Since 2014, the World Bank has supported Ethiopia’s One Water, Sanitation, and Hygiene National Program (OWNP), an integrated platform for sector development, through three major projects expected to benefit over 20 million people by 2027. The Ethiopia Water Supply, Sanitation, and Hygiene Project (2014–2021) provided improved water and sanitation services to over 10.9 million people,… [Read More]
India: Kerala to Benefit from World Bank Initiative Increasing Access to Health Services
The World Bank has approved a $280 million program to enhance health coverage and strengthen health systems for 11 million elderly and vulnerable people in Kerala, India. The initiative aims to improve life expectancy and quality of life by building a more resilient, climate-adaptive health system and expanding access to essential services. Kerala has achieved… [Read More]
Afghanistan Earthquake Inflicts $183 Million in Economic Losses
A 6.0 magnitude earthquake that struck eastern Afghanistan on August 31, 2025, caused an estimated $183 million in direct physical damage to buildings and infrastructure, according to a World Bank report. The disaster, the deadliest in Afghanistan since 1998, claimed around 2,000 lives and severely affected between 500,000 and 1.3 million people. The Afghanistan Global… [Read More]
UN Agencies Urge Immediate Response to Worsening Humanitarian Situation in Sudan
Four United Nations agencies—the International Organization for Migration (IOM), UN Refugee Agency (UNHCR), UNICEF, and the World Food Programme (WFP)—have issued an urgent call for international action to address the escalating humanitarian crisis in Sudan. Over 900 days of conflict, widespread human rights violations, famine, and the collapse of essential services have left millions, particularly… [Read More]
Asian Development Bank Invests in STEM Programs to Boost Youth Skills in Uzbekistan
The Asian Development Bank (ADB) has approved a $100 million concessional loan to help Uzbekistan improve the quality of science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) education in secondary schools. The Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics in Secondary Education Project aims to equip young people with modern, innovation-driven skills critical for sustainable and inclusive growth, supporting… [Read More]
Asian Development Bank, Japan Financial Services Agency Join Forces to Unlock Regional Investment Potential
The Asian Development Bank (ADB) and Japan Financial Services Agency (JFSA) have signed a cooperation agreement to strengthen financial sector development across Asia and the Pacific. The agreement, signed by ADB President Masato Kanda and JFSA Commissioner Yutaka Ito in Tokyo, aims to help emerging economies in the region leverage technology for financial inclusion, deepen… [Read More]
Asian Development Bank Provides $10 Million to Boost Tonga’s Economic Stability and Recovery
The Asian Development Bank (ADB) has approved a $10 million policy-based grant to strengthen public sector management and improve social and economic resilience in Tonga. The funding supports the Improving Economic Management Program (Subprogram 2), which builds on previous reform initiatives aimed at enhancing fiscal stability and governance in the country. The program focuses on… [Read More]
African Development Bank Deepens Cooperation with Djibouti to Advance Regional Integration
A week-long consultation mission led by African Development Bank Group Executive Director Khaled Sherif reaffirmed the Bank’s strong partnership with Djibouti, emphasizing regional integration, innovative financing, and capacity development as key priorities for future collaboration. Held from 3 to 10 October, the mission aimed to accelerate project delivery, strengthen institutional capacity, and optimize the Bank’s… [Read More]
African Development Bank Group Receives $14 Million Under GAFSP’s New Private Sector Window
The Global Agriculture and Food Security Program (GAFSP) has made its first funding allocation under its new private sector financing window, granting $14 million to the African Development Bank Group (AfDB). The funding includes de-risking capital aimed at mobilizing $200 million in private sector investments to strengthen food security in low-income countries. GAFSP supports projects… [Read More]
Rights Groups Call on EU to Confront Egypt Over Human Rights Abuses at First Summit
The European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen and European Council President António Costa are set to hold the first-ever EU-Egypt summit with Egyptian President Abdelfattah Al-Sisi on October 22, 2025. Ahead of the meeting, several human rights organizations have urged European leaders to prioritize human rights in their discussions, emphasizing that respect for fundamental… [Read More]
Climate Hazards Threaten to Reverse South Asia’s Poverty Gains, Affecting 99% of Poor
The Global Multidimensional Poverty Index (MPI) Report 2025, released by the UN Development Programme (UNDP) and the University of Oxford, reveals how the accelerating climate crisis is reshaping global poverty patterns. Despite historic achievements in poverty reduction, millions are now increasingly vulnerable to climate-related threats. The report found that of 6.3 billion people across 109… [Read More]
Falling Short: Canada’s Challenge in Achieving Poverty Reduction Goals
