This week in development…

• The Project on Prosperity and Development hosted an event titled The Value of Higher Education in Development: A Conversation with 2014 YALI Washington Fellows on Education & Youth Entrepreneurs. YALI Washington Fellows and representatives from the IFC, Laureate Education, and Ashesi University discussed educational and entrepreneurial opportunities and challenges facing African youth, the value of higher education, and the vital role that the private sector can play in education in Africa. Watch it here: http://csis.org/event/value-higher-education-developmenta-conversation-2014-yali-washington-fellows-education-youth-

• July 31 was the deadline to formally adopt the Bali package’s trade facilitation agreement. Much to the surprise of many in Geneva, India vetoed the treaty due to unresolved issues regarding food security. Indian officials have since introduced an alternate proposal and are confident that the Bali deal “won’t collapse,” and a new version could be ready by the rollout date of July 31^st, 2015.

• The United Nations announced the first-ever World Day Against Trafficking in Persons. On July 30. Secretary-General Ban Ki Moon called for tackling the root causes of trafficking; extreme poverty, inequality, and lack of education and opportunity.

• Due to rising security issues in Kenya, the Peace Corps and VSO International have announced temporary holds on their programs and on sending new volunteers. The Peace Corps has been active in Kenya since 1964.

• The World Bank recently agreed to support a hydroelectric dam in the Democratic Republic of the Congo. The $12 billion Inga 3 dam will produce about 4,800 megawatts and supply electricity to the DRC and South Africa.

• On July 27, Secretary of State John Kerry announced that the United States would provide roughly $378 million in additional aid to those affected by the war in Syria. Total humanitarian assistance will reach more than $2.4 billion and will have helped over 4.7 million internally displaced people and nearly 3 million refugees.