Girls on the Move Interns at the Mission for Essential Drugs & Supplies (MEDS) Nairobi, during their internship. (Photo Credit: PSA)

Laurine Atieno and Mercy Awuor Odhiambo shared a common goal – they wanted to pursue a career in logistics and supply chain management. However, like many women across Africa, they faced challenges entering and navigating the public health supply chain workforce. 

“There is a gender imbalance in the supply chain sector,” said Recky Kyalo, Program Lead for the Girls on the Move (GotM), a program at Pamela Steele Associates. “Girls are not being absorbed into supply chain management. They were missing key skills that employers were looking for.” 

Despite frequent interactions with the health care system to receive services, they remain underrepresented in the public health supply chain (PHSC) workforce making up only 41% of the workforce and 26% of management positions. 

Bridging the Gender Gap in Supply Chain Careers 

The “Girls on the Move” initiative presents a pioneering approach to enhancing youth employability and fostering professional development among young women. The model is rooted in a blend of innovative strategies tailored to the unique needs and aspirations of participants. ​

These are some of the challenges that The GotM pilot program, conducted in Kisumu, Kenya, sought to address. The program focused on issues of youth unemployment among women and aimed to create a space where women were empowered and prepared for supply chain career opportunities. 

The 8-month-long program was launched in July 2022 with 36 young women and focused on introducing female graduates to career opportunities in the Kenyan supply chain sector to bridge the supply chain skills gap and increase female representation in the workforce. 

For Laurine, GotM gave her hands-on experience in supply chain skills, business skills and leadership. While she interned at Pamela Steele Associates, other program participants had internships in both public and private supply chain organizations, including the public health supply chain. 

Laurine highlighted many benefits to the internship, including free health supply chain management courses and monthly stipends. The program even offered mentorship, which Laurine said, “encouraged me to strive to accomplish more in my career. During the tough times at work when I was almost giving up, my mentor motivated me. The program empowered my personal and professional growth.” 

Laurine is now working at Kentons Pharmaceuticals and spoke to how GotM empowered her career in health supply chain. 

Learning Invaluable Workforce Skills  

This practical experience, as opposed to theory-based learning, was what made GotM an invaluable experience for young women entering the supply chain workforce. 

“In university, you go through theory,” said Recky. “But the workplace is a challenge.”

In addition to learning about time management, CV writing and interviewing skills, the program also focuses on developing interpersonal skills, such as communication, teamwork and building confidence. And for Mercy, this program gave her confidence as she pursued her career in the PHSC.  

“When I came into the program, I had low self-esteem and was afraid to talk to people,” Mercy said. “I’m a completely different person now and I’m consistently the top salesperson at my job month after month.” She now works in the hospitality industry in Kisumu.  

“This program enabled me to gain different skills and values,” Mercy said. “I gained much knowledge in the health supply chain, such as drug storage and dispatch, labeling… I was privileged to work in different sectors and currently in hospitality; this has allowed me to gain lots of experience in the supply chain.” 

Success and Looking Towards the Future  

GotM has seen great success, with 60% of women who completed the program finding work in the supply chain sector.  

“Most of them are doing fine and enjoying their work. Their friends are asking about [GotM]. I already have 50 applications from people waiting just from word of mouth,” said Recky, on the future of the program.    

Though the project ended in August 2023, VillageReach has partnered with Pamela Steele Associates to expand and scale the program in Kenya and other countries. VillageReach aims to train and graduate 500 interns across Kenya and one additional country in the next 5 years in the health supply chain sector.    

“It often takes a woman to perceive what a woman needs,” said Recky. “Having professional women in the supply chain sector, with a deep understanding of what women go through as caregivers both at home and professionally is a critical step to achieving universal health care.”  

Learn more about gender imbalance in the supply chain workforce and contact Rebecca Alban, Senior Health Systems, rebecca.alban@villagereach.org, for more information about GotM and women in the public health supply chain workforce.  

THIS massive restaurant chain is to deliver a Christmas dinner feast to your door this festive season.

Côte restaurants have launched their indulgent range of Christmas meals designed by Gordon Ramsay’s former Executive Chef.

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Steve Allen – who previously ran Michelin-starred restaurants – has focused on fresh seasonal ingredients to showcase the classics, with a French twist, at Christmas.

This Christmas the premium delivery Côte at Home service has come up with three luxury Christmas feasts complete with simple instructions – so there’s less stress for the season.

In less than three hours, and with minimal fuss, the luxurious meals are ready to be served.

