#international development

[april-is]

April 20, 2025: Poem in the Shape of the Poet Beating Henry Kissinger to Death with Their Bare Hands, Felix Lecocq

Poem in the Shape of the Poet Beating Henry Kissinger to Death with Their Bare Hands Felix Lecocq

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(Today's poem is shared as an image, and includes a transcription of the poem as alt text. If you're unable to see it, you can also find it transcribed below.)

US-funded projects addressing the ongoing impact of Agent Orange in Viet Nam (toxin cleanup, support for those with congenital disorders like the poet's) were disrupted by the abrupt dismantling of US foreign aid programming this year. Along with many others.

Today in: 2024: blessing the boats, Lucille Clifton 2023: Wound is the Origin of Wonder, Maya C. Popa 2022: When the Fox Comes to the City, Patricia Fargnoli 2021: aubade for the whole hood, Nate Marshall 2020: Keeping Things Whole, Mark Strand 2019: New Year’s Day, Kim Addonizio 2018: I Know You Think I’ve Forgotten, Jane Hirshfield 2017: The Writer, Richard Wilbur 2016: from Seven Skins, Adrienne Rich 2015: I Ask Percy How I Should Live My Life, Mary Oliver 2014: In the Park, Maxine Kumin 2013: To A Sad Daughter, Michael Ondaatje 2012: My Dead Friends, Marie Howe 2011: Staying After, Linda Gregg 2010: Dream Song 14, John Berryman 2009: What We Kept, Megan Alpert 2008: Please Take Back the Sparrows, Suzanne Buffam 2007: It Happens Like This, James Tate 2006: Tantalus in May, Reginald Shepherd 2005: September Song, Geoffrey Hill

A transcript of the poem text follows:

Text is in the shape of a standing person raising a fist in order to punch someone who is lying on the ground holding up their hands in defense. It reads:

hooking up with strange men on edibles is fucking awesome until you’re lying in his bed afterward and you can’t shut up about how much you want to hit henry kissinger over and over until he stops breathing. like, did you know that agent orange is apparently 100,000 times more potent than thalidomide at causing birth defects and to this day vietnamese infants have an elevated incidence of congenital disorders, including heart abnormalities, and like you’re not saying that henry kissinger is the reason you were born with a broken heart but wouldn’t it be so fucked up if he was and wouldn’t you then have every right to press your thumbs into his windpipe until he chokes to death and your hookup is like yeah you’re right that would be fucked up i’m sorry but what did you want to get i’m placing the order now and you say two spicy potato soft tacos please and you let him pay for it because he’s white and you’re too stoned to navigate venmo right now and it’s only like $2 but by the time the food arrives you’ve fallen asleep anyway, hand over your heart monitor, dreaming of kissinger’s blood dribbling out his mouth like hot sauce

[sofiaflorina2021]

Happy Africa Day 2025

Happy Africa Day, 25 May, 2025. 2025 Theme: “Justice for Africans and People of African Descent Through Reparations”. Today marks 62 years since the founding of the Organisation of African Unity (OAU), the precursor of African Union (AU).

This theme conveys the message that justice is not a destination, it is a continuous demand for truth, for dignity, and for leadership that reflects the realities of African people. Now more than ever, that demand must be inclusive.

Reparations are not only about the past, they are about restoring futures. Futures stolen through systemic exclusion. This includes the exclusion of women and youth from many fields. If we are serious about justice for Africans and people of African descent, we must be committed to redistributing opportunity and power.

Let us all come together to help the African people in their development. Together with the African Union and the United Nations, let's develop Africa together. Long live African unity!

[itsdeenlee]

[ronaldparlato]

DOING GOOD OR HAVING FUN? THE POOR ARE SATISFYING, FUN IS JUST A STATE OF MIND Stumbling out the door into the bright May sunlight an hour later, drunk as a skunk, but completely deadened to the depressing thought of the loss of the poor, a livelihood, and moral rectitude, he was momentarily heartened. 'Who the fu-k cares?', he shouted to no one in particular, caught the N4 and headed home.

