Articles and Blog Postings

Our collective inaction to humanitarian crises is crippling our ability to cope with unprecedented need. And yet the evidence is clear that our dollars could help many more people, and actually avert suffering, if we invested more in prevention and anticipatory action.

This piece was co-authored by Hugh Jackman and Courtenay Cabot Venton.

Actor Hugh Jackman and economist Courtenay Cabot Venton are each working on initiatives to inspire a new generation of entrepreneurs to combine people, planet & profit in their ventures.

Ethiopia is yet again facing a humanitarian crisis that looks set to devastate much of the country’s population. Despite impressive growth figures over the last decade, 20 million Ethiopians are still under the poverty line. El Nino related weather is causing drought, destroying any chance of sustained poverty reduction. responding early would result in an estimated savings of at least $1 billion.

This piece was co-authored by Hugh Jackman and Courtenay Cabot Venton. Seven years ago, Hugh Jackman set off on a journey to Ethiopia that would change his life in ways that he could never have predicted. This week, a documentary film “Dukale’s Dream” is being released that chronicles this journey. Hugh Jackman and economist Courtenay Cabot Venton explain why the messages of the film extend well beyond Dukale and tell a story of empowerment and hope that is transforming poverty.

This piece was co-authored by David Miliband and Courtenay Cabot Venton.
Children are on the frontline of the impacts of climate change. Over 99% of deaths already attributable to climate-related changes occur in developing countries – and children make up over 80% of those deaths. The number of people affected by humanitarian crisis has almost doubled over the last 10 years, and the cost has trebled.

I meet Meseret in a town in Ethiopia called Nazareth. We are sitting in a small room, rain falling on the tin roof. As she speaks, I know that her story is one that will stay with me forever.

Recent research in Ethiopia suggests that a very simple and extremely low-cost approach to development is transforming poverty. And the approach represents a paradigm shift in the way that we deliver aid, by changing our view of the poor from helpless victims to agents of positive change.

--First published by the Huffington Post-- The UN recently issued their latest report on climate change, and the findings are grim, suggesting that “climate change risks destabilizing human society“. US Secretary of State John Kerry commented: “Unless we act...