Developing Nations Trade Amongst Each Other

Nations like India and China have shed new light on south-south co-operation, developing countries sharing resources. As their economies have grown, these nations have increased their investments in parts of Africa and Asia. Currently, China and India account for one fifth of the global economy, and are said to make up one third by 2025.

The United Nations Conference on Trade and Development estimated that, between 1996 and 2006, developing economies provided more than $17bn of foreign investment in Africa and $27bn of investment in Asia. This is not aid money, but rather an investment that the donor country will benefit from.

This mutual growth cannot happen through market forces and private initiatives alone, however. It is important to have policymaking and government action acting in these new economic ties. For example, China and India’s economic successes were achieved through the notion that domestic factors play a crucial role while market integration creates new opportunity for growth.

By building off one another, developing nations have a real chance for economic success.

-Sami Ressler

SOURCE: THE GUARDIAN

US Treasury Secretary Warns Not To Slash Aid

Two weeks ago, US Treasury Secretary Timothy Geithner warned the Senate Foreign Relations Committee that it was a matter of national interest that the US keeps supporting the World Bank and other multilateral development organizations. These contributions mean just a 5% of the whole foreign assistance budget, but they can mobilize funds that add up more than 150% of the budget. Therefore, funding the World Bank and other development banks such is one of the most cost-effective ways the US has to promote its interests in developing countries.

But there are also main economic security concerns in this warning. According to Timothy Geithner, a real risk can be found in withdrawing US funds from these organizations, (and development aid in general): that the US place can be taken by other countries, like China. Several Senators and Representatives have expressed their concerns about China's quick economical expansion in places like South America, Africa or Asia. A step back in foreign aid funding will inevitably cede influence to China and other rising powers, as for many countries the only alternative to the World Bank is actually China.

- David Nebreda

SOURCE: AFP

The Hidden Hunger

In the developing world, 3 billion people lack essential micronutrients like Vitamin A, Vitamin D, Iron, Folic Acid, and Zinc. These deficiencies increase maternal mortality, risk of illness from common infections while reducing learning capacity and slowing down mental development.

Micronutrient deficiency is one of the global challenges we seldom hear about. It does not have the media attention or celebrity sponsorship, which are often essential to attracting widespread attention and aid to a cause.

In 2008, the Copenhagen Consensus Center asked a group of the world’s top economists to identify the investments in which a relatively small amount of money could yield the biggest return in terms of health, prosperity, and community advantages. Micronutrient supplementation ranked among the top three. Providing Vitamin A for a year costs as little as $1.20 per child, while providing Zinc costs as little as $1.

China has already made tremendous progress fighting Iodine Deficiency Disorders, the primary cause for preventable mental retardation and brain damage, through salt fortification. Increased coverage of iodized salt has risen from 39 percent to 95 percent in a span of 10 years.

-Martina Georgieva

SOURCE: Copenhagen Consensus Center, UNICEF

100 Million to be Protected from Measles

Later this month, China will launch a nation-wide measles vaccination campaign in an effort to immunize 100 million children and eradicate the disease by 2012. "China is a priority country in the global fight against measles and we commend the Government for its leadership in this life-saving work," said Michael O'Leary, the World Health Organization (WHO) Representative in China.

Measles is the leading cause of avoidable death and disability among children in developing nations. China reported 52,000 cases of the viral disease in 2009, about 86 percent of the measles cases in WHO's Western Pacific Region.

The UN is hopeful that this program will be a success. Previously well-planned immunization efforts have proved to be highly effective at reaching every child in need, even those is rural locations."We encourage all parents to take their children to the closest vaccination clinic during the campaign period. This huge nationwide effort will produce significant benefits for child survival," said Yin Yin Nwe, a United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF) Representative for China.

-Devynn Patterson

Source: "UN-backed anti-measles campaign to reach millions of children in China"-UN News Centre

Artepharm Corporation pledges to eradicate malaria in Africa's Comoros Islands

The Qatar Foundation and the Federal Chinese Government have invested $5 million and $3 million, respectively, to purchase Artepharm Corp.'s radically successful malaria treatment for use in the Comoros Islands. The goal is to eradicate the disease from the entire island chain within a few years. In addition, anonymous private donors contributed $2 million to fund the efforts. The Qatar Foundation is a private non-profit organization founded by one of the members of the Qatari royal family.

The Comoros Islands are a prime breeding ground for malaria, mostly due to island's temperate climate and dense population. Located near the Mozambique/Tanzania border in eastern Africa, the islands are home to over 800,000 people, of which 28% are infected with malaria. The disease remains one of Africa's biggest killers despite easy prevention strategies and relatively cheap treatments. Of the one million who die from malaria annually, 90% of them are Africans.

Previous efforts by Artepharm to eradicate the disease have been extremely successful. In 2007, the 'ArteQuick' Malaria treatment was able to cure 95% of the infected population on one Comoros island. ArteQuick stops parasite development in the patient within two hours of receiving the treatment. People are generally completely cured within two days of receiving the drug.

-Matthew Thwaites

SOURCES: 'Artepharm Global Announces $10 million Investment to Erradicate Malaria from East Africa Comoros Islands'- The Wall Street Journal

China and Africa Make Plans for a Joint Scientific Research Program

In a widely debated dialogue between China and Africa, The Forum on China-Africa Cooperation (FOCAC), which includes 49 African countries, still plans to start several large-scale science and technology projects across Africa in the next three years.

The project would also include training over 2,000 Africans in agricultural technology, the initiation of 100 clean-energy projects to diminish effects of climate change, and the funding of 100 African postdoctoral students to undertake research in China.

Although some are skeptical about China’s motives, talks are scheduled to start turning these propositions into reality.

-Michelle Leung


Source: Africa Good News