Nadir Shams

Last week the Hunger Funding Gap Report of 2024 was released, and as expected, the numbers related to the food insecurity in the world were, well not at all positive… The report stated that only 35% of appeals for countries facing crisis levels of hunger were met in 2023. This means that in a world with abundance of food, a staggering number of 281.6 million people are being food insecure or experiencing hunger! In December 2024, I visited Akabo, a fragile county in the Republic of South Sudan, which is currently experiencing the most severe food insecurity in decades. Here, the majority of the population is experiencing emergency (IPC Phase 4) acute food insecurity – just like the Hunger Funding Gap Report describes – and the people there are depending on food handout to survive, and where most survive on 1 meal a day (after food handouts!). “Why?” You might ask. Well it is mainly due to heavy floods and unusual heavy rainfall (caused by climate change) that are destroying cultivated land and making accessibility near to impossible, combined with conflict. Oxfam Denmark, Oxfam in South Sudan and our national partner @CIDOSouthSudan is with funding from Norad - Norwegian Agency for Development Cooperation trying to combat food insecurity in areas of South Sudan (amongst 5 other vulnerable countries). Read about two of the amazing women I met, who are participants of the program and how they through unconditional cash have been able to start small businesses and feed their families. Dr Manenji Mangundu

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Pleased to share our paper has been published from our previous work with UNDP Vietnam & Pakistan to explore how we can help cities better anticipate and prepare for the effects of #climate change on human mobility. This brief particularly dives into the value of blending more quantitative, predictive mechanisms for anticipating futures like climate modeling with more participatory, qualitative approaches from #foresight and systems analysis to reveal more nuanced implications for decision-making.

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Our own Hannah Chargin leading a bipartisan briefing of the House Foreign Affairs Committee! As our Senior Policy Advisor for Food Security, Hannah is working to strengthen the #FarmBill and protect provisions that give communities the tools they need to end child hunger. At a time when hunger is on the rise, we have to stay the course by 1) meeting immediate needs and by 2) tackling the root causes of hunger. Discover more about the Farm Bill and how your advocacy can make a difference: https://lnkd.in/gJdYDJEi #WVAdvocacy

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From access to financial tools and safe working conditions to access to land and resources, farmers face numerous challenges that threaten their basic rights and dignity. Ensuring human rights for farmers isn't just a moral imperative - it's essential for building a sustainable and equitable food system. By advocating for policies that protect farmers' rights, promoting fair trade practices, and supporting initiatives that empower farming communities, we can create a more just and resilient agricultural sector. Let's stand in solidarity with farmers worldwide and work towards a future where everyone involved in food production is treated with dignity, respect, and fairness. #Agriculture #Farmers #FarmersRights #HumanRights

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As I have worked in the field of Sexual and Reproductive Health and Rights (SRHR) for a number of years now, and noticing how all our work pans out in this big global village, we need to continue to explore into detail the intersection between the environmental, sustainability and (SRHR). On World Environment Day, 5th June 2024, as we focus on "Land Restoration, Desertification, and Drought Resilience," it’s crucial to recognize the nexus, and build healthy ecosystems that directly support communities' wellbeing, particularly empowering young girls and women. To ensure adolescents continue to have access to SRHR information and services.. #We need to build stronger synergies and encourage collaborations on these important issues towards building sustainable systems beyond commemoration days.

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Great to be in Bonn as Observer for the @UNFCCC #SB60 sessions. Closely following discussions on Adaptation matters, including Finance and the New Quantified Goal on Climate Finance. @GCAdaptation continues to advocate for Climate Adaptation and Adaptation Finance through the Africa Adaptation Acceleration Program #AAAP. Great to see that Parties insist that new financing must be provided in a way that does not exacerbate the debt burden of Developing Countries. #JuneClimateMeetings #COP29

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[ PODCAST EPISODE DROPPING SOON!] 🎤 What constitutes a culture of philanthropy within nonprofits and NGOs? How do I *see* that? 🎤 How has the field of direct giving by small donors, and monthly giving changed in the last 10-20 years? 🎤 What hurdles do we need to overcome to persuade donors of the importance of monthly giving? 🎤 Also: are there any tensions between the need for fundraisers to use ethical storytelling that starts from the agency of program participants, and what spurs small donors - at least in the global North -- to give? In my upcoming #podcast episode, I interview Erica Waasdorp, President of A Direct Solution, and a super experienced consultant on nonprofit fundraising, on trends in direct fundraising. We two 'Dutchies' are keeping it real 😉 Get ready to listen -- episode drops on Monday, June 17! You can find all past episodes here -> https://lnkd.in/d3VTUB2 Get ready to listen in -- episode drops on Monday, June 17! You can find all past episodes here -> https://lnkd.in/d3VTUB2 #podcast #ngo #nonprofit #fundraising #resourcemobilization #resourcedevelopment

