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Category: Business

  • MIL-OSI Economics: ADB’s North American Representative Office Celebrates 30 Years of Partnership

    Source: Asia Development Bank

    Transcript

    SUPERS

    ADB logo
    Asian Development Bank
    North American Representative Office
    30 Years of Partnership

    Samuel Tumiwa, NARO Representative:

    [Music] The North American Representative Office was established 30 years ago, in 1995. Our main job is to maintain a strong relationship with the US government and the Canadian government. One of the things that’s become more and more important is that we also share with the people here in the US and Canada what we do in the developing countries in Asia and the Pacific.  

    Alain Borghijs, NARO Deputy Representative:

    It’s crucial that we work closely with our government partners because they guide us on their development policy priorities. I should also mention our close collaboration with other financial institutions based here in DC: the World Bank, Inter-American Development Bank, and International Monetary Fund. Our corporate-level work here complements the on-the-ground collaboration that we have in the developing countries.  

    Scott Morris, Vice-President (East and Southeast Asia, and the Pacific):

    If I look at the US in particular, they have been a key architect of the broader MDB Evolution agenda, which is enabling us as an institution to up our game and provide more resources to these countries. When I look to Canada, I see critical intellectual leadership, particularly in providing us a course to follow on a gender-based strategy.  

    Roberta Casali, Vice-President (Finance and Risk Management):

    Thought leadership and important policy dialogues in the US and Canada have strengthened our innovative finance and balance sheet optimization solutions.  

    Yingming Yang, Vice-President (South, Central and West Asia):

    Both the US and Canada have worked to support telecommunication activities and small businesses. US and Canadian technology and innovation have been essential to our work in Asia and the Pacific.  

    Xinning Jia, Director General of Strategy, Policy, and Partnerships:

    The United States is a founding member of ADB and the co-largest shareholder, promoting excellence in ADB’s strategy and policy direction. Canada is a founding member of ADB, always promoting gender equality. Canada is supporting ADB’s climate finance through the Canadian Climate Fund for the private sector in Asia.  

    Suzanne Gaboury, Director General of Private Sector Operations:

    Both the US and Canada are great supporters of the private sector, which is really important for us. As a consequence, we have many Canadian clients and many US clients that come to visit us in the Philippines. It’s also really important that we come here to North America to visit them in their home countries. Last year, for every dollar that we invested, we mobilized another $2.7. I think that’s remarkable because we need to mobilize capital into the private markets and help capital market development. Part of our job is to be a financial intermediary in these markets.  

    Steve Goldfinch, Senior Disaster Risk Management Specialist:

    NARO provides an important link across ADB’s developing member countries in Asia and the Pacific and the governments of the US and Canada. Partners and organizations such as the World Bank and think tanks based here in DC make DC not only a center of development finance but also of development thinking. From the MDBs headquartered here to the think tanks and policy centers, NARO’s role is really that of a convener, broker, and connector. This is critical in serving ADB’s member countries.  

    Natasha Mooney, NARO Senior External Relations Officer:

    When I think about the theme of partnerships in line with the 30th anniversary, I see that as not just financial partnerships but also knowledge collaboration. We can do more in terms of coming together and convening power, bringing networks together, whether it be academia, civil society, government, private sector, or diaspora communities. I think there’s a lot that we can do in terms of the theme of partnerships, but again, really trying to drive progress on our shared goals within the region. The last 30 years have seen incredible innovation with partnerships between Canada, the US, and the ADB, and we’re really looking forward to seeing what the future holds. 

    MIL OSI Economics –

  • MIL-OSI Economics: Development Asia: On the Edge of Food Security: Promoting Climate-Smart Agriculture in Bhutan

    Source: Asia Development Bank

    To ensure Bhutan’s food security, it is essential to adopt strategies to increase farm productivity and decrease food loss in the supply chain. The study proposed three pilot solutions: (i) adoption of best practices to improve crop productivity, (ii) creation of modern greenhouse farms, and (iii) improvements in post-harvest management (Figure 2).

    Figure 2. Proposed Solutions for Food Security Challenges in Bhutan

    ICT = information and communication technology.
    Source: Author.

    Adoption of best practices to improve crop productivity

    Improving self-sufficiency through increased productivity of staple crops is a top priority. In particular, increasing the productivity of main crops, such as rice and potatoes, is critical.

    Rice is an important cereal in Bhutan and its availability directly impacts national food security and stability. However, rice production is continuously decreasing due to the reduction in cultivated areas, labor shortages, limited irrigation water, and climate change. To address this, an integrated approach is needed, involving the following:

    • farmland configuration (farmland consolidation and mechanization)
    • research and development on new seed variety and seed system development
    • promotion of mechanization and information and communication technology (ICT), such as use of drones for sowing, pesticide spraying, remote diagnosis of diseases
    • water-saving irrigation systems to ensure sustainable water management, mitigate drought risks, and improve crops
    • harvest and post-harvest management through effective and efficient implementation of harvesting techniques
    • establishment of proper storage facilities (e.g., warehouses and silos equipped with climate control systems to maintain grain quality and prevent pest infestations)

    It is also important to promote gender and youth capacity development through specialized training programs focused on gender-sensitive and youth-friendly agricultural practices.

    Potatoes are one of Bhutan’s cash crops, but production has suffered a significant drop due to the aging and declining quality of potato seeds. Mainstreaming disease-free potato seeds is essential because potato is a highly degenerated crop easily infected with virus. Immediate interventions should focus on the following:

    • improve agricultural practices (e.g., adequate irrigation, fertilization, and pest management)
    • intensify disease-free potato seed production systems and seed supply
    • introduce post-harvest management system
    • adoption of new varieties

    Creation of modern greenhouse farms

    The establishment of modern greenhouse farms are proposed to reduce dependency on imported vegetables. Traditional farming methods limit year-round production and hinder competitiveness, forcing the country to rely on imported vegetables during the winter season.

    Modern greenhouse farms—integrated with ICT—can produce and supply vegetables year-round and reduce import dependence. ICT, such as sensor systems, automated control systems, remote monitoring and control, fertilizer application systems, and weather forecasting would help monitor and control temperature, irrigation, and fertilizer application.

    Development of farm operational manuals customized to Bhutan’s conditions is also an innovative and systematic approach of knowledge transfer. While greenhouse infrastructures are being built, enhanced capacity development through trainings and workshops, collaboration with industry partners, technology providers, agricultural experts and study tours are crucial technical assistance components.

    Improvements in post-harvest management

    Effective post-harvest management is crucial to minimizing food loss and ensuring food supply. Food loss occurs due to inadequate management of the value chain, from crop harvesting to storage, processing, and packaging. To tackle these issues, several steps are necessary:

    • activation of an agricultural products processing center, which would play a key role in the efficient production and distribution of local crop production areas and post-harvest management. The center can supply foods that meet the needs of consumers, using facilities for pre-cooling, sorting, packaging, processing, storage, and carrying out shipping and distribution.
    • development of post-harvest management manuals for each crop to ensure a more aligned and systematic approach
    • commercialize customized products by route, grade, specification, and packaging materials to meet the needs of various consumers

    Sales and delivery management should also be enhanced through strategic marketing segmentation, expanded market channels (e.g., wholesale markets, large distributors, and exporters), and integrated value chain logistics (e.g., installation of cooling transportation facilities linked to cold storage to maintain marketability, unit load system, and traceability system).

    MIL OSI Economics –

  • MIL-Evening Report: French Overseas Minister Manuel Valls to visit Nouméa for key political talks

    By Patrick Decloitre, RNZ Pacific correspondent French Pacific desk

    French Minister for Overseas Manuel Valls has announced he will travel to New Caledonia later this month to pursue talks on the French territory’s political future.

    These discussions on February 22 follow preliminary talks held last week in Paris in “bilateral” mode with a wide range of political stakeholders.

    The talks, which included pro-independence and pro-France parties, were said to have “allowed to restore a climate of trust between France and New Caledonia’s politicians”.

    Those meetings contributed to “a better understanding” of “everyone’s expectations” and “clarify everyone’s respective projects”, Valls said.

    Between February 4 and 9, Valls said he had met “at least twice” with delegations from all six parties and movements represented in New Caledonia’s Congress.

    The main goal was to resume the political process and allow everyone to “project themselves into the future” after the May 2024 riots.

    The riots caused 14 dead, hundreds of injured, arson and looting of hundreds of businesses and an estimated damage of some 2.2 billion euros (NZ$4 billion).

    ‘Touched all topics’
    “We have touched on all topics, extensively and without any taboo, including the events related to the riots that broke out in New Caledonia in May 2024.”

    Valls said in this post-riot situation, “everyone bears their own responsibilities, but the French State may also have a part of responsibility for what happened a few months ago”.

    New Caledonia’s key economic leaders Mimsy Daly and David Guyenne with French Minister for Overseas Manuel Valls. Image: MEDEF NC/RNZ

    At the weekend, as part of the week-long talks, Valls and French Public Accounts Minister Amélie de Montchalin hosted a three-hour session dedicated to New Caledonia’s “devastated” economy.

    High on the agenda of the conference were crucial subjects, such as France’s assistance package, the need to reform and reduce costs in New Caledonia (including in the public service workforce) — as well as key sectors such as the health, tourism sectors and the nickel mining and processing industry — which has been facing an unprecedented crisis for the past two years.

    Unemployment benefits
    There was also a significant chapter dedicated to the duration of special unemployment benefits for those who have lost their jobs due to the riots’ destruction.

    Another sensitive point raised was the long and difficult process for businesses (especially very small, small and medium) damaged and destroyed for the same reasons to get insurance companies to pay compensation.

    Most insurance companies represented in New Caledonia have, since the May 2024 riots, cancelled the “riot risk” from their insurance coverage.

    This has so far made it impossible for riot-damaged businesses to renew their insurance cover under the same terms as before.

    French assistance to post-riot recovery in New Caledonia includes a 1 billion euros (NZ$1.8 billion) loan ceiling and a special fund of some 192 million euros (NZ$350 million) dedicated to the reconstruction of public buildings, mainly schools.

    New Caledonia’s students are returning to school next week as part of the new academic year.

    French Public Accounts Minister Amélie de Montchalin speaking from Paris to New Caledonia audience via a vision conference during the Economic Forum last Saturday. Image: NC la 1ère TV/RNZ

    Economy and politics closely intertwined
     Valls stressed once again that “there cannot be an economic recovery without a political compromise, just like there cannot be any lasting political solution without economic recovery”.

    “(France) needs to be there so that the economic slump (caused by the riots) does not turn into a social disaster which, in turn, would exacerbate political fractures”.

    “The government of France will be on your side. No matter what happens. We are absolutely taking charge of our responsibilities.”

    The “economic Forum” was also the first time delegations from all political tendencies, even though they did not talk to each other directly, were at least sitting in the same room.

    “Thank you all for being here, this is a beautiful picture of New Caledonia. Maybe the economy can do more than politics”, Valls told the Economic Forum last Saturday.

    Next step: ‘trilateral’ meetings
     The next step, in New Caledonia, is for Valls to attempt holding “trilateral” meetings (involving all parties, pro and anti-independence and France) around the same table, which was not the case in Paris last week.

    The format of those Nouméa talks, however, “remains to be determined”.

    Valls said he could stay in New Caledonia for as long as one week because, he said, “I want to take time”, including to not only meet politicians, but also economic and civil society stakeholders.

    The 62-year-old French minister, who is also a former Prime Minister, as a political adviser to the then French Socialist Prime Minister Michel Rocard, was involved in the signing of the Matignon Accord, signed in 1988 between France, pro-independence and pro-France parties, which effectively put an end to half a decade of quasi civil war in the French Pacific archipelago.

    He also stressed that any future discussion would be based on the “foundation and basis” of the Matignon and Nouméa Accords which, he said, was “the only possible way”.

    The Nouméa Accord, signed in 1998 between the same parties, paved the way for a gradual transfer of powers from France to New Caledonia as well as a status of wider autonomy, often described in the legal jargon as “sui generis”.

    Until now, under the Nouméa Accord, the key powers remaining to be transferred by France were foreign affairs (shared with New Caledonia), currency, law and order, defence and justice.

    New Caledonia’s authorities have not requested the implementation of the transfer for another three portfolios: higher education, research, audiovisual communication and the administration of communes.

    An exit protocol
    But the 1998 deal also included an exit protocol, depending on the results of three referendums on self-determination.

    Those referendums were held in 2018, 2020 and 2021 and they all yielded a majority of votes against independence.

    However, New Caledonia’s pro-independence movement largely boycotted the third poll and has since contested its validity.

    Pro-France and pro-independence camps hold radically different views on how New Caledonia should evolve in its post-Nouméa Accord (1998) future status.

    The options mentioned so far by local parties range from a quick independence (a five-year process to begin in September 2025 following the anticipated signature of a “Kanaky Accord”) to some sort of yet undefined “shared sovereignty” that could imply an “independence-association”, or a status of “associated state” for New Caledonia.

    Pro-France parties, however, have previously stated they were determined to push for New Caledonia to remain part of France and, in corollary, that New Caledonia’s three provinces (North, South and Loyalty Islands) should be granted more separate powers, a formula sometimes described as “internal federalism” but criticised by pro-independence parties as a form of “apartheid”.

    Complicating factor
    Another complicating factor is that both sides — pro-independence and pro-France camps — are also divided between moderate and radical components.

    Last week, during question time in Parliament, Valls expressed concern at the current polarised situation: “People talk about racism, civil war. A common and shared project can only be built through dialogue.

    “The (previously signed, respectively in 1988 and 1998) Matignon and Nouméa Accords, both bearing the prospect of a decolonisation process, are the foundation of our discussions. I would even say they are part of my DNA,” the minister said.

    Referring to any future outcome of the current talks, he said they will have to be “inventive, ambitious, bold in order to build a compromise and do away with any radical position, all radical positions, in order to offer a common project for New Caledonia, for its youth, for concord and for peace”.

    This article is republished under a community partnership agreement with RNZ.

    MIL OSI Analysis – EveningReport.nz –

  • MIL-Evening Report: Is Elon Musk taking over the US government? Here’s how ‘state capture’ works – and why we should be concerned

    Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Lee Morgenbesser, Associate Professor, School of Government and International Relations, Griffith University, Griffith University

    Many Americans have watched in horror as Elon Musk, the world’s richest person, has been permitted to tear through various offices of the United States government in recent weeks. Backed by President Donald Trump, and supported by a small team of true believers, he has successfully laid siege to America’s vast federal bureaucracy.

    On Tuesday, Trump signed an executive order giving Musk even more power. It requires federal agencies to cooperate with his “Department of Government Efficiency” (known as DOGE) in cutting their staffing levels and restricting new hires.

    In his first comments to the media since joining the Trump administration as a “special” government employee, Musk also responded to criticism that he’s launching a “hostile takeover” of the US government.

    The people voted for major government reform, and that’s what people are going to get.

    Are Musk’s actions akin to a “hostile takeover” of government, or a coup? I argue it’s more a form of “state capture”. Here’s what that means.

    Why it’s not a coup or self-coup

    Under the pretence of maximising government efficiency and productivity, DOGE has amassed quite a bit of power. It has:

    Musk’s blitzkrieg across Washington – carried out in apparent violation of numerous federal laws – has not only stirred confusion, but defied explanation.

    A popular argument, supported by some historians and commentators, is that Musk’s actions amount to a coup. They argue this is not a coup in the classic sense of a takeover of the physical centres of power. Rather, it’s a seizure of digital infrastructure by an unelected group seeking to undo democratic practices and violate human rights.

    This term, however, is not technically correct. The most widely accepted definition of a coup is:

    an overt attempt by the military or other elites within the state apparatus to unseat the sitting head of state using unconstitutional means.

    Since Musk and Trump are bedfellows in this plot, the tech billionaire is clearly not trying to violently unseat the president.

