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Myanmar is in a state of crisis. Results Australia CEO, Negaya Chorley, talks to Australian Broadcasting Corporation (ABC) News about what Australia can do to support. We need to #EndCOVIDForAll. https://youtu.be/Eg2zU6lauWE

Myanmar junta has turned coronavirus into a weapon A migrant worker returning to Myanmar from China has her temperature taken, as a preventive measure against the spread of Covid-19. Picture: AFP Myanmar is in the grips of a silent health crisis, with Covid-19 sweeping the population, a doubling of tuberculosis and Malaria cases and a million children going without critical immunisations as the junta continues to hunt down pro-democracy medics and block supplies from vulnerable areas. Health advocacy groups, including Physicians for Human Rights and Results International, have reported at least 100 attacks on clinics operated by medics involved in the civil disobedience movement, and multiple cases of military looting medical equipment donated by aid organisations. Non-government health agencies are running out of medicines and equipment, with aid groups unable to get permits to bring in life-saving Covid supplies. Critical health programs have also been suspended. The combination of a military crackdown, international sanctions, armed conflict and the strike or dismissal of hundreds of thousands of government workers who participated in the CDM has also prevented the distribution to areas most in need. Dozens of doctors and nurses are in detention, including the head of the country’s vaccination program. Another 600 are in hiding with warrants out for their ­arrest for participating in the pro-democracy movement that continues to cripple the military junta since the February 1 coup when it toppled the government of Aung San Suu Kyi. Many more have refused to work for the junta while providing health care through private and charity-run clinics. Read the full article featuring Results Australia CEO, Negaya Chorley here

Media Release – Tuesday, September 21, 2021 Myanmar’s COVID-19 crisis Fears half population infected as military ‘weaponises’ virus Crisis a threat to Australia and the region A third wave of COVID-19 is rampant in Myanmar and its health system is near collapse as the military junta targets frontline health workers as part of its crackdown on dissent. The situation is so critical it is threatening the health and stability of the region and will have serious health and travel consequences for Australia, according to Results International Australia, a global health agency with partners working in Myanmar. CEO, Negaya Chorley said there are fears that up to half of Myanmar’s 54 million people could be infected with COVID-19. “While most countries have hailed their frontline health workers as heroes, in Myanmar health workers were being jailed, tortured and even killed,” she said. Since the February coup that ousted Myanmar’s democratically elected government there has been a wave of protests and a popular Civil Disobedience Movement. Medical workers were among the first group to go on strike as part of the movement and now find themselves targets of repression. “Aid groups have been unable to get permits to bring in lifesaving COVID supplies, and critical programs have been suspended. It is a tragedy that will have profound implications for the region in terms of the spread of COVID-19,” Ms Chorley said. “There are large numbers of displaced people on the Myanmar/Thai border and medical and vaccination programs are non-existent.” Although there is limited official testing being done in the strife-torn nation, anecdotal reports suggest the pandemic is bringing an already struggling health system to its knees. According to human rights groups (Assistance Association for Political Prisoners) at least 72 health workers – including the head of the vaccination program, are detained with another 600 arrest warrants out for doctors and nurses. There are harrowing accounts of medical staff being beaten, tortured, and even shot. “Given Australia is fighting its own battle with COVID-19, you may be forgiven for thinking we need to keep our own resources at home. But Myanmar’s deepening crisis is not about a lack of vaccines, oxygen or PPE, it is a failure of international diplomacy to put pressure on an illegitimate military that is not only killing its own people, it is jeopardising the region’s health security,” Ms Chorley said. She said the collapse of the health system also represents a tragic setback to the country’s modest progress in fighting other diseases such as TB, HIV, and malaria and in the areas of child and maternal health. Save the Children estimate one million children have not received essential vaccines since the coup. Ms Chorley said given Australia’s strong historical ties with the country and our fundamental belief in human rights, we should be leading the way in exerting diplomatic pressure. This includes placing sanctions on individuals and companies associated with the junta just like those enforced by the US, UK, Canada and the European Union, directing Australian aid to help those displaced on the Myanmar Thai border and increasing efforts to implement a border-wide COVID-19 vaccination program. Negaya Chorley is available for interview

