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Human Rights Watch has urged the Australian government to strengthen gender-focused approaches across all crisis responses, emphasizing that gender equality is critical to global peace, security, and justice. Following a February 2026 submission to the Joint Standing Committee on Foreign Affairs, Defense and Trade, the organization highlighted the disproportionate impact of conflict, crisis, and climate… [Read More]

Amnesty International has warned that the Nigerian government must urgently investigate gas leaks in the Bille community, located in the Niger Delta, which are endangering residents’ lives. Reports dating back to October 2025 describe bubbling water and a sulphurous smell across mangrove swamps, rivers, and the town itself, with some residents even able to ignite… [Read More]

Over the past four days, Israel’s military has issued repeated, overly broad evacuation orders across Lebanon, affecting more than 100 villages and towns in the south, east, and the entirety of Beirut’s southern suburbs, displacing hundreds of thousands of people. Kristine Beckerle, Deputy Regional Director for the Middle East and North Africa at Amnesty International,… [Read More]

The Taliban has endorsed a new Criminal Procedure Regulation of the Courts, which Amnesty International warns will deepen discrimination and violence against women and minority groups. The regulation imposes harsh and vague punishments, criminalizing domestic violence only when women suffer visible injuries, and restricting women’s freedom of movement by penalizing visits to family without a… [Read More]

Trần Thị Thu Quỳnh grew up in a small family in Lạng Sơn, northern Vietnam, and defied local norms by completing high school and pursuing electronics and telecommunication engineering at university. Her studies were nearly derailed when both her parents were diagnosed with cancer, but a scholarship from The Asia Foundation allowed her to continue… [Read More]

Timed to coincide with World Seagrass Day, the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) has announced fourteen new locally-led seagrass conservation projects across Africa under the Great Blue Wall initiative. Although seagrasses cover only 0.1% of the ocean floor, they play a critical role in storing nearly 18% of the ocean’s carbon and providing… [Read More]

Women play a central role in local economies across Sub-Saharan Africa, yet persistent barriers in access to finance, energy, and productive assets limit their economic potential. In energy-poor contexts, women bear disproportionate unpaid labor, health risks, and financial exclusion, even as they form the backbone of household and small enterprise activity. Limited access to reliable… [Read More]

The International Finance Corporation (IFC), a member of the World Bank Group, is financing the development of the Olavarría Wind Farm in Buenos Aires Province, Argentina, alongside investments to expand transmission capacity along the Bahía Blanca–Abasto high-voltage corridor. The US$275 million project, co-developed with PCR (Petroquímica Comodoro Rivadavia S.A.) and Acindar Industria Argentina de Aceros… [Read More]

The Social Investment Fund (SIF) in Guernsey has increased its grant funding for 2026 to a total of £1.67 million, offering significant support to charities and not-for-profit organizations. Of this, £330,000 is designated for small grants of up to £15,000, while £1.34 million is allocated for major grants exceeding £15,000, aimed at groups providing essential… [Read More]

Lebanon is facing a rapidly escalating humanitarian crisis as renewed hostilities between Hezbollah and Israel intensify across the region. Since early March, airstrikes have targeted several areas including southern Lebanon, the Bekaa Valley, and the Beirut–Mount Lebanon region. Evacuation orders affecting more than one hundred villages have forced tens of thousands of families to flee… [Read More]

Angola has taken an important step toward strengthening its national health security by completing the 2025 State Party Annual Report (SPAR), a key assessment tool under the International Health Regulations (IHR 2005). The report evaluates the country’s capacity to prevent, detect, and respond to public health threats. Through this process, Angola has reviewed its progress… [Read More]

The Government of Canada has reaffirmed its commitment to ensuring that people across the country can live free from violence by strengthening support for individuals experiencing gender-based violence. As part of this effort, the federal government has announced an investment of $630,976 for the Alberta Council of Women’s Shelters to address service gaps affecting at-risk… [Read More]

Women in Canada continue to face barriers when accessing sexual and reproductive health services, including abortion care, fertility treatment, endometriosis support, and menopause management. Many individuals encounter challenges such as stigma, discrimination, and geographic isolation, particularly in rural communities. Ensuring equitable access to accurate information, safe services, and compassionate care is essential for enabling women… [Read More]

Canada’s forest sector plays a vital role in supporting communities, creating jobs, and driving economic growth across the country. However, the industry is currently facing several challenges, including the impact of unfair trade measures from the United States. In response, the Government of Canada is taking steps to protect workers and strengthen the sector while… [Read More]

A new £100,000 Engagement for Change Fund has been announced by the Northern Ireland Office (NIO) to support women from Northern Ireland’s community and voluntary sector in influencing positive change and participating more actively in public decision-making. The three-year initiative aims to equip community leaders with the skills and knowledge needed to effectively represent their… [Read More]

Along the coast of Zanzibar, seaweed farming has become a vital source of livelihood for thousands of families. At low tide, many women work in shallow coastal waters cultivating seaweed tied to underwater lines. The activity has grown into one of the islands’ most important economic sectors, with more than 23,000 farmers involved, over 80… [Read More]

The theme of this year’s International Women’s Day, “Rights. Action. Justice. For all women and girls,” emphasizes the need to turn commitments to gender equality into practical changes in workplaces, communities, and economies. Employment-intensive investment programmes contribute to this goal by promoting women’s rights at work and expanding their access to decent employment opportunities. These… [Read More]

Ethiopia has taken a significant step toward strengthening its tourism and hospitality sector through a national consultation aimed at establishing a Sector Skills Body (SSB). The initiative seeks to address ongoing human resource challenges in the industry by improving coordination between employers and training institutions, ensuring that workforce development aligns with the real needs of… [Read More]

A new daycare centre for domestic workers has been launched in the Gulele Sub-City of Addis Ababa to provide safe and reliable childcare while supporting women’s participation in the labour market. The initiative was led by the International Labour Organization in collaboration with local government institutions, workers’ organizations, and community partners. By offering quality early… [Read More]

The International Labour Organization is piloting an AI-driven Job Hub in Bosnia and Herzegovina to help public employment services improve the matching of jobseekers with available vacancies and strengthen labour market intelligence. In the Western Balkans, job vacancy information is often scattered across multiple private job portals, while many employers advertise outside public systems. This… [Read More]

The Government of Zambia has launched the “100 Days of Productivity Activism,” a nationwide campaign aimed at strengthening a culture of productivity across public institutions, private businesses, and communities. Led by the Ministry of Labour and Social Security, the initiative was officially introduced on 5 March 2026 in Lusaka and encourages citizens to adopt simple… [Read More]

The International Labour Organization’s Promise II Impact project has been working with rural banks across Indonesia to strengthen support for women-owned micro and small enterprises, which play a vital role in the country’s economy. As part of this effort, a two-day workshop on gender-responsive business development was held in Surabaya in early February 2026. The… [Read More]

Stakeholders from government institutions, labour organizations, development partners, and private sector representatives have officially validated and launched the Employment Impact Assessment (EmpIA) for the Luangwa–Mwami Road, a significant section of the Nacala Corridor. The launch took place on 4 March 2026 in Lusaka and marks an important step toward understanding the employment outcomes linked to… [Read More]