Sara Pantuliano

The partnership with UN-Habitat Iraq and the event “Stories of Change: Innovative Justice Solutions in Housing, Land, and Property in Iraq” marks an important milestone in our work in Iraq. This event is the culmination of HiiL’s ongoing engagement in Iraq, which began in 2023. During this time, HiiL partnered with UNHCR, the UN Refugee Agency to survey Iraq’s displaced communities, revealing a significant justice gap. Over half faced serious legal issues in recent years, but only 15% saw resolution. Displaced persons struggle with land, housing, and public service issues, while navigating a slow, costly justice system. In response, HiiL launched the "Iraq Justice Innovation Initiative" project funded by Netherlands Enterprise Agency (RVO) in September 2023, focusing on empowering displaced groups, especially women and minorities, with innovative Housing, Land, and Property (HLP) solutions. Together with UN-Habitat Iraq, we’re strengthening HLP governance in Iraq. Here are the four standout local initiatives featured at the event: 1️. Dak Organization – "My Right to Own" (حقّي في الامتلاك): Empowering female survivors by raising awareness, training lawyers, and creating referral pathways to provide effective legal services for HLP issues. 2️. Mosul Space – Digital Justice: Bringing cutting-edge AI-driven legal information to Sinjar residents, simplifying complex HLP matters. 3️. Legal Oasis Initiative: Reaching displaced communities with mobile legal clinics, providing on-the-spot legal consultations to help resolve property claims. 4️. Right to Information (حق الوصول الى المعلومة): Breaking down Iraqi compensation laws and HLP regulations into user-friendly, accessible formats for diverse audiences in Sinjar. It’s inspiring to see these innovative solutions paving the way for justice and making a real difference in the lives of displaced communities! Amazing work from my colleagues Roger El Khoury Zainab Dawood Salam Al-Nukta Celine Najem and Amira Akacha.

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It was at the SIDS Future Summit that the Marshall Plan for SIDS caught fire! I presented a few points on what a Marshall Plan for SIDS would mean and what it should look like. Matthew Bishop (Dr) Emily Wilkinson Simona Marinescu thank you for bringing this to life. Let us move this Oped on the Marshall Plan for SIDS, from Paper to People - The Antigua and Barbuda Agenda for SIDS #ABAS #SIDS4

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It's been really important for us to articulate exactly what a cultural relations approach to development is, and why we believe - and can evidence - that it is effective. The report highlights why the building of trust and credibility over time is crucial, and that development practitioners need to behave in a way that engenders trust throughout a programme. Thanks to all the dedicated colleagues and partners around our network for contributing their time and thinking to this research. #InternationalDevelopment #CulturalRelations #SoftPower #CultureConnects

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More great work by Publish What You Fund. Kudos for taking on this tricky issue. It's so important to better understand who, how and where we are mobilising. An important step forward which must be accompanied by better disclosure.

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#PPF2024 Reshaping finance and investing in children panel. @AnnelieseDodds highlights the UK's commitments to deliver this agenda and to prioritise access to quality education

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Last week the House of Commons Liaison Committee report on "Promoting national strategy: How select committee scrutiny can improve strategic thinking in Whitehall" was published. "The UK faces an increasing number of serious immediate and escalating long-term strategic challenges and opportunities. They require a coordinated and sustained response across government, with cross-party support that transcends the electoral cycle, and often requiring collaboration with our international partners. The pace of change and the connectivity between issues is accelerating. This makes it harder for government to plan better for the future—not just for what can be foreseen, but also for the unexpected. Goals and solutions often take time to prepare, to resource and to implement. They require continuing strategic leadership, delivery and implementation across multiple Parliaments." This inquiry examined the existing capacity and quality of strategic thinking and decision-making in government. Great to see contributions by Sir Geoff Mulgan, Catherine Day, Pamela Dow, Sophie Howe, Keith Dear, RAND Europe, Apolitical and many more. Read the full report here: https://lnkd.in/e6S2-8jW #NationalStrategy #PublicPolicy #StrategicThinking