    Another possible explanation: this is a self-coup. This describes a situation in which

    the sitting national leader takes decisive illegitimate action against countervailing institutions and elites to perpetuate the incumbent’s power.

    In December, South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol attempted a self-coup when he declared martial law in order to ostensibly protect the country from opposition forces. He quickly reversed his decision amid elite defections and mass public demonstrations.

    Though self-coups are becoming more common, Musk is doing the dirty work in the US – not Trump. Also, Musk’s chief target – the bureaucracy – does not nominally offset presidential power (except in conspiracy theories).

    What is ‘state capture’?

    More accurately, Musk’s siege amounts to a form of “state capture”. This refers to:

    the appropriation of state resources by political actors for their own ends: either private or political.

    By this logic, Musk’s aim could be to capture different pieces of the US government and turn the state into a tool for wealth extraction.

    State capture is a relatively simple but extremely destructive process. This is how it has played out in countries like Indonesia, Hungary, Nigeria, Russia, Sri Lanka and South Africa (Musk’s birthplace):

    First, political and corporate elites gain control of formal institutions, information systems and bureaucratic policy-making processes.

    Then, they use this power to apply rules selectively, make biased decisions and allocate resources based on private interests (rather than the public good).

    In captured states, strongman leaders often use economic policy and regulatory decisions to reward their political friends. For instance, Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán, Russian President Vladimir Putin and former South African President Jacob Zuma have helped their allies by:

    • making government anti-trust decisions
    • issuing permits and licenses
    • awarding government contracts and concessions
    • waiving regulations or tariffs
    • conferring tax exempt status.

    State capture is fundamentally a predatory process.

    By taking over how the American government does business, Musk could be seeking to enrich a small but powerful network of allies.

    The first beneficiary would be Trump, who is no stranger to using his office to expand his family’s business empire. With a more fully captured state, Trump can take an active role in determining how public wealth is dispersed among corporate and political elites. This decision-making power often goes hand-in-hand with “personalist” regimes, in which everything is a transaction with the leader.

    The second beneficiary would be Musk himself and other Silicon Valley mega-billionaires who have bent a knee to Trump. By positioning their tech companies as the solution to what allegedly ails the federal government, particularly when it comes to the use of artificial intelligence, they stand to secure lucrative contracts handed out by the “new” state.

    The third beneficiary would be the small army of engineers and technicians working with Musk to upend the American government. As loyal foot soldiers, these individuals will be compensated with career advancement, financial gains and networking opportunities, while also enjoying legal impunity. This kind of quid pro quo is how authoritarian regimes work.

    What this could mean for the US

    As Musk continues his assault on the federal bureaucracy, the American people will suffer the consequences.

    The most immediate impact of state capture: worse decisions are made. By purging experienced civil servants, cancelling government contracts and accessing sensitive information systems, Musk’s actions will likely degrade the standard of living at home and endanger American lives abroad.

    State capture also means there would be less accountability for the Trump administration’s public policy decisions. With a lack of congressional and independent oversight, key decisions over the distribution of economic benefits could be made informally behind closed doors.

    Finally, state capture is inseparable from corruption. Doing business with the US federal government could soon require one to pass a loyalty test rather than a public interest test.

    Trump’s enemies will encounter more hurdles, while his allies will have a seat at the table.

    Lee Morgenbesser receives funding from the Australian Research Council (DP220103214). He is also a member of the Australian Labor Party.

    – ref. Is Elon Musk taking over the US government? Here’s how ‘state capture’ works – and why we should be concerned – https://theconversation.com/is-elon-musk-taking-over-the-us-government-heres-how-state-capture-works-and-why-we-should-be-concerned-249471

    MIL OSI Analysis – EveningReport.nz –

  • MIL-OSI United Nations: UNHCR launches $10 billion appeal to address global refugee crisis in 2025

    Source: United Nations MIL OSI b

    By Vibhu Mishra

    Migrants and Refugees

    The UN refugee agency (UNHCR) has launched a $10 billion appeal for 2025 to meet critical needs and implement sustainable solutions for millions of refugees, displaced persons and stateless people worldwide.

    Announced earlier this week, the agency’s Global Appeal comes amid escalating humanitarian crises, as conflict, persecution and the growing impacts of climate change continue to force millions from their homes.

    “We live in an era of relentless emergencies. Of crises without end,” High Commissioner Filippo Grandi said, emphasising the scale of the challenges in a foreword accompanying the appeal.

    He highlighted recent and ongoing conflicts in Sudan, Ukraine and Lebanon, which have driven massive displacement, while also noting the protracted nature of many refugee situations, including those involving displaced populations from Myanmar and the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC).

    Fully funded, the appeal aims to support more than 139 million refugees and other vulnerable groups in some 136 countries and territories.

    Three primary areas

    The appeal focuses on three primary areas: emergency response, inclusion, and long-term solutions.

    UNHCR remains committed to its frontline role in emergencies, providing life-saving aid to displaced individuals, Mr. Grandi said, adding: “When conflict breaks out, UNHCR is among the first to respond.”

    The appeal also goes beyond immediate assistance, calling for sustainable approaches that integrate displaced individuals into local and national systems.

    UNHCR aims to work with governments, civil society and development actors to promote inclusion in education, healthcare, and employment.

    Numbers breakdown

    Of the 139.3 million targeted beneficiaries, 34 million (24 per cent) are refugees, 68 million (48 per cent) internally displaced, 12 million are returnees, and about 4.5 million are stateless people under the agency’s mandate.

    Around $2.1 is required for UNHCR programmes in Middle East and North Africa, $1.2 billion in Europe, $957 million in Asia and the Pacific, and $815 million in the Americas.

    Across the African continent, $2.1 billion is needed in East and Horn of Africa and the Great Lakes, $1.2 billion in West and Central Africa and $451 million in Southern Africa.

    Worries for Asia and the Pacific

    UNHCR anticipates that the Asia-Pacific region in 2025 could face increased displacement due to conflict, persecution, climate change impacts and yet more disasters. It projects a rise in the complexity and scale of emergencies, compounded by diminishing donor support, which threatens to fall short of escalating needs.

    In response UNHCR will focus on fulfilling the pledges from the Global Refugee Forum, including more than 60 commitments from States to strengthen protections and find solutions for Afghan refugees and stateless Rohingya populations.

    Afghanistan remains the top country of origin for the region’s displaced, where over nine million forcibly displaced are located. Neighbouring nations Iran and Pakistan bear the brunt, sheltering 3.9 million and 2.4 million Afghan refugees respectively.

    Similarly, Bangladesh continues to host over one million stateless Rohingya driven from their homes in neighbouring Myanmar over several years.

    Other regional overviews can be found by clicking here: Americas, East and Horn of Africa and the Great Lakes,  Europe, Middle East and North Africa, Southern Africa, and West and Central Africa.

    © UNICEF/Maria Spiridonova

    Driven from their homes in Myanmar, over a million Rohingya refugees have sought refuge in Bangladesh.

    Working together

    Mr. Grandi also highlighted the importance of innovation and collaboration, reiterating that addressing forced displacement requires a united global effort.

    “We do not work alone. Reaching those in need – both displaced people and their hosts – requires partnerships with governments, local actors, academia, and the private sector.”

    UNHCR plans to build on the progress made at the 2023 Global Refugee Forum, where thousands of pledges were made to support displaced populations.

    A key focus for 2025 will be turning these promises into tangible action, supported by technical expertise and funding from the international community.

    Unpredictable times

    Mr. Grandi also acknowledged the unpredictable nature of global crises, expressing confidence in UNHCR’s readiness.

    “Our determination and experience enable us to face the future – as uncertain as it may be – with conviction,” he said.

    With forced displacement reaching record levels, he stressed the importance of global solidarity, urging governments, donors, and the private sector to contribute to the $10 billion target.

    MIL OSI United Nations News –

  • MIL-OSI United Nations: ‘Major milestone’ on solutions to internal displacement: Top adviser

    Source: United Nations MIL OSI b

    Migrants and Refugees

    There have been significant advances in addressing the worldwide internal displacement crisis, but urgent action is still needed as numbers continue to rise, topping 76 million people worldwide, the top UN official on the issue said on Wednesday.

    UN Special Adviser on Solutions to Internal Displacement Robert Piper was delivering his final press briefing at UN Headquarters in New York before concluding his mandate.

    “There are around 76 million internally displaced people (IDPs) in the world today, 76 million people who have lost their homes, their livelihoods, their assets, their community because of wars, because of disasters, because of criminal violence,” he told correspondents.

    Internally displaced people are “relatively invisible despite their numbers, unlike refugees and migrants,” Mr. Piper emphasised. Their numbers have doubled in the last ten years.

    “Tens of millions of displaced people do not get home quickly, especially when they’ve been displaced by conflict,” Mr Piper emphasised, adding that “they get stuck in displacement”.

    ‘Major milestone’ in investments

    The Secretary-General commissioned a high-level panel to advise him in 2021, focusing on this growing pattern of protracted displacement. To fix this issue, the panel insisted that only national governments can provide long term fixes.

    “The right kind of investments, more development, more capacity building, less substitution, less short-term fixes,” said Mr. Piper.

    In a positive development, governments have demonstrated increased commitment to addressing the crisis, he continued.

    Iraq, Libya, Columbia, Ethiopia, Nigeria, Mozambique, and Somalia have collectively pledged to help over 11.5 million internally displaced persons find solutions. Some countries have backed these commitments with substantial funding – Iraq and Libya will fully fund their solutions processes, while Columbia is committing approximately $1 billion annually.

    Reaping the rewards

    “We are starting to see the results when governments take that responsibility seriously,” the Special advisor noted, pointing to recent initiatives such as Somalia’s commitment of $140 million for land purchases to facilitate displaced people’s integration.

    In Nigeria’s northeastern states, governances have allocated specific portions of their revenue to address displacement, with the Governor of Borno state, committing 15 per cent of revenue for the next five years to this cause.

    New laws and policies on internal displacement have been implemented in various countries – from Chad to Nigeria to the Philippines – demonstrating growing national ownership of the issue.

    Challenges amid rising numbers

    Despite progress, significant issues remain. The number of IDPs has doubled in just a decade with approximately 20 million new IDPs joining the long-term displaced since 2019.

    The Special Adviser also highlighted specific areas where solutions cannot currently be implemented: “We cannot apply our model in Myanmar at the moment, for example, or in Gaza, where 85 percent of the population has been deliberately, repeatedly displaced by Israeli government acts”.

    Strengthened response

    Prevention tools need strengthening, particularly in light of climate change impacts and the need for better conflict prevention and disaster risk reduction.

    Mr Piper said new ideas were being put into motion to address internal displacement including a solutions fund, strengthened country teams and increased development and peacebuilding assets. International financial institutions have also stepped up their involvement, with both the World Bank and The African Development Bank introducing IDP solutions indicators into their corporate scorecards.

    The issue has gained increased visibility in international forums, including the climate COPs, the World Bank’s Fragility Forum, and the World Urban Forum. A group of 30-member states has formed to support these efforts, while Children’s Fund, UNICEF, and UN migration agency, IOM, have released new analyses on children and climate displacement.

    Return to normal

    Additionally, the humanitarian response remains robust, with UN operations reaching 50 million IDPs with assistance in 2023, while country-based pool funds assisted nearly 12 million displaced people.

    However, reflecting on his tenure and the path forward, the Special Advisor warned that “we need to get better at preventing new displacements. Our prevention tools are not up to task”.

    He concluded that “the core task is to keep saving lives, while we also help governments wherever possible, to build exit ramps for their displaced citizens back from crises to some sense of normality and stability”. 

    MIL OSI United Nations News –

  • MIL-Evening Report: Yaz and Yasmin contraceptive pills will be cheaper from March. How are they different from other pills?

    Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Nial Wheate, Professor of Pharmaceutical Chemistry, Macquarie University

    Miriam Alonso/Pexels

    The oral contraceptive pills Yaz and Yasmin will be listed on the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme (PBS) from March 1 2025, meaning Australian women will pay less for them.

    This listing follows advice from the Australian Pharmaceutical Benefits Advisory Committee, which recommended adding these pills to the PBS so women who find other contraceptive pills unsuitable have more options. These contraceptives also help manage acne and some other hormone-related conditions.

    So how do Yaz and Yasmin work? And how much will they cost once they’re on the PBS?

    What makes Yaz and Yasmin different?

    From March, a three-month box of Yaz or Yasmin will cost $31.60 (or $7.70 with a concession card).
    Nial Wheate

    Oral contraceptive pills prevent pregnancy primarily by stopping ovulation – the release of an egg from the ovaries.

    They also thicken mucus in the cervix, making it harder for sperm to reach an egg. And they thin the lining of the uterus, reducing the likelihood of implantation.

    Most combination oral contraceptive pills contain an oestrogen-based hormone (typically ethinylestradiol) and a progestogen hormone.

    Both Yaz and Yasmin contain ethinylestradiol and a synthetic progestogen, called drospirenone. They both contain 3 milligrams of drospirenone.

    They differ from each other in the amount of ethinylestradiol they contain. Yaz has 20 micrograms and Yasmin has 30 micrograms of the hormone. They also differ in the number of active and placebo pills a pack contains. Yaz has 24 active pills and 4 placebo pills while Yasmin has 21 active pills and 7 placebos.

    Both contraceptives are just as effective in preventing pregnancies as other oral contraceptives. The chance of getting pregnant while taking either medication is around 9%.

    In deciding which one is most suitable, a doctor will consider how their patient has responded to hormone treatment in the past and any other hormone-related conditions they have.

    Both Yaz and Yasmin have benefits beyond birth control. Drospirenone is thought to help reduce hormone-related acne and hirsutism (excessive facial hair growth).

    Premenstrual dysphoric disorder (PMDD) is a severe form of premenstrual syndrome that causes intense mood swings, depression, anxiety, and irritability before menstruation. The hormonal stability provided by Yaz, with its short hormone-free interval, can help alleviate PMDD symptoms.

    Things to look out for if taking them

    All combined oral contraceptive pills have common side effects that women may experience, including nausea, vomiting, break-through bleeding, absent or missed periods, headaches, irritability and breast tenderness.

    There are some additional risks for the Yaz and Yasmin products. The drospirenone in the contraceptives has been associated with a slightly higher risk of blood clots when compared with other progestogens. The risk is low but may be higher in women who smoke, are over 35, or have other risk factors for clots.

    All contraceptive pills can cause side effects such as nausea, headaches and irritability.
    Mart Production/Pexels

    Drospirenone can also cause a build up of potassium in the blood. This is a particular risk for women with kidney problems, and for those who also take diuretics or blood pressure medications, which can also raise potassium levels.

    Elevated potassium can cause symptoms such as muscle weakness, fatigue, dizziness and an irregular heart rhythm.

    What’s changing? How much will they cost?

    These approvals are the first contraceptive pills to be added to the PBS in 30 years and are part of a larger package of women’s health measures the government announced on the weekend.

    The government will also provide incentives for doctors and nurses to bulk bill services for implanting long-term contraceptives such as IUDs (intrauterine devices).

    Currently, pharmacies advertise three-months’ supply of Yaz and Yasmin for around A$79 dollars ($316 per year).

    Come March, the price women will pay will drop to $31.60 per box, or $126.40 per year. Concession card holders will pay $7.70 per box, or $30.80 per year.

    But the price of Yaz and Yasmin will still be higher than other combined oral contraceptives (containing the hormones levonorgestrel and ethinylestradiol) on the PBS, which start at $22 for a four-month supply or $66 per year.

    How can you switch?

    If you are considering Yaz or Yasmin, speak to your doctor. They will take your medical history and discuss your lifestyle and any other specific health needs.

    They will also explain the potential side effects to watch out for and any precautions you may need to take.

    If you proceed, your doctor will outline a process for transitioning to the new medication, including timing and where to start in the pill sequence.



