At the 17th BRICS Summit held from 6 to 7 July in Rio de Janeiro, BRICS leaders endorsed the Tropical Forests Forever Fund (TFFF), a Brazilian initiative aimed at providing large-scale, predictable, and performance-based payments to countries with tropical forests. The fund is designed to preserve and expand forest cover while serving as a blended… [Read More]
CFC Launches ACT Fund at FfD4 Side Event to Boost Sustainable Agriculture Investment
The Common Fund for Commodities (CFC) and the Agricultural Commodity Transformation (ACT) Fund co-hosted a high-level side event at the 4th International Conference on Financing for Development (FfD4) in Sevilla, Spain. The event, titled “Agricultural Commodity Transformation (ACT) Fund: Public-Private Investment for Sustainable Transformation and Development of the Agricultural Commodity Sector,” convened stakeholders from development… [Read More]
Australia Invests $114.6 Million in Future Fellowships to Boost Research Excellence
The Australian Research Council (ARC) has announced $114.6 million in funding under the 2025 Future Fellowships scheme, supporting 100 of the nation’s most outstanding researchers. This initiative underscores the Australian Government’s strong commitment to research excellence, backing high-impact projects aligned with national and global priorities. These include critical areas such as national resilience and the… [Read More]
ARC Awards $24.7 Million to Support 50 Early Career Industry Fellowship Projects
The Australian Research Council (ARC) has announced $24.7 million in funding for 50 new projects under the ARC Early Career Industry Fellowships scheme. This initiative aims to strengthen collaboration between early career researchers and industry partners, building Australia’s research capability in solving real-world, industry-identified challenges. These fellowships are designed to bridge the gap between academic… [Read More]
HX Foundation Awards €222K in Global Grants for Ocean Conservation and Polar Communities
The HX Foundation, the charitable branch of HX Expeditions, has awarded over €222,754 in its first round of 2025 grant funding to support global community, conservation, and wildlife-focused initiatives, with a particular emphasis on ocean and polar regions. From the total amount, €63,154 has been distributed among seven single-year projects selected from more than 20… [Read More]
Canada and Ontario Invest in Energy Efficiency Upgrades for Agri-Food Industry
On July 8, 2025, the governments of Canada and Ontario announced a joint investment of up to $3 million to support farmers in implementing energy efficiency projects aimed at improving competitiveness, particularly in response to U.S. tariffs. This funding marks the launch of the third intake of the Agricultural Stewardship Initiative (ASI), a program designed… [Read More]
£100,000 Investment Expands Mental Health Support in Hampshire Primary Schools
Hampshire County Council has announced over £100,000 in new funding to enhance mental health and wellbeing support for primary school children. This investment will expand the successful “My Happy Mind” programme into schools across North-East Hampshire, making it accessible to all primary schools in the county. The programme helps children better understand their emotions, build… [Read More]
World Bank Group and Global Environment Facility: Driving Climate Action and Sustainable Development
Since its establishment more than 34 years ago, the Global Environment Facility (GEF) has played a critical role in addressing global environmental challenges. Co-founded by the World Bank Group, the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP), and the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), the GEF has supported developing countries in adopting integrated approaches to sustainable development…. [Read More]
New Field Guide on Mental Health and AI Offers Practical Insights for Innovators
Globally, the demand for mental health services is growing, yet access to care remains limited—especially in low-income countries. The World Health Organization reports that nearly one billion people live with a mental health condition, but over 75% of those in low-income regions receive no treatment. A major contributor to this gap is the shortage of… [Read More]
UNIDO Showcases Industrial Solutions to Bridge SDG Funding Gap at FfD4 Conference
At the Fourth International Conference on Financing for Development (FfD4), held in Sevilla, Spain, the United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO) emphasized its commitment to supporting Member States in mobilizing both public and private investments to accelerate sustainable industrialization and advance the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). The conference underscored the necessity of shifting traditional development… [Read More]
AfDB Awards $1 Million Grant to Boost Green Skills for South African Youth
The African Development Bank, through its Fund for African Private Sector Assistance (FAPA), has allocated a $1 million grant to South Africa’s National Business Initiative (NBI). The funding aims to develop a responsive skills ecosystem that empowers South Africans—particularly youth—to access employment opportunities in the green economy. South Africa continues to grapple with high youth… [Read More]
Tánaiste Announces New Funding Package to Support Children in Palestine
The Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs, Simon Harris, has announced a €4 million funding package aimed at supporting children in Palestine, particularly in the area of education. The package includes €3 million dedicated to improving access to education, €700,000 for human rights organisations, and €300,000 to support public services and vulnerable families. The… [Read More]
Empowering Women on the Slopes of Kibuka: Building a Better Future Together
Kibuka, a remote village nestled along the steep slopes of a misty Tanzanian mountainside, is home to a growing transformation led by women farmers. Despite the village’s isolation and the challenging access roads, Kibuka is witnessing a quiet revolution in agricultural and economic empowerment, driven by the efforts of local women and their cooperative. At… [Read More]
Ukraine Introduces Diia Schoolchild’s Package for First Grade Students’ Families
The Ukrainian government has launched a new financial aid initiative known as the Schoolchild’s Package, offering UAH 5,000 to parents and legal guardians of children entering the first grade. This initiative aims to help families prepare their children for school by covering the cost of essential items such as stationery, clothing, and footwear. Applications for… [Read More]
AfDB Supports Djibouti’s Intercontinental Investment Bank with $11M for SME and Women-Led Business Financing
The Board of Directors of the African Development Bank Group (AfDB) has approved a three-year, $10.75 million trade finance facility for Intercontinental Investment Bank Djibouti (IIB Djibouti). This facility consists of three components: an $8 million Trade Finance Line of Credit, a $2 million Trade Finance Transaction Guarantee, and a $750,000 grant from the Affirmative… [Read More]
AfDB Launches 2025 Country Focus Reports with Emphasis on Côte d’Ivoire’s Growth Strategy
The African Development Bank launched the 2025 edition of its Country Focus Reports (CFRs) in Abidjan, starting with Côte d’Ivoire—a country projected to be one of the fastest-growing economies globally this year. The launch underscores the Bank’s commitment to supporting national-level development through data-driven insights and policy guidance. The CFRs serve as country-specific extensions of… [Read More]
Zambia’s Ilute Solar Project Secures $26.5M from AfDB’s SEFA and Global Partners
The Sustainable Energy Fund for Africa (SEFA), managed by the African Development Bank, has committed $8 million as part of a $26.5 million financing package for the 32 MWp Ilute Solar Project in Western Zambia. This investment supports a new Independent Power Producer (IPP) model that aims to expand clean energy access while encouraging regional… [Read More]
AfDB Grants €19.6 Million to Boost Wind and Battery Storage in Cabo Verde
The African Development Bank Group has approved a €19.6 million financing package to support the Cabeólica Phase II Expansion Project in Cabo Verde. This initiative represents the country’s first large-scale renewable energy project that combines wind power generation with battery energy storage systems (BESS), marking a significant step toward energy transformation and sustainability. The financing… [Read More]
World Bank Approves $1 Billion to Boost Ethiopia’s Economic Reforms and Private Sector Growth
The World Bank has approved a $1 billion Development Policy Operation (DPO) to support Ethiopia’s ongoing economic reforms and promote inclusive, private sector–driven growth. This funding package—comprising a $650 million grant and a $350 million concessional credit from the International Development Association (IDA)—builds on a previous operation approved in July 2024 under Ethiopia’s homegrown Economic… [Read More]
Egypt to Receive $184.1M from AfDB for Africa’s Largest Solar and Battery Storage Project
The African Development Bank Group has approved a financing package of up to $184.1 million to support Egypt’s Obelisk project—Africa’s largest solar power initiative. The project will involve the development of a 1-gigawatt solar photovoltaic (PV) plant and a 200-megawatt-hour (MWh) battery energy storage system in the Qena Governorate, southern Egypt. The Egyptian Electricity Transmission… [Read More]
IFAD, EU Invest €4.26M to Enhance Rural Climate Resilience Through Remittances and Diaspora Support
A new €4.26 million initiative, ResilientRemit, has been launched to help thousands of rural families in Honduras, Senegal, and Pakistan adapt to climate change and strengthen their resilience to environmental shocks. Co-funded by the European Union (EU) and implemented by the International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD), the initiative focuses on leveraging migrant remittances and… [Read More]
Nepal Unveils $120 Million IFAD-Backed Programme to Boost Small-Scale Farming
On 30 June 2025, the Government of Nepal officially launched the Resilient High-Value Agricultural Programme (R-HVAP), a US$120 million initiative supported by the International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD) and Nepal. The programme aims to assist over 250,000 people from small-scale farming households in transitioning toward commercial and agroecological farming practices. The programme was launched… [Read More]
ALIPH commits $16 Million to Protect Cultural Heritage in Africa, Syria, Ukraine, and Gaza
The International alliance for the protection of heritage (ALIPH) has announced a new funding commitment of over USD 16 million to safeguard cultural heritage in Africa, Syria, Ukraine, and Gaza. This brings ALIPH’s total investment in cultural heritage protection to more than USD 116 million since its founding in 2018. Africa – Protecting Heritage from… [Read More]
