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Global leaders have initiated the process for the Global Conscious Food Systems Summit 2026, a pioneering international effort to place values, culture, happiness, and consciousness at the center of food systems transformation. The high-level online launch, convened by the Royal Government of Bhutan and the Conscious Food Systems Alliance (CoFSA) in partnership with UNDP, engaged… [Read More]

Across Asia, climate change is increasingly disrupting the water cycle, with rising temperatures, erratic rainfall, prolonged droughts, floods, and rising sea levels threatening water sources that communities have relied on for generations. Rural populations, especially those dependent on agriculture, face immediate impacts: crop failures, dried rivers, and unsafe drinking water, which in turn affect food… [Read More]

The Government of Cameroon, with support from the Joint SDG Fund, the UN Food Systems Coordination Hub, and in partnership with the United Nations system, officially launched the CONVERGEFOOD Joint Programme to accelerate food systems transformation. The initiative aims to strengthen agricultural value chains, expand access to finance, and connect smallholder farmers and agri-enterprises to… [Read More]

In November 2025, Cyclone Ditwah struck Sri Lanka, affecting over 2 million people and highlighting the country’s growing vulnerability to climate-related hazards. Rising temperatures, erratic rainfall, and frequent extreme weather events are no longer projections but lived realities, with average temperatures expected to rise by 1.5 to 3.4°C this century. Over the past 40 years,… [Read More]

Tashkent, 27 March 2026 — The United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) and Uzbekistan’s Ministry of Economy and Finance hosted the closure workshop of the joint project “Promoting Innovative Decarbonization Solutions through the Joint Crediting Mechanism and Demonstration of Decarbonization Potential of Public Buildings and Public Transport in Uzbekistan.” Funded by the Government of Japan, the… [Read More]

Indonesia, Southeast Asia’s largest economy and fourth most populous country, has experienced significant economic growth over the past two decades, with poverty rates declining and electricity access reaching nearly 99.4 percent in 2023. However, this progress has relied heavily on coal, which provides 69 percent of the country’s electricity and has made Indonesia one of… [Read More]

Partners involved in delivering the Africa Technology and Innovation Partnership (ATIP) across seven countries recently gathered in an IDS-facilitated learning session to reflect on how different forms of support matter at various stages of an innovation’s journey, from early ideation to fully mature, market-ready solutions or enterprises. The discussion emphasized the importance of adaptive and… [Read More]

Over the past ten years, Türkiye and the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) have developed a strong partnership across Europe and Central Asia, supporting programmes that strengthen institutions, mobilize resources, and respond to crises and economic challenges. Since UNDP established its regional hub in Istanbul in 2015, the partnership has grown beyond a traditional host-country… [Read More]

Over the past five years, the Just FACT programme in Tower Hamlets has brought communities together to develop an alternative food system that is environmentally sustainable, socially just, and community-led. Co-coordinated by the Women’s Environmental Network (Wen) and funded by the National Lottery Community Fund’s Climate Action Fund, the programme supported 26 projects that explored… [Read More]

In a recent episode of the ADR UK podcast *Connecting Society*, co-host Mark Green explores how data can be used to improve lives while minimising risks, focusing on lessons from the Netherlands. He speaks with Tom Emery, Executive Director of ODISSEI, a Dutch national initiative that links data from multiple sectors to address societal challenges…. [Read More]

The unequal distribution of power in development has long been evident, but real change is increasingly being driven by those closest to the challenges. Civil society organisations in West Africa are leading initiatives that are contextually relevant and sustainable, demonstrating that local actors can shape meaningful impact when given the right support. During a youth… [Read More]

Richard Rugg, Deputy CEO, emphasizes that as the window to act on climate change narrows, sustainability professionals must shift rapidly from ambition to practical implementation. Future leaders in the sector need to navigate complex regulations, leverage emerging technologies, and make a strong financial case for climate action to drive meaningful impact. The Carbon Trust, with… [Read More]

The Flemish government is introducing a new initiative to strengthen collaboration between the education and cultural sectors, ensuring that all students engage with art and culture during their school years. The program includes the creation of a quality framework for cultural education and the introduction of new roles to support its implementation, as announced by… [Read More]

The UNODC described Nigeria as being at a defining moment, emphasizing its role as Africa’s largest economy and most populous nation with a predominantly young population. Its position makes it critical in shaping the future of West Africa, the continent, and the global community, but persistent challenges such as illicit drug trafficking, transnational organized crime,… [Read More]

The European Union and Germany, under the EUR 24.3 million EU-German CAPSAFE programme, are funding the establishment of a state-of-the-art National Agricultural Laboratory in Cambodia. The ISO-accredited facility will enhance food safety testing and help Cambodian food exports comply with international standards, supporting the country’s participation in global trade. Alongside the laboratory, 29 Cambodian small… [Read More]

UNHCR, together with the European Union and the Governments of Ireland and Italy, facilitated a humanitarian airbridge flight delivering urgently needed relief supplies to support families forcibly displaced across Lebanon. This marks the fifth EU-funded flight providing essential aid, including blankets, kitchen sets, and jerry cans, which will be distributed through shelters and response centres… [Read More]

UNHCR, together with the European Union and the Governments of Ireland and Italy, facilitated a humanitarian airbridge flight delivering urgently needed relief supplies to support families forcibly displaced across Lebanon. This marks the fifth EU-funded flight providing essential aid, including blankets, kitchen sets, and jerry cans, which will be distributed through shelters and response centres… [Read More]

The School of Public Health’s Pandemic Center has received a $900,000 grant from the Carnegie Corporation of New York to launch a program for mid-career professionals in Africa focused on biological threat reduction policy. The three-year initiative, set to begin in summer 2026, will feature a 9–10-week online course and a yearlong fellowship to provide… [Read More]

The European Commission has announced a new €115 million funding instrument, AGILE, designed to rapidly bring disruptive defence technologies from the lab to operational use. The pilot programme aims to accelerate the development, testing, and market deployment of innovations such as artificial intelligence, quantum technologies, and drones, with a focus on supporting small and medium-sized… [Read More]

Investment in the cotton, textiles, and garments sector has the potential to transform economic development in Central and West Africa, according to speakers at high-level events held on the eve of the WTO’s 14th Ministerial Conference in Yaoundé, Cameroon. Ministers, agency heads, development finance institutions, private sector partners, and FIFA representatives emphasized the opportunity for… [Read More]

Investment in the cotton, textiles, and garments sector has the potential to transform economic development in Central and West Africa, according to speakers at high-level events held on the eve of the WTO’s 14th Ministerial Conference in Yaoundé, Cameroon. Ministers, agency heads, development finance institutions, private sector partners, and FIFA representatives emphasized the opportunity for… [Read More]

The government of Australia has pledged an additional AUD 2 million (around CHF 1.2 million) to the WTO Fisheries Funding Mechanism, known as the Fish Fund, to support developing and least-developed members in implementing the Agreement on Fisheries Subsidies. This new contribution adds to Australia’s earlier AUD 2 million commitment in May 2023. The Fish… [Read More]

Maitland City Council is inviting local community groups and organisations to apply for funding through its Biannual Community Grants Program, which supports initiatives that strengthen community connections and contribute to a thriving city. Grants of up to $6,000 are available for Community Projects and up to $4,000 for Community Celebrations, helping bring local ideas to… [Read More]