MUVA project wins People's Choice Award, and other news (6 December 2019)

OPM's MUVA project wins People's Choice Award at the Southern Africa Startup Awards, and the World Bank fund povery reduction in Laos

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

  • The World Bank Group has pledged ¢175 million to support Comoros’ National Emergent Plan, with the aim to increase human capital through investments in nutrition and increased social protection programmes, as well as strengthening infrastructure projects, promoting private sector development for agricultural and tourism, and boosting the renewable energy supply. Read more in Africa Newsroom.
  • The Gavi Vaccine Alliance have begun a new funding window for a global stockpile of Ebola vaccinations, available to countries for emergency outbreak response, as well as extending support for pilot malaria vaccinations. An estimated $178 million will be given over the next five years to support the programme. Read more in South Africa News.
  • The Nepal Electricity Authority has signed a deal with the Power Grid Corporation of India and jade Consult of Nepal to begin the construction of three major power lines to increase the capacity of Nepal’s power grid, and provide easier export of electricity to India. This is being conducted as part of the Asian Development Bank funded Preparatory Facility for Energy Project. Read more in The Kathmandu Post.
  • An additional $22.5 million of funding by the World Bank has been approved for the Poverty Reduction Fund in Laos. The funding will focus on supporting agriculture-related activities, promoting agricultural infrastructure to improve livelihoods and nutrition. Read more in Lao News Agency.
  • A $15 million multi-country Disaster Recovery and Environmental Resilience Project has been launched by the United Kingdom, Canada, Northern Ireland, and the United Nations Development Programme, amongst others. The project is being launched in nine Caribbean countries, supporting the National Adaption Plans and scaling up the Enabling Gender-Responsive Disaster Recovery, Climate and Environmental Resilience programme (EnGenDER). Read more in South Africa News.