The Central African Republic continues to face one of the highest maternal mortality rates in the world, with 829 deaths per 100 000 live births recorded in 2023. These figures reflect deep challenges, including women giving birth far from health facilities, long distances to reach care, limited medical resources and cultural beliefs that often hinder… [Read More]
How Community Health Workers Powered Lesotho’s Measles-Rubella Vaccination Drive
High in the mountains of Lesotho, where steep slopes and isolated villages make access difficult, a remarkable measles-rubella vaccination campaign succeeded in reaching even the most remote communities. In Qacha’s Nek and Mokhotlong Districts, Village Health Workers, local chiefs, and parents worked together to ensure that distance and rugged terrain did not stand between children… [Read More]
Stronger Protections Ahead: Indonesian Companies Unite Against Workplace Gender-Based Violence
JAKARTA, Indonesia (ILO News) — Indonesian workers remain vulnerable to violence and harassment in the workplace. A survey by the International Labour Organization (ILO) revealed that more than 70 percent of workers in Indonesia have experienced or become victims of some form of violence or harassment at work. This underscores the urgent need for companies… [Read More]
Ghana Exhibition Shows How Productivity and Decent Work Strengthen Each Other
The concept of productivity is often viewed through the lens of efficiency and output, yet for many workers in Ghana’s garment and shea sectors it is deeply personal. Their livelihoods support entire families and even other sectors such as agriculture, making their working conditions crucial to both economic stability and overall well-being. Challenges such as… [Read More]
Latin America and the Caribbean Maintain Job Growth Despite Persistent Informality and Inequality
The latest Labour Overview 2025 for Latin America and the Caribbean from the International Labour Organization (ILO) reports a moderate recovery in employment across the region. Despite these improvements, the report warns that persistent informality and inequality continue to limit progress, underscoring the need for urgent policy responses as the world of work undergoes rapid… [Read More]
ILO Launches Green Employment Diagnostic to Support Just Transition Across Montenegro, North Macedonia and Serbia
Representatives from Montenegro, North Macedonia, and Serbia gathered in Budapest for the ILO–GIZ Just Transition Practitioners’ Workshop, where they discussed policies to advance a just energy transition grounded in decent work and social justice. The event also marked the launch of three Green Employment Diagnostic (GED) reports, offering detailed assessments of the opportunities and risks… [Read More]
Youth Leadership Shines at Lao National Symposium on Social Protection
The second National Symposium on Social Protection in Lao PDR brought together students, government representatives and development partners to highlight youth-driven innovation in strengthening the country’s social protection system. Held over two days on 8 and 12 December 2025, the event served as a platform to exchange knowledge, celebrate progress and elevate the voices of… [Read More]
Empowering Women in Bolivia: Marcia’s Role in Strengthening Amazonian Food Systems
In the northern Amazon of Bolivia, the community of El Chorro relies on the Brazil nut as the cornerstone of its economy and cultural identity. For generations, families have depended on the seasonal harvest, known locally as zafra, which runs from December to March, to sustain their livelihoods. Marcia Zela Tuno, president of the El… [Read More]
Small Businesses to Benefit from Government Support for Lowering Operational Expenses
The UK Government has announced a £2 million funding boost to help small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) reduce operating costs through sustainability investments. Provided through the ‘Made Smarter Adoption Programme,’ this funding will support SMEs in adopting energy-efficient technologies such as heating, insulation, and solar power, enabling them to lower energy bills and improve operational… [Read More]
£3bn Funding Boost to Improve Education and Support for Children with SEND
The UK government has announced a transformational £3 billion investment to expand specialist educational support for children with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND). This initiative will create tens of thousands of new specialist places within mainstream schools, allowing children to access tailored learning environments close to home while still participating in regular classes where… [Read More]
European Union Invests €12 Million to Enhance Regional Transport Networks in Africa
Togolese authorities, leaders of ten major ports in West and Central Africa, representatives of regional organizations, and international partners will convene in Lomé on December 2–3, 2025, for the launch seminar of the SCOPE Africa regional project, “Securing Corridors, Ports, and Exchanges in West and Central Africa.” Funded by the European Union with over €12… [Read More]
Nigeria’s Digital Economy Receives €45 Million Investment from Global Gateway
At the EU-Nigeria Digital Open Day in Brussels, a €45 million programme was signed between Nigerian Minister of Communications, Innovation and Digital Economy, Dr. Bosun Tijani, and European Commissioner for International Partnerships, Jozef Síkela. This programme completes the EU Digital Economy Package for Nigeria and aims to strengthen cooperation between the two partners in the… [Read More]
