Beirut, Lebanon, March 26, 2026 — The sharp escalation of hostilities in Lebanon has intensified an already fragile situation, forcing people to flee their homes and increasing psychological distress across the country. Even before the current violence, Lebanon faced one of the highest rates of mental health conditions in the region, with nearly half the… [Read More]
China Pledges $1.1M for WTO Accession and LDC Support
In 2026, the government of China pledged USD 1.1 million (around CHF 900,000) to support the WTO’s Least-Developed Countries (LDCs) and Accessions Programme, also known as the China Programme, as well as the WTO’s general fund for technical assistance. The contributions were formalized on 25 March in Yaoundé, where WTO Director-General Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala and China’s… [Read More]
Circular Economy in Argentina’s Producers Network
Agribusiness in Argentina is facing growing challenges due to rising global food demand, climate change, and environmental pressures. Circular economy models offer a promising approach to address these issues by improving resource efficiency, minimizing waste, and supporting sustainable development. This chapter examines the potential of circular economy practices within the Argentine agribusiness sector, focusing on… [Read More]
Shaping Community Health: Mental Health Perspectives
This briefing summarises reflections from mental health trust leaders on the development of neighbourhood health services in England. It draws on engagement since the publication of the 10-year health plan (10YHP) to explore how the government’s ambition for integrated, community-based care is being interpreted locally, its implications for mental health services, and the opportunities and… [Read More]
15 Countries Join Panama Workshop to Strengthen Avian Flu Monitoring in the Americas
Veterinary professionals from 15 countries in the Americas gathered in Panama City for the first in-person workshop of the Latin America Edition 2025/2026 of the Regional Program for the Systematic Education of Veterinary Services (ProgRESSVet). The workshop focused on strengthening epidemiological surveillance and early detection of avian influenza. Participants had been engaged in the program’s… [Read More]
Adapting Climate Finance in China: Lessons from Mitigation
China’s growing exposure to climate hazards underscores the urgent need for investment in adaptation to safeguard sustainable economic growth. As the world’s second-largest economy and the largest developing country, China faces overlapping climate risks that threaten public health, infrastructure, key industries, and its long-term prosperity. In 2024 alone, natural disasters caused approximately USD 58 billion… [Read More]
Georgia Public Health Review: Insights from Four States
State representatives in Georgia conducted a review of the state’s public health system to identify strengths, gaps, and potential reforms. The resulting report highlighted significant disparities in services across the state, noting that rural health departments often provide fewer services than urban counterparts and face workforce shortages. To begin addressing staffing challenges, legislation now allows… [Read More]
Aid Agencies Warn: Millions Displaced, Funding at Risk
International aid agencies have called for urgent funding as the ongoing conflict in the Middle East causes mass displacement and puts severe strain on already limited humanitarian resources. Since February 28, an estimated 3.2 million people have been displaced in Iran and 1 million in Lebanon, reflecting the rapidly escalating scale of the crisis. The… [Read More]
Parametric Flood Insurance Now Protects Lagos Residents
The Lagos State government has launched a parametric flood-risk insurance policy covering up to 4 million vulnerable people, securing up to US$7.5 million for flood response and recovery. This initiative is part of the Tripartite Agreement Programme, a public-private partnership involving the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), the Insurance Development Forum (IDF), and Germany’s BMZ… [Read More]
GBFF Launches $73M Global Biodiversity Projects
The Global Biodiversity Framework Fund (GBFF) of the Global Environment Facility (GEF) has approved 20 new project preparation grants across 25 countries, including 16 accessing the GBFF for the first time. With a total of $73.4 million programmed, this fifth selection round expands both the geographic reach and thematic ambition of the GBFF, covering Latin… [Read More]
João Varela Women’s Strength Embodied by Isabel
In João Varela, Cabo Verde, the once arid and rocky lands have been transformed into thriving vegetable plots, thanks to the efforts of Isabel Rodrigues, 65, and her determination to cultivate hope through hard work. Isabel recalls spending years clearing stones, battling drought, and preparing the land, despite skepticism from others, ultimately turning it into… [Read More]
WHO Supports Mauritius in Health Labour Market Analysis
