#sdg acceleration

[mariacallous]

Every child has a superpower. Yet, those with disabilities often do not have full access to quality education and other services that would enable them to use their superpower to positively and fully contribute to society. A recent workshop on inclusion in early childhood, held as part of the Center for Universal Education’s symposium on education systems transformation for and through inclusive education, asked whether focusing on the early years of a child’s life might offer a window of opportunity to catch, remedy, and maybe even reverse a child’s development trajectory so all countries can reach the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). It brought together early childhood development (ECD) and inclusion experts and those who wanted to learn more about the topic. Two key messages emerged from participants: every child matters, and early means early. Participants also suggested that the global community needs to develop a global disability-focused ECD strategy and that governments should allocate at least 3% of education budgets for children with disabilities.

Children with disabilities are not a monolith and vary greatly in the challenges they experience and their abilities to fully and positively contribute to society. Some have physical, mental, social, or sensory impairments while others have a combination of multiple challenges. Globally, it is estimated that 15% of the world population, about 1 billion people, live with some type of disability. UNICEF estimates that about 1 in every 10 children has at least one disability, with children from South Asia, East Asia, and West and Central Africa having higher incidences. Moreover, globally, almost 53 million children under the age of 5 have developmental disabilities, and many others live with hidden disabilities that may go unnoticed and, therefore, unrecorded.

The global Convention on the Rights of the Child and the U.N. Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (CRPD) articulate the rights and equal treatment of children with disabilities. The CRPD provides a comprehensive international legal framework for the education rights of children with disabilities that has been ratified by 181 countries. These legal frameworks and the SDGs are resolute in leaving no one behind. Despite these legal frameworks, agreements, and aspirations, there are numerous challenges and insufficient investment for disabled children to enjoy full rights to education, health, and well-being. In most countries, children with disabilities face stigma and discrimination from their own governments, communities, and families. Their complex needs are often not included in policy and investment discussions. Investment in this cohort of children is usually not high on the policy or financing agenda, yet we know that increased investment and support for children with disabilities can accelerate countries’ paths to achieving the SDGs, particularly SDG 4.2. From 2007 to 2016, disability funding declined by 11.4% worldwide, and only 2% of the estimated $79.1 million invested in early childhood development was spent on young children with disabilities. Tim Shriver, Special Olympics’ Board Chair, maintains that if governments could commit even 3% of their overall education budgets to the inclusion of children with disabilities in existing classrooms, it could impact their abilities to thrive and contribute to our societies. 

2 key messages

Every child matters

All of society benefits when all children are uplifted. For the early childhood sector, that means developing inclusive classrooms that use a twin-track approach and Universal Design for Learning (UDL) Instruction. Using this method, rather than having separate classrooms for children, disability-focused support is provided in classrooms that focus on equity for all, but also provide specific support for those with disabilities. Research indicates that this approach benefits all children; children with disabilities have better developmental outcomes (for example, language, social and academic skills, better behaviors), and typically developing children have increased empathy, tolerance, skills in sign language, and more. Establishing inclusive classrooms also requires investment in upskilling classroom teachers so they can support children of all abilities while working with special education teachers. These interventions cost money, yet exclusion has greater negative costs to society in reduced national GDP and higher spending for remedial programs, to name a few. It is estimated that the annual economic cost to society when a disabled child is not able to attend school or get a job can be high—more than 1% of GDP in some cases.

Early means early

The first five years of life are crucial periods of brain growth and development where about 90% of new neural connections (about 1 million neural connections per second) are made. After around 30 months of life, the brain’s ability to change in response to experiences requires greater effort than before this period. Since the brain is very malleable during this phase, evidence suggests that early screening, referrals, and intervention can halt, improve, and completely change the course of a child’s developmental trajectory. As children are mostly with parents and caregivers during the earliest months of life, investing in their ability to support their children can be important. Often support for parents and caregivers to aid their children is unavailable in communities or unaffordable. Research comparing urban and rural children’s access to early childhood education found that those with access to support before age 5 (mostly in urban areas) had higher academic achievement. For children with autism, research indicates that early intervention can greatly ameliorate symptoms, putting children closer to the development trajectory of those without autism.  

The way forward

Supporting children with disabilities is complex as their needs span multiple government and sectoral departments, there are finite resources in all government budgets, and underlying societal discrimination, even subtle, remains strong throughout the world. Yet, workshop participants suggested that supporting every child and doing so early provides the best chance for countries to meet the SDGs. Two suggested actions for supporting every child early that emerged from the workshop and recent literature include:

Establish a global, disability-focused ECD strategy: Global goals and road maps such as the SDGs, Nurturing Care Framework (NCF), and others include young children with disabilities yet provide inadequate strategy and concrete actions for how to ensure full rights and support for young children with disabilities. Thus, a strategy resulting from action by multiple sectors that complements the NCF is one agenda for progress.

Allocate at least 3% of education budgets for children with disabilities: Increasing investment will allow more to be done to support children with disabilities. These could focus on:

Supporting inclusive preschool classrooms that implement a twin-track approach and universal design for learning

Upskilling teachers that lead inclusive classrooms

Parental support so they have increased knowledge and skills to support their children

Strengthening early screening and referral systems

Research focused on young children with disabilities

Workshop participants were ready to join hands and tackle this complex challenge and suggested that commitment from stakeholders, including governments, donors, and families will be critical to light a path towards achieving the Sustainable Development Goals and ensuring a thriving society. 

[allthebrazilianpolitics]

Ministers of Germany, Brazil, South Africa and Spain: why we need a global tax on billionaires

Finance chiefs say higher taxes for the super-rich are key to battling global inequality and climate crisis

When the governors of the World Bank and the International Monetary Fund convened for the spring meetings last week, it was all about the really big questions. What can the international community do to accelerate decarbonisation and fight climate change? How can highly indebted countries retain fiscal space to invest in poverty eradication, social services and global public goods? What does the international community need to do to get back on track towards reaching the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)? How can multilateral development banks be strengthened to support these ambitions?

