A new flagship civil society programme in Tanzania, and other news (20 Feb 2019)

From anti-corruption programming in Tanzania to a women's livelihood bond in India

Every week we highlight some of the international development stories from across the globe that have caught our attention.

  • A five-year civil society programme, Accountability in Tanzania Phase 2, was launched by DFID this week. Its chief areas of focus are anti-corruption, climate change, gender equality, and social inclusion. Read more in The Citizen (Tanzania).
  • A new government initiative in Bangladesh is focused on promoting microenterprises across the country. The project, called Rural Enterprises Transformation Project, will have $190 million of funding from the International Fund for Agricultural Development and the Palli Karma-Sahayak Foundation. Read more in The Financial Express (Bangladesh).
  • With the presidential and National Assembly elections coming soon in Nigeria, the Youth Initiative for Advocacy, Growth, and Advancement (YIAGA) will deploy almost 4,000 observers. YIAGA’s technical partners include DFID and USAID. Read more in The Nation (Nigeria).
  • Bangladesh’s State Minister for Foreign Affairs has announced that there is a new government strategy for the Rohingya crisis, including voluntary repatriation strategies, and implementation will begin soon. Read more in The Financial Express (Bangladesh).
  • A five-year ‘women’s livelihood bond’ is being launched in India by the World Bank, UN Women, and Small Industries Development Bank of India. It will be used to help rural woman start or scale up their own enterprises. Read more in The Hindu Business Line.
  • Eleven districts of Punjab, Pakistan, are to be the recipients of WASH programme aiming to reduce stunting by ensuring access to adequate and equitable sanitation and hygiene. Ten million citizens are expected to benefit. Read more in The Tribune (Pakistan).
  • Malaria continues to be a significant problem in Nigeria, despite recent progress. As a response, DFID are investing £50 million to support malaria elimination in six states. Read more in The Guardian (Nigeria).
  • Tao Zhang, the deputy managing director of the International Monetary Fund, has advised that Caribbean countries need to focus efforts on projects relating to climate change and natural disasters – including the need for a disaster resilience strategy. Read more in the Jamaica Observer.
  • Entrepreneurs in Myanmar have progressed over recent years, but the entrepreneurial ecosystem still presents many challenges. Read more in The Myanmar Times.

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