    Read more:
    What is premenstrual dysphoric disorder? And how is it different to PMS?

    Nial Wheate in the past has received funding from the ACT Cancer Council, Tenovus Scotland, Medical Research Scotland, Scottish Crucible, and the Scottish Universities Life Sciences Alliance. He is a fellow of the Royal Australian Chemical Institute, a member of the Australasian Pharmaceutical Science Association and a member of the Australian Institute of Company Directors. Nial is the chief scientific officer of Vaihea Skincare LLC, a director of SetDose Pty Ltd (a medical device company) and was previously a Standards Australia panel member for sunscreen agents. Nial regularly consults to industry on issues to do with medicine risk assessments, manufacturing, design, and testing.

    Shoohb Alassadi does not work for, consult, own shares in or receive funding from any company or organisation that would benefit from this article, and has disclosed no relevant affiliations beyond their academic appointment.

    – ref. Yaz and Yasmin contraceptive pills will be cheaper from March. How are they different from other pills? – https://theconversation.com/yaz-and-yasmin-contraceptive-pills-will-be-cheaper-from-march-how-are-they-different-from-other-pills-249480

    MIL OSI Analysis – EveningReport.nz –

  • MIL-OSI China: China receives first unpainted Airbus A350 in 2025

    Source: China State Council Information Office

    An Airbus A350 aircraft without livery is pictured in north China’s Tianjin Municipality, Feb. 11, 2025. [Photo/Xinhua]

    An Airbus A350 aircraft without livery flew from Toulouse, France, to north China’s Tianjin Municipality on Tuesday, marking the first such arrival in 2025, the European aircraft manufacturer Airbus said.

    The jet, which completed assembly overseas, will undergo final cabin installation, painting, and flight testing at the Airbus Tianjin Widebody Completion and Delivery Center (C&DC) before its delivery to the customer.

    Airbus established its A320 Family Final Assembly Line Asia in Tianjin in 2008, its first production facility outside Europe. The C&DC, inaugurated in 2017 and the first of its kind outside Europe, began supporting A350 completion and delivery in 2020.

    As of the end of 2024, the C&DC had delivered 767 A320 Family jets, 16 A330s and 25 A350s.

    “China is Airbus’ largest single-country market globally,” said George Xu, Airbus executive vice president and Airbus China CEO.

    According to Xu, aircraft delivered to Chinese customers account for about 20 percent of Airbus’ global annual deliveries. Additionally, the company’s market share in China has risen from some 20 percent in 2008 to more than 50 percent today.

    Xu said that 2025 marks the 40th anniversary of Airbus civil aircraft entering the Chinese mainland market, and the company will continue working with Chinese aviation partners to promote the high-quality development of China’s aviation industry.

    MIL OSI China News –

  • MIL-OSI China: Gaza ceasefire to end if hostages not returned by Saturday

    Source: China State Council Information Office

    People welcome a released Palestinian prisoner in the West Bank city of Ramallah, Feb. 8, 2025. [Photo/Xinhua]

    Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said Tuesday that if the Israeli hostages held in Gaza were not returned by Saturday, the ceasefire with Hamas will be canceled, and Israel will resume “intensive fighting” in the war-torn enclave.

    In a video statement, Netanyahu said the move was unanimously approved by his Cabinet ministers during a four-hour meeting held in the afternoon.

    Under the decision, “if Hamas does not return our hostages by noon on Saturday, the ceasefire will end, and the IDF (Israel Defense Forces) will resume intense fighting until Hamas is decisively defeated,” he said.

    All of Israel’s Cabinet ministers welcomed U.S. President Donald Trump’s Gaza takeover plan and his ceasefire ultimatum, the prime minister added.

    Netanyahu’s remarks came a day after Hamas announced that the handover of hostages scheduled for Saturday would be postponed until further notice.

    On Monday, Abu Obeida, spokesman for the Al-Qassam Brigades, the armed wing of Hamas, said in a statement that during the past three weeks, the resistance leadership had monitored Israel’s failures to abide by the terms of the ceasefire agreement.

    Accordingly, the handover of the hostages will be postponed until further notice and until Israel ensures adherence to the deal and compensates for the past weeks retroactively, Obeida noted. “We affirm our commitment to the terms of the agreement as long as the occupation commits to them.”

    In response, Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz said Monday in a statement that Hamas’ announcement is “a complete violation of the Gaza ceasefire and hostage release deal.”

    Katz said he had ordered the IDF to “prepare at the highest level of readiness for any possible scenario in Gaza and to defend the communities near the enclave.”

    The Israeli military announced on Tuesday that it would increase its forces near the Gaza Strip and call up reservists after the Israeli Cabinet decided to cancel the ceasefire with Hamas if the Israeli hostages were not returned by Saturday.

    A military spokesperson confirmed in a statement, “It was decided to reinforce the area with additional troops, including reservists.” The spokesperson emphasized that this decision was made “in accordance with the situational assessment.”

    The spokesperson further explained, “The reinforcements and mobilization of reservists are being implemented to prepare for various scenarios.”

    Trump also issued an ultimatum to Hamas on Monday, saying if all Israeli hostages were not released from Gaza by noon on Saturday, he would propose canceling the ceasefire agreement and letting “all hell break loose.”

    These developments came after an Israeli delegation returned from Qatar, where indirect talks were held regarding the next phase of the ceasefire agreement between Israel and Hamas, and amid continuous regional and international outcry against Trump’s and Netanyahu’s remarks made recently concerning Gaza.

    On Feb. 4, Trump announced a controversial plan to take over the Gaza Strip and relocate Palestinians from the enclave during a joint press conference with Netanyahu in Washington.

    Two days later, Netanyahu suggested during an interview with Israel’s Channel 14 that “Saudis can establish a Palestinian state in Saudi Arabia; they have plenty of land there.”

    On Monday, when being asked in an interview with Fox News if the Palestinians now residing in Gaza, who under Trump’s proposal will face forced displacement to make way for the rebuilding of the enclave, would “have the right to return,” Trump said, “No, they wouldn’t.”

    Reacting to Trump’s and Netanyahu’s remarks, many countries have voiced their rejection of displacing Palestinians from their homeland and their support for the two-state solution.

    Under the current ceasefire, which took effect on Jan. 19 after 15 months of war, 21 hostages — 16 Israelis and five Thais — were released from Gaza in exchange for hundreds of Palestinian detainees freed from Israeli jails. During the first phase of the agreement, which spans six weeks, 33 Israeli hostages and about 2,000 Palestinian detainees are expected to be released.

    MIL OSI China News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Peters and Slotkin Lead Bipartisan Legislation to Extend Federal Funding and Protections for the Great Lakes

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Michigan Gary Peters

    WASHINGTON, DC – U.S. Senators Gary Peters (MI) and Elissa Slotkin (MI) are leading bipartisan legislation to extend federal funding and protections for the Great Lakes. The senators introduced the Great Lakes Restoration Initiative Act of 2025 to reauthorize the Great Lakes Restoration Initiative (GLRI) through 2031 and increase the program’s annual authorized funding levels from $475 million to $500 million. The GLRI is the most significant investment ever made to restore and protect our Great Lakes. The GLRI combines federal and nonfederal efforts to stop the spread of carp and other invasive species, restore coastline and habitats connecting our streams and rivers, clean up environmentally damaged Areas of Concern, and prevent future contamination. While providing vital support for these efforts, the GLRI also helps ensure we can address new and emerging threats to the Great Lakes.    

    “The Great Lakes are a national treasure and central to our economy, environment, and way of life in Michigan. Since its creation, the Great Lakes Restoration Initiative has made significant headway in cleaning up Areas of Concern, protecting vital habitats, and restoring coastlines around the Great Lakes Basin,” said Senator Peters. “This bipartisan legislation will provide GLRI with the resources needed to build on that success and help protect and preserve the Great Lakes for future generations of Michiganders. I’m proud to again help lead the charge to strengthen this essential program.”  

    “Our Great Lakes power our Michigan economy, and the Great Lakes Restoration Initiative ensures we are protecting our Lakes for generations to come,” said Senator Slotkin. “From controlling invasive species to responding to algal blooms to building up our waterways infrastructure – the GLRI is a critical tool. Time and time again the Trump administration has tried to zero out this program, and it’s more important than ever we protect it. It’s why I am honored to take up the mantle from Senator Debbie Stabenow, and work alongside Senator Peters to get this bill done.”   

    Since its inception, the GLRI has spurred tremendous progress in Michigan and throughout the Great Lakes region including nearly half of a million acres of habitat protected, restored, or enhanced, a five-fold increase in the successful cleanup and delisting of Areas of Concern, a ten-fold increase in the remediation of environmental and public health impairments, and reducing the threat of harmful algal blooms. The GLRI’s efforts have also resulted in economic returns of more than 3 to 1 across the region. 

    “The Great Lakes Restoration Initiative is the most successful effort to protect and clean up our Great Lakes in U.S. history,” said Lisa Wozniak, Executive Director of Michigan League of Conservation Voters. “Our Great Lakes face emerging challenges, like toxic PFAS contamination, invasive species, rapidly warming temperatures and the impacts of climate change, which makes the Great Lakes Restoration Initiative (GLRI) Act of 2025 more important than ever. Protecting our treasured Great Lakes, the source of drinking water for millions of people, is something all Michiganders can get behind, and we look forward to working with lawmakers on both sides of the aisle to get this legislation signed into law.” 

    “The simple fact is the GLRI funds critical projects that make life better for the millions of Americans that depend on the Great Lakes. It also delivers a positive economic return on the government’s investment in cleaner water and healthier communities. Senator Peters and Senator Young along with other Great Lakes senators have our gratitude for introducing this important bill,” said Joel Brammeier, Alliance for the Great Lakes President and CEO. 

    “The GLRI is a landmark program that is making significant progress in restoring the waters, ecosystems, economies, and communities that make up the Great Lakes region,” said Erika Jensen, Executive Director of the Great Lakes Commission. “The Great Lakes Commission applauds Senators Peters and Young for introducing this important legislation, which will safeguard the economic and environmental health of the Great Lakes region for generations to come.” 

    “This bill is a winner for millions of people in the region,” said Laura Rubin, Director of the Healing Our Waters-Great Lakes Coalition. “We thank Sens. Gary Peters and Todd Young for their bipartisan leadership and commitment to tackle the serious threats to our region’s drinking water, public health, jobs, and quality of life. Federal investments to restore the Great Lakes have been producing results, but serious threats remain. We look forward to working with the Great Lakes congressional delegation to pass this bipartisan bill that supports common sense solutions. If we scale back investments now, the problems will only get worse and more expensive to solve.” 

    “The Great Lakes Restoration Initiative provides critical investments in the health of the Great Lakes and the communities and businesses that rely on clean water. Communities across the region realize the lasting benefits of clean and healthy lakes, which attract visitors, create jobs, and sustain the Great Lakes way of life,” said Peter Laing, Great Lakes Business Network Co-Chair.  

    The Great Lakes Restoration Initiative Act of 2025 is also supported by the League of Conservation Voters, National Wildlife Federation, Sierra Club, National Parks Conservation Association, Council of Great Lakes Governors, Great Lakes Fishery Commission, American Great Lakes Ports Association, Great Lakes and St. Lawrence Cities Initiative, American Sportfishing Association, Theodore Roosevelt Conservation Partnership, Ducks Unlimited, Trout Unlimited, Congressional Sportsmen’s Foundation, National Audubon Society – Great Lakes,  Environmental Law & Policy Center, and other key stakeholders in Great Lakes protection.  

    Peters and Slotkin have been champions for the GLRI. Peters and Slotkin helped enact the single-largest-ever investment in the GLRI through the bipartisan infrastructure law to accelerate the restoration of nine high-priority areas in Michigan whose lakes, rivers and watersheds flow into the Great Lakes.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI Australia: BLACKWOOD ROAD, MILLICENT (Grass Fire)

    Source: Country Fire Service – South Australia

    Issued on
    12 Feb 2025 12:37

    Issued for
    MILLICENT in The Lower South East.

    Warning level
    Advice – Avoid Smoke

    Action
    Smoke from MILLICENT Fire is in the Southern Ports Highway,wattle Road,Blackwood Road, Acacia Drive, Hakea Drive, Racecourse Road, Banksia Road and Stringy Bark Drive. area.

    Smoke can affect your health. You should stay informed and be aware of the health impacts of smoke on yourself and others.

    Symptoms of exposure includes shortness of breath, wheezing and coughing, burning eyes, running nose, chest tightness, chest pain and dizziness or light-headedness.

    If you or anyone in your care are having difficulty breathing, seek medical attention from your local GP. If your symptoms become severe, call 000.

    More information will be provided by the CFS when it is available.

    MIL OSI News –

  • MIL-OSI United Nations: Financial Accounts Workshop

    Source: United Nations Economic Commission for Europe

    Provisional Timetable PDF PDF
    Session 1. New Recommendations in the 2025 SNA pertaining to financial accounts    
    Session 1: Video recording Link Link
    Recommendations in the 2025 SNA pertaining to the financial accounts (IMF) PDF PDF
    Session 2. Use of financial accounts for analytical purposes    
    Session 2: Video recording Link Link
    Use of Financial Account Balance Sheet in the EU (Eurostat) PDF PDF
    Use  of Financial Accounts for Analytical Purposes (Central Bank of The Republic of Türkiye) PDF PDF
    Use of financial accounts for analytical purposes. Private Sector Debt with a focus on NFCs (National Bank of Belgium) PDF PDF
    Session 3. Issues related to non-financial corporations    
    Session 3: Video recording link link
    Analyzing Non-Financial Corporation Using Institutional Sector Accounts (IMF) PDF PDF
    Financial Accounts in Armenia (Statistical Committee of the Republic of Armenia) PDF PDF
    Compilation of Financial Accounts for Non-Financial Corporations (Central Bank of The Republic of Türkiye) PDF PDF
    Compilation and Utilisation of the Financial Account of the Non-financial Corporations (NFC) Sector: Experience, Challenges, and Opportunities (Bank Indonesia) PDF PDF
    Non-financial corporations: compilation process in the Belgian financial accounts matrix (National Bank of Belgium) PDF PDF
    Non-financial Corporations (Statistics Iceland) PDF PDF
    Session 4. Issues related to household sector    
    Session 4: Video recording link link
    Household Sectors Issues Using Institutional Sector Accounts (IMF) PDF PDF
       Exercise 1 XLSX, PDF XLSX, PDF
       Exercise 1 – Solution XLSX XLSX
       Exercise 2 XLSX, PDF XLSX, PDF
       Exercise 2 – Solution XLSX XLSX
    The household sector (Statistics Iceland) PDF PDF
    Recording Crypto Assets in Macroeconomic Statistics (IMF) PDF PDF
       F.18 The Recording of Crypto Assets in Macroeconomic Statistics PDF PDF
    Challenges with Cryptocurrencies in Georgia (National Statistics Office of Georgia) PDF PDF
    Foreign currency held by Households (National Bank of Moldova) PDF PDF
    Session 5. Issues related to financial instruments and specific transactions    
    Session 5: Video recording link link
    Financial instruments (ECB) PDF PDF
       Exercises on  Mergers and Acquisitions (M&A) XLSX XLSX
       Exercises on  Mergers and Acquisitions (M&A) – Solutions XLSX XLSX
    Statistical measurement of illicit financial flows (UNCTAD) PDF PDF
    Non-financial Corporations equity liabilities (National Bank of Moldova) PDF PDF
    Session 6. Who-to-whom, consistency and balancing    
    Session 6: Video recording link link
    Recommendations to improve the Vertical Consistency of EU Sector Accounts (ECB) PDF PDF
    Combining sources and balancing the accounts (ECB) PDF PDF
       Exercises on balancing XLSX XLSX
       Exercises on balancing – Solution XLSX XLSX
    Financial Accounts in Kyrgyzstan (National Statistical Committee of the Kyrgyz Republic) PDF PDF
    From-whom-to-whom – practical solution for compiling FA statistics, NBRNM case (National Bank of the Republic of North Macedonia) PDF PDF
    Who-to-whom, consistency and balancing (Statistics Iceland) PDF PDF
    Session 7. Conclusions and recommendations    
    Session 7: Video recording link link
    Conclusions and way forward PDF PDF

    MIL OSI United Nations News –

  • MIL-OSI United Nations: Dignity for migrants should be our guiding light, insists ‘Cabrini’ film star

    Source: United Nations MIL OSI b

    By Daniel Johnson

    Migrants and Refugees

    ‘Cabrini’ film lead and Gomorrah star Cristiana Dell’Anna travelled to Geneva on Friday to highlight the age-old dangers confronting migrants – and the astonishing Italian missionary who travelled to New York City’s slums at the turn of the last century, determined to protect them.