There is one issue that makes addressing these global challenges much harder: inequality. While the disparity between the richest and poorest countries has slightly narrowed, the gap remains alarmingly high. Moreover, in the past two decades, we have witnessed a significant increase in inequalities within most countries, with the income gap between the top 10% and the bottom 50% nearly doubling. Looking ahead, current global economic trends pose serious threats to progress towards higher equality.

The multidimensional character of inequality is undeniable. Basic services such as healthcare and education are not equally available to all. Often, this inequality of opportunity is handed down from generation to generation. Social origins, gender, race or where people live are some of the factors that play a role in reproducing inequalities. Furthermore, high inequality harms economic development because it inhibits innovation and prevents people from developing their full potential. It is corrosive to democracy and weakens social cohesion. And where social cohesion is weak, there is less support for the structural reforms we will need to undertake in the coming years, such as the necessary transformation towards a net zero economy.

Fortunately, there is a growing global awareness of the importance not only of growth, but of sustainable and equitable growth. Increasing prosperity while tackling inequality within and across countries and generations, including entrenched race and gender inequalities, should not be at odds. Achieving truly sustainable growth lies in balancing three fundamental concerns: economic, social, and environmental.

Continue reading.

[elsa16744]

What is ESG Controversy, and How Does It Impact Business?

Social media has augmented the power multimedia coverage has over public perception. The positive aspects of this situation include a rising demand for accountability and transparent corporate communication. However, the potential misuse of modern media, third-party firms’ intelligence, and news platforms can threaten the brand you develop through fake news. For instance, an ESG controversy, whether real or not, can impact a business. And this post explains how.

What is an ESG Controversy?

An ESG controversy encompasses all events concerning actual or alleged adverse impact assessments, sustainability non-compliance, data theft, etc. The environmental, social, and governance (ESG) factors help analysts create comprehensive reports and financial disclosures, highlighting potentially controversial business aspects.

Controversial events can decrease your company’s reputation, increase legal liabilities, and alienate the stakeholders. Besides, brand-related risks have long-term consequences. Therefore, corporations leverage ESG controversy analysis to identify the activities that can undermine their strategic vision, financial performance, and stakeholder interests.

What Causes an ESG Controversy?

Advanced technology empowers today’s world, empowering researchers, non-governmental organizations (NGOs), industry bodies, regional authorities, and consumers. They can quickly investigate if a brand has engaged in ESG non-compliant activities.

Employing child labor, discriminating against employees, polluting the environment, or engaging in corruption can affect your company’s relationships. Sometimes, old norms become obsolete, and new legal frameworks replace them. However, specific organizations might miss such dynamics or willfully postpone compliance.

Through ESG consulting, businesses can acquire thematic insights into sustainability compliance and controversy exposure. Themes include energy transition, labor rights, social good, carbon emissions, and waste disposal. So, investors, authorities, businesses, NGOs, and consumers can decide which brands to support or ignore.

How Does an ESG Controversy Impact a Business?

1| It Can Discourage Investors

Ethical and impact investors want to focus on enterprises working on socio-economically beneficial projects. They also employ exclusion strategies when building portfolios based on sustainable development goals (SDGs). Investors are less likely to include a brand with a controversial background in their portfolios.

2| ESG Controversy Can Lead to Consumer Boycott

Launching a new product or service will become more challenging if a company is part of a controversy. Consumers believe in buying from brands that share their values. Suppose they learn about a brand’s ESG controversy. They will deliberately avoid its products, events, and services. Simultaneously, social media and news platforms can accelerate the brand boycott trends.

3| Legal Processes Will Impact the Business

Addressing non-compliance issues can involve fulfilling legal requirements like account audits, independent inquiries, or financial penalties. These activities can make specific business operations inefficient for a while. Otherwise, the managers might get trade restrictions for an indefinite period.

4| ESG Controversy Makes Supply Chain Management Riskier

Consider a business that procures critical components from a supplier that employs child labor and releases untreated industrial effluent into water bodies. Therefore, the brand is at risk. After all, ESG controversy analysis does not stop at the company level. It inspects whether a few supplier relations can damage your stakeholder goodwill due to questionable practices.

Steps of Controversy Monitoring and Reporting

Recognizing the vulnerable aspects across the environmental, social, and governance pillars helps companies and investors streamline risk assessment. Think of the deforestation risks that will be higher in the case of construction projects. However, water resources will be more vulnerable to pollution from the heavy chemicals industry.

Later, you want to create a consolidated statistical method to rate the adverse impact according to ESG controversy risks. It will allow companies to benchmark their compliance.

Finally, investors must determine whether they want to buy or sell an asset using the final reports. Likewise, business leaders must explore opportunities to make their organizations more resilient to controversies.

Conclusion

Several possibilities affect how everyone essential to your business development perceives you. Their faith in your brand shakes once your organization becomes the focus of global and regional media coverage for the wrong reasons.

Still, every ESG controversy analyst will follow a unique system to evaluate the risks that business leaders must mitigate to have a positive impact. As a result, corporations must select analysts with an established track record of sustainability compliance and risk assessment.

[coochiequeens]

This December 3rd remember that one in every five women is likely to experience disability in her life

The classroom in the Kamurasi Demonstration School in Masindi Municipality, Uganda, with the Ugandan Sign language alphabet drawn on the wall.

PHOTO:UNICEF/Uganda/Barbeyrac

United in action to rescue and achieve the SDGs for, with and by persons with disabilities

Given the multiple crises we are facing today, the world is not on track to reach numerous Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) targets by 2030. Preliminary findings from the forthcoming UN Disability and Development Report 2023 indicate that the world is even more off-track in meeting several SDGs for persons with disabilities.

