News, Newsletter

CID Weekly: Climate change report, joint appeals launched, militarisation in the Pacific

Posted on 10 August 2021

Development & Humanitarian News

+ Vaccine roll out dashboard - last 7 days

The above graph shows the rolling 7-day average of COVID vaccine doses administered per 100 people for selected countries.

For more information go to Our World in Data
Also see the new article Tracking Global COVID-19 Vaccine Equity for more on the disparities in the global vaccine progress.

+ Climate change report sounds alarm

The new Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) report  launched yesterday, makes for grim reading: 'Climate change is accelerating faster than expected and warming of 1.5 degrees Celsius above pre-industrial levels will arrive a decade earlier than the IPCC previously found, by the early 2030s,' summarises Devex.

Yesterday's report is part of a wider suite of papers. 

Other parts will also cover climate adaptation and dedicate a third of the document to the risks faced by specific regions, accompanied by an interactive atlas online. 

For a summary of the reports contents, go to The Conversation.

+ Groundbreaking 'joint appeals mechanism' launched

The Emergency Action Alliance (EAA) was officially launched in Australia a few days ago.

'In an historic move, 16 of Australia's humanitarian agencies will be uniting in their campaign and fundraising efforts to improve how Australians can support and donate when large scale overseas humanitarian disasters take place,' writes the new EAA team.

Executive Director, Kerren Morris says, “Around the globe, the number of large scale disasters are increasing. The complexity of these emergencies are also accelerating, and new factors such as the Covid pandemic mean that communities are even more vulnerable....

"Our member organisations already work in close collaboration during a disaster response – but there has been a common agreement that a more formal alliance was needed to make it easier for donors to give. Today is an historic moment in Australia’s response to disaster relief.”

The full list of member organisations of the EAA are: Action Aid, ADRA, Act for Peace, Australian Lutheran World Service, Anglican Overseas Aid, Baptist World Aid, Caritas Australia, Care, CBM, ChildFund Australia, Oxfam, Plan International, Save the Children, Tearfund Australia, Australia for UNHCR, and World Vision.

New Zealand agencies have also been researching the potential for an EAA type model here.

The UK has the (Disaster Emergency Committee (DEC).

The global alliance of joint appeal mechanisms  - the Emergency Appeals Alliance (EAA)  - captures other country-specific mechanisms across the the world.
 

+ Increasing militarisation of the Pacific

'Military assets in the Pacific are increasing, ostensibly in an effort to help curb one of the region’s biggest challenges: illegal fishing. However, it’s also in part an effort to counter China’s influence in the region, writes Lucy Craymer in Stuff.

A recent Lowy Institute report that Anna Powles​, senior lecturer​ at Massey University’s Centre for Defence and Security Studies co-authored confirms the build up.

New Zealand, Australia and the US are aiming to ensure that no power hostile to their interests establishes a strategic foothold in the Pacific Islands, “particularly as the strategic reach of China’s ambitions increases, and climate-related, security and crisis management concerns escalate”, writes the report.

Why now?

'Analysts say a key driver behind the increased military presence was the Boe Declaration on Regional Security in 2018. The declaration made by the Pacific Island Forum recognises the increasingly complex security environment and lists human security, environmental and resource security and transnational crime among the region’s security priorities.'

+ Tigray humanitarian disaster - intervene or not?

'Amid allegations that Ethiopian troops and their allies have committed war crimes and ethnic cleansing and have driven parts of Tigray into famine, the United States has already withheld security assistance and effectively banned travel for top officials,' writes The Washington Post.

Samantha Power, who is in charge of the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID), holds the biggest American lever of influence over Addis Ababa: more than $1 billion in annual aid.

Power has been a strong advocate in the past for military intervention to prevent 'crimes against humanity'. Her book “A Problem From Hell,”  excoriated American inaction during mass killings in Rwanda and the Balkans in the 1990s.

But 'inside the Biden administration, the option of using military force to stop the bloodshed in Tigray is seen as a non-starter.'

