The governments of Ireland and the UK have announced €5 million in funding for twelve cultural projects under the UK-Ireland Cultural Co-Operation Programme. This initiative fulfills a commitment made at the 2025 UK-Ireland Summit to establish a strategic partnership between leading cultural institutions in both countries. The projects, which will run from 2026 to 2030,… [Read More]
New Tool Helps Families and Schools Reduce Child Poverty Stigma
The government has published a child-friendly version of its landmark Child Poverty Strategy to help parents and teachers have important conversations with children about the challenges faced by families living in poverty. The resource provides children with a clear, age-appropriate explanation of what poverty means, why some families struggle, and the concrete steps the government… [Read More]
Strengthening Jobs and Social Protection in Georgia
The United Nations and the World Bank, in partnership with the Government of Georgia, have launched a new joint programme to strengthen employment opportunities and expand social protection systems across the country. The initiative, titled “Escaping the Middle-Income Trap through Decent and Productive Jobs and Social Protection,” aims to support inclusive growth, build resilience, and… [Read More]
ILO-IBCWE Digital Campaign Promotes Gender Equality in Indonesia
A five-month joint social media campaign by the International Labour Organization (ILO) and the Indonesia Business Coalition for Women Empowerment (IBCWE) has successfully reached over 87,000 views and generated nearly 225,000 impressions. The campaign, running from October 2025 to February 2026, focused on promoting gender equality, non-discrimination, leadership opportunities for women, and a workplace free… [Read More]
UNDP Supports ALEAP’s New Childcare Centre Initiative
On International Women’s Day, the Association of Lady Entrepreneurs of India (ALEAP) officially inaugurated the UNDP-supported ALEAP Aarohi Childcare Centre at the ALEAP Industrial Estate in Pragathinagar. The event was graced by Angela Lusigi, the resident representative of the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) India, alongside state government officials, industry representatives, development institutions, and entrepreneurs…. [Read More]
Caribbean States Rely on Migration to Fill Workforce Gaps
On March 4, 2026, the International Organization for Migration (IOM) Caribbean, in collaboration with the Caribbean Community (CARICOM) Secretariat, hosted the tenth episode of its “CONVERSATIONS on Migration in the Caribbean” series. The session, titled “Migration and the Caribbean Workforce: Filling the Gaps,” featured Dr. Gerard Jean-Jacques, Dominica’s Ambassador to CARICOM and the OECS, who… [Read More]
PAHO Launches 7 Caribbean Climate & Health Profiles
The Pan American Health Organization (PAHO) has released new national climate and health country profiles for seven Caribbean nations: Belize, Guyana, Haiti, Jamaica, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Saint Lucia, and Trinidad and Tobago. These profiles provide a comprehensive overview of each country’s climate hazards and related health risks, track national progress in addressing climate-driven health… [Read More]
Middle East Conflict Disrupts Education for 52 Million Children
As the violence in the Middle East and surrounding regions continues, at least 52 million school-age children have faced disruptions to their education, with many either being forced to stop attending school, shift to online learning, or experience delays due to damaged or closed schools. Save the Children’s data, calculated from UN population figures, illustrates… [Read More]
$100M by Hazar Imam for Global Nutrition, ‘Edge of Life’
Mawlana Hazar Imam has pledged $100 million over the next five years to combat malnutrition, joining global philanthropists, governments, and development partners in solidarity with the ‘11.5: Edge of Life’ campaign. This initiative, organized by Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum Global Initiatives (MBRGI), seeks to save over 35 million children from preventable hunger and malnutrition…. [Read More]
ENOC Pledges AED5 Million for ‘Edge of Life’ Initiative
The Emirates National Oil Company (ENOC) has announced a generous AED5 million donation to the Edge of Life campaign, an initiative launched by His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE, during Ramadan. The campaign aims to raise AED1 billion to provide life-saving assistance to 5 million… [Read More]
UNICEF, ILO, Ministry Announce Cash Support for Conflict-Affected
The Ministry of Social Affairs (MoSA), in collaboration with UNICEF and the International Labour Organization (ILO), has announced emergency financial aid for families of children and persons with disabilities affected by the ongoing conflict in Lebanon. The initiative will provide one-off cash support of USD 100 to approximately 6,000 families with children aged 0 to… [Read More]
How Mexico is Linking Gender Equality With Climate Action
Mexico has spent more than two decades developing public policies that link ecological transition with women’s rights, aiming to reduce inequalities and strengthen women’s voices across sectors such as agriculture, energy, and financial services. Since 2002, the country has implemented a National Action Plan on Gender and Climate Change, integrating gender equality and social justice… [Read More]
