CID Weekly: Vaccine dashboard, sober 10 year anniversaries for Syria and Japan

+ Vaccine roll out dashboard 

Total number of vaccination doses (single) administered per 100 people in the total population (as of March 16):

World: 4.61
Israel: 108.31
UK: 37.98
USA: 32.01
Bangladesh: 2.67
Indonesia: 2.00
Nepal: 1.38
Rwanda: 1.96
Ghana: 0.97
NZ: 0.37
Myanmar: 0.19
Philippines: 0.10
Cote d'Ivoire: 0.06
Vietnam: 0.01
Fiji: 0 (roll out beginning. Data will be updated)
Samoa: 0
PNG: 0
Solomon Islands: 0
Tonga: 0
Cook Islands: 0

Data will be updated regularly, Sources, are Our World in Data which shows the global roll-out of vaccines, with developing countries still lagging behind.

+ 2 years since the Christchurch Mosque Killings

Yesterday (15th March) marked the second anniversary of the Christchurch mosque shootings. 51 worshippers were killed in Al Noor Mosque and Linwood Islamic Centre by a white supremacist gunman. At the time, CID and International NGOs issued a statement 'Standing Together We Are Strong' that resonates today, as much as it did 2 years ago.

A royal commission inquiry into New Zealand security agencies was commissioned in the wake of the shootings, the deadliest in modern New Zealand history and the worst ever committed by an Australian national.  The details of the report were made public on 7th December 2020.

Mental health battles continue for the community targeted in the Christchurch terrorist attack, with 40 so far being referred for anxiety disorder treatment alone. Accident Compensation Corporation (ACC) support has not been extended to (physically) uninjured witnesses to the attack, and legal experts are arguing that Andrew Little, the Minister leading the Government's response to the terror attacks royal commission has it wrong.
 

+ Sobering anniversaries: Syria and Japan

It is ten years since the war in Syria began. Since then, one child has been injured or killed every 8 hours - for 10 years.

Nearly five million children were born inside Syria over the past 10 years, with an additional one million children being born outside as refugees in Syria’s neighboring country. Millions of children who know nothing but death and displacement and destruction.

New Zealand aid agencies have come together to make the anniversary, with media releases planned for tomorrow.

This video calls on New Zealanders not to forget Syria. 

Also ten years ago, one of the most powerful earthquakes on record triggered a devastating tsunami in Japan. The earthquake and tsunami killed nearly 20,000 people on a stretch of Japan’s Pacific coast more than 400 kilometers (250 miles) northeast of Tokyo. It also triggered catastrophic meltdowns at the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear plant.

Today, many of those who remain in hard-hit coastal towns are  still haunted by all that was lost.

Recently published photos in The Guardian compare the destruction of 2011 with the same locations following their reconstruction ten years later.

+ UK aid budget cuts force VSO closures

The decision by the UK government last November to cut aid spending from 0.7% GNI to 0.5% has forced VSO to shutter its operations in 14 countries as they face up to 200 redundancies.

The cuts have yet to be finalised, but look all but certain to go ahead against outcry from the opposition, public service, and overseas groups.

It comes after the UN Office for Humanitarian Affairs said that the cuts are “balancing the books on the backs of the starving people of Yemen”.  The cuts also impact other sectors, with research on climate change and anti-microbial resistance also suffering budget shortfalls.

Development network Bond UK have written an explainer about what these cuts mean for aid, humanitarian, and research efforts worldwide.

+ What is effective advocacy?

A new report on advocacy examines the 'activist's dilemma'.

"While forms of extreme protest might undercut public support for a movement, they’re remarkably effective at raising awareness about social causes and placing pressure on the institutions that can act on them.

"So, what should activists do — refrain from highly disruptive protest to keep the public on their side or risk losing popular support by protesting in the extreme fashion likely to grab the attention of those in power?"

'The Activists Dilemma' is the subject of this new paper by Robb Willer, a professor of organisational behaviour at Stanford University.