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A milestone for the end of the beginning ! Making forced displacement-related investment a reality, and exploring ways for humanitarians, enterprises and (purpose-led) investment professionals to work better together. Onwards and upwards ! #refugees #impactinvesting

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"Compared to a person born about 60 years ago, a child born today will experience between two and seven times more disasters. In fact, 1.2 billion children live in areas of high climate risk, and in 2022 alone, 12 million children were displaced as a result of weather-related events.... While children are among the most acutely impacted by climate events, they are also among the most likely to migrate in order to find work when climate events strike. Migration can be risky for all people, but children are especially at risk when making a move." Thanks for amplifying this striking findings, Gabriela Nagle Alverio, and for opening my eyes to all of the ways in which we need to involve #children and #youth in our research agendas, advocacy efforts and policymaking on #climatemobility.

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The Power of Collective Action in Transforming Communities - individual actions are life-saving, collective actions are life-transforming! Travelling to Ethiopia last week to witness the closure of one of our programs in Gambella, I was reminded of one of the powerful forces and opportunities to ‘community transformation’ that I now believe we have not fully harnessed. Listening to both refugee and host client testimonies of how the project has influenced their lives, one cannot avoid noticing the key connecting thread which normally is the springboard for a lot of powerful initiatives. Cohesion or social capital within groups stood out as one of the key gains that clients will continue to leverage years after the project is gone. In related conversations with colleagues, I could not resist sharing what I have learnt of the kibbutz model in Israel; the story of the Egyptian pyramids; and how I marvel at how tiny ants build huge anthills…all thanks to the power of collective action. As the sector, we have also seen successful models built around collective action - from the graduation model to many behavioural change approaches across sectors and outcomes, including mother care groups in promoting household nutrition, Parents and Teachers Associations for improving school outcomes, women and girls safe spaces or groups for safety outcomes, and local economic development initiatives for power outcomes. The question is – are we always harnessing the power of collective action to improve and sustain outcomes? Looking back at my 20 + years of doing this work, I partly feel the guilt but also the responsibility to share some of my revelations. Curious to hear what you think are other ‘missed opportunities’ to promote collective action in our respective sectors?

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🏗️Sustainable Development Spotlight! Last week, I kicked off a six-week series spotlighting practitioners and community leaders working in equitable and sustainable development. These testimonials, gathered by the International Society for Urban Health (ISUH) team, feature inspiring stories from around the globe of changemakers working to build healthy spaces, improve infrastructure, and drive health equity. Check out our latest spotlight–it might even spark an idea for your community! Vibrant public spaces are essential for ensuring the social, physical, and economic wellbeing of residents. When designed as attractive, welcoming gathering places for people of all ages, these spaces can foster social interactions, support the local economy, improve resident health, and more. Drawing on examples from Bogotá, Colombia, Gil (Guillermo) Penalosa Penalosa of 8 80 Cities shares about the power of building equitable and inclusive spaces, like parks and public facilities, and how these spaces can transform urban areas. Learn more about equitable city planning and explore other stories on community-led health equity initiatives: https://lnkd.in/eZsuT9bf

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Societal and economic barriers often make agricultural inputs, knowledge, tools, and affordable credit inaccessible, particularly for women in last-mile communities. Our approach addresses these systemic barriers, builds equity, and creates lasting impact and change. Read how our programs are helping create a more sustainable tomorrow and what our impact is so far - https://lnkd.in/gcaBCpij #breakingbarriers #equity #gender #impact #sustainable #lastmile

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Re-connecting in person at the WB Land Conference #landconf2024, with peer practitioners, country officials, researchers, and development partners alike, has been energizing and fulfilling. Deep elaborations on the importance of land in our response to the climate agenda were addressed across many critical cross-cutting topics. The experiences shared from knowledge panels experts and discussions the ability to question and discuss these through the week gives hope that the confluence of land and the climate agenda will be given the needed attention over the next decade.  #landandclimate #landrights

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USAID's Measuring Impact I & II helped biodiversity programs create a culture rooted in learning. Learn, Adapt, Repeat shares learnings from conservation practitioners, including local implementing partners, on applying adaptive management practices across the Program Cycle. An important takeaway: local community input is key to ensuring strategic frameworks contain an accurate depiction of local context. #EarthDay https://hubs.la/Q02t08lr0

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National Agroecology Planning in East Africa: Takeaways from Cultivating Change Gathering in Arusha, Tanzania Cultivating Change, a gathering co-organized by Global Alliance for the Future of Food Biovision Foundation and the Agroecology Coalition featured East Africa governments and civil society organizations (CSOs) presenting their emerging agroecology plans, with aspirations to muster public and private financing to support implementation. Our key takeaways: 🔵 Planning in partnership is essential 🔵 National agroecology plans need implementation and accountability mechanisms 🔵 Financing agroecological transitions requires new funds and repurposing existing subsidies 🔵 Effective allocation of agroecology monies requires flows to governments and CSOs 🔵 Agroecology planning must take place at national, municipal and regional governments to be effective 🔵 A human rights frame must inform agroecology planning 🔵 Track agroecology progress through appropriate metrics 🔵 Donors are essential and must respond to community-led solutions Read on for further context about each of these takeaways. https://lnkd.in/gfgURUix

