From 14 to 20 December 2025, the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) organized a technical study tour to Morocco for a delegation from Oman. The visit aimed to build national capacity in citrus nursery certification and plant health systems under FAO Project UTF/OMA/023/OMA, which supports the production of certified citrus planting… [Read More]
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Republic of Moldova Unveils Plan to Strengthen Table Grape Sector and Rural Economies
The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) and the United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO) have successfully completed the design phase of a national strategy aimed at transforming the Republic of Moldova’s table grape sector into a competitive, climate-resilient, and inclusive industry. The strategy, validated during a workshop in Chișinău, includes a… [Read More]
Europe Boosts Preparedness and Response to Peste des Petits Ruminants Outbreaks
Since its emergence in Europe in 2018, peste des petits ruminants (PPR) has spread to countries including Albania, Bulgaria, Georgia, Greece, Hungary, Kosovo, and Romania, representing the first known incursions in several of these nations. As a notifiable disease listed by the World Organisation for Animal Health (WOAH), PPR carries high mortality rates and significant… [Read More]
Western Balkans Hunters Trained to Combat Deadly Swine Disease in Wild Boar Populations
A series of training sessions recently concluded in Serbia and Montenegro to enhance hunters’ knowledge of African swine fever (ASF) in wild boar and to strengthen hunting biosecurity. Organized by the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), the sessions reached over 200 hunters and form part of a series of 14 events… [Read More]
FAO and Uzbekistan Partner to Boost Rural Resilience, Growth and Equity by 2030
The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) and the Government of Uzbekistan have signed a new agreement committing to more targeted, country-specific support for rural communities through 2030. The partnership aims to strengthen territorial development strategies, improve food safety and nutrition, enhance One Health surveillance, promote sustainable natural resource management, and address… [Read More]
USD 222 Million SURAGGWA Initiative Launched to Boost Climate Resilience Across the Sahel Region
The Strengthening Resilience of Africa’s Great Green Wall (SURAGGWA) programme was officially launched in Nouakchott, Mauritania, on 15 December 2025 through a partnership between the Government of Mauritania, the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) and the Pan-African Agency of the Great Green Wall. The regional initiative brings together eight Sahelian countries—Burkina… [Read More]
WHO and ECSA-HC Sign Memorandum of Understanding to Strengthen Regional Health Cooperation
The World Health Organization’s Regional Office for Africa and the East, Central and Southern Africa Health Community have signed a Memorandum of Understanding to strengthen collaboration aimed at improving health outcomes and building resilient health systems across the East, Central and Southern African region. The agreement establishes a structured framework for cooperation aligned with WHO’s… [Read More]
Nigeria Refines Polio Eradication Strategy with WHO Support Ahead of 2026 Targets
Nigeria’s efforts to interrupt circulating variant type 2 poliovirus (cVPV2) by 2026 gained renewed momentum following the World Health Organization (WHO) Polio Eradication Programme’s annual strategic retreat held in Abuja. The two-day meeting brought together WHO zonal and state coordinators to review progress, identify operational gaps, and refine strategies to better support government-led eradication efforts…. [Read More]
WHO Global Summit Sets Bold Agenda for the Future of Traditional Medicine
The second WHO Global Summit on Traditional Medicine, co-organized with the Government of India, concluded in New Delhi as a significant moment for global health cooperation, attracting more than 16,000 online registrations and convening 800 delegates from over 100 countries, including ministers from more than 20 nations. With contributions from 160 speakers, the Summit highlighted… [Read More]
Synthetic Drug Market in Syria Disrupted Following Regime Change
Captagon, a highly addictive synthetic stimulant, has been trafficked illegally from the Middle East to Africa and back, with around 80 per cent of global seizures since 2019 linked to Syria as the country of origin, according to the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC). However, new UNODC research indicates that one year… [Read More]
