Why the United States and Africa Should Lead a Collaborative Rules-Based Approach to Food Security September 16, 2020

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COMMENTARY

Why the United States and Africa Should Lead a Collaborative Rules-Based Approach to Food Security

September 16, 2020 | Katrin Kuhlmann

There is a unique opportunity for the United States to set a new standard for engagement with Africa on trade, with food security as a natural focal point. And deeper U.S.-African trade ties could pave the way for a global approach on trade and food security.

Data has always been there. Who is interpreting the data? Militarization of U.S. police. A new report produced by Brown University’s

Reactionary approach only focused upon due to current events.

Strategic Intelligence lacking.

BEMA International

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Militarization of U.S. police. A new report produced by Brown University’s Watson Institute for International and Public Affairs details how the militarization of U.S. police forces has ballooned since the September 11 attacks, arguing that it should be counted as one of the long-term costs of the United States’ post-9/11 War on Terror. The attacks, the report says, provided a new justification to funnel massive amounts of military equipment, funding, and personnel to local and state law enforcement, all in the name of counterterrorism and national security.

The study also argues that the intensive militarization of the police could have helped produce the current political crisis in the United States. “Visibly militaristic tactics and imagery breed fear and mistrust, particularly among poor and hyperpoliced communities of color. This can erode police legitimacy.”

HBCUs do you have the KSAs. Affordable Housing. SCRAPS AS USUAL. $250K Closing Date: 01/05/2021

https://www.grants.gov/web/grants/view-opportunity.html?oppId=329028 Document Type: Grants Notice Funding Opportunity Number: FR-6400-N-55 Funding Opportunity Title: HBCU Cooperative Research in Housing Technologies Opportunity Category: Discretionary Opportunity Category Explanation:   Funding Instrument Type: Cooperative Agreement Category of Funding Activity: Science and Technology and other Research and Development Category Explanation:   Expected Number of Awards: 4 CFDA Number(s): 14.506 -- General Research and Technology Activity Cost Sharing or Matching Requirement: No Original Closing Date for Applications: Jan 05, 2021  The application deadline is 11:59:59 pm Eastern Standard time on Current Closing Date for Applications: Jan 05, 2021  The application deadline is 11:59:59 pm Eastern Standard time on Estimated Total Program Funding: $1,000,000 Award Ceiling: $250,000 Award Floor: $200,000 Agency Name:    Department of Housing and Urban DevelopmentDescription: HUD is funding co-operative agreements for pre-competitive research in homebuilding technologies that provide the homebuilding industry with new, innovative construction products or practices that lead to more affordable, energy efficient, resilient (in this sense, durable, disaster resistant, adaptable for future requirements, and maintainable), and healthier housing. HUD is specifically interested in receiving applications that focus on aspects of residential construction related to factory-built housing and components and/or resilience. Only Historically Black Colleges and Universities may apply. Link to Additional Information:                https://https://www.huduser.gov/portal/about/pdrabout.htmlhttps://www.hud.gov/program_offices/spm/gmomgmt/grantsinfo/fundingopps   Grantor Contact Information:                  If you have difficulty accessing the full announcement electronically, please contact: Ophelia Wilson Ophelia.Wilson@hud.gov

September 2020. Confront the reality that we are still dealing with the after effects of American Slavery and fix the foundation

I will say again my brother until we are willing to confront the reality that we are still dealing with the aftereffects of American Slavery and fix the foundation right now, generation will continue to fall through the cracks.  Before you or your organization can even begin to clean up someone else backyard you must clean up your own first. 

This is real talk. Hosea 4:6 - my people are destroyed for a lack of knowledge.  We must stop rejecting knowledge. 

Watch video my brother,

https://vimeo.com/453064687/01400307bb

Our communities are at War (Internally & Externally). Major Urban and Rural within the U.S. Nationally and Globally.

 WE MUST BE ABOUT ACTION

 D.C., Los Angeles, Atlanta, Richmond, Chicago, NYC, Baltimore, Boston.  North, South, East, West Coasts and Regions within the U.S. many of our next generation\children in K12 level battle a presence within their own communities from a friend, neighbor, and even family members.  Even as a constant threat from police activities that are constantly a threat over natural and man-made disasters, threats of the impacts of climate change, water & food insecurity, and inequity, to a simple minimum wage job.

