Amid widespread and severe food insecurity in Gaza, Global Communities, in collaboration with the World Food Programme (WFP), has started tripling the number of hot meals we are distributing daily. Since March 13, our team has increased its hot meal distribution from 10,000 meals per day to 30,000 hot meals per day, aiming to mitigate the severe hunger faced by over 2 million people in Gaza. “We are addressing the most profound needs I’ve ever witnessed, transcending mere survival and food security, to fundamentally sustain the human spirit in our vulnerable communities,” said Ra’ed, who direc ..read more

InterAction and 50 member CEOs, including Global Communities’ President & CEO Carrie Hessler-Radelet, urged President Biden to take decisive and actionable steps to alleviate the humanitarian crisis in Gaza. Detailed within this letter are specific steps and commitments that can save numerous civilian lives and alleviate the suffering of Palestinians on the brink of famine. Dear President Biden, In your recent conversations with Prime Minister Netanyahu, you called for “specific, concrete, and measurable steps to address civilian harm, humanitarian suffering, and the safety of ..read more

By Emily Galloway, Tarek Fakhereddin, Nataliia Biloshytska and Tania Dudnyk Global Communities has a rich history of providing emergency aid and protection services to refugees and internally displaced people in many crisis settings, from Ukraine and Gaza to Syria and Guatemala. This includes our Child Protection in Emergencies (CPiE) programming, which supports the well-being of children and addresses risks created or exacerbated by crises. In emergencies, children are often the most vulnerable and at-risk population group. They face a range of threats, including violence, exploitation, famil ..read more

By Paula Rudnicka, Sr. Manager for Public Affairs   Last month, the World Bank held its 2024 Fragility Forum – a biannual conference that brings together policymakers, researchers and practitioners from humanitarian, development and peacebuilding communities to exchange knowledge and ideas about how to improve our approaches in fragile, conflict and violence-affected settings. This year’s theme was “Adapting and Innovating in a Volatile World.”  After the Forum, I asked my Global Communities’ colleagues who attended the event for their reflections. Kelly Van Husen, Vice Presid ..read more

By Irina Sinha, Project Concern International (PCI) India India has grown into the fifth largest economy in the world. The growth of the country’s gross domestic product (GDP) indicates the existence of a plethora of opportunities that people can leverage to partake in the economy. Over the past decade, there has been a notable increase in the rate of women’s labor force participation. In 2023, this rate stood at nearly 33% as compared to 27% in 2013. It is pertinent to pause and reflect where the growth in women’s labor force participation is coming from. Approximately 51% of women entreprene ..read more

By Ashley Holst Cooperatives are leaders in promoting inclusive economic growth by providing equitable and accessible solutions to economic and social stressors. Two of the seven principles of cooperatives are “voluntary and open membership” and “concern for community,” both of which call upon cooperatives to create opportunities for all people and to put the betterment of their communities at the forefront. Cooperatives are also a proven avenue for women’s economic advancement, because they provide them with opportunities to become business owners and share in the risks and rewards of entrepr ..read more

In the heart of the Bole District in Northern Ghana lies the serene and welcoming Mandari Community, a place that has seen significant transformation thanks to Global Communities and the United States Agency for International Development (USAID). A solar-powered mechanized water system was introduced there as part of the USAID-funded WASH for Health program, making daily life better and more manageable for more than 4,780 people. “We no longer trek for hours in search of water,” said Barikisu, a proud native of Mandari. “It’s right here, within our reach. This project is a blessing, a game-cha ..read more

By Chloe Pan Globally, nearly 2.4 billion women do not have the same economic rights as men, and on average, only have three-fourths of the legal rights. Harmful gender norms and discrimination present immense challenges to women’s access to economic opportunities. To discover more specific barriers to women’s economic access, gender analyses are conducted. Through these studies, intersecting layers of marginalization, differences in socioeconomic status, gender identity and expression are discovered. Gender analyses are critical in determining and analyzing the root causes of gender inequali ..read more

By Betty Adera This month, as we observe International Women’s Day 2024, it is imperative to reflect on the multifaceted challenges that adolescent girls and young women (AGYW), aged 15 to 24, face. Under this year’s theme, Invest in Women: Accelerate Progress, we must consider how the intertwined issues of HIV/AIDS and violence halt their advancement and what tactics can be used to address these challenges. Globally, 46% of all new HIV infections were found in women and girls. In 2022, it was estimated that 1.9 million AGYW were living with HIV, compared to 1.2 million adolescent boys and you ..read more

In a momentous step towards revolutionizing healthcare accessibility for secluded island communities in the Oti region of Ghana, the United States Agency for International Development (USAID), in partnership with Global Communities, orchestrated the commissioning and handover ceremony of the groundbreaking “Health Voyager” boat. The event was held on Feb. 29, at the Volta Lake Transport Company in Akosombo, and marked the fruition of collaborative efforts aimed at addressing long-standing healthcare challenges. “As we commission this boat today, let it sail not just through the waters but into ..read more