AP: Francis becomes 1st pope to endorse same-sex civil unions (Winfield, 10/21). Devex: Delivering on the promise of UHC for mothers in the COVID-19 era and beyond (10/22). Devex: Experts call for ‘deeper data’ on women’s realities at U.N. World Data Forum (Cornish, 10/22). Devex: When the price of water…

Aidspan: Global Fund Observer Aidspan, an independent watchdog of the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria, has published Issue 388 of the ‘Global Fund Observer.’ The newsletter includes an article highlighting reports from the Global Fund and WHO on COVID-19 and global tuberculosis; an article on the importance…

Thomson Reuters Foundation: U.K. lawmakers hear more reports of aid worker sex abuse in Congo “Britain’s charity watchdog said it has received reports of at least eight cases of sexual assault and abuse by aid workers in Democratic Republic of Congo, vowing to ensure ‘robust action.’ It said the incidents…

The Telegraph: Funding for HIV prevention within the world’s most marginalized communities ‘woefully inadequate’ “Funding to help prevent new HIV infections within the world’s most marginalized communities is ‘way off track,’ a landmark study has found. Key populations — which include gay and bisexual men, transgender people, sex workers, and…

Al Jazeera: Ireland, Wales to re-enter lockdown as COVID-19 surges in Europe (10/20). AP: Another chunk of England faces tight virus restrictions (Lawless, 10/21). AP: Belgium limits care home visits as COVID-19 cases increase (Petrequin, 10/21). Borgen Magazine: Infant and Maternal Mortality Rates: Finland vs DRC (Davis, 10/20). NPR: Ebola…

The Guardian: Kenyan efforts to end FGM suffer blow with victims paraded in ‘open defiance’ “Kenya has seen a setback in its progress to eradicate female genital mutilation (FGM) after an open parade in defiance of the government clampdown on the practice took place this week. Almost 2,800 girls from…

Devex: $1.7B raised for ‘toxic brew’ of crises in Sahel “A pledging conference hosted by Germany, Denmark, the European Union, and the United Nations raised $1.7 billion Tuesday for the Central Sahelian countries of Burkina Faso, Mali, and Niger. In announcing that total, U.N. Undersecretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs Mark Lowcock…

AP: Argentina hits 1 million cases as virus slams Latin America (Deluca et al., 10/20). AP: South Africa’s health minister gets COVID-19, as cases rise (Magome/Meldrum, 10/19). AP: Belgium fears virus ‘tsunami’ as COVID-19 cases keep soaring (Petrequin, 10/19). Borgen Magazine: The Philippines’ Birth Practices Facilitate Maternal and Infant Mortality…

Save the Children: Millions of Out-of-School Children at Increased Risk of Violence — Save the Children “Millions of children in the central Sahel region who are out of school due to conflict, recent flooding, and COVID-19, are at a higher risk of falling victim to violence, Save the Children warned…

AP: U.N. hopes meeting will raise $1 billion for key Sahel nations “The U.N. humanitarian chief is hoping a major ministerial meeting Tuesday will not only raise $1 billion for the three countries at the epicenter of a humanitarian crisis in Africa’s Sahel region but also spur leaders to address…