Tom Leary's Blog

The Best Mother’s Day Gift of All | USAID Impact

Thu, 16 May 2013 10:18:00 -0400

The Best Mother’s Day Gift of All | USAID Impact:

“Tell them thank you.”

Aids breakthrough as study says treatment should cost less | Society | The Guardian 2012-07-20 Sarah Boseley

Wed, 25 Jul 2012 08:47:00 -0400

Aids breakthrough as study says treatment should cost less | Society | The Guardian 2012-07-20 Sarah Boseley:

“Together, the costing study and price reductions open the door to scaling up and sustaining services for the 7 million people who currently lack access to HIV treatment. Providing treatment will save lives and help prevent the spread of HIV.”

Obama’s Fantastic Boring Idea - NYTimes.com 2012-07-12 Nicholas Kristof

Sun, 15 Jul 2012 09:46:00 -0400

Obama’s Fantastic Boring Idea - NYTimes.com 2012-07-12 Nicholas Kristof:

So, sure, there’s no less glamorous kind of foreign aid than chilies, irrigation pumps and mud silos. But if this kind of assistance can help end famine and emergency aid, and if it can send kids to college, then let’s celebrate boring aid!

Clinton Foundation — AGOA and the Emerging African Market 2012-07-12 Witney Schneidman

Fri, 13 Jul 2012 18:33:00 -0400

Clinton Foundation — AGOA and the Emerging African Market 2012-07-12 Witney Schneidman:

President Bill Clinton signed the African Growth and Opportunity Act into law while in office. The agreement has expanded since 2000 to include 40 countries 6 of which are among the fastest growing economies in the world.

The Next Empire - The Atlantic - May 2010 Howard French

Sun, 01 Jul 2012 22:19:52 -0400

The Next Empire - The Atlantic - May 2010 Howard French:

Chinese companies have muscled in on lucrative oil markets in places like Angola, Nigeria, Algeria, and Sudan. But oil is neither the largest nor the fastest-growing part of the story. Chinese firms are striking giant mining deals in places like Zambia and the Democratic Republic of the Congo, and building what is being touted as the world’s largest iron mine in Gabon. They are prospecting for land on which to build huge agribusinesses. And to get these minerals and crops to market, they are building major new ports and thousands of miles of highway.

Eurozone austerity hits world's poor as Europe's aid falls by €700m | Business | The Guardian 2012-06-24 Larry Elliott

Sun, 01 Jul 2012 21:40:00 -0400

Eurozone austerity hits world's poor as Europe's aid falls by €700m | Business | The Guardian 2012-06-24 Larry Elliott:

“Countries such as the Netherlands, the UK and Ireland demonstrate that it is possible through determined leadership and smart choices to protect aid budgets. Their example must be replicated.”

TED Blog | Crowdsourcing the New Millennium Development Goals: Jamie Drummond at TEDGlobal2012 2012-06-26

Sun, 01 Jul 2012 21:30:37 -0400

TED Blog | Crowdsourcing the New Millennium Development Goals: Jamie Drummond at TEDGlobal2012 2012-06-26:

“I’m sure that with technological, political and campaigning innovation combined, working as one — we can get this job done.”

Africa on the Rise - NYTimes.com 2012-07-01 Nicholas Kristof

Sun, 01 Jul 2012 10:48:00 -0400

Africa on the Rise - NYTimes.com 2012-07-01 Nicholas Kristof:

American businesses seem to be only beginning to wake up to the economic potential here. Why does that matter? Because trade often benefits a country more than aid. I’m a strong supporter of foreign aid, but economic growth and jobs are ultimately the most sustainable way to raise living standards.

Emerging Africa: How 17 Countries Are Leading the Way (Brief) - Center For Global Development - September 2010 Steven Radelet

Fri, 29 Jun 2012 21:07:00 -0400

Emerging Africa: How 17 Countries Are Leading the Way (Brief) - Center For Global Development - September 2010 Steven Radelet:

The transformation in these countries has been little noticed by the outside world and is too often overshadowed by negative news from other African countries. But the break from the past is clear.

The Future of America’s Partnership with Sub-Saharan Africa | The White House 2011-06-14 Grant Harris

Fri, 29 Jun 2012 18:29:00 -0400

The Future of America’s Partnership with Sub-Saharan Africa | The White House 2011-06-14 Grant Harris:

Today, President Obama took another step in deepening our partnerships with the nations and peoples of sub-Saharan Africa. In signing a new Presidential Policy Directive on the region, President Obama has committed the United States to a forward-looking strategy in which we will work closely with our African partners to advance the prosperity, security, and dignity that citizens deserve.