    “Being from southern Italy, the migration issue is very close to my heart. Southern Italians have always emigrated throughout history, especially during the Second World War and I have in my family people who have emigrated and I am an emigrant myself,” Ms. Dell’Anna said, ahead of a special screening of her film at the Palace of Nations in the Swiss city.

    Inspired by the true story of Italian nun, Mother Francesca Cabrini, who Pope Leo XIII tasked with helping vulnerable migrants arriving in the United States at the turn of the last century, her gripping account offers an uncomfortable perspective on the discrimination and racism reserved for impoverished and dark-skinned Italian migrants yet to learn English in the already booming city – where Italian street children are denigrated as “monkeys”.

    Painfully accurate

    “It is very accurate – in fact, this one particular shot I’m thinking of, of some children, sitting on just by a little wall – it’s inspired by a picture that was taken during those times,” Ms. Dell’Anna said.

    “So, it is very accurate and everything you see in the movie’s actually happened at some point.”

    Despite serious lifelong sickness and with the help of other Italian nuns and volunteers in the notorious and often dangerous Five Points slum, Mother Cabrini took in orphans, fed, clothed and educated them.

    She was canonized for her work in 1946 – the first US citizen to be made a saint.

    “We’ve forgotten how to be inspired and I just think that Cabrini could very much aid that idea because it’s a true story, it’s a very compelling one,” Ms. Dell’Anna told UN News at the event, co-organized by the UN refugee agency (UNHCR), the Permanent Mission of Italy and the Permanent Observer of the Holy See. 

    “And I just thought that starting a dialogue in that sense and being here, it could be a good starting point to maybe try and ground again certain ideas, or ideals and principles that should be our guidance through our daily life for everyone.”

    Trading places

    She added: “I often ask myself, ‘Where does the migrant stand today in a world where we – it’s easier to trade merchandise and it’s easy for things to travel around the world rather than human beings?’ We should probably reflect on these issues and understand where we place humankind compared to objects.”

    Latest UN estimates indicate that there are at least 281 million international migrants around the world, a number that has increased over the past five decades, with people continuing to move from their homelands driven by poverty, conflict and climate change.

    To accept the divisive and hateful rhetoric that this age-old phenomenon continues to generate is to forget our humanity, Ms. Dell’Anna maintains.

    “I think we should probably learn a lesson from this movie: migrants are not really doing well, especially in southern Italy, in the whole country, I’m afraid to say. The way we treat migrants has changed radically and they’ve become more of a threat rather than an integral part of society.”

    Dignified approach

    Thanks to a painstakingly researched backstory that covers the arc of Mother Cabrini’s life and campaigning work in rural northern Italy to her struggles against authority – and rank hostility in New York, Cabrini “gives us an opportunity – gave me an opportunity – to tell a little bit of what we went through when we were the ones migrating. Now, we are the ones actually denying the right of dignity, which in my opinion, is a universal right and should be recognized as such”, Ms. Dell’Anna explained.

    Asked what Mother Cabrini herself might have made of the film depicting her mission, with its sumptuous and at times soul-destroying cinematography, Ms. Dell’Anna replied confidently: “She would be really pleased that we are telling the story. Not because of her, but because of the other huge main character that is in the story, which is the migrant.

    “She’d be really pleased, because this is a very pertinent and contemporary issue…she was very pragmatic [so] she probably would say something like, ‘Press on.’”

    Soundcloud

    MIL OSI United Nations News –

  • MIL-OSI United Nations: Six bold environmental leaders named 2024 Champions of the Earth

    Source: United Nations MIL OSI b

    Climate and Environment

    Brazil’s first-ever Minister of Indigenous Peoples and an initiative promoting sustainable agriculture in Egypt are among the six recipients of the 2024 Champions of the Earth award, announced by the UN Environment Programme (UNEP) in Nairobi, Kenya, on Tuesday. 

    The laureates were honoured for their outstanding leadership, brave actions and sustainable solutions to tackle land degradation, drought and desertification.

    Protecting people and the planet

    The Champions of the Earth award is the UN’s highest environmental honour and recognizes trailblazers from the public and private sectors, civil society and academia who are at the forefront of efforts to protect both people and the planet.

    It has been presented annually since 2005, with122 laureates to date.

    This year, nominations focused on finding champions who are restoring degraded land, increasing drought resilience and preventing desertification.

    Honouring ‘extraordinary individuals’

    UNEP Executive Director Inger Andersen noted that almost 40 per cent of the world’s land is already degraded.  At the same time, desertification is on the rise and devastating droughts are becoming more regular.

    “The good news is that solutions already exist today, and around the world, extraordinary individuals and organizations are demonstrating that it is possible to defend and heal our planet,” she said.

    “The efforts of the 2024 Champions of the Earth stand tall as a reminder that the fight to protect our land, our rivers and our oceans is a fight we can win. With the right policies, scientific breakthroughs, system reforms, activism, as well as the vital leadership and wisdom of Indigenous Peoples, we can restore our ecosystems.”

    Meet the Champions

    Sonia Guajajara, Brazil’s Minister of Indigenous Peoples, was honoured in the Policy Leadership category.

    Ms. Guajajara has been advocating for Indigenous rights for more than two decades. She became Brazil’s first Minister of Indigenous Peoples and the country’s first female Indigenous minister in 2023. Under her leadership, 10 territories have been recognized as Indigenous land to ward off deforestation, illegal logging, and drug traffickers.

    Amy Bowers Cordalis, an Indigenous rights advocate, received the award in the Inspiration and Action category

    Ms. Cordalis is using her legal expertise and passion for restoration to secure a better future for the Yurok tribe and the Klamath River in the United States. UNEP said her work to restore the river ecosystem and encourage the adoption of sustainable fishing practices demonstrate how bold environmental action can bring significant positive change, while upholding Indigenous Peoples’ rights and livelihoods.

    Gabriel Paun, a Romanian environmental defender, was honoured in the Inspiration and Action category.

    Mr. Paun is the founder of Agent Green, a non-governmental organization (NGO) which has been helping save thousands of hectares of precious biodiversity in the Carpathians since 2009 by exposing the destruction and illegal logging of Europe’s last old growth forest.

    He has received death threats and been physically attacked for his work in documenting deforestation in an area that is vital for the ecosystem and supports unique biodiversity such as endangered lynx and wolves.

    Chinese scientist Lu Qi was honoured in the Science and Innovation category.  He has worked in science and policy sectors for three decades, helping China reverse degradation and shrink its deserts

    As Chief Scientist of the Chinese Academy of Forestry and founding President of the Institute of Great Green Wall, Mr. Lu has played a key role in implementing the world’s largest afforestation project, establishing expert research networks and partnerships, and boosting multilateral cooperation to stem desertification, land degradation and drought.

    Madhav Gadgil, an Indian ecologist was named as the laureate in the Lifetime Achievement category.  He has spent decades protecting people and the planet through research and community engagement.

    “From landmark environmental impact assessments of state and national policies to grassroots environmental engagement, Gadgil’s work has greatly influenced public opinion and official policies on the protection of natural resources.

    “He is renowned for his seminal work in the ecologically fragile Western Ghats region of India, which is a unique global biodiversity hotspot,” said UNEP.

    The SEKEM initiative in Egypt was honoured in the Entrepreneurial Vision category for helping farmers transition to more sustainable agriculture.

    Its promotion of biodynamic agriculture plus afforestation and reforestation work has been transforming large swathes of desert into thriving agricultural business, advancing sustainable development across the country. 

    © World Bank/Andrea Borgarello

    A woman carries a baby and a water container as she walks across arid land in Niger.

    Restoring the world’s ecosystems

    Roughly 3.2 billion people worldwide are currently threatened by desertification, according to UNEP. Additionally, by 2050, more than three-quarters of the world’s population is expected to be affected by droughts. 

    In March 2019, the UN General Assembly adopted a resolution declaring 2021–2030 the UN Decade on Ecosystem Restoration. 

    Led by UNEP and the UN’s Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) and supported by partners, it aims to prevent, halt, and reverse the loss and degradation of ecosystems worldwide to revive billions of hectares of terrestrial and aquatic ecosystems. 

    The announcement of the 2024 Champions of the Earth on 10 December coincides with Human Rights Day and the Resilience Day at the 16th Session of the Conference of the Parties (COP16) of the UN Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD) taking place in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.  

    MIL OSI United Nations News –

  • MIL-OSI United Nations: Unique high-level national coordination on disaster risk reduction in cooperation with international partners drives progress on comprehensive disaster risk management in Panama

    Source: UNISDR Disaster Risk Reduction

    Panama is exposed to a variety of hazards such as earthquakes, tsunamis, epidemics, wildfires, landslides, and urban riverine and coastal floods. Climate-related hazards are increasing in severity due to climate change and are particularly affecting poor and vulnerable populations. In response to these increasing threats, Panama has steadily shifted its focus from a centralized disaster response approach toward more comprehensive and inclusive disaster risk management by integrating disaster risk reduction in its development and planning policies.[1] In support of these national policies, one of the areas of change in the United Nations Sustainable Development Cooperation Framework 2021-2025 for Panama is related to climate change, integrated environmental management and disaster risk reduction.

    The creation of the Cabinet for Integrated Disaster Risk Management/Gabinete de Gestión Integral de Riesgos a Desastres (GIRD) was an important milestone for the integration of climate and disaster risks into national cross-sectoral development strategies/plans in Panama. The President of the Republic of Panama chairs the GIRD, which reflects the importance that integrated disaster risk management is attributed in the country. United Nations organizations in Panama, including UNDRR, UNDP, and the World Bank, provide strategic support to the GIRD, which brings together 14 government ministries, and invited partners. The Technical Secretariat of the GIRD aims to improve the capacity to reduce the loss of life and infrastructure through prevention, risk reduction and preparedness for hazard events, is chaired by the Government Ministry / Ministerio de Gobierno and consists of 3 working groups: Risk Knowledge, Risk Reduction, and Response Management.

    The approval of the National Policy for Comprehensive Disaster Risk Management (PNGIRD) 2022-2030 and the National Strategic Plan for Disaster Risk Management (PENGIRD) 2022-2030 in October 2022 showed tangible progress in the development and implementation of national disaster risk reduction strategies and plans. In 2023, the National Operational Emergency and Disaster Response Plan 2022-2030 was approved, as well as the Post-Disaster Recovery Framework 2022-2030. A stress test of infrastructure resilience was undertaken to define strategic actions to strengthen resilience principles in governance of infrastructure systems and their critical functions. Support by the United Nations organizations has been provided for reconstruction and recovery measures that include elements of disaster preparedness and “build back better”. Through the adoption of policies and the implementation of disaster preparedness initiatives in education centres, Panama is taking steps to ensure that resilience is at the forefront of post-disaster recovery efforts.

    Since the first meeting of the GIRD in February 2022, the UN has successfully provided policy, institutional and programmatic advice to the GIRD, emphasizing the importance of early warning systems in mitigating the impacts of climate-related disasters. In the area of preparedness and anticipatory action, the establishment of the GIRD and the subsequent adoption of the National Strategic Plan for Disaster Risk Management (PENGIRD), as well as initiatives such as the pilot training programme for educators in Herrera and Panamá Oeste show that there is a commitment to improving prevention at the local level.

    Multi-hazard risk analysis has been incorporated into the planning processes for humanitarian aid, development and peacebuilding. The establishment of the GIRD and the development of comprehensive disaster risk management strategies and plans reflect a commitment to mainstreaming risk analysis across governance sectors and ensure that planning efforts take into account the vulnerabilities and challenges posed by climate-related disasters. The GIRD includes the National Secretary of Persons with Disabilities, the National Women’s Institute, as well as the Secretary of Childhood, Youth and Family, and undertakes efforts to boost inclusive disaster risk reduction measures. For example, the GIRD regional multi-hazard exercise in Panama City, included a Gender Observatory, which was supported by UN organizations.

    Through joint efforts, and by working closely with government partners, such as the Ministry of Education (MEDUCA) and Ministry of Social Development (MIDES), the United Nations system has promoted progress in Disaster Risk Reduction. Effective communication and the inclusion of different points of view, especially adapting to the needs and priorities of local communities, were crucial for the recent approval of the National Policy and Strategic Plan for Disaster Risk Management. The United Nations Resident Coordinator plays a crucial role in working together towards a safer and more resilient future by fostering relationships and ensuring that everyone’s views are taken into account.

    The support provided by United Nations organizations has led to significant changes in the short term, particularly in the implementation of comprehensive disaster risk reduction strategies and measures through the GIRD. These changes immediately improve preparedness and response mechanisms and promote resilience to climate-related disasters. In the long term, these efforts help to mitigate the impact of hazard events, such as increasingly unpredictable and extreme climate-related events. By integrating risk-based approaches into national development frameworks, the foundation is laid for sustainable disaster risk reduction practices, reducing climate-related disasters and their socio-economic impacts.

    UN organizations in Panama are committed to continuing to support disaster risk reduction[2] and have made this a priority for 2024, with a focus on 1) promoting greater inter-agency cooperation, streamlining joint efforts to maximize resources, expertise and knowledge sharing; 2) continuing to align initiatives with national priorities and leveraging partnerships with civil society, local authorities, communities and the private sector; 3) investing in innovative technologies such as early warning systems and risk mapping tools that can strengthen preparedness and response capabilities; 4) prioritizing capacity building and knowledge transfer to vulnerable regions to ensure sustainable resilience; 5) emphasizing inter-agency work promoting a more coherent and coordinated approach, which ultimately increases the effectiveness of global efforts to address climate-related challenges.

    [1] World Bank, Global Facility for Disaster Risk Reduction and Recovery (GFDRR) (2023) Results in resilience: Enhancing institutional capacities for a more comprehensive and inclusive DRM in Panama

    [2] In line with the 2021-2025 UN Sustainable Development Cooperation Framework’s Result 3: ‘By 2025, Panama is resilient and has implemented public policies for climate change adaptation and mitigation, land degradation neutrality, biodiversity protection, integrated environmental management, and reduction of disaster and health crisis risks, with a territorial, intercultural, human rights, gender, and lifecycle approach.’