All three Côte at Home Christmas boxes have been specially designed so that dishes can be heated at the same temperature, avoiding oven hassle and more time to relax with loved ones.

Three of the Côte at Home Christmas boxes

The Côte Festive Turkey Feast (£124.95) serves up to six people and includes:

• A 2-2.5kg marinated British turkey breast from Larchwood Farm, East Anglia as the traditional centrepiece
• Pigs in Blankets with a spiced honey glaze
• Spiced Braised Red Cabbage
• Brussels Sprouts au Gratin
• Roast Potatoes
• Rainbow Roasted Carrots
• Sage & Onion stuffing
• Shallot & Thyme Jus

The second box of Christmas comes with the same side dishes, but you and your guests will dine on 1kg Chateaubriand instead.

The Côte Festive Chateaubriand Feast serves up to six and costs £154.95.

Or you can opt for the third box which is a vegetarian feast for two costing £54.95, featuring:

• Two individual Butternut Squash Tarte Tatin’s with toasted almonds and Chèvre Buchette goat’s cheese served with all the trimmings
• Spiced Braised Red Cabbage
• Brussels Sprouts au Gratin
• Roast Potatoes
• Rainbow Roasted Carrots
• Sage & Onion stuffing
• Shallot & Thyme Jus

There’s also a selection of delicious festive starters including:

• Chicken Liver Pâté (£8.95), infused with Grand Marnier and served with a fig chutney
• Truffled Pumpkin Soup (£5.95) topped with crumbled chestnuts and pumpkin seeds
• Brûlée Camembert (£5.95) which is sprinkled with sugar and caramelised to create a hard sweet crust, with grape chutney

All starters come with a freshly baked demi baguette.

Côte at Home also offers a selection of festive desserts:

• Pear & Almond Frangipane Tart with winter berry coulis (£8.95)
• Brandy Butter Madeleines with whipped brandy butter (£8.95)
• Bûche de Noël, a traditional chocolate roulade with pistachio cream (£15.95)

If you want to fill the fridge with other meals during the festive season, Côte’s chefs have designed another two exclusive boxes.

These mean you have more time to sit back and less time needing to focus on the big shop.

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The Côte Christmas Breakfast Box (£64.95), for two or more people

You can enjoy a Continental breakfast of croissants, mini jams, French bread and butter, yoghurts, our Côte granola and Valencian orange juice.

There’s also smoked salmon, Comté cheese and Jambon de Savoie ham, alongside Cumberland sausages, Boudin Noir black pudding, Dingley Dell smoked back bacon and free-range eggs.

The Côte Christmas Evening Box (£74.95), for two or more people

Enjoy a selection of French cheeses, charcuterie and luxury fish perfect for a cold buffet of luxury food. All accompanied by crackers, confit jams, cornichons, olives and sourdough demi baguette.

Côte Christmas Drinks Package (£84.25)

Côte at Home also offers a range of drinks gift packages this year, alongside some chocolate and Champagne gifting options.

Start (or end) the day with their exclusive house blend coffee, followed by Buck’s Fizz courtesy of Montaudon Champagne and Valencian orange juice.

Côte’s Les Mougeottes Pinot Noir pairs perfectly with your main meal, and there’s a bottle of Quinta do Crasto Port to enjoy alongside desserts of one of our French cheese boxes.

There’s also a range of wine packages – mixed, white and red wines, three bottles of exclusive French wine for £39.95.

And a Champagne and Crémant package for £59.95.

If you’re looking for a smaller gift, this year Côte are partnering with Montezuma chocolates and offering their ‘Into the Dark’ and ‘Dairy Beloved’ gift boxes with your choice of Champagne, Crémant or Non-Alcoholic Sparkling Rosé for £34.95 – £39.95.

Executive Chef, Steve said: “Our Côte at Home Christmas boxes have everything you need to creative a fabulous festive feast.

“From seasonal starters through to the main event and show-stopping desserts, you’ll find a selection of classic Christmas dishes with a touch of French flair.

“What’s more, everything is effortless to prepare in your own kitchen, so you won’t miss out on that all-important time with friends and family. Joyeux Noël!”

Delivered direct to your door Côte at Home festive menus and dishes are now on sale with delivery available nationwide from 18th – 23rd December.

Visit coteathome.co.uk to book your delivery and view the complete Christmas menu.

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The winner of the annual Nobel Peace Prize is set to be announced on Friday. 