Mauritius is undertaking a comprehensive Health Labour Market Analysis (HLMA) with support from the World Health Organization (WHO), aiming to strengthen its health workforce and advance universal health coverage. The initiative seeks to address workforce shortages, improve distribution, and ensure that the number and skills of health workers meet the population’s needs, providing evidence for… [Read More]
DRC Promotes Inclusion for People Affected by Leprosy
Espérance, a resident of Kinshasa in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), lived for more than ten years with unexplained skin problems before being diagnosed with leprosy. After receiving care at a health center, she overcame the disease, but the social stigma and fear from her community remained the most challenging part of her… [Read More]
Angola Launches Polio Vaccination for 9 Million Children
The national polio vaccination campaign in Angola was officially launched in the municipality of Belas, aiming to protect over 9 million children under the age of five across the country. The campaign, running from March 26 to 28, 2026, deploys vaccination teams nationwide with the objective of interrupting polio transmission. Polio is a highly infectious… [Read More]
Ensuring Safe Food in Cameroon
Since June 2023, Cameroon has been piloting the “Healthy Food Market” project in two Douala markets, Ndogpassi and New Deido, as a social and transformational initiative aimed at improving food safety. The project uses scientific evidence to encourage behaviour change among traders, addressing long-standing hygiene issues that previously contributed to foodborne illnesses. Traders like Zakariaou… [Read More]
Advancing Refugee and Migrant Health: Key Policy Updates
The World Health Organization (WHO) reports significant progress in how countries are addressing the health needs of refugees and migrants. Data from 93 Member States reveal that over 60 countries now include refugees and migrants in national health policies and laws, establishing the first global baseline for tracking inclusive, migrant-responsive health systems. This shift recognizes… [Read More]
Ghana’s Ci Gaba Fund Secures $34.9M to Boost West African SMEs
Savannah Impact Advisory, a Ghanaian fund manager, announced that its fund-of-funds vehicle, Ci Gaba VC Limited, raised 383 million GHS ($34.9 million) in its first fundraising round, aiming for a final close of 1 billion GHS ($90 million). The fund targets venture capital, private equity, and private debt investments focused on small and medium-sized enterprises… [Read More]
EIB funds Stockholm project to cut wastewater pollution in Baltic Sea
The European Investment Bank (EIB) is providing the City of Stockholm with a €470 million loan to fund the city’s largest environmental investment in decades, aimed at modernising its wastewater treatment system. The project will close the Bromma treatment plant and redirect all wastewater to an expanded Henriksdal treatment plant, which will incorporate advanced membrane… [Read More]
Slovakia: EIB lends €150M to ČSOB Leasing for SME green investments
The European Investment Bank (EIB) has provided €150 million to ČSOB Leasing to enhance its financing capacity and create long-term funding for green investments by Slovak small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) and Mid-Caps. This partnership is expected to mobilize over €420 million in total investment, with a focus on EU cohesion regions, supporting climate action,… [Read More]
Exabler Secures £500,000 from Digital Catapult
Digital Catapult has announced a £500,000 investment in London-based startup Exabler to help accelerate the real-world application of its deep tech solution for cross-border trade and strengthen the resilience of UK industrial supply chains. As global trade becomes more vulnerable to tariffs, supply chain disruptions, and increasingly complex regulatory requirements, Exabler is positioning its platform… [Read More]
Online Gender-Based Violence Rising in Palestine
Technology-facilitated gender-based violence is becoming an increasingly serious issue in Palestine, where digital abuse often spills over into real-world harm and further restricts women’s participation in public and economic life. In response, Expertise France is supporting an 11-month initiative led by the NGO Ibtikar in Bethlehem and Hebron to strengthen digital literacy, improve online safety,… [Read More]
Yemen Faces Famine After 11 Years of Crisis
Yemen’s food security outlook remains extremely alarming, with the United Nations warning that severe hunger is likely to persist through 2026 after more than 11 years of crisis. Families across the country continue to face immense uncertainty about how they will secure their next meal, as conflict, economic collapse, and shrinking humanitarian support deepen an… [Read More]
Londoners Get New Support Ahead of Renters’ Rights Act
London Mayor Sadiq Khan has launched a new £400,000 Renters’ Rights Enforcement Fund to help Londoners understand and use their new protections ahead of the Renters’ Rights Act 2025 coming into force on 1 May 2026. The fund is designed to support renters with advice and guidance as major changes to the private rented sector… [Read More]