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Thanks for sharing, and I really enjoyed this read - its a thorough piece on a challenging topic and the analytical framework of looking at people's needs at Source, in Transit and at Destination is very helpful. It offers solid technical recommendations and ideas on how to include migrants and displaced populations in social protection systems, particularly in response to the major drivers of displacement such as climate change and conflict. Very rich food for thought across a number of system delivery components. As I reflected on it, a few gaps stood out to me: 1. The intersection between climate and conflict as primary drivers of unprecedented forced migration needs a more integrated approach in designing social protection programs. This heavily affect the Sahel, Mental health and psychosocial support, disaster resilience, and climate adaptation are missing elements that are crucial for this group. 2. Conflict-sensitivity, prevention and social cohesion similarly are topics that need direct attention - there’s room for social protection systems to act proactively in conflict-prone areas to help prevent displacement before violence erupts, or build social cohesion and trust between displaced and host communities. 3. Long-term climate resilience: Beyond shock-response, we should focus on climate-adaptive livelihoods and prevent displacement from environmental degradation. The paper lightly discusses public works, but not from climate adaptation angle, even though there are really impressive experiences with climate-adaptive cash-for-work across the Sahel. 4. There's a need for better inclusion of informal economy workers, who often miss out on traditional social protection schemes. Overall, how to access social insurance and how to reach the "missing middle" for migrant or displaced populations is an area that requires a lot more discussion. 5. The sustainability of funding is discussed but is absolutely critical—how do we go beyond donor cycles to ensure long-term support? Also here, the intersection of conflict with climate and the big hope for vertical climate funds Looking forward to seeing how this conversation continues to evolve! #socialprotection #displacement #migrants #sahel

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Exciting News for the International Evaluation Community! The European Evaluation Society (EES) has just released “Unlocking Opportunities,” a FREE guide designed to help people (especially the young and emerging evaluators) secure funding for the 15th EES Conference in Rimini, Italy this September. This guide is a goldmine of valuable insights and best practices, making it a must-have for evaluators and researchers looking for innovative ways to fund their conference attendance. While tailored for the 15th EES Conference, this resource is incredibly useful for any international conference. It is a living document, set to be updated for future events. The EES invites colleagues to share their experiences and tips for inclusion in upcoming editions. Get your copy here: https://lnkd.in/dnZrgkFW and follow the EES on LinkedIn for regular updates and posts on the Conference and the themes that will be discussed. The dedicated EES Conference website is here: https://lnkd.in/dpbkvGiY . . #EES #conference #Evaluation #YoungEvaluators #EmergingEvaluators #EESConference2024 #ProfessionalDevelopment #FundingOpportunities #Research #Innovation #Rimini2024 #EvaluationCommunity #Eval Marco Lorenzoni Taruna Gupta

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The IMF has completed the Article IV Consultation with Somalia and has reached a staff-level agreement on the Second Review under the ECF Program. Somalia's ongoing reforms are performing well, with the Central Bank of Somalia (CBS) spearheading institutional governance and financial sector reforms. These efforts aim to enhance financial deepening and bolster anti-money laundering frameworks to align with global standards. For more details, you can access the IMF Press Release here. https://lnkd.in/d2vSfWM4 #Somalia #IMF #CentralBankSo #FinancialReform #EconomicStability

