Becoming a mother is always slightly scary, but for millions of women who don't have access to trained doctors, modern equipment or even electricity... it's downright daunting.

In late July, USAID co-hosted a 3-day meeting of the minds and grant-seeking competition called Saving Lives at Birth, announcing 22 innovators who will receive funding to bring their bold ideas to save the lives of mothers and newborns in developing countries to life.

The event was part of a Grand Challenges series where a consortium of governments and foundations ask innovators worldwide to help solve the most serious global problems.

Saving Lives at Birth: Up for the Challenge

Ghana has long been a special place for the African American diaspora. For many "roots tourism" is a rite of passage. But in the early 90s, the West African country began to expand its tourist offerings beyond the historic "Slave Coast," opening attractions that feature the country’s rich natural bounty. 

In 1995, with support from the U.S. Government, Ghana opened a first-of-its kind attraction for Africa-- a canopy ropewalk at Kakum National Park that took visitors a hundred feet off the ground offering spectacular views of the forest.

I travelled to Kakum in May 2013 to see how the ropewalk has grown and to document the nexus between tourism, food security and the country's recent economic transformation.

"Digya" Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com) 
Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0
http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/

"Slow Heat" Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com) 
Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0
http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/

Ghana From The Tree Tops

Land tenure, or helping people in developing countries establish clear rights to their property, is a little-known issue that is nonetheless essential to the global fight on poverty. This podcast explains the issue and how the U.S. Government is helping secure property rights around the globe. It is based on an interview with USAID land tenure chief Gregory Myers. 

Changing the World One Property Right at a Time (Podcast)

In 2010, after world food prices spiked and millions of people faced crises, the United States pledged to renew its focus on agriculture. Feed the Future, an umbrella of programs, became the U.S. Government’s main vehicle to improve people’s access to safe and nutritious foods, chiefly by supporting the smallholder farmers who grow them. And new investments in science – everything from vitamin-packed crops, to drought-resistant cereals, are central to this effort.

Science to Feed the Future

In 2009, after world food prices spiked and millions of people faced crises, the United States pledged to renew its focus on agriculture. An umbrella of programs called Feed the Future became its main vehicle to improve people's access to safe and nutritious foods, chiefly by supporting the smallholder farmers who grow them. New investments in science -- everything from vitamin-packed crops, to drought-resistant cereals, are central to this effort.


kelly ramundo