The UN Development Programme (UNDP) and the UN Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC), with funding from the European Union (EU), have launched a new regional initiative titled “Supporting Asian Countries’ Resilience to Violent Extremism in the Digital Space.” Spanning three years from August 2025 to July 2028, the project aims to strengthen the ability… [Read More]
Federal Judge Orders Pause on Trump Administration Shutdown Layoffs
A federal judge has temporarily blocked the Trump administration from carrying out layoffs of thousands of federal workers during the ongoing government shutdown. The ruling comes less than a week after the administration confirmed that several agencies had begun laying off about 4,000 employees. US District Judge Susan Illston granted the unions’ request to block… [Read More]
Strengthening Health in Namibia: New Programs Target Women, Children, and Adolescents
Namibia has taken a significant step to enhance the health and well-being of women, children, and adolescents with the official launch of two critical health policy documents by the Ministry of Health and Social Services (MoHSS) on 9 October 2025 in Windhoek. Supported by the World Health Organization (WHO) and partner organizations, the launch introduced… [Read More]
Strengthening Health Security: Tanzania’s New Pandemic Fund Project
The United Republic of Tanzania has officially launched the Pandemic Fund Project in Mwanza, a landmark initiative designed to strengthen the country’s capacity to prevent, prepare for, and respond to future health emergencies and pandemics. Supported by a US$25 million grant from the Pandemic Fund and an additional US$13.7 million in co-investments and co-financing, the… [Read More]
Advancing Renewable Energy: Solar Power Plant Development in Sierra Leone with Proparco and Planet Solar
Proparco has reinforced its support for Planet Solar, a Sierra Leone-based solar energy company, by providing an additional €390,000 to assist with grid connections for local communities. This follows Proparco’s initial investment in the company in 2023 and reflects its ongoing commitment to expanding energy infrastructure in Sierra Leone to meet growing power demand. Founded… [Read More]
Boosting Financial Inclusion in Uganda: Proparco and Grameen Crédit Agricole Foundation Partner
Proparco, with support from the French Ministry for Europe and Foreign Affairs, is providing technical assistance for the second phase of a financial inclusion project in Uganda, implemented by the Grameen Crédit Agricole Foundation in partnership with UGAFODE Microfinance Limited and VisionFund Uganda. The project focuses on expanding access to financial services for refugees and… [Read More]
Advancing Sustainability: Grupo Promerica Partners with Proparco on $50M Green Building Project
Grupo Promerica, a leading financial group in Central America, has reinforced its commitment to sustainable development through a USD 50 million financing agreement with Proparco, a subsidiary of the Agence Française de Développement Group, directed to Banco Promerica Costa Rica. The loan aims to expand support for projects promoting sustainable and green buildings, directly aligning… [Read More]
Nigeria’s Creative Startup Scene Gets $1M Boost from Chocolate City Group Founders Fund
Chocolate City Group, one of Africa’s leading entertainment companies, has launched a $1 million Founders Fund to support early-stage startups in Nigeria’s growing creative sector. The announcement coincided with the company’s 20th anniversary and the 50th birthdays of co-founders Audu Maikori and Paul Okeugo. The fund is designed to provide equity investment and mentorship to… [Read More]
Norway to Contribute Funding Toward US Military Equipment for Ukraine
Norway has pledged to provide NOK 2 billion toward a new military support package for Ukraine, joining other European countries in funding high-priority defence equipment as part of the NATO-coordinated effort. Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Støre emphasized that continued military and civilian support is essential for Ukraine to defend itself against Russia, and that collective… [Read More]
Driving Change: Norway Targets Areas of Maximum Impact
The Norwegian Government has proposed an increase of NOK 80 million in 2026 to strengthen efforts promoting women’s rights, an area identified as having significant global importance where Norway can make a tangible impact. Women’s rights are facing growing pressures worldwide, and targeted support in this sector is considered critical to ensuring the ability of… [Read More]
Norway Pledges Increased Support for Ukrainian Civilians
The Norwegian Government has proposed increasing civilian support to Ukraine by NOK 15 billion in 2026, maintaining a total minimum allocation of NOK 85 billion for the year. This continues the record-high level of civilian and military assistance provided in 2025, with NOK 15 billion designated for civilian needs and NOK 70 billion for military… [Read More]
Boosting the Arts: Private Funding Expands Cultural Support in Nordic Countries
Cultural policy in the Nordic countries has increasingly shifted toward promoting private-sector funding, reflecting both similarities and differences across the region. A knowledge overview produced by the Swedish Agency for Cultural Policy Analysis for the Nordic Council of Ministers highlights that while Denmark relies heavily on foundations to support museums and cultural institutions, Sweden has… [Read More]
