The African Development Bank (AfDB) has approved a US$ 63.24 million fund package for the implementation of a 5-year project dubbed “Support to Agricultural Research for Development of Strategic Crops in Africa” (SARD-SC).

The SARD-SC is a research, science, and technology development initiative aimed at enhancing the productivity and income derived from cassava, maize, rice, and wheat – four of the six commodities that African Heads of States, through the Comprehensive African Agricultural Development Program, have defined as strategic crops for Africa.

In its simplest sense mediation can be defined as the act or process of mitigating the concerns of disputing parties by an intermediary who is not a party to the conflict, but who enjoys the trust of all parties and whose goal is to help forge settlements that are deemed acceptable. The mediator therefore acts as both bridge and a buffer between the parties in dispute. The key to any meaningful mediation therefore lies understanding, managing and transforming the political, economic, social and psychological dynamics of conflict that make disputant parties resistant to negotiations.

GA/11039

Sixty-fifth General Assembly
Plenary
68th Meeting (AM)

Three Other Resolutions Concern Interreligious, Intercultural Dialogue; Cooperation with Portuguese-Speaking Countries, Organization of Islamic Conference

Recognizing ongoing serious concern about the direct link between the "rough diamonds" trade and armed conflict and the activities of rebel movements aimed at undermining legitimate Governments, the General Assembly today reaffirmed its strong and continuing support for the Kimberley Process and its related certification scheme

New UNAIDS report shows that young people are leading the prevention revolution, with 15 of the most severely affected countries reporting a 25% drop in HIV prevalence among this key population. New global opinion poll shows that AIDS continues to be of major importance for the public around the world.

GENEVA, 13 July 2010 - The new UNAIDS Outlook report outlines a radically simplified HIV treatment platform called Treatment 2.0 that could decrease the number of AIDS-related deaths drastically and could also greatly reduce

SECTOR OVERVIEW

During disasters, affected populations often face challenges that material assistance alone cannot adaquately address. For example, conflicts or natural disasters often separate families, disrupting normal care-giving for children, the elderly, and disabled persons. Displacement, loss of family members, or disruption of livelihoods may increase vulnerability to violence, exploitation, and abuse for men, women, and children. Conflict exposes some people to harmful threats from attacks or landmines. Disaster-affected populations confront protection challenges

Kimberley Process (KP) members must act on the overwhelming evidence of Zimbabwe's failure to comply with the minimum requirements of the rough diamond certification scheme, said civil society groups today, ahead of the KP's annual meeting in Namibia.

The Kimberley Process Civil Society Coalition, whose members include Global Witness, Partnership Africa Canada and Green Advocates (Liberia), warned that failure to make a decision about Zimbabwe's status is compromising the scheme's credibility and undermining chances for the successful eradication of the trade in conflict diamonds.

KAMPALA, 26 October 2009 (IRIN) - Seventeen countries signed the African Union convention on internally displaced persons (IDPs) after years of preparation culminated in a week of meetings in the Ugandan capital but a lot more hard work remains before it becomes effective, according to observers.

"The most important step now is implementation," Julia Dolly Joiner, AU commissioner for political affairs, said. "We need to move from intentions to actions."

Brussels

Référence: SPEECH/09/357

Figures and graphics available in PDF and WORD PROCESSED

Development Committee of the European Parliament

1 September 2009, European Parliament, Brussels

Honourable members of Parliament,

It is a real pleasure for me to be in the European Parliament today as Commissioner for Development and Humanitarian Aid.

As you probably know I spent some 14 years of my political career in this institution. Nobody more than I can appreciate and value the essential role of the European Parliament in making

Des groupes de la société civile craignent que l'efficacité du processus de Kimberley soit compromise

Crée en 2003 pour lutter contre le commerce des diamants de guerre, le système qui constitue le pilier de la lutte contre le commerce des diamants de guerre risque de faillir à ses objectifs, déclare aujourd'hui les militants.

=C0 l'approche de l'importante réunion du système de certification du Processus de Kimberley (SCPK) en Namibie, une coalition de groupes de la société civile déclare que malgré le fait que tous les outils soient en place, le système ne parvient pas à traiter