Sparsha Saha, PhD

UNDP and Türkiye Reinforce Strategic Partnership for Sustainable Development A high-level strategic dialogue has reaffirmed the crucial role of the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) and Türkiye in promoting sustainable, equitable, and peaceful development globally, regionally, and nationally. The robust partnership leverages Türkiye’s geopolitical significance and extensive development expertise to create innovative solutions and address emerging challenges collaboratively. Since the signing of the Partnership Framework Agreement in 2011, the relationship has flourished. Türkiye hosts the UNDP’s Istanbul Regional Hub (IRH) and the Istanbul International Center for Private Sector in Development (ICPSD), playing a significant role in UNDP’s regional programme in Eastern Europe and Central Asia. Additionally, Türkiye is one […] Read the full story here: https://lnkd.in/dSuZcXjU #solarenergy #alternativeenergy #solarpv #pvsolar #photovoltaic #cleanenergy #cleantech #climatechange #middleeast #africa #india #asiapacific #asia #middleeast #sustainabledevelopment #turkiye #undp

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We need to recognise that education is a catalyst to address climate change

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Dr. Paul Kent's second paper in his For the Beauty of Logistics series is out, and in it, he explores a unique setting for port development to serve Gaza: one that seeks to balance Israel's security needs with Palestinian sovereignty aspirations. The paper presents five port options according to their locations: inside Gaza, on the border, and outside Gaza. The favored option, the South Gaza/Kerem Shalom plan, entails an autonomous Palestinian port to be constructed in Egypt, adjacent to Gaza’s border. This port will be connected to the existing Kerem Shalom border crossing terminal via a dedicated 10-km port truck corridor. Then, Kerem Shalom will be expanded and turned into a logistics hub and special economic zone connected by rail to the West Bank. The chosen port solution not only addresses security concerns, but also holds promise for significant economic improvement, offering hope for Gaza and a stable peace for this war-torn region. Read the full paper here: https://lnkd.in/gzvZxAFU The For the Beauty of Logistics series, authored by Dr. Paul Kent, consists of short papers that aim to showcase how the principles of logistics can enable groundbreaking advancements, optimize processes, and revolutionize our understanding of complex systems. The first paper of the series, “From Nobel Laureates to the Cellular Supply Chain: Unveiling Logistics Concepts to Foster Wider Understanding of Scientific Research”, can be accessed here: https://lnkd.in/gTNSdSpJ

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At #COP29 I joined the Government of #Tajikistan to discuss our investments in supporting smallscale #farmers adapt to some of the consequences of melting #glaciers in the face of #climatechange, such as #water pollution and degraded #lands downslope. #Farmers’ realities in Tajikistan are already changing significantly for the worse and the essence of climate #adaptation is to find solutions to change our practices now. #IFAD’s projects with partners like the Green Climate Fund and the government of #Tajikistan bundles global #finance and delivers it to the field level for #innovative, community-driven interventions. We incorporate local #knowledge and needs to drive low-carbon, #resilient #agricultural practices at scale. It is possible to mitigate, and even reverse, the damage being caused but only through targeted, tailored #solutions and #investments. This is the essence of IFAD’s approach. Rafael Mariano Grossi Henry Gonzalez

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After the House passage of H.R. 9495, a bill which grants the Treasury Secretary unilateral power to strip nonprofit organizations of their tax exempt status, there’s renewed concern that Muslim nonprofits that provide aid or otherwise support Palestinians would be unfairly flagged and targeted. This would stifle support to Gaza where tens of thousands have been killed and millions more face displacement and famine, and chill free speech in the U.S., where thousands have protested America’s involvement through military support of Israel. . In recent years, Muslim-led nonprofits have reported facing discriminatory practices at some of the nation’s largest financial institutions, including being denied opening a nonprofit account and having a credit card for a nonprofit account closed. These challenges are part of a larger issue known as #BankingWhileMuslim, and our research shows that Muslims report these challenges at higher levels than other religious groups and the general public. Explore our analysis on the issue, authored by Dr. Youssef Chouhoud, which dives further into the intersections of Islamophobia, discrimination, and the U.S. banking system. READ MORE: https://hubs.li/Q02-YfsZ0

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🚨 Historic Moment for Iraq! Iraq is conducting its first national population census since 1987, marking a critical step toward modern governance. The census will influence resource allocation, budget planning, and parliamentary representation, yet it’s stirring concerns among minority groups about their future in Iraq’s power-sharing system. How can this census balance accurate data and equitable representation? #IraqCensus2024 #Governance #DataDrivenDecisions #Inclusivity #TheUAEInsights https://lnkd.in/dxCGrZsb

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Student Protests, Cultural Biases, and Peacemaking We are constantly being asked to address the Palestinian-Israeli conflict by institutional leaders but have been focused on delivering seminars about countering Islamophobia and antisemitism in the US. We now want to address how individuals and institutions can have meaningful discussions about the crisis in the Middle East while respecting the rights and dignity of those with differing views. Full article here.