Here is an easy to understand and use guide to the theory and practice of advocacy, from BOND and Tearfund in the UK.

For a useful definition of advocacy (from influence to campaigns) the Association for Progressive Communications has a great resource here.

"Advocacy is the active support of an idea or cause expressed through strategies and methods that influence the opinions and decisions of people and organisations."

CID's Humanitarian Network will be running a workshop on advocacy shortly.

 

+ Nominations for CID Code Committee Member Representative

CID would like to thank Kirsty Burnett for her profound contribution to the CID Code of Conduct and its supporting committee over the last four years (+). With Kirsty coming to the conclusion of her 2nd term, CID is now looking for a new Member Representative for the Code of Conduct Committee, for a period of two (2) years (renewable) from May 2021 - May 2023.

The aim of the Code of Conduct Committee is to provide assurance to CID members, donors, the public and partners that the CID Code is being implemented effectively and equitably. The next 12 months will also be an exciting time as we continue with the implementation of recommendations from the Code Review.

The Member Representative will be nominated and elected by CID member organisations. The elected Member Representative can be:

• current staff or board members of CID organisations
• ex-staff and ex-board members of CID organisations
• fully elected CID board members but not the Chair of the CID board.

Please contact Aaron Davy if you require further information, including a copy of the Code of Conduct Committee ToR and nomination form. 

+ Free Leadership Training for CID Members

CID has secured 20 full scholarships for CID members to be a Leadership Coach in the Global Enterprise Experience (www.geebiz.org). This New Zealand-based programme won a United Nations Alliance of Civilizations award for its impact on growing emerging leaders in 900 universities and organisations across 120 countries.

Coaching these emerging leaders follows an intensive training programme to learn the skills of holding coaching conversations. The programme was piloted last year with a profound impact on both the coaches and the coachees.

The cost of the programme is $1300, however CID members are being offered a full scholarship for the cost (must have managerial experience).

If interested, please contact Deb Gilbertson deb@windeaters.co.nz or visit www.geebiz.org to enrol (use promo code 'CID' for the scholarship). 

+ YWAM Ships Aotearoa (YSA) visiting New Zealand ports

CID member YWAM (pronounced Y-Wham) Ships Aotearoa has announced a promotional tour of their ship, MV YWAM Koha, to a number of locations around New Zealand. They are extended invites to take a free tour of their medical vessel. 

MV YWAM Koha is a New Zealand-based vessel designed to carry both people and cargo to remote island communities. Custom built shipping containers, on the ship’s deck, can serve as dental, medical, surgical, pharmaceutical, or classroom facilities. 

You can register here to take an on-board tour on the following dates:

• Nelson (Coastal Berth): Friday, 26th March - Monday, 5th April
• Whanganui (Castlecliff Wharf): Friday, 9th April - Sunday, 18th April
• Wellington (Queens Wharf): Friday, 23rd April - Sunday, 9th May

+ Concern over the increase of COVID-19 in PNG
There are reports that the main hospital has already run out of beds, and as there is no isolation ward and PNG has the sixth-lowest COVID-19 testing rate in the world, there are unknown cases spreading community transmission across the country.

Health care experts are concerned that the recent funeral crowds for PNG’s first leader, Prime Minister Michael Somare, and the skepticism being voiced over social media could lead to a dangerous spike in numbers.

It is important to assist organisations and partners in PNG to counter COVID-19 misinformation (on its existence, how it is transmitted, but also on treatment and vaccines) and to follow the advice of the Controller of the National Pandemic Response, Police Commissioner David Manning. 

+ Dr Collin Tukuitonga calls for early NZ vaccination of Realm countries

Dr Collin Tukuitonga writes for Newsroom that the New Zealand government should consider prioritising New Zealand's realm citizens in Niue, Tokelau, and the Cook Islands.  His call comes after Minister for Covid-19 response Chris Hipkins announced the vaccine priority list for New Zealand last week.

