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Contents:
Volume 28, No.1

Global news

Features

Special: Disability and development

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Previous editions

Focus on humanitarian aid

Focus on effective aid

Focus on education

Focus on Indonesia

Focus on food

Focus on innovation

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Download this edition

Well, the first issue of Focus for 2013 is here!
International aid is such a complex, challenging, uplifting, inspiring field, as well as an incredibly important responsibility. So many wonderful stories. Some from this issue may move you to tears—the incredible story of a labouring mother in danger in Papua New Guinea, people with disability forging futures, fighting stigma, demanding education and opportunity against incredible odds or amazingly resilient female health workers in Zimbabwe, thrilled with new bicycles from UNI CEF. These are the people that AusAID is helping. This is YOUR aid program at work.
Not long ago, the United Nations launched its ‘1000 Days of Action’ campaign, marking 1000 days until the deadline for meeting the Millenium Development Goals. Extreme poverty has been halved since they were agreed in 2000. Millions more children have been immunised. Millions more children, many girls, are in school. But I think about how much more there is to do. Consider this one sobering fact: despite vast improvements, around 30 000 children still die each DAY, mainly from preventable causes.
Australia has an aid program to be proud of. And we’re all stakeholders. Enjoy this edition of Focus. Tell people about what we’re doing. Encourage your friends, your family and colleagues to read, to learn, and to engage with what the aid program is achieving. There’s a lot at stake.
As always, we ask for feedback and ideas—just drop a line to focus@ausaid.gov.au

Q&A: Women and banking

 

Mary Ellen Iskenderian is President and CEO of Women's World Banking. 

Spotlight: Philippines

 

The Philippines is one of our close neighbours in the Asia-Pacific and a major development partner.

Photo Essay

 

Meet one of the field vaccinators who runs the polio campaign at the grassroots level in rural areas.

Rewind: Seeds of life

 

Back in 2006, Focus did a feature on rural communities in the Pacific and Timor-Leste.

Savings lives on the Kokoda

 

Jackson Fred saves mother and child.

A clearer vision

 

Avoidable blindness programs are helping to reduce the prevalence of avoidable blindness.

Glaucoma training

 

Australian training is an opportunity for Dr Deki Trong to learn new skills.

Global education

 

Global education was at the forefront of everyone's minds at the Global Education Summer School.

Last reviewed: 21 January, 2013