In 2025, the European Investment Bank (EIB) Group provided nearly €1.93 billion (around CZK 47 billion) in new financing in Czechia, supporting projects across transport modernization, clean energy, SME financing, and affordable housing. The funding advanced Czechia’s green transition while strengthening competitiveness and regional development. Transport projects accounted for almost half of the EIB’s support,… [Read More]
DR Congo Child Soldiers Describe Abduction, Violence, and Drugging; Calls for Urgent Action
Human Rights Watch has submitted recommendations to the Special Rapporteur for the upcoming thematic report on curriculum, pedagogy, and assessment in relation to the right to education, drawing on its global research on human rights and education. The submission emphasizes three critical concerns: the lack of comprehensive sexuality education (CSE), barriers to education for refugee… [Read More]
DR Congo Children Reveal Abduction and Violence in Armed Groups, Urgent Action Needed
Children in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) continue to face the devastating impact of recruitment by armed groups, with many subjected to abduction, drugging, and exposure to extreme violence. In 2025, at least 1,360 children were released from armed groups in the eastern province of Ituri, yet approximately 13,000 children remained in captivity, highlighting… [Read More]
EIB Backs Czechia’s Electricity Grid Upgrade and Expansion Project
Czechia is set to modernize and expand its electricity network with a €380 million loan from the European Investment Bank (EIB), supporting the country’s transition to a more reliable and resilient power system. The funding will enable the national transmission-system operator, ČEPS a.s., to refurbish and extend high-voltage infrastructure, covering over 500 kilometres of 400… [Read More]
PAHO/WHO and Antigua & Barbuda Partner to Drive Health Priorities Through 2031
Antigua and Barbuda has formally endorsed the PAHO/WHO Multi‑Country Cooperation Strategy (MCCS) 2026–2031 for Barbados and the Eastern Caribbean, signaling a strengthened commitment to improving health outcomes and advancing regional development goals. The signing ceremony in St. John’s was presided over by Hon. Sir Molwyn Joseph, Minister of Health, Wellness, Environment and Civil Service Affairs,… [Read More]
Quantum Systems Receives New EU Financing to Scale Unmanned Systems Solutions
Quantum Systems has secured a €150 million financing package, backed by the European Investment Bank (EIB) and major European banks including Commerzbank, Deutsche Bank, and KfW. The funding is intended to support the company’s growth, industrial scaling, and ongoing investments in unmanned systems technology, while reinforcing Europe’s security and technological sovereignty. The announcement was made… [Read More]
World Bank Warns Human Capital Crisis Threatens Future Earnings
The World Bank Group has released a report highlighting that current deficits in health, education, and workplace skills are costing low- and middle-income countries 51% of their future labor earnings, with Nigeria facing losses equivalent to 111% of projected earnings. Despite rising incomes and declining poverty over the past 15 years, two-thirds of these countries… [Read More]
World Bank Launches Transport Connectivity Project in Bosnia and Herzegovina
The World Bank has approved a €70 million ($80.97 million) loan to Bosnia and Herzegovina to enhance transport connectivity and modernize key road infrastructure, supporting economic growth and job creation. The project is complemented by an €8.5 million ($9.99 million) grant from the European Union’s Western Balkans Investment Framework, reflecting strong international collaboration. The Federation… [Read More]
Human Trafficking Crisis: IOM Calls for Global Action on 125,000 Victims
In Marrakesh, on 12 February 2026, the International Organization for Migration (IOM) called on governments to place migration and trafficking at the centre of global efforts to end child labour. Speaking at the Sixth Global Conference on the Elimination of Child Labour, IOM emphasized the need for stronger data, research, and cross-border cooperation to better… [Read More]
Sustainable Development Insights: Reflections from the Field
Allegra Baiocchi, United Nations Resident Coordinator in Costa Rica, reflects on her tenure, emphasizing that sustainable development is a practical, day-to-day effort that succeeds when implemented at the community level. She highlights that even countries with strong institutions and human capital face persistent inequalities, environmental pressures, and challenges in managing digital spaces, underscoring the need… [Read More]
Detroit New Mothers Can Now Apply for Rx Kids Cash Assistance Program
The nation’s first community-wide prenatal and infant cash prescription program, Rx Kids, has officially launched in Detroit, marking its largest expansion to date. Announced by Detroit Mayor Mary Sheffield as her first major initiative in office, the program provides $1,500 prenatally and $500 per month for a baby’s first six months, reaching around 8,000 babies… [Read More]
Munich Security Conference Spotlights Food Security and Innovation at WFP Event
The United Nations World Food Programme (WFP) is showcasing breakthrough solutions to tackle global food insecurity at the WFP Innovation Forum 2026, an official side event of the Munich Security Conference. The forum, hosted by the WFP Innovation Accelerator on 12 February 2026, brings together government officials, private sector leaders, innovators, and philanthropic partners to… [Read More]
