Iraq’s Fareed Yasseen given 2021 ‘Ambassador of the Year’ award. December 2021

Congratulations Ambassador Yasseen.

BEMA International

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December 28, 2021   Iraq’s Fareed Yasseen given 2021 ‘Ambassador of the Year’ award   The National US-Arab Chamber of Commerce (NUSACC) recognized Iraq’s Fareed Yasseen as its 2021 “Ambassador of the Year” during a Dec. 14 awards ceremony and luncheon at Washington’s Ritz-Carlton Hotel. The event, which attracted 150 people, including 20 current and former ambassadors. “Look around you,” Yasseen told his audience. “You will find not only members of the business community, but also elected officials, current and former government officials, diplomats, academics, researchers, human rights activists, journalists, and friends, including a couple of my Baghdad College classmates. I don’t blush, and I am not easily humbled, but this turnout is truly humbling.” Yasseen noted that three of his colleagues have received NUSACC’s “Ambassador of the Year” award in past years: Algeria’s Madjid Bouguerra, Jordan’s Dina Kawar and Tunisia’s Faisal Gouia. “The United States and the Republic of Iraq have traveled a long road together over the years,” said David Hamod, NUSACC’s president & CEO, in praising Yasseen. “He has skillfully and strategically built partnerships between Iraq and America that will serve our respective countries for decades to come.” Read More »

CENSA’s newest board member, Mr. Kevin Ryan. Kevin is a U.S. Army Intelligence Officer. December 2021

 

CENSA Members, It is my great pleasure to introduce to you CENSA’s newest board member, Mr. Kevin Ryan. Kevin is a U.S. Army Intelligence Officer, who has held senior intelligence positions at the company, battalion, brigade, and division levels. Kevin has served in both conventional and special operations units -- deploying multiple times to Iraq and Afghanistan. Most recently he served as a Defense Congressional Fellow in the US Senate, and as the Intelligence Portfolio manager for the Army's Office of the Chief Legislative Liaison. Kevin joins the board after being a CENSA member for the last three years, having led several CENSA working groups - including one that published a CENSA paper on improving artificial intelligence expertise in the national security workforce. Kevin will be assuming the responsibilities of Director of Finance for CENSA. Kevin replaces Board Member Christopher McGuire, who is taking a temporary leave of absence while serving in a new position in the U.S. government. We thank Chris for his contributions and leadership on the board for the last three years and wish him the best of luck in his new responsibilites.  Finally, I’d like to wish you a wonderful holiday season and happy new year - we look forward to seeing you all at a CENSA event (hopefully in person) in 2022. Respectfully, William J. Denn Chairman of the Board of Directors Council for Emerging National Security Affairs

First year of Making Cities Resilient 2030 draws to a close December 2021

     

Dear MCR2030 local government and municipality representatives,

As the first year of Making Cities Resilient 2030 draws to a close it is very encouraging to see such progress from cities and districts all over the world in understanding, communicating and managing their climate and disaster risk more effectively.

MCR2030 already has nearly 630 member local governments covering a population of almost 440 million. We also have seen a number of Resilience Hubs emerge. These are municipalities committed not only to protecting their own citizens and city’s infrastructure systems and assets but inspiring and supporting other local governments to move do the same.

Local governments are on the ‘frontline of opportunity’ in this era of the Climate Emergency. It is at the municipality level that the biggest dividend in avoided future disaster losses can be reaped.

The evidence is clear: those cities that invest to better understand, communicate, and manage their climate and disaster risk protect the lives and livelihoods of their citizens as well as their local infrastructure systems and assets.

With more than 90% of all disasters now related to climate change and extreme weather events, inaction will only escalate risk and losses. Climate change is generating more powerful storms, exacerbating coastal flooding, causing more deadly heatwaves, and prompting greater water shortages and more protracted drought. It is amplifying disaster losses, both in terms of human lives and livelihoods as well as the overall economy. And these losses are increasingly concentrated in urban areas.

Local leadership and capacity to better understand, communicate, and manage this increasing climate and disaster risk is a huge opportunity to invest in a resilient future; one where citizens continue to be safe and economically active; their homes remain dry; roads stay clear; bridges remain standing; power and water supplies keep working; and schools and hospitals stay open.

Local governments that do now in terms of climate and disaster resilience, the less they will suffer – and the less they will pay – in the future.

Reducing the impact of disasters: keeps people out of poverty; protects hard-earned local development gains; and enables municipalities to become more inclusive, safe, resilient, and sustainable.

In 2022, MCR2030 is committed to supporting your municipality to continue its progress along the Resilience Roadmap with increased and easier access to support, tools and services to help your local government along that journey.

For latest news on the MCR2030 website, please visit here: https://mcr2030.undrr.org/mcr-latest-news

To access all the resources available on the MCR203 website, please visit here: https://mcr2030.undrr.org/

And for those active on LinkedIn please visit the MCR2030 page

Best wishes to all our member local governments and service providers for a resilient and safe 2022!