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  • MIL-OSI United Nations: Making Cities Resilient 2030 initiative drives risk reduction and resilience building activities that are aligned with local, national, and regional priorities in Moldova

    Source: UNISDR Disaster Risk Reduction

    Moldova is highly vulnerable to landslides, droughts, extreme temperature and severe weather events and floods, exacerbated by climate change, with droughts posing the greatest risk to communities and the economy. Water scarcity and forest fires are increasingly posing a threat to natural ecosystems, agriculture, and human settlements. Economic losses due to climate-induced disasters have caused economic losses of an estimated US$ 4 million per year, with scenarios indicating that the country could progressively trend towards a more arid environment, with the possibility of intensified droughts and fires.[1] Moldova was affected by 16 major earthquakes within the past 200 years. The area of its capital Chisinau is particular vulnerable to seismic risks due to its location and the structural vulnerability of its older buildings.[2]

    Chisinau municipality has been part of UNDRR’s Making Cities Resilient 2030 initiative aimed at enhancing local resilience through advocacy, knowledge sharing, and city-to-city learning networks since 2021 and is committed to increasing its resilience and readiness for forthcoming challenges, encompassing disaster risk reduction and climate change adaptation. Building on several multi-stakeholder workshops,[3] Chisinau municipality, in February 2023, initiated the development of a Resilience Strategy for the period of 2024-2030, including an action plan for 2024-2027. Over the course of the remainder of the year, local authorities, in collaboration with UNDRR, organized an interactive and participatory process involving diverse stakeholders, including central authorities, civil society, citizens, the private sector, and representatives of international development partners such as the International Organization for Migration, the World Bank, and the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development. These discussions and workshops helped to better understand the needs and of the local community, and to identify priority areas for resilience building: (1) strengthening governance, (2) enhancing critical infrastructure, and (3) fostering societal resilience. Chisinau is offering assistance and policy guidance to other cities and towns, both domestically and internationally. For example, within the framework of Making Cities Resilient 2030, Chisinau has already shared its experiences in resilience-building efforts with cities in Ukraine and Kazakhstan and has engaged in knowledge exchange with Portuguese municipalities.[4] The resilience building activities of Chisinau municipality align not only align with local and national priorities, but also with regional ones as strengthening disaster risk governance is prioritized in the National Implementation Plan of the European Union-Moldova Association Agreement. Since 2023, Moldova has access to the UN-supported INFORM Risk Index, a comprehensive assessment of subnational risk that facilitates the implementation of data-driven strategies for risk reduction, guiding decisions on prevention, preparedness, and response measures effectively.

    Given that early warning 24 hours before an event can reduce the ensuing damage by 30 per cent[5], multi-hazard early warning systems are crucial to reducing losses from hazard events. Such early warnings need to be broadcast through a public alert system that effectively transmits and reaches people with these warnings regarding imminent emergencies and disasters. The United Nations Country team is supporting the establishment by 2027 of an Early Warning System tailored to the requirements of the Moldova Inspectorate for Emergency Situations. For example, ITU undertook a feasibility study on the deployment and implementation of a Cell Broadcast Service solution for sending alert messages in Moldova in 2023.

    In 2023, Moldova implemented legislative reforms and policies to address climate change, with substantial support from UNCT. The adoption of the National Climate Change Adaptation Programme along with its Action Plan signifies a strategic commitment towards sustainable environmental governance, particularly in agriculture, forestry, health, energy, water and transport. Climate resilience was prioritized in the newly adopted National Strategy for Agricultural and Rural Development and the Migration and Asylum Programme.

    UN organizations in Moldova bolstered governance capacity by producing a guidance document on addressing human mobility challenges in the context of climate change, as well as a comprehensive analysis of disaster risk reduction in the agriculture sector, and a study on the role of migration role in climate adaptation in Moldova. Policy makers, statistical data producers, national experts, technical staff from public institutions, and academia representatives in Moldova have enhanced their knowledge and skills for sustainable resource management, energy efficiency, and climate resilience within the agriculture sector through diverse capacity-building activities supported by FAO, IFAD, IOM, UNDP, UNDRR, UNECE, UNESCO, ITU and UNIDO.

    UN expertise in disaster risk reduction and resilience building supported public and private institutions in enhancing energy efficiency and sustainable natural resource management, which resulted in photovoltaic panels of 600 kW capacity installed in five district hospitals. Six Farmer Field Schools promoting climate-smart agriculture enabled more than 700 farmers to apply their skills in sustainable agriculture practices across 5,700 ha of land, resulting in improved soil health and increased productivity. Moldovan farmers now have access to a Community of Climate-Smart Agricultural Practices platform, promoting the adoption of climate-smart technologies and supporting local producers in implementing conservation agriculture.

    Thirty localities improved their public services and social infrastructure and have become more resilient to climate change. Inclusive disaster risk reduction and climate change adaptation measures were advanced. Almost 27,000 persons (including 51% women, and 22% youth) benefited from land restoration efforts across 118 hectares inMoldova, including shelter[6] belts, grassland, and vegetation cover for agricultural purposes, and 30% women participation in bodies promoting land degradation neutrality was ensured. With support of UN organizations, 32 communities developed shelter belt management plans and five community-based action plans for climate change adaptation, promising increased resilience against extreme weather, improved environmental sustainability, enhanced agricultural productivity, and community engagement. The inclusive development of these plans engaged local public authorities, land users, and landowners.

    [1] United Nations Moldova (2021) Common Country Analysis Republic of Moldova

    [2] The last assessment of residential building conditions in was conducted in 2005, revealing that approximately 83% of the 25,000 examined buildings exhibited significant wear and tear. From: UNDRR (2024) Chisinau Municipality leads resilience efforts in Moldova

    [3] Local authorities utilised the Preliminary and Detailed Disaster Resilience Scorecard assessments, along with the Public Health System Resilience assessment scorecard for these multi-stakeholder workshops.

    [4] UNDRR (2024) Chisinau Municipality leads resilience efforts in Moldova

    [5] UNDRR (undated website) Early Warnings for All Initiative

    [6] shelter belt: a line of trees or shrubs planted to protect an area, especially a field of crops, from fierce weather.

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  • MIL-OSI United Nations: Disaster losses and damages data

    Source: UNISDR Disaster Risk Reduction

    Reviewing existing applications and use cases

    Data on disaster losses and damages is an essential basis for preparedness, effective response, recovery and reconstruction, the quantification and economic valuation of losses and damages, for understanding root causes and shifts in exposure and vulnerability, and to assess the risk of cascading events and impacts across multiple hazards.

    Not all countries, however, collect and use disaster data systematically and there are major disparities across countries regarding methods, coverage and system governance, creating barriers to effective risk management.

    The United Nations Office for Disaster Risk Reduction (UNDRR), United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) and World Meteorological Organization (WMO) are jointly addressing this gap and developing an enhanced disaster tracking system for hazardous events and related losses and damages aimed at national users interested in upgrading and institutionalizing national disaster tracking systems.

    The report and life repository of case studies below explore current data applications and ways that stronger data collection and management could support better decision-making and informed action.

    Application areas for disaster losses and damages data

    1. Understanding risks

    While still a comparatively young science, hazard modelling has accelerated dramatically in recent years, in terms of the number of models developed, research budgets and expertise, granularity, quality and coverage. Impact information, vulnerability models and integrated assessments have not followed. As a result, the different drivers of vulnerability and, therefore, of underlying risk, remain hidden in plain sight.

    Disaster losses and damages data can make such drivers and hidden vulnerabilities visible. In addition, where solid foundations of exposure, vulnerability and capacity baseline data exist, they provide critical information on the cost of loss, i.e. the ratio of loss compared to total exposure. Disaster data must be collected consistently and over time for them to provide evidence of trends and inform longer-term planning. The importance of baseline information on exposure and vulnerability for risk modelling cannot be underestimated. While high quality is desirable, even modest improvements in increasing coverage, consistency and frequency of updating can go a long way. Combined with disaster losses and damages data information on pre-existing vulnerabilities becomes a powerful contribution to risk modelling and analysis.

    Case study: Understanding multidimensional vulnerability in Sri Lanka: combining disaster losses and damages data with national survey data

    In Sri Lanka, data collected as part of national citizen surveys provide a clear picture of the multiple dimensions of vulnerability and could directly inform hotspot, vulnerability and risk analysis (UNDP, Oxford Poverty and Human Development Initiative [OPHI] and Government of Sri Lanka, 2023 (c)). Analysed through the lens of the Multidimensional Vulnerability Index (MDVI) (UNDP, 2023 (a)), data from the surveys clearly highlight pre-existing vulnerabilities

    Combined with long-term records on the impact of disasters from their Desinventar-based national disaster losses and damages database, a disaggregated analysis makes apparent differences on vulnerability dimensions and their drivers providing useful insights for more in depth risk analysis.

    Recommendations to enhance the usability of disaster losses and damages data for risk analysis and modeling

    Disaster losses and damages data can provide a “real time” window on ongoing risk accumulation identifying new risk patterns and trends that should feedback into recalibrated risk information. Disaster data can illustrate changing patterns and trends that can be interpreted through qualitative analysis of the underlying risk drivers to explain the changes. Historical disaster data cannot replace risk analysis but can provide additional or substitute information to improve risk modelling for both short-term forecasting and longer-term climate impact assessments. Historic data is particularly useful for capturing frequently occurring, localized and small-scale events, such as local landslides or flash floods – often called extensive disaster events – where global risk models have limitations.

    Risk assessments are only useful if they are communicated in a manner that is meaningful to decision makers. While historical losses alone are not a good guide to the future, presenting data on actual (realized) losses and damages alongside more complex risk analysis can help in communicating risk effectively. Data on disaster losses and damage can contribute to improved modelling of existing as well as emerging or newly accelerating risks. To improve its usability, it is recommended to:

    • Strengthen disaggregated data collection and analysis both in terms of hazard type, geography, and sectoral impacts, as well as in regard to data sex, age, disability status, income levels, and other dimensions of differentiated exposure and vulnerability.
    • Enable georeferenced impact data collection to support the development of more accurate and replicable risk models.

    2. Preparedness, early warning and early action

    Hazardous event and disaster losses and damages data is critical in the design, development and monitoring of early warning systems and early action. By informing key components of multi hazard early warning systems (MHEWS) – as proposed in 1997 and later adopted by WMO, the United Nations and national governments – these systems and related anticipatory and early action can become impact-based.

    Case study: Impact-based forecasting for anticipatory action to typhoons in the Philippines

    To reduce the humanitarian impact of TC, both the Philippines Red Cross and United Nations OCHA Philippines have designed an agency-specific protocol, respectively in 2019 and 2021, which can be used to trigger early actions and release funding based on an impact-based forecasting model. Building on the Netherlands Red Cross 510 model, early actions (such as distributing house-strengthening kits) are pre-identified and triggered when the impact-based forecasting model indicates a pre-defined danger level is exceeded (with a lead time of 120 to 72 hours before landfall). The machine learning model consists of a classification and regression component and is trained on over 60 historical events.

    Recommendations to enhance the usability of disaster losses and damages data for preparedness, early warning and early action

    • Record losses and damages recorded along with the associated characteristics of the hazardous event (physical phenomena) to be able to link impacts to vulnerability, exposure and specific hazard intensity, characteristics and cascading events.
    • Enhance spatial resolution of damage records to enable training of machine learning models that could enhance resolution of predictions and allow impact-based forecasting model to achieve a higher performance.
    • Collect sector, geographic and population groups disaggregated impact information to be able to understand common disruptions to livelihood systems and services associated with recurrent hazards and to device and monitor effectiveness of early/ anticipatory actions.

    3. Disaster risk reduction financing

    Disaster losses and damages data are the backbone of any financing strategy and plan for preparedness, response, recovery or risk reduction. Without knowing what has been lost in the past and what is at stake in the present and future, the case for investment in risk management and even for contingency planning remains weak (UNDRR, 2013). National ministries of finance, regional financing institutions and multilateral development banks, as well as private-sector finance and insurance companies, all require data to underpin budgets, financing plans and funding proposals for priority sectors or systems

    Strategies for disaster risk reduction financing can look very different, depending on scale, risk context and financing sources. However, as states are insurers of last resort in disasters, it is increasingly important that they have ownership of the data that informs disaster financing strategies and lead the development of financing instruments, including insurance (Radu, 2022).

    Insurance mechanisms

    Methods from the insurance sector have been replicated across the public sector, from modelling approaches to estimations of disaster losses. A critical gap that both the private and public sectors face in developing financing strategies for disaster risk management, however, is the question of indirect and downstream costs, for example in the form of business disruption, cascading costs from power outages or disruption in water supply, etc.

    Case study: Using disaster data to calibrate parametric insurance in Manizales, Colombia.

    In Manizales, Colombia a disaster database registered a total of 1,149 local landslides, between March 2003 and August 2021. These events were classified according to the severity of their impacts on a D-Index using a scale from 1 – 10. A parameter called C5Max, was then established for a critical level of rainfall over 5 days, captured in selected meteorological stations, that could trigger landslides. The level of critical rainfall could then be associated with the severity of landslide impact. This enabled the prediction of expected landslide impacts once a given rainfall threshold was surpassed. In Manizales this was used for the development and calibration of a parametric insurance scheme to cover emergency response. However, the same approach could also be used in impact-based early warning.

    DRR Financing strategies

    Whereas the insurance industry usually employs fully developed risk estimation methods, including actuarial data from past disaster impact assessments, many public-sector institutions lack the resources and experience to undertake analysis based on systematic assessments of past events (UNDRR, 2023 (b)).

    As a result, many national disaster risk reduction financing strategies and risk management budgets rely on a weak evidence base and only a few use disaster loss data collected in the past as a critical input into their assessments (Radu, 2022; UNDRR, 2015; Climate Adapt, n.d.). Instead, estimates of financing needs often use financing commitments or humanitarian spending in previous disasters, rather than records of actual losses.

    Case study: Sri Lanka – disaster losses and damages data to identify financing needs in the agriculture sector

    In Sri Lanka, analysis of historical disaster losses in the infrastructure sector helped identify risk and potential financing gaps in the irrigation sector (see Figure 13a). The calculation of these historical costs provides the basis for modelled estimates of costs associated with damage from future disasters and the potential financing gap the Government of Sri Lanka may face (see Figure 13b).

    Recommendations to enhance applicability of disaster losses and damages data for disaster risk reduction financing

    • Improve the collection of sector-specific asset and service system (e.g. water distribution or electricity generation) disaggregated and georeferenced data to enhance the understanding on how specific parameters of hazardous events (e.g. water level, flow speeds, stagnation time) cause damage and dysfunction to different structures to better enable sector-specific catastrophic insurance products
    •  Ensure losses and damages data is recorded in a way that private vs public sector effects are accounted separately, understanding which losses are incurred by individuals, households and private sector versus those borne by public sector will be particularly helpful when devising risk reduction financing strategies for productive and infrastructure sectors.

    Disaggregated historical damage data solid baseline data on sector exposure, i.e. inventories of assets and production processes beyond the basic exposure data on buildings and people would enhance the evidence base to develop catastrophic insurance products.

    4. Risk-informed planning and development

    Disaster losses and damages data that is of good quality, geographical and temporal coverage, and consistency of metrics and indicators, can inform and enhance local assessments for sector-specific preparedness, response and recovery planning and beyond, risk-informed development and sector planning. Particularly relevant sectors in this regard are health and education, urban planning (including building and zoning regulations), agriculture and natural resources management, and basic infrastructure and services (transport, energy, waste, and drinking water).

    High-quality disaster losses and damages data with good geographical and temporal coverage and consistent metrics and indicators, can inform and enhance local assessments for sector-specific preparedness, response and recovery planning, as well as risk-informed development and sector planning.

    Case study: Planning resilient roads in Cambodia

    The Government of Cambodia has recognized that the transportation sector, vital for the country’s economic development, is regularly and severely affected by disaster impacts. Road damage and destruction from disasters is systematically collected and recorded and stored in the Cambodia Disaster Loss and Damage Information System (CamDi), national database managed by the National Committee on Disaster Management (NCDM). Baseline data is collected with details on all roads and related infrastructure and recorded together with disaster loss data, allowing for lost cost assessments, seasonal analysis, and analysis by region or specific location and by road or infrastructure type.

    Recommendations to enhance the usability of disaster losses and damages for risk-informed development

    • Sector and geographic disaggregated data recording and management would further enable the application of disaster losses and damages data for risk-informed policies, plans, budgets and actions
    • Consistent and institutionalized tracking of losses and damages with engagement of whole-of-government entities and following agreed definitions, metrics and standard would enable creating relevant time series of historic impact data required for enhancing relevance and applicability of data for risk-informed planning.
    • Application of disaster losses and damages data for risk-informed planning at multiple levels should be complemented by monitoring and evaluation frameworks and mechanisms that utilize same data elements to measure progress against targets and milestones.

