Read the original story at UNDP Malaysia page here At the height of the pandemic in 2020, the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) Malaysia, Singapore and Brunei Darussalam, together with the United Nations Capital Development Fund (UNCDF) ventured into East Malaysia to pilot an e-commerce ecosystem for rural producers and artisans in Pagalungan and Moyog, Sabah. It aimed to support business continuity during the Movement Control Order while improving the longer-term financial health of rural communities by widening access to markets. Understanding gender dynamics and addressing gender inequalities while improving overall outcomes was also sought. Residents in rural Sabah face infrastructural barriers such as poor road access, costly delivery services, lack of food processing knowledge and equipment, and limited warehousing and storage facilities. Consequently, e-commerce for rural producers is often considered a risky or even unviable investment for industry players. Coupled with digital and technological challenges such as internet connectivity, technophobia, and limited digital literacy, e-commerce growth in rural areas has been slow. However, UNDP’s rural e-Commerce project in Moyog and Pagalungan over the last two years demonstrated the feasibility of rural e-commerce with alternative value chains, serving as an alternative to the informal economy. From a humble homegrown e-commerce store launched on 18 December 2020, Koondos! , it has scaled to include renewable energy interventions in supply chain, supported by partners such as Malaysia Global Innovation and Creativity Centre (MaGIC) in 2021, TONIBUNG and Japan Innovation Network in 2022. The project has successfully trained 300 women entrepreneurs and producers on product innovation, entrepreneurship, digital business and sustainable enterprise models in collaboration with Moyog Innovation House (MIH).  These women have often ventured into entrepreneurial endeavours to supplement household incomes. From an average revenue of USD137 per month, MIH now earns USD989 per month.     Working with gender roles and overcoming barriers Focus group discussion and gender analysis was conducted in the project to better understanding what women want and what they can contribute as 90% of our project beneficiaries are women. Traditional gender roles are evident among the rural communities in Moyog, Sabah and present significant barriers preventing women from venturing into entrepreneurship. The women often take up jobs that are compatible with childcare and do not require capital, such as selling raw produce in local markets, cooking and cleaning.  In 2017, the female labour force participation rate for Sabah was only 50.1 % compared to 84.8% for male[1]. Additionally, women often cannot meet microfinancing requirements and require financial capital from their husbands to start a business. This project helped overcome these barriers by providing women with seed funding and basic know-how on food processing and experiment with a business online. The project also connected them with alternative value chain suppliers to enable a conducive ecosystem for digital business in rural area, including social enterprises acting as aggregators and logistics provider.   Gender equality for greater impact  Following a successful first phase of the rural e-commerce pilot and renewable energy projects in Moyog and Pagalungan, UNDP aims to scale similar models to other rural communities in Malaysia for sustainable enterprise in strengthening community resilience. In doing so, we create an opportunity to engage women equitably in technology appropriation, governance, and innovation in their communities. Empowering women as producers and entrepreneurs enables them to safeguard the environment and natural resources while supporting sustainable growth for rural development. For example, since the successful prototyping of a solar dryer, women are processing agricultural produce into higher-value products with longer shelf life. This reduces wastage, improves income and enhances food security in these communities. The role that women entrepreneurs play as intermediaries between farmers and markets and in increasing product value benefits men as well. Women’s entrepreneurship endeavours have sparked motivation among the largely male farmers to diversify their crops to better respond to market demand, increasing opportunities for income generation for the community. UNDP’s effort in advancing women’s economic empowerment through the rural e-commerce initiative, is hoped to generate spill-over effects in other development areas of in terms of connectivity, civic participation, health and education. This would pave the way forward for subsequent programming to drive gender equality and empowerment as one of the priorities in the new country programme cycle.    References: [1] https://knoema.com/atlas/Malaysia/Sabah/Female-labour-force-participation-rate If you wish to know more about this project, check out other sources below: E-Commerce for Rural Development Blog- Part 1: https://www.undp.org/malaysia/blog/e-commerce-rural-development-response-covid-19-recovery E-Commerce for Rural Development Blog- Part 2: https://www.undp.org/malaysia/blog/e-commerce-rural-development-response-covid-19-recovery-part-2 E-Commerce for Rural Development Blog- Part 3: https://www.undp.org/malaysia/blog/e-commerce-rural-development-greening-production-part-3 Documentaries and testimonies: Video 1: From Farm to E-Markets: Building Financial Health in Sabah – Moyog Documentary: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qacWlOyp8cw&list=UU4nEGUzimT7EO-DGAEtLtJw&index=13 Video 2: From Farm to E-Markets: Building Financial Health in Sabah – Pagalungan Documentary: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Na32TF7aUi0&t=2s

