Policy & Governance

Mohammad Anas Wahaj | 08 dec 2013

The latest report released by World Economic Forum, 'Outlook on the Global Agenda 2014', was based on the survey of 1592 leaders from 112 countries that included people from business (43%), academia (21%), civil society (12%), government (9%), other organizations (8%) and international organizations (7%). The study identifies the following top 10 trends facing the world in 2014 - (1) Rising societal tensions in the Middle East and North Africa; (2) Widening income disparities; (3) Persistent structural unemployment; (4) Intensifying cyber threats; (5) Inaction on climate change; (6) Diminishing confidence in economic policies; (7) A lack of values in leadership; (8) The expanding middle class in Asia; (9) The growing importance of megacities; (10) The rapid spread of information online. Read on...

World Economic Forum: Outlook on the Global Aganda for 2014 - Top 10 Trends of 2014
Author: NA

Mohammad Anas Wahaj | 30 nov 2013

According to a recent research study led by Professor Jason West of University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, more than 2 million people die every year due to air pollution. The main cause reported in study is the rise in the particulate matter (PM2.5) levels that has the tendency to penetrate deep into vital organs like lungs and increases the risk of cancer and other respiratory diseases. Professor Jason West mentions that East Asia and South Asia are the most affected regions due to large population and high air pollution. Researchers have also found that climate change had only a small role to play in deaths related to air pollution. Read on...

Nature World News: 2 Million Global Deaths Linked with Air Pollution
Author: NA

Mohammad Anas Wahaj | 28 nov 2013

Most countries in the developing world face similar challenges regarding socio-economic development strategies and plans. More so is the case with farming and rural development considering their large population being engaged in farm related activities and unskilled labor intensive livelihoods. The case of Rwanda is no different with 88.8% of homesteads employed in agriculture and 90% of labor force participating in agricultural activities. Efforts are underway to create more incentives for private sector to invest in agro-processing and farm related industries to ensure sustainability of the agriculture sector. Better infrastructure is required - adequate electricity, feeder roads network, food storage capabilities in rural areas etc - to prepare produce for export and also for efficient local delivery and consumption. Read on...

AllAfrica: Rwanda: Design Strategies to Attract Private Sector Investment in Agriculture
Author: NA

Mohammad Anas Wahaj | 31 oct 2013

PASET (Partnership in Applied Sciences, Engineering and Technology) is created by World Bank to facilitate and promote collaboration, covering the whole spectrum of education (higher education, technical and vocational education and training (TVET), research and innovation in applied sciences), between Sub-Saharan African countries, emerging nations (China, Korea, India and Brazil) and Japan. Recently a workshop was held in Adis Ababa, Ethiopia's capital, to formulate the nature of engagements between the partnering countries. Most emerging economies have already made investments in Africa and they are also assisting in the development and betterment of the local human resources. The workshop was intended to identify and formalize the engagement roadmap based on the expertise of the partner nations. The engagements proposed by African countries include following areas - faculty development; agricultural training and research; university-industry linkages; use of ICT; TVET instructors; infrastructural development. While the partner's side include expertise in the following specific fields - development in agriculture and training of TVET instructors from China; use of ICT education by Korea; institutional and industry collaboration by India; postgraduate training and research by Brazil. This World Bank facilitated partnership is expected to create unique mutually beneficial relationships between African and partner countries for better future. Read on...

University World News: PASET - A World Bank initiative for skills development
Author: Goolam Mohamedbhai

Mohammad Anas Wahaj | 31 oct 2013

According to Professor Douglas McWilliams of Gresham College in UK, India will become the world's largest economy by 2048 by surpassing China which will displace US from the top slot in 2023. He points out that the pace of change in the Eastern economies is so fast that the population of these economies have not become used to prosperity and their employees still work more then their Western counterparts (Singapore - 2307 hours/year; Hong Kong - 2287 hrs/yr, UK - 1625 hrs/yr). Moreover Singapore's GDP is 30% higher then UK and Hong Kong's 50% higher. These figures indicates resurgence of the East and the West has to be prepared to compete with these economies and adapt to the new realities or there is a probability of stagnation and later on economic collapse. Read on...

