The number of annual deaths caused by pollution is now greater than malaria and HIV combined, according to a recent study. The Guardian’s environment editor, John Vidal, examined the increasing severity of toxic smogs in cities including Delhi, Kabul, Beijing and London.
Experts have warned world leaders that the humanitarian aid system needs substantial reform to avoid failing the poor people. In a report commissioned by the UN ahead of the world humanitarian summit in May, the experts looked at alternative funding models, including micro-levies on corporations, a voluntary solidarity tax, and increased use of Islamic funding such as zakat religious contributions and Islamic bonds.
Elsewhere on the site
- Burundi: ‘all alarm signals flashing red’ warns UN
- In Ethiopia, anger over corruption and farmland development runs deep
- Last orders: South Sudan’s only brewery to shut
- Cut from a different cloth: Palestinian textile company bridges the divide
- Uganda determined not to let oil cash trickle away
Opinion
The new global goals to address poverty, inequality and climate change are universal in nature, so why is there no plan to achieve them in the UK? Jessica Toale examines the role of rich nations in implementing the sustainable development goals.
Who lives in the real world: global south pessimists or northern optimists? Jonathan Glennie explores the breach between varying perspectives on development.
And Caroline Green questions why Britain isn’t doing more to support the lives and livelihoods of women in conflict zones.
Multimedia
Video: Overseas domestic workers are being abused in the UK, often while living in some of London’s most exclusive neighbourhoods working for wealthy Gulf employers. Watch their story and meet the group of women helping them escape.
In pictures: Tunisia was dubbed the poster child of the Arab spring, but it faces economic, social and security challenges. International Alert spoke to young people living in deprived suburbs of Tunis.
Take part
Which issues would you like to read about in 2016? Whether you’d like to see greater focus on a particular story, country or social movement, share your thoughts and help inform our journalism.
What you said
On If the world is getting better, where next for NGOs?, Jean Van Wetter wrote:
NGOs need to reinvent their funding models. The dependence on big institutional donors such as DfID and USAid is not sustainable. Social enterprises, impact investors and new age philanthropies will probably progressively have more influence than traditional donor-dependent NGOs.
There could also be some consolidation of the sector, with complementary NGOs merging. But more importantly, NGOs must innovate to remain relevant. This would mean more investments in research and development, and learning. It could also mean more partnerships with the academic and private sectors.
Highlight from the blogosphere
What’s happening to aid to the least developed countries? from the International Institute for Environment and Development.
And finally …
Poverty matters will return in two weeks with another roundup of the latest news and comment. In the meantime, keep up to date on the Global development website. Follow @gdndevelopment and the team – @swajones, @LizFordGuardian, @clarnic and @CarlaOkai – on Twitter, and join Guardian Global development on Facebook.