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Seven years have passed since the 2016 #World #Humanitarian #Summit – how has the #HDP nexus shaped the way initiatives addressing #forced #displacement are conceived? How have actors collaborated, and brought their different perspectives and strengths towards creating durable solutions? How have host and donor countries changed their ways of working? In this new paper, Jens Hesemann, Hisham Esper and I (Jason Gagnon) review evidence on 27 initiatives tackling the challenges of forced displacement with an HDP nexus approach, implemented across low-income (LICs) and middle-income countries (MICs). The paper provides insights on #programming, co-ordination, and #financing towards addressing forced displacement, all within an HDP nexus approach. Despite positive traction, there is room for improvement: 1. A comprehensive approach to tackling all aspects of forced displacement is lacking. 2. Not all resources and actors are sufficiently mobilised. 3. Coordination is mostly organised by sector, rather than strategic outcome. Read here to find out our recommendations on the way forward! https://oe.cd/5P9 OECD Development Federico Bonaglia cyprien Fabre Heaven Crawley Manuel Hoff Catherine Osborn Dan Schreiber Roberta Russo Agnès Hurwitz DPhil UNHCR, the UN Refugee Agency

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This is an appreciation post for Carole Osero-Ageng'o well done on your role as Co-Chair of the 2024 UN CSO Conference alongside @Nudhra Yusuf. The vigor with which Civil Society have engaged with each other and member states since the #ActionDays to the #SummitofTheFuture is in many ways testament to the great work you have done as custodians of such an important space, As we have engaged on what will shape the framework for future investments in development and in the world for the future. 💡She has had a consistent message: “The collaboration between and within Civil Society will have to be business unusual. We must take into account the changes of the world and collaborate radically. The world is not linear it is integrated and intersectional. We need to remember that by 2050 there will be six generations living together, and we must create a world that is fit for purpose.” #CallToAction And of course it’s always a pleasure doing good trouble with you in this space. #ActionDays #SummitofTheFuture #UNCSOs #Advocacy HelpAge Africa AMREF Stephanie Musho United Nations SDGs Kenya Forum

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Upcoming New Book Alert: For colleagues and followers interested in our TraCCC-AITI Hubs of Illicit Trade (HIT) project, I want to bring attention that our latest research will be available, as an e-book (first) published by Routledge (London) - for pre-order on September 9, 2024, and shipped on 29 September 2024 at: https://lnkd.in/ejB7MVip. ISBN 9781032796420 This book, expertly edited by our colleague, Dr. Yulia Krylova, meticulously examines how centers of illicit trade pose myriad interconnected threats to global security, markets, sustainable development, and the public health and safety of communities around. The innovative research also provides a multi-dimensional approach for cross-hub comparisons, measuring the scale of their illicit activities based the assessment of #illicittrade risk levels that combines indicators related to all aspects of illicit trade, including #corruption in the private and public sectors, #moneylaundering, and financial secrecy, among other dimensions. These hubs also serve as safe havens for smugglers and their accomplices, fostering a criminal ecosystem that facilitates the convergence of various criminal activities. The book underscores the detrimental impact of poorly regulated international #freetradezones, which prioritize expediency over security, thereby allowing illicit trade to flourish in regions characterized by opaque governance and lax regulatory oversight. It comprehensively explores the spectrum of illicit trade present in notorious hubs such as the #Argentina #Brazil #Paraguay Tri-Border Area, #Dubai, #Panama, #Belize, #Guatemala, and #Ukraine. Emphasizing the phenomenon of crime convergence associated with these hubs, the book offers actionable recommendations for disrupting their interconnected illicit #supplychains, infrastructures, and networks. By addressing the illicit economies, the book fills a critical void in understanding how vulnerabilities within the global economy fuel the creation of illicit trade hubs. It will be of great value to researchers in the fields of #trade, economics, #criminology, and international development. It will also be an excellent resource for government agencies, policymakers, and private-sector managers in those industries most affected by the growing problem of illicit trade. Co-Authors: Louise Shelley, Yulia Krylova, Jorge Lasmar, PhD, Dr Rashmi Singh, Alexander Kupatadze, Daniel Rico, and David M. Luna 🦏 🌎 🐘 Threat Convergence ≜ Kine-Dynamics. As the Co-Director of TraCCC-AITI with Dr. Shelley, I am very proud of our project team leaders who worked on the HIT project; and an honor to write Chapter 6 with Dr. Krylova on "Conclusions: Disrupting Hubs of Illicit Trade". Also make sure to follow us at: Terrorism, Transnational Crime, and Corruption Center (TraCCC) Anti-Illicit Trade Institute (AITI), Terrorism, Transnational Crime and Corruption Center (TraCCC) George Mason University at: https://lnkd.in/eAuvGhKt