[hotzimbabwejobs]

Local Rights Programme & Sponsorship Graduate Internship (Women's Rights) at ActionAid Zimbabwe (Rusape) - February 2025

ActionAid Zimbabwe (AAZ), a prominent NGO dedicated to fighting poverty and social injustice, is offering a valuable opportunity for a recent graduate through their Local Rights Programme & Sponsorship Graduate Internship. This 9-month fixed-term internship (April – December 2025) will be based in Rusape and focus on Women’s Rights. About ActionAid Zimbabwe: AAZ works collaboratively to support…

[local-boob]

so many of my former coworkers are being effected by the USAID freeze – the global implications are truly terrifying...

https://www.reuters.com/world/halt-us-aid-cripples-global-efforts-relieve-hunger-2025-02-06/

[pwrn51]

Making a Global Impact: Changing the World

  Today’s guest is Dr. Emiliana Vegas, a Professor of Practice at the Harvard Graduate School of Education. In this insightful interview, she discusses her latest book, Let’s Change the World: How to Work Within International Development Organizations to Make a Difference. Dr. Vegas shares what inspired her to write the book, explains the concept of international development, and highlights how…

[jcmarchi]

Professor Emeritus Ralph Gakenheimer, mobility planner and champion of international development, dies at 89

New Post has been published on https://thedigitalinsider.com/professor-emeritus-ralph-gakenheimer-mobility-planner-and-champion-of-international-development-dies-at-89/

Professor Emeritus Ralph Gakenheimer, mobility planner and champion of international development, dies at 89

Ralph Gakenheimer, MIT professor emeritus of urban planning, passed away on June 17 in Concord, Massachusetts. He was 89 years old.

A faculty member in the Department of Urban Studies and Planning (DUSP), Gakenheimer focused his research on the dynamic relationship between how we classify and use land with the mobility choices individuals make in cities. He was particularly interested in the intentions and choices behind the selection of a particular mode of mobility and how those choices intersect with sustainability and accessibility in developing nations.

During his 40-year tenure at MIT, Gakenheimer also served as a World Bank advisor and visiting professor at various universities including the University of Paris XII, the University of California at Berkeley, and the Universidad de Los Andes (Bogota), as well as being a visiting fellow at Balliol College, Oxford. He was a Fulbright Scholar and chaired several international committees, including the United Nations-appointed committee that oversaw comprehensive planning of the city of Mecca in Saudi Arabia.

“So many of us at DUSP were influenced by Ralph in so many ways,” says Chris Zegras, professor of mobility and urban planning, and DUSP department head. “Personally, it is no exaggeration to say he is the reason I am at MIT. He was an advisor, mentor, role model, dear friend, colleague — and I feel immensely privileged to have had the opportunity to have him play those roles in my life. It’s a sad day, but I take solace in thinking of the infinite ways in which his wisdom, knowledge, good humor, and spirit live on.”

Born in Baltimore, Maryland, Gakenheimer graduated from Towson High School, where he was recently inducted into its hall of fame for his career accomplishments. He received a bachelor’s degree in engineering science from Johns Hopkins University. Throughout his high school and college years, he helped at the family pharmacy, where he often worked as the soda jerk. He went on to get a master’s degree in regional planning from Cornell University and a doctorate from the University of Pennsylvania. Prior to joining the faculty at MIT in 1969, Gakenheimer taught for seven years at the University of North Carolina in Chapel Hill.

The range of his academic background is reflected in his influential book, “Transportation Planning as a Response to Controversy: The Boston Case” (MIT Press, 1976). “Ralph’s scholarship on the 1960s Inner Belt fight is a must-read for anyone seriously concerned about the state of transportation planning in any era,” says Karilyn Crockett, assistant professor of urban history, public policy, and planning in DUSP. “His excellent, groundbreaking work, ‘Transportation Planning as a Response to Controversy,’ is a thrilling example of telling a sprawling urban story at the scale of humans. After every interaction with Ralph, I walked away feeling empowered and much smarter, what I call the Ralph Effect. The Ralph Effect is to be in proximity to someone whose brilliance is so bright that it amplifies your own.”

Gakenheimer brought deep consideration to his work as a scholar of international development, engaging with a range of projects centered on providing sustainable infrastructure and development. Fittingly for an advocate of responsible transportation, Gakenheimer often commuted to MIT by bike. 

“To describe an academic as thoughtful is perhaps redundant,” says Joseph Coughlin, director of the MIT AgeLab and leader of the U.S. Department of Transportation’s New England University Transportation Center. “However, when I think of Ralph, I cannot think of a better word. Ralph was thoughtful of his colleagues and students. He was thoughtful of the world we are imagining and leaving behind. He was, of course, thoughtful in tweaking and pulling the threads of even the most arcane theory. His soft-spoken demeanor and insights will be missed here and in the many places and spaces he touched over the years.”