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Delivering Resilient Enterprises and Market Systems (DREAMS) for refugees provides an innovative solution to drive refugee self-reliance and promote durable solutions in contexts of protracted displacement and humanitarian need. Working in Uganda, Ethiopia, and Tanzania – together home to nearly 10% of the world’s refugee population – DREAMS supports the economic inclusion of 150,000, refugees, fostering resilience, dignity, and confidence in the future. Since 2021, the program has integrated two evidence-based approaches to economic inclusion in fragile contexts to maximize reach and sustained impact: poverty graduation and market systems development (MSD). Graduation activities provide the capital and skills to support refugees as they establish new businesses and livelihoods, while MSD creates relationships with private sector actors and increases their ability and incentive to provide technical support, inputs, and sales avenues to economically marginalized populations over the long-term. DREAMS is delivered by Mercy Corps and Village Enterprise. We tried to capture the story of the DREAMS model for refugees in this video.

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Super interesting Tender, calling all expert evaluation firms! Agriterra is looking for an experienced consultancy firm to carry out the Mid Term Review (MTR) of Farmers Focused Transformation Programme.  The upcoming MTR will provide crucial insights and actionable recommendations pivotal for designing Phase 2 (2026-2030) of the programme. The aim is to critically analyze the programme's initial design, evolution, and core characteristics, applying learned lessons to strategically guide the next phase. 🌾 𝐴𝑏𝑜𝑢𝑡 𝐴𝑔𝑟𝑖𝑡𝑒𝑟𝑟𝑎 𝑎𝑛𝑑 𝑡ℎ𝑒 𝐹𝐹𝑇 𝑃𝑟𝑜𝑔𝑟𝑎𝑚𝑚𝑒 As a purpose-driven organization, Agriterra is dedicated to strengthening farmer organisations in developing nations across three vital tracks: farmer-led business, sustainable services and farmer lobby and advocacy. The Farmers Focused Transformation (FFT) programme runs from 2021 to 2030 and is financed by the Netherlands Ministry of Foreign Affairs. The full 10-year programme period is divided into two phases. Phase 1 spans 2020-2025 and phase 2 spans 2026-2030. 🤝 𝑇𝑒𝑟𝑚𝑠 𝑜𝑓 𝑅𝑒𝑓𝑒𝑟𝑒𝑛𝑐𝑒 (𝑇𝑜𝑅) We invite experienced evaluators and development consultants to bring their expertise to this MTR. Deadline to submit proposals is July 21st 2024. Interested parties can find the full Terms of Reference for the RfP here: #Agriterra #Farmer Focused Transformation #RfP #Mid Term Review

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🚀Exciting news! Eleanor Crook Foundation along with the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, Children's Investment Fund Foundation (CIFF), and Kirk Humanitarian have collaboratively developed a global #investment roadmap to catalyze and prioritize action and investment in multiple #micronutrient supplements. Read now! 👀https://ow.ly/jcXF50S3LnA The Plan: 👉reach at least 260 million women with #MMS 👉in 45 high-burden countries  👉by 2030. Expected Impact: 💪Save more than 600,000 lives 👶Improve birth outcomes for more than 5 million babies 🤰Prevent anemia in over 15 million pregnant women Cost: 💲4 per pregnancy 💰Total cost of $1.1 billion over seven years 💵 $720 million from donors and the remainder coming from domestic resources The roadmap would translate to monumental health gains while directing coordinated efforts to strengthen and improve #healthsystems and #antenatalcare services in parallel. #InvestInMMS #MaternalHealth #GlobalHealth #Nutrition #InvestInWomen #HealthyPregnancies

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Protest action at Bonn Climate Talks (#SB60) demanding billions of dollars for the #LossAndDamage Fund and the inclusion of Loss and Damage in the new Climate Finance goal aka NCQG (New Collective Quantified Goal). Thank you Loss and Damage Youth Coalition for capturing the protest. #PayUp #ClimateFinanceNow #ClimateEmergency #ClimateCrisis #LossAndDamage #ClimateJustice #ClimateJusticeNow #ClimateAction #Climate #ClimateChange #FossilFuels #GlobalWarming #Disasters #Environment #EnvironmentalProtection #Sustainability #COP28 Fossil Fuel Non-Proliferation Treaty Initiative, The Loss and Damage Collaboration, Make Polluters Pay, Climate Action Network International, Center for International Environmental Law (CIEL), ActionAid, Heinrich Böll Stiftung Washington, DC

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