has surged in recent years as clearing land for cattle and drug production, as…

When You Picture a Farmer, Are They a Woman?

Jan 16, 2020 | Donna Hutchinson

CABI has today published a briefing, Empowering female farmers – Gender responsive programming, which is an overview of gender inequality in agriculture, its challenges and impacts,…

A Lukewarm Commitment: India and Gender Equality in Security Affairs

Jan 16, 2020 | Akanksha Khullar

Nearly two decades after the United Nations adopted the landmark Women, Peace, and Security (WPS) agenda, India remains one of the many member states that…

Vietnam: Dong Tam Village: Anger in Vietnam over Deadly 'Land Grab' Raid

Jan 16, 2020 | BBC

Three Vietnamese policemen who died during clashes over a land rights dispute have been buried with honours in Hanoi. Their deaths came during a massive…

Israel/Palestine: Israel to Open Seven New Nature Reserves in Occupied West Bank

Jan 16, 2020 | Bel Trew, Independent

Israel has announced that it will open seven new nature reserves in the occupied West Bank, the first time it has made such a move…

Climate Change and Its Unequal Impact on Women

Jan 15, 2020 | Mary Merkenich

While some do not want to discuss the cause of Australia’s horrendous bushfires — runaway climate change — even fewer want to talk about how…

Syria: Trump Says US Troops Stayed in Syria 'Because I Kept the Oil'

Jan 15, 2020 | David Brennan, Newsweek

At a Wisconsin rally on Tuesday, President Donald Trump lauded his decision to retain troops in eastern Syria to control oil fields there, despite warnings…

Myanmar: Daw Aung San Suu Kyi Vows Probe into Kayah Farmland Seizures by Myanmar Military

Jan 15, 2020 | Zaw Zaw Htwe, Irrawaddy

Myanmar State Counselor Daw Aung San Suu Kyi has promised to review the military’s confiscation of farmland and its lawsuits against 40 farmers in Kayah…

Myanmar: Copper Mine Recommendations Still Not Implemented

Jan 15, 2020 | Mizzima

Villagers who live in a copper mining area of northwestern Myanmar’s Sagaing region have said that previous recommendations by a parliamentary commission about a Chinese-backed…

Environmental Peacebuilding: 2019 in Review

Jan 14, 2020 | Environmental Peacebuilding Association

2019 saw many practical, conceptual, and institutional developments in environmental peacebuilding. We are pleased to share with you some highlights from the year.

Accomplishments in 2019

2019…