Our efforts to rescue the SDGs for, with, and by persons with disabilities, need to be intensified and accelerated, given that persons with disabilities have historically been marginalized and have often been among those left furthest behind.

A fundamental shift in commitment, solidarity, financing and action is critical. Encouragingly, with the adoption of the Political Declaration of the recent SDG Summit, world leaders have recommitted themselves to achieving sustainable development and shared prosperity for all, by focusing on policies and actions that target the poorest and most vulnerable, including persons with disabilities.

The United Nations Disability Inclusion Strategy

When launching the United Nations Disability Inclusion Strategy in June 2019, the Secretary-General stated that the United Nations should lead by example and raise the Organization’s standards and performance on disability inclusion—across all pillars of work, from headquarters to the field.  

The United Nations Disability Inclusion Strategy provides the foundation for sustainable and transformative progress on disability inclusion through all pillars of the work of the United Nations. Through the Strategy, the United Nations system reaffirms that the full and complete realization of the human rights of all persons with disabilities is an inalienable, integral and indivisible part of all human rights and fundamental freedoms.

In August 2023, the Secretary-General submitted his fourth report on steps taken by the UN system to  implement the UN Disability Inclusion Strategy in 2022.

Commemorative Event : UNHQ, 1 December 2023, 10am-1pm (New York Time)

The discussion will be structured around five pillars of sustainable development – People, Planet, Prosperity, Peace, and Partnerships – with a special focus on the priority areas identified in the SDG Progress Report of 2023, in the outcome document of the recent SDG Summit, in policy briefs prepared for the Summit for the Future and in the forthcoming UN Disability and Development Report 2023. For purposes of this discussion, the priority areas can be identified as gender equality (People), climate action (Planet), financing for development (Prosperity), a new agenda for peace (Peace) and strengthening multilateralism (Partnerships).

Concept note [PDF]

Did you know? 

Of the one billion population of persons with disabilities, 80% live in developing countries.

An estimated 46% of older people aged 60 years and over are people with disabilities.

One in every five women is likely to experience disability in her life, while one in every ten children is a child with a disability.

[jordanianroyals]

17 September 2023: Queen Rania attended UNICEF’s Champions for Children: Child Rights at the Heart of the SDGs reception event in New York, which took place on the sidelines of the High-level Week of the 78th United Nations General Assembly (UNGA).

Hosted by UNICEF’s Executive Director, Catherine Russell, and featuring the First Lady of the United States, Dr. Jill Biden, as a keynote speaker, the event aims to place children at the heart of achieving the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) by focusing on their empowerment and the need to invest in their future. (Source: Petra)

Convening around the release of a new UNICEF report addressing progress on child-specific indicators in the SDGs, the event shed light on children’s vulnerability and highlighted the unprecedented opportunity to shape the future for children, transforming, and accelerating progress.  

According to the report, Progress on Children's Well-Being: Centering child rights in the 2030 Agenda, two-thirds of child-related indicators are off-pace to meet their 2030 SDGs target. The report warns that as of today, only 6% of the world’s child population living in just 11 countries have reached 50% of child-related targets met. If this trajectory continues, it is expected that only 60 countries – home to just 25% of the world’s children – will have met their targets by 2030, leaving around 1.9 billion children in 140 countries behind.

The analysis weaves together over 20 years of data across more than 190 countries, comparing where countries stand today against where they aim to be in the next seven years, and identifying the challenges and opportunities for accelerated action. The findings show a mixed picture of both progress and backsliding against the global goals.

The report also reveals that accelerated development is possible with strong national commitment, effective policies, and adequate financing, with some low and lower-middle-income countries making the fastest rate of progress.

 Attended by youth advocates, UNICEF Goodwill Ambassadors, and several high-profile guests, the event featured a segment on ways to champion children in areas like health, education, climate, and peace-building efforts.

Other prominent speakers included Queen Mathilde of Belgium and UNICEF Goodwill Ambassador, actor Orlando Bloom.

[giftofshewbread]

The World Economic Forum Says It Will ‘Accelerate’ Implementation of Globalist Agenda 2030

World leaders will be gathering together later this year to “accelerate the implementation of Agenda 2030,” according to an announcement made by the unaccountable, corporate-led World Economic Forum (WEF) earlier this week.

The United Nations (UN) and the WEF appear frustrated by a lack of progress made towards their ‘Great Reset‘ ideology, alongside Agenda 2030, the socialist, ideological successor to the failed “Millennium Development Goals”.

The WEF – led by German engineer Klaus Schwab, whose father once worked for the Nazi Party apparatus – has said previous efforts to implement their plans “suffered unforeseen setbacks due to the COVID-19 pandemic, major negative impacts of climate change, and the rising cost of food and fuel everywhere due to the conflict in Ukraine.”

Global leaders and representatives are, therefore, being summoned to “strategize” and expedite the progress of what the WEF refers to as “arguably the greatest-ever human endeavor undertaken to create peaceful, just, equal, and sustainable societies.”

The UN Department of Economic and Social Affairs has argued that “[p]ractical solutions that can accelerate progress on the [Sustainable Development Goals of the United Nations (SDGs)] will be urgently needed.”

The seventeen SDGs comprising Agenda 2030 were first compiled in 2015 and were agreed upon by 191 UN Member State governments, though not necessarily their voting publics. These “goals” include laudable aspirations such as “ending poverty”, and eradicating world hunger, amongst more nefarious globalist goals in areas of gender ideology and hard-left socialist economics.

Since Davos 2o21, the WEF has publicly discussed how these goals can be used to achieve the ‘Great Reset,’ which would see ordinary people able to own nothing personally. The WEF claims this will increase happiness in the world.

Civic Participation.