Africa Center Wins $100K Cultural Development Fund Grant from NYC
The Africa Center, a nonprofit dedicated to promoting a flourishing Africa in connection with its global diaspora, has been awarded a Cultural Development Fund (CDF) grant by the New York City Department of Cultural Affairs. The Center received more than $100,000 as part of the city’s $74.3 million CDF allocation to 1,171 cultural organizations across… [Read More]
Czech MP Proposes Mandatory Registration for Foreign-Funded NGOs
A Czech MP, Jindřich Rajchl of the PRO party, has proposed a law requiring NGOs that receive foreign funding to register publicly, sparking a heated political debate over national sovereignty and external influence in public life. The proposed legislation would obligate organizations with foreign financial support or ties to disclose their funding sources in a… [Read More]
New Inter-American Courses on Children’s Rights Now Open
The Inter-American Training Program (PIC), run by the Inter-American Children’s Institute (IIN-OAS), is designed to strengthen the capacities of States and organized civil society in promoting and protecting the rights of children and adolescents. The initiative also aims to combat all forms of violations of children’s rights through targeted training across various thematic areas. Applications… [Read More]
Commonwealth and Prince Albert II Foundation Launch Ocean Protection Alliance
The Commonwealth Secretariat and the Prince Albert II of Monaco Foundation have announced a partnership aimed at accelerating ocean conservation across Commonwealth countries in Asia and the Pacific. This collaboration brings together scientists, policymakers, economic actors, and civil society stakeholders to mobilize expertise and commitment toward protecting marine and coastal environments. The initiative aligns with… [Read More]
Kyrgyzstan Strengthens Climate Education with UNDP’s “Climate Box” Initiative
The United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) has handed over the “Climate Box” to Kyrgyzstan’s Ministry of Education, providing schools with ready-to-use educational tools to strengthen climate literacy. According to Almaz Toktomambetov, Director of the Republican Institute for Advanced Training and Retraining of Pedagogical Workers, the toolkit equips teachers while giving students practical knowledge and skills… [Read More]
Urban Planning Insights: What New Zealand Can Learn from Tokyo
In the first of Asia in Focus’s urbanism series, Kayden Briskie examines how mixed-use development in Japan has created energetic and diverse cities, and what lessons New Zealand could draw from this approach. Tokyo’s compact and mixed-use suburban neighbourhoods demonstrate how combining residential, commercial, recreational, and even industrial uses can make urban areas more walkable,… [Read More]
Storytelling and Campaigns Fuel Sustainability in India
India faces immense environmental challenges, with severe consequences for the health and well-being of its 1.4 billion citizens. Initiatives across the country are framing sustainability in culturally resonant ways, inspiring grassroots action. Programs in afforestation, wetland restoration, and sustainable waste management are being implemented to curb environmental degradation while engaging citizens through storytelling and campaigns… [Read More]
African Initiatives Tackle Climate Change with ACE Microgrants
Last year, the Africa Climate and Environment (ACE) Microgrants were launched to support local civil society initiatives across Africa addressing environmental and climate challenges. The program encourages innovative outreach activities that integrate reporting supported by the Pulitzer Center to raise awareness, promote free expression, and inspire climate action. Over 500 applications were received, reflecting African… [Read More]
AFD and DRC Back Sudanese Women Amid Ongoing Crisis
The Agence Française de Développement (AFD) has partnered with the Danish Refugee Council (DRC), in collaboration with local feminist organisations, to launch an €8 million initiative supporting conflict-affected populations in Sudan and Ethiopia. Funded through a grant from France and implemented over 24 months, the project focuses on access to essential services, women’s economic empowerment,… [Read More]
Kenyan Feminist Organisations Receive AFD Backing Against Online GBV
The Agence Française de Développement (AFD) has launched a new initiative to support Kenyan feminist civil society organisations combating technology-facilitated gender-based violence (TFGBV). Through its Feminist Organizations Support Fund (FSOF), AFD is allocating €811,000 to strengthen locally led efforts that address digital and technology-enabled forms of gender-based violence in Kenya. While digital technologies have expanded… [Read More]
EIF Invests €20M in DaVinci Fund to Boost Italian Companies
The European Investment Fund (EIF), part of the EIB Group, has committed to invest up to €20 million in the DaVinci Growth Capital Fund, a private equity vehicle targeting the small-cap growth segment in Italy. The fund results from a collaboration between RedFish Capital Partners and Alternative Capital Partners SGR (ACP) and is designed to… [Read More]