"The immediate benefits of knowing that their residents are protected when a two-way travel ‘bubble’ begins is immeasurable. It will enable an early return to the vibrant communities that we know and allow whānau to reconnect sooner than expected. At the very least, it will permit people of Aotearoa New Zealand to consider a holiday in the Cook Islands and help the local economy."

Vaccinating the Pacific is critical, agrees vaccine expert, Professor Graham Le Gros. The plan needs to be released asap.

"How are they going to do it? Which vaccines? How are nations able to respond?"

The New Zealand Government in December announced it had earmarked $75 million to “support Pacific and global vaccine access and roll-out”. 

+ Take the survey - Pacific business post COVID 

Pacific Trade Invest are conducting a regular survey to monitor the ongoing impact of COVID-19 on businesses in the Pacific.

Take the 8 minute survey here.

+ EU joins debate over PIF collapse

The Diplomatic Missions of the EU in the Pacific has issued a statement claiming that a "strong Pacific Islands Forum is fundamental for this region".

The five Micronesian PIF states are sticking to their plan to leave the forum in protest of the alleged favouritism shown to Polynesia.
 

+ Watch CID Talk: Digital Connectivity through a Pacific Lens

Last week we heard from Otago University's Darrin Brinsden as he discussed his joint research with CID into digital access in the Pacific. The findings are sobering. Digital access is patchy across the Pacific. Some countries like Vanuatu and Fiji have fast fibre optic connections. Others, like Niue and Tuvalu have slower satellite connection via mobile phones. In some countries the cost of data is as much a barrier as the lack of up to date infrastructure.

Watch the CID Talk here to hear more about the research. 

You can also read Darrin's research here.

+ Last chance to register for CIDx Talk with Gina Houng Lee

Join us to hear Gina Houng Lee talk through the different gender frameworks available to support gender responsive programming in your work.

Having facilitated the recent CID workshops on Gender, Gina is back by popular demand, to provide an overview of the most effective frameworks and approaches.
 
Gina is from Fiji, and is a feminist and gender advocate for women's human rights in the Pacific. She worked as a Gender Specialist at the 'Pacific Women Shaping Pacific Development Program', funded by DFAT, and has specialised in supporting Pacific women to participate fully in political, economic and social life.  She is currently on the board of Save the Children Fiji.

Date: 17 March 2021
Time: 12:00pm - 1:00pm
Location: Online (Zoom)

For more details and to register, click here.

+ Registrations open for upcoming CID Training with Graham Teskey

We need to understand the political environment that we're working in if want to make long term change. But who and how do you influence? Why are reforms not implemented when it is clear to all that they are needed?

CID is hosting two workshop sessions where these questions will be examined through the lens of political economy analysis.

The workshops will be led by globally renowned governance expert, Graham Teskey from Abt Associates, and include presentations from MFAT.

Graham will share tools and techniques to get below the surface of things to help understand what is really going on and what drives individual and collective behaviour.

Dates: Wed 24th March & Thurs 25th March
Time: 12:00pm - 1:00pm (both days)
Location: Online (Zoom)

For more details and to register, click here.

+ SDG hui - sign up now

The online Hui - 'Be the change' will be held on Thursday, 25th March (7-9.30pm).

It is the second of 3 online hui preceding the SDG Summit in Ōtautahi Christchurch later this year. The series takes participants on a journey from individual to collective action we can take to tackle the issues of our time. 

Visit the official summit website or Facebook for more info. Tickets are $10 and $5 for youth under the age of 24.  Get your ticket here.

+ 'Sphere in Practice Massive Online Open Course (MOOC)

This full 5-week Sphere in Practice MOOC will be run for the first time between 21 March and 3 May 2021 (with some additional time until 14 May for ongoing discussions and catching up). You can register for the course here.

Sphere in Practice is a brand new online course. You can study at your own pace (e-learning modules only), or you can study as part of a massive online open course (MOOC). The MOOC includes e-learning modules, assignments, live webinars, and moderated discussion forums. Studying at the same pace (3 to 4 hours per week) as hundreds of other people, you will learn from experts and each other.