Indigenous Peoples, numbering around 476 million across 90 countries and representing 5,000 cultures, face unique challenges and opportunities in the era of artificial intelligence (AI). Without proper safeguards, AI risks exacerbating inequalities by harming Indigenous rights, worsening environmental damage, and reinforcing harmful colonial legacies. The energy-intensive nature of AI infrastructure, particularly data centres located near… [Read More]
Sri Lanka Launches ILO-Japan Initiative to Expand Social Protection for All Workers
A new International Labour Organization (ILO) initiative has been launched in Sri Lanka to address social protection gaps and extend coverage to both formal and informal workers, including those in the care economy. Funded by the Government of Japan under the “Promoting and Building Social Protection in South Asia” programme, the Sri Lankan component was… [Read More]
Empowering Climate Action in Kenya: Youth-Led Solutions for Resilience and Sustainability
Growing up in Kenya, the author witnessed firsthand how environmental changes directly affect livelihoods, food security, and community well-being. Unpredictable rainfall, prolonged droughts, and extreme weather events have caused climate-induced displacement, forcing many families to abandon their homes. A personal encounter with a young farmer in Kajiado, whose family lost all their livestock to drought,… [Read More]
From Amazon Farms to Digital Inclusion: Indigenous Innovations in Latin America
In Bolivia’s Amazon region, a transformative programme is blending indigenous farming traditions with modern strategies to address climate change. Targeting over 6,000 indigenous women and youth in 14 vulnerable municipalities, the initiative enhances agricultural productivity, connects producers to markets, and supports sustainable enterprises through Amazonian fruit value chains. Backed by a potential US$23 million IFAD… [Read More]
Kenya Declared Free of Sleeping Sickness by WHO
The World Health Organization (WHO) has validated Kenya as having eliminated human African trypanosomiasis (HAT), also known as sleeping sickness, as a public health problem, making it the tenth country to achieve this milestone. This is the second neglected tropical disease (NTD) Kenya has eliminated, following the certification of Guinea worm disease eradication in 2018…. [Read More]
National Network for the Prevention of Child Sexual Abuse Launched
The European Commission has intensified its efforts to combat child sexual abuse and exploitation by focusing on prevention as a critical strategy to stop such crimes before they happen. Statistics highlight the urgency: at least one in five children experiences sexual violence during childhood, and the problem has worsened dramatically in the digital space. In… [Read More]
Canada Invests in New Brunswick to Strengthen Critical Mineral Supply Chains
The Canadian government has reaffirmed its commitment to advancing the critical minerals sector by announcing a significant investment in New Brunswick. Recognizing the essential role that critical minerals play in modern technologies, clean energy, and national security, Canada aims to strengthen its position as a global leader in the responsible supply of these resources. Through… [Read More]
CSR Completes Solar Electrification Project for 260 Rural Homes
The Royal Rajasthan Foundation (RRF), the social equity arm of the Rajasthan Royals cricket franchise, has successfully completed training four solar engineers and electrifying 260 rural homes through solar power under its flagship campaign, Pink Promise. This initiative leverages the popularity of cricket to promote women-led transformation in rural Rajasthan and other regions. Supported by… [Read More]
Xiaomi India Launches Eco-Village Initiative to Promote Sustainable Rural Development
Xiaomi India has launched its Eco-Village initiative, a flagship rural development program designed to foster sustainable transformation through community-driven and technology-enabled efforts. The program is being carried out in collaboration with Shri Mahakal Education and Charitable Trust (BharatCares) and will start with pilot projects in two villages: K. Palasandra in Tumakuru and Sonnenahalli near Bengaluru…. [Read More]
HHS Ends mRNA Vaccine Development Program Under BARDA
The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) has announced the start of a coordinated wind-down of its mRNA vaccine development efforts under the Biomedical Advanced Research and Development Authority (BARDA). This process includes canceling and scaling back several contracts and solicitations following a thorough review of mRNA-related investments made during the COVID-19 public… [Read More]
Maharashtra Launches Chief Minister’s Mega Fund to Empower Youth Entrepreneurship and Innovation
The Maharashtra government plans to shortlist 5 lakh candidates from a large pool of technically educated youth through AI-based evaluations, competitive exams, hackathons, and other assessments. From these, 1 lakh candidates will be selected, and eventually, 25,000 individuals will receive comprehensive support—including technical guidance, financial aid, and training—with the goal of nurturing them into successful… [Read More]
Governor Glenn Youngkin and First Lady Suzanne S. Youngkin Mark Three Years of Partnership for Petersburg
