The U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) is accepting new applications for the Development Innovation Ventures (DIV) program. Anyone, anywhere can apply at any time.
DIV is an open innovation program that tests breakthrough solutions to critical global development challenges to improve millions of lives at a fraction of the usual cost. DIV provides flexible, tiered funding for innovations that demonstrate rigorous evidence, maximum impact per dollar, and a pathway to scale and sustainability.
DIV funds innovation across three stages: Stage-One grants (up to USD200,000) test the feasibility and proof of concept of an innovative product, service, or business model in a developing country context; Stage-Two grants (USD 200,000 to USD1,500,000) test and strengthen a solution’s business or delivery model to build rigorous evidence of impact and prepare the solution for scale; and Stage-Three grants (USD 1,500,000 to USD5,000,000) fund partnerships to scale the innovation to a new context or to demonstrate that they can be replicated.
In addition to tiered funding, DIV provides separate evidence grants (up to USD1,500,000) for research and evaluations that generate rigorous evidence of a solution’s impact, cost-effectiveness, and potential for expansion.
Since 2010, DIV has invested in over 190 solutions across 46 countries and all sectors in which USAID invests, and has directly affected more than 30 million lives. Over half of DIV grantees had never received USAID funding before, and DIV has mobilized USD4.60 of external funding for every USD1 from the American people.
USAID’S DEVELOPMENT INNOVATION VENTURES accepting new applicants
The World Catches Up With African Women
“…it’s a circle not a trickle down effect.” Ms. Adwoa Kufuor, Advisor on Gender and Women’s Rights
What a week for Women in Ethiopia and Africa in general, with the appointment of ten Female Ministers; highly credentialed, committed and experienced; it is substantial. The symbolic impact for young girls and society as a whole is also important. On the fine art front, attention has also slowly but steadily been turning towards African women as noted in publications such as Black Enterprise, Forbes and Artsy.Net amongst others. The common thread between the women in government and art is the growing recognition for the contributions and role of African women.
Black Enterprise, Ida Harris writes, “Now that artwork by black women are ‘trending’ in the mainstream art world due to high sales at auctions and acquisitions by notable collectors, there can come a time when their work is less attainable. The same way Amy Sherald shot to fame after being revealed as the artist behind former First Lady Michelle Obama’s portrait … can apply to the many working professional black female artists from all over. Invest now, so you won’t be sorry later.” Though the change is incremental and mostly seen in West and Southern Africa including artists such as Nigerian Peju Alatise and Botswanian Billie Zangewa, Ethiopia is also one to watch for emerging female forces.
But before I go forward, let me reflect on a woman who may well be considered the first female Ethiopian contemporary artist. Martha Nassibou, daughter of Dejazmatch Nassibou Zamanuel and Woizero Aztede Babitcheff born in Addis Ababa in 1931, was taken with her family from Ethiopia to Italy to live in captivity in 1936. Martha subsequently studied at the Académie des Beaux Arts in Paris and the Art Students League in New York resulting in her first exhibition in 1945 in Addis Ababa on the occasion of the visit of Queen of Greece. She also worked at the Ethiopian Ministry of Education, commissioned to illustrate children’s books and went on to reside in Europe in 1964. The little known Ethiopian artist continued to paint, exhibit, and accept commissions from portraits to large Ethiopian inspired canvases with experimentation into electronic paintings in the early 2000’s.
Knowing the history, power and potential of African women, I have always surrounded myself with strong Sistars. In the context of art I use the term strong because talent alone is not an exclusive benchmark. Instead the artist’s ability to articulate and execute concepts with confidence, fearlessly and flawlessly is what I find soul stirring. This type of artist also manifests their importance as a marker of time, space and circumstance. According to Forbes, “An Art exhibition is a confluence of creative minds and the perfect opportunity to understand the current thinking of a country’s intelligentsia.” Tangentially, I take the liberty to apply this to our current Cabinet, while in the same breath challenging exhibitors to increase female artists. I confess. I too am guilty as charged. So in an effort to reform my ways and lead by example I have been researching and visiting studios and solo and group exhibitions in my quest to select artists for an upcoming group exhibition.
One artists selected is Million Birhan, who says, “Art is that has been given from the heavens and it is my duty to use it, if I do not then I believe it will be taken away from me.” I think I can take liberty here again, replacing “heaven” with “high officials”, but let me share more about Million.