The title has been bestowed upon U.S. presidents Barack Obama and Jimmy Carter, activists Wangari Maathai and Malala Yousafzai—who won in 2014 alongside Kailash Satyarthi for their work “against the suppression of children and young people and for the right of all children to education”—and organizations such as Doctors Without Borders and the World Food Programme. 

The prize is chosen by a five-person committee composed of Norwegian nationals, which this year includes Norwegian Minister of Education Kristin Clemet, politician Jørgen Watne Frydnes, and scholar Asle Toje, among others. Nominations can only be made by a select group of qualified individuals, including cabinet members, heads of state, university professors, previous Nobel Peace Prize winners, etc.

Last year, the prize was awarded to human rights activist Narges Mohammadi, who is currently imprisoned, for her work against the oppression of Iranian women.

The Nobel Institute received 286 nominations this year—89 of which are organizations. By comparison, there were 351 submissions for the 2023 Nobel Peace Prize.

Information about potential winners remains tight-lipped, as nominees for a given year are not revealed until a half-decade later. “In so far as certain names crop up in the advance speculations as to who will be awarded any given year’s prize, this is either sheer guesswork or information put out by the person or persons behind the nomination,” the Nobel Prize website says. 

Here’s  a list of potential Nobel Peace Prize winners based on the odds from the Nicerodds.co.uk betting site and the annual shortlist created by Henrik Urdal, director of the Peace Research Institute Oslo (PRIO), though it’s possible the winner has not made either of the shortlists. 

OSCE Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights

Amid rising authoritarianism, organizations like the OSCE Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights, are working to promote democratic elections across Europe, the Caucasus, Central Asia and North America. 

“Democracy is on the ballot this year as more than half the world’s population live in a country heading to the polls, albeit not exclusively in democracies,” said Urdal in a press release. “As elections are a cornerstone of democracy, election observers play a pivotal role in shaping perceptions about the legitimacy of electoral processes. A Nobel Peace Prize awarded to election observers sends a strong message about the importance of free and fair elections, and their role in peace and stability.” The organization observes elections in 57 countries. 

Sudan’s Emergency Response Rooms

Sudan is facing one of the “worst humanitarian crisis in the world,” as hundreds of thousands of people fleeing the country settle in bordertown camps experiencing famine, disease, and violence, and another 10 million are internally displaced. In response to the growing need, volunteers have started emergency response rooms (ERRS) that tackle tasks like repairing power lines, and providing medical care, food, water, and protection for people, according to the U.N. “As 2024 marks the 75th anniversary of the revised Geneva Conventions, which were developed to protect civilians during war, awarding this year’s Peace Prize to a deserving humanitarian initiative such as the Emergency Response Rooms would highlight the critical importance of access to lifesaving aid in times of conflict,” said Urdal. 

International Court of Justice

The International Court of Justice (ICJ) is the judicial body of the United Nations that settles global disputes between member states. The court has been involved in conflicts such as Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, and earlier this year put Israel on trial for committing genocide against Palestinians. This January, the ICJ ordered Israel to “take all measures within its power” to stop such acts in Gaza. It also found that Israel had an “unlawful presence” in the occupied Palestinian territory, and advised Israel to “cease immediately all new settlement activities, and to evacuate all settlers from the Occupied Palestinian Territory,” in a July advisory opinion. 

More than 41,000 people have been killed in Gaza, per the Hamas-run Gaza Ministry of Health, since the Israel-Hamas War began a year ago when Hamas kidnapped more than 200 hostages and killed 1,200 people on Oct. 7 2023.

UNRWA and Philippe Lazzarini

Since 1949, the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA) has helped refugees access health care, education, and provided emergency response support during periods of conflict. The organization, led by Commissioner general Philippe Lazzarini, assists Palestinians refugees in Jordan, Lebanon, Syria, the Gaza Strip and the West Bank, including East Jerusalem.

The UNRWA has also been working to respond to Israel’s bombardment of Lebanon, opening emergency shelters to help refugees. Nearly 2,000 people have died in Lebanon, according to the Lebanese Health Ministry. 

In January, it was alleged that UNRWA staff members were involved in the Oct. 7, 2023 attack against Israel. An internal investigation found that for nine cases, if evidence is cross-checked, it “could indicate that the UNRWA staff members may have been involved in the attacks of 7 October,” according to an August UNRWA press release. Those employees were fired, but the U.S. cut funding to the UNRWA.  

