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The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations in the Near East and North Africa (FAO NENA) commemorated International Women’s Day 2026 with a regional webinar titled “Women Farmers in the Near East and North Africa Region: Advancing Visibility, Knowledge and Inclusion.” The event brought together over 115 participants, including women farmers, government officials,… [Read More]

Member countries of the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) have agreed that El Salvador will host the 40th FAO Regional Conference for Latin America and the Caribbean (LARC40) in 2028. The decision was announced during the 39th FAO Regional Conference for Latin America and the Caribbean (LARC39), which gathered ministerial delegations… [Read More]

Across Asia-Pacific, extreme weather events and long-term climate impacts are increasingly disrupting agrifood systems, damaging infrastructure, and threatening rural livelihoods. The region is considered the most disaster-prone in the world, accounting for nearly half of global disaster-related agricultural losses. These challenges are placing growing pressure on food security, nutrition, and the resilience of farming communities,… [Read More]

The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations has welcomed the adoption of a resolution by the United Nations General Assembly declaring 1 October as International Coffee Day. The resolution, approved in New York, recognizes the cultural, social, and historical significance of coffee, highlighting its journey from its origins to its important role in… [Read More]

Zimbabwe has reached an important milestone in the development of its aquaculture sector with the completion and validation of a national Farmed Tilapia Market Strategy. The achievement was highlighted during a multi-stakeholder workshop in Harare, where government representatives, farmers, private-sector actors, and technical partners reviewed the strategy. The initiative aims to transform farmed tilapia into… [Read More]

Private sector leaders from across Africa have called for stronger partnerships, increased investment, and greater innovation to accelerate the transformation of the continent’s agrifood systems. The appeal was made during the 4th African Agribusiness Leaders Dialogue, an online consultation organized ahead of the 34th Session of the FAO Regional Conference for Africa. The event gathered… [Read More]

Ukraine has introduced the human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccine into its national immunization schedule for the first time, offering a single dose to girls aged 12–13. The move marks the first addition of a new vaccine to the country’s routine immunization programme in nearly two decades. Despite the ongoing war, the rollout began in early 2026,… [Read More]

A nationwide vaccination campaign in Pakistan successfully combined protection against measles, rubella, and polio, demonstrating how integrated public health efforts can reach vulnerable populations more effectively. Supported by the World Health Organization, the campaign in late 2025 delivered measles–rubella vaccines to about 34 million children while also administering oral polio vaccines to more than 19… [Read More]

The ongoing escalation of conflict in the Middle East is placing significant strain on health systems across the region, according to the World Health Organization. More than ten days after the latest surge in violence, rising casualties, displacement, and continued attacks on healthcare facilities are worsening the humanitarian situation and increasing public health risks. Health… [Read More]

Under a European Union–funded regional initiative focused on addressing climate and environmental risks in Central Asia, eight local civil society organizations were selected in August 2025 through a competitive call for proposals to support community-led actions. The initiative is implemented with technical assistance from the United Nations Environment Programme and aims to strengthen peace and… [Read More]

Tom Fletcher, the United Nations’ top emergency relief coordinator, has warned that humanitarian crises are escalating faster than aid agencies can respond as violence spreads across multiple regions. Speaking to reporters in Geneva, he described the situation as a “moment of grave peril,” stressing that without additional international support, millions of vulnerable people could lose… [Read More]

The Government of Ontario is providing the Town of Gravenhurst with up to $780,000 to help cover emergency response and cleanup costs following extreme snowfall in November 2024. The financial assistance is being delivered through the Municipal Disaster Recovery Assistance Program, which supports municipalities facing unexpected natural disasters. The funding forms part of the province’s… [Read More]

Mater Dei Hospital in Bulawayo has commissioned a solar photovoltaic hybrid system aimed at ensuring reliable electricity for critical healthcare services, marking an important step toward strengthening Zimbabwe’s health infrastructure. The system was launched during a ceremony attended by government officials, United Nations representatives, community leaders, and partners from the Old Mutual Group. Designed to… [Read More]

A new International Labour Organization report highlights the widespread prevalence of violence and harassment in workplaces across Burkina Faso, Côte d’Ivoire, and Senegal. The research reveals that more than half of workers in Senegal and Côte d’Ivoire, and nearly half in Burkina Faso, have experienced some form of violence or harassment at work. The findings… [Read More]

The International Labour Organization recently convened the Linking India–EU Migration Opportunities with the Northeast Corridor workshop in Guwahati, Assam, as part of the EU–India Cooperation and Dialogue on Migration and Mobility Project. The event was organized in partnership with the International Centre for Migration Policy Development and the Indian Council of World Affairs, with support… [Read More]

Cambodia is taking steps to strengthen worker safety, promote green standards, and support long-term reforms in its rapidly expanding construction sector. On 4 March 2026, senior government officials, employers, workers’ representatives, and international partners met in Phnom Penh to review research findings that highlighted key challenges facing the sector, including policy gaps, skills mismatches, and… [Read More]

Zambia is accelerating efforts to equip young people and workers with practical, industry-ready skills through the development of the pilot National Apprenticeship Programme. The initiative is being advanced by the Ministry of Labour and Social Security through the Skills Advisory Committee Secretariat and is anchored under the Ministry of Technology and Science. It is supported… [Read More]

Efforts to strengthen labour dispute prevention and resolution in Cambodia are gaining momentum following the presentation of new research that proposes reforms to improve industrial relations and dispute settlement mechanisms. The research was presented during a validation and consensus-building workshop held in Phnom Penh on 5 March 2026, bringing together government officials, representatives of employers… [Read More]

The World Bank has approved a $215.9 million project to support the transformation of Burkina Faso’s agricultural sector and strengthen food security, job creation, and private sector development. The Burkina Faso Agricultural Transformation Project aligns with the country’s national priorities and aims to enhance the productivity, competitiveness, and sustainability of key agricultural activities. The initiative… [Read More]

The World Bank’s Board of Executive Directors has approved a €46 million (approximately US$54 million) loan to support improvements in solid waste management in Bosnia and Herzegovina. The funding will support the Sustainable Waste Management Project, which aims to help communities benefit from cleaner surroundings and a healthier environment by modernizing waste management systems across… [Read More]

The World Bank Group’s Board of Directors has approved a $137 million regional initiative aimed at accelerating digital integration and job creation in Benin, Liberia, and Sierra Leone. The project is the second phase of the Western Africa Regional Digital Integration Program and seeks to strengthen the foundations of a dynamic digital economy across the… [Read More]

The World Bank’s Board of Directors has approved a new project to strengthen social protection and expand economic opportunities in the municipality of São Paulo, Brazil’s largest city. The initiative aims to increase access to social assistance services for vulnerable populations, modernize the city’s social protection infrastructure, and improve the systems that support residents living… [Read More]

The World Bank’s Board of Executive Directors has approved a $52 million credit to support the Nepal Clean Air and Prosperity Project, which aims to reduce air pollution and strengthen air quality management across the country. The initiative will focus on lowering emissions of fine particulate matter (PM2.5), particularly from industrial and commercial boilers and… [Read More]