Borgen Magazine: Four Companies in Developing Countries Contributing to the SDGs (Cade, 12/17). Devex: Q&A: The need for more early stage investment in RMNCAH solutions (12/18). Devex: Q&A: The value of the private sector in health system strengthening (12/18). Devex: If COVID-19 changes finance, will that help development funding? (Saldinger,…

The Hill: Global Gag Rule is just the tip of the iceberg: Why Repealing the Helms Amendment matters Reps. Jan Schakowsky (D-Ill.), Barbara Lee (D-Calif.), Jackie Speier (D-Calif.), and Ayanna Pressley (D-Mass.) (12/17). Ms. Magazine: The Helms Amendment: 47 Years of Denying U.S. Support for International Reproductive Health and Rights…

Health Affairs Blog: In Global Efforts To End HIV And Advance Reproductive Health, President-Elect Joe Biden Should Seize The Opportunity For Bold Leadership Monica Kerrigan, executive director of Planned Parenthood Global, discusses the links between HIV prevention and reproductive health and rights and outlines actions the Biden administration could take…

U.N. News: Avert ‘dire consequences’ for women’s health, UNFPA urges in appeal to prevent maternal deaths “The U.N. agency dedicated to improving reproductive and maternal health worldwide (UNFPA) appealed on Monday for $2.5 billion by 2030 to help avert potential ‘dire consequences’ surrounding pregnancies and maternal deaths. As the world…

Global Citizen: This Midwife in Zambia Says International Solidarity Is Needed to Combat COVID-19 Jacky Habib, freelance journalist (12/7). Global Citizen: How This Woman Is Using Her Cellphone to Tackle River Blindness in Cameroon Jacky Habib, freelance journalist (12/7). IntraHealth International’s “VITAL”: Meet Three Ugandan Women Who Say Community-Based Family…

U.N. News: 54 million women and youth face staggering humanitarian challenges “As COVID-19 continues to disproportionately impact women and girls hit by multiple humanitarian crises, the U.N. sexual and reproductive health agency appealed on Monday for $818 million to provide 54 million women and youth with essential and life-saving services throughout…

AP: In southern Madagascar, ‘nothing to feed our children’ (Bezain, 12/4). BMJ: African malaria deaths set to dwarf covid-19 fatalities as pandemic hits control efforts, WHO warns (Dyer, 12/2). CNBC: Bill Gates says we need a new federal organization and five-fold spending increase to fight climate change (Novet, 12/3). Devex:…

Devex: U.K. withheld information about aid program cuts from NGOs and contractors “The U.K. government withheld information on development program cuts from NGOs and contractors despite promises to work ‘openly and pragmatically’ with suppliers during the pandemic, according to the public aid watchdog. Delays in deciding which development programs should…

Mail & Guardian: Battery acid, cassava sticks and clothes hangers: We must end the global gag rule Nelly Munyasia, executive director at Reproductive Health Network Kenya and member of She Decides Kenya, and Womba Wanki, executive director of Generation Alive and member of She Decides Zambia “…Research has found that…

Guttmacher Institute: The First 100 Days: Biden-Harris Administration Must Use Electoral Mandate to Advance Sexual and Reproductive Health and Rights Leah H. Keller, policy manager, and Zara Ahmed, associate director of federal issues, both at Guttmacher Institute, outline steps the Biden-Harris administration could take in its first 100 days in…