Legal timber exporting from Ghana, and other news (04 Dec 2018)

From Ghana's efforts towards an inclusive timber industry to South Sudan's National Development Strategy

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

  • South Sudan have launched a three-year, medium-term National Development Strategy. It aims to guide the government’s investment in key areas, help stabilise the economy, and consolidate peace. Read more in The New Times (Rwanda).
  • Ghana is soon to have its final assessment before it can issue the Forest Law Enforcement, Governance, and Trade licence – ensuring that timber and timber products exported to the EU are from legal sources. Read more in Graphic Online (Ghana), or read about a similar project we worked on in Indonesia.
  • Water scarcity remains a significant problem across Africa, threatening the livelihoods and productivity of smallholder farmers. Solar pumps may be able to offer a climate-neutral solution. Read more in The Hindu BusinessLine.
  • Early warning of pests can help prevent African farmers’ crops being devastated – and the Pest Risk Information System sends farmers mobile alerts (based on temperature data and weather forecasts) that can warn about pest infestations. It is projected to raise farm incomes by up to 20%. Read more in The Zimbabwean.

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