The WEF is focusing on something called “civic participation” to push its plans. They describe this as tackling “economic inequality, gender imbalances, corruption, and environmental degradation.”

“In the quest to build back better,” says the WEF, “civil society is proposing new ways of achieving the SDGs and creating a better post-pandemic world.”

What this will look like is something approximating communism, for a better world is one where “the benefits are evenly spread” because “development must be about freedom from fear and freedom from want.”

This appears to be very much in line with the WEF’s agenda where everyone works together for the “common good,” rather than aiming for profit or reward for hard work rendered or risks taken.

Halfway There.

The WEF plans to assemble world leaders after the highly-anticipated Sustainable Development Goals Progress Report is published by the Secretary-General of the UN, Antonio Guterres, later this year.

The report’s findings will inevitably lay the foundations for the international deliberations. “This year’s report,” insists the WEF, “is especially crucial as we’re nearing the halfway point of Agenda 2030.”

[dayanaamae2]

"TRAVEL IN TIMES OF PANDEMIC"

TOURISM AND COVID-19 – UNPRECEDENTED ECONOMIC IMPACTS

The Policy Brief provides an overview of the pandemic's socioeconomic impacts on tourism, including the millions of jobs it supports. It emphasizes the role of tourism in advancing the SDGs, including its relationship with environmental goals and culture. The Brief emphasizes the importance of mitigating the effects on livelihoods, particularly for women, youth, and informal workers.

The crisis provides an opportunity to reconsider how tourism interacts with our societies, other economic sectors, and natural resources and ecosystems; to better measure and manage it; to ensure equitable distribution of its benefits; and to accelerate the transition to a carbon-neutral and resilient tourism economy.

HUGE IMPACT ON LIVELIHOODS

-Several examples of community involvement in nature tourism demonstrate how communities, including indigenous peoples, can protect their cultural and natural heritage while creating wealth and improving their well-being. The impact of COVID-19 on tourism puts additional strain on heritage conservation as well as community cultural and social fabric, particularly for indigenous peoples and ethnic groups.

-Many intangible cultural heritage practices, such as traditional festivals and gatherings, have been halted or postponed, and the closure of markets for handicrafts, products, and other goods has had a particularly negative impact on indigenous women's revenues.

[internationalliteracyday]

Shed light on the transformative power of literacy to foster mutual understanding and peace in multilingual contexts.

In this context, The International Literacy Day 2024 will shed light on the transformative power of literacy to foster mutual understanding and peace in multilingual contexts, looking at relevant policies, programmes, practices, and governance, to accelerate progress towards the SDGs and beyond. Whereas ILD is traditionally an occasion to promote literacy for all age groups, ILD2024 will focus, in particular, on youth and adult literacy.

[darkmaga-retard]

Written by Derrick Broze

The Last American Vagabond

Sep 05, 2024

With the UN's Summit of the Future less than 20 days away the vast majority of the public has no idea governments of the world are set to sign the so-called Pact for the Future.

On September 22 and 23, the United Nations member states will gather in New York City at the UN headquarters for the historic Summit of the Future with the intention to sign the Pact for the Future. This document is expected to radically accelerate the push towards the completion of the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and the Agenda 2030.

The Summit of the Future is taking place during the 79th session of the annual UN General Assembly. The summit has been in the making since at least 2022 after repeated calls by UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres to shift financial resources to rapidly complete the Agenda 2030 goals set by the UN in 2015.

Although this historic gathering is sure to impact the majority of the world's population, it has received very little coverage from the corporate media, and almost no coverage from the independent media. One issue which has received mainstream coverage relates to 77 Nobel Laureates and world leaders signing a letter complaining about references to fossil fuels being removed from the Pact for the Future. The references were later reinserted after the letter was made public.

The discussion about fossil fuels fits the UN's narrative about impending doom relating to climate change. It is this panic around climate change which has led to the convening of the Summit of the Future and calls for strengthening the UN infrastructure.

The Summit's theme -- "Ultilateral Solutions for A Better Tomorrow" -- illustrates the goal of this gathering. Namely, a push for strengthening, and even remaking, the UN to better tackle crises which are ostensibly looming in the coming years.

[sky-blue99]

Dtop Universal Carnival was invited to attend the United Nations Global Compact 'Asia and Oceania' event.

Recently, the "Faster Forward | Asia and Oceania" event, organized by the United Nations Global Compact in collaboration with the Global Compact networks and country offices from 15 countries in Asia and Oceania, was successfully held in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. Hosted by the United Nations Global Compact Malaysia and Brunei Network, the event brought together leaders from various fields to accelerate sustainable business practices and advance the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Nearly 500 representatives from the United Nations Global Compact signatory organizations attended the event. Dtop Universal Carnival, as a signatory of the United Nations Global Compact, participated in this event.

 United Nations Global Compact CEO Sanda Ojiambo stated: "The commitment and spirit of innovation from businesses in Asia and Oceania are crucial for achieving the Sustainable Development Goals. By leveraging their resources and expertise, the private sector can lead the way in creating a more sustainable and equitable future for all."

The Deputy Minister of the Malaysia Ministry of Energy Transition and Water Transformation, Akmal Nasrullah bin Mohd Nasir, delivered a keynote speech titled "Accelerating Sustainable Business Actions in Asia and Oceania." He emphasized the Malaysian government's commitment to public-private partnerships and highlighted the importance of these collaborations in enhancing the global influence of small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) in Malaysia. He also noted that SMEs are a crucial part of Malaysia's economy and play a complementary role in the nation's development.

During the final discussion session, Connor McKenzie, Director of the Asia-Pacific Regional Sustainability Department at Dtop Universal Carnival, shared insights with other business representatives and guests on how joining the United Nations Global Compact, sharing best practices, and participating in projects can enhance collaboration with other companies and stakeholders to drive the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals.

