The summer slowdown hasn’t hit the development sector. Over the past month, our reporters have been analyzing everything from the announcement of Boris Johnson and Alok Sharma as the new stewards of U.K. aid, to the resignation of the DRC health minister, to the persistent challenges around tracking the SDGs.
Exclusively for our Pro subscribers, in July we provided an in-depth look at global health decision-making and blockchain pilots, convened a digital event on what newly released PEPFAR data says about the future of the agency’s funding disbursements, and released a special report delving into the world of drones for development.
USAID featured heavily among our most-read stories in July. Michael Igoe’s look inside USAID’s search for input for the next iteration of its biggest project — the $9.5 billion Chemonics-led Global Health Supply Chain Program-Procurement and Supply Management project — made waves among the government and implementer communities. Adva Saldinger’s look inside the agency’s unfolding private sector strategy drew the attention of those tracking how the agency is modeling its engagement with businesses.
Amy Lieberman’s analysis of SDG tracking challenges — which experts say would benefit from a revamped HLPF and new data sources — sparked interest as the development community looks ahead to the U.N. General Assembly, where capturing timely data will be a central theme.
Another top story — particularly for our U.K. community — came from Sophie Edwards, who detailed conflicting accounts over the efficacy of DFID’s contractor reforms. A recent agency review painted a rosy picture — but consultants told us a different story.
And finally: People in the U.K. used to waste 8.3 million tons of nutritious food each year. Teresa Welsh looked at efforts to reduce global food waste and found that enough is not being done, with many initiatives still "back in the starting blocks."
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