Norway is significantly increasing its support to the World Food Programme (WFP) in South Sudan, allocating an additional NOK 128.6 million (approximately USD 12.7 million) to bolster emergency assistance and initiatives aimed at strengthening community resilience. Minister of International Development Åsmund Aukrust highlighted the severity of the situation, noting that six million people in the… [Read More]
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Securing Peace and Stability in Syria: Pathways from Crisis to Recovery
During a visit to seven of Syria’s 14 governorates last October, Syrians expressed that their greatest needs were access to health, education, housing, and above all, jobs. Over a decade of conflict has left around 7.4 million people internally displaced, while 1.2 million returnees struggle to sustain livelihoods. Support from the international community, complementing national… [Read More]
Iraq Launches First Public Innovation Hub in the South from a Youth Center
In Thi-Qar, southern Iraq, a public Youth Center has been transformed into the Souq Al-Shoyukh Community and Climate Hub (SSCH), the country’s first government-based community innovation hub in the south. The initiative was co-designed, co-financed, and implemented by UNDP-Iraq, the Ministry of Youth and Sports, and the Bahr Al-Uloom Foundation, creating a locally owned platform… [Read More]
How Women Are Challenging Gender Norms in the Footwear Industry
In rural Bangladesh, shoe repairing and manufacturing have traditionally been considered men’s work—physically demanding, socially stigmatized, and far removed from women’s expected roles. Shilpi Rani Das, a 35-year-old from Laksham, Cumilla, is challenging this perception. She spends her days at a local footwear workshop as an apprentice, learning the craft of shoe repairing and manufacturing,… [Read More]
Montreal and Singapore Lead the Way in Smart Underground Access
Urban development is increasingly looking underground as cities strive to enhance resilience, sustainability, and equitable growth. Rising population density, climate pressures, and limited natural resources are driving planners to explore subterranean infrastructure as a solution. Underground spaces can support housing, transport networks, parking facilities, and energy-efficient solutions like geothermal systems, while freeing surface land for… [Read More]
Sri Lanka Flood Crisis: More Than a Million Affected by Cyclone Ditwah Await Relief
Cyclone Ditwah made landfall on Sri Lanka’s eastern coast on 28 November, causing widespread flooding and deadly landslides across all 25 districts. While some displaced families have returned home, recent heavy rains have triggered fresh flooding, landslides, and road closures, particularly in the central districts of Kandy, Nuwara Eliya, and Polonnaruwa. UN assessments indicate that… [Read More]
Sudan Civil War Pushes Health System to the Verge of Collapse
The World Health Organization (WHO) has highlighted a dire health crisis in Sudan, revealing alarming figures on attacks against healthcare facilities. The country currently records the highest global percentage of deaths linked to targeting of the health sector, in blatant violation of international humanitarian law. Since the war began in April 2023, Sudan has faced… [Read More]
United Nations Pushes for Ceasefire Renewal in Sudan
The United Nations has renewed its appeal for a ceasefire in Sudan following a peace initiative presented by the country’s Transitional Prime Minister during a recent Security Council meeting. UN Secretary-General António Guterres welcomed the initiative, emphasizing that achieving lasting and inclusive peace is critical as the conflict enters a new year. He called on… [Read More]
Developing a Roadmap for Decent Jobs and Social Protection in Viet Nam
Viet Nam is advancing efforts to develop a national roadmap for decent jobs and universal social protection under the Global Accelerator on Jobs and Social Protection for Just Transitions, with technical and financial support from the Joint SDG Fund and United Nations partners. This initiative seeks to translate global commitments on just transitions into a… [Read More]
East and Horn of Africa Countries Strengthen Labour Rights Through Bilateral Agreements
Representatives from ministries of labour, foreign affairs, and workers’ and employers’ organizations across East and Horn of Africa states reaffirmed their commitment to advancing fair, rights-based, and gender-responsive labour migration governance following a five-day regional training on Bilateral Labour Agreements (BLAs) held from 8 to 12 December 2025 in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. The training was… [Read More]
COVID-19 Disruptions to HIV, Malaria, Tuberculosis, and Child Immunization Services in Guinea
The COVID-19 pandemic has caused significant disruptions to health systems worldwide, particularly in low- and middle-income countries with fragile infrastructures and limited resources. In sub-Saharan Africa, where communicable diseases such as HIV, malaria, tuberculosis (TB), and vaccine-preventable illnesses remain prevalent, these disruptions threaten to reverse years of progress in disease control and prevention. Measures implemented… [Read More]
Nepal Launches National Campaign to Integrate Informal Workers into Social Security System