    5. Reporting, benchmarking and progress monitoring

    Monitoring progress on resilience building

    Progress on climate change adaptation and action on losses and damages can be efficiently monitored, among other things, by maintaining consistent and granular impact records. Reducing losses and damage from hazardous events over time is the ultimate measurement of progress and the Sendai Framework specifies several indicators that all require disaster losses and damages quantification. Similarly, reporting against the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) requires disaster-related data, as 25 targets relate directly to disaster risk and to reducing the negative impacts of disasters).  The ongoing development of indicators to monitor the Global Goal on Adaptation targets contained in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) Framework for Global Climate Resilience will also benefit from the enhanced disaster tracking system, enabling monitoring of the reduction in losses and increase in resilience across several sectors (United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change [UNFCCC], 2023 (a)). Other national frameworks and processes, such as for Nationally Determined Contributions and National Adaptation Plans or Biennial Transparency Reports, can also draw on the enhanced tracking system to strengthen coherence in reporting (UNFCCC, n.d. (a); UNEP, n.d.; UNFCCC, n.d. (b)).

    Recommendations to enhance usability of disaster losses and damages data for monitoring, reporting and benchmarking progress.

    • Utilize globally agreed definitions and standards, such as the hazard classification and information profiles to organize database and tracking systems to further enable cross-cutting and regional benchmarking.
    View more case studies

    Related and further reading

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  • MIL-OSI United Nations: Ten actions to combat extreme heat

    Source: UNISDR Disaster Risk Reduction

    We need bold solutions to extreme heat – now. We are not going to be able to air-condition our way out of this.

    In July, UN Secretary-General Guterres issued a global call to action on extreme heat which was widely welcomed, and during the recent G20 Ministerial Meeting on Disaster Risk Reduction in Belém, Brazil, the Government of Brazil and UNDRR hosted a ministerial event to unpack it further.

    The extreme heat problem is enormous and requires transformational actions. We need an integrated short, medium and long-term approach to tackling mounting extreme heat disaster risks. At the Belém meeting, I laid out a ten-point DRR action plan for the consideration of G20 in response to the Secretary-General’s call:

    1. Establish heat thresholds: We need to establish location and sector-specific heat thresholds that take temperature, humidity, wind, diurnal variation and persistence into account. These must use the evidence generated by research bringing together meteorology, human and animal health, engineering, and economic sectors. When the Indian city of Ahmedabad applied this approach in 2010-11 it paid rich dividends, showing significant reductions of heat-related deaths.
    2. Develop and practice Heat Action Plans: Many countries have recently developed Heat Action Plans or Strategies. Such approaches are being explored by a number of countries, such as the US National Integrated Heat Health Information System, which brings together all government agencies to guide collective planning, education and action. Heat Action Plans must be localized and above all they must be practiced. Just as we do simulations for cyclones and earthquakes (such as mock drills and table-top exercise), we must run exercises for conditions of extreme heat. Germany, for example, is already planning a table-top simulation for extreme heat for 2025.
    3. Strengthen social protection systems: Extreme heat has immediate and debilitating impacts on those who have the least capacity to absorb any disruption. For example, activating a Heat Action Plan may reduce working hours or completely stop work on construction sites, and so disrupt the subsistence livelihood of the poorest daily-wage workers. We need innovative mechanisms in place to protect such groups. The Mahila Housing Trust in India, for example, launched parametric climate risk insurance for women working in the informal sector. We need to learn from and expand such initiatives.
    4. Heat-responsive building regulations: Building regulations – in the Global North as well as in the Global South – seldom account for extreme heat. We should revise building regulations to take more intense, more frequent extreme heat into account. This could incorporate both passive cooling solutions (appropriate design, orientation, roof and wall materials, and openings) as well as smarter active technology-based cooling solutions.
    5. Enhance the use of nature-based solutions: Natural facilities – green cover, water bodies – provide protection against extreme heat. Where possible, we must proactively incorporate nature-based solutions in development and urban design. Increasing tree cover in urban neighborhoods can improve the microclimate significantly and provide protection against extreme heat. A growing body of research shows that these measures can offer significant benefits beyond extreme heat and urban spaces – reducing risks from other hazards, increasing biodiversity and environmental resources, and improving quality of life
    6. Encourage market-based interventions to stimulate investment in heat resilient building and infrastructure technologies: We need to transform our built environment at scale. For example, to combat extreme heat in low-income settlements, we need cool-roof technologies over millions of square metres. However, the market hasn’t yet responded to such a need. We must find ways to stimulate a market for cool roofing: Governments could provide advance market commitments to encourage innovators and investors (for example, by advance purchases of roofing for low-income settlements).
    7. Go back to vernacular architecture for inspiration: Traditional building designs in historically hot regions can teach us a lot. But many of these practices are being lost to modernization. We must document these traditional building systems, revive, adapt and adopt these for present conditions. This could prompt a transformation of our built environment, particularly in rural settlements. In West Africa, the ‘Association la Voûte Nubienne‘ is doing precisely this with the ancient ‘Nubian vault’ building design, offering financial and practical assistance to locals to replace hot tin roofs with traditional cool designs.
    8. Recognize the connection between urban morphology and extreme heat: We need to adequately recognize the connection between extreme heat and how cities are laid out. Urban planners and climatologists need to join forces in planning heat-resilient towns and cities. We need to support the emerging discipline of urban meteorology.
    9. Exploit emerging technologies to combat extreme heat: Space based systems, sensor technologies, and AI offer exciting opportunities to understand patterns of extreme heat in real time. We can use these tools to identify distress signals, trigger early actions, and mobilize immediate public health response to protect people. SEEDS and Microsoft, for example, have been applying AI for targeted humanitarian action in India. These emerging technologies can also offer insights for heat-responsive architectural and urban design.
    10. Develop an ecosystem of vulnerability studies: While the impact of extreme heat on human health and other bio-physical systems – agriculture, animal husbandry – has been studied at length, we need to go further to examine how extreme heat affects other economic, social, ecological and infrastructure systems. This requires a vibrant research ecosystem that both broadens and deepens our understanding of risks associated with extreme heat.

    The Secretary-General’s Call to Action on extreme heat is timely and urgent. This plan to reduce the disaster risks associated with extreme heat is just part of a wider, global and ambitious response, requiring coordinated action across sectors and nations. But it is undeniable that we can’t waste a moment in making sure that everyone, everywhere, is protected from the impacts of intensifying extreme heat.

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  • MIL-OSI United Nations: UNDRR Arab States unveil key findings of the Regional Assessment Report on Disaster Risk Reduction 2024

    Source: UNISDR Disaster Risk Reduction

    Kuwait City, 12 February 2025 – The United Nations Office for Disaster Risk Reduction – Regional Office for Arab States (UNDRR ROAS) launched the key findings of the 2024 Regional Assessment Report (RAR) on Disaster Risk Reduction in the Arab Region during the Sixth Arab Regional Platform for DRR, convening policymakers, experts, and stakeholders to address the region’s evolving risk landscape.

    The RAR Arab States 2024 presents a comprehensive analysis of disaster risk in the Arab region, highlighting systemic risks driven by climate change, urbanization, water scarcity, and socio-economic vulnerabilities. The report underscores the interconnected nature of these risks and calls for urgent action to strengthen governance, enhance early warning systems, and invest in resilience-building measures.

    The findings reveal that the Arab region is increasingly exposed to climate-related risks, with prolonged droughts, heatwaves, and devastating floods becoming more frequent. Governance gaps continue to hinder effective disaster risk management, limiting the ability of institutions to coordinate responses and implement long-term strategies. The consequences of these vulnerabilities extend beyond environmental concerns; droughts, for example, act as a major threat multiplier, exacerbating conflicts over scarce water resources and intensifying socio-economic disparities. Climate change is also reshaping human mobility patterns, forcing displacement as communities struggle with extreme weather, resource shortages, and environmental degradation. Furthermore, the health impacts of climate change in the Arab region are becoming increasingly evident, with rising cases of heat-related illnesses, vector-borne diseases, and growing concerns over food security.

    The Arab region has made progress in disaster risk reduction since adopting the Sendai Framework in 2015, yet significant gaps remain in risk governance, preparedness, and investment. Strengthening institutional frameworks, scaling up DRR financing, and promoting climate resilience, gender-responsive policies, and inclusive governance are essential to accelerating progress

    Escalating Risks and Urgent Challenges

    The report conveys an urgent message: tackling systemic risks requires a paradigm shift. Policymakers must transition from reactive disaster response to a proactive approach centered on risk governance and climate adaptation. Strengthening early warning systems and anticipatory action mechanisms is crucial to mitigating the devastating effects of extreme weather events. Water scarcity, another pressing challenge, demands integrated management strategies to curb its cascading impact on food security, migration, and regional stability.

    The RAR 2024 underscores the importance of inclusivity in disaster risk reduction. Gender-responsive policies must be at the heart of DRR strategies to ensure that women, persons with disabilities, and marginalized communities are not disproportionately affected by disasters. At the same time, investment in local and national resilience-building initiatives is vital to fortifying the region’s ability to cope with future risks and uncertainties.

    The findings of the RAR 2024 paint a stark picture of the Arab region’s risk landscape – one where climate change, resource scarcity, and weak institutional capacities converge to create cascading and compounding threats. Without urgent action, the region may face systemic failures that jeopardize its stability, development, and the well-being of its people. However, the report also provides a pathway forward. By strengthening governance through transparency, accountability, and inclusivity, and by adopting innovative, multi-hazard approaches to risk management, the region can turn the tide. Investments in data-driven decision-making, predictive analytics, and cutting-edge technologies such as artificial intelligence will be crucial in navigating the uncertainties ahead. Multi-sectoral cooperation and increased financing for resilience will be essential in ensuring these efforts are effective and sustainable. 

    The recommendations outlined in this report serve as a strategic roadmap for policymakers, urging them to address the root causes of vulnerability and build resilience that is both proactive and sustainable. The future of the Arab region depends on the decisive actions taken today.

    The full Regional Assessment Report 2024 will be available on the UNDRR website soon, providing an in-depth exploration of the findings, key messages, and recommendations for strengthening disaster risk reduction in the Arab region.

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  • MIL-OSI United Nations: Tracking funding for life-saving early warning systems

    Source: UNISDR Disaster Risk Reduction

    UNDRR and WMO launch the Global Observatory for Early Warning System Investments.

    Early warning systems (EWS) are proven lifesavers in the event of disasters – and with the climate crisis driving up the frequency and intensity of extreme weather events, we urgently need global EWS coverage.

    The Early Warnings for All (EW4All) initiative has been gathering pace since its launch by Secretary-General António Guterres in 2022, but with so many significant partners investing in this important area outside the scope of the initiative, there is a need for a big-picture view that can identify gaps and synergies, and improve efficiencies.

    To address the challenge of fragmented financing for these vital systems, the United Nations Office for Disaster Risk Reduction (UNDRR) and the World Meteorological Organization (WMO) launched the Global Observatory for Early Warning System Investments to systematically tag and track such investments.

    The Observatory platform, launched in December 2024, addresses a critical need identified by the Early Warnings for All (EW4All) Advisory Panel for comprehensive understanding of EWS financing. The Observatory provides an overview of current funding flows from 9 key financing institutions, helping stakeholders identify gaps, avoid duplication, and ensure that resources reach communities most at risk.

    This platform will empower governments, financial institutions, inter-governmental organizations, and civil society entities to identify funding gaps and make informed resource decisions, supporting the UN Secretary-General’s push for global coverage by early warning systems by 2027.

    Key Findings

    Key features of the Observatory include:

    • Disaggregated tracking and tagging of EWS-related investments across regions and sectors
    • Identification of funding gaps and potential areas for collaboration
    • AI-assisted analysis for improved investment tracking and visualization.

    Initial findings from the Observatory reveal important insights about current EWS financing:

    • 54% of the EWS funding reported national projects is concentrated in five countries
    • 75% of reported financing is reported through loans and credits, and 25% in grants
    • Significant funding gaps exist, particularly in Small Island Developing States (SIDS), Least Developed Countries (LDCs), and Land-Locked Developing Countries (LLDCs)

    Looking Ahead

    The Observatory will focus on deepening collaboration with international finance institutions and leveraging artificial intelligence to enhance its analytical capabilities. This development will enable more precise categorization of EWS funding and support evidence-based decision-making for future investments.

    Explore the Global Observatory for EWS Investments

    About the Project

    The Global Observatory for Early Warning System Investments is designed to share information about funding from multilateral development banks and climate funds supporting early warning systems (EWS).

    The platform aims to build coherence, alignment, and increased leveraging of EWS funding while providing critical understanding of funding gaps. This initiative directly supports the UN Secretary-General’s Early Warnings for All Initiative, which calls for every person on Earth to be protected by early warning systems by 2027.

    MIL OSI United Nations News –

  • MIL-OSI United Nations: Disaster Risk Reduction Financing Training Modules

    Source: UNISDR Disaster Risk Reduction

    The UNDRR training series on How to Design National Financing Frameworks for Disaster Risk Reduction (DRR) will build capacity and increase awareness on how to develop national financing frameworks that foster investments in DRR. The training modules are designed to help increase understanding of how to mobilize financing for DRR from different sources (i.e., public, private, and international) and perform investment gap analyses. This training series is designed using UNDRR’s financing approach for DRR that has been collaboratively developed with experts and government partners.

    Module 1: Five steps to disaster risk reduction financing  

    In this module, you will be introduced to UNDRR’s five-step approach to developing national financing frameworks. This comprehensive approach supports countries in assessing and developing financing solutions for disaster risk reduction that are suited to their local context and take into consideration public, private and international financing sources and mechanisms.

    Module 2: Understanding the Financial Impact of Disasters

    In this module, you will learn how to estimate both direct and indirect costs of disasters in a country using existing methodologies and tools to build the case for disaster risk reduction  investments.

    Module 3: Analyzing the Current Financial Landscape.

    In this module, you will learn how to assess existing flows of disaster risk reduction  financing from public, private, and international sources by budget tagging and tracking disaster risk reduction  and climate adaptation expenditures and conducting a financial landscape survey.

    Further reading

    Forecast-based financing

    An innovative approach to release funds for disaster preparedness and response according to predefined triggers before a crisis occurs.

    Business case for DRR

    These resources explore the economic, social and environmental dividends of investing in disaster risk reduction.

    MIL OSI United Nations News –

  • MIL-OSI United Nations: Demand-driven cooperation helps build resilience to disaster- and climate-related impacts in Asia and the Pacific

    Source: UNISDR Disaster Risk Reduction

    In 2022 alone, over 7,500 people died due to more than 140 disasters, which affected 64 million people in Asia and the Pacific.[1] In the same year, there were 22.6 million internal displacements as a result of disasters in the Asia-Pacific region, more than 70 percent of the global total. Climate change is projected to increase these trends as extreme weather events become more frequent and intense, compounded by rapid and unplanned urbanisation, population growth, poverty, conflict, and environmental degradation, which also heighten the needs of those affected. Disaster risk reduction and prevention are key to mitigating the impact that displacement will have on affected populations. Measures to help disaster displaced people achieve durable solutions should be also integrated in recovery, rehabilitation and reconstruction plans, recognising them as a disproportionally affected group with specific needs that may face challenges in accessing services and the benefits of development and reconstruction programmes.[2]

    The Issue-Based Coalition on Building Resilience (chaired by UNDP and UNDRR) serves as a platform for UN agencies to work together in four workstreams[3] to accelerate action on disaster risk reduction, climate change adaptation and resilience in the Asia-Pacific region. Driven by demand in the region, the working group on disaster- and climate-related displacement organised a workshop on preventing, managing and finding solutions to disaster- and climate-induced displacement in December 2023, bringing together representatives from twelve countries across the region for a peer-to-peer exchange. Government representatives presented effective practices for preventing, responding to and solving disaster displacement sustainably in sessions that were organised by the United Nations Office for Disaster Risk Reduction (UNDRR), and International Organization for Migration (IOM), in collaboration with United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC), Internal Displacement Monitoring Centre (IDMC), International Council of Voluntary Agencies (ICVA), the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) Asia-Pacific Regional Centre, the UN Development Coordination Office (DCO) and the Asian Development Bank. The workshop served as a platform to strengthen collective efforts in finding innovative solutions and promoting resilience, as well as to focus future efforts of the disaster-and climate-related displacement working group. A community of practice for national technical focal points has been established to foster ongoing collaboration and knowledge exchange going forward.

