The Initiative Foundation and its Partner Funds awarded a total of 147 grants exceeding $1.4 million during the second quarter of 2025. A notable grant included a $500,000 donation from the Memorial Hospital Foundation, a Partner Fund, to New Pathways in Cambridge, aimed at supporting a permanent family shelter for individuals experiencing homelessness. Additionally, a… [Read More]
$1 Million Funding Boost to Enhance Support for People with Disabilities
The Minns Labor Government has allocated over $1 million in grants to support people with disability throughout the state. This funding, distributed through the 2024-25 Disability Advocacy Futures Program (DAFP), will be shared among thirteen not-for-profit organisations. The grants aim to build capacity within the disability sector, extend support to individuals not covered by the… [Read More]
Nigerian Food Delivery Startup Chowdeck Raises $9M from Novastar and Y Combinator
Chowdeck, a Lagos-based food delivery startup known for its profitability in a challenging, low-margin market, recently secured $9 million in Series A funding. This round, led by Novastar Ventures and supported by Y Combinator and other investors, aims to fuel Chowdeck’s quick commerce strategy and geographic expansion into more Nigerian and Ghanaian cities. The investment… [Read More]
Kenya’s Clean Energy Startups Capture 83% of Africa’s $550M July 2025 Funding
Kenya’s clean energy startups led Africa’s July 2025 funding surge by securing 83% of the continent’s $550 million investment, marking a significant shift in the region’s startup ecosystem. This surge was primarily driven by two major Kenyan companies and highlighted a growing investor preference for sustainable solutions and debt financing. Meanwhile, Nigeria, historically Africa’s venture… [Read More]
Medical Research Future Fund: Empowering Researchers to Address Australia’s Top Health Priorities
Between 2022 and 2024, the Medical Research Future Fund (MRFF) invested $1.38 billion in new health and medical research projects across Australia. This investment was distributed through 578 competitive grants focused on a variety of priority areas such as First Nations health, clinical trials, regional, rural and remote health, public health, health services, and consumer-led… [Read More]
New $3 Million Initiative Strengthens Partnerships to Boost Youth Outcomes
The New Zealand government has introduced a $3 million Youth Development Partnership and Innovation Fund aimed at improving outcomes for at-risk young people aged 12 to 24. Announced by Minister for Youth James Meager on International Youth Day, this fund offers matched funding to businesses, iwi, charities, NGOs, and philanthropic organizations to deliver early intervention… [Read More]
Lambeth Council Pledges £1.5 Million to Empower Local Community Organisations
Lambeth Council has committed £1.5 million through the Community Connections Fund to support a diverse range of organisations across Brixton, Stockwell, North Lambeth, and Waterloo. This fund provides grants to community-led projects aimed at helping local communities thrive. The money comes from the Neighbourhood Infrastructure Levy (NCIL), a tax on property developers that ensures local… [Read More]
SBA Disburses Over $1.5 Million in Disaster Relief to Texas Flood Victims
The U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) has disbursed more than $1.5 million in disaster relief to residents of Texas affected by severe storms, straight-line winds, and flooding that began on July 2, 2025. Within the first month after the disaster, the SBA approved over $8 million in federal disaster loans to support homeowners, renters, private… [Read More]
Food Assistance Available for Lincoln County Storm and Flood Victims
Residents of Lincoln County affected by the recent storm and flooding may be eligible for Disaster Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (D-SNAP) benefits. Applications are open from August 18 to August 24, allowing those impacted to receive essential food assistance during this challenging time. Kari Armijo, secretary of the New Mexico Health Care Authority, encourages all… [Read More]
Ontario Investing $28 Million to Strengthen Non-Profit Programs and Services
The Ontario government is investing over $28 million through the Ontario Trillium Foundation (OTF) to support infrastructure repairs and upgrades for critical community organizations across the province. This funding will benefit 300 non-profit organizations, First Nations, and small municipalities, enabling them to deliver essential programs that promote active lifestyles, foster community connections through arts, culture,… [Read More]
Ontario Awards Georgina $1.3 Million from Building Faster Fund to Support Housing Growth
The Ontario government is awarding $1,333,579 to the Town of Georgina through the second round of the Building Faster Fund, which rewards municipalities that meet at least 80 percent of their provincially set housing targets. In 2024, Georgina broke ground on 417 new homes, reaching 81 percent of its housing target. This funding will support… [Read More]
Ontario Commits $13 Million to Worker Protection and Training in Sudbury
