Background

Climate change represents one of the greatest environmental, social and economic threats facing the planet today. In Sub-Saharan Africa (SSA) countries, climate change is a major threat to sustainable development and the attainment of the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs). The combined effects of climate change, increased global population and income growth, among others, threaten to affect food and water resources that are critical for livelihoods in SSA. This is especially true for those communities who live in the drylands of Africa and who rely

Climate change impacts vary significantly, depending on the scenario and the Global Circulation Model (GCM) chosen. This is particularly true for Sub-Saharan Africa. This paper uses a comprehensive climate change scenario (CCC) based on ensembles of 17 GCMs selected based on their relative performance regarding past predictions of temperature and precipitation at the level of 2o x 2o grid cells, generated by a recently developed entropy-based downscaling model. Based on past performance, the effects of temperature and precipitation across the 17 GCMs are incorporated

Abstract

Climate change represents the medium and long-term changes in average weather patterns. It is the result of both external forces and human activity. The major external forces that influence climate change include such processes as variations in solar radiation, deviations in the earth's orbit, and variations in the level of Green House Gas (GHG) concentrations, which lead to changes in the global mean temperature and the amount of precipitation. In contrast human activities including use of fossil fuels, land use changes and waste management are

2007-2009

Introduction

In 2006 the Global Health Research Initiative (GHRI) launched a new program to strengthen research capacity for African-led HIV/AIDS prevention trials in sub-Saharan Africa, a region which remains at the centre of the global HIV/AIDS epidemic. The goal of the program was to provide an opportunity for African researchers and institutions to develop their capacity to carry out future clinical trials of HIV vaccines and other prevention technologies.

To achieve this goal, the capacity building

Executive summary

The national food self sufficiency and household food security is steadily declining as a consequence of natural and human induced factors such as drought, hailstorms, low adoption of agricultural technology, soil erosion and environmental degradation. Drought conditions are largely responsible for food insecurity, which affects mainly the elderly and the sick as well as children. Disasters wreak havoc in communities; these include hurricanes, heavy unexpected snowfalls and political turmoil. Poverty and lack of social security by the central government

Lesotho

=B7 Baseline assessment for the Joint UN Nutrition programme started on 24 October 2010. Final results expected towards end of November.

=B7 Due to delayed start of the rainy season, planting started a month later than normal. As a result, the Food Security condition will have to be closely monitored in the coming months

=B7 No other information received for this period

Madagascar

=B7 Most of Madagascar has a higher chance of Normal to above normal rainfall, in southern drought prone areas recent high rainfall has been benefical

NEW YORK, USA, 28 October 2010 - The scheduled launch of UNICEF's Mother-Baby Pack in Kenya tomorrow marks the moment when this innovation for preventing mother-to-child HIV transmission begins to fulfil its potential to save lives in the developing world.

The Mother-Baby Pack is a creative response to an unmet need. Every day, more than 1,000 infants worldwide are infected with HIV during pregnancy, labour, delivery or breastfeeding. Most are in sub-Saharan Africa.

Without medical help, at least half of these babies will die before their second birthday. But a medical and social

Minister of State for Overseas Development, Peter Power, T.D and the Ambassador of Cyprus, Mr Sotos Liassides, today signed an agreement to improve facilities at Lesotho's only polytechnic which will result in an additional 600 students enrolling in science and engineering courses.

The agreement will see Irish Aid, the Government's programme for overseas development, manage funding of €440,000 which is being provided by Cyprus to improve education facilities in Lesotho.

Lesotho is one of Ireland's nine priority countries for long-term strategic assistance. This year Irish Aid will