    In 2023, the Issue-Based Coalition (IBC) achieved significant milestones through demand-driven cooperation based on peer-to-peer exchange facilitated by the UN system and partners providing technical knowledge and support. This approach underpinned the progress in advancing the Early Warning for All (EW4all) initiative, marked by the endorsement of the regional strategy and collaboration with UN Resident Coordinators (RCs) and Country Teams (UNCTs) to translate the global initiative into national actions. National consultations in countries like the Maldives, Lao PDR, Nepal, Cambodia, and Bangladesh, as well as the Pacific sub-region, have laid the foundation for implementing the EW4all Initiative. Notably, the Maldives and Lao PDR have made significant strides in designing their national roadmaps through government leadership and collaboration with the UN system and partners. Additionally, the IBC’s efforts addressed displacement challenges and disseminated knowledge on building disaster- and climate-resilient health systems and the state of the climate.

    For 2024 the Issue-Based Coalition on Building Resilience intends to continue working with Resident Coordinators and Country Teams to support governments in implementing their plans, ensuring the necessary regional assistance is identified, including for displacement, loss and damage, the successful implementation of the Early Warnings for All Initiative, and by providing state-of-the-art risk analytics on the ESCAP Risk and Resilience Portal.

    [1] UN-ESCAP, Asia-Pacific Disaster Report 2023

    [2] The United Nations Secretary-General’s Action Agenda on Internal Displacement focuses on three key areas: prevention, response, and solutions. Similarly, the Early Warning for All Initiatives aims to embed strong early warning systems in all countries by 2027 to ensure that all people are protected from disasters.

    [3] Four workstreams of the IBC on Building Resilience: 1) integration of health emergencies in DRR, 2) disaster and climate risk analysis, 3) resilient recovery and 4) disaster and climate-related displacement.

    MIL OSI United Nations News –

  • MIL-OSI United Nations: Visionary leadership for comprehensive risk management is supporting resilience building in Bangladesh

    Source: UNISDR Disaster Risk Reduction

    Bangladesh is exposed to a range of natural hazards including tropical cyclones, monsoon and flash floods, storm surges, landslides, extreme temperature events, and droughts, which are exacerbated by climate change, as well as earthquakes. In 2023 alone, Bangladesh witnessed a surge in natural hazards and extreme weather events, including three cyclones affecting around 2.5 million people, and flash floods and landslides triggered by heavy monsoon rains affecting over 1.3 million people.[1] While investments in disaster preparedness and response have been prioritized, the wide-reaching impacts of climate change and disasters threaten to exacerbate social, political, and economic vulnerabilities. Reducing existing risk and preventing the creation of new risk is therefore a priority for sustainable development, as reflected in priority 3 ‘sustainable, healthy and resilient environment’ of the United Nations Sustainable Development Cooperation Framework for 2022 to 2026. The work of the United Nations in Bangladesh has a strong focus on anticipatory interventions at the nexus of development and humanitarian programming to sustainably build resilience and address the underlying causes of vulnerability, while reinforcing national systems and capacities.

    Under the leadership of the Resident Coordinator, the United Nations organizations take a comprehensive risk management approach to disaster risk reduction, climate change adaptation, and ecosystem health management, supporting the government and key non-state actors to coordinate and implement innovative, whole-of-society and gender-responsive initiatives, and build institutional capacity to improve ecosystem health and to better manage dynamic risks. The United Nations Resident Coordinator co-chairs, jointly with the Ministry of Disaster Management and Relief, the Humanitarian Coordination Task Team (HCTT), an effective coordination mechanism between government agencies and international partners, comprising the humanitarian clusters, aligning emergency responses with national disaster risk management strategies. In its co-chair role, the Resident Coordinator is supported by the Humanitarian Advisory Group that is composed of UN humanitarian agencies, donors, international and national NGOs (including women-led organizations and organizations of persons with disabilities), and deliberates on disaster risk reduction, preparedness and response across the humanitarian-development-peace nexus. The effective leadership for and coordination of a comprehensive risk management approach, including through the establishment and strengthening of area-based initiatives and district-level coordination structures, has yielded a lot of progress on disaster risk reduction and resilience building through comprehensive technical support.

    In 2023, having accumulated valuable experience in anticipatory action, particularly regarding monsoonal river floods, the Anticipatory Action framework for floods was extended to two more river basins, a common beneficiary database was established covering 200,000 vulnerable households in 15 climate hotspots, and additional funding sources were joined to the pre-agreed UN Central Emergency Response Fund (CERF) to the anticipatory action framework that comprises actions by FAO, UNFPA, UNICEF, WFP, Bangladesh Red Crescent Society, and Save the Children. A second UN Central Emergency Response Fund (CERF) Anticipatory Action Framework was approved in November 2023 for cyclones. This makes Bangladesh a pioneer with a multi-hazard trigger for both floods and cyclones. Ahead of Cyclone Mocha and related flash floods, 45,000 individuals received anticipatory cash support, mitigating the impact of the event.

    A Disaster Risk Reduction Financing Strategy (DRRFS) for Bangladesh was developed, led by the Ministry of Finance and supported by the UN system, with UNDRR as the technical lead who developed the model and drafted the strategy in consultation with relevant government ministries and International Financial Institutions (IMF, World Bank, ADB), and the United Nations Resident Coordinator’s Office providing critical coordination support. The strategy aims to ensure the determining and distribution of limited financial resources in a way that strengthens economic, social, health, and environmental resilience before a hazard event.

    The UN Resident Coordinator’s Office facilitated coordination with the Government, UN and other humanitarian entities to implement UN Early Warning for All (EW4ALL) initiatives, including organizing a national consultative workshop to develop a EW4ALL roadmap in November 2023. Also, the Resident Coordinator’s Office has supported the Ministry of Disaster Management and Relief in developing the first sub-national earthquake risk assessment in Bangladesh, in collaboration with UNDRR and the Global Earthquake Model (GEM) Foundation.

    [1] United Nations in Bangladesh, 23 April 2024, https://bangladesh.un.org/en/266779-government-and-humanitarian-partners-recommit

    MIL OSI United Nations News –

  • MIL-OSI United Nations: What’s desertification? Experts hopeful devastating trend can be reversed

    Source: United Nations MIL OSI b

    Climate and Environment

    An area the size of Egypt, around 100 million hectares, of healthy and productive land is being degraded each year due to drought and desertification, which is being driven mainly by climate change and poor land management. 

    On 2 December, countries from around the world will meet in Riyadh under the auspices of the UN Convention to Combat Desertification, (UNCCD) to discuss how to turn the corner from degradation to regeneration.

    Here are five things you need to know about desertification and why the world needs to stop treating the planet like dirt to protect the productive land which supports life on Earth.

    No life without land

    It is perhaps to state the obvious, but without healthy land there can be no life. It feeds, clothes and shelters humanity.

    © UNEP/Florian Fussstetter

    A member of an indigenous group in the Amazon, in Brazil, works to reforest the land.

    It provides jobs, sustains livelihoods and is the bedrock of local, national and global economies. It helps to regulate climate and is essential for biodiversity.

    Despite its importance to life as we know it, up to 40 per cent of the world’s land is degraded, affecting around 3.2 billion people; that’s almost half of the global population.

    From deforested mountains in Haiti, to the gradual disappearance of Lake Chad in the Sahel and the drying up of productive lands in Georgia in eastern Europe, land degradation affects all parts of the world.

    It is not an exaggeration to say our very future is at stake if our land does not stay healthy.

    Degraded land

    Desertification, the process by which land is degraded in typically dry areas, results from various factors, including climatic variations and human activities, such as over-farming or deforestation.

    100 million hectares (or one million square kilometres), that’s the size of a country like Egypt, of healthy and productive land is lost each year.

    The soils on these lands which can take hundreds of years to form are being depleted, often by extreme weather.

    Droughts are hitting harder and more often, three out of four people in the world are projected to face water scarcity by 2050.

    Temperatures are increasing due to climate change further driving extreme weather events, including droughts and floods, adding to the challenge of keeping land productive.

    Land loss and climate

    There is clear evidence that land degradation is interconnected with broader environmental challenges like climate change.

    © World Bank/Andrea Borgarello

    A man looks across a desert in Mauritania.

    Land ecosystems absorb one-third of human CO2 emissions, the gas that is driving climate change. However, poor land management threatens this critical capacity, further compromising efforts to slow down the release of these harmful gasses.

    Deforestation, which contributes to desertification, is on the rise, with only 60 per cent of the world’s forests still intact, falling below what the UN calls the “safe target of 75 per cent.”

    What needs to be done? – the ‘moonshot moment’

    The good news is that humankind has the knowhow and power to bring land back to life, turning degradation into restoration.

    Robust economies and resilient communities can be cultivated as the impacts of devastating droughts and destructive floods are tackled.

    © UNCCD/Juan Pablo Zamora

    A community in Mexico comes together to work on improving their lands.

    Crucially, it is the people who depend on land who should have the biggest say in how decisions are made.

    UNCCD says that to “deliver a moonshot moment for land,” 1.5 billion hectares of degraded lands need to be restored by 2030.

    And this is happening already with farmers adopting new techniques in Burkina Faso, environmentalists in Uzbekistan planting trees to eliminate salt and dust emissions and activists protecting the Philippines capital, Manila, from extreme weather by regenerating natural barriers.

    What can be achieved in Riyadh

    Policy makers, experts, the private and civil society sectors as well as youth will come together in Riyadh with a series of goals, including:

    • Accelerate restoration of degraded land by 2030 and beyond
    • Boost resilience to intensifying droughts and sand and dust storms
    • Restore soil health and scale up nature-positive food production
    • Secure land rights and promote equity for sustainable land stewardship
    • Ensure that land continues to provide climate and biodiversity solutions
    • Unlock economic opportunities, including decent land-based jobs for youth

    Fast facts: The UN and desertification

    • Three decades ago, in 1994, 196 countries and the European Union signed up to the UN Convention to Combat Desertification or UNCCD.
    • The Conference of the Parties or COP is the main decision-making body of UNCCD.
    • UNCCD is the global voice for land where governments, businesses and civil society come together to discuss challenges and chart a sustainable future for land.
    • The 16th meeting of the COP (otherwise known as COP16) is taking place in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, from 2-13 December.
    • UNCCD is one of three “Rio Conventions.” along with the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) and the Convention of Biological Diversity (CBD). These are outcomes of the historic 1992 Earth Summit held in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.

    MIL OSI United Nations News –

  • MIL-OSI United Nations: The ‘slow onset, silent killer’: Droughts explained

    Source: United Nations MIL OSI b

    By Daniel Dickinson, Riyadh

    Climate and Environment

    Droughts across the world are intensifying and have become a “slow onset, silent killer” to which no country is immune, according to the UN’s most senior official working on desertification, drought and land restoration issues.

    Ibrahim Thiaw, the Executive Secretary of the UN Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD) was speaking at the opening of COP16 a major global conference taking place in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, where a new global drought regime is expected to be agreed which will promote the shift from reactive relief response to proactive preparedness.

    Here’s what you need to know about droughts.

    Droughts are increasing in regularity and intensity

    Droughts are a natural phenomenon, but in recent decades have been intensified by climate change and unsustainable land practices. Their number has surged by nearly 30 per cent in frequency and intensity since 2000, threatening agriculture, water security, and the livelihoods of 1.8 billion people, with the poorest nations bearing the brunt.

    © World Bank/Arne Hoel

    Water availability is essential to prevent migration in places like western Nigeria.

    They can also lead to conflict over dwindling resources, including water, and the widespread displacement of people as they migrate towards more productive lands.

    No country is immune

    More than 30 countries declared drought emergencies in the past three years alone, from India and China, to high-income nations such as the US, Canada and Spain, as well as Uruguay, Southern Africa and even Indonesia.

    UN News/Daniel Dickinson

    A ship passes through the Panama Canal in Central America.

    Droughts impeded grain transportation in the Rhine River in Europe, disrupted international trade via the Panama Canal in Central America, and led to hydropower cuts in the South America country, Brazil, which depends on water for more than 60 per cent of its electricity supply.

    Firefighters were even called to an urban park in New York City, in the United States in wintry November 2024 to tackle a bush fire after weeks of no rainfall.

    “Droughts have expanded into new territories. No country is immune,” said UNCCD’s Ibrahim Thiaw adding that “by 2050, three in four people globally, up to seven and half billion people, will feel the impact of drought.”

    Domino effects

    Droughts are rarely confined to a specific place and time and are not simply due to a lack of rainfall but are often the result of a complicated set of events driven or amplified by climate change, as well as sometimes the mismanagement of land.

    For example, a hillside which is deforested is immediately degraded. The land will lose its resilience to extreme weather and will become more susceptible to both drought and flooding.

    And, once they strike, they can trigger a series of cataclysmic domino effects, supercharging heat waves and even floods, multiplying the risks to people’ s lives and livelihoods with long-lasting human, social and economic costs.

    As communities, economies, and ecosystems suffer the damaging effects of drought, their vulnerability is increased to the next one, feeding a vicious cycle of land degradation and underdevelopment.

    Drought is a development and a security issue

    Around 70 per cent of the world’s available freshwater is in the hands of people living off the land, most of them subsistence farmers in low-income countries with limited livelihood alternatives. Around 2.5 billion of them are youth.

    Without water there is no food and no land-based jobs, which can lead to forced migration, instability, and conflict.

    “Drought is not merely an environmental matter,” said Andrea Meza, UNCCD Deputy Executive Secretary. “Drought is a development and human security matter that we must urgently tackle from across all sectors and governance levels.”

    Planning for greater resilience      

    Droughts are also becoming harsher and faster due to human-induced climate change as well as land mismanagement and typically the global response to it is still reactive. More planning and adaption is required to build resilience to the extreme conditions created by dwindling supplies of water and this often happens at a local level.

    UN Haiti/Daniel Dickinson

    A beekeeper collects honey in southern Haiti.

    In Zimbabwe a youth-led grass-roots organization is aiming to regenerate land by planting one billion trees across the southern African country, while more farmers on the Caribbean island of Haiti are taking to bee-keeping; Bees feed off the trees, so there is an incentive for bee keepers to protect the trees from being cut down. In Mali, a young woman entrepreneur, is creating livelihoods and building resilience to drought by promoting the products of the moringa tree.

    Experts say proactive initiatives like these can prevent immense human suffering and is far cheaper than interventions focused on response and recovery.

    What next?

    At COP16 countries are coming together to agree how to collectively tackle worsening droughts and promote sustainable land management.

    Two key pieces of research were launched on the opening day.

    The World Drought Atlas depicts the systemic nature of drought risks illustrating how they are interconnected across sectors like energy, agriculture, river transport, and international trade and how they can trigger cascading effects, fueling inequalities and conflicts and threatening public health.

    The Drought Resilience Observatory is an AI-driven data platform for drought resilience created by the International Drought Resilience Alliance (IDRA), a UNCCD-hosted coalition of more than 70 countries and organizations committed to drought action.

    How much is it going to cost?