During the event, leaders emphasized the crucial role of the private sector in sustainable development. Participating companies showcased their transformative impact on corporate social responsibility through various initiatives, ranging from renewable energy projects to sustainable supply chain practices. Currently, over 270 companies in Asia and Oceania have joined the United Nations Global Compact’s "Faster Forward" initiative. This initiative calls on global business leaders to take specific, credible, and ambitious actions in five key areas: gender equality, climate action, living wages, finance and investment, and water resilience. Through the collective efforts of the private sector, the initiative aims to accelerate the achievement of all 17 Sustainable Development Goals by 2030.

In the future, Dtop Universal Carnival will continue to be guided by its sustainability strategy, driving innovation and application of its platform and services. The company will actively explore and practice high-quality, sustainable operational concepts, fulfill its corporate social responsibility, and advance responsible corporate governance and business practices. Dtop Universal Carnival aims to collaborate with partners to drive a transformative ecosystem that achieves the Sustainable Development Goals, accelerating and expanding the global collective impact of businesses.

[mariacallous]

For this year’s International Women’s Day, the United Nations calls on us to “Invest in Women: Accelerate Progress.” The theme highlights how, amid a global polycrisis, achieving gender equality is vital for the collective well-being of communities worldwide. It calls attention to the significant challenges that persist in ensuring gender-equitable outcomes: in particular, evidence from the 2023 Gender Snapshot projecting that 340 million women and girls will still be living in poverty by 2030 and highlighting a significant funding shortfall—an additional $360 billion investment needed to achieve SDG goals of gender equality.

As global calls for financing for gender equality continue, it is vital to center care in these conversations. Over the past few decades, while programs focusing on women’s inclusion into the formal economy have made promising strides, much of the labor traditionally performed by girls and women, such as domestic and care work, is unpaid and not accounted for in conventional economic models. Globally, women perform an estimated 76 percent of unpaid care work. Even when paid, care work is often characterized by low wages and inadequate working conditions, especially for the most marginalized workers.

This International Women’s Day, as we reflect upon the advances made in the struggle for gender equality and justice in the previous decades, policy and program design would also be strengthened from addressing the relative invisibility of women’s labor across informal and care economies.

Situating women in global development

Globally, women’s inclusion as stakeholders in development processes emerged in the 1970s as part of a transnational “Women in Development” movement, which sought to position women as central to development—both as agents and beneficiaries. The movement’s advocacy translated into significant policy shifts, beginning with the 1973 Percy Amendment to the U.S. Foreign Assistance Act, requiring that “U.S. foreign aid programs encourage and promote the integration of women into the national economies in the developing countries.”

In the following decade, a broad array of global actors began championing women’s role in development. For example, the OECD instituted the Guiding Principles for Supporting the Role of Women in Development in 1983, and the World Bank established a Women in Development division in 1987. Galvanized by the U.N. Decade for Women (1975), along with decades of feminist research and organizing across the Global South and North, such programs ranged from women workers’ rights to small scale social enterprise, the latter of which were contemporaneous with the ascendancy of neoliberal policies in the 1980s and the faith in increasingly market-based solutions toward development.

But much like the biologically deterministic category of “woman” itself, actors working in the women in development space were far from homogenous. Over the intervening decades, their work has pushed theory and practice in new directions, introducing debates over whether women’s economic inclusion should be separated from advocating structural transformations in the political economy and asking what the roles of gender, race, caste, class, ability, and geopolitics are in women’s development programs. This has led to new frameworks, including those emphasizing gender relations, intersectionality, and global redistributive politics, which continue to shape contemporary debates in the broader field of gender and development.

In many of these debates, the gendered division of labor has been at the center. For example, feminist research on social reproduction—which broadly refers to the paid and unpaid labor necessary to sustain human life, such as care work—highlights not only that such labor has historically been seen as “women’s work” but also how its devaluation is fundamental in reproducing inequality and patriarchy.

Building care infrastructures for a gender-equal future

So, while today’s calls to invest in gender equality can fuel transformative initiatives, there are also perils associated with focusing solely on women’s inclusion in the formal labor market. Evaluating progress through this lens can not only render women who perform domestic or care work as “unworthy, disposable others,” but can also erase how race, class, and geopolitics shape labor across all gender identities. A broader view of the economy, which encompasses concepts of care, is fundamental in creating a more gender-equal future. In fact, Sustainable Development Goal 5.4 underscores the importance of valuing unpaid work by providing essential public services and promoting shared household responsibilities.

Building care infrastructures that recognize, fairly compensate, and redistribute the care work performed predominately by the working class, migrants, and women of color can lead to a multitude of benefits, including ensuring better educational outcomes for children, improving women’s mental well-being, and expanding women’s access to economic opportunities. One example of how the redistribution of care work can lead to gender equality is adequate and well-incentivized paternity leave, which can increase mothers’ probability of reemployment, promote maternal health, and advance gender and economic equality. Additionally, recognizing unpaid care and domestic work can help promote the elimination of discriminatory social norms and deep-rooted stereotypes around ideas of gender and labor–ultimately contributing to building more inclusive societies for all gender identities.

Looking forward

As global stakeholders respond to this year’s International Women’s Day call, determining who, how, and what to invest in can facilitate progress toward more equitable and sustainable development goals.

Who: Using an intersectional lens can enable stakeholders to identify how different systems of oppression—and the particularities between them—marginalize individuals and communities across all gender identities, and who should be centered in policy and programs.

How: The root causes of marginalization may then be addressed through a critical reflection of power dynamics across and within development contexts, and empowering local communities to chart their paths toward justice and equality, which can also inform recent “localization” efforts championed by development actors such as the U.S. Agency for International Development.

