Two weeks ago, Alliance Magazine published an article on the importance of local or community led philanthropy - that is assets that have been shaped by local context and culture that are then shared amongst the community. Over the years, community led philanthropy has been on the rise - and will probably continue to be so. This article will delve into the phenomenon, provide some real world examples before giving 4 reasons why it has been on the rise.

In November last year, Namibia elected its first female president. Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah was joined by Lucia Witbooi as vice president and Saara Kuugongelwa-Amadhila as the first woman to lead Parliament. Eight other posts were given to women, proving to not only be a historical moment for the Southern African nation but for the whole world. Although this contributes as an advantage to women’s equality and development, they face several barriers - this article will explore them before concluding with some recommendations.

From prolonged droughts across the Horn of Africa, to heavy rainfall and floods in Southern Africa, African countries are the most vulnerable to climate induced disasters. This is despite them having a minimal contribution to global greenhouse gas emissions (at around 3-4%). A damning report from Action Aid titled "Who Owes Who," has found how Africa is owed USD $36 trillion in climate debt by rich polluting countries. 

But why do rich* nations owe Africa that much money?

This article explores the history of the relationship and what needs to change.

As part of a session on reforms to global economic rules so that they better align with human rights, the United Nations Human Rights Council discussed whether Gross Domestic Product (GDP) is the most effective way to measure a country’s progress. In 2023, the UN secretary general stated how GDP ‘does not account for human well-being, environmental sustainability, unpaid household services’ and fails to capture the human and environmental destruction of some economic activities’.

With this in mind, should we still be using GDP to measure a country’s progress?

This article will explore the history of GDP, why it was used and a possible solution to efficiently measure a country’s progress.

President Trump’s executive order to freeze US aid has rocked the international development community as he works to realign US foreign assistance with his administration. Over 50 countries have been impacted by the President's 90 day pause on US foreign aid assistance, the United States Agency for International Development (USAID), compelling INGOs such as UN agencies  to suspend programmes, projects and even lay off staff.

But how might the freeze impact UK INGOs? I discuss three areas in this article

Two weeks ago, the head of Oxfam GB, Halima Begum stated that the aid sector needs to be decolonised. Her statement echoes years of criticism questioning the sector’s worth and importance. This article examines the history of the sector, its criticisms, and efforts to decolonise it.

From Chimamanda Ngozi Adiche and Chinua Achebe to Ngũgĩ wa Thiong'o and Stella Nyanzi, Africa is not short of talented authors. Such authors have also gone on to win or be shortlisted for some of the most prestigious literary prizes around the world and their books put at the forefront of book shops. Yet, why is it so hard for African authors to find their work in their home countries and across the continent?

2024 has been branded the hottest year on record, with climate extremes impacting every corner of the globe. An indirect yet substantial consequence of the crisis is the 26 million people who have become internally displaced and forced to migrate due to environmental changes. Unfortunately, this figure could rise to 216 million people if left unchecked. This article explores the complexities of the phenomena.