    One UN estimate suggests that investments totalling $2.6 trillion will be needed by 2030 to restore land across the world which is affected by drought and poor management.

    At COP16 an initial pledge of $2.15 billion was announced to finance the Riyadh Global Drought Resilience Partnership.

    It will serve as a global facilitator for drought resilience, promoting the shift from reactive relief response to proactive preparedness,” said Dr Osama Faqeeha, Deputy Minister for Environment, Ministry of Environment, Water and Agriculture of Saudia Arabia, adding that “we also seek to amplify global resources to save lives and livelihoods around the world.”

    MIL OSI United Nations News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Cramer Questions Federal Reserve Chair Powell on Impact of Raising Bank Capital Requirements

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator Kevin Cramer (R-ND)
    Stressed the Necessity of Competition in the Banking System  
    ***Click here to download video. Click here for audio.***
    WASHINGTON, D.C. – The Senate Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs (Banking) Committee held a hearing on the Federal Reserve’s semiannual monetary report to Congress. Federal Reserve Chairman Jerome Powell testified before the committee.
    In July 2023, the Federal Reserve, the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency (OCC), and the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC) announced proposed regulations to implement the final components of the Basel III agreement to raise bank capital requirements. The proposal was created to set the standards for capital reserves, liquidity, and leverage at financial institutions. Under the proposal, large banks will be mandated to transition to the new framework on July 1, with full compliance starting July 1, 2028.
    U.S. Senator Kevin Cramer (R-ND) questioned Powell on the necessity of advancing a new Basel III proposal, specifically in the context of regional and community banks.
    “Specifically, how would an updated regulation impact the ability of the regional banks to compete with the big Wall Street banks and what consideration should be taken into account to ensure that we have a competitive banking system,” asked Cramer. “For those of us who have largely regional banks, or the best of all of them community banks and credit unions, a competitive system is really important.”
    “My own view has been that our banks are well-capitalized and Basel III was not supposed to be an exercise in raising capital on U.S. banks,” responded Powell. “[…] In terms of your [regional banks], they don’t face the G-SIB [global systemically important banks] surcharges. They don’t face quite the burden that the large banks face on resolution planning and that sort of thing. So we need those banks to be healthy and profitable because we need them to compete with the G-SIBs. We don’t want a world where the G-SIBs just keep getting a bigger and bigger share of the economy. That’s not what we’re looking for.”
    [embedded content]
    Cramer followed up by asking Powell, if he could “think of anything specifically that ensures that competitive, diverse banking system is maintained rather than a consolidation? Whether it’s fewer community banks into more regional banks or fewer regional banks into more Wall Street banks?”
    “You think twice before you impose the kinds of things that we impose on the largest banks and the next to largest banks, you want to be careful not to just think we should do exactly the same thing [to regional and community banks],” concluded Powell. “What tends to happen is, so for smaller banks, it raises the fixed costs and it makes it harder to start new banks and it makes it harder for any but the largest to be successful. So that’s not what we want. We want a lot of competition and [for] these regionals it’s important that they thrive.”
    Following the introduction of the Basel III Endgame, Cramer has been vocal in his efforts to speak out about the misguided proposal. In January 2024, Cramer joined two letters citing concerns over the Basel III Endgame proposal’s impact on consumers and requesting the withdrawal of the proposal. Additionally, he cosigned a letter to highlight the impacts of proposed capital requirements for mortgage loans. Cramer also questioned Powell in a July 2024 hearing on the impacts it would have on electricity prices.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-Evening Report: Hamas report to mediators accuses Israel of pervasive Gaza ceasefire violations

    As Benjamin Netanyahu threatens to resume war, Hamas outlines widespread Israeli ceasefire violations in document sent to the mediators.

    By Jeremy Scahill and Sharif Abdel Kouddous of Dropsite News

    Hamas officials submitted a two-page report to mediators yesterday listing a wide range of Israeli violations of the Gaza ceasefire since the agreement went into effect on January 19 — including the killing of civilians, repeated ground and air incursions, the beating and humiliation of Palestinian captives during their release and the deportation of some without their consent, and the denial of humanitarian aid.

    Drop Site News obtained a copy of the report delivered to mediators from Qatar and Egypt.

    “Hamas is committed to the ceasefire agreement if the occupation is committed to the agreement,” Hamas said in a statement.

    “We confirm that the occupation is the party that did not abide by its commitments, and it bears responsibility for any complications or delays.”

    The move comes in response to accusations by US President Donald Trump and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu that Hamas had violated the agreement, threatening a full resumption of the war — yet it was Israel’s nearly daily breaches of the deal that prompted Hamas to announce it would postpone the next release of Israeli captives.

    On Monday, Abu Obeida, the spokesperson for the Al Qassam Brigades, Hamas’s military wing, announced the next planned release of three Israeli captives, scheduled for Saturday, would be “postponed indefinitely”.

    Abu Obeida cited “delays in allowing displaced Palestinians to return to northern Gaza, targeting them with airstrikes and gunfire across various areas of the Strip, and failing to facilitate the entry of humanitarian aid as agreed”.

    Israel violating ceasefire agreement
    Hamas issued a statement soon afterwards reiterating that Israel was violating the agreement by blocking aid, attacking civilians, and restricting movement in Gaza, and warning that the next release of captives would be postponed until it complied.

    “By issuing this statement five full days ahead of the scheduled prisoner handover, Hamas aims to grant mediators sufficient time to pressure the occupation to fulfill its obligations,” the statement said.

    Three Israeli officials and two mediators speaking anonymously to The New York Times confirmed that Israel had not fulfilled its obligations to send humanitarian aid into Gaza. This fact was mentioned in the 9th paragraph of the Times story.

    In response, President Trump, on Monday told reporters that the ceasefire should be cancelled if Hamas did not release all the remaining captives it was holding in Gaza by midday Saturday, warning “all hell is going to break out”.

    Yesterday, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu doubled down on Trump’s comments.

    “If Hamas does not return our hostages by Saturday noon,” Netanyahu said in a video statement, “the ceasefire will end, and the IDF will return to intense fighting until Hamas is finally defeated.”

    Netanyahu reportedly ordered the military to add more troops in and around Gaza to prepare for “every scenario” if the captives were not released.

    It was not immediately clear if he was referring to the three Israelis originally scheduled for release Saturday, all remaining captives, or all living Israelis slated for release in Phase 1.

    Document submitted to mediators
    The two-page document submitted by Hamas to mediators yesterday divided the violations into five separate categories: Field Violations, Prisoners, Humanitarian Aid, Denial of Essential Supplies, and Political Violations.

    Israel has repeatedly violated the ceasefire deal since it came into effect, targeting Palestinians in Gaza on an almost daily basis. The document outlines 269 “field violations” by the Israeli military, including the killing of 26 Palestinians and the wounding of 59 others.

    Page 1 of the Hamas report of ceasefire violations by Israel. Image: Hamas screenshot APR/DDN

    The number of people killed appears to be a dramatic undercount compared to the official toll documented by the Ministry of Health in Gaza.

    The Director-General of the Health Ministry, Dr Monir al-Barsh, announced separately yesterday that 92 Palestinians had been killed and 822 wounded in “direct targeting” by the Israeli military since January 19, when the ceasefire came into effect.

    The report also lists repeated ground incursions into Gaza beyond the designated buffer zone, particularly in the Philadelphi corridor — the 14km strip of land that runs along the border of Egypt.

    These incursions “were accompanied by gunfire and resulted in the deaths of citizens and the demolition of homes,” the report said.

    It also accused Israeli authorities of subjecting Palestinian captives to beatings and humiliation during their release, forcibly deporting released captives to Gaza without their coordination or consent, preventing families of deported prisoners from leaving the West Bank to join them, and delaying prisoner releases by several hours.

    The report also says that fewer than 25 fuel trucks per day have been allowed into Gaza, which is half of the allotted 50 fuel trucks per day, as outlined in the deal. The entry of commercial fuel was blocked entirely, the report says, again in violation of the agreement.

    Only 53,000 tents allowed
    Just over 53,000 tents were allowed into Gaza, the reports says, out of the 200,000 allotted and no mobile housing units out of the 60,000 agreed on.

    Heavy machinery for the removal of massive amounts of debris and retrieval of bodies was similarly blocked, with only four machines allowed in.

    Israel also blocked the entry of supplies to repair and operate the power plant and electrical grid, the report said.

    No medical supplies, ambulances have been allowed in and no equipment for civil defense teams. Meanwhile banks were not allowed to receive cash to replenish a severe currency shortage.

    The report ends on “Political Violations” criticising statements by the “Israeli Prime Minister and ministers openly calling for the expulsion of Gaza’s population, sending a clear message that the occupation does not wish to honour the agreement and aims to implement Trump’s plan to displace Gaza’s residents”.

    It also criticises the “deliberate delay” in starting the negotiations on Phase 2 of the ceasefire and “the introduction of impossible conditions.”

    A summary of the Israeli ceasefire violations. Image: QudsNews

    MIL OSI Analysis – EveningReport.nz –

  • MIL-OSI United Nations: Private sector urged to act as world faces $23 trillion loss from land degradation

    Source: United Nations MIL OSI

    By Daniel Dickinson, in Riyadh

    Climate and Environment

    The private sector has been urged to make the sustainable management of land a key part of corporate and financial strategy going forward, as the world risks losing half of global GDP – estimated at $23 trillion – due to degradation.

    Business leaders have been meeting at the UN Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD) conference being held in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, which is focusing on drought, land degradation and restoration issues.

    According to the UN, droughts have surged by nearly 30 per cent in frequency and intensity since 2000, threatening agriculture and water security, while up to 40 per cent of the world’s land is degraded, which means its biological or economic productivity has been reduced

    © FAO Saudi Arabia

    Saplings are planted Al Adhraa national park in Saudi Arabia as part of efforts to protect the land from degradation.

    Drought and land loss will have dire consequences for the climate, biodiversity and people’s livelihoods as well as businesses, large and small.

    The global economy could lose $23 trillion by 2050 through degradation UNCCD has warned, while halting this trend would cost around $4.6 trillion, a fraction of the predicted losses.

    The private sector can play a key role in supporting the sustainable use of land, according to the Executive Secretary of UNCCD, Ibrahim Thiaw.

    Speaking at the Business 4 Land  Forum at the COP16 conference,  he said they provide “a critical momentum to make sustainable land management a core part of corporate and financial strategies.”

    COP16 is the biggest global meeting of its kind on land degradation and restoration and the presence of a wide range of business leaders suggests they recognize the urgent need to support the healthy use of land.

    © FAO/Giulio Napolitano

    Women in Niger prepare fields for the rainy season as part of an anti-desertification initiative.

    “Shifting towards nature-positive operations, supply chains, and investments, is not only about environmental sustainability,” said Ibrahim Thiaw, “but about the long-term profitability and resilience of businesses.”

    Members of the Business 4 Land initiative are urged to act in three key areas.

    Speaking to delegates at the meeting, Philippe Zaouati, CEO of the MIROVA sustainable investment fund, said that “companies stand to gain significantly by transforming their value chains to incorporate sustainable practices, not only to reduce their impact on nature but also to seize economic opportunities,” adding that “mobilizing funding for land restoration requires a concerted effort by the public and private sectors.”

    There have been some early successes during the first days of COP16 in terms of unlocking international funding with $12 billion pledged to land restoration efforts.

    The Arab Coordination Group pledged $10 billion while the OPEC Fund and the Islamic Development Bank committed $1 billion each to the Riyadh Global Drought Resilience Partnership, alongside the $150 million dollars provided by Saudi Arabia to operationalize the initiative.

    Henri Bruxelles, the Chief Sustainability Officer of the global food and beverage company, Danone, reiterated the importance of global collaboration. 

    “Collaborating across sectors of society is vital to address the intertwined climate and water challenges, to guarantee food security and nutrition and to secure the livelihoods of the communities that feed the world,” he said in order to “build a sustainable food system.”

    More about Business 4 Land (B4L)

    B4L is UNCCD’s main initiative to engage the private sector in sustainable land and water management. It helps companies and financial institutions manage risks and seize opportunities tied to land degradation and drought.

    B4L aims to restore 1.5 billion hectares of land by 2030, contributing to Land Degradation Neutrality (LDN), a global commitment to achieve net zero land degradation by 2030, as well as enhancing drought resilience.

    MIL OSI United Nations News –

  • MIL-OSI China: ‘Ne Zha 2’ merchandise flying off shelves

    Source: China State Council Information Office 3

    Sales are soaring for merchandise from the film “Ne Zha 2,” which recently became the sole Asian film listed in the world’s top 30 highest-grossing films of all time.

    As of Monday, the film’s box office has surpassed 8 billion yuan ($1.1 billion), making it a top player in global animated films and sparking a frenzy of offline merchandise purchases.

    Second-hand markets have seen the IP’s merch selling at several times their original price, with “Hard to find Ne Zha 2 items” becoming a hot topic on social media platforms.

    The colored papers and badges are produced by Guangdong Henglitai Crafts in Dongguan, Guangdong province.

    “We didn’t expect such a frenzy of offline purchases for Ne Zha 2 merchandise,” said Chen Qi, general manager of Guangdong Henglitai Crafts.

    When the company resumed operations after the Spring Festival holiday on Friday, the company’s client FunCrazy, the film’s official cooperation brand, placed an order for over 1 million sets of merchandise.

    “We are also concurrently working on designing new styles of such items to meet the growing market demand,” said Chen.

    The trendy toy company started with badge manufacturing and gradually became a renowned player covering global IPs.

    The company’s annual sales skyrocketed from 100 million yuan in 2022 to 300 million yuan in 2024, with its market share in China jumping from 20 percent to 70 percent.

    “The success of Ne Zha 2 proves that Chinese animation IPs can completely rival those of Japanese and American giants,” said Chen.

    The company plans to collaborate with brand partners to develop more peripheral characters while exploring new techniques such as metal sculpting and dynamic lighting effects, according to Chen.

    “A combination of high-quality content and manufacturing capability is the key to breaking new ground in the IP merchandise series,” he said.

    The popularity of Ne Zha 2 merchandise is attributed to the film’s impact and the exquisite craftsmanship of the manufacturing in Dongguan, according to Chen. “For example, our acrylic colored paper utilizes a silver spring fine flash technique, presenting the dynamic effects of movie scenes under different lighting conditions.”

    After receiving orders in October, the company delivered over 300,000 sets of products in early January, including acrylic cards, colored paper, fridge magnets, clips and transparent cards.

    “Brand partners are requesting restocks, so once we resume operations after the Spring Festival holiday, we ramp up production,” said Chen.

    MIL OSI China News –

  • MIL-OSI: The Keg Royalties Income Fund announces February 2025 cash distribution

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    VANCOUVER, British Columbia, Feb. 11, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — The Keg Royalties Income Fund (the “Fund”) (TSX: KEG.UN) today announced that its February 2025 distribution of $0.0946 per unit has been declared and is payable to unitholders of record as at February 21, 2025. The February 2025 distribution will be paid on February 28, 2025.

    The Fund is a limited purpose, open-ended trust established under the laws of the Province of Ontario that, through The Keg Rights Limited Partnership, a subsidiary of the Fund, owns certain trademarks and other related intellectual property used by Keg Restaurants Ltd. (“KRL”). In exchange for use of those trademarks, KRL pays the Fund a royalty of 4% of gross sales of Keg restaurants included in the royalty pool.

    With approximately 10,000 employees, over 100 restaurants and annual system sales exceeding $700 million, Vancouver-based KRL is the leading operator and franchisor of steakhouse restaurants in Canada and has a substantial presence in select regional markets in the United States. KRL continues to operate The Keg restaurant system and expand that system through the addition of both corporate and franchised Keg steakhouses. KRL has been named the number one restaurant company to work for in Canada in the latest edition of Forbes “Canada’s Best Employers 2025” survey.

    The MIL Network –