United Nations Office for Disaster Risk Reduction (UNDRR)

Office for Northeast Asia & Global Education and Training Institute

4F, G-Tower, 175 Art Center Daero, Yeonsu-gu, Incheon 22004, Republic of Korea

www.undrr.org  |  www.preventionweb.net

Food Insecurity: Bananas. El Pulpo

 

Your Bananas were Bought with Blood

I will never be able to look at bananas the same way again. The history behind this fruit is filled with government coups, propaganda, and predatory corporations. This is the story of how US imperialism gave us crappy bananas - and why the ones in your kitchen might be doomed.

Monitoring and Evaluation of Adaptation Progress. Request for Proposals. Due January 19, 2022

 

Call for Proposals   Are you engaged in the monitoring and evaluation of climate change adaptation work? Share your expertise at the upcoming National Adaptation Forum virtual series.   The goal of this series is to advance the practice of monitoring and evaluating climate adaptation work. This series aims to highlight different approaches, examples, and frameworks from across the adaptation community, spanning natural, built, and social systems.   Proposal submissions are due by 11:59 pm PT on January 19, 2022. Please see the Call for Proposals on the Forum website for more details.   Contact info@NationalAdaptationForum.org with any questions.   View the Call for Proposals

5th National Adaptation Forum October 25-27, 2022

 

 

More information about the 5th National Adaptation Forum can be found at our website.   Interested in presenting? Proposal submissions will open in early January and close February 1, 2022. Click here to learn more about the Call for Proposals. Proposals can be submitted on any topic related to climate change adaptation. In addition, the Program Committee has identified several Special Session topics: Climate Displacement, Managed Retreat, and Relocation Climate Trauma and Healing Growing Pains of Adaptation Monitoring & Evaluation of Adaptation Progress and Successes Ecological Transformation in a Changing Climate Making Climate Science Usable and Useful Bridging the Urban-Rural-Natural System Divide Uncharted Waters: Using Uncommon Approaches in Adaptation Adaptation in the Private Sector Youth Empowerment and Leadership in Climate Adaptation Finding the Signal Among the Noise: Strategic Use of Media in Climate Adaptation Community-First Adaptation Innovations   Full details on session formats, special sessions, and how to submit will be available when the Call for Proposals opens in early January.

 

Share, Watch, and Re-Watch the Tribal & Indigenous Climate Adaptation Series

 

 

Recordings of all four sessions of the series are now uploaded to our website.

Sheltering Fundamentals Training. Free.

 

Free Online Training: EMERGENCY RESPONSE

 

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AMERICAN RED CROSS   Shelter Fundamentals

 

This online course will prepare participants to assist in the opening, organizing, operating, and closing of an emergency shelter.

 

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Detroit Black Community Food Security Network. Food Insecurity, Food Economy. December 2021

 Detroit Black Community Food Security Network continues to be a leader in building community-based food initiatives. We operate the seven-acre D-Town Farm, educate young people through our Food Warriors Youth Development Program and are making significant progress in developing the Detroit People’s Food Co-op and the Detroit Food Commons.

 

"The food economy is the first economy of any society.  As we’re thinking about how we build a more sustainable and just economy, food has to figure prominently in that.”

Community ownership, empowerment and access to healthy, sustainable food!   Through this development, we are working to increase access to healthy, sustainably grown food, while building community ownership and empowerment.   Located in Detroit’s North End, it will be a unique cooperative business model, serving an urban, predominately African American, low and moderate-income community. It will be an economic driver as the people living in the community will benefit from the money spent on food in their community. Malik Yakini, Executive Director Detroit Black Community Food Security Network Inc  11000 W McNichols, Suite 103 Detroit, MI 48221  myakini@dbcfsn.org

Food Insecurity: Haiti, Global Health, Farming, Nutrition. December 2021

 

December Newsletter 2021

Global Food Security Program

Highlight

Haitian Migration: Food Insecurity, Fragility, and a Better Way Forward
November 22, 2021
By Jamie Lutz and Erol Yayboke
Recent coverage of Haitians arriving at the U.S. border is only a snapshot of a years-long journey in search of safety and food security. A U.S. strategy toward Haiti must consider the links between hunger and migration and prioritize food security as a pillar of stability. 
Read the Commentary
 

