A poet and composer named Jotamont wrote that the islands of Cabo Verde are “ten little grains of land” in the middle of the Atlantic—a small archipelago nation 500 kilometers off the west coast of Africa. The United Nations has stood with Cabo Verde country through its 45 years of independence.
Clement Ejim, 33, already had a fulfilling career as a teacher in the school of health in the small town of Abuochiche, Nigeria. Then, about a year ago, he came across an opportunity to expand his work. Clement became part of the Spotlight Initiative.
We are facing a devastating pandemic, new heights of global heating, new lows of ecological degradation and new setbacks in our work towards global goals for more equitable, inclusive and sustainable development.
Last week, the world celebrated the International Day of the Girl Child. Progress for adolescent girls has not kept pace with the realities they face today, and COVID-19 has reinforced many of these gaps. Data shows women and girls are especially vulnerable in the face of COVID-19. UN teams across the globe recognize the urgency to protect and support women and girls, especially right now, and are taking every measure to do so.
A collaboration across the humanitarian-development and peace nexus in Central Sahel is needed now more than ever to recover better from the COVID-19 pandemic.
