The United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) and the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), in collaboration with Ethiopia’s Ministry of Finance, officially launched their new Country Programmes for 2025–2030 in Addis Ababa. The joint initiative represents a renewed partnership to advance Ethiopia’s development priorities in line with the United Nations Sustainable Development Cooperation Framework, the Government’s… [Read More]
UNDP and UNFPA Unveil 2025–2030 Country Programmes to Support Inclusive Growth and Human Development
The speech reflects on the global commitment made ten years ago by world leaders, including Ethiopia, to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). These goals aim to eradicate poverty, protect the planet, and ensure dignity and equality for all. Ethiopia has strongly embraced this agenda, integrating it into its national development plans and making progress… [Read More]
UNDP Unveils New Initiative to Fight Climate Change Misinformation
The United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) has launched a new global campaign, #ClimateCounts, designed to communicate the urgency of climate action through powerful numbers and visuals. The campaign highlights 30 climate facts in a visually engaging way to make climate change more relatable and motivate individuals to act. This initiative comes ahead of the COP30… [Read More]
Government Announces Additional Support for Communities Impacted by Extreme Weather
The Government has announced an additional $100,000 in funding to support communities in Kaikōura and Hurunui affected by recent severe weather. Minister for Emergency Management and Recovery, Mark Mitchell, stated that this new funding will go toward the Mayoral Relief Funds, with each district receiving $25,000 to assist with ongoing response and recovery efforts. This… [Read More]
Hunger Crisis Deepens for Refugees Seeking Safety in Ethiopia
Thousands of South Sudanese refugees are fleeing escalating violence and hunger, seeking safety in Ethiopia’s western Gambella Region. Among them is Nyibol, a mother of four, who walked for two weeks with no food before reaching Ethiopia. Though she and her children escaped the conflict, they now face hunger and uncertainty as humanitarian funding shortfalls… [Read More]
Green Groups Turn Down Water Firm’s Funding Citing Ethical Issues
Little Green Change, an environmental education group based in Lyme Regis, Dorset, has turned down a grant of £4,825 from South West Water’s (SWW) community fund, citing concerns over “greenwashing.” The not-for-profit social enterprise, which runs sustainability and environmental awareness programs across South West England, stated that accepting the funds would contradict its mission to… [Read More]
Hurricane Melissa: Direct Relief Mobilizes $250,000 and Emergency Medical Supplies for the Caribbean
Hurricane Melissa, now a Category 5 storm, is devastating parts of the Caribbean, prompting Direct Relief to commit an initial $250,000 in financial assistance and make its entire medical inventory available to regional health providers. The hurricane is bringing catastrophic rain, flooding, and winds exceeding 150 miles per hour, with Jamaica and Cuba preparing for… [Read More]
Caribbean Development Bank Funds Strategic Plan to Strengthen Haiti’s Agricultural Bank
The Caribbean Development Bank (CDB), through its Caribbean Technological Consultancy Services (CTCS) Network, has provided a grant of USD 72,163 to support Haiti’s Banque Nationale de Développement Agricole (BNDA) in completing its new five-year Strategic Plan. This initiative aims to strengthen BNDA’s institutional capacity and improve access to finance for agricultural stakeholders across the country…. [Read More]
Massive Investment to Drive Business Expansion and Innovation Across Victoria
The Allan Labor Government has announced a $75 million investment in five specialized venture capital funds to help innovative Victorian companies expand and thrive. This strategic move, led by Minister for Economic Growth and Jobs Danny Pearson, aims to support startups in sectors such as climate technology, health and life sciences, high-growth tech, and female-led… [Read More]
Ireland Partners with EIB to Expand District Heating and Lower Heating Bills
The European Investment Bank (EIB) has announced new technical and financial advisory support to help Ireland expand its district heating systems, a move aimed at lowering energy costs, cutting emissions, and strengthening local economies. District heating networks distribute heat from central facilities—powered by renewable or waste heat sources—to multiple buildings through insulated pipelines. These systems… [Read More]
Togo’s Cocoa Sector Gains Momentum with AFD’s New Green Funding Initiative
Fair trade-certified cocoa cooperatives in Togo can now benefit from a new green financing mechanism introduced under the Équité 3 program, jointly funded by the French Development Agency (AFD) and the French Global Environment Facility (FFEM). The initiative, coordinated by Agronomes et Vétérinaires Sans Frontières (AVSF), aims to support agroecological transition and combat deforestation across… [Read More]
UNICEF, Hempel Foundation, and Ghana’s Education Ministry Unite to Improve Foundational Learning
The Ministry of Education in Ghana, in partnership with UNICEF and the Hempel Foundation, has launched the 2025 Foundational Learning Action Tracker (FLAT) to strengthen efforts in improving literacy, numeracy, and socio-emotional learning among children. The initiative, introduced at the Accra College of Education, marks a major step toward advancing Ghana’s educational quality and achieving… [Read More]