Nepal has launched a National Campaign on Social Security for Informal Workers and the Self-Employed, marking a major step toward extending social protection to millions of workers outside formal safety nets. The initiative aims to provide access to social security throughout the life cycle, promoting equity, economic resilience, and inclusive development. The scale of the… [Read More]
European Union Delivers Relief to Flood-Affected Communities in Iraq
Following severe flooding caused by heavy rainfall in northern Iraq earlier this month, the European Union has allocated €100,000 in humanitarian funding to support communities most affected by the disaster. The assistance aims to address urgent needs arising from widespread damage to homes, livelihoods, and essential services. The EU funding is being channelled through the… [Read More]
EU-Funded “Digital Detectives” Project Launches Fact-Checking Club at Youth Affairs Agency
On 25 December 2025 in Tashkent, Uzbekistan, the EU-funded project “Digital Detectives” officially launched a Fact-Checking Club at the Youth Affairs Agency of Uzbekistan, in collaboration with the initiative Qizlar Ovozi (Voices of Girls). The opening ceremony marked a significant milestone in efforts to strengthen media literacy and fact-checking capacity among young people, while also… [Read More]
AfDB Group Mobilizes Global Private Capital to Address Africa’s Financing Gap
Building on the successful conclusion of the 17th replenishment of the African Development Fund, which mobilised $11 billion for Africa’s most vulnerable countries, the African Development Bank Group and the Government of the United Kingdom convened global investors in London to accelerate a new phase of private capital mobilisation for Africa’s development. The initiative aims… [Read More]
$8.7 Million Federal Education Innovation and Research Grant Awarded to Delaware Department of Education
The Delaware Department of Education (DDOE) has been awarded $8.7 million through the U.S. Department of Education’s Education Innovation and Research (EIR) program, a competitive federal initiative that funds evidence-based solutions to persistent educational challenges. This award is part of a $256 million national investment supporting 24 new EIR projects in Fiscal Year 2025, including… [Read More]
$450 Million India Aid to Sri Lanka Announced for Cyclone Ditwah Recovery Under Operation Sagar Bandhu
India has announced a $450 million assistance package to support Sri Lanka’s recovery from the severe devastation caused by Cyclone Ditwah, marking a major step in bilateral cooperation. The announcement was made on 23 December 2025 by External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar during his visit to Colombo, where he met with Sri Lankan President Anura… [Read More]
Europe’s 2025 Takeaways: Preparing for 2026 Challenges
In the autumn of 2025, a realization settled over Europe: the continent’s challenge was not decline, but habit. Decades of operating on inherited postwar capital had created the illusion of stability, masking the need for active maintenance. By 2025, the accumulation of small economic, political, and strategic shifts made it clear that Europe’s structural assumptions… [Read More]
From Crisis to Recovery: Advancing Stability and Peace in Syria
During a visit to seven of Syria’s fourteen governorates last October, Syrians expressed that their greatest needs were access to health services, education, housing, and employment. After over a decade of conflict, approximately 7.4 million people remain internally displaced, and 1.2 million refugees who have returned lack the means to sustain livelihoods. Support from the… [Read More]
UNDP and Swiss Insurers Collaborate to Enhance Local Resilience
The climate crisis is intensifying, and its impacts are disproportionately borne by communities in the Global South, who are the most vulnerable yet least responsible for climate change. For the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), the focus is not on whether disasters will occur, but on how to help these communities recover quickly and build… [Read More]
Youth Empowerment in Review: Major Lessons and Insights from the Year
As the year concludes, one thing is evident: youth empowerment is a practice, not just a concept. Across East Africa, young people have demonstrated the possibilities that emerge when opportunity meets preparation, education is paired with action, and communities invest in their own future. Through Asante Africa Foundation’s programs, 2025 has offered valuable lessons on… [Read More]
Top Lessons Entrepreneurs Can Learn from Startup Failures
Investing in startups carries high risk, with around nine out of ten startups failing. As a result, most active startup investors are likely to encounter failed investments at some point. Understanding the reasons behind startup failures can help investors make better decisions and apply valuable lessons to future investments. One common cause of startup failure… [Read More]
Strengthening Safeguards: UNFPA Launches PSEAH Standards for Guyana’s Public Sector
The introduction of the Protection from Sexual Exploitation, Abuse, and Harassment (PSEAH) Guidelines and Standards for the public sector in Guyana represents a decisive reaffirmation of ethical integrity and professional accountability. The initiative establishes a definitive framework for conduct within the Gender-Based Violence (GBV) prevention and response ecosystem and forms part of the Government of… [Read More]
