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Sierra Leone has achieved a major public health milestone by surpassing national targets in its recent human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccination campaign, marking a significant step toward eliminating cervical cancer as a public health threat by 2030. The campaign used a multi-age cohort approach, targeting adolescent girls aged 11 to 18 to rapidly increase population immunity,… [Read More]

For the first time, Kenya has measured the growth, learning, and development of children under five as part of a major national health survey, marking a milestone in how the country plans and delivers support for its youngest citizens. Early childhood is a critical period for brain development, and the quality of nurturing care—including health,… [Read More]

Tanzania has significantly strengthened its pandemic preparedness by expanding its capacity to detect and respond to respiratory disease threats. The country’s sentinel surveillance network has grown from 9 sites in 2021 to 27 sites across 19 regions, enabling faster detection of pathogens such as COVID-19, influenza, RSV, adenoviruses, and other emerging respiratory infections. This expansion… [Read More]

Jimma University in Ethiopia is advancing national efforts to combat antimicrobial resistance (AMR) through the Local Production of Antibiotic Disc (LoPAD) project, an innovative initiative supported by the World Health Organization (WHO) under the LEAD Innovation Challenge Program. The project explores local production of antibiotic susceptibility testing (AST) discs, aiming to reduce dependence on imported… [Read More]

Brazil’s Cerrado biome, the country’s second-largest, plays a central role in national agricultural production while also hosting significant biodiversity and ecosystem value. Nearly half of its native vegetation remains intact, presenting an opportunity to expand agriculture on already cleared land. How agricultural finance—particularly public rural credit and emerging blended-finance instruments—is structured and deployed will be… [Read More]

Plan International Australia has released a new report urging the Federal Government to increase targeted aid for adolescent girls in the Asia-Pacific, warning that global aid cuts and a growing anti-rights backlash are threatening gender equality in the region. The report, Invest Early, Change Everything, highlights that over 240 million adolescent girls live in the… [Read More]

On March 4, 2026, Pacific Island governments launched the world’s first regional guidance on climate-related relocation grounded in human rights principles. The initiative aims to provide a framework for communities forced to move due to rising seas, coastal erosion, and extreme tides, ensuring that relocations are conducted with respect for human dignity and self-determination. The… [Read More]

The German government has proposed legislation to replace the existing basic income program for job seekers with a more punitive system, raising concerns over human rights and the constitutional guarantee of a dignified standard of living. Human Rights Watch warned that the bill, set for its second reading in the lower house of parliament, would… [Read More]

Amid escalating regional hostilities following joint United States-Israel attacks on Iran and subsequent Iranian retaliatory strikes, Amnesty International has called on all parties to prioritize the protection of civilians and strictly adhere to international humanitarian law. The organization emphasizes the urgent need to halt unlawful attacks, including deliberate, indiscriminate, or disproportionate strikes on civilians and… [Read More]

Amnesty International has condemned the recent conviction of a woman in South Korea who underwent a later-stage abortion, emphasizing that abortion is essential healthcare and a human right under international law. Sarah Brooks, Deputy Regional Director at Amnesty International, stated that the ruling exposes the difficult and unsafe positions faced by pregnant people and medical… [Read More]

The International Finance Corporation (IFC), a member of the World Bank Group, has announced the successful closing of an investment in Carbonwave, a company that transforms sargassum seaweed into commercially viable agricultural biostimulants and cosmetic emulsifiers. The initiative aims to convert a growing climate and environmental threat into a job‑creating industry with high economic and… [Read More]

São Paulo, March 4, 2026 – IFC, a member of the World Bank Group, has launched a regional initiative in partnership with BlackForest Solutions GmbH and ABIPLAST to accelerate investment-ready opportunities in industrial plastic circularity across Brazil, Latin America, and the Caribbean. The initiative aims to transform the region’s plastic industry by promoting a circular… [Read More]

Goroka-Rome, 3 March 2026. The International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD) has announced its co-financing of Papua New Guinea’s AgriConnect Project, launched today in Goroka alongside the World Bank, the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank (AIIB), and other partners. The initiative aims to transform small-scale farming into a driver of sustainable growth, employment, and food security… [Read More]

Ghana achieved significant economic growth and poverty reduction between 1995 and 2016, with national poverty falling from 56.5% in 1992 to 23.4% in 2016. However, these gains have been uneven, with the Northern Belt of Ghana facing the highest levels of poverty, illiteracy, and malnutrition in the country. The region is affected by recurrent drought… [Read More]

Iraq is a middle-income country emerging from decades of conflict and large-scale displacement, with over one million internally displaced persons (IDPs) still affected. Amid declining humanitarian funding and a planned phase-out of emergency aid, Iraq has faced the challenge of shifting toward development while ensuring that vulnerable groups are not left behind. The Humanitarian-Development-Peace (HDP)… [Read More]

The recent webinar hosted by UNCDF and the Digital Frontiers Institute, titled “Scaling Impact Through Women in DFS: Policy, Regulation and Innovation in Action,” highlighted the pivotal role of women in shaping inclusive digital financial services (DFS). As digital finance evolves, barriers persist for women, youth, and micro, small, and medium-sized enterprises (MSMEs), particularly in… [Read More]

Achieving global and national biodiversity targets requires more than setting ambitious goals; it depends on sharing knowledge, learning from others, and building on proven solutions. Over 15 months, IUCN engaged stakeholders from 23 countries across Africa, Asia, and Latin America to strengthen regional and global knowledge exchange in support of the Kunming–Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework… [Read More]

As digital tools become increasingly embedded in humanitarian response, they offer new ways to connect survivors of gender-based violence (GBV) with support, privacy, and psychosocial resources. At the same time, these tools can introduce new risks, including surveillance and exposure to harm. Integrating technology safely into GBV programming requires careful consideration of how gender, power,… [Read More]

Running a charity for four decades has reinforced one simple truth for Canteen: its work relies on the generosity of Australians. Around 80 percent of the charity’s funding comes directly from individuals, families, fundraisers, donors, and partners who choose to support young people facing cancer. This commitment ensures that Canteen remains free for every young… [Read More]

Seven British businesses have been awarded a share of £560,000 in government funding to develop space and artificial intelligence technologies aimed at transforming British farming, boosting economic growth, and supporting nature recovery. The funding follows a pioneering hackathon jointly organized by the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) and Innovate UK, which brought… [Read More]

Throughout 2025, the Watford Community Fund distributed over £43,000 to local organisations, positively impacting the lives of residents across the town. The funding supported a broad range of initiatives, including cultural festivals, community gatherings, counselling services, and crisis support, demonstrating the Fund’s commitment to addressing both social and cultural needs within Watford. Key projects included… [Read More]

Throughout 2025, the Watford Community Fund provided over £43,000 in support to local organisations, making a tangible difference in the lives of residents across the town. Funding supported a wide range of initiatives, from vibrant cultural festivals and community picnics to vital counselling services and crisis support, reflecting the Fund’s commitment to addressing both social… [Read More]

The European Investment Bank (EIB) Group and the World Trade Organization (WTO) Secretariat have signed their first-ever partnership to promote sustainable global trade and investment. The Memorandum of Understanding aims to remove barriers to trade and investment, expand opportunities for partner countries, and create new markets for European businesses. This agreement will combine EIB financial… [Read More]