What: Finally, such shifts toward intersectionality and localization may also benefit from directly addressing inequities at the household, community, and national levels—in particular, both domestic work at home and in paid sectors such as education and health care—by developing concrete tools and infrastructures that value and redistribute care burdens.

As we craft new strategies to carry forward the decades-long fight to transform systems that sustain inequality and patriarchy, reimagining the relationships between gender, labor, and the economy is essential to building a more just future for all.

[allthebrazilianpolitics]

Evidence and Lessons from Brazil’s Food Procurement Programme

The COVID-19 pandemic and the war in Ukraine have led to an increase in the number of people suffering from hunger and malnutrition. The war, in particular, has affected countries and commercial partners that rely on agricultural commodities from both Russia and Ukraine as producers face difficulties in commercialising their produce with the increase in agricultural input prices. Brazil’s Programa de Aquisição de Alimentos (Food Procurement Programme) is a food procurement policy by which the government directly purchases produce from small-scale/family farmers that are distributed to those who need them most, identified through welfare services. Since 2003, the PAA has guaranteed the commercialisation of family farmer production, ensuring that they have access to regular income. It has also provided adequate and healthy food to families experiencing food insecurity. This policy brief recommends the adaptation of Programa de Aquisição de Alimentos for other countries as it could accelerate progress towards the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

Continue reading.

[elsa16744]

What is the Importance of ESG Reporting in Business? 

Corporate sustainability investors, consultants, and strategists imagine a future where every business has efficient policies governing eco-friendly production methods. Likewise, embracing diversity and financial reporting transparency helps combat legal risks from unethical practices like discrimination and corruption. This post will discuss the importance of ESG reporting in business. 

What is ESG Reporting? 

ESG, or environmental, social, and governance, is an investment strategy using business performance analysis to monitor how a company consumes natural resources, handles employee relations, and practices accounting transparency. So, an ESG consulting services firm will deliver the required data through an appropriate reporting mechanism. 

Using these compliance metrics, investors can quantify the brand’s positive or negative influence on society and nature. Moreover, an ESG report systematically categorizes sustainability metrics into three sections or pillars. 

The environmental pillar summarizes how an organization integrates green technology and reduces plastic usage. Besides, it investigates metrics like the deforestation risks associated with an industry. 

Diversity and multicultural tolerance are at the core of the social considerations in ESG reporting. Additionally, preventing workplace hazards and empowering marginalized groups through affirmative action policies are crucial. 

Governance in sustainable development benchmarks rewards companies employing advanced financial and digital security measures with higher ratings. It assesses how a brand prioritizes ethics, privacy rights, and investor relations. 

What is the Importance of ESG Reporting in Business? 

1| ESG Helps Mitigate Supply Chain Risks 

A lack of standardization and governance exposes your supply chains to legal, financial, and environmental threats, but ESG service providers can assist you in overcoming those challenges. The governance aspects in sustainability compliance audits inspect which suppliers engage in socio-economically harmful practices. 

Using the data-led recommendations in the reports, organizations can determine whether to train suppliers or search for other resource providers. Therefore, managers can increase the company’s resilience to supply chain risks. For example, suppliers must avoid child labor, pollution, and corruption. Otherwise, your enterprise’s reputation will decline once investors and analysts investigate you. 

ESG reporting enables corporations to find suppliers who know the importance of the United Nations’ sustainable development goals (SDGs). Since most suppliers will change their operations to respond to industry dynamics, reliably examining their ESG scores after suitable intervals is essential. 

2| Consumer and Investors Relations Improve 

Individuals want to purchase eco-friendly products, while impact investors want to support sustainable companies. Therefore, corporate strategists must explore roadmaps for aligning a company’s business model with modern stakeholder expectations. 

Developing ESG-powered business intelligence to estimate the shifts in consumer preferences benefits corporations in planning a new product launch. Similarly, using applicable and valid sustainability metrics for marketing materials goes a long way toward increasing brand awareness and trustworthiness. 

Besides, several governments direct companies to embrace standardized financial self-disclosures. Since ESG reporting integrates globally respected sustainability accounting guidelines, developing the disclosure documentation for investor communications becomes more manageable. 

3| Operational Efficiency Increases 

Toxic workplaces and preferential treatment will accelerate the talent drain at a company. So, social inclusivity and employee health insights empower managers to keep the workers energetic, creative, and productive. 

Furthermore, green technology integrations contribute to energy usage reduction. And the governance components prevent accounting inconsistencies. These advantages of ESG reporting ultimately enhance an organization’s quarterly progress. 

All the financial improvements also help brands transfer the benefits to their stakeholders. Consider the case of refurbished electronic devices. Consumers can get reasonably functional equipment at a lower price while the e-waste generation rate decreases. 

Conclusion 

Regulatory bodies and fund managers recognize the rising importance of ESG reporting in business, administration, and the global economy. Simultaneously, research and development (R&D) into renewable energy resources has attracted investors in several markets. 

Consumers have also voiced their concerns whenever a brand fails to embrace SDGs’ sustainable, inclusive, and transparent vision. 

Therefore, leveraging statistical and computer-aided benchmarks at an extensive scale has become mainstream across business development strategies. As its significance grows with each passing day, leaders must find experienced domain specialists to implement an ESG-first approach throughout their operations.

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UN Global Compact Drives Sustainable Business Forward at Asia & Oceania Event

Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, Aug. 06, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — The UN Global Compact successfully concluded its regional flagship event, “Forward Faster Now | Asia & Oceania,” held at the Asia School of Business on 5-6 August. The event convened leaders from various sectors to accelerate sustainable business practices and advance the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) attracting nearly 500…

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Understanding WBCSD PACT Conformant: A Step Towards Sustainable Business Practices

In an era where environmental sustainability and responsible business practices are paramount, companies worldwide are seeking frameworks that guide them toward better environmental, social, and governance (ESG) standards. One such framework is the WBCSD PACT Conformant. This initiative, led by the World Business Council for Sustainable Development (WBCSD), is designed to help businesses align their operations with sustainable development goals (SDGs).