Read the original article at UN News here February saw a furious round of diplomacy at the UN, as it became increasingly clear that Russia was intent on invading Ukraine, a crisis which UN Secretary-General António Guterres said was testing the “entire international system”. “We need restraint and reason. We need de-escalation now,” spelled out the UN chief, urging all sides to “refrain from actions and statements that would take this dangerous situation over the brink”. These calls were in vain, however, and the war, which Russia described as a “special military operation,” began. Global ramifications of Ukraine war : from food and fuel, to nuclear threat The conflict took on a significance far beyond its effect on Ukraine and Russia. Global fuel and food prices soared, and the UN trade body UNCTAD identified the war as the main contributing factor to projections of a global economic downturn, in a world still reeling from the consequences of the COVID-19 pandemic. Dark memories of the Chernobyl nuclear power plant explosion in 1986 were revived, when the Zaporizhzhia plant in southeastern Ukraine, the largest in Europe, came under Russian military control. The UN nuclear watchdog (IAEA) warned of potentially catastrophic consequences, expressing concern at the alarming conditions of the plant, and the shelling that took place not far from the reactors. Fighting in the vicinity of a nuclear plant was, said IAEA chief Rafael Grossi in November, “playing with fire”.   UN grain deal a ‘ray of hope to ease human suffering’ An highlight of UN diplomacy this year was undoubtedly the successful implementation of the Black Sea Grain Initiative, which saw exports resume from Ukrainian ports in July, and paved the way for Russian food and fertilizer to reach global markets, helping to slow the vertiginous rise in the price of grains, cooking oils, fuel and fertilizer across the world. The delicately balanced deal involved the establishment of a Joint Coordination Centre in the Turkish city of Istanbul, with representatives from Ukraine, Russia and Türkiye, to monitor the onloading of grain at the three ports. Ukrainian pilot vessels guide the ships through the Black Sea, which is mined, after which they head out through the Bosphorus Strait along an agreed corridor. Perhaps more impressive, given the lack of trust between Ukraine and Russia, and no prospect of a ceasefire in sight, is that the deal was renewed for a further 120 days in November. By then more than 11 million tonnes of essential foodstuffs had been shipped from Ukraine, and food prices began to stabilize.   Africa: Hope for peace in Sudan and Ethiopia, conflict grinds on in DRC and Mali UN peacekeepers in several African countries found themselves in harm’s way this year, whilst carrying out their role protecting civilians from violence. Over the course of the year, Mali’s reputation as the world’s most dangerous posting seemed to be borne out: nearly every month saw an attack that killed or wounded peacekeepers, amid reports of civilian massacres, and a deteriorating security situation. The Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) was riven by attacks from militant groups and intercommunal violence which displaced thousands of people. Hundreds of civilians were killed throughout the year, and peacekeepers again made the ultimate sacrifice. In one attack, in July, the UN Mission’s base in the restive North Kivu region was hit during violent demonstrations, killing three peacekeepers. There was better news from Sudan, which began the year embroiled in political unrest, following a military coup in 2021. Protestors against the regime continued to be targeted, and the UN condemned an excessive use of force, which saw several of them killed. By December, however, Mr. Guterres was able to hail a peace agreement between civilian and military leaders, and the UN team in Sudan announced that they would ensure a package of support during the transitional period. In Ethiopia, which has seen fierce fighting centred on the Tigray region, efforts to defuse the conflict led to a ceasefire in March. This did not end the violence, however, or the humanitarian crisis resulting from the unrest, but a peace deal, which was finally signed in November, was described by Mr. Guterres as a “critical first step” towards ending the brutal two-year civil war.   Middle East: No end in sight for many long-running conflicts In March, Mr. Guterres called for the international community not to fail the Syrian people, as the country entered the eleventh year of a brutal civil war, in which 307,000 civilians have died. The year ended with signs of military escalation, and no prospect of a peace deal, but the UN Special Envoy to Syria, Geir Pedersen, continued to meet with a host of key Syrian and international stakeholders, in pursuit of an eventual political solution to break the deadlock. Yemen is now in the seventh year of its catastrophic conflict, which again exacted a vicious toll on its people. Hopes were raised in April, when the UN brokered a nationwide truce, the first in six years. However, the truce came to an end in October, leading to fresh uncertainty. Hans Grundberg, the UN Special Envoy to Yemen, told the Security Council in October