South Korea’s Ministry of Data and Statistics has made a historic change to the 2025 Population and Housing Census, allowing same-sex couples to be officially counted for the first time. Conducted between October 22 and November 18, the updated census recognizes same-sex relationships of lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) people in national statistics—an unprecedented… [Read More]
No Accountability in Eswatini: Unresolved Abuses from June 2021 Protests
More than four years after Eswatini’s June 2021 pro-democracy protests, no member of the country’s security forces has been held accountable for the use of excessive and lethal force against demonstrators and civilians. During the unrest, tasers, teargas, rubber bullets, and live ammunition were deployed against protesters and bystanders, resulting in scores of deaths and… [Read More]
UNDP Highlights Sustainable Land Management at the 4th Arab Land and Climate Forum
The Arab Forum for Land and Climate, organized by the Arab Network for National NGOs (ANNGO), the Arab Gulf Programme for Development (AGFUND), and their partners, is a recurring regional event that unites governments, civil society, development organizations, philanthropists, and experts to address the pressing challenges of global warming and environmental degradation. Serving as a… [Read More]
Empowering Women in Uniform: The Elsie Initiative Fund’s Role in Transforming Peacekeeping
In international peacekeeping, a transformative shift is unfolding—one that goes beyond simply increasing the number of women to fundamentally reimagining how security institutions function. At the forefront of this change is the Elsie Initiative Fund (EIF) at UN Women. Through a systemic and evidence-based approach, EIF tackles the structural barriers—laws, policies, institutional cultures, and social… [Read More]
Milestones Defining What’s Next in Artificial Intelligence
Over the past 30 years, technology has evolved at an unprecedented pace, reshaping how people live, work, and connect. In 1995, the tech landscape was dominated by innovations such as Windows 95, the PalmPilot, and the PlayStation. Three decades later, smartphones have placed immense computing power in the hands of billions, making technology universally accessible… [Read More]
Aga Khan Development Network Pledges €10 Million for Paris Peace Forum Endowment
The Aga Khan Development Network (AKDN) has pledged €10 million to the Paris Peace Forum’s newly established endowment fund, aiming to ensure its long-term financial sustainability and support its ambitious growth strategy. The commitment reinforces AKDN’s enduring engagement in global peacebuilding and its emphasis on creating lasting institutions capable of addressing today’s complex challenges. As… [Read More]
Swedfund’s $10 Million Equity Boost to Moniepoint Highlights Rising DFI Focus on Fintech Lending
Swedfund’s recent $10 million equity investment in Moniepoint marks a shift in development finance priorities, emphasizing sustainable fintech models over user acquisition-driven growth. Moniepoint’s strategy of building robust financial infrastructure, rather than chasing app downloads, has positioned it as a trusted payments backbone in Nigeria. With POS transactions reaching ₦19.5 trillion in 2024, Moniepoint’s operations… [Read More]
Alcohol leaves a mark: WHO calls for tougher laws and public awareness on alcohol harm
Every drink of alcohol leaves a lasting mark on individuals, families, and societies. Beyond its social presence, alcohol contributes to a wide range of harms including cancers, liver disease, road accidents, violence, and family breakdowns. To address these issues, the World Health Organization (WHO) Regional Office for the Western Pacific has launched the “Alcohol Leaves… [Read More]
Hurricane Melissa: PAHO Mobilizes Urgent Medical Aid Across Affected Countries
The Pan American Health Organization (PAHO) has delivered over 2.6 tons of vital medical supplies to Cuba to support the country’s response to Hurricane Melissa, which struck eastern Cuba as a Category 3 storm with winds reaching up to 205 km/h. The shipment, sent from PAHO’s Regional Strategic Stockpile in Panama, arrived on October 28… [Read More]
AI in Public Health: New WHO Digital Health Learning Series Now on YouTube
The Pan American Health Organization’s (PAHO) Information Systems and Digital Health Unit (IS/EIH) has announced that the full recordings of Cycle I of the Seminar Series: Artificial Intelligence in Public Health are now available online. This marks an important milestone in advancing digital learning and knowledge sharing across the Americas in the field of public… [Read More]
New Hepatitis Community of Practice Unites Africa in the Battle Against Viral Hepatitis
The Hepatitis Community of Practice (HepCOP) was officially launched at the African Hepatitis Summit in Kigali, Rwanda, marking a significant milestone in Africa’s collective effort to eliminate viral hepatitis as a public health threat. The launch brought together health leaders, policymakers, civil society organizations, and experts from across the continent under the coordination of the… [Read More]
FAO Boosts Livelihoods in Somalia with Sustainable Fodder Value Chain Initiatives
FAO is intensifying its efforts to strengthen livelihoods in Somalia through a large-scale intervention focused on the Fodder Value Chain (FVC). With a portfolio worth USD 70 million—half of which is dedicated to fodder development—FAO’s systems-based approach is enhancing resilience, productivity, and income stability. This initiative is crucial as Somalia’s livestock sector supports nearly two-thirds… [Read More]
