The Global Forum on Human Settlements (GFHS) has released the outcome document from its virtual 17th Annual Session, which was held in December 2022 and whose theme focused on “resilient, carbon-neutral and nature-positive cities.” The event was supported by 24 international organizations, including WANGO. The document presents key points that were discussed, policy recommendations, and various sustainable development innovations. Some of these points include the importance of local democracy coupled with good governance, the goal for China’s non-fossil energy installed capacity to exceed 50 percent by 2025, and that ports and coastal cities are important actors in decisions pertaining to the “blue economy.” To read the document, please click on the headline above. (Read more...)

While a landmark agreement was reached at COP27 in Egypt in November to establish a fund to help poor countries with climate-fueled disaster costs, the talks did not do much to address the cause of climate disasters. With three of the decades costliest disasters and more climate-linked floods, hurricanes and droughts occurring in 2022, including the flooding in Pakistan that resulted in $40 billion in damages, the summer heat waves in Europe causing $10 billion in losses, and $100 billion spent on damages from Hurricane Ian in the U.S., countries have been compelled to look more closely at the cost of climate change. In 2023, it is expected that not only countries but also companies will face greater pressure to see that emissions are cut in half by 2030. (Read more...)

The 9th Global Forum of the UN Alliance of Civilizations was held in Fez, Morocco from November 22 to 23 against the backdrop of a wide variety of global challenges, ranging from the surge in violent extremism to racism. The UN secretary-general called for the creation of an “alliance of peace,” commenting, "the forces of division and hate are finding fertile ground in a landscape marred by injustice and conflicts," and that this alliance would ensure that "all of us…can live lives of dignity and opportunity." The event culminated in the Fez Declaration, which calls for the implementation of commitments made at the event towards achieving “the goals of living together in peaceful and inclusive societies for sustainable development."(Read more...)

The World Intellectual Property Organization Arbitration and Meditation Center (WIPO Center) is a neutral, international nonprofit dispute resolution body that offers alternative dispute resolution (ADR) options, such as mediation and arbitration, to enable organizations to settle their intellectual property (IP), information technology (IT), and commercial disputes. The mediation procedures the Center provides has been particularly beneficial to NGOs involved in such disputes. The Center also offers a variety of free tools and resources, including webinars and an interactive clause generator. To learn more about the Center, please click on the headline above.(Read more...)

The World Health Summit 2022, held from October 16 to 18 in Berlin, Germany and online, on the theme, "Taking Global Health to a New Level," brought together prominent world leaders in global health to discuss "new strategies for global health and set the course for a healthier, more equitable future." Discussion topics included investment for health and well-being, climate change and planetary health, and global health for peace. Among the speakers were UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres, President of Senegal Macky Sall and German Chancellor Olaf Scholz. This was the first time the summit was co-hosted by the World Health Organization (WHO). (Read more...)

WANGO was presented with an award in recognition of its service from the Betneely Charity Foundation, an indigenous nonprofit founded in Nigeria in 2009 focused on child welfare and education, at an event celebrating the 13th anniversary of and launching of a new initiative by the foundation on September 9. Receiving the award on behalf of WANGO was Mohammed B. Attah, the Africa regional coordinator. (Read more...)

Italy-based NGO Rishilpi International Onlus, a WANGO member, has experienced increased demand for its services in southwestern Bangladesh due to a rise in early school drop-out, poverty and, thus, early marriages, since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic. For more than 45 years it has provided educational and health services and runs public awareness and advocacy campaigns on hygiene and maternal and child health. It is now looking to partner with international foundations and NGOs and other international organizations to increase its impact in Bangladesh. To learn more, please click on the headline above. (Read more...)

From September 13 to 27, the 77th session of the UN General Assembly (UNGA) will bring together heads of states and governments to address the world's most pressing challenges and take part in high-level discussions on transforming education, tackling the food crisis, and the ongoing war in Ukraine. Also being held during the UNGA will be the third SDG Moment, which will provide an opportunity to refocus attention on the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and build momentum for the SDG Summit in 2023. For special coverage of this year's General Assembly, please click on the headline above. (Read more...)

U.S.-based NGOs that are less than five years old are invited to apply to a free business bootcamp that will be launched this October by the Applied Value Group, a global management consultancy, investment, and social impact group. The 10-week program will deliver comprehensive trainings on foundational business concepts, including governance and management principles, budget development, branding and social media, and performance tracking, and requires a low commitment. The deadline to apply is September 1. To learn more, please click on the headline above. (Read more...)

The U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) has launched a new initiative to combat ocean plastic pollution globally, the Save Our Seas Initiative. Ocean plastic pollution is a global crisis with 11 million tons of plastic pollution entering our oceans every year, which is equivalent to more than one garbage truck every minute. This rate is expected to double by the end of this decade and triple by 2040—threatening the world’s marine ecosystems, major industries such as fishing and tourism, food security, and ultimately human health.(Read more...)

