Humanosphere

UN warns of ‘humanitarian tragedy’ in Syria  (Al Jazeera) – UN agencies have warned of a growing humanitarian crisis in Syria, as an estimated four million people there are in need of assistance. UN humanitarian chief Valerie Amos said the rebel-held north of Syria remained largely out of reach of aid operations, even though they had been stepped up elsewhere in the country torn by civil war.

Will the Next Microcredit Implosion Happen in Chiapas?  (CGD) — In November 2009, some guy nobody had heard of, Daniel Rozas, wrote an article asking whether there was a microcredit bubble in south India. Nearly a year later, the government of Andhra Pradesh ambushed the microcredit industry within its borders. Rozas became the Roubini of microfinance.

Why the Next Pope Should Be African (AllAfrica) – The number of Catholics in Africa has grown from 55 million in 1978 to more than 150 million today. By 2025 that figure is expected to be 230 million. In the past five years, the number of men training to be Catholic priests in Europe and America has fallen by 10 per cent. In Africa it has risen by more than 14 per cent.

United Nations Panel Calls Hormone Disruptors a “Global Threat” (Scientific American) – An international team of experts reported today that evidence linking hormone-mimicking chemicals to human health problems has grown stronger over the past decade, becoming a “global threat” that should be addressed.

Five defining shifts for health and development organizations (INIS) — Editors note: I don’t actually know much about INIS communications is or who is saying these are ‘defining trends’ for aid and development but I found them interesting.

Ethiopia Focuses on Entrepreneurs to Maintain Economic Growth (VOA) — The Ethiopian government and the United Nations want to train more than 200,000 entrepreneurs in the East African country. Both believe Ethiopia needs a stronger private sector to maintain its fast economic growth.