UNESCO and the Council of Europe

The UN’s Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO) works to increase peace and security by promoting international dialogue and cooperation among member states in areas like education, science, and culture. The organization’s work came to be in the midst of World War II, as leaders looked to how to restore their “education systems once peace was restored,” according to the UNESCO site. 

The Council of Europe, which was “founded on the assumption that understanding the past is essential for building a shared future,” also focuses on history education. 

“UNESCO emphasizes the importance of understanding history in a global context as well as developing regional, complimentary perspectives,” said Urdal. “A Nobel Peace Prize for the promotion of peace through history education would resonate well with Alfred Nobel’s call for ‘fraternity between nations’.

Volodymyr Zelensky

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky is one of the biggest contenders for the Nobel Peace Prize, according to a U.K. betting site. The state leader has been the face of resilience amid the ongoing Russian invasion of Ukraine that started in 2022. Urdal previously told TIME, though, that it’s unlikely that the Nobel Peace Prize will go to someone that is in the midst of a war. 

Zelensky was selected as TIME’s Person of the Year in 2022. 

Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya

Belarusian politician Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya, who challenged Belarusian state leader Alexander Lukashenko for the presidency in 2020, also ranked high on the U.K. betting site. Tsikhanouskaya currently lives in exile due to her work challenging the existing regime, but continues to meet with international leaders, most recently meeting with Norwegian Foreign Minister Espen Barth Eide to discuss the release of political prisoners, Belarusian migration issues, and closing sanction loopholes. 

Belarusian human rights advocate Ales Bialiatski won the 2022 Nobel Peace Prize, a year in which Tsikhanouskaya was among the favorites to win. 

Ilham Tohti

This year marked human rights activist Ilham Tohti’s ten-year anniversary in Chinese detention due to his advocacy on behalf of Uyghurs. “When Ilham Tohti promoted cooperation and peaceful coexistence between China’s Uyghur and Han communities, the Chinese government responded with repression and imprisonment. His decade-long incarceration is a further shameful stain on China’s troubled human rights record,” said Agnes Callamard, Secretary General of Amnesty International, in a September press release. Tohti has been outspoken about China’s discrimination, crimes against humanity, and genocide of Uyghurs and other minority groups. 

If he wins, he would join the five other Nobel Peace Prize winners who have won the award while in jail, including last year’s recipient. 

Greta Thunberg

Swedish environmental activist Greta Thunberg sparked worldwide conversation on climate change when she organized the “School Strike for Climate” outside the Swedish parliament in 2018. The young activist remains involved in the movement, even getting arrested in Brussels for protesting against fossil fuel subsidies on Oct. 5. As 2023 was the hottest year on record, and devastating natural disasters, like hurricanes, become more dangerous due to climate change, the topic remains fresh on people’s minds.  

The climate activist has been nominated for the Nobel Peace Prize every year from 2019 to 2023, according to the BBC. 

Thunberg was TIME’s 2019 Person of the Year, the youngest-ever recipient.

Sixty of the wealthiest people in the UK collectively contributed more than £3bn a year in income tax, the BBC has learned.

The amount of income tax they paid is roughly equivalent to around two-thirds of Labour’s entire additional spending commitments in their manifesto earlier this year.

Each of the 60 individuals had an income of at least £50m a year in 2021/22, but many will have earned far more and probably pay large amounts in other taxes too.

There is concern tax rises in this month’s Budget could prompt an exit of the super-rich, hurting UK finances. Labour ruled out income tax changes, but Chancellor Rachel Reeves left the door open for other tax hikes.

A Treasury spokesperson said the government was committed to “addressing unfairness in the tax system”.

Swiss banking giant UBS predicted in July the UK would lose half its millionaires by 2028, partly as a result of some switching to low-tax countries.

The Institute for Fiscal Studies said the Treasury needed to be aware that a small number of this super-rich group leaving the country would create a “relatively big hole in its finances”.

But the Green Party argued claims taxing the wealthy more would lead to them leaving the UK were not credible.

The BBC reported last month about concerns within the Treasury that one of the main fundraisers for those pledges, the scrapping of the non-dom scheme, would raise far less money than first hoped.

Scrapping that scheme, which allows a UK resident to be registered abroad for tax purposes, was initially thought to be worth £1bn.

Government ministers have also said the previous Conservative government left a £22bn “black hole” in the public finances.

This has led to discussions within government about potential tax increases in the forthcoming Budget and in August the chancellor refused to rule out an increase in capital gains tax.

Stuart Adam, a senior economist at the IFS, said reports of wealthy individuals leaving the UK were currently just anecdotal.

