News


Iraq/Kurdistan: Stuck without Water in Mosul, Neighbors Find a Way

Feb 16, 2017 | David Zucchino and Ben C. Solomond, New York Times

The water taps are dry in Rashidiya. The water and sewage system collapsed in this eastern Mosul neighborhood after 100 days of street combat. On…


Myanmar: Chinese Farmers Trespass on Burmese Soil, Lawmaker Claims

Feb 16, 2017 | Htet Naing Zaw, Irrawaddy

Chinese farmers have been illegally planting crops in Man Waing Gyi, near the Burma-China border of Kachin State, according to Lower House lawmaker U Chin…


Land at the Heart of Myanmar’s Transition: Part 2

Feb 15, 2017 | Anna Wellenstein

In part 1, we discussed some of the major land-related challenges facing Myanmar’s transition and development. In fact, resolving outstanding land issues will help the…


Conflict Minerals: African States Wary of Potential Repeal of 'Conflict Minerals' Rule

Feb 15, 2017 | Reuters

A possible plan by U.S. President Donald Trump to suspend a rule on "conflict minerals" could help fund armed groups and contribute to a surge…


Liberia: Holding the Line – Global Witness Reveals How All of Liberia’s Large Logging Contracts Are Illegal on Multiple Counts

Feb 15, 2017 | Global News Network

Liberia’s forestry sector has a long history of corruption, crime and conflict. During the country’s 14-year war, logging contracts were handed out to cronies of…


Colombia: FARC Troops Help Boost Colombia’s Landmine Removal Effort

Feb 15, 2017 | teleSUR

As part of Colombia's transition to peace, around 1,000 former FARC rebels will help to identify and remove land mines across Colombia as the country works…


Myanmar: Rakhine Fishermen Hurt by Unlawful Fishing

Feb 15, 2017 | Aung Ramar, Eleven

Small-scale fishermen in Rakhine State blame unlawful fishing vessels for a drop in marine lives. The livelihoods of residents of Kyaukpyu, Myebon and Pauktaw townships…


Colombia: Peacetime Renaissance for Colombia’s Culinary and Agricultural Chocolate

Feb 15, 2017 | Julia Cohn, City Paper

With the proliferation of new producers and an international push for Colombian farmers to grow more cacao, chocolate could give coffee a run for its money as…


Conflict Minerals: Central African Nations Warn Trump Reform Could Lead to Conflict

Feb 15, 2017 | Pierre Bertrand

A coalition of 12 African countries has sounded the alarm that a possible plan by US President Donald Trump to suspend federal US rules on…


2017 Conflict Minerals Company Rankings

Feb 14, 2017 | Enough Project

Companies, governments, and activists have contributed to important progress to end the conflict minerals trade, but there is an urgent need to continue working on…


Tackling Deforestation in Liberia: A Quest For Greener Future

Feb 14, 2017 | Stephen B. Lavalah and Ambulai Johnson

Liberia’s forest is under serious threat.  There are massive legal and illegal logging activities everywhere in the forest. Chainsawing is at its highest level.  Protected…


Turning Afghan Opium Ills to Good

Feb 13, 2017 | Hamish McDonald

Is it time to revisit plans to license some of the deadly crop?

More than 15 years after the Western coalition ousted Afghanistan's Taliban regime, the…


Myanmar: Burmese Journalist Sued, Threatened after Logging, Cattle-Rustling Reports

Feb 13, 2017 | Paing Soe, Democratic Voice of Burma

A local journalist from Kachin State who reported on illegal logging and cattle-rustling activities in the region has received death threats and faces being sued…


Myanmar: Sagaing Minister Accuses Land Owners of Logging

Feb 13, 2017 | Phay Nyein, Eleven

Sagaing Region minister for agriculture, livestock and irrigation accused individuals and companies of acquiring vacant farmland for the sole purpose of logging. Minister Kamzar Mone…


China/South China Sea: Recent Developments Surrounding the South China Sea

Feb 12, 2017 | Hrvoje Hranjski, Associated Press

A look at recent developments in the South China Sea, where China is pitted against smaller neighbors in multiple disputes over islands, coral reefs and…