The Telegraph: India 'will become world's biggest economy in less than 40 years'
Author: Emma Rowley

Mohammad Anas Wahaj | 04 oct 2013

Advancements in mobile communication technologies like mobile phones, smartphones, tablets, PDA's etc are creating new dynamics in the healthcare delivery processes. MOVINGLIFE project is the European Union's effort towards research and understanding of the issues related to Mobile eHealth that would benefit healthcare providers and consumers. The project developed roadmaps for technological research, implementation practice and policy support. The project also studied and assessed the best practices and standards in developed and developing countries and even consulted experts from Brazil and India. Read on...

CORDIS: New mobile health provision services that could change your life
Author: NA

Mohammad Anas Wahaj | 13 sep 2013

According to the latest annual MDG report, although some targets for MDG'15 have been met and some others are on track, there is a lot more to be done on the eight MDGs. The progress is uneven across regions and countries and in some cases even within countries. Sub-Saharan Africa and South Asia are the ones lagging behind in most areas. Targets for safe drinking water and reduction of extreme poverty to half have been met. But the areas of concern are related to health, education and environment. More progress has to be made on reducing infant mortality and maternal mortality rates in line with the MDG targets. The report also suggested that the world should start thinking beyond MDG'15. Work has already started on post-2015 development program and proposed goals include ending extreme poverty by 2030, universal access to food and water, promoting good governance, and boosting jobs and growth. Read on...

the guardian: Environment, education and health need urgent progress, says MDG report
Author: Mark Tran

Mohammad Anas Wahaj | 04 sep 2013

The concept of co-operatives was initiated 200 years ago by Robert Owen who proposed 'villages of co-operation' as a response to the economic crisis in 1815. Currently co-operatives are a dynamic people centered business model operating in more than 100 countries. The role of co-operatives is now well recognized amongst the development community. They enhance incomes and secure livelihoods for their members and communities. They can also play an important role in achieving millennium development goals. Capacity building, training and education are critical for co-operative development in developed and developing world. Some steps that can be taken to strengthen their development are - education and training; recognize local co-operative movement and existing co-operatives; encourage co-operative networks; help develop national co-operative structures; assess success of co-operatives by considering their both social and economic value; use international networks. Read on...

the guardian: Co-operatives can play a key role in development
Author: Sarah Alldred

Mohammad Anas Wahaj | 11 aug 2013

The 10th Commonwealth Women Affairs Ministers Meeting (CWAMM) was recently held in Bangladesh. The theme of the meeting was 'Women's Leadership for Enterprise'. Gender equality and barriers to women entrepreneurship were among the various issues that were discussed in the meeting. According to the Secretary-General of CWAMM, Kamalesh Sharma, the new Commonwealth Charter considers gender equality and women's entrepreneurship as basic human rights and fundamental to development. Access to credit and markets to women entrepreneurs has economic benefits and women leadership is an important element of a sustainable economy. The article also explores the various aspects of women entrepreneurship and empowerment in Bangladesh. Read on...

The Financial Express: Women entrepreneurs deserve better
Author: Rahman Jahangir

Mohammad Anas Wahaj | 03 aug 2013

According to a study conducted by Global Entrepreneurship Monitor in 2012, the entrepreneurial activity among males and females was almost equal in sub-Saharan Africa while it was higher for females in Ecuador, Ghana, Nigeria, Panama and Thailand. Access to capital particularly through 'microfinance' is considered to be the main reason for this growth of female entrepreneurs. This phenomenon of the 'third billion' - a billion women from mostly emerging markets joining the workforce in the next decade - have a significant potential to impact the global economy in near future. Experts identify four main challenges for women - access to education and training; access to legal protection; access to capital and access to market. Read on...

Terra News: Women Entrepreneurs Becoming Force in the Developing World
Author: Sarah J. Robbins

Latest             ⊲ Newer Posts             Policy & Governance             Older Posts ⚬             Last