Results advocates are amazing! They are the heart of our grassroots activities, taking action to advocate for a world without poverty. Welcome to our grassroots highlight series, where each month we will be shining a light on one of our amazing advocates by asking a set of questions. Please say hello to Dan! 1. Tell us briefly about who you are Hailing from the south of England, I’ve lived in Sydney for the past 8 years, coming to Australia with my wife for what was then ‘a couple of years’! Having fully acclimatised to life down under, I’m a father to an 18-month-old son and have a daughter on the way in September. I work for a data analytics business and got involved with Results around a year ago. 2. Why are you passionate about ending global poverty? Being fortunate enough to have lived a relatively privileged life, I believe there’s a moral imperative to do what I can to help others afforded less chances simply because of where they live, the family they were born into, or any other factors outside of their control. 3. Why did you join Results? Results appealed to me because it provides an opportunity to be hands-on in making things happen. The way campaigns work, there’s plenty of opportunities to not only leverage my prior educational, professional and volunteer experience but also for me to develop new skills in areas I’m really passionate about, like grass-roots advocacy and writing. 4. What does advocacy mean to you? It means supporting and helping give a voice to, disadvantaged individuals or groups. Making sure those stories and interests are known through advocacy can bring about positive change and prevent further discrimination from taking place. 5. What has been your favourite advocacy moment with Results? I really enjoyed the most recent campaign for global education, #RaiseYourHand. It was amazing to see the event go from concept to slick production within a matter of weeks. Although it was all hands to the pump in the days leading up to the event, seeing a well-respected group of panellists speak so articulately on their educational experiences, and what we can do to help those at risk of being denied education, was inspiring and made the mad rush all worthwhile!

Results advocates are amazing! They are the heart of our grassroots activities, taking action to advocate for a world without poverty. Welcome to our grassroots highlight series, where each month we will be shining a light on one of our amazing advocates by asking a set of questions. Please say hello to Joe! Tell us briefly about who you are I am a law graduate who resides on the sunny West Coast of Perth WA. Interests include surfing, writing, volunteering, and attempting (rather terribly) to learn a language. The past year has seen me dabble in governance and compliance for not-for-profits and private business. But recently I’ve returned to working in a legal support role in criminal law. Why are you passionate about ending global poverty? Studying law and volunteering for community organisations over my professional and academic career has allowed me to witness firsthand the emotional distress individuals undergo when inadequate support is provided to them when placed in positions of poverty. It can be very empowering and fulfilling to witness when individuals’ groups are enabled to lift themselves out of poverty. Why did you join Results? I have always been interested in politics and the parliamentary process. I joined Results to get involved with advocacy and meet other people who were interested in making change. For me, getting involved with Results meant joining an organisation that enacted change to empower communities on a local, national, and global level. What does advocacy mean to you? Advocacy for me is the concerted effort from a group to enact and push change for better. No matter how big or small the change is. Part of that effort includes communicating a message, liaising with decision-makers, and participating in the policymaking process using a multi-faceted approach. What has been your favourite advocacy moment with Results? Seeing Perth CBD light its buildings red for the Tuberculosis awareness and being there to see it. It was really cool to meet everyone on the West Coast outside of a Zoom call and see everyone’s efforts come to fruition.

