Researching public spending for peace building, and other news (29 November 2019)

Researching core goverment spending for peace building in fragile states, and climate resilience in Ethiopia

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

  • Research conducted by OPM and the United Nations Development Programme, into core government functions and fragile and conflict-affected areas has been released as part of a multi-country project around public spending and peace building in conflict-affected countries. Read more in Daily Star (Lebanon).  
  • A five year Agriculture and Food-Systems Development Activity is announced in Myanmar. The USAID programme aims to support agricultural firms in the dry regions of northern Myanmar, promoting private sector investment and reaching over 125,000 people in the project region. Read more in Myanmar Times.
  • A new project in Ethiopia supported by the International Fund for Agricultural Development, International Development Association, and others, has been designed to increase resilient to climate shocks in Ethiopia, implementing small-scale irrigation technology and supporting research systems for faster climate adaption. Read more in Busiweek (Uganda).
  • USAID have given $4.5 million to support the World Food Programme’s cash transfer scheme in Malawi, where severe drought followed by flooding from cyclone Idai earlier in the year has led to crop shortages and rising food prices. Read more in MBC.
  • $131 million has been pledged by the World Bank as part of the African Centres of Excellence project for improving the quality of higher education in Nigeria, Benin, Gambia, Niger, and Togo. It is hoped that this will also prompt accelerated economic growth in the countries. Read more in Togo First.