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#Pakistan, the Lives and Livelihoods Fund Partners and Islamic Development Bank re-affirm commitment to support the polio programme

A high-level delegation of the Islamic Development Bank (IsDB) and Lives and Livelihoods Fund (LLF) re-affirmed their commitment to support Pakistan in their fight against polio. The LLF has prioritized the eradication of polio and contributed over US$ 100 million to the Pakistan Polio Eradication Programme. During the visit, the LLF and IsDB team visited the outskirts of Islamabad Capital Territory and participated in the nationwide vaccination campaign which started on December 16, 2019. During this campaign 39.5 million children under the age of five were vaccinated. The LLF is the largest development initiative of its kind and donor partners include the Abu Dhabi Fund for Development, the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, the Islamic Solidarity Fund for Development, the King Salman Humanitarian Aid and Relief Center and Qatar Fund for Development.

How Illicit Finance Controls Can Make It Harder for Nonprofits to Serve the World’s Neediest - and What to Do about It

A growing number of humanitarian aid organizations are having trouble finding banks willing to work with them. Notably, many humanitarian organizations working in Syria and Yemen report having difficulties with payments. In some cases, nonprofit organizations (NPOs) have been denied bank accounts or have had their existing accounts closed. More frequently, they have had their transaction delayed. Unable to rely on the formal banking system, some NPOs have resorted to transporting cash or turning to money transfer operators. Banks’ aversion to working with NPOs may stem from the fear of facilitating illicit finance, terrorist financing and sanctions violations. Policymakers should consider expanding the use of humanitarian exemptions. Banks may adopt sector specializations, so that they have dedicated staff who understand how NPOs operate. A standardized customer due diligence template tailored to NPOs would be useful for establishing mutual expectations. Another solution would be tracking aid transfers on a permissioned blockchain network that would give banks greater confidence and lead to easier access to finance.

AfDB and IsDB partner to boost agriculture and fight drought in #Nigeria, #Somalia and #Uganda

A joint initiative of the African Development Bank (AfDB) and the Islamic Development Bank (IsDB) will boost agriculture and enhance drought resilience in Nigeria, Somalia and Uganda. Stronger ties between the two banks will help ramp up agricultural production along important crop and livestock value chains. For example, in Nigeria the Plateau State Potato Value Chain Support Project of the AfDB and the planned IsDB’s Agro Pastoral Development Project in Kano State will promote higher household incomes through productive agro-pastoral activities. In Somalia, AfDB’s Say No To Famine project is providing emergency assistance support and facilitating drought resilience building through the restoration of community assets.

US$50 million to Support Health Services to Poor Jordanians and Syrian #Refugees [EN/AR]

The World Bank Group has committed US$50 million to support the Government of Jordan in maintaining primary and secondary health services to poor uninsured Jordanians and Syrian refugees. The assistance approved today is part of a larger US$150 million project, which is financed by the Islamic Development Bank and the World Bank. The Jordan Emergency Health Project will help the Ministry of Health continue to provide critical health care to target populations. According to Aaka Pande, World Bank Senior Health Economist, the refugee influx has been associated with a reemergence of communicable diseases such as tuberculosis and measles. Moreover, the influx has led to increased waiting times and a shortage of health workers. In addition to its short-term objectives, the project aims to prepare a roadmap of ways to improve the efficiency of the health system in the medium to long term.

Islamic Development Bank 42nd #Annual #Meeting: Policymakers, experts urge more youth engagement in agriculture to fight unemployment, food insecurity

Leading international policymakers, experts and scientists have called for urgent action to engage more youth in agricultural production to tackle unemployment and food insecurity. More than 100 delegates from different countries gathered on the sidelines of the Islamic Development Bank (IDB) 42nd Annual Meeting in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia. Organized by the IDB and the International Center for Biosaline Agriculture (ICBA), the seminar looked at the challenges and problems facing rural young people. Participants agreed that the focus should be on resource-efficient technologies that work for young people and make agriculture a viable source of income. These technologies can include solar pumps, improved irrigation systems that use sensors to control water flows or automatically adjust fertilizer and pesticide application rates. Greenhouse and net-house technologies make high-value agricultural production possible.

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