Media Release – Thursday, July 29, 2021 AUSTRALIA COMMITS $180 MILLION TO AID IN GLOBAL EDUCATION AMIDST COVID19 PANDEMIC On July 28, world leaders gathered in London, United Kingdom to make financial pledges toward the Global Partnership for Education (GPE) which works to make sure every child has a quality education. Australia’s pledge of AU$180 million over the next five years brings the total we have committed to GPE to $680 since 2011. Leading advocacy organisations, including Results International and Oaktree, have been calling for $350 to fully fund the ambition of the GPE, transforming education systems for more than 1 billion girls and boys in up to 90 countries and territories. “Results International welcomes Australia’s commitment, a significant increase from the $90 million pledged in 2018, however we must go further. Australia’s pledge of $36 million per year over the next five years will struggle to address the impact of COVID-19 on global education.” Negaya Chorley, CEO. Ms Chorley said “Over the last year, millions of children have had their education disrupted. Where safe to do so, we need to get children back to school and invest in quality education. Education lifts the prospects of children and their communities. Put simply, education is transformative, it helps build a world that is more peaceful, equitable, healthy and environmentally sustainable.” “COVID-19 has highlighted more than anything that we are all in this together. Things that affect people in our region more broadly, whether that be in the Asia Pacific or around the world, can so easily affect us here in Australia.” says Thenu Herath, CEO of Oaktree. Ms Herath said “Increasing education outcomes has proven time and time again to create more stability within nations, within communities and that severely increases the stability of regions more broadly.” The closure of schools as COVID-19 spread across the globe impacted nine in ten students worldwide. Never before have so many children been out of school at the same time. Emily Abbott, UNICEF Australia Young Ambassador said “Education is a front of mind issue for young people. Ultimately children and young people are the experts of their own lives. We should be listening to them to create policies for their future.”

Access to education is a human right. It is essential in building human capital, which in turn benefits individuals and societies. Education raises self-esteem, furthers employment opportunities and strengthens countries’ ability to innovate, reduce poverty and drive long-term economic growth. This may be obvious to many of us who have grown up in Australia – or any other OECD nation – with abundant academic resources. In low-income countries, however, decades of progress in improving access to education are now threatened as a result of COVID-19. Lockdowns, and associated requirements for remote learning, have laid bare a technological divide that isolates already vulnerable communities. This challenge is compounded for girls, as they are particularly at risk of being excluded from opportunities for education at times of crisis. Economic hardships and cultural expectations have contributed to girls dropping out of school, leaving them susceptible to exploitation, sexual abuse, child marriage, child pregnancy, inaccessibility to healthcare, and extreme poverty. The Malala Fund has found that more than 20 million girls from pre-primary to upper secondary age are at risk of dropping out of school and may never return due to COVID-19. We must call on our political leaders to take action on this education emergency. The Global Partnership for Education (GPE) is a global fund that works multilaterally with state governments, non-profit organizations, the for-profit sector, and civil society to develop equitable, inclusive, and strengthened education systems in low-income countries, with gender equality at its heart. 82 million more girls have been attending school as a result of the GPE’s work in partnering countries. Between 2011 and 2014 Australia pledged $AUD 270 million to the GPE, but nearly halved this replenishment in the period 2015-2018 with a contribution of $140 million. This figure further dropped, to $AUD 90 million, for 2018-2020, dropping Australia to 10th place in terms of nation donor contributions. The GPE is holding its Global Education Summit from July 28-29 to replenish its funds. They hope to raise $USD 5 billion for the 2021 to 2025 period to help transform education systems in up to 90 countries and territories, which are home to more than 1 billion children and more than 80% of the world’s out-of-school children. The ripple effect of this investment would add an estimated $USD 164 billion to GPE partner economies, save 3 million lives, lift 18 million people out of poverty, and protect two million girls from early marriage. Australia must join world leaders in ensuring the COVID-19 pandemic does not undo the hard-won gains achieved on global education over recent decades. How to show your support: Raise your hand for global education by catching up on Results’ virtual panel discussion as we call on our government to fund global education. Show your support for the GPE on social media Participate in the GPE Global Education Summit 28-29th July Daniel Child is a Sydney-based technology leader currently working in data analytics. His background includes start-up, media and regulatory experience as well as volunteer roles in a variety of community-based not-for-profit organisations.

