The European Union, in partnership with the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) and Raiffeisen Bank, has signed two financial agreements aimed at improving access to finance for small businesses and households across Bosnia and Herzegovina (BiH). The agreements focus on supporting small businesses led by women, young people, and entrepreneurs outside major cities,… [Read More]
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UN Report: 63 Million Children Face Hunger Worldwide Due to Conflict in 2025
In 2025, approximately 118 million children have been pushed into hunger, with around 63 million—over half—driven into this situation by conflict, according to a new analysis by Save the Children on World Food Day. Unlike hunger caused by drought, environmental shocks, or economic pressures, conflict remains the primary driver of the most severe forms of… [Read More]
Study Reveals One in Five Finnish Children Encounter Harmful Online Content on Suicide and War
A new Save the Children Finland survey has revealed alarming trends in children’s online experiences, showing that many Finnish children as young as nine are regularly exposed to violent or distressing content on the internet. The survey, which included more than 1,000 children aged 9 to 15, found that one in five (21%) have been… [Read More]
WFP, Tajikistan Sign Agreement to Boost Digital Agriculture and Youth Opportunities
The United Nations World Food Programme (WFP) and the Ministry of Agriculture of the Republic of Tajikistan have signed a Technical Assistance Agreement to implement the project titled “Engaging Youth Smallholder Farmers through Agri-Tech for Improved Food Security and Value Chains,” supported by the Korea International Cooperation Agency (KOICA). The agreement represents a major step… [Read More]
WFP–KOICA Partnership Enhances Health and Nutrition for Kyrgyzstan’s Schoolchildren
The United Nations World Food Programme (WFP), in collaboration with the Ministry of Education of the Kyrgyz Republic and the Korea International Cooperation Agency (KOICA), has launched a three-year, US$10 million project aimed at improving the health and nutrition of school-aged children. The initiative will directly benefit 15,000 children, half of whom are girls, across… [Read More]
Sierra Leone to Boost Food Security with $2.25 Million African Development Bank Support
The African Development Bank Group’s Board of Directors has approved a $2.25 million financing package to strengthen agricultural productivity and food security in Sierra Leone through the Fostering Africa’s Agricultural Productivity through Fertilizer Value Chain Financing (FOSTER) project. Implemented by Welthungerhilfe, the initiative aims to help thousands of smallholder farmers access quality fertilizers using innovative… [Read More]
AfDB-Funded ProFishBlue Initiative Tackles Fish Waste and Creates Jobs for Women and Youth
In Tolaria, Madagascar, a coastal city located about 1,000 kilometers southwest of the capital Antananarivo, nearly every woman’s livelihood is tied to the fishing industry. Many of these women work as fishmongers, but they have long faced difficulties in selling fish due to a lack of essentials such as ice and cold storage. Without proper… [Read More]
New UNDP-UNODC-EU Program Aims to Prevent Violent Extremism Online Across Asia
The UN Development Programme (UNDP) and the UN Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC), with funding from the European Union (EU), have launched a new regional initiative titled “Supporting Asian Countries’ Resilience to Violent Extremism in the Digital Space.” Spanning three years from August 2025 to July 2028, the project aims to strengthen the ability… [Read More]
Federal Judge Orders Pause on Trump Administration Shutdown Layoffs
A federal judge has temporarily blocked the Trump administration from carrying out layoffs of thousands of federal workers during the ongoing government shutdown. The ruling comes less than a week after the administration confirmed that several agencies had begun laying off about 4,000 employees. US District Judge Susan Illston granted the unions’ request to block… [Read More]
Strengthening Health in Namibia: New Programs Target Women, Children, and Adolescents
Namibia has taken a significant step to enhance the health and well-being of women, children, and adolescents with the official launch of two critical health policy documents by the Ministry of Health and Social Services (MoHSS) on 9 October 2025 in Windhoek. Supported by the World Health Organization (WHO) and partner organizations, the launch introduced… [Read More]
Strengthening Health Security: Tanzania’s New Pandemic Fund Project
The United Republic of Tanzania has officially launched the Pandemic Fund Project in Mwanza, a landmark initiative designed to strengthen the country’s capacity to prevent, prepare for, and respond to future health emergencies and pandemics. Supported by a US$25 million grant from the Pandemic Fund and an additional US$13.7 million in co-investments and co-financing, the… [Read More]
Advancing Renewable Energy: Solar Power Plant Development in Sierra Leone with Proparco and Planet Solar
Proparco has reinforced its support for Planet Solar, a Sierra Leone-based solar energy company, by providing an additional €390,000 to assist with grid connections for local communities. This follows Proparco’s initial investment in the company in 2023 and reflects its ongoing commitment to expanding energy infrastructure in Sierra Leone to meet growing power demand. Founded… [Read More]