Public trust is the currency of the nonprofit sector. The public's belief that nonprofits will "do the right thing" is one of the central reasons the sector exists. Independent Sector has released its third report on where nonprofit and philanthropic organizations stand in trust in the U.S. and the factors that drive trust in the sector. The report also provides recommendations on how nonprofits can do better. To access the report, please click on the headline above. (Read more...)

Numerous nonprofits have mobilized quickly to help the people of Ukraine since the start of the crisis on February 24. More than 5 million people—mostly women and children—have fled the country, the largest movement of refugees within Europe since World War II, and over 7 million are displaced inside Ukraine. WANGO has compiled a list of WANGO-affiliated and verified nonprofits providing humanitarian assistance in Ukraine and neighboring countries. For more information, please click on the headline above. (Read more...)

The ocean covers over 70% of the planet. It is our life source, supporting humanity’s sustenance and that of every other organism on earth. It produces at least 50% of the planet’s oxygen, is home to most of the earth’s biodiversity, and is the main source of protein for more than a billion people around the world. With 90% of big fish populations depleted and 50% of coral reefs destroyed, more is being taken from the ocean than can be replenished. World Oceans Day, observed annually on June 8, reminds every one of the major role the oceans have in everyday life, and this year focuses on theme, "Revitalization: Collective Action for the Ocean." This year, the UN will host a hybrid event on that day from 10 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. EDT. To learn more, please click on the headline above. (Read more...)

In 2021, global carbon emissions rebounded to reach their highest annual level and nature continues to decline rapidly, with 1 million species at risk of extinction. On May 24, the World Economic Forum Annual Meeting 2022, convened in Davos, Switzerland, held a "Safeguarding Our Planet and People" session to discuss bold innovations and actions needed to build a more secure and resilient planet. Speakers included Elizabeth Wathuti, founder of the Green Generation Initiative; John F. Kerry, special presidential envoy for climate, U.S. National Security Council; and Marc Benioff, chair and co-CEO of Salesforce. To watch a recording of the session, please click on the headline above. (Read more...)

EARTHDAY.ORG, together with its partners, will host the Earth Day Climate Action Summit live from 8 a.m. to 3:50 p.m. EDT on April 22. To keep the global temperature below 1.5°C, we need to reach net-zero greenhouse gas emissions by mid-century. The event will look at nature-based solutions that can help deliver the greenhouse gas reductions needed by 2030 to meet the Paris Agreement. Speakers include Inger Andersen, executive director of the UN Environment Programme (UNEP); Kehkashan Basu, founder-president of Green Hope Foundation; and Yishan Wang, CEO of Terraformation. To participate in the summit, please click on the headline above. (Read more...)

With support from the World Health Organization (WHO), the Civil Society Mapping and Engagement Initiative (CSO Mapping Initiative) for the UN Decade of Healthy Ageing (2021-2030) has been launched to identify and unite the powerful and unique voices of civil society organizations (CSOs) across a wide range of sectors and disciplines toward meaningful and sustainable action for the Decade. CSOs are invited to participate in the initiative by completing a brief questionnaire by March 31. To access it, please click on the headline above. (Read more...)

The U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID), in collaboration with WANGO, will be hosting a free webinar on Tuesday, March 8 from 10-11 a.m. EST (New York time) about how to navigate the USAID partnership process and the newly launched WorkwithUSAID.org platform. The website offers current and prospective partners access to a variety of innovative services and curated resources, all designed to improve organizational readiness and prepare prospective partners to pursue USAID funding. Following the formal presentation, there will be a Q&A session. To register for the event, please click on the headline above. (Read more...)

At the World Summit 2022, which brought together speakers and participants from 157 nations virtually and in-person in South Korea from February 11 to 13 to explore the prospects for peaceful reconciliation of the Korean Peninsula, dozens of global leaders called for an end to the Cold War's last remaining division. The event also featured the Sunhak Peace Prize Award Ceremony, which honored British vaccinologist Sarah Gilbert of Oxford University and Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance as the 2022 laureates. The Universal Peace Federation, an NGO with General Consultative Status with the UN Economic and Social Council, and the Royal Government of Cambodia sponsored the Summit.(Read more...)

During the 1990s and around the turn of the millennium it became more common to involve and invite civil society groups into ongoing peace processes. However, once included, what role can civil society play? In the Guatemalan peace process from 1990 to 1996, civil society had an important impact on several issues on the negotiation agenda but less so on some sensitive and critical ones. This case study produced by the Peace Research Institute Oslo looks at the implications of this and highlights that the international community could focus more on the implementation of peace agreements by supporting the role of civil society in those processes. (Read more...)

The Dialogue & Development Commission of Delhi (DDC), a think tank of the Indian government, plans to launch a platform for youth volunteers, formalizing efforts to encourage participation in community service. The 45,000 young people who have already registered "demonstrates that there is a desire within the youth to volunteer, which can be channelized if the government creates opportunities and designs tools for engagement,” said DDC vice-chairperson, Jasmine Shah. (Read more...)