Governor Glenn Youngkin and First Lady Suzanne S. Youngkin marked three years of the Partnership for Petersburg with a celebration at the historic Petersburg Public Library, joined by local officials including Mayor Sam Parham and Lieutenant Governor Winsome Earle-Sears. The partnership, launched in August 2022, brings together state, local, community, and faith leaders to improve… [Read More]
DHS Launches $100M+ Funding Program to Boost Community Cybersecurity Defenses
The Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA) and the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) have announced the availability of over $100 million in grant funding aimed at enhancing cybersecurity across communities. This funding opportunity consists of two separate grants designed to support different government levels in improving their cyber defense capabilities. The Fiscal Year 2025… [Read More]
UNITAR and Hiroshima Dragonflies Renew Memorandum of Understanding to Strengthen Cooperation
On 6 August 2025, the United Nations Institute for Training and Research (UNITAR) and the Hiroshima Dragonflies Corporation, a professional basketball team in Japan, signed a renewed memorandum of understanding (MoU) to deepen their collaboration. The agreement, signed by Michelle Gyles-McDonnough, Assistant Secretary-General of the United Nations and Executive Director of UNITAR, and Nobuyoshi Ura,… [Read More]
FEMA Announces $40 Million Funding to Improve Emergency Public Notifications for States and Tribal Nations
FEMA is announcing the availability of $40 million through the Next Generation Warning System Grant Program (NGWSGP) to support states and Tribal Nations. This funding aims to identify gaps and implement solutions for delivering timely public emergency alerts and protecting critical infrastructure. Recipients will collaborate with FEMA to explore flexible, innovative technologies compatible with the… [Read More]
£2M Grant Powers University of Stirling’s Aquaculture Welfare Project in Asia
The University of Stirling’s Institute of Aquaculture has secured $2.7 million (around £2 million) in funding from Open Philanthropy to lead a three-year project aimed at improving the welfare of farmed fish in Indonesia, Thailand, and Vietnam. This project builds on a previous initiative funded by Open Philanthropy that focused on fish welfare in Thailand… [Read More]
NAP Expo 2025: African LDCs Highlight Local Knowledge and Tech in Climate Adaptation Plans
The session at NAP Expo 2025 brings together adaptation experts from Least Developed Countries (LDCs) and global organizations to examine how innovation can enhance the design and implementation of National Adaptation Plans (NAPs). LDCs often face distinct challenges such as limited documentation of indigenous adaptation practices and restricted access to high-tech tools like artificial intelligence… [Read More]
Kenya’s Affordable Housing Projects Get Major Boost from EIB Global
The European Investment Bank’s development arm, EIB Global, has committed €21.5 million in equity financing to the IHS Kenya Green Housing Fund, a move that is already showing tangible progress in Kenya’s green and affordable housing sector. The fund aims to construct and acquire energy-efficient homes tailored to the country’s low- and middle-income population. Currently,… [Read More]
UNDP Celebrates Indigenous Innovation with Equator Prize 2025 Winners
On the International Day of the World’s Indigenous Peoples, the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) announced the ten winners of the Equator Prize 2025 through its Equator Initiative. The prize honors Indigenous and local community-led initiatives that provide nature-based solutions for sustainable development and climate resilience. This year’s recipients come from Argentina, Brazil, Ecuador, India,… [Read More]
South African Courts Clarify Rules on Agricultural Land Development
Despite the introduction of new legislation, South Africa’s Subdivision of Agricultural Land Act (SALA) continues to play a vital role in shaping agricultural land development. While the Preservation and Development of Agricultural Land Act (PDALA) was introduced to eventually replace SALA, its partial implementation has led to confusion for developers, municipalities, and planners regarding land… [Read More]
Urgent IOM Warning: Mass Returns to Afghanistan Demand Immediate Funding Boost
The International Organization for Migration (IOM) has issued an urgent appeal for international support as Afghanistan experiences one of the largest return movements in recent history. Since September 2023, over 4 million Afghans have returned from Iran and Pakistan, including more than 1.5 million in 2025 alone. The situation is expected to worsen, with at… [Read More]
Small News Companies Hope New Google Fund Will Boost Their Survival Amid Controversy
Small and independent news publishers and broadcasters across South Africa are struggling to survive amid changing media landscapes. To support these vital local voices, Google has provided R114 million over three years to establish the Digital News Transformation Fund, aimed at helping small, local, and independent publishers strengthen their digital operations and sustainability. This fund,… [Read More]
How Collaboration Fueled South Africa’s Success Against Tuberculosis Amid Funding Threats
Close collaboration between researchers and community groups has been instrumental in South Africa’s significant success in reducing tuberculosis (TB) incidence by more than half over the past decade. Women researchers and advocates have played a central role in this fight, with South African scientists contributing to global breakthroughs in TB research. This progress was highlighted… [Read More]