Results is primarily an advocacy organisation. We seek to influence the attitudes, behaviours and decisions of the Parliamentarians who decide Australia’s international development policy. They are our primary advocacy targets. Our secondary advocacy targets are the people who have or seek influence over them – the voting public, the media, the big corporates, and social influencers. We cannot materially reward or punish our Parliamentarians to force them to change. We can only seek to influence them. Cialdini’s Principles of Influence As a management consultant, I spent a lot of time researching, developing and implementing strategies to influence stakeholders without being seen as unacceptably manipulative and/or coercive. One of the strategies belonged to sociologist Robert Cialdini who proffers six principles of influence. Reciprocation is where someone feels the need to reciprocate based on a previous unsolicited benefit or gift. Parliamentarians expect to be lobbied for something, so they can be disarmed by a simple act of kindness. A handwritten birthday card or a thank-you card when they embrace the Results view of the World is appreciated. The need to reciprocate hangs heavy on the soul. I remember the positive response former Results staffer Gina Olivieri got when she offered pieces of fruit to the Parliamentarians we visited – not only was it unsolicited, it was appreciated as they tend to eat irregularly and unhealthily, and it did keep them quiet while they happily munched away. Consistency is where someone feels the need to stay consistent with what they have previously publicly stated or written. A Parliamentarian’s Maiden Speech is a valuable source of their core values, beliefs, attitudes, and interests. There is anecdotal evidence that new Parliamentarians, as well as those approaching elections or retirement can look for ways to revisit their core values. A gentle and encouraging reminder of why they became a Parliamentarian and what they wanted to achieve can encourage a productive reflection. Social Proof is where someone’s attitude or behaviour changes because they observe that others in similar circumstances are changing. Parliamentarians may or may not want to lead but it is generally true that they do not want to be politically isolated. If members of their cohort – parliamentary colleagues with whom they are aligned, or counterparts in other jurisdictions with whom they have affiliation – are embracing a new position, it is helpful to gently point that out. Globally, the Australian Government has always looked to its powerful allies for leadership on particular issues. This is just as true for an individual Parliamentarian. Liking is where someone’s attitude or behaviour is altered because the changed attitude or behaviour is proposed by someone they like and/or someone to whom they are similar. As with my friends, I like to know where Parliamentarians grew up, what their career path has been, what football team they support, what issues they are passionate about, and importantly where these may overlap with mine. This may seem trite but it is an opportunity to build rapport with someone who is often very busy and very tired. They can be more relaxed and more generous with Results advocates who share their interests. Before I joined Results, I didn’t know my Parliamentarians. Now they know me! Authority is where someone’s position changes because the change is proposed by someone they see as a person of status, or a figure of authority (title, occupation, position, wealth, etc). In preparing for meetings with Parliamentarians, it is good to know where they stand in the party pecking order and who they are eager to please. If we are able to point out where those who influence them agree with Results, we may give them pause for thought. When I volunteered with a First Nations’ organisation in Northern Australia, I was able to counter some bureaucratic resistance by referencing the public statements of then Prime Minister Tony Abbott, and industry icon Twiggy Forrest. Scarcity is where someone’s desire for “something” is increased based on the likelihood that “something” will become unavailable, less available, or available under less favourable conditions. Parliamentarians want their “something” like they want their bread – hot, fresh, and satisfying. Making sure your Parliamentarian is at the front of the queue is important. “Something” could be information, invitations, opportunities to speak, social media posts. Summary What all this boils down to is that we need to know our Parliamentarians well. We must build long-term transformational relationships, not short-term transactional ones. We must prepare well for meetings, be prepared to help them help us, and not be discouraged when they fail to deliver. To paraphrase Sam Daley-Harris, the Australian Government is not in Canberra, the Lodge, or Parliament House – the Australian Government resides in us, the people of Australia. What resides in Canberra is the administration of the Australian Government just waiting for our direction. If we as individuals believe we are powerless to influence, there is no hope. But if we as individuals believe we are powerful, then anything is possible. As Margaret Mead once said “never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed citizens can change the world; indeed, it’s the only thing that ever has”. David Bailey is a semi-retired Canberra-based Management Consultant with an eclectic professional background in archeology, geology, workplace safety, natural resources policy, industrial relations, ICT, and community-based volunteering. He currently leads a small charity dedicated to providing tactile therapies for people in frail health, especially those with a history or a diagnosis of cancer. David has been with Results for 10 years – first as a Board Member, and increasingly as a Community Advocate.