What is WBCSD PACT?

The WBCSD PACT (Platform for Accelerating Circular Transformation) is an initiative that aims to accelerate the transition to a circular economy. The circular economy model emphasizes reducing waste, reusing materials, and recycling resources to create a more sustainable and environmentally friendly economic system. By adopting the principles of the WBCSD PACT, businesses can reduce their environmental footprint, improve resource efficiency, and promote sustainable growth.

WBCSD PACT Conformant refers to the adherence to the guidelines and principles set out by the WBCSD PACT initiative. This conformity ensures that businesses are not only aware of circular economy principles but are also actively implementing them in their operations. Being WBCSD PACT Conformant signifies a commitment to sustainability and responsible resource management.

Key Components of WBCSD PACT Conformant

Resource Efficiency: One of the core principles of WBCSD PACT is maximizing resource efficiency. This involves using resources more effectively throughout their lifecycle, from extraction to disposal. Companies that are WBCSD PACT Conformant implement strategies to minimize waste, enhance recycling processes, and utilize renewable resources wherever possible.

Sustainable Product Design: Designing products with sustainability in mind is another critical aspect. WBCSD PACT Conformant companies focus on creating products that are durable, repairable, and recyclable. This reduces the environmental impact of products and ensures they can be reintegrated into the production cycle.

Collaboration and Innovation: The transition to a circular economy requires collaboration across various sectors. WBCSD PACT encourages businesses to work together, share best practices, and innovate to develop new solutions for sustainability challenges. Companies that are WBCSD PACT Conformant actively participate in these collaborative efforts, driving collective progress towards a circular economy.

Transparency and Reporting: Transparency is vital in demonstrating a company's commitment to sustainability. WBCSD PACT Conformant companies are expected to maintain high standards of transparency in their operations, regularly reporting on their sustainability efforts and progress. This openness builds trust with stakeholders and showcases the company's dedication to responsible business practices.

Benefits of Being WBCSD PACT Conformant

Enhanced Reputation: Companies that adhere to WBCSD PACT principles are seen as leaders in sustainability, which can enhance their reputation among consumers, investors, and partners. This positive perception can lead to increased customer loyalty and attract environmentally conscious investors.

Operational Efficiency: Implementing the circular economy principles of WBCSD PACT often leads to greater operational efficiency. By reducing waste and improving resource utilization, companies can lower their costs and increase profitability.

Regulatory Compliance: As governments worldwide introduce stricter environmental regulations, being WBCSD PACT Conformant can help companies stay ahead of compliance requirements. This proactive approach reduces the risk of regulatory fines and supports long-term business viability.

Market Opportunities: The shift towards sustainability opens up new market opportunities. WBCSD PACT Conformant companies are well-positioned to capitalize on these opportunities, offering products and services that meet the growing demand for environmentally responsible solutions.

Conclusion

The WBCSD PACT Conformant framework provides a comprehensive approach for businesses aiming to adopt sustainable practices and contribute to a circular economy. By adhering to the principles of the WBCSD PACT, companies can improve their resource efficiency, enhance their reputation, and unlock new market opportunities. As more businesses become WBCSD PACT Conformant, the collective impact on sustainability and environmental preservation will be significant, driving global progress towards a more sustainable future.

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“Gut, Microbiome & Millets: The Inflammation Fix”, Celiac Society of India organised A Revolutionary Seminar for Chronic Disease Prevention

● Illness to Wellness initiative celebrated a decade of promoting preventive healthcare.

● The seminar highlighted gut health's impact on chronic diseases and the benefits of millets.

● Experts shared insights on microbiome balance and practical dietary solutions with a diverse audience.

New Delhi, 8th July 2024 – The Celiac Society of India and the Indian Coalition for the Control of Iodine Deficiency Disorders, in partnership with Illness to Wellness, today hosted a transformative seminar titled “Gut, Microbiome & Millets: The Inflammation Fix.” The seminar aimed to illuminate the critical role of gut health in combating prevalent nutritional deficiencies and chronic diseases, emphasizing practical dietary changes for improved public health outcomes.

Distinguished guests, including Dr. Vinod Paul, Member of NITI AAYOG; Ms. Meenakshi Lekhi, Former Union Minister; and Dr. Chandrakant S. Pandav, Padma Shri awardee and Former Professor & Head of Community Medicine at AIIMS, advocated for rightful eating, Gut Health and the need for the use of Magic Millet in our daily lives.

The seminar highlighted the importance of gut health in addressing the epidemic of nutritional deficiencies and chronic degenerative diseases such as obesity, diabetes, high blood pressure, heart disease, cancers, autoimmune diseases, and mental health issues. Often referred to as the second brain, the gut houses two-thirds of the immune system, underscoring its crucial role in overall health. Recent studies emphasize the profound impact of gut health on overall well-being, highlighting its role in managing obesity, diabetes, heart disease, and mental health.

The eminent speakers who enlightened the audience with their insights included Dr. Arjun Dang, MBBS, MD, CEO & Partner at Dr. Dang’s Lab; Dr. Meena Mishra, MBBS, MD, Chairperson of the Brain Behavior Research Foundation of India; Dr. Kapil Yadav, MBBS, MD, Professor at the Centre for Community Medicine, AIIMS; Ms. Ishi Khosla, Clinical Nutritionist, Columnist, Author, Entrepreneur & Researcher and Dr. Asha Chandra, Founder of Asha Chandra Welfare Consultancy among others.

Speakers highlighted pointers on the disruption of microbiome balance caused by commonly eaten grains and highlighted the benefits of ancient, anti-inflammatory, gut-friendly grains like millets. The engaging discussions provided attendees with practical dietary changes to incorporate these nutritious grains into their daily lives, dispelling myths and misconceptions along the way.