Widespread Relief as South Africa Exits FATF Grey List, Boosting Investor Confidence
South Africa’s removal from the Financial Action Task Force’s (FATF) grey list has been met with widespread approval from government institutions, business organizations, and economists, who hailed it as a major milestone toward restoring financial integrity and transparency. The FATF’s decision follows nearly three years of extensive reforms to strengthen the country’s ability to combat… [Read More]
Getting Quality Seeds to Every Farmer: Inside CGIAR’s Inclusive Delivery Model
CGIAR’s Breeding for Tomorrow initiative, through its Inclusive Delivery approach, focuses on ensuring that improved, climate-resilient, and nutritious crop varieties developed by CGIAR and its partners reach smallholder farmers, particularly women and marginalized groups. Despite advancements in breeding, many farmers still depend on old, low-yielding varieties and poor-quality seeds that are vulnerable to droughts, pests,… [Read More]
UN Gains Support for Landmark Crimes Against Humanity Treaty
Human Rights Watch and Columbia Law School’s Prevention of Crimes Against Humanity Project have released a new briefing paper urging the development of a strong and effective International Convention to Prevent and Punish Crimes against Humanity. The document presents 25 recommendations for UN delegations as they prepare for formal treaty negotiations. Crimes against humanity—such as… [Read More]
It’s Not Just About Electricity — Why Energy Access Means Development, Equity, and Resilience
In Nepal’s remote Himalayan villages, access to electricity has long been a challenge, hindering economic growth and quality of life. Through the United Nations Development Programme’s (UNDP) investment in micro-hydropower, communities that once lived without reliable power are now thriving. For residents like widow Pabitra Giri, electricity brought by the micro-hydropower plant in Kharbang, Baglung,… [Read More]
National Center for Youth Law Joins Coalition Against Harmful Federal Education Rule
The National Center for Youth Law (NCYL) joined more than 30 civil rights and education organizations in urging the U.S. Department of Education to withdraw its proposed “Promoting Patriotic Education” initiative. The coalition, which submitted a joint comment letter on October 17, warned that the proposal represents a dangerous overreach by the federal government and… [Read More]
Record ZAR 188 Billion Climate Funding Boosts South Africa’s Green Transition Ahead of G20 Summit
South Africa is intensifying its efforts to finance a low-carbon and climate-resilient future, according to The South African Climate Finance Landscape 2025, a new technical report for the Presidential Climate Commission. Published by the Climate Policy Initiative (CPI) and GreenCape, with support from the Agence Française de Développement (AFD), the report provides the most comprehensive… [Read More]
West African CSOs Collaborate to Boost Regional Cybersecurity and Resilience
Civil society organizations (CSOs) in West Africa are increasingly confronting challenges that extend beyond physical spaces, as the struggle for civic space moves into the digital realm. Facing a surge in cyberattacks, misinformation, and emerging threats from artificial intelligence, these groups are taking action to strengthen their online resilience. In September, organizations from Nigeria and… [Read More]
Wisconsin: Planned Parenthood Restarts Abortion Care Following Temporary Pause
Planned Parenthood of Wisconsin has resumed scheduling abortions after nearly a monthlong suspension caused by federal Medicaid funding cuts tied to President Donald Trump’s new tax and spending bill. The organization was able to restart services after dropping its “essential community provider” designation under the Affordable Care Act, a move that reclassified it under the… [Read More]
Regional Launch of SPECS 2030: Advancing Health Security and Preparedness in the Americas
The Pan American Health Organization (PAHO) held a regional webinar to officially launch the WHO SPECS 2030 Initiative (Services, Personnel, Education, Costs, and Surveillance for refractive error interventions) in the Region of the Americas. The event brought together health authorities, technical experts, and country representatives to discuss the regional context of eye health, share experiences,… [Read More]
Building Safer Health Systems: How the Americas Improve Medical Waste Management
Thirteen countries in Latin America and the Caribbean are taking significant steps to strengthen their capacity for safe and sustainable medical waste management. Supported by the Pan American Health Organization (PAHO) and funded by the Government of Canada, the initiative aims to improve the handling and disposal of hazardous materials such as syringes, laboratory waste,… [Read More]
Mozambique to Vaccinate 3 Million Girls as Gavi, WHO, and UNICEF Boost Cervical Cancer Prevention
The Government of Mozambique, in partnership with Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance, UNICEF, and the World Health Organization (WHO), has achieved a major milestone in cervical cancer prevention by expanding the human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccination to adolescent girls aged 12–18 years across all 11 provinces. This accomplishment builds on the 2019 introduction of the HPV vaccine… [Read More]