The Ontario government is investing over $13 million through the Skills Development Fund (SDF) Training and Capital Streams to help more than 1,000 workers and jobseekers in Sudbury and nearby areas prepare for in-demand jobs in boilermaking, welding, mining, and ironworking. This funding brings Ontario’s total SDF investment in Northern Ontario to nearly $146 million… [Read More]
Ontario Investing $135 Million to Strengthen Water Systems and Irrigation in Niagara and Leamington
The Ontario government is committing $135 million to upgrade water systems and irrigation infrastructure in Niagara Region and the Municipality of Leamington. This investment aims to support housing development, protect farmland, and strengthen the agricultural sector while keeping local workers employed. Minister of Infrastructure Kinga Surma emphasized that these projects are part of the province’s… [Read More]
Ontario Commits $7.7 Million to Support Indian Residential School Survivors
The Ontario government is investing $7.7 million to launch the Indian Residential School Community Engagement Fund (IRSCEF), aimed at supporting culturally appropriate mental health and wellness programs for survivors and their families affected by ongoing burial investigations at former Residential Schools. The initiative provides flexible, community-driven resources to address the impacts of these investigations while… [Read More]
Brazil Partners with IOM to Boost Support for Returning Migrants
The Brazilian Federal Government, with support from the International Organization for Migration (IOM), has launched the “This is Brazil” programme, a nationwide initiative aimed at strengthening the reception, protection, and reintegration of nationals returning in vulnerable situations. The programme ensures coordinated services from arrival to reintegration, enabling returnees to rebuild their lives with dignity and… [Read More]
UNESCO Learning Cities Webinar: Leveraging AI for Inclusive Digital Education
On 20 August 2025, the UNESCO Global Network of Learning Cities will host a webinar titled “Digital Learning in the City: Leveraging AI for Inclusive Learning” as part of the UNESCO Institute for Lifelong Learning’s global webinar series, “Unlocking the Power of Lifelong Learning”. This series brings together stakeholders from around the world on the… [Read More]
Brushing Off Bias: How Art and Culture Drive Gender Equality
The UNESCO Institute for Lifelong Learning and the MARKK museum are hosting a Gender Talk that explores the powerful role of artistic and cultural expression in shaping and reshaping gender narratives. The discussion will focus on how art and lifelong learning can challenge gender bias, promote inclusion, and serve as tools for social change. Three… [Read More]
Viet Nam’s Mekong Delta City Gains New Infrastructure to Combat Chronic Flooding
Can Tho City, a key hub in Viet Nam’s Mekong Delta, once faced chronic flooding that cost its economy an estimated US$200 million annually. Floodwaters regularly disrupted daily life, contaminating streets and homes with debris and waste. In 2023, however, the city withstood its first major tidal surge without inundation, thanks to the Can Tho… [Read More]
The Power of Youth: Driving Change for a Sustainable and Inclusive Future
Across East Asia and the Pacific (EAP), young people are transforming their lives and communities through greater access to skills, jobs, and new opportunities. From East Java in Indonesia to Lae in Papua New Guinea, the World Bank is working with governments and partners to create inclusive pathways for youth, focusing on job creation as… [Read More]
World Bank to Support Marshall Islands in Strengthening Public Spending and Local Services
The World Bank has approved a US$15 million grant to help the Republic of the Marshall Islands improve public fund management and strengthen local financial expertise. The Strengthening Public Financial Management II project will support the Ministry of Finance, Banking, and Postal Service in delivering more timely and transparent budgets and financial reporting. Building on… [Read More]
Youth Driving Change: Leading the Way to a Sustainable Future
More than half of the world’s population is under 30, and young people are increasingly at the forefront of grassroots initiatives tackling climate change, inequality, and other pressing global challenges. Marking International Youth Day on 12 August, the United Nations is celebrating the power of youth to transform communities and influence the wider world. This… [Read More]
Pakistan Could Save $2.8 Billion Annually Through Breastfeeding, WHO Reports
In Pakistan, only 48.4% of infants under six months are exclusively breastfed, falling short of the World Health Assembly’s 2030 target of 60%. This gap is linked to an estimated annual loss of US$ 2.8 billion due to the negative health and economic impacts of low breastfeeding rates, according to Nutrition International’s Cost of Not… [Read More]
WFP Delivers Food Aid to Gaza Amid Starvation and Growing Lawlessness
The UN World Food Programme (WFP) continues to deliver convoys of food aid into Gaza almost daily, but severe operating challenges prevent assistance from reaching the scale required to curb worsening starvation. Lawlessness and the breakdown of public order inside the territory have made it increasingly difficult to ensure that life-saving supplies reach the most… [Read More]