Mozambique/Zimbabwe: Zimbabwe and Mozambique Border Conflict Escalates

Feb 12, 2017 | Bernard Chiketo, Nehanda Radio

Zimbabwe and Mozambique are both suffering rising casualties and cattle rustling during skirmishes along their border in an area plagued by conflict over scarce resources,…


Iraq: Fireballs and Booby Traps: On the Front Lines with the Oil Workers Battling ISIS

Feb 12, 2017 | Peter Holley, Washington Post

Fifty miles north in Mosul, beleaguered Islamic State fighters have lost control of half of their last major stronghold as Iraqi security forces advance. But…


Myanmar: Hpakant Jade Mine Landslide Kills 9

Feb 12, 2017 | Agence France-Presse

A landslide in Kachin State’s jade mining region has killed 9 people, a local official said Saturday, the latest fatal incident to strike the shadowy…


Myanmar: Chain Saw Injuries in Myanmar Tied to Illegal Logging

Feb 12, 2017 | Poppy McPherson, Mongabay

For locals here in the heart of Myanmar’s logging country, the commercial timber trade – though prohibited – is a major source of employment. Bald…


Sierra Leone News: Land Acquisition, Mining and Foreign Investment Threatens Food Security

Feb 10, 2017 | Awoko

Since the beginning of the 21st century, Africa has found itself in the midst of a new wave of colonization. As if the fact that…


Application Deadline Extended: 2017 Water Cooperation and Diplomacy Joint Master’s Programme

Feb 9, 2017 | UNESCO-IHE Institute for Water Education, University for Peace, and Oregon State University (OSU)

The Water Cooperation and Diplomacy Joint Master’s Programme is recruiting competitive applicants from around the world for enrollment in a two-year, three-degree international master’s programme.…


DRC: Program Assistant

Feb 9, 2017 | Natural Resource Governance Institute

The Natural Resource Governance Institute (NRGI) is an independent, non-profit policy institute that promotes responsible management of oil, gas and mineral resources for the public…


Iraq: WASH Project Officer

Feb 9, 2017 | Danish Refugee Council

The Danish Refugee Council (DRC) is a humanitarian, non-governmental, non-profit organisation working in more than 30 countries throughout the world.The WASH Project Officer will provide…


Liberia /Sierra Leone: Programme Manager - Engineering

Feb 9, 2017 | Concern Worldwide

Concern Worldwide are a global community of humanitarians, partners, community members, supporters, donors, and volunteers who share a common vision of a world where no…


Iraq/Kurdistan: Livelihood Project Manager

Feb 9, 2017 | Croix-Rouge Française

Based on its experience and capacity in Iraq, FRC has decided to mainly focus its operation on sectors of livelihood and WASH. Indeed FRC was…


Lebanon: WASH and Consortium Advisor

Feb 9, 2017 | Croix-Rouge Française

The mission of the French Red Cross is to prevent and alleviate all human suffering, and contribute to all efforts related to protection, social welfare,…


Turkey: Program Manager II - Food Security & Livelihoods Cluster

Feb 9, 2017 | Catholic Relief Services

Catholic Relief Services (CRS) carries out the commitment of the Bishops of the United States to assist the poor and vulnerable overseas. Our Catholic identity…


Yes, Suspend — Then Repeal — Dodd-Frank’s Conflict Minerals Rules

Feb 9, 2017 | Walter Olson

Here’s good news: President Trump may sign an executive order suspending the failed conflict minerals provisions of the Dodd-Frank law. Days before, Securities and Exchange Commission…


Four Takeaways from 'Recurring Storms: Food Insecurity, Political Instability and Conflict'

Feb 9, 2017 | Jennifer Ehidiamen

From threats of famine in Somalia caused by drought, to hunger in Syria caused by war, the development community is increasingly faced with the enormous challenge of addressing global…


Reaching Accord on Land Grabs, and Household Perceptions of Climate-Conflict Vulnerability

Feb 9, 2017 | Zizhan (Azua) Luo

Large-scale land acquisitions, otherwise known as “land grabbing,” are often believed to lead to resistance from affected local communities. According to an article by Ruth…