Program Update  GFSP and Reset the Table will be on a holiday break, and we will return in early 2022 with more research and analysis on food security. We hope you all enjoy a happy holiday season! Analysis  Photo: SIA KAMBOU/AFP via Getty Images Read the Commentary   December 15, 2021 After UNFSS, How Should the U.S. Support Global Food Systems Transformations in Low-Income Countries?  By Julie Howard The UN Food Systems Summit marks a shift from heavily focusing on increasing agricultural production to a broader food systems approach to food security. What are the implications for Feed the Future and related U.S. assistance to low-income countries? Photo: FREDERIC J. BROWN/AFP via Getty Images Read the Critical Questions   November 10, 2021 Food Insecurity among Veterans: Who Is at Risk and How to Respond  By Jamie Lutz, Caitlin Welsh Existing policies and programs are no longer sufficient to support today's veteran population, and many veterans are going hungry. Policymakers should develop data-driven solutions to better address food insecurity for those at highest risk in the veteran community.  Reset the Table Podcast ​GFSP's fortnightly podcast brings fresh ideas to the table for solving food insecurity around the world—and right here at home. Sign up for Reset the Table podcast updates at this link.   Reimagining Solutions to Antimicrobial Resistance with Anders Dalsgaard and Paul Plummer December 9, 2021 Anders Dalsgaard (ICARS) and Paul Plummer (NIAMRRE), experts in antimicrobial resistance (AMR), join GFSP senior associate Kimberly Flowers to explore solutions to AMR in low- and middle-income countries. Dr. Dalsgaard and Dr. Plummer share global examples of previous successes in combatting AMR but note that sustained attention to the issue, and swift action, are required to meaningfully address this silent pandemic. Both experts stress that any solution must be context-specific and take into account the disparity in resources between developed countries and low- and middle-income countries to address AMR.  Listen to the episode Responding to the GMO Debate with Gregory Jaffe December 3, 2021 Gregory Jaffe, director of the Project on Biotechnology at the Center for Science in the Public Interest, joins Caitlin Welsh in this episode to share his expertise on biotechnology in the U.S. food system and the relevant policies surrounding bioengineered crops, commonly known as GMOs. Mr. Jaffe and Ms. Welsh discuss the public perception and misconceptions of bioengineered foods. Mr. Jaffe emphasizes the importance of consistent policies for identifying and labelling these food products and explains how upcoming regulations from the National Bioengineered Food Disclosure Law may or may not resolve ongoing conflicts about GMOs.   ​​​​​​Listen to the episode Reaching Veterans, Bolstering Food Security with Shelley MacDermid Wadsworth November 10, 2021 In this episode, Purdue's Military Family Research Institute director Shelley MacDermid Wadsworth and CSIS Global Food Security Program director Caitlin Welsh discuss food security in the military community. Dr. MacDermid Wadsworth describes the various causes and stressors that are unique to veterans experiencing food insecurity, especially veterans living in rural areas. Dr. MacDermid Wadsworth and Ms. Welsh offer potential solutions to food insecurity among the veteran community and discuss the role of food pantries in responding to immediate food security needs. Dr. MacDermid Wadsworth also underscores the importance of collaboration among policymakers and researchers to address food security for current and future veterans. Listen to the episode   Affiliates in Action Senior Associate (Non-resident), Andrew Rzepa Tools for Monitoring Diet Quality Across Countries (Nutrition for Growth Summit Side Event):  December 9, 2021 This event is the official launch of a set of over 100 country-adapted diet quality questionnaires that enable diet quality monitoring by countries and programs. Andrew Rzepa discussed implementation in global multi-topic surveys. Read the event details Senior Associate (Non-resident), Katrin Kuhlmann Listening for America: Cathy Novelli on Globalization and International Trade  December 1, 2021 Katrin Kuhlmann joined this discussion on Listen for America's findings and recommendations for establishing a more inclusive international trade policy and whole-of-government approach to dealing with those adversely affected by international competition. Read the event details Senior Adviser (Non-resident), Julie Howard Agriculture and Working Development Group of the Scaling Up Community of Practice:  November 16, 2021 Julie Howard co-chaired the Agriculture and Rural Development Group of the Scaling Up Community of Practice and organized a three-part panel discussion series on scaling. The discussion series explores how our understanding of scaling has evolved in recent years, and asks how concepts, tools, and capacities may need to change further as we transition from a focus on agricultural productivity to the new food systems framework. Dr. Howard co-moderated the first panel on November 16, "Scaling and Transforming Food Systems."  Watch the event GFSP in the News November 1, 2021 Lawfare: The Week That Will Be By Emily Dai GFSP's November 5 event on AMR and Climate Change was highlighted as a notable event in Lawfare. Read the article November 2021 USAID Advancing Nutrition: Multi-Sectoral Nutrition Resource Review By USAID Advancing Nutrition Our Reset the Table episode "Reviewing the UN Food Systems Summit with Agnes Kalibata" is featured in the Knowledge Management section.  View the resources November 15, 2021 War on the Rocks: To Tackle Instability and Conflict, It's Time to Elevate Hunger as a National Security Priority By Kelly McFarland and Alistair Sommerville Senior associate Rod Schoonover is quoted in this article calling for a more sophisticated conception of national security. Read the article

Past Events ​​​​​​Public Event: The Impact of Climate Change on Antimicrobial Resistance in Low- and Middle-Income Countries November 5, 2021 Some recent research indicates that rising global temperatures will accelerate the rate of antimicrobial resistance (AMR), making the case for implementing effective AMR policies in conjunction with comprehensive climate policy. The CSIS Global Food Security Program gathered experts on climate and AMR to discuss how health, climate, and agriculture policies are interconnected and the need for transdisciplinary integration of development practices and policies in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs). Watch our recent event for a discussion on the implications of climate change for AMR and how to develop integrated AMR initiatives in LMICs.  Watch here​​​​