The twenty-something painter and sculptor has a host of awards and exhibitions in her portfolio including Award for Excellence, Afro-Chinese Arts and Folklore Festival in Cairo and solo and group shows at Asni Gallery, Ethiopian National Museum, Alliance Ethio-Francias and Dabanga Gallery-Khartoum. A visit to her studio, on the edge of Addis, was well worth it as her treasure chest of new and older works in watercolor, collage, sculptures etc. proved exceptional. Million’s work tackles powerful topics from identity to spirituality saying, “…my creations are what I know, what I understand and what I imagine.” We will see more of her on the horizon as we attempt to reverse what 87 year old African American artist Faith Ringgold, told Artsy.Net about the visual arts industry, being “more sexist than racist.”
Ms. Adwoa Kufuor, Advisor on Gender and Women’s Rights, sums up it up best, “Positive developments in laying the foundation for equality between men and women is a true demonstration that change is under way and evidence of a renaissance. However, it is not a new phenomenon for women to contribute to political or social change…and in an interrelated world, we should commend countries that place equal participation of women in social, cultural and political affairs on the agenda. Aware and fully informed towards gender empowerment we should not forget it’s a circle not a trickle down effect.”
Dr. Desta Meghoo is a Jamaican born
Creative Consultant, Curator and cultural promoter based in Ethiopia since 2005. She also serves as Liaison to the AU for the Ghana based, Diaspora African Forum.
Are GMO crops really safe?
I read with interest the news that declares the launching of trial production of GMO corn in our Ethiopia (October 14, 2018). But I feel something bad when I think of some identified facts on the issue. This day nations all over the world are voicing against the genetically modified crops or organisms (aka GMO). Many countries banned importing these GMO products by taking in to consideration the dangers it poses against their citizens and natural resources.
A research (the first of its kind) conducted in Canada identified the presence of Bt toxin and pesticides associated with genetically modified foods in the blood of maternal, fetal and non-pregnant women. Doctors at Sherbrook University Hospital in Qubec “found Bt toxin in the blood of 93% of pregnant women; 80% of umbilical blood in their babies and 67% of non-pregnant women”.
I understand from my reading that Bacillus thuringiensis (Bt) is the family of bacteria that can produce toxins. These toxins are said to cause food poising. Bt bacteria can also produce protein crystals that are toxic to insects. Scientists put this Bt in to the DNA of corn seed through molecular technique or genetic engineering. The purpose is to protect the corn from pests or any other insects that attack it. This means that the newly introduced Bt bacteria produces fatal toxins that kill the insects or pests which consume the corn. The concern of the nations is that Bt toxin transferred in to human blood causes health hazards.
Yes, once Bt toxin enters in to our blood it causes us to fall victims of various ailments like intestinal permeability, imbalanced gut bacteria, immune activation and allergic response, impaired digestion, damage to the intestinal wall and others…
Now, if the GMO can be the cause of such health problems, how could our scientists or any other concerned bodies (Melkasa Agricultural Research Center, Natural Biosafety Advisory Committee, Bako Agricultural Research Center…) dare to take bold measures in allowing the trial production of GMO crops in our country? Did they realize the consequences of these GMO crops? I feel this is a serious issue!
History tells us that many countries have been forced to wallow in crises after falling in to bondage of GMO. Argentina is a good example. A book entitled ‘Seed of Destruction – the Hidden Agenda of Genetic Manipulation, which was authored by F. William Engdahl, states that Argentina had become the world’s largest uncontrolled experimental laboratory for GMO. “By 2004, 48% of all agricultural land in the country was dedicated to soybean crops, and between 90% and 97% of these were Monsanto GMO Roundup Ready soybeans.”
Through the consequences of GMO Argentine dairy farms had been reduced by half between 1988 and 2003. That country was forced to import milk for the first time from Uruguay at costs far higher than domestic prices. “Hundreds of thousands of workers off the land, poverty and malnutrition soared. In the more tranquil era of the 1970’s, before the New York banks stepped in, Argentina enjoyed one of the highest living standards in Latin America.”
The percentage of Argentine population officially below the poverty line reportedly was 5% in 1970. The sordid fact, however, is that after the introduction of GMO in that country, things have shown dramatic changes. “By 1998, that figure [the 5%] had escalated to 30% of the total population. And by 2002, to 51%. By 2003, malnutrition rose to levels estimated at between 11% and 17% of the total population of 37 million. Amid the drastic national economic crisis arising from the state’s defaulting on its debt, Argentines found they were no longer able to rely on small plots of land for their survival. The land had been to overrun by mass GMO soybean acreages and blocked to even ordinary survival crops.” This has been scored in history as tangible consequences of this damned GMO.