 Even on the continent of Africa ‘1K or More Gun Gangs’ are active in Nigeria, and youth activities and other African Nations.

 24-hour, seven days a week threats and vulnerability in the U.S., Caribbean, and on the continent of Africa.

 A Plea……11-minutes of your time.….  Please listen…

https://www.facebook.com/1433139891/videos/10217891068695033/?extid=JM5W5ZfB6NS1vLvD    BACKGROUND https://chicago.suntimes.com/crime/2020/9/10/21430874/mail-carrier-usps-shot-south-side-shooting-ellis

 

 BEMA International

 

bEMA International

“We are now faced with the fact that tomorrow is today.  We are confronted with the fierce urgency of now.  In this unfolding conundrum of life and history there is such a thing as being too late.  Procrastination is still the thief of time.  Life often leaves us standing bare, naked and dejected with a lost opportunity.  This may well be mankind’s last chance to choose between chaos or community.”   Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., ‘Where Are We Going From Here:  Chaos or Community’.   Cooperation, Collaboration, Communication, Coordination, Community engagement, and  Partnering (C5&P)               A 501 (c) 3 organization

 

 

 

 

 

Survival by Zip Code. Funding. FEMA Is Not Effectively Administering a Program to Reduce or Eliminate Damage to Severe Repetitive Loss Properties

 Office of Public Affairs

E: dhs-oig.officepublicaffairs@oig.dhs.gov
                       
OFFICE OF INSPECTOR GENERAL l DHS
WWW.OIG.DHS.GOV  l TWITTER: @DHSOIG

FEMA Is Not Effectively Administering a Program to Reduce or Eliminate Damage to Severe Repetitive Loss Properties

FEMA is not adequately managing SRL properties covered by NFIP. FEMA has not established an effective program to reduce or eliminate damage to SRL properties and disruption to life caused by repeated flooding.

First, FEMA does not have reliable, accurate information about SRL properties. This deficiency occurred because of ambiguous FEMA forms to request removal of SRL designation, poor organizational structure, and unassigned roles for ensuring SRL data integrity. As a result, FEMA is using inaccurate information to make funding-related decisions, including requesting appropriations from Congress, deciding where to implement large-scale mitigation projects, and determining which residential mitigation projects to fund through its Flood Mitigation Assistance grant program (FMA). Additionally, not all NFIP policyholders who have mitigated their SRL property have benefited from reduced policy premiums.

Read Report No. OIG-20-68

Grant Opportunity: HHS. Accelerating the Reach and Impact of Treatments for Youth and Adults with Mental Illness (ALACRITY) Research Centers (P50 Clinical Trial Optional)

HHS

Department of Health and Human Services

National Institutes of Health

Advanced Laboratories for Accelerating the Reach and Impact of Treatments for Youth and Adults with Mental Illness (ALACRITY) Research Centers (P50 Clinical Trial Optional)

Synopsis 1

https://www.grants.gov/web/grants/view-opportunity.html?oppId=328991 

Grant Opportunity: USAID. Haiti. Request for Information (RFI) for Improved Health Service Delivery activity (IHSD)

 

USAID

Agency for International Development

Haiti USAID-Port Au Prince

Request for Information (RFI) for Improved Health Service Delivery activity (IHSD)

Synopsis 3

https://www.grants.gov/web/grants/view-opportunity.html?oppId=329006

What Am I thinking? NEVAH BLACK DOWN. Modern Day Lynching: Target Practice

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9UyncvbwHwk&feature=youtu.be

What Am I Thinking?

Thinking of our next generation leaders with a 1.5 or 2.0 GPA with no eligible programs available for these individuals to spread their wings.

Thinking of our next generation leaders with the 1.5 or 2.0 GPA in a school system that doesn't understand their unique abilities that cannot grow in a stamped factory of an education system (public or private).

Thinking of our next generation leaders in urban and rural communities that are shouting to enter the workforce at an early age to purchase and contribute to their family by buying their own clothes, shoes, purchasing their own lunch, even breakfast and dinner.  Hindered by the lack of ability to obtain a favorable BACKGROUND CHECK from their school and even the local law enforcement offices to get a job at minimum wage or because of their age and region that they live a wage lower than minimum wage.