that he believed a peace agreement could still be achieved: “With the stakes this high, it is critical that we do not lose this opportunity. The parties need to demonstrate the leadership, compromise and flexibility required to urgently reach an agreement”. Little progress was made in relations between Israel and Palestine, during a year in which more than 150 Palestinians and over 20 Israelis were killed in the West Bank and Israel. UN Middle East Envoy Tor Wennesland expressed deep concern at the sharp increase in violence against civilians on both sides which, he said, undermined a peaceful resolution to the conflict. Mr. Wennesland called on Israel to cease advancement of all settlement activities as well as the demolition of Palestinian-owned property, and to prevent possible displacement and evictions. “The deepening occupation, the increase in violence, including terrorism, and the absence of a political horizon have empowered extremists and are eroding hope among Palestinians and Israelis, alike, that a resolution of the conflict is achievable,” he warned.   Americas: Haiti ‘on verge of abyss’, Colombia closer to lasting peace It’s hard to overstate the extent to which the security situation in Haiti collapsed in 2022. Practically nowhere in the capital, Port-au-Prince, could be deemed safe, as rival gangs fought over territory, terrorizing increasingly desperate citizens, already struggling to survive a humanitarian catastrophe. In October, the UN Special Representative in the country, Helen La Lime, welcomed the sanctions regime adopted by the Security Council, which targets gang leaders and their backers. She told the Security Council that even if a political solution could be found, it would not be sufficient to address the crisis. Ms. La Lime indicated her support for the mobilization of a specialized military force, whilst the US Permanent Representative to the UN, Linda Thomas-Greenfield, told the Security Council in October that the US and Mexico are working on a resolution which will authorize a “non-UN international security assistance mission”, which would help in the delivery of urgently needed humanitarian aid. There were positive signs that Colombia, which suffered decades of civil war, may be on the verge of achieving a lasting peace. Six years on from the historic peace accord signed between the Colombian government and FARC rebels, the country was still beset by outbreaks of fighting in 2022 and, in July, the UN human rights office called on the incoming administration to tackle rising violence, particularly in rural areas. By October, the head of the UN Verification Mission in Colombia, felt confident enough to brief the Security Council that expectations were running high for progress towards the full and final implementation of a lasting peace deal: “I am certainly confident that Colombia can demonstrate to the world, once again, that there is no better alternative to ending conflicts than through dialogue”.   Asia: Korean nuclear tension, scores attacked in Afghanistan Much of the focus on Afghanistan has centred on the steady erosion of women’s rights under the Taliban, the de facto rulers of the country, but security has been increasingly challenging. The Afghan people were rocked by waves of deadly terror attacks, from blasts at schools in April, to the bombing of a mosque in August, claimed by the so-called Islamic State group, also known as Da’esh. The group also carried out attacks against the Russian and Pakistani embassies, and a hotel hosting many Chinese nationals. The top UN official in Afghanistan, Roza Otunbayeva, announced in December that the UN is keeping dialogue open with the leaders of the Taliban, despite their differing positions. Whilst the Taliban face little to no political opposition, they are unable to satisfactorily address terrorist groups operating in the country, she reported. The Democratic People’s Republic of Korea (DPRK), more commonly known as North Korea, continued to test missiles in 2022, provoking condemnation from the UN, and fears that the country was attempting to develop its nuclear weapons capability. António Guterres declared that a long-range test in March was in violation of Security Council resolutions, and called an October launch over Japan a “reckless act”. In a Security Council briefing in November, Rosemary Di Carlo, the head of UN Political and Peacebuilding Affairs (DPPA), said that DPRK had reportedly launched its “largest and most powerful missile, capable of reaching all of North America”. Overall, said, Ms. Di Carlo, DPRK had launched some 60 ballistic missiles. She reiterated calls on the country to “desist from taking further provocative actions and to fully comply with its international obligations under relevant Security Council resolutions”.  A new UN peace agenda The wider issue of peace is likely to figure more highly on the UN agenda in 2023, when the UN chief, António Guterres, delivers A New Agenda for Peace, to Member States. Addressing the Security Council in December, Mr. Guterres explained that the document will articulate the Organization’s work in peace and security; set out a comprehensive approach to prevention; link peace, sustainable development, climate action, and food security; and consider how the UN adapts to cyberthreats, information warfare, and other forms of conflict. “The challenge ahead is clear,” said Mr. Guterres “To save succeeding generations from the scourge of war, with a revitalized multilateralism that is effective, representative and inclusive”.  