The other book authored by Jeffrey M. Smith is entitled ‘Seeds of Deception’. The book, labeled as best seller, exposed lies of industries like Monsanto and governments about the safety of GMO. Concrete facts of GMO are read clearly in that book. Spaces of our local paper, Capital, are hardly enough if I quote everything stated in this famous book. But let me recite a case from the book regarding the crops modified by scientists of the developed world.
Howard Vlieger is a resident of Maurice, lowa, USA. He harvested both natural and genetically modified corns of Bt variety on his farm in 1998. Curious about how his cows would react to the pesticide producing Bt corn, he filled one side of his sixteen-foot trough with the Bt and dumped natural corn on the other side. Normally, his cows would eat as much corn as was available, never leaving leftovers. But when he let twenty-five of them into the pen, they all congregated on the side of the trough with the natural corn. When it was gone, they nibbled a bit on the Bt, but quickly changed their minds and walked away. A couple of years later, Vlieger joined a room full of farmers in Ames, lowa to hear presidential candidate AlGore. Troubled by Gore’s unquestioning acceptance of GM foods, Vlieger asked Gore to support a recently introduced bill in congress requiring that GM foods be labeled. Gore replied that scientists said there is no difference between GM and non-GM foods. Vlieger said he respectfully disagreed and described how his cows refused to eat the GM corn. He added, “My cows are smarter than those scientists were.” The room erupted in applause. Gore asked if any other farmers noticed a difference in the way their animals responded to GM food. About twelve to fifteen hands went up.
“If a field contained GM and non-GM maize, cattle would always eat the non-GM first.” -Gale Lush, Nebraska
“A neighbor had been growing Pioneer Bt corn. When the cattle were turned out onto the stalks they just wouldn’t eat them.” -Gary Smith, Montana
“While my cows show a preference for open-pollinated corn over the hybrid varieties, they both beat Bt-corn hands down.” -Tim Eisenbeis, South Dakota [Seeds of Deception]
This is how we are made to consume artificially modified crops that are not touched even by animals!
At last let me say a few words regarding the big company, Monsanto, that is said to support the promotion or trial production of GMO crops in this country. Monsanto was founded in 1901 by John Francis Queeny, “a member of the Knights of Malta, a thirty-year pharmaceutical veteran married to Olga Mendez Monsanto, for which Monsanto Chemical Works is named.” Monsanto produced a chemical named saccharin. This is its first production, which was sold to Coca-Cola Company as an artificial sweetener. An article written about Monsanto expresses it as a “most Evil Corporation on Earth! Not content to simply rest upon its throne of destruction, it remains focused on newer, more scientifically innovative ways to harm the planet and its people”.
Many things have been said about this company. A point, which was taken from internet, states that Monsanto “is sued for giving radioactive iron to 829 pregnant women for a study to see what would happen to them”. Thus, feeding experiment in history put us, human beings, the Guinea pigs.
But, why these monster companies do this diabolic act? …Don’t hesitate to guess that they do this for the mere reasons of amassing financial profits, shutting (depopulating) the ever-growing hungry mouths of the poor that are always feared to share the resources of this planet, and stealing our naturally gifted national resources…
By Haile-Gebriel Endeshaw
Anyone who is interested to read books and documents on GMO can get soft copies from this writer who can be reached through the following e-mail account: gizaw.haile@yahoo.com Feel free to contact.
Everyone is beautiful…
An inclusive fashion show was organized in Addis Ababa featuring 21 designers from Ethiopia, Kenya, Uganda, and Rwanda. The designers customized clothing for 46 models representing people with disabilities in Ethiopia.
During the show, a video discussing the social and professional views on the challenges faced by the disability community was presented.
The show was organized by the US embassy initiative in collaboration with the Fashion Designers Association, Hub of Africa Fashion Week, corporate sponsors and nine local disability organizations. Also the US Department of State Alumni Affairs was part of the organizing team.
During the event, Michael Raynor, US Ambassador to Ethiopia, expressed his excitement to see participants from many African countries.
“Inclusivity is all about giving every member of our community a chance to be at the best of themselves, but also a chance that ensures us to contribute to our collective success as well,” he said.