Boosting Financial Inclusion in Uganda: Proparco and Grameen Crédit Agricole Foundation Partner
Proparco, with support from the French Ministry for Europe and Foreign Affairs, is providing technical assistance for the second phase of a financial inclusion project in Uganda, implemented by the Grameen Crédit Agricole Foundation in partnership with UGAFODE Microfinance Limited and VisionFund Uganda. The project focuses on expanding access to financial services for refugees and… [Read More]
Advancing Sustainability: Grupo Promerica Partners with Proparco on $50M Green Building Project
Grupo Promerica, a leading financial group in Central America, has reinforced its commitment to sustainable development through a USD 50 million financing agreement with Proparco, a subsidiary of the Agence Française de Développement Group, directed to Banco Promerica Costa Rica. The loan aims to expand support for projects promoting sustainable and green buildings, directly aligning… [Read More]
Nigeria’s Creative Startup Scene Gets $1M Boost from Chocolate City Group Founders Fund
Chocolate City Group, one of Africa’s leading entertainment companies, has launched a $1 million Founders Fund to support early-stage startups in Nigeria’s growing creative sector. The announcement coincided with the company’s 20th anniversary and the 50th birthdays of co-founders Audu Maikori and Paul Okeugo. The fund is designed to provide equity investment and mentorship to… [Read More]
Norway to Contribute Funding Toward US Military Equipment for Ukraine
Norway has pledged to provide NOK 2 billion toward a new military support package for Ukraine, joining other European countries in funding high-priority defence equipment as part of the NATO-coordinated effort. Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Støre emphasized that continued military and civilian support is essential for Ukraine to defend itself against Russia, and that collective… [Read More]
Driving Change: Norway Targets Areas of Maximum Impact
The Norwegian Government has proposed an increase of NOK 80 million in 2026 to strengthen efforts promoting women’s rights, an area identified as having significant global importance where Norway can make a tangible impact. Women’s rights are facing growing pressures worldwide, and targeted support in this sector is considered critical to ensuring the ability of… [Read More]
Norway Pledges Increased Support for Ukrainian Civilians
The Norwegian Government has proposed increasing civilian support to Ukraine by NOK 15 billion in 2026, maintaining a total minimum allocation of NOK 85 billion for the year. This continues the record-high level of civilian and military assistance provided in 2025, with NOK 15 billion designated for civilian needs and NOK 70 billion for military… [Read More]
Boosting the Arts: Private Funding Expands Cultural Support in Nordic Countries
Cultural policy in the Nordic countries has increasingly shifted toward promoting private-sector funding, reflecting both similarities and differences across the region. A knowledge overview produced by the Swedish Agency for Cultural Policy Analysis for the Nordic Council of Ministers highlights that while Denmark relies heavily on foundations to support museums and cultural institutions, Sweden has… [Read More]
New Funding of £15.3 Million to Advance Health and Care Research
The National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR) has announced a £157 million investment over five years to support 10 Applied Research Collaborations (ARCs) across the UK. As part of this initiative, partners from the North East and North Cumbria have secured £15.3 million to establish a regional ARC hosted by the Cumbria, Northumberland,… [Read More]
Barbadian Youth Urge Investment in Resilience Over Disaster Relief
Young people from across Barbados took center stage in national discussions on resilience financing during a special National Youth Platform to mark the 2025 International Day for Disaster Risk Reduction. Under the global theme “Fund resilience, not disasters,” participants emphasized the urgent need to increase investments that protect communities from climate and disaster risks, highlighting… [Read More]
Building Resilience: Innovative Approaches to Humanitarian Funding
Humanitarian organizations are increasingly exploring innovative funding models to respond effectively to crises amid declining traditional government support. As conventional aid shrinks, many organizations have had to reduce operations, limiting their ability to reach vulnerable populations. Medair, for example, is adopting alternative financial approaches to maintain humanitarian impact while adhering to core principles, ensuring programs… [Read More]
Empowering Rural Women: Leading the Fight Against Climate Change and Poverty
Rural women play a vital role in sustaining families, strengthening communities, and shaping local economies, often working quietly yet with significant impact. Their contributions extend beyond labor, bringing hope, resilience, and progress, even as global challenges such as climate change, shifting international funding, and increasing pressures on food systems intensify. The recognition of their work… [Read More]
