Imagine traveling for hours to meet with your doctor. You arrive at the office, exhausted from your journey, only to hear that your doctor is not in. 

Or imagine you are pregnant with your first child and you receive regular visits from a community health worker. When she submits the data from the visit to the nurse at the closest facility, the nurse only copies down half of the information, or has even lost your medical records by the time you arrive to deliver your child. 

This happens too often in Haiti. 

As we move into 2015, advocating for civil society space and voice will remain one of the leading priorities. This is a seminal year for development, a moment that calls on us to envision the world we want to see, and to act to create that world for future generations. As dialogue among member states for the post-2015 agenda begins, civil society is called to press forward with new ideas and take on the root causes that limit progress on development outcomes.

2014 has been a busy year for the international humanitarian and development communities. From the Ebola outbreak in West Africa to ongoing conflict in Iraq and Syria, 2014 saw an unprecedented number of humanitarian crises around the globe. At the same time, this year's midterm congressional elections brought partisan tensions to new highs inside the Washington Beltway.

Whether it's a new job or a 10-year raise, almost everyone will have to negotiate a salary at some point in their professional career.  On December 8, Alison Elissa Cardy taught a workshop for InterAction's Young Professional Network about the best way to prepare for – and succeed in – a negotiation. For those who were unable to attend, here's a quick sample of her best tips: 

“Each one of us is impacting the environment, but not equally. Each one of us will be affected, but not equally.” – Weathering Change

Climate change not only affects temperatures but weather conditions, glaciers, water levels, crop yields, and species such as polar bears. Now, climate change has begun to affect women’s lives. The issue of climate change is now closer to home than ever before.

Over the last few months, newspaper headlines have been filled with reports on the dire need for health care workers, protective equipment, and treatment centers in responding to the Ebola outbreak ravaging Liberia, Sierra Leone and Guinea. While there is certainly a pressing need for logistical and medical support, there is also an urgent need for community education informed by West African cultural norms. Understanding these norms, such as funeral rituals and gender roles, assists in halting the spread of the virus.