Withdrawing aid is also seen as a poor option, 'because it is unlikely to change the Ethiopian government’s war strategy and instead deepen what is already one of the world’s most dire humanitarian crises.'

 
+ The CID Weekly is Proudly Sponsored By
Direct Impact Group supports organisations to maximise their social impact, because changing the world isn't easy, and in dynamic times this work is more important than ever.
 

Members Activities & Updates

+ Fairtrade launch annual campaign

Each year Fairtrade work with their business partners and licensees to promote Fairtrade products and work.

This involves a week of digital ads, billboards, events, and shops promotions, followed by a full report.

See some of the promotions from Fairtrade business partners on the campaign website (from Karma drinks, to Ben & Jerrys Ice cream and coffee  And follow on social media channels.

#ChooseFairtrade

+ Global Giving Week & World Humanitarian Day (16th - 20th August)

*** Please let us know what you are up to, so we can promote during Global Giving Week! ***

Please contact us to let us know what activities, events of appeals you are running during that time, that you would like us to include in our Global Giving Week (and World Humanitarian Day) promotion.

During the week of 16th - 20th August, CID is planning to run a week-long campaign to promote the critical importance of public donor support and giving, as a driver and enabler of the effective and impactful support for vulnerable communities around the world.

This week also includes World Humanitarian Day (19th August) which will be a key part of our week. It will be an opportunity to honour and thank all those that continue to support and provide life-saving support and protection to communities in need.

+ Panel and Networking Event - Survey of the NZ International Development Sector

As part of Global Giving Week, CID is hosting an event based on the annual survey of the sector report.

Almost 18 months into the pandemic, what have NGOs learned, how have we pivoted, and how have operations changed or adapted? CEOs of international development organisations, aid charities and the media will discuss information coming out of the 2020-21 ‘Survey of the Sector’ and New Zealand’s aid and development in the time of COVID.

Panellists will include Michelle Sharp (UNICEF), Janette Searle (Take my Hands) and more to be confirmed.

There will be free nibbles and time to socialise.

Visit here to register!

+ 2021 CID Photography Contest & Exhibition

We are excited to be doing things a little bit differently for this years CID Photography competition. We have a new category, and will be providing an opportunity to have your photos (along with your organisation) exhibited to the public. 

Along with the three categories from the previous year, we have a new section to celebrate the work of our own colleagues, volunteers and friends here in New Zealand. Organisations will be able to enter under four categories:

  1. Development (amateur photographers)
  2. Humanitarian Aid & Emergency Response/ DRR (amateur photographers)
  3. Staff & Volunteers (can include Aotearoa-based staff) (amateur)
  4. Professional photographers/ Humanitarian & Development - for photographers based in NZ (non-prize category)
More information and to submit see the CID Website. Entries by Mon, 6th September, to allow us time to exhibit them to the public.
 
The 2021 CID Photography competition is sponsored by Fisher Print Ltd. 

+ Aotearoa SDG Summit 2021

The collaborative Aotearoa SDG Summit takes place on Thursday, 2nd September and Friday 3rd September at Canterbury University. With many interactive sessions based around collaborations for systemic change, this conference aims to explore how through collaboration we can create both the world we want and the world we need.

Visit here to book your tickets!

+ Do you want to facilitate a session at the 2021 CID Conference?
 

The 2021 CID Conference will bring together New Zealand and Pacific international development sectors after a tumultuous year to reflect, and to regroup on a new blueprint for aid and development.

If your organisation is interested in facilitating a session at the CID Annual Conference on 26th October 2021, we would love to hear from you! This opportunity is a chance to present and share collective challenges with representatives from across the sector. Please fill in this form with an outline of your proposed session idea.

Fill in the Expressions of Interest form here. Due 31st August.

+ Registrations now open for Conference 2021!
Early bird registration now open! get your tickets on the CID website.


