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A new needs assessment by the Joint SDG Fund through the Green and Digital Innovation Hub (gDIH) has mapped significant digital skills gaps among micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs) and marginalized communities in Kenya. The report draws on 854 responses collected across 14 innovation hubs under the DigiKen programme, offering one of the most… [Read More]

The Government of Ireland has approved a €40 million emergency funding package to repair extensive damage to regional and local roads following Storm Chandra earlier in 2026. The announcement was made by the Darragh O’Brien alongside Ministers of State Seán Canney and Jerry Buttimer, under the Department of Transport (Ireland). The funding aims to restore… [Read More]

The International Training Centre of the ILO has announced the launch of its second Summer School on Social Dialogue, focusing this year on living wages. The program, supported by the French Ministry of Labour and Solidarity, will take place from 22 to 24 September 2026 in Turin, Italy, with applications open until 7 September. The… [Read More]

Eleven countries in the Western Pacific region have partnered with the World Health Organization to launch two major initiatives aimed at tackling the rising health impacts of air pollution and climate-related heat. Announced at a regional forum in Singapore and Seoul on 1 July 2026, the programs focus on strengthening policy coordination, scientific collaboration, and… [Read More]

The International Labour Organization (ILO) has begun a high-level mission to Haiti, marking the first official visit under its newly established Caribbean Office following the transfer of responsibility for the country in early 2026. The mission aims to accelerate the implementation of Haiti’s Decent Work Country Programme 2026–2027 and strengthen cooperation with government, employers, and… [Read More]

Zambia has strengthened its skills development capacity in the mining and gemstone sector through the handover of modern gemmological equipment to the Gemstone Processing and Lapidary Training Centre (GPLTC) in Ndola. The initiative, supported by the International Labour Organization (ILO) and the European Union (EU), aims to improve training quality, promote value addition, and enhance… [Read More]

The International Labour Organization (ILO) has reinforced efforts to promote decent work and fundamental labour rights in Türkiye’s media sector through a multi-stakeholder workshop held in Ankara. The event brought together journalists, trade unions, academics, and institutional representatives to address working conditions in the press, broadcasting, and journalism industries. The two-day workshop, titled “Decent Work… [Read More]

The International Labour Organization (ILO) has launched a new Decent Work Country Programme for Ukraine 2026–2029, aimed at supporting the country’s recovery through job creation, stronger labour institutions, and expanded social protection. The initiative was introduced during the Ukraine Recovery Conference 2026 in Gdańsk. The programme focuses on key priorities including expanding access to productive… [Read More]

The International Finance Corporation (IFC) has announced a $150 million financing package to support Airtel Africa in expanding and upgrading its mobile network infrastructure across multiple countries in Africa. The investment aims to improve digital connectivity, strengthen economic inclusion, and create new job opportunities. The funding will be directed toward two Airtel Africa subsidiaries to… [Read More]

Two leading Dutch organizations, Rutgers and Aidsfonds – Soa Aids Nederland, have announced an administrative merger aimed at strengthening their joint work on sexual health, HIV prevention, and human rights. The move marks an important step toward a full legal merger planned for January 2027. Under the new structure, the organizations will operate with shared… [Read More]

Humanitarian cash assistance programs are providing critical relief to Sudanese refugees in Chad, where hundreds of thousands of people have been displaced by ongoing conflict. Through support from the Chad Red Cross and the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC), vulnerable families are receiving financial aid to help meet urgent daily… [Read More]

The European Investment Bank (EIB) has approved a €125 million loan to support Orano Med, a subsidiary of the Orano Group, to advance its innovations in targeted cancer therapies and expand its industrial infrastructure in France. The financing will help develop Orano Med’s lead-212–based targeted alpha therapy platform, a next-generation approach in nuclear medicine designed… [Read More]

New evidence from Panama, highlighted by the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB) in partnership with the Ministry of Social Development, shows that investing in high-quality early childhood services can significantly improve children’s learning outcomes and deliver long-lasting developmental benefits. The study focused on Early Childhood Comprehensive Care Centers (CAIPI) and found that children who attended these… [Read More]

A new analysis by the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB) highlights the persistent structural, cultural, and institutional barriers limiting women’s advancement into leadership roles across Latin America and the Caribbean. Despite growing awareness and policy efforts, women remain significantly underrepresented in senior decision-making positions across both public and private sectors. The discussion emphasizes that the so-called… [Read More]

Barbados has taken a major step toward strengthening its national health system with the approval of the Barbados Medical Products Authority (BMPA) Bill, marking the creation of a dedicated regulatory body to oversee medicines and health technologies across the country. The initiative has been developed with technical support from the Pan American Health Organization (PAHO)…. [Read More]

The Pan American Health Organization (PAHO/WHO) has issued a warning over increasing influenza activity across several countries in the Southern Hemisphere, as the region enters the respiratory virus season. Health authorities are urging stronger surveillance, expanded vaccination coverage, and improved preparedness to manage rising demand on health systems. PAHO reports that influenza is circulating alongside… [Read More]

The Pan American Health Organization (PAHO) has launched a US$24 million emergency appeal to support urgent health response and early recovery efforts following powerful earthquakes that struck Venezuela on 24 June 2026. The appeal will fund critical lifesaving services over the first six months of the crisis, targeting approximately 700,000 people in the most severely… [Read More]

Countries across the Region of the Americas have strengthened their commitment to inclusive and age-friendly development during the 3rd World Congress of Age-Friendly Cities and Communities, held in San Sebastián, Spain. The event brought together representatives from more than 60 countries to share progress, exchange experiences, and reinforce global cooperation on healthy aging. Delegations from… [Read More]

Over 300 adolescents from across Region Seven in Guyana gathered at Bartica Secondary School for a two-day symposium focused on adolescent sexual and reproductive health (SRH), mental well-being, and youth empowerment. The event, titled “More Than a Symposium: Empowering Region Seven’s Youth to Shape Their Future,” created a safe and interactive space for young people… [Read More]

Human rights organizations have called on Nepal to turn its international commitments into meaningful action following the adoption of the country’s Universal Periodic Review (UPR) at the 62nd Session of the United Nations Human Rights Council (HRC62). During the session, representatives from the International Service for Human Rights (ISHR) and the Community Empowerment and Social… [Read More]

Human rights organizations have raised concerns over the growing incidence of human trafficking along the Dominican-Haitian border, warning that migrant women, children, refugees, and stateless people are facing increasing risks due to restrictive migration policies and ongoing instability in Haiti. The concerns were highlighted during the 62nd Session of the United Nations Human Rights Council… [Read More]

Ukraine has officially joined the International Treaty on Plant Genetic Resources for Food and Agriculture, becoming its 156th Contracting Party after depositing its instrument of accession with the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO). The move reinforces international efforts to conserve and share plant genetic resources that are essential for global food… [Read More]

Young people are playing an increasingly important role in shaping sustainable food systems across Saint Lucia and Saint Vincent and the Grenadines. Through national Science–Policy–Society Interface (SPSI) workshops held in April 2026, government leaders, youth organizations, academics, civil society, and development partners came together to strengthen youth participation in food systems governance and implementation. The… [Read More]