The 13th Conference on Climate Change and Development in Africa (CCDA-XIII), held from 5 to 7 September, concluded with a strong call for a coherent, evidence-based, and investment-ready African climate agenda. Bringing together more than 250 policymakers, negotiators, scientists, civil society representatives, and youth leaders, the event reaffirmed CCDA’s role as Africa’s premier platform linking… [Read More]
Archives for 2025
African Development Institute Hosts High-Level Policy Dialogue for Transition States at Nigerian Economic Society 2025 Conference
The African Development Institute (ADI) of the African Development Bank Group will host a high-level policy dialogue on “Driving Africa’s Economic Transformation in Transition States: The Role of Capacity Development and Knowledge Management” during the 66th Nigerian Economic Society (NES) Annual Conference, taking place from 8 to 11 September 2025 at the NAF Conference Centre… [Read More]
US Tightens Visa Rules, Creating New Hurdles for Indian Students and Visitors
The United States has introduced new visa regulations that significantly complicate the application process for Indian students and visitors. Effective immediately, the Department of State (DoS) directive mandates that non-immigrant visas, including those for students (F1), visitors (B1/B2), and employment (H-1B, O-1), can only be applied for in the applicant’s country of citizenship or residence…. [Read More]
Itana Digital Economic Zone Opens Doors for Innovators: Apply Now!
The Itana Digital Economic Zone (IDEZ) has officially launched its call for applications, inviting founders, businesses, and professionals to join its burgeoning ecosystem. This initiative aims to foster innovation and growth within a supportive and regulated environment, offering unique advantages to those looking to establish or expand their digital ventures. Key Takeaways Opportunity: IDEZ is… [Read More]
US Sanctions Palestinian Human Rights Groups, Sparking International Condemnation
The United States has imposed sanctions on three prominent Palestinian human rights organizations: Al-Haq, Al-Mezan Center for Human Rights, and the Palestinian Centre for Human Rights. The sanctions, enacted under Executive Order 14203, target these groups for their cooperation with the International Criminal Court (ICC) in its investigations into alleged Israeli war crimes. This move… [Read More]
Nobel Laureate Abhijit Banerjee Advocates for Evidence-Based Solutions to Global Poverty
Nobel laureate Abhijit Banerjee recently shared insights on tackling global poverty, emphasizing the need to challenge misconceptions about impoverished individuals and highlighting the importance of evidence-driven policies. Speaking at Harvard Chan School, Banerjee, a pioneer in development economics, discussed innovative approaches to poverty alleviation and the crucial role of research in informing effective interventions. Key… [Read More]
Tanzania Launches STOSAR II Project with €10 Million EU Funding to Boost Agriculture, Food Safety, and Market Access in SADC
The Government of Tanzania, in collaboration with the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), the Southern African Development Community (SADC) Secretariat, and the European Union (EU), has officially launched the second phase of the Support Towards the Operationalization of the SADC Regional Agricultural Policy (STOSAR II) project. Funded by the EU through the Development Smart Innovation… [Read More]
African Faith Leaders Release Addis Ababa Faith Declaration on Climate Justice Ahead of Africa Climate Summit 2 and COP30
Ahead of the 2nd Africa Climate Summit in Addis Ababa, African faith leaders have come together to issue the Addis Ababa Faith Declaration on Climate Justice, calling for urgent, equitable, and inclusive climate action grounded in justice, peace, and care for the environment. This declaration is the result of months of interfaith consultations and collaborative… [Read More]
Burkina Faso Approves $220 Million Loan to Rehabilitate Highways and Boost Trade
Burkina Faso’s government has approved a loan of 187.83 million euros (approximately $220 million) from the Islamic Development Bank (IsDB) to fund a series of vital road rehabilitation projects. This loan will be supplemented by a national contribution of 25.81 million euros (140.1 billion CFA francs) to support the overall funding of the infrastructure improvements…. [Read More]
Mozambique Launches $6 Billion Electricity Project, Southern Africa’s Largest in 50 Years
Mozambique is embarking on an ambitious $6 billion electricity project—the Mphanda Nkuwa hydroelectric plant—which is set to become the largest power project in southern Africa in the past 50 years. Supported by the World Bank and private sector players, the 1,500 MW plant is expected to begin operations in 2031 and aims to significantly boost… [Read More]
Alibaba Leads $100 Million Funding Round in Chinese Humanoid Robot Startup
Chinese humanoid robot startup X Square Robot announced it has secured approximately $100 million in a funding round led by Alibaba Cloud. The Shenzhen-based company, founded less than two years ago in December 2023, has now completed its eighth financing round. This latest investment brings the startup’s total funding to around 2 billion yuan (approximately… [Read More]
WHO’s Sixth Virtual cGMP Training Marathon Launches to Strengthen Global Local Production Capacity