If you would like to share your organisation's jobs, events, or recent activities, please send an email to office@cid.org.nz with an outline of the activity so it can be added to the next edition of the CID Weekly. 
 

Pacific News in Brief 

+ Worsening COVID-19 situation in Fiji

RNZ reports that Covid-19 infection rates and figures are worsening in Fiji and show zero sign of improvement. Compared to the beginning of July 2021, figures from the beginning of August show huge increases in the rate of infection.

The beginning of July saw 3,503 people battling Covid-19 with a total of 218 deaths over the month compared to skyrocketing August numbers thus far of 6,500 new infections and a registered 57 deaths.

The government's strategy is to continue with vaccination rollout despite reluctance among the Christian and indigenous population. The Health Ministry announced that by 7 August they had administered the first dose of the Covid-19 vaccine to 87.3% of the Fijian population and administered the second dose to 30.4%.

Fiji currently has 24,070 active cases in isolation as at 8 August, with a quarter of that count at home due to a lack of hospital beds.
 
+ Pacific leaders predict 'perfect storm'

The 50th anniversary of the Pacific Island Forum provided a chance for the region’s leaders to celebrate their successes – but also served as another reminder of its fragile state, writes Sam Sachdeva at Newsroom.

Challenges highlighted included Covid, rising seas and the risk of a shrinking membership.

“We live in a world that is in turmoil. We are beset by a runaway climate crisis, a raging Covid-19 pandemic, and a worsening socio-economic crisis – one you might term the perfect storm,” said new Chair and Fiji Prime Minister Voreqe Bainimarama.

 
+ Samoa's new PM faces big challenges

'Samoa’s new leader, Fiame Naomi Mata’afa, might be the country’s first female prime minister, but she is a veteran politician. As she attempts to bring her nation out of its greatest test in the 59 years since independence, she will need all the deep experience she brings to the role, writes The Conversation.

For a background to Fiame's political career and a summary of the key challenges, go here.

'While no deaths have been attributed to COVID-19 in Samoa, vaccinations are vital to keep it that way. Currently, only 18.6% of the population are fully vaccinated and vaccine hesitancy persists.'

 
+ Indonesia and PNG discuss shared border

Indonesia and neighbouring Papua New Guinea have recently been discussing the potential reopening of their shared border, reports RNZ. The pandemic saw this shared border officially close early last year, but illegal movements of people to and from Indonesia and PNG across this boundary has continued.

Prime Minister James Marape of PNG met with Indonesia's Ambassador, Andriana Supadny, and came to an agreement that if the border were to reopen, it will require proper policing to ensure that Covid-19 is not spread further as both country's health systems have been stretched with high infection rates making it difficult to contain the virus.

No date has been given at this point for when this international border may officially reopen.

Furthermore, a proposal was made for the two countries to enter into a Free Trade Agreement as a way to strengthen their bilateral tie and boost commerce and trade.

Useful Links, Webinars & Podcasts

 
+ CID Talk: Pacific Human Rights Recording
The Human Rights Measurement Initiative (HRMI) has recently released its 2021 Rights Tracker scores, measuring countries' human rights performance. The 2021 scores, available at RightsTracker.org, show that many Pacific countries are leading the world in human rights performance. There remain challenges in making sure all groups of people are able to thrive, and there are some countries that need to make significant human rights progress.

We were joined last week by HRMI team members Anne-Marie Brook, Roi Burnett, and Thalia Kehoe Rowden for a CID Talk to discuss scores for Pacific countries, and upcoming further research on issues important to Pacific communities.

You can watch the recording here
 
 
Reach out to us on:
  • Planning to do something for World Humanitarian Day or Global Giving Day? We would like to promote your event or campaign!
  • Did you apply for the latest round of Manaaki funding from MFAT, you can join our Manaaki group?
  • Would you like to sponsor CIDs attempt to have a zero carbon conference - help us to be sustainable?
  • Do you have a consultancy firm and want more connections with NZ NGOs?
Contact us here.