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During European Ocean Days in Brussels, attention is focused on the transition from the Ocean Pact to the upcoming Ocean Act, a major piece of EU marine legislation expected by the end of 2026. The Act is set to become the most significant new law shaping Europe’s marine environment, and political momentum is growing around… [Read More]

The Board of Directors of the African Development Bank Group (AfDB) has approved a €6.5 million investment in the Saviu II fund, aimed at supporting technology start-ups in their seed phase and initial institutional fundraising, particularly in French-speaking Central and West Africa. The AfDB will contribute €4.5 million as equity and €2 million as a… [Read More]

Save the Children has called for urgent action to protect children and civilian infrastructure amid escalating violence in the Middle East, particularly in Iran. Reports indicate that more than 100 children were killed in recent strikes on two schools in Iran, prompting the child rights organization to demand an immediate end to hostilities to safeguard… [Read More]

Across the OECD and the European Union, islands serve as microcosms of territorial governance, highlighting both the challenges and opportunities of managing remote territories. Their unique geography intensifies issues such as limited connectivity, small and dispersed populations, and high service-delivery costs, while simultaneously offering potential in renewable energy, biodiversity, culture, and tourism. Realising these opportunities,… [Read More]

President Donald Trump, in his February 24, 2026, State of the Union address, reiterated his unsubstantiated claims that the U.S. elections system is compromised, asserting that “the cheating is rampant in our elections. It’s rampant.” These statements followed the FBI’s January 2026 seizure of 2020 ballots from Fulton County, Georgia, and Trump’s recent push for… [Read More]

Measles is a highly contagious and potentially deadly disease, yet it remains preventable through a safe and effective vaccine. Despite this, millions worldwide suffer lifelong complications from the virus, and some underestimate its dangers. The virus spreads easily through coughing, sneezing, or even breathing in particles from an infected person, and can remain active on… [Read More]

New research published in The Lancet highlights that delivering clear, timely, and transparent information is essential for encouraging populations to embrace vaccination campaigns, particularly during health crises like the COVID-19 pandemic. The study tracked individuals over time, examining not only their initial reasons for vaccine hesitancy but also whether they ultimately received a vaccination, providing… [Read More]

The regional workshop on capacity building for Arab statisticians to monitor SDG 4 indicators concluded in Dammam, Saudi Arabia. Organized by the UNESCO Regional Office in Beirut in collaboration with the UNESCO Regional Center for Quality and Excellence in Education (RCQE) and the UNESCO Institute for Statistics (UIS), the event brought together representatives from Ministries… [Read More]

The year 2025 was a pivotal period for the global economy, presenting particularly high stakes for small and vulnerable states. Geopolitical tensions, trade fragmentation, energy transitions, and tightening fiscal and financial conditions contributed to widespread uncertainty. For small states, already grappling with narrow economic bases and heightened exposure to external shocks, the year underscored both… [Read More]

The United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) and the Bank of Agriculture (BOA) have signed a Memorandum of Understanding to transform Nigeria’s agricultural financing system and launch the One Million Hectare Tree Crop Programme. The agreement, formalized at the UN House in Abuja, included the handover of ICT equipment to strengthen BOA’s institutional capacity and support… [Read More]

The post-Bashir period in Sudan, from 2020 to 2021, initially offered a unique opportunity for political and economic transformation. After the United States removed Sudan from the State Sponsors of Terrorism list in late 2020, the country gained access to international financial support from institutions like the IMF and World Bank, alongside promises of investment… [Read More]

Albania has launched the Agrifood Systems Dialogue Platform to guide policy reform and investment in the country’s agrifood sector through evidence-based dialogue and multistakeholder collaboration. Developed with technical support from the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), the platform aims to support more coordinated, transparent, and strategic decision-making as Albania advances its… [Read More]

Locust infestations pose a serious threat to crops, rangelands, and rural livelihoods across the Caucasus and Central Asia, as migratory pests can travel long distances and cross national borders. Effective management requires timely, well-coordinated action, combining early warning systems with environmentally responsible control measures. FAO is supporting countries in the region by strengthening technical expertise… [Read More]

A new global report highlights that despite progress in land tenure and governance over the past two decades, only 35 percent of the world’s land has formally documented ownership, tenure, or use rights. Approximately 1.1 billion adults—nearly one in four—believe they could lose some or all rights to their land or housing within the next… [Read More]

WHO/Europe has released 10 new factsheets on tobacco, highlighting that the Region, which spans 53 countries across Europe and Central Asia, is on track to remain the world’s highest in tobacco use by 2030. The findings draw from the 10th WHO report on the global tobacco epidemic, showing that while many countries have laid strong… [Read More]

In the first six weeks of 2026, cholera cases in Southern Africa have surged more than sevenfold compared with the same period in 2025, driven by severe flooding from cyclones, damaged infrastructure, and inadequate water and sanitation among displaced populations, according to the World Health Organization (WHO). Between 1 January and 15 February 2026, five… [Read More]

In February 2026, the Ministry of Health in Tanzania, through its Directorate of Preventive Services and the Environmental Health and Sanitation Section, successfully enhanced the country’s capacity to detect and prevent waterborne health threats at the community level and at designated Points of Entry (PoEs). The initiative focused on strengthening frontline preparedness, recognizing that contaminated… [Read More]

The Government of Angola has launched a subnational polio vaccination campaign in Namacunde, Cunene Province, from 24 to 27 February 2026, covering 13 municipalities across four provinces bordering Namibia. The initiative is coordinated with Namibian authorities to halt poliovirus transmission and protect all children at risk. The campaign targets 230,000 children under 10 years of… [Read More]

WHO is testing an innovative approach to improve outbreak detection, notification, and response through the interactive ‘7-1-7 Strategy Game’. The 7-1-7 framework sets clear targets: detect a suspected outbreak within seven days, notify public health authorities within one day, and mount an effective response within seven days. Meeting these benchmarks requires seamless coordination across surveillance,… [Read More]

The Charité Competence Center for Traditional and Integrative Medicine (CCCTIM) at Charité Universitätsmedizin in Berlin has been designated as the WHO Collaborating Centre for Traditional, Integrative, and Preventive Medicine for the next four years. This is the first collaborating centre to support the Global Traditional Medicine Centre (GTMC) in this thematic area, establishing Berlin as… [Read More]

In northern Togo, the effective analysis and use of routine health facility data can be the difference between identifying a rise in malaria cases early or recognizing it only after wards are full and children present with severe disease. For malaria programmes across Africa, health workers’ ability to interpret and act on data directly influences… [Read More]

Digital scams have become a major global development challenge, inflicting estimated losses of over one trillion USD annually. Beyond financial harm, these scams erode trust in digital systems, weaken confidence in governments and institutions, and exploit vulnerabilities in public services, infrastructure, and digital payments. Rapid digitalization, including the rise of AI-enabled scams, has expanded both… [Read More]

The International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) unveiled its new Nature-based Solutions (NbS) Brief Series during International Development Week 2026 in Ottawa, Canada. Developed through the NAbSA initiative, the series provides practical, evidence-based guidance to help governments, investors, and communities scale climate adaptation efforts that benefit both nature and people. Drawing on on-the-ground experiences… [Read More]