On 18 July 2025, policymakers, climate experts, civil society representatives, private sector leaders, and development partners convened in Jakarta for a high-level meeting of the Friends of Nationally Determined Contribution (NDC). Led by Indonesia’s Ministry of Environment, the event marked the finalization of Indonesia’s Second Nationally Determined Contribution (SNDC), a key milestone in the country’s… [Read More]
EIB Group Launches TechEU Platform to Simplify Financing for Europe’s Innovative Companies
The European Investment Bank (EIB) Group has launched the TechEU Programme, a landmark initiative designed to mobilise €250 billion in investment by 2027 to support start-ups, scale-ups, and innovative companies across Europe. At the heart of this effort is a fast-track financing system that simplifies the process for businesses to seek funding and ensures swift… [Read More]
CommBank’s Can4Cancer Campaign Reaches $20 Million Fundraising Milestone
Over the past decade, Commonwealth Bank (CommBank) employees have dedicated themselves to walking, cycling, running, and swimming thousands of kilometres to raise funds for cancer research. Now in its 11th year, the Can4Cancer initiative has surpassed a major milestone, raising more than $20 million for Tour de Cure. These funds have supported 189 cancer projects… [Read More]
Kenya Launches Historic Joint Strategy for Disability Rights and Inclusion
The Government of Kenya, in collaboration with 71 organizations from civil society, the private sector, development partners, and the United Nations, has launched the Joint Disability Inclusion Strategy (2025–2027). This landmark framework is aimed at accelerating the rights, empowerment, and inclusion of persons with disabilities across the country. Grounded in the Persons with Disabilities Act… [Read More]
Coca-Cola HBC Foundation Gives €2.3 Million to Aid Wildfire and Flood Recovery
On August 25, 2025, the Coca-Cola HBC Foundation announced a €2.3 million contribution to help communities recover from recent wildfires and floods. The donation will be directed toward reforestation projects in Greece and Cyprus, training and equipping volunteer firefighters in Bulgaria, and relief programs in Romania’s Suceava County to support flood-impacted families in rebuilding shelters… [Read More]
World Bank Launches Education Project in Punjab to Benefit 4 Million+ Children
The World Bank has approved a US$47.9 million grant, funded by the Global Partnership for Education Fund, to enhance educational access and quality for children in Pakistan’s Punjab province. The support is aimed at improving participation among both girls and boys at pre-primary and primary levels, strengthening learning outcomes, and providing remedial support for elementary… [Read More]
WFP Highlights India’s Role in Global Hunger Fight as Western Aid Declines
Carl Skau, WFP Deputy Executive Director and Chief Operating Officer, has emphasized India’s pivotal role in addressing global hunger as Western funding declines. Speaking to PTI, Skau highlighted that India’s homegrown food security solutions, such as grain ATMs, rice fortification, smart warehousing, and supply chain optimisation, are more applicable to crisis-hit regions in Africa and… [Read More]
Ethiopia’s Controversial Draft Civil Society Law Faces Global Criticism
Human Rights Watch has issued a warning that Ethiopia’s proposed amendments to its civil society law pose a severe threat to civic freedom and democratic accountability. Marketed as regulatory reform, the draft legislation would consolidate authoritarian control while eliminating independent civic voices, obstructing public scrutiny, and suppressing electoral accountability ahead of the 2026 national elections…. [Read More]
$1M Funding Secured to Improve Coastal Walkways and Accessibility
The City of Newcastle is set to improve pedestrian and cycling access along a popular beachside precinct with significant infrastructure upgrades. The projects, located near Bar Beach and King Edward Park, will introduce new shared path connections and enhanced crossing facilities to increase safety for all users. Each project has received $500,000 in funding through… [Read More]
White Rock Invests in Infrastructure Upgrades to Improve Stormwater Management
The City of White Rock is set to enhance stormwater management and protect local waterways through the Marine Drive Stormwater Improvements project, supported by a combined investment of more than $9.86 million from federal, provincial, and municipal governments. The project targets drainage upgrades along Marine Drive between Stayte Road and Finlay Street, including the installation… [Read More]
Indonesia Calls on EU to Lift Biodiesel Countervailing Duty Following WTO Ruling
Indonesia’s trade ministry has called on the European Union to remove countervailing duties on biodiesel imports following a favorable ruling by the World Trade Organization (WTO). The WTO supported several of Indonesia’s key claims in its complaint, which argued that the EU’s duties violated international trade rules. Trade Minister Budi Santoso emphasized that the EU… [Read More]
ADB and Sun Pacific Energy Partner on $2.8M Solar Expansion in Samoa