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Legal Affairs Division in the Prime Minister’s Department, United Nations in Malaysia and the Human Rights Commission of Malaysia (SUHAKAM) commemorated Human Rights Day with a Forum following the theme, “Strengthening and Enhancing Human Rights Towards Leaving No One Behind”. The Forum was graced with a Royal Address by DYMM Yang Di-Pertuan Besar Negeri Sembilan, Tuanku Muhriz Ibni Almarhum Tuanku Munawir. In his address, His Royal Highness emphasised the need to ensure inclusive and equitable quality education and promote lifelong opportunities for all, as laid down in Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 4. His Royal Highness called for a change in Government policy that currently denies children who are refugees or stateless to have access to formal education in the country. The move will not only break the generational cycle of poverty but will also benefit the country in many ways in the long run. His Royal Highness also welcomed the launch by SUHAKAM of an advocacy brief in the Malay language towards ending child marriage in Malaysia and stressed that children should be in schools and not rob of their childhood and right to education.   Minister of Foreign Affairs, YB Senator Dato’ Seri Diraja Dr. Zambry Abd Kadir in his video message emphasized that today’s celebration is reflective of the Government’s commitment to uphold and promote human rights for all. Malaysia will continue advancing and mainstreaming human rights and will undertake a human rights-based approach, in accordance with its national laws, international human rights obligations and SDGs. This is pertinent especially during the pandemic as human rights cannot be an afterthought, it should facilitate in building resilience in facing crisis. As a member of the UN Human Rights Council, Malaysia will continue to work closely and constructively with all partners to realise its membership priorities. On the international front, Malaysia will strengthen its global efforts to adress the plight of the Palestinians and Rohingyas. Ms. Karima El Korri, UN Resident Coordinator for Malaysia, Singapore and Brunei Darussalam in her opening remarks highlighted four key directions for Malaysia to build a future of shared prosperity and sustainability. First of all, on the ratification of outstanding human rights treaties. Secondly, to address the gaps in education, health, and wider living standards for vulnerable groups, including refugees and migrants. She then highlighted the empowerment of women and girls and their protection from all forms of gender-based violence. Finally, importance should also be placed on the human rights dimensions of climate change and the wider environmental issues. She noted that in July this year, the UN General Assembly passed a resolution recognising the right to a clean, healthy, and sustainable environment as a human right. Human Rights Day 2022 also marks the beginning of a year-long global campaign to commemorate the 75th Anniversary of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR) in 2023, the milestone document that proclaimed the inalienable rights which everyone is inherently entitled to as a human being – regardless of race, colour, religion, sex, language, political or other opinions, national or social origin, property, birth or another status. SUHAKAM Chairman, YBhg. Professor Dato’ Dr. Rahmat bin Mohamad shared SUHAKAM’s hope that the Government’s pledges as well as other commitments made would be translated into concrete actions for genuine improvement and enjoyment of human rights in people’s lives, without leaving anyone behind.  The United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres also delivered his remarks to commemorate Human Rights Day via a pre-recorded video at the Forum, highlighting various challenging including the shrinking of civic space, increasing hunger and poverty, the decline of media freedom and safety of journalists, racism, violence against women and girls, as well as climate change. During the Forum, an interactive panel discussed the interlinkages between human rights and the SDGs. The discussion focused on global and national commitments, focusing on the effectiveness of a human rights-based approach to enhance the impact of SDG progress. The Forum was moderated by Ms. Suri Kempe, President, Family Frontiers and Founder, Kemban Kolektif and the panel included Mr. Ragunath Kesavan, SUHAKAM’s Commissioner; YBhg. Dato' Prof. Dr. Adeeba Kamarulzaman, Professor of Medicine & Infectious Diseases of University Malaya and Commissioner of the Global Commission on Drug Policy; Ms. Azlina Kamal, Education Specialist and Lead at UNICEF Malaysia; and YBhg. Prof. Datuk Dr. Denison Jayasooria, President Society for the Promotions of SDGs and Senior Fellow at ISIS Malaysia. The Forum also witnessed the launch of the Malay language version of a report entitled: Towards Ending Child Marriage in Malaysia: Advocacy Brief by SUHAKAM and UNICEF. The English report which was launched in 2021 aims to identify the key drivers of child marriage in Malaysia and provides evidence-based recommendations for the way forward. The advocacy brief touches on the serious long-term consequences of child marriage, especially its impact on the lives and health of those affected. The launch is evident of Malaysia’s commitment in upholding the principles of the Convention of the Rights of the Child and the relevant SDGs, which calls for global action to end child marriage by 2030. The