How the U.S. Farm Bill Could Save Both Money and Lives in Africa - Huffington Post 2012-06-27 Kelly Hauser

Wed, 27 Jun 2012 12:56:39 -0400

How the U.S. Farm Bill Could Save Both Money and Lives in Africa - Huffington Post 2012-06-27 Kelly Hauser :

…In order to close this gap in the short-term, donor countries must fulfill the UN’s appeal for humanitarian aid and link emergency aid with development assistance. By my back-of-the-envelope calculations, Congress has the opportunity to make changes to the Farm Bill that would allow U.S. food assistance to reach 6 million more people with the same amount of funding.

Video

Tue, 26 Jun 2012 14:12:02 -0400

Queen Rania’s Keynote Address - OECD Forum

Thu, 07 Jun 2012 09:07:32 -0400

Queen Rania’s Keynote Address - OECD Forum

Students Protest Investment in Apartheid South Africa | News | Commencement 2012 | The Harvard Crimson 2012-05-23 David Kaufman & Michael George

Thu, 31 May 2012 16:42:58 -0400

Students Protest Investment in Apartheid South Africa | News | Commencement 2012 | The Harvard Crimson 2012-05-23 David Kaufman & Michael George:

“It’s very fulfilling to know you are on the right side of history,” Grossman said.

Five Questions about the New Alliance for Food Security and Nutrition | Feed the Future 2012-05-23

Tue, 29 May 2012 22:01:15 -0400

Five Questions about the New Alliance for Food Security and Nutrition | Feed the Future 2012-05-23:

U.S. President Barack Obama announces the New Alliance for Food Security and Nutrition at the Symposium on Global Agriculture and Food Security on May 18.

BBC News - Viewpoint: Africa must do more to profit from China 2012-05-21 Solange Guo Chatelard

Mon, 28 May 2012 20:17:30 -0400

BBC News - Viewpoint: Africa must do more to profit from China 2012-05-21 Solange Guo Chatelard:

China has opened up new economic, diplomatic and strategic avenues for African states, but it is ultimately down to Africans, both the people in power and the man on the street, to negotiate on their own terms, identify priorities, and leverage opportunities to further their own interests.

Mike Mack: The 'African Century' Can Be Real - WSJ.com 2012-05-22

Mon, 28 May 2012 19:57:38 -0400

Mike Mack: The 'African Century' Can Be Real - WSJ.com 2012-05-22:

Syngenta’s business plan fits this mold, as we’re committing to invest a total of $500 million over the next 10 years to transform African agriculture with shared knowledge, tools, technologies and services. Our aim is to develop a $1 billion business by 2022, with some 700 additional employees—many of whom will be field advisors trained in agronomy—to bring innovative and sustainable methods to more than five million African farmers, enabling them to increase their productivity by 50% or more. Our priority countries for developing these partnerships are Ethiopia, Ghana, Ivory Coast, Kenya, Mozambique, Nigeria and Tanzania.

Bono: How Natural Resources Can Save Africa - TIME 2012-05-28

Fri, 18 May 2012 20:22:48 -0400

Bono: How Natural Resources Can Save Africa - TIME 2012-05-28:

This isn’t about the G-8’s committing massive new aid increases. It’s about continuing present investment and making it smarter. Beyond food, Africa’s vast oil and mineral reserves can be a pipeline to investments in health, education and roads. Mineral extraction is an expensive enterprise, and those who invest in it deserve to make a profit. But they should pay what they owe to governments. Transparency is the vaccine to prevent the biggest disease of them all—corruption, which any African will tell you is killing more kids than HIV/AIDS and malaria combined.

Promise Keepers - By Raymond C. Offenheiser | Foreign Policy 2012-05-17

Fri, 18 May 2012 20:12:34 -0400

Promise Keepers - By Raymond C. Offenheiser | Foreign Policy 2012-05-17:

At the L’Aquila summit, President Barack Obama, then relatively new to the world stage, rallied his fellow leaders of the world’s richest nations to make a promise: If poor countries came up with good plans to help poor farmers grow more and earn more, rich countries would help make it happen. The initiative included a $22 billion financial pledge over three years and a commitment to use the Rome Principles to guide those investments.

S. Africa’s first black dean teaches ‘reconciliation...

Mon, 14 May 2012 22:05:56 -0400

S. Africa’s first black dean teaches ‘reconciliation over revenge’