The Asian Development Bank (ADB) and Sun Pacific Energy Ltd (SPEL) have signed a $2.8 million (approximately AU$4.3 million) loan to expand renewable energy generation in Samoa. The financing will support the upgrade and expansion of SPEL’s Upolu Solar Farm, originally partly funded by ADB in 2017, through the installation of higher-efficiency solar panels. The… [Read More]
ADB and GSA Partner to Launch Green Data Center in Thailand
The Asian Development Bank (ADB) and GSA Data Center 01 Company Limited (GSA) have signed a local currency green loan of THB 900 million (approximately $26.8 million) to finance the development, construction, and operation of a 25.6-megawatt colocation green data center in Samut Prakan province, Thailand. The facility is designed to be highly energy-efficient, targeting… [Read More]
Qatar Charity Launches “Keep Doing Good” Campaign to Support Humanitarian Initiatives
Qatar Charity has launched the “Keep Doing Good” campaign, a values-driven initiative designed to promote the importance of consistent charitable giving and habitual acts of kindness. The campaign emphasizes that charity should be a regular part of daily life, regardless of the size of the contribution or the occasion, encouraging people not to wait for… [Read More]
Qatar Charity Launches Relief Plan for Flood-Affected Communities in Pakistan
Qatar Charity is actively preparing its emergency relief response as severe monsoon floods continue to devastate Pakistan, targeting support for the hardest-hit communities. The organization plans to provide vulnerable households with dry food supplies, essential non-food items, and temporary shelter through tents, helping families manage displacement, food insecurity, and the loss of basic necessities. The… [Read More]
Pakistan Faces Global Aid Cuts: How the Social Sector is Adapting
The abrupt suspension of foreign aid by the Trump administration, including funding through the US Agency for International Development (USAID), dealt a significant blow to Pakistan’s social sector, causing many organizations to halt projects, lay off staff, and scale back operations. Announced in January 2025 under the “America First” policy, the freeze compounded an already… [Read More]
Aid Freeze by Donor Agencies Deepens Humanitarian Crisis in Nigeria
The recent massive cuts in Official Development Assistance (ODA) from traditional donor countries are already having significant repercussions for Nigeria and other developing nations. These reductions are constraining fiscal space and undermining critical programs, including emergency hunger relief in Nigeria’s northeast. Shortly after his second inauguration on January 20, 2025, U.S. President Donald Trump ordered… [Read More]
Highland Park Allocates $2M in State Funds for Sheridan Road Sidewalk Amid Tree Removal Debate
The Highland Park City Council has unanimously approved an intergovernmental agreement to use state funds for constructing a new sidewalk along a half-mile stretch of Sheridan Road near Rosewood Beach. The project, first presented to the council in 2016, aims to address long-standing safety concerns and is now scheduled to begin in 2026. The sidewalk… [Read More]
EU Provides €10 Million to Safeguard Afghan Children on the Move
The European Union (EU) has committed €10 million to UNICEF to support Afghan children on the move, particularly those returning from neighbouring countries. This funding marks the launch of Phase 3 of the Afghan Children on the Move initiative, bringing the EU’s total investment since 2018 to €38 million. The partnership aims to provide immediate… [Read More]
Severe Floods in Cape Verde Leave Thousands Devastated
On the night of 10-11 August 2025, Cape Verde experienced unprecedented devastation as extreme overnight rainfall, driven by Tropical Storm Erin, swept across the archipelago. Torrential rains transformed streets into torrents, triggered landslides, and severely damaged essential infrastructure. The sudden disaster claimed at least nine lives and affected approximately 119,000 people, prompting the government to… [Read More]
Empowering Women, Feeding Communities: Cameroon’s Agricultural Success Story
In the remote village of Kartoua, located in Cameroon’s Far North region, women are transforming food insecurity into community resilience through a locally led cereal bank. The initiative, driven by the Soubota Common Initiative Group (GIC), has empowered women to turn seasonal vulnerability into a sustainable strategy for survival and solidarity. The village, part of… [Read More]
South Africans Face HIV Medication Shortages Following U.S. Aid Cuts
The sudden announcement by U.S. President Donald Trump to cut foreign aid has left South Africa’s most vulnerable populations struggling to access HIV services. In Johannesburg, nonprofit clinics providing free HIV treatment were forced to close within 24 hours, affecting tens of thousands of people who relied on these services for life-saving medication. While some… [Read More]
Cambodia Prepares Next Generation of Skilled Workers for ASEAN Skills Competition
Cambodia’s next generation of construction professionals has gained international exposure and advanced technical skills ahead of the ASEAN Skills Competition, thanks to intensive training supported by the ILO/China Partnership Programme. Five trainees and students completed a two-week wall and floor tiling programme at China’s Zhejiang Construction Technician College (ZCTC) from 30 July to 9 August… [Read More]
