A new development relationship begins with an awkward handshake, relief organizations bow out of Greece in protest over the controversial new refugee policy, and the United Nations reminds the world that there is too much tuberculosis and not enough water. This week in development news.
President Barack Obama’s historic visit to Cuba — the first visit of a sitting United States president to the island nation in 88 years — highlighted a series of recent changes in the relationship between the two countries. Cuba’s increased participation in regional development programs targeting education, innovation and entrepreneurship was a common theme of the trip. President Obama’s signature education program for the Western Hemisphere — 100,000 Strong in the Americas — saw new funding commitments that will help build university partnerships and support “innovation competitions.” The White House also announced it will invite 10 Cubans to the Global Entrepreneurship Summit in the Silicon Valley this June; and for the first time, up to 15 Cubans will participate in the administration’s Youth Leaders of the Americas Initiative.
Opting out of “one-in-one-out.” A number of high-profile humanitarian organizations have suspended their operations in Greece, in order to not to be associated with the controversial European Union-Turkey deal for Syrian refugees, which seeks to deter migrants from attempting the sea crossing to Europe. On Wednesday, Doctors Without Borders suspended its activities on the island of Lesbos, a day after the U.N. High Commissioner for Refugees suspended some of its activities and criticized the deal. The International Rescue Committee and the Norwegian Refugee Council have also followed suit. The groups say they’ve seen reception centers turned into detention facilities and refuse to be part of an “inhumane” process.
About the author
Michael Igoe@AlterIgoe
Michael Igoe is a Senior Reporter with Devex, based in Washington, D.C. He covers U.S. foreign aid, global health, climate change, and development finance. Prior to joining Devex, Michael researched water management and climate change adaptation in post-Soviet Central Asia, where he also wrote for EurasiaNet. Michael earned his bachelor's degree from Bowdoin College, where he majored in Russian, and his master’s degree from the University of Montana, where he studied international conservation and development.