Thinking of now in 2020 how our next generation leaders see the placate of the masses by statements of diversity and inclusion by having a figure head of a Black, Latinx Male or Female (in many cases a female to take care of two birds with one stone) in positions of prestige and leadership for others to 'check the box' to keep the masses quiet.

Thinking of now in September of 2020 many of the challenges over the Summer may lead to 'business as usual' before March of 2020 and the COVID-19 outbreak.

I'm thinking..... agitate, agitate, agitate.

CDS

What pool shall you use for candidates? Job Opportunity: World Bank. Advisor - Race and Structural Inequality. September 21, 2020 Closing Date.

 Adviser - Race and Structural Inequality

Job #:	req8381
Organization:	World Bank
Sector:	Advisory Services
Grade:	GH
Term Duration:	3 years 0 months
Recruitment Type:	International Recruitment
Location:	Washington, DC,United States
Required Language(s):	English
Preferred Language(s):
Closing Date:	9/21/2020 (MM/DD/YYYY) at 11:59pm UTC

Description Do you want to build a career that is truly worthwhile? Working at the World Bank Group provides a unique opportunity for you to help our clients solve their greatest development challenges. The World Bank Group is one of the largest sources of funding and knowledge for developing countries; a unique global partnership of five institutions dedicated to ending extreme poverty, increasing shared prosperity and promoting sustainable development. With 189 member countries and more than 120 offices worldwide, we work with public and private sector partners, investing in groundbreaking projects and using data, research, and technology to develop solutions to the most urgent global challenges. For more information, visit www.worldbank.org The Sustainable Development Practice Group helps countries tackle their most complex challenges in the areas of Agriculture; Climate Change; Environment, Natural Resources and Blue Economy (ENB); Social Sustainability and Inclusion (SSI); Urban, Resilience and Land Development; and Water.  SOCIAL SUSTAINABILITY AND INCLUSION DEVELOPMENT CONTEXT The Social Sustainability and Inclusion (SSI) Global Practice helps countries provide opportunities for all people and communities, with support to tackle deep rooted social problems stemming from fragility, climate change, racism and exclusion, and structural inequality. The Global Practice engages with citizens, communities and governments to deepen resilience to exogenous shocks and fragility, build inclusion and address structural inequalities, and empower vulnerable and marginalized groups to have more influence and voice.  The SSI GP prioritizes participatory, multi-sectoral approaches that build on norms and informal institutions to address social challenges and to build more inclusive, empowered communities.  It also works across the Bank’s portfolio to implement the Environmental and Social Framework (ESF) standards and strengthen inclusive development.  Cross-GP collaboration is critical for the ESF and also the direct operational work of the staff. In particular, the GP focuses on three opportunity sets:  • Social Resilience:  Deepening opportunities for people to thrive by building cohesive and resilient communities able to withstand divisions caused by inequality, violence, climate change, and other risks to their livelihoods.  • Inclusion for All:  Expanding opportunities for people who have been excluded from participating fully in markets, services and society, because of their ethnicity, race, gender, disability, income, or religious or sexual orientation.  • Empowerment:  Creating opportunities for people to lead their communities, engage more fully in government, and shape their own futures. BACKGROUND The heightened global awareness around racial injustice and persistent racism underscores the need to address more explicitly the structural inequalities that make it difficult for some groups to benefit from and contribute fully to development with dignity and respect. It is increasingly clear today that racial discrimination impacts development, poverty reduction and economic growth and that its impacts have been exacerbated by the global COVID-19 pandemic.  Certain racial groups face persistent and deep challenges in accessing basic services and economic opportunities and exercising their voice that create inequality and poverty traps.  Unless the root causes of structural discrimination are addressed, it will be challenging to support sustainable inclusive growth and rapid poverty reduction.  Eliminating the conditions that limit the full inclusion of racially discriminated populations will make societies more inclusive, just, and resilient. The World Bank is intensifying its support to build more inclusive and equitable societies, especially for the most marginalized people in the countries. The challenge Bank task teams face is that racial discrimination most often manifests itself in imperceptible, structural ways that have direct social and economic consequences for marginalized racial minorities but are difficult to identify and address.  