While opening the session, the Iodine Man of India, Dr. Chandrakant Pandav, Padma Shri awardee and renowned expert in community medicine with significant contributions to iodine deficiency disorders and public health said, "Wellness encompasses nine interconnected components: Physical, Emotional, Social, Creative, Spiritual, Financial, Environmental, and Occupational. Each of these elements is vital to achieving overall well-being. Development should be measured beyond economic metrics, taking inspiration from Bhutan's Gross National Happiness, which emphasizes happiness and well-being as key indicators of progress. According to the June 2024 UN report, only 17% of the 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) are on track to be achieved by 2030. Immediate and accelerated action is required to meet these global objectives."

Pressing on the need for behavioural change, Dr. Vinod Kumar Paul, Member of NITI Aayog said, "We must tackle the nutrition crisis through behavioural change, shifting to nutritious foods like millets instead of processed ones. Our ancestors knew diet influences behaviour, and our Prime Minister has promoted this by celebrating the International Year of Millets and the G20 Presidency. Millets benefit both health and the environment.

Celiac disease is a hidden condition that needs more awareness. The CNNS data shows alarming trends: 11% of children aged 10-19 are pre-diabetic, and obesity rates are rising by 4-5%. I urge teachers, parents, and caregivers to focus on children's diets, obesity, and overall lifestyle. Regular health checkups, including BMI assessments, are crucial. Nutritionists and industry professionals must prioritize adolescent health.”

Calling for participation from Doctors, Scientists and Nutritionists, Dr Paul insisted, “We need evidence that changes can reduce obesity and anemia on a large scale. Preconception care for women and proper complementary feeding between six to eight months of a child's life are critical, yet only 46% of children receive this care. Additionally, only 12% of children aged six to eighteen months receive a minimum acceptable diet, leaving 88% lacking essential nutrition. Special attention is needed for early and low-birth-weight babies, who make up 30% of births and require intensive feeding. This is a critical public health nutrition issue that demands immediate action.”

Describing how Millets has changed her life, Meenakshi Lekhi, Former Union Minister said, “We need a millet revolution, much like the green revolution. Ancient texts from the Neolithic period and the Harappa and Indus Valley civilizations reference millets, highlighting their historical significance. Varieties like Black Millet, Barnyard Millet, Foxtail Millet, and Sorghum Millet were once staples in our diet before colonial influences changed our eating habits.

India now produces 20% of the world's millet and 80% of Asia's. It's time to reclaim millet as our best food, particularly for undernourished children, and promote it for gut health to address many health issues. Remember, 'food itself is a medicine.' Indian doctors, trained in both traditional and Western medicine, understand this well.

Advocating that women shouldn’t ignore the benefits of breastfeeding, Mrs. Lekhi highlighted that, Data shows over 70% of breastfeeding women do not get breast cancer, emphasizing the importance of women's health and breastfeeding."

Appreciating the efforts by Celiac Society of India, Mr Anil Rajput, Chairperson, National CSR Council, ASSOCHAM said, “It's incredibly encouraging to see the Celiac Society organizing a program to raise awareness about gut health. We all understand the crucial role gut health plays in overall well-being, as many health issues originate from the gut. A healthy gut is the foundation of good health. I am deeply grateful to Ishi Khosla and the Celiac Society for arranging this event and wish it a great success.

Dr. Arjun Dang, CEO of Dr. Dangs Lab, emphasized the importance of diet and highlighted the triple burden of malnutrition: undernutrition, overnutrition, and micronutrient deficiencies. Dr. Dang proposed strategies like enhancing maternal nutrition, deworming campaigns, diversifying diets with millets and pulses, and promoting health education.

Dr. Kapil Yadav of AIIMS New Delhi emphasized that anemia is not just a medical issue but one rooted in nutrition. He highlighted the gut's role as a critical gatekeeper, with the microbiome and millets being key in addressing anemia. Rising anemia cases are linked to lifestyle changes, food quality, and climate change. Dr. Yadav noted that reduced kitchen time and increased processed food consumption have led to less diverse, less nutritious diets, moving away from the "Rainbow plate" of our ancestors.

"Micronutrients play a crucial role in brain development across all stages of life—from childhood through to ageing. Special attention is essential during lactation and early pregnancy. Early childhood nutrition is pivotal for cognitive development; traditions like Ragi ceremonies in Karnataka underscore its importance. Scientifically, millet-based weaning diets enhance attention spans and cognitive performance in children." said Dr. Meena Mishra, Consultant Radiation Oncologist.

Renowned Clinical Nutritionist & Author, Ishi Khosla said, "Grain Changer is a game changer as modern science reconnects us with our gut. Millets boost haemoglobin in pregnant women carrying twins. The 'four G's'—Gut, Girth, Gluten, and Glucose—interconnect to transform our eating habits and lifestyle permanently."

Dr. Ashutosh Shukla, Senior Director of Internal Medicine, Max Hospital Gurugram said, "Lifestyle diseases stem from gut health; imbalanced bacteria can lead to inflammation, metabolic disorders, and mental health issues. Bad gut bacteria contribute to the rise in these diseases, disrupting the immune system and increasing risks like diabetes."

"Gut health impacts lifestyle diseases profoundly. Bacteria, present for over a million years, play a vital role in breaking down fiber and producing essential vitamins. Disruptions in this cycle can lead to metabolic and mental health disorders. Skin issues, from allergies to pigmentation, often originate from gut health. Treating the gut enhances treatment efficacy, linking nutrition to overall harmony in life." concluded Dr. Mankul Goyal- Dermatology from AIIMS Delhi.

The seminar concluded with a call to action for adopting millets and prioritizing gut health as vital steps towards achieving better health outcomes and preventing chronic diseases.