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@RaviZanMedia has interviewed me about our work at Human Rights Watch and how we still document and advocate for the rights of people in Afghanistan. If you are interested in reading more, read here: buff.ly/3VgyeBS

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CECAN's Complexity Evaluation Toolkit helps evaluators navigate complex systems, address unpredictability in policy outcomes, and enhance decision-making across nexus domains like food, water, energy, and the environment. https://lnkd.in/e3uHSAtV Starting with an introduction to complexity and how it impacts policy and policy evaluation, the toolkit tackles issues in commissioning, designing and managing evaluations through real-world case studies. The toolkit is organised into five chapters, connecting the reader to useful resources along the way: Chapter 1: Introduction to evaluation and complexity Chapter 2: Commissioning a complex evaluation Chapter 3: Designing an evaluation Chapter 4: Managing an evaluation Chapter 5: Achieving impact Sources CECAN. (2021). The Complexity Evaluation Toolkit. July 2021. Version 1.0. Retrieved from:

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👋 Meet Our Dissertation Fellows Agricultural and Resource Economics doctoral candidate Elif Tasar's research centers on labor, urban, and public economics, with a focus on the relationship between lifecycle transitions and labor market outcomes in the US. Learn more about this year’s IRLE dissertation fellows: https://lnkd.in/gRg6-86y

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🎙️ New Episode with Amir Azhari, I recently had the pleasure of interviewing Amir Azhari, PhD, MBA, Co-founder and Chief Commercial Officer at Brickeye, a pioneering construction technology company transforming the industry through IoT-enabled job site monitoring, smart automation, and data analytics. In our conversation, we delved into: - Amir's journey: From his immigration story to earning a Ph.D. in Mechanical Engineering. - Founding Brickeye: Insights into how he and his co-founders launched the company. - Team building: The importance of cultivating a strong team culture. - Customer discovery: Strategies for identifying and understanding your target audience. - Go-to-market strategies: Crafting effective customer personas. - Financial needs: How to estimate and address the financial requirements of a growing company. This interview is packed with valuable insights for entrepreneurs and leaders alike! Don't miss out on Amir's expertise and experiences. 👉 Watch the full interview here: https://lnkd.in/dNuqud_h #Entrepreneurship #Leadership #ConstructionTech #IoT #Brickeye

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Funders, join us at NFG on May 16th for "Understanding Militarism and US Funding of the Genocide in Palestine," organized by my amazing colleague Neda Said. More details and registration in the link below: As we continue to witness the US-funded and facilitated genocide in Palestine, we are filled with horror, and also steadfast in our commitment and action toward a free Palestine and the self-determination of all oppressed people. NFG recognizes that the occupation of Palestine is not new and has been ongoing for decades. As philanthropy begins to interrogate its grantmaking and investment practices, we are compelled to name the importance of deepening support to BIPOC-led community organizing, especially Palestinian movement leaders organizing (from within the belly of the beast, no less) against US militarism’s violence. Because philanthropy participates in and benefits from America’s exploitative economy, US-based funders in particular must recognize that the extractive nature of our war economy has implications domestically and internationally. While BIPOC communities bear the brunt of the carceral system, lack of public resources, precarious work, and scarcity of affordable housing, communities abroad also stagger under the weight of both US-driven and funded imperialist extraction through direct occupation, military aid and arms sales (resulting in mass manufacturer profits), military-led “development” projects, and resource theft. Join us to build our collective understanding of current organizing to end the genocide in Palestine. We will discuss how to organize as philanthropy to not just continue resourcing and supporting BIPOC-led community organizing, but to also be sure to include the movement groups rising up against US imperialism, particularly Palestinian-led organizing efforts in the US attempting to end the genocide. Speakers: Iman Abid, Director of Advocacy, US Campaign for Palestinian Rights Maisa Morrar, Member & Co-Founder, Palestinian Feminist Collective Leena Barakat, President & CEO, Women Donors Network Rana Elmir, Director, Rise Together Fund

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“How do we in diaspora bridge the gap that exists to formulate public policy recommendations for the Palestine cause on a local, state, and national level?" Founder Hatem Bazian shares his take on why he took the initiative to found the Palestine Center for Public Policy. Through research and scholarship, the Center will address a myriad of issues: how do we consider the work for Palestine in relation to U.S. commitment to the Genocide Convention? How do we ensure the U.S. upholds international law surrounding protection of refugees and right of return? How do we support the work of UNRWA through policy and law? Like, share, and follow us for more updates on our work! Follow us on Instagram at: @palestinepolicy

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On April 13, one of our Campus Media Fellows, Adi Moran, was published in ynet News, about how UNRWA, which is supposed to provide support to Palestinians living in Gaza, has had a long history of promoting Jew-hatred and support for terrorism. It also had employees that participated in the October 7 massacre in southern Israel by Hamas terrorists, and ultimately is an organization that does more harm than good for innocent Palestinians. A new organization must be created that is centred on building a future of co-existence and peace within the region. https://lnkd.in/gb-UttdD

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Gaza's Gross Domestic Product (GDP) plummeted by 81%in the last quarter of 2023, leading to a 22% contraction for the entire year. By mid-2024 Gaza's economy had shrunk to less than one-sixth of its 2022 level. A UN Trade and Development (UNCTAD) report reveals a severe economic crisis, driven by collapsing GDP per capita, widespread poverty and soaring unemployment in the Occupied Palestinian Territory. Learn more: https://ow.ly/cqFk50Tm2kW

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An open Letter from Gaza Academics and University Faculty and Administrators to the world on Scholasticide of Gaza by Isr and its accomplices through its ongoing genocide on Palestine and its people. Please read the whole article. “Our civic infrastructure – universities, schools, hospitals, libraries, museums and cultural centres – built by generations of our people, lies in ruins from this deliberate continuous Nakba. The deliberate targeting of our educational infrastructure is a blatant attempt to render Gaza uninhabitable and erode the intellectual and cultural fabric of our society. However, we refuse to allow such acts to extinguish the flame of knowledge and resilience that burns within us. Allies of the Israeli occupation in the United States and United Kingdom are opening yet another scholasticide front through promoting alleged reconstruction schemes that seek to eliminate the possibility of independent Palestinian educational life in Gaza. We reject all such schemes and urge our colleagues to refuse any complicity in them. We also urge all universities and colleagues worldwide to coordinate any academic aid efforts directly with our universities…..we stress the importance of coordinating these efforts to effectively reopen Palestinian universities in Gaza.

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