More specifically, both Borrowers and Bank teams often do not have adequate analytic tools, data or ‘entry points’ to integrate anti-discrimination mechanisms into Bank financed operations work and to address more fundamental roadblocks that sustain discrimination. The Global Unit of the Social Sustainability and Inclusion Global Practice is seeking a Race and Structural Inequality Advisor for the World Bank to help build an analytical and operational approach to address racial discrimination - broadly defined to include exclusion based on race, ethnicity and social distinctions.  As an institution driven by evidence and knowledge, the Bank’s entry point will be defined by robust analysis and data on race and racial discrimination drawing on its projects, programs and advisory work.   RESPONSIBILITIES AND ACCOUNTABILITIES  The advisor is accountable for performing the responsibilities, modeling the behaviors, and maintaining the competencies (listed below) in her or his capacity as a member of the Social Global Unit (SSOGL). Accountability means being answerable for achieving results; managing quality, risks and institutional initiatives; and helping to ensure compliance with Bank policies and procedures.  The fundamental objective of the World Bank's nascent work on addressing racial and ethnic discrimination as defined above is to better understand and increase the extent to which Bank policies, programs, analytical work, and projects address persistent discrimination, structural inequality and exclusion in its operations and globally.  Toward this end, this position will work closely with the Regional Management Teams, Operations Policy and Country Services, the ESF Implementation Unit, and Task Team Leaders from across the GPs in the World Bank to:  • Provide effective and strategic leadership to SSOGL & the Social Sustainability and Inclusion (SSI) Global Practice on race, racial discrimination and structural inequality.  Link the work on race, racial discrimination and structural inequality to the new GP SSI strategy and to the Bank’s twin goals of ending poverty and boosting shared prosperity in an innovative and forward looking way.  • Help to lead the production of first class, cross-sectoral, evidence-based analytical products, including a flagship analytical report on race and structural inequality in Bank projects, that will provide strategic directions to the Bank's engagement in anti-racism and inclusion with our clients. In addition, strengthen the Bank's intellectual and operation leadership in the field and disseminate good practices throughout the Bank and globally.  • Along with OPCS, advise management and regional teams on the inclusion and operationalization of race in project design and policies in relation to anti-racism and structural inequality. This will involve  (1) researching and disseminating best practice in design, evaluation and implementation of successful anti-racism interventions, and (2) helping to ensure that best practice lessons and innovations are incorporated in relevant Bank operations through the provision of cross-support to the Regions as a team member, peer-reviewing, participating in quality enhancement reviews, and on-going technical support. Working with OPCS and the ESF ISU, the Advisor will have a leading role in the work on developing a Good Practice Note for the Environmental and Social Framework on race and non-discrimination as well as advancing the interpretation of the Bank Directive: Addressing Risks and Impact on Disadvantaged or Vulnerable Groups to be more explicit about race and racial discrimination. • Participate in the review of the Bank's Country Partnership Strategies, Systematic Country Diagnostics and other operational instruments to constructively suggest ways that senior regional and operational leadership can expand more racially inclusive practices in operations and better address structural inequality.  • Help establish criteria and an operational results framework for monitoring the outcomes of the Bank's work on social inclusion and structural inequality, using a race lens and conduct assessments based on those criteria to evaluate performance over time.  • CO-Lead the SSI Global Practice’s Anti-Racism Task Force, which aims to develop and action a set of strategic activities, including generating and disseminating knowledge on race and development to Bank staff and external audiences, including sponsoring research and training activities.  • Lead our interaction and work with other institutional efforts to address anti-racism and structural inequality in Bank operations, as well as work closely with the Social Inclusion Global Lead and the Indigenous Peoples and Ethnic Minorities (IPEM) Coordinator as well as the Human rights, Inclusion and Empowerment Umbrella program. • Have a leading role for the Bank at international conferences on race and anti-racism as it relates to its operational work, and play a significant role in policy dialogue, both in terms of new clients and business, and for established major borrowers.   • Contribute knowledge management and learning around racial discrimination and structural inequality, including high profile roundtable events, trainings, and townhalls.  • Mobilize trust fund resources to support new and innovative work on race and racial discrimination in Bank products.  • Prepare corporate briefs, notes and other material on the state of race and anti-racism in Bank projects. • Provide cross-support to regional task teams and Country Management Units. • Participate at corporate activities related to the development of corporate policies pertaining to the race and anti-racism in the Bank’s work. REPORTING The Advisor will report directly to the SSOGL Practice Manager.  