Canada’s commitment to ending poverty by 2030 is facing a critical test as recent trends show progress has stalled. The federal government launched Opportunity for All in 2018, the country’s first national poverty reduction strategy, which established an official poverty line and set legally binding targets: a 20% reduction by 2020 and a 50% reduction… [Read More]
UNDP Announces Fresh Round of Climate Grants for The Bahamas in UNDP/GEF SGP Expansion
Bahamian organizations can now apply for climate action grants of up to $75,000 under a new funding cycle of the Global Environment Facility (GEF) Small Grants Programme (SGP), marking the first round since GEF SGP strengthened its global partnership with the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP). UNDP Resident Representative Dr. Kishan Khoday announced that NGOs,… [Read More]
$388 Million Deal Finalized Between Nauru and Australia to Support Refugee Resettlement
Nauru and Australia have strengthened their long-standing cooperation by signing a $388 million (US$250 million) Memorandum of Understanding to support the third-country resettlement of a “special cohort” through long-term stay visas in Nauru. This agreement establishes the Nauru Trust Fund 2, a dedicated capital investment to sustain the 30-year resettlement arrangement. The fund is separate… [Read More]
$6 Million JPMorgan Chase Initiative Aims to Improve Employment Opportunities in Argentina
JPMorgan Chase has announced a $6 million philanthropic investment over the next five years to support local nonprofit organizations in Argentina, aiming to expand career opportunities for underserved young people. The initial $450,000 will be granted to EMpower, a nonprofit supporting marginalized communities, to help 2,000 youth access skills training, work-based learning, and employment support…. [Read More]
Southeast Liberia Enhances Decentralization Through New County Planning Units
The Ministry of Internal Affairs (MIA), with support from the Government of Liberia, UNDP, and UN Women, has launched a five-day training in Zwedru to establish County Development Planning Units in five southeastern counties: Grand Gedeh, River Gee, Maryland, Grand Kru, and Sinoe. This initiative is part of the Liberia Decentralization Support Programme and the… [Read More]
Vietnam’s Reform Journey: Why It’s Time for Bold Action
The UNDP Regional Bureau for Asia and Pacific (RBAP) has launched the Building Opportunities for Leadership in Development (BOLD) initiative to help countries develop forward-looking strategies and strengthen governance capabilities necessary for implementation. Viet Nam, one of the fastest-growing economies in the region, stands to benefit from this initiative as it aims to transition from… [Read More]
How Digital Government Can Boost Productivity in New Zealand
The New Zealand Government is intensifying its focus on digitisation and the opportunities offered by artificial intelligence, with the Government Chief Digital Officer empowered to lead transformation across the public service. The National AI Strategy has been developed, and Cabinet is actively promoting new digital initiatives. To fully realise these ambitions and achieve maximum cost… [Read More]
Clean Energy Solutions and Oxygen Technology Transform Nigerian Healthcare
Newdigit, a Lagos-based clean energy company, is transforming healthcare in Nigeria with its modular Just Add Water system, which delivers reliable electricity, medical-grade oxygen, and clean water to hospitals. Supported by the Powering Healthcare Innovation Fund, the technology integrates solar power with Proton Exchange Membrane (PEM) fuel cell technology, enabling hospitals to generate their own… [Read More]
€22 Million Investment Facility Supports Sierra Leone’s Green Mini-Grid Expansion
SOGREA, in partnership with the Government of Sierra Leone and the private sector, has launched its Investment Support Windows to accelerate the deployment of Green Mini-Grids (GMGs) across rural areas, aiming to expand electricity access and advance the country’s universal energy goals. The initiative, funded by the European Union and implemented by UNOPS through Sustainable… [Read More]
European Parliament Calls for Halt to UNRWA Aid Over Alleged Terror Links
Members of the European Parliament (MEPs) from 16 EU countries have called on the European Union to suspend its annual funding to the United Nations Relief and Works Agency (UNRWA), which amounts to approximately €80–90 million. The lawmakers cited the agency’s alleged connections to terrorist organizations and its perceived failure to uphold peace-oriented values as… [Read More]
WHO Health Response in Afghanistan Expands with Increased EU Humanitarian Funding
The World Health Organization (WHO) in Afghanistan has received an additional €1 million from European Union (EU) Humanitarian Aid, bringing the total EU health funding in the country to €7 million since May 2025. This increased funding will allow WHO to expand its emergency health response, focusing on providing lifesaving services to underserved communities and… [Read More]
Three Czechia Initiatives Receive EU Support to Upgrade Public Services
Three municipalities in the Ústí nad Labem and Moravia-Silesia regions of Czechia have received nearly €1.4 million from the Public Sector Loan Facility (PSLF) to support sustainable urban development projects. These initiatives aim to enhance public infrastructure, improve energy efficiency, and foster social inclusion, representing key steps toward a just transition and climate resilience in… [Read More]