Global Economy Transformed by International Standards, but Developing Nations Struggle to Keep Up, Report Finds
A growing set of international standards, ranging from food labeling to 5G network specifications, is reshaping the global economic landscape, benefiting wealthy nations and multinational corporations while leaving many developing countries behind, according to the World Bank’s World Development Report 2025: Standards for Development. The report highlights that standards today function as essential economic infrastructure,… [Read More]
Economic Recovery in Laos Requires Ongoing Reforms and Road Infrastructure Preservation
Increased exports, foreign investment, and tourism have helped the Lao PDR begin emerging from a prolonged economic slowdown, according to a World Bank economic update. The report notes that further reforms in the business, finance, and infrastructure sectors are needed to sustain this progress and strengthen economic resilience. The World Bank’s Consolidating Recent Reform Momentum… [Read More]
Advancing Reforms Can Strengthen China’s Economic Prospects, Says Latest Economic Update
China’s economy sustained solid momentum in the third quarter of 2025, bringing year-to-date GDP growth to 5.2% year-on-year. Accommodative fiscal and monetary policies supported domestic consumption and investment, while demand from developing countries maintained export growth. However, households remained cautious in spending due to a soft labor market and declining home prices. Investment growth moderated… [Read More]
Uzbekistan Launches Modern Student Financing System to Expand Education Opportunities for 600,000 Young People
The World Bank’s Board of Executive Directors has approved a $250 million loan to Uzbekistan to support the EduImkon Program, a three-year initiative aimed at expanding equitable access to student financing in higher education and technical and vocational education and training (TVET). The program is expected to provide tuition loans to around 600,000 young people… [Read More]
Cambodia Can Weather Economic Challenges Through Strong Buffers and Targeted Reforms, Says World Bank
Cambodia’s economy is projected to grow by 4.8 percent in 2025, down from 6 percent in 2024, as domestic and external shocks dampen activity. Prudent fiscal and monetary policies, along with targeted structural reforms, are seen as essential to cushion the slowdown and strengthen economic resilience. The December 2025 Cambodia Economic Update, Coping with Shocks,… [Read More]
New FAO-WFP Tool Strengthens Protection Against Sexual Exploitation and Abuse in Humanitarian Settings
The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) and the World Food Programme (WFP) have launched a pioneering Sexual Exploitation and Abuse (SEA) Risk Mapping Package for the Food Security Cluster, which coordinates food security responses during and after humanitarian crises in 34 operations worldwide. Developed under WFP Executive Director Cindy McCain’s two-year… [Read More]
Myanmar Faces Escalating Displacement and Hunger Crisis, Says WFP 2026
The United Nations World Food Programme (WFP) has warned that more than 12 million people in Myanmar will face acute hunger in 2026, with an estimated one million individuals reaching emergency levels that require lifesaving assistance. Intensifying conflict and rising displacement threaten to push the underfunded hunger crisis in the country to a breaking point…. [Read More]
Mozambique Crisis: Thousands Displaced Amid Poor Living Conditions
Thousands of civilians in northeastern Mozambique have been displaced due to attacks by Islamist armed groups, including an organization linked to Islamic State-Mozambique, often referred to as Al-Shabab or Mashababos. Between November 10 and 23, 2025, these attacks resulted in the deaths of 33 civilians in Cabo Delgado and Nampula provinces and forced around 108,000… [Read More]
Strengthening Afghan Communities: EU Funding Supports Livelihoods and Resilience
The European Union has contributed €25 million through the United Nations World Food Programme (WFP) to enhance community resilience and improve nutrition across Afghanistan. The funding targets vulnerable populations, including women, children, and rural communities, with a focus on strengthening agriculture and food value chains to promote health, economic stability, and protection against climate-related risks…. [Read More]
Boosting Women’s Entrepreneurship in India: ADB Partners with Five-Star Business Finance
The Asian Development Bank (ADB) has signed a $100 million loan agreement with Five-Star Business Finance Limited (FBFL) to expand access to micro, small, and medium-sized enterprise (MSME) loans for women borrowers from lower-income groups in India. This initiative, called the Five-Star Social Loan Improving Access to MSME Finance for Lower-Income Women Borrowers Project, aims… [Read More]
Lessons from Social Participation Case Studies in Pandemic Response: Insights from the WHO South-East Asia Region, 2025
Meaningful public engagement in health policy is gaining global recognition, reinforced by commitments in the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and the UN Political Declaration on Universal Health Coverage. These frameworks emphasize that people’s participation, including that of women, families, communities and civil society organizations, is central to effective health system governance. WHO contributes to… [Read More]