Japan, Cambodia, and WFP Launch $1.5M Project to Support Families Affected by Border Conflict
The Government of Japan, Cambodia’s National Committee for Disaster Management (NCDM), and the United Nations World Food Programme (WFP) have launched a new USD $1.5 million initiative to support families affected by the 2025 Cambodia–Thailand border clashes. The project, titled the Project for Livelihoods Recovery and Nutritional Fortification in Communities Affected by the Border Conflict,… [Read More]
Mongolia’s Path to a Just Energy Transition: Challenges and Opportunities
In winter, temperatures in Ulaanbaatar, the world’s coldest capital, often drop below –30°C, bringing not only extreme cold but also heavy, toxic coal smoke that endangers residents’ health and livelihoods. For families living in the ger areas, traditional felt tents, coal-driven air pollution poses severe risks, especially for children and pregnant women, increasing rates of… [Read More]
UK Seizes Nearly 20 Million Illegal ED Pills in Five Years
Nearly 20 million illegally traded erectile dysfunction (ED) pills have been seized in the UK over the past five years, highlighting the risks posed by unauthorised online medicines. The Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) has warned the public not to buy ED medicines from unregulated sources, as these products can be dangerous or… [Read More]
UK Government Allocates £6m for Humanitarian Drought Relief in Somalia
At Villa Somalia, the UK Minister, Baroness Chapman, met with President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud to discuss the escalating drought crisis in Somalia and its impact on vulnerable communities. Baroness Chapman highlighted the UK’s approach of moving from traditional aid to an investment-driven development partnership, aimed at strengthening Somali resilience, supporting economic opportunities, reducing vulnerability to… [Read More]
Nine Community Projects Receive £80,000+ Funding from Connect Fund
The Northern Ireland Office’s (NIO) Connect Fund has awarded over £80,000 to nine community and voluntary projects aimed at strengthening connections between Northern Ireland and Great Britain. The latest funding round supports initiatives ranging from youth leadership and arts collaborations to environmental and social projects, reflecting the Fund’s goal of fostering civic engagement, cultural exchange,… [Read More]
Protecting Children During War Key to Sustainable Peace, UN Official Says
In an exclusive interview with UN News, Vanessa Frazier highlighted the alarming rise in grave violations against children in conflict zones and the urgent need to protect their futures. She revealed that in 2024 alone, over 7,400 children were recruited or used by armed forces and groups, with these figures representing only verified cases. Over… [Read More]
Minister Richmond Boosts Climate Action with €3 Million for Irish NGOs
Ireland’s Minister of State for International Development and Diaspora, Neale Richmond, has announced an additional €3 million in climate funding to support people living in some of the world’s most climate-vulnerable countries. The funding will be distributed equally among three Irish civil society organisations—Concern Worldwide, Christian Aid Ireland, and GOAL—to help scale up programmes in… [Read More]
New Funding Announced by Minister Richmond to Support Women and Girls in Sudan
Ireland’s Minister of State for International Development and Diaspora, Neale Richmond, has announced €5 million in Irish Aid funding to the International Rescue Committee (IRC) to support its work across six African countries. The package includes an additional €1.5 million specifically earmarked to assist women and girls in Sudan, where the humanitarian crisis continues to… [Read More]
EU and WHO Boost Ukraine’s Health System Under DG ENEST Collaboration
As the war continues to strain Ukraine’s health system, the partnership between the World Health Organization (WHO) and the European Union is playing a critical role in maintaining essential health services while advancing long-term system reforms. Through the Directorate-General for Enlargement and Eastern Neighbourhood (DG ENEST)–WHO project, the collaboration combines emergency interventions with structural improvements… [Read More]
Iraq: EBRD Introduces SME Financing and Business Development Initiatives
European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) has officially launched its SME finance and development programmes in Iraq, marking a significant step in strengthening support for the country’s small and medium-sized enterprises. The launch event in Baghdad outlined the Bank’s strategic priorities and highlighted planned and potential initiatives aimed at developing Iraq’s SME sector and… [Read More]
Estonian Development Cooperation Strengthened by €25.6M in ESDTEV Foreign Funding
ESDTEV Secures €25.6M in Foreign Funding for Estonian Development Cooperation in 2025In 2025, the Estonian Centre for International Development Cooperation (ESDTEV) secured €25.6 million in external funding to expand the scope and impact of Estonia’s development cooperation projects. This funding not only supports partner countries in achieving their development goals but also generates nearly €300,000… [Read More]