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The @SDG legislation in @Wales asks all #politicians to demonstrate to The Office of the Future Generations Commissioner for Wales how they deliver on the 7 sustainable development objectives that is #urgent to achieve in the interest of #next generations. 5 days of working including true involvement at the moment of decision making and qualifications on #sustainable development so#citizens can be fully involved in the decisions in their #communities

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Looking for a weekend read…. Evaluation of the Cultural Protection Fund ERS were commissioned to measure the impact of the Cultural Protection Fund’s first phase, which funded 51 projects between 2016 and 2020. ERS reviewed evaluation reports from all 51 projects, conducted surveys and interviews with grantees and other stakeholders, carried out a rapid literature review and produced an evaluation report detailing the impact of the fund in its first three years. The report sets out the context in which the fund operates and evaluates the successes and challenges of funded projects against the fund’s outcomes as well as other key areas such as effectiveness and value for money. A few project case studies are highlighted in the report. #culturalheritage #sdgs #post2030agenda #devlopment https://lnkd.in/djiFrvxF

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Proud of this effort to engage with funders who have signaled that they support locally led development, but still have a ways to go in walking the talk. As do we all. So let's do it together. What you can do: ☑ Read the joint letter: https://bit.ly/4dQEW8J ☑ Endorse it if you can. ☑ Add your voice in the comments. What are other practical actions already happening where funders can support and collaborate? How can we hold each other accountable?

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The Young Women for Awareness, Agency, Advocacy and Accountability Programme (YW4A) 2023 Report is out. This is a multi-country programme that Faith to Action Network is part of the delivering consortium with implementation taking place in Egypt, Kenya, South Sudan and Palestine. The programme aims to enhance young women’s leadership and tackle sexual and gender-based violence (SGBV).   Faith to Action Network is leading delivery in Pathway 3 on mobilizing Faith leaders to engage actively in global and regional advocacy efforts towards the reduction of GBV and promotion of women’s rights. The report details the gains Faith to Action Network has realized including hosting interfaith dialogues to address GBV and advocate for policy implementation. Across the four countries, we are mobilizing Faith leaders to implement GBV Awareness Action Plans. During the 2023 Women Deliver conference in Kigali, we highlighted the gender assessment methodology that faith leaders can utilise in promoting community sensitisation on GBV and women’s rights. In Egypt, our partners are at the forefront of building the capacity of young women, Women’s Rights Organisations and faith leaders to develop Social Behavioural Change Communication (SBCC) messages emphasising the importance of young women's involvement in advocacy. Through our engagements, Faith champions within FBOs continue to actively promote positive masculinities and challenge harmful social norms.   The outcome of our engagement has been the increased capacity of faith leaders and institutions to be amplifiers and drivers of change. Read the full report here: https://lnkd.in/dbAsMAau

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I am looking forward to engaging with the new government to see how I and Mercy Corps can support to tackle the challenges of climate change and conflict. Conflict and fragility are rising across the globe, stalling hard-won development gains, driving global security challenges and human suffering, while generating a huge global cost—$19.1 trillion in 2023. An estimated 300 million people are projected to need humanitarian assistance and protection in 2024. Parallel to this, global temperatures are expected to rise to at least 2.5C (4.5F), blasting past internationally agreed targets; with catastrophic consequences for humanity and the planet. Millions on the frontline of climate change will continue to bear the brunt of a crisis they had little hand in creating. The UK government’s next steps can profoundly alter this trajectory, but we must move with urgency. 

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