How Zambia is Harnessing Digital Tools to Build Climate-Resilient Agriculture
Digital technologies are transforming agriculture across Africa, revolutionizing how governments, partners, and farmers collaborate. In Zambia, this transformation is being driven by the Zambia Integrated Agriculture Management Information System (ZIAMIS), a platform designed to strengthen transparency, efficiency, and resilience in agricultural programmes. During the recent FAO Resilience Team for Africa Community of Practice meeting, Zambia’s… [Read More]
FAO Strengthens Operational Capacity of West African Country Teams through Targeted Training
The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) organized a five-day sub-regional training workshop on operations from October 20 to 24, 2025, in Saly, Senegal. The training aimed to strengthen the operational performance of project teams across FAO offices in West Africa. Coordinated by the FAO Sub-Regional Office for West Africa (SFW), the… [Read More]
FAO Yearbook 2025 Unveils Key Insights with New Dietary Diversity Indicator
The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) has released its Statistical Yearbook 2025, an annual report that provides a detailed global overview of trends in food and agriculture. Launched during FAO’s 80th anniversary and in celebration of World Statistics Day, the Yearbook compiles internationally harmonized data from national statistical offices and FAO’s… [Read More]
FAO Secures $5.8 Million from Kunming Biodiversity Fund for Global Conservation Projects
The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) has facilitated $5.8 million in funding from the Kunming Biodiversity Fund (KBF) for seven countries to integrate biodiversity into agrifood systems and advance the goals of the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework (KMGBF). The approved projects focus on sustainable agriculture, ecosystem protection, knowledge management, the control… [Read More]
Luanda Summit 2025: Financing Africa’s Connectivity and Continental Integration
The Third Financing Summit for Africa’s Infrastructure Development opened in Luanda with African leaders uniting to address the continent’s massive infrastructure financing gap. Angolan President and African Union (AU) Chairperson João Manuel Gonçalves Lourenço emphasized that Africa needs to invest between $130 billion and $170 billion annually to sustain growth and unlock its potential as… [Read More]
Green Climate Fund Approves $31 Million for Uganda’s Landmark Climate Initiative
The Green Climate Fund (GCF) has approved a $31 million results-based grant for Uganda in recognition of its significant progress in reducing deforestation and cutting greenhouse gas emissions. This marks the first results-based payment project approved by the GCF for both Uganda and Africa, making it a historic milestone for a Least Developed Country (LDC)…. [Read More]
LGBTQ+ Organizations to Benefit from New Fund Following Rainbow Fund Adjustments
A new funding initiative has been launched to assist LGBTQ+ organisations struggling financially following the collapse of the Brighton Rainbow Fund. The Restart Fund, introduced by the Pride Community Foundation (PCF) on October 27, is designed to help community groups affected by unpaid grants. The scheme builds on earlier emergency funding efforts that saw Brighton… [Read More]
Case Study: Strengthening Community Resilience Through Innovation and Local Empowerment
Across the UK, small charities and voluntary groups are under growing strain as demand for their services continues to rise while funding becomes increasingly difficult to secure. With statutory services overstretched, voluntary, community, and social enterprise (VCSE) organisations are often filling the gaps—sometimes at the expense of their own financial stability. Research shows that nearly… [Read More]
HEIF to Prioritize Economic Growth Through University Innovation
Research England has released an updated strategic direction for the Higher Education Innovation Funding (HEIF) programme, emphasizing a renewed focus on driving economic growth. HEIF, which provides £280 million annually, supports universities in translating research and expertise into practical solutions that strengthen communities and local economies. The programme’s flexibility enables institutions to align their core… [Read More]
South Sudan Faces Renewed Threat of War, Says UN Report
The World Health Organization (WHO) has expressed shock and outrage over reports that 460 patients and their companions were killed in an attack on the Saudi Maternity Hospital in Sudan’s El Fasher. WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus stated that this tragedy adds to the 285 verified attacks on healthcare facilities across Sudan since the conflict… [Read More]
Global Climate Adaptation Funding Falls Short of Promises, UN Warns
The UN Environment Programme’s (UNEP) latest Adaptation Gap Report reveals a stark reality: developing nations will need over $310 billion annually by 2035 to adapt to the accelerating effects of climate change. Adaptation measures—such as flood defences, elevated infrastructure, and improved drainage—are critical for protecting vulnerable populations from worsening climate disasters. However, in 2023, these… [Read More]