New Funding of £15.3 Million to Advance Health and Care Research
The National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR) has announced a £157 million investment over five years to support 10 Applied Research Collaborations (ARCs) across the UK. As part of this initiative, partners from the North East and North Cumbria have secured £15.3 million to establish a regional ARC hosted by the Cumbria, Northumberland,… [Read More]
Barbadian Youth Urge Investment in Resilience Over Disaster Relief
Young people from across Barbados took center stage in national discussions on resilience financing during a special National Youth Platform to mark the 2025 International Day for Disaster Risk Reduction. Under the global theme “Fund resilience, not disasters,” participants emphasized the urgent need to increase investments that protect communities from climate and disaster risks, highlighting… [Read More]
Building Resilience: Innovative Approaches to Humanitarian Funding
Humanitarian organizations are increasingly exploring innovative funding models to respond effectively to crises amid declining traditional government support. As conventional aid shrinks, many organizations have had to reduce operations, limiting their ability to reach vulnerable populations. Medair, for example, is adopting alternative financial approaches to maintain humanitarian impact while adhering to core principles, ensuring programs… [Read More]
Empowering Rural Women: Leading the Fight Against Climate Change and Poverty
Rural women play a vital role in sustaining families, strengthening communities, and shaping local economies, often working quietly yet with significant impact. Their contributions extend beyond labor, bringing hope, resilience, and progress, even as global challenges such as climate change, shifting international funding, and increasing pressures on food systems intensify. The recognition of their work… [Read More]
Nearly 6 Million Italians Struggle with Absolute Poverty, Report Shows
In 2024, over 2.2 million households in Italy, representing 8.4% of the nation’s families, were living in conditions of absolute poverty, according to data from Istat reported by ANSA. These households encompassed a total of 5.7 million individuals, meaning that 9.8% of Italy’s population was affected by absolute poverty, slightly up from 9.7% in 2023…. [Read More]
UNGA President Highlights India’s Poverty Reduction Through Smartphone Use
Dennis Francis, President of the 78th session of the UN General Assembly, praised India’s digitalization initiatives for their role in driving development and reducing poverty. He highlighted that over the past five to six years, smartphones have enabled 800 million people in India to escape poverty by facilitating easy access to financial services and accelerating… [Read More]
Promoting Health Equity: Health as a Human Right
The Council of Europe recently held a conference on the protection of health, highlighting its extensive work in healthcare across Europe. The organisation emphasised that health is a fundamental human right and showcased initiatives ranging from the ethical use of artificial intelligence in medical treatment to ensuring the quality of medicines and addressing medical disinformation,… [Read More]
Human Rights Body Highlights Belgium’s Declining Legal Protections
The Federal Institute for Human Rights (IFDH) has raised alarms over an “insidious and worrying” decline in the rule of law in Belgium, highlighting growing concerns about the country’s commitment to fundamental democratic principles. In its latest report, presented to members of parliament and the federal government at the start of the parliamentary session, the… [Read More]
UN Expert Urges Justice and Human Dignity for Gaza Amid Ongoing Conflict
GENEVA – The recent halt of the military assault in Gaza and the release of Israeli hostages and some detained Palestinians offers a rare moment of hope amid widespread suffering. However, the UN Special Rapporteur Bernard Duhaime emphasized that sustainable peace must be anchored in justice, inclusivity, and accountability, and must uphold the Palestinian people’s… [Read More]
Serbia’s Economic Growth Must Respect Human Rights and the Environment, Say UN Experts
The UN Working Group on Business and Human Rights has emphasized that Serbia’s economic development must be closely aligned with the protection of human rights. Experts Lyra Jakulevičienė and Robert McCorquodale acknowledged Serbia’s legal framework and efforts to meet EU standards on environmental protection and labor rights, but noted that implementation remains inconsistent and weak,… [Read More]
Voting Rights Under Scrutiny in High-Stakes US Supreme Court Case
On October 15, the U.S. Supreme Court will rehear Louisiana v. Callais, a case with far-reaching implications for Black voters’ ability to achieve equal representation in Congress. The central question is whether creating majority-Black districts, a measure designed to comply with the Voting Rights Act, constitutes unconstitutional racial discrimination. In 2022, Louisiana lawmakers drew a… [Read More]