The World Health Organization (WHO) has announced the launch of the sixth edition of its Virtual cGMP Training Marathon, organized by the Local Production & Assistance (LPA) Unit under the leadership of Dr. Jicui Dong. Scheduled from 9 September to 2 October 2025, this year’s program is themed “Building Blocks for Sustained Excellence” and aims… [Read More]
PAHO Launches Caribbean Award to Celebrate Leadership Against Superbugs
The Pan American Health Organization (PAHO) has launched a new regional honor—the Suzan McLennon-Miguel Caribbean Antimicrobial Resistance (AMR) Leadership Award—to recognize outstanding efforts in addressing antimicrobial resistance (AMR), a major and growing global health threat often described as the “silent pandemic.” The award commemorates the legacy of the late Dr. Suzan McLennon-Miguel, a distinguished Jamaican… [Read More]
FAO Zimbabwe Equips Field Teams with GIS Skills to Enhance Anticipatory Action
In an effort to improve disaster preparedness and anticipatory action in Zimbabwe, the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) recently conducted a hands-on Geographic Information Systems (GIS) training session. Held in Bulawayo, the workshop equipped field officers, enumerators, and technical staff with practical skills in hazard geotagging, focusing on collecting and analyzing… [Read More]
DKT International Doubles FP2030 Commitment to $2 Billion by 2030 Amid Donor Funding Declines
DKT International, a leading global provider of sexual and reproductive health (SRH) products and services, has announced it is doubling its financial commitment to the Family Planning 2030 (FP2030) partnership. The organization now pledges $2 billion in support by 2030, up from its initial $1 billion commitment made in 2021. This renewed pledge comes amidst… [Read More]
Global Course in Madrid Champions Non-Discrimination for LGTBIQ+ Workers
The international training held in Madrid from 2 to 4 September 2025 brought together government experts and policy leaders from across Europe, the Americas, and Asia to address discrimination and inequality in the workplace, particularly concerning LGTBIQ+ rights. Representatives from 13 countries, including officials from Ministries of Labour and diversity promotion agencies, engaged in in-depth… [Read More]
IOM Deploys Emergency Team to Strengthen National Ebola Response in DRC
The International Organization for Migration (IOM) has deployed a team to support the response to a new Ebola virus outbreak in Kasai Province, central Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC). This marks the country’s 16th recorded outbreak, involving the deadly ‘Zaire’ strain. So far, 15 deaths and 28 confirmed cases have been reported. The outbreak… [Read More]
UPF-BSM Partners with UNESCO to Enhance Digital Platform Governance in Central America and Caribbean
The UPF Barcelona School of Management (UPF-BSM) has partnered with UNESCO to lead a new project aimed at improving the governance of digital platforms across Central America and the Caribbean. Funded by the European Union, the initiative is part of UNESCO’s global Internet for Trust program and its I4T Global Knowledge Network. The project’s goal… [Read More]
UNESCO Backs Boy Child Initiative to Inspire Future Leaders in Africa
UNESCO partnered with Namibia’s Ministry of Gender Equality, Poverty Eradication and Social Welfare to empower 66 boys from Windhoek through a leadership and dialogue training event held on August 14, 2025. The Boy Child Empowerment Event took place at the After School Centre in Grysblock and brought together boys from six local schools, including C.J…. [Read More]
DR Congo Crisis: Funding Cuts Slash Support for Sexual Violence Survivors
The ongoing liquidity crisis affecting the United Nations and its global partners has already delayed a crucial high-level human rights investigation into the emergency situation in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) that began in February. According to testimonies collected by the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR), the Rwanda-backed M23 rebel… [Read More]
UN Rights Chief Urges US to Lift Sanctions on Palestinian Rights Groups Amid Gaza Attacks
The recent sanctions announced by the United States target Palestinian human rights organizations Al-Haq, the Palestinian Centre for Human Rights (PCHR), and Al-Mezan Center for Human Rights. These measures relate to their support of the International Criminal Court’s (ICC) investigation into the situation in the Occupied Palestinian Territory. These sanctions follow earlier U.S. actions against… [Read More]
Standard Bank Invests $10 Million in African Women Impact Fund (AWIF) to Empower Female Entrepreneurs
Standard Bank, Africa’s largest bank by assets, has committed $10 million to the African Women Impact Fund (AWIF), aiming to support women fund managers running businesses across the continent. This significant investment was announced at the G20 Empowerment of Women Working Group (EWWG) Women to Africa event, hosted in collaboration with Standard Bank and South… [Read More]
Africa’s Roadmap to Food Security by 2035: Financing the Future Now
The article, originally published on CNBC Africa and authored by Ambassador Gabriel Ferrero, highlights the urgent food security challenges facing Africa as its population rapidly grows. By 2050, Africa is projected to house one in four people globally, yet despite global improvements, hunger is increasing on the continent, with over 300 million Africans undernourished in… [Read More]