This week marks 35 years since a group of advocates gathered in Canberra under the umbrella of Results International Australia with a shared vision of a world without poverty. Advocates who believed that no matter where people are born, everyone should have equal opportunities to fulfil their potential in life. Since this time a number of advocacy groups have been established throughout Australia all with the same vision that was central to the founding of the organisation all those years ago. Results has spent 35 years advocating on global poverty issues with a particular focus on nutrition, education and global health. Over the years, Results has become well known among policy makers, civil society and academia. We are known for our strong campaigning, research and policy influencing skills. In our early years, Results worked with civil society organisations and partners across the world to achieve the following: Increasing Australia’s assistance for womens and children’s health. Maintaining and increasing Australian Government support for the International Fund for Agricultural Development, a United Nations agency specialising in reducing rural poverty. Having the Australian aid program recognise as a priority and devote increased funding to microfinance (financial services which meet the needs of the poorest people). Obtaining commitment and follow-up action to the goals set at the World Summit for Children in 1990, which were a predecessor to the Millennium Development Goals and the Sustainable Development Goals. Promoting relief on loans by the multilateral development banks such as the World Bank as part of debt relief for the poorest countries. Results played a lead role on these issues and was often the only organisation with grassroots advocates who were writing to their Members of Parliament and the media on these issues. The International Fund for Agricultural Development acknowledged that Results was the one organisation which ensured continued funding from Australia in the late 1980s. Our role in leading advocacy campaigns and introducing new issues to Parliamentarians remains important. For example, the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, TB and Malaria congratulated Results on its leadership in advocacy for Australia’s contribution to the Global Fund at its 2016 replenishment. In the future, Results will continue to work in partnership with other civil society organisations and subject matter experts to help build a world without poverty, but we also have the capacity to develop and promote issues and actions in our own right, thanks to our relationships with elected representatives and officials, and the enthusiasm and dedication of our advocates who continue to sit at the heart of our organisation. Written by Results Policy & Advocacy Manager, Mark Rice

As of 19 May 2021, 276,110 new positive COVID-19 cases had been confirmed in India, in a 24-hour period. What is occurring right now, in the world’s second-most populous nation, is a shocking interplay between an under-resourced healthcare system, poverty and a lack of coordination from the Government. Whilst poverty is on the decline in India, 86 million people live in extreme poverty. This makes up 6% of the total population. 230 million Indians fell into poverty due to the pandemic over the last year. India’s fragile healthcare system is part of the reason why the pandemic has reached such devastating heights. Lack of medical funding and healthcare infrastructure are partly the cause, as well as a vast, growing population needing medical care. Currently there are 8.5 hospital beds per 10,000 population, and 8 physicians per 10,000. Additionally, more than 80% of the population still does not have significant health insurance coverage and 68% of the Indian population has limited access to essential medicines. The vaccination rate has also been placed under stress. Whilst India is the world’s biggest vaccine maker, the country has only vaccinated 1 in 25 people. This places additional pressure on the vaccine global supply chain, with India holding back vaccine export to maintain domestic supply. This resulting supply issues will significantly affect emerging Asian countries like Sri Lanka and Bangladesh within the COVAX plan. The #EndCOVIDForAll campaign supported by Results is encouraging the Australian Government to stand in solidarity with India through the provision of vital medical supplies. The #ECFA campaign has had an impact, with the Australian Government announcing a package of support, including the deployment of 500 non-invasive ventilators, with a capacity to deploy up to a total of 3,000 ventilators. This also includes 1 million surgical masks, 50,000 P2/n95 masks, 100,000 surgical gowns, 100,000 goggles, 100,000 pairs of gloves and 20,000 face shields. As well as 100 oxygen concentrators with tanks and consumables. Whilst its great to see the Australian government providing interim support to India through the provision of important medical supplies, the needs of the Indian people still outweigh what’s on offer. With cases starting to rise in Sri Lanka and the Maldives, the current situation exposes the inadequacy of global vaccine supply chains, and the inequity of health care between developed and developing nations. The current production and delivery of vaccines is distributed unevenly, with only 0.2% of the 700m vaccines distributed so far going to low-income countries. This is against the backdrop of Western nations and the European Union making deals to obtain vaccine doses in the magnitude of a billion doses. This only reinforces the need for support from Western nations like Australia to support developing nations during the pandemic, to finally #endcovidforall. Results advocate, Joe Wilson, is a legal eagle from Perth, Western Australia. He enjoys coffee, yoga, surfing, pad Thai and writing.