Selection Criteria The candidate could come from academia or a think tank and should offer strong analytical skills, experience working on the ground in developing countries to address issues or racism and inequality, and should have experience engaging in the broader policy dialogue and debate over how to address racism.   • A Ph.D. in the social sciences, law, or similar relevant subject to race, broad anti-discrimination work, and 12 years of directly relevant Bank and or external experience, or Masters’ degree and 15 years of directly relevant experience.  • In-depth knowledge of and demonstrated intellectual leadership in race and anti-racism work globally; and an established track record of cutting-edge race and inequality related research and operational leadership in the sector or other multilateral/bilateral agency, academia, private sector or NGOs.  • Demonstrated high level capacity to identify opportunities for addressing racein multi-sectoral projects programs and or programmatic operations.  • Significant substantive operational experience in studying and implementing anti-racist policies beyond the United States with intentionality in developing countries.  • Evidence of strategic capacity to position race and structural discrimination most effectively in client government programs and policy dialogue.  • Demonstrated ability to share knowledge and experience, identify and disseminate good practices and work effectively in a team setting and across organizational, cultural and national boundaries.  • Demonstrated evidence-based analytical research publications and writings on race, inclusion and development.  • Contributions to the literature on race, poverty and inclusion, including the ability to assist clients to understand the importance of addressing race as an element of poverty reduction strategies.  • Experience and/or substantive exposure with recent developments in race and anti-racism as a development issue. • Sound knowledge of relevant international and regional legal frameworks and norms for addressing racial discrimination.  • Proven analytical skills, including capacity to conduct high quality quantitative and qualitative analysis. • Excellent oral and written communication skills, in particular ability to effectively dialogue with and relate to clients and stakeholders.  • Highly developed communication and leadership skills  • Ability to work well in a small team, to operate under pressure, to deliver high-quality work within deadlines, and meet team objectives.  • Excellent written and oral communications skills in English; additional official languages (French, Spanish) of the Bank is a plus.  TECHNICAL & BEHAVIORAL COMPETENCIES  • In Depth Knowledge and Analytical Skills - Possesses a track record of intellectual leadership and ability to integrate economic-specific knowledge and specific micro/sector fields of expertise; provides quality assurance and assesses technical soundness of work/reports.  • Knowledge and Experience in Development Arena - Influences the design and execution of major policy and/or research initiatives; conceives and promotes innovations in development policies, project design, organization and management to improve operational and sector work.  • Policy Dialogue Skills - Has a track record of conducting effective policy dialogue with country counterparts; communicates and defends difficult issues and positions to senior bank management and government officials.  • Integrative Skills – Able to think strategically and horizontally to integrate race and inequality across technical specializations.   • Client Orientation - Translates insight into practice across disciplines, hierarchies, geographies and organizational units in service of clients.  • Drive for Results - Ensures successful implementation and delivery of key programs and projects, ensuring that outputs positively impact results.  • Teamwork (Collaboration) and Inclusion - Creates a team climate of practical and innovative action. Poverty has no borders, neither does excellence. We succeed because of our differences and we continuously search for qualified individuals with diverse backgrounds from around the globe.

Trust, wealth, sacrifice. MIles Davis

 “If you sacrifice your art because of some woman, or some man, or for some color, or for some wealth, you can't be trusted.”

― Miles Davis

Are Police Officers an element of Public Safety or an Officer of the Court? Fire\EMS? Emergency Management?

Should Law Enforcement\Police Officers in Local Jurisdictions fall under Judiciary and not Public Safety?

Why or Why not?

What are the funding and budgeting allocations for each?  What of the judicial system funding?

Can Fire\EMS be listed under Judiciary and an Officer of the Court?

Can Emergency Management be listed under Judiciary and an Officer of the Court?

In many jurisdictions Fire\EMS, Emergency Management, and Local Law Enforcement are elements of the public safety arena and the budgeting process.  It it time for a change?

Fire\EMS save lives.  Emergency Management plans for protecting and recovery lives and communities.

Law Enforcement has an ability to take lives and must remain separate in mission, vision, and most importantly funding\budget.

BEMA International