But he warned that it would not take a mass exodus to cause issues for the public coffers, as “tax payments are very concentrated on a small number of people”.

“There’s clearly a risk there that Rachel Reeves has to think about,” Mr Adam said.

“Some of the tax changes that have been speculated are very concentrated on those at the top of the income distribution.”

There could “be more at stake from these people than just the income tax they’re paying” as the individuals in question would likely be paying large amounts in other forms of taxation such as capital gains, Mr Adam added.

Green Party co-leader Carla Denyer warned against taking threats by the super rich to leave the country seriously.

“This didn’t happen when changes were made to non-dom status in 2017,” she said.

“There are lots of reasons that the wealthy choose to live in the UK, including work, family and culture, and many are happy to pay a bit more if it means a happier and healthier society.”

The figures, which were compiled by HMRC, have been obtained through Freedom of Information laws and relate to 2021/22, the latest year for which data is available.

That year, the UK had a total income tax receipt of £225bn, with contributions from some 33m taxpayers.

The 60 people with incomes of more than £50m made up just 0.0002% of UK taxpayers and together paid 1.4% of the income tax receipt.

HMRC initially blocked the release of the information on the grounds that disclosing the figures would identify the individuals in question.

But the authority agreed to release the data after further requests by the BBC.

The IFS has said a way to dissuade wealthy individuals from leaving the UK could be to introduce an “exit tax”.

Some other countries “say that if you leave the UK, we will tax you on gains that have accrued while you’re here, even if you don’t sell the asset until later”, Mr Adam said.

“And symmetrically, we will exempt people who built up gains before they came to the UK, even if they sell assets while they’re here.”

A Treasury spokesperson said: “We are addressing unfairness in the tax system so we can raise the revenue to rebuild our public services.

“That is why we are removing the outdated non-dom tax regime and replacing it with a new internationally competitive residence-based regime focused on attracting the best talent and investment to the UK.”

REGULAR facials help keep your skin in top condition especially during cold and windy weather.

But rather than fork out on pricey salon services, treat yourself at home instead.

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Here’s how to get a glowing complexion on a budget . . . 

CLEANSE: Start by getting rid of make-up and grime.

You can use your own regular cleanser, or baby oil is a cheap product that will clean your face.

Then fill your sink with hot water and dip in a clean flannel or face cloth.

Wring out the cloth before laying it over your face. The steam should help open your pores.

You can then use the cloth to exfoliate and buff your face by rubbing in small gentle circles over the skin.

SPECIAL CARE: When you head for a facial, your skin is usually lavished in extra products to give it a nice boost.

Retinol can help reduce the appearance of fine lines.

Aldi’s Lacura retinol toner, £2.99, is a budget alternative to expensive brands.

Serums are absorbed by the skin and applied after cleansing and toning.

Try a vitamin C serum to help boost collagen production and make skin feel more supple.

Tesco’s Skin Saints vitamin C serum is £4.

MOISTURISE: As temperatures drop, your skin can quickly dry out.

Keep it well moisturised to plump your face and help it looking healthy.

Hyaluronic acid helps dry skin look revived — Tesco’s Skin Saints version is £4.

No need to splash out on exra pricey moisturisers. Vaseline works well and a 50ml tub is £1.79 from Superdrug.

Finish with an SPF to protect your skin from sun damage all year round.

Tesco’s kind & pure daily moisturiser and SPF 15, £2, is an affordable everyday option.

• All prices on page correct at time of going to press. Deals and offers subject to availability.

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DRY your clothes in rainy weather with this three-tier heated airer, down from £94.99 to £59.99 at The Range.

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TUCK into Lyle’s new gooey golden syrup flapjacks, £2.50 for a pack of five at Tesco.

What’s new?

POP Holy Moly’s new cheese dips in the microwave for a couple of minutes to get a warm accompaniment perfect for nachos.

The range is £1.75 with a Nectar card at Sainsbury’s, down from £2.75.

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PUT some style in your step with Ganni’s buckle ballerinas, £325 at ganni.com.

Or head to Primark and bag its similar flats, for £16.

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Little helper

IN Morrisons toy sale, customers with More cards can save up to 50 per cent on brands such as Hot Wheels and Barbie.

This Barbie Dollhouse set is now £25, was £50.

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LIDL’S reward scheme has been updated – customers who spend £250 in a month can get ten per cent off their weekly shop.

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JOIN thousands of readers taking part in The Sun Raffle.

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