Results advocates are amazing! They are the heart of our grassroots activities, taking action to advocate for a world without poverty. Welcome to our grassroots highlight series, where each month we will be shining a light on one of our amazing advocates by asking a set of questions. Please say hello to Bruna! Tell us briefly about who you are? Hi everyone! My name is Bruna and I’m a scientist from Brazil. I am currently in Australia doing my PhD at the Australian National University (in Canberra – Australia). I’m working on a Science Education project that focuses on understanding how undergraduate students learn what science is and what doing science means. I deeply believe that learning science should be less about facts, contents and techniques and more about developing a sense of belonging and understanding the importance of science, community and collaborative work. I’m also an educational and health equity advocate and I am deeply committed to creating a world where every person, regardless of background, has access to fundamental healthcare and quality education. Why are you passionate about ending global poverty? I came to Australia in 2013 for the first time to do an internship at UNSW. After coming back to Brazil, my home country, I started seeing things in a completely different way. Before coming to Australia I had only experienced life in Brazil and didn’t know better. After experiencing a new world with much less poverty (in comparison to Brazil) I decided that one of my life goals would be to work towards ending global poverty. As a citizen and an educator in Brazil, I was able to see poverty and its impact on people firsthand. With poverty comes a lack of access to quality education, fundamental healthcare, low life expectancy, high rates of child mortality and so on. And I strongly believe that by addressing global poverty we are giving people not only their dignity back but also what they are entitled to as every human being. Why did you join Results? I have always been interested in volunteering but most of my work focused on education. Last year, during the COVID outbreak in Australia I felt that I needed to contribute to ending global poverty and to enhancing public health, not only in Australia but also in regions that need help the most. I joined Results mid-year last year (2020). I am now the Group Coordinator of the Results ACT group and I’ve been in this role since the beginning of 2021. I joined Results because I believe in the power of everyday people fighting together to end global poverty. And I’ll stay with Results as I am impressed with how much Results invests in their grassroots advocates and how much we learn and achieve through campaigning with Results. What does Advocacy mean to you? To me, advocacy means taking action to create change. At Results, we as grassroots advocates organise ourselves to take steps to address global poverty. But more than a textbook definition, advocacy to me means everyday people using their agency and creating social change. Regardless of how much we have to contribute, everyone has the power to create positive change towards social justice and equality. You recently attended the Humanitarian Leadership Conference through Results. What were some of the biggest lessons from the conference? For me, the biggest lesson from the conference was the need to challenge the traditional humanitarian systems and reshape the humanitarian ecosystem into what we want it to look like in the future. This would include a range of steps from finding transformative ways of working and redefining the actors involved to challenging the definition of humanitarian crisis. Most importantly, the focus needs to be in reshaping a new humanitarian ecosystem that is diverse, embraces the agency of affected people and promotes distributed power, social justice and equity.

At the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, the TB program in Daru, Western Province, Papua New Guinea, harnessed expertise through partners such as Burnet Institute, to provide integrated support for TB and COVID-19 in infection control, laboratory testing, contact tracing, clinical training, system monitoring and community engagement. Supporting COVID-19 public health communication via community engagement in Daru was immediately identified as a high priority, as people were initially fearful and confused when they heard of COVID-19. Burnet’s TB education and counselling team, which includes peer counsellors (TB survivors), developed COVID-19 education tools and guidelines for staff and commenced the delivery of COVID-19 education with TB patients, their families and the community. The team also established a Facebook page to counter misinformation. Peer counsellor, Iru, recalls referring to the guidelines when providing COVID-19 education to people receiving treatment for TB. One patient, Bari*, was frightened about COVID-19 due to messages he had heard on the radio about its origins and transmission. Bari had several education sessions with Iru and asked many questions. At times Iru felt she was being tested to see if she was giving the correct information and was thankful to have guidelines to refer to when responding. Bari appreciated being able to discuss COVID-19 with someone with knowledge about the disease as other people had dismissed his fears. Burnet Institute’s Western Province TB Program receives support from the Australian Government through the Papua New Guinea-Australia Partnership, Indo-Pacific Centre for Health Security, Australian NGO Cooperation Program (ANCP) and Medical Research Future Fund.