Government of Malaysia has thus far announced its commitment to address the factors of child marriage through the National Strategy Plan in Handling the Causes of Child Marriage (2020-2025). The newly appointed Law and Institutional Reform Minister, YB Dato’ Sri Azalina Othman Said also addressed some key points relating to the reform agendas that are in the pipeline. Among others, the Minister will look into the establishment of a Special Task Force on Institutional Reform, specifically to conduct a cross-sectional study and propose a list of institutional reforms to be tabled in the Cabinet. An independent Law Commission in Malaysia will also be formed to propose reform to the necessary laws to ensure their relevance and effectiveness. In line with the spirit of human rights, amendments to the SUHAKAM Act 1999 will be expedited to provide it with the institutional strength it requires to further promote and uphold human rights in Malaysia. The hybrid Forum was attended by over 500 participants from the Government, diplomatic corps, youth, academia, private sector and Civil Society Organisations. Human Rights Day is observed every year on 10 December — the day the United Nations General Assembly adopted the Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR) in 1948. Watch the recording of the Forum on YouTube:  

The op-ed has been published in CodeBlue here and Malay Mail here   Water flows through all major global issues; from health to hunger, gender equity to jobs, education to industry, disasters to peace. For that reason, it has to be made an integral part of all global meetings to do with making the world a better, safer and fairer place. Right now, this is not the case.  In the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development – the primary framework of the international effort to eradicate extreme poverty – the success of every one of the 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) depends on a well-functioning global water cycle. At COP 27, the fact that water and climate change are inextricably linked was reflected in the format of the event, but even so, water is still not a stand-alone topic for regular review and reporting in the COP process. As we fight climate change and strive to build a better world, water must be embedded in landmark global frameworks, including the Paris Agreement, 2030 Agenda, Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction, Committee on World Food Security and others. Without that integration, we will fail to get a grip on the major crises that threaten life on Earth and the hope of a better tomorrow. In the case of climate change, water must be is at the heart of our plans to mitigate and adapt to the impacts of more extreme and erratic weather. For instance, the protection, restoration and expansion of water-related ecosystems is essential for safeguarding biodiversity and capturing carbon from the atmosphere. At the same time, water and sanitation systems – existing and new – must be designed to withstand an increasingly hostile context. The writing is on the wall. In only 20 years, flood-related disasters have increased by 134 per cent, and the number and duration of droughts by 29 per cent.[1] Against this backdrop, around 2 billion people have no access to safe drinking water and 3.6 billion live without a safe toilet. Clearly, progress towards achieving SDG 6 – water and sanitation for all by 2030 – is seriously off-track. We have no choice but to act faster and smarter, across sectors, to solve the water crisis for the sake of every aspect of sustainable development. Water-related climate mitigation and adaptation should be seen as a new “social contract” between ourselves and future generations. In our own lives, we can all be more aware of our water footprint and be less wasteful of water. At the individual level, this will be a small price to pay to protect our great-grandchildren. However, the cost to the global system will be considerable yet essential. Financial resources must be better targeted, and new funding mobilized, towards the infrastructure and systems needed to build and maintain water-related services across society and the economy. There are encouraging signs. At the national level, more attention is already being paid to water as countries make national plans to adapt to the impacts of climate change and reduce emissions. I welcome this and encourage all countries to follow suit. But this is too large an issue for nation states to tackle individually. The multilateral system exists precisely for the purpose of orchestrating a response to complex global challenges just like this. The Government of Egypt, which hosted COP27, launched the “Action for Water Adaptation and Resilience” designed to make integrated water and climate action standard practice in SDG-related actions. This is a welcome signal that decision-makers are starting to recognize water for what it is: a medium of resilience, a problem-solver and a primary connector between all the major challenges we face. The momentum from COP27 will carry us to next year’s UN 2023 Water Conference, the first of its kind since 1977. Co-hosts Tajikistan and the Netherlands are urging the world to unite around water to follow an approach that is “action-oriented,” “inclusive” and “cross-sectoral”. We need to take the momentum built up at COP27 and convert it into a new Water Action Agenda. It’s down to everyone to solve the water crisis. And that can only be done when water is on everyone’s agenda. -end-