Gakenheimer is survived by his wife, Caroline (Bierer) Gakenheimer; his daughters, Rachel Gakenheimer MCP ’99 and Katherine Gakenheimer; his grandchildren, Jesse and Vienne Begin; and his brothers, David and Martin Gakenheimer. 

Donations may be made in Gakenheimer’s memory to Bikes Not Bombs, a charity close to his heart. 

[nepalenergyforum]

Honoring the US-Nepal Partnership: A Journey Through the Past, Present, and Future

This year, the United States and Nepal celebrate 77 years of bilateral relations. Since 1947, our nations have built an open, responsive, and collaborative friendship that has stood the test of time. The US Embassy in Nepal advances this close friendship through a mutual goal of helping Nepal build a peaceful, prosperous, resilient, and democratic society. This commitment has been demonstrated…

[edembakhshish]

Interview with Edem Bakhshish on the essence of South-South Cooperation (in Russian)

[democracyinternational]

Democracy International Wins USAID’s Multi-Million Dollar IDIQ Contract for Comprehensive Regional Support Services in Central America 

WASHINGTON, D.C. - The United States Agency for International Development (USAID) has awarded Democracy International (DI) the Central America Regional Support Services (CARSS) indefinite delivery, indefinite quantity (IDIQ) contract. This seven-year, multi-award mechanism aims to provide USAID missions in Central America with integrated service solutions, addressing root causes of migration, including economic opportunity, governance, transparency, climate change, crime, and insecurity. 

Collaborating with major partners, J.E. Austin Associates and Research Triangle Institute International, Democracy International is poised to bring exceptional expertise to the CARSS initiative. Under this mechanism, USAID can leverage DI’s evidence-based, context-specific, and behaviorally informed approaches to: 1) address economic insecurity and foster opportunities for economic growth; 2) strengthen democratic governance, reduce gender-based violence, promote respect for human rights and a free press, and address migration dynamics; 3) improve resilience to climate, food security, and health threats; and 4) strengthen the capacity of local partners and provide technical and management expertise to USAID Missions.  

“Having worked in the region for more than 20 years, we look forward to strengthening existing partnerships and forging new ones with regional activists, indigenous groups, government officials, and others to address these critical issues,” said DI President and CEO Eric Bjornlund. “We are excited to do our part to advance democratic, inclusive, prosperous, and healthy societies.” 

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Democracy International supports active citizens, responsive governments, and engaged civil society and political organizations to achieve a more peaceful, democratic world. By developing and using new knowledge, tools, and approaches and drawing insights from behavioral science, DI works to change people’s lives and improve development assistance. 

[merchantservices444]

Empowering Business Development: The Role of Digital Payments

[vakilkarosblog]

"Section 8 Microfinance Company Registration: A Philanthropic Approach" refers to the process of legally establishing a non-profit microfinance company under Section 8 of the Companies Act. This unique registration allows organizations to provide financial services to low-income individuals and small businesses with a philanthropic intent. It enables them to operate as a non-profit entity, focusing on social impact rather than profit generation. This approach aims to uplift marginalized communities by offering access to financial resources and empowering them towards economic self-sufficiency. For more detailed information on the registration process, please visit the link associated with "Microfinance Company Registration" and "section 8 Microfinance Company Registration. Read More

[ronaldparlato]

HOW POVERTY SOOTHES THE SOUL, AN AFRICAN TALE - THE DEMISE OF USAID, BEAUTIFUL WOMEN, AND FEEL-GOOD IDEALISM Then it all ended. The new Trump Administration dismantled USAID, fired all employees, and cancelled all grants and loans. The show was over. After decades of largesse, unaccountable generosity, and legions of well-paid consultants shepherding useless projects, the doors to the agency were closed.

[hotzimbabwejobs]

Finance Professionals Wanted! Finance Officer Positions at the African Union - February 2025

The African Union (AU) is looking for skilled and experienced Finance Officers to join their External Resource Management (ERM) Division. This is a great opportunity for finance professionals interested in contributing to international development projects across the African continent. About the Role: The Finance Officer will be responsible for the day-to-day financial management of specific…