Somalia Faces Severe Aid Shortfalls as Funding Cuts Hit Millions Affected by Drought
More than 4.6 million people across Somalia, nearly a quarter of the population, are currently affected by the drought, according to local authorities. Rising water prices, growing food shortages, livestock deaths and the collapse of livelihoods have already displaced at least 120,000 people between September and December. The crisis is also disrupting education, with more… [Read More]
Strengthening National Evidence-Informed Policymaking: Building Resilient Policy Ecosystems
The project aimed to support seven European countries—Belgium, the Czech Republic, Estonia, Greece, Latvia, Lithuania, and the Netherlands—in strengthening their capacity for evidence-informed policymaking within governance and public administration. It sought to enhance political and scientific understanding of the investments and actions needed for evidence to meaningfully inform policy decisions. Central to this effort was… [Read More]
NGOs Warn of ‘Catastrophic Impact’ from Israel’s New Registration Rules
New registration rules in Israel for non-governmental organisations (NGOs) are raising serious concerns about their potential impact on aid work in Gaza and the West Bank. Relief workers warn that the measures could have a catastrophic effect on humanitarian operations, particularly as Gaza continues to face a severe crisis, with ongoing shortages of running water… [Read More]
2025 Update of the Gender Justice and the Law Matrix Unveiled
The United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), together with ESCWA, UN Women, and UNFPA, launched the 2025 annual update of the Gender Justice and the Law Matrix during a virtual meeting on 18 December 2025. The event brought together representatives from national women’s machineries, human rights institutions, and civil society organizations across the Arab region to… [Read More]
Community Peace in Mangochi: How Leadership and Policing Work Together to Curb Violence
In the riverside community of Mpondasi in Mangochi, the morning unfolds with familiar routines of fishing and market preparation, yet a deeper transformation is taking place. Citizens, like farmer Emmanuel Jere, are actively participating in community patrols and peacebuilding initiatives, shifting away from cycles of theft, mob justice, and violent disputes. Their efforts illustrate that… [Read More]
New Coral Reef-Positive Investments Launched in Kenya by GFCR and UNCDF
The United Nations Capital Development Fund (UNCDF), through the Global Fund for Coral Reefs (GFCR), has launched two new financing agreements to support reef-positive businesses in Kenya. These investments aim to tackle wastewater pollution and unsustainable fishing while promoting sustainable coastal livelihoods. The funding supports Sanivation and Kumbatia, two Kenyan enterprises that reduce pressures on… [Read More]
China’s Climate Pledges: From Baku to Belém
China’s updated Nationally Determined Contribution (NDC) for 2035 outlines a clear pathway for reducing emissions, marking a shift from targets tied to economic growth to an absolute national emissions limit. The country has committed to cutting total emissions by 7-10 per cent from their peak, a significant step given China’s economic size and global influence…. [Read More]
Erosion of Press Freedom and Democracy in Bangladesh: Key Concerns
On December 18, 2025, coordinated attacks targeted Bangladesh’s independent media and cultural institutions, including Prothom Alo, The Daily Star, and Chhayanaut. These violent acts, alongside the reported public beating and burning of Dipu Chandra Das in Mymensingh, signal a dangerous escalation in threats to journalists, activists, and cultural practitioners. The incidents highlight the growing vulnerability… [Read More]
From 1965 to Today: Continuing the Fight Against Racial Discrimination Worldwide
This month marks 60 years since the UN General Assembly adopted the International Convention for the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination (ICERD), a landmark treaty that established a global framework for combating racial discrimination. Contrary to the common narrative that Western countries alone shaped human rights, the push for ICERD was largely led… [Read More]
IFC and Tonga Development Bank Partner to Drive MSME Growth and Job Creation in Tonga
The International Finance Corporation (IFC), part of the World Bank Group, has partnered with Tonga Development Bank (TDB) to support the growth of micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs) and create jobs in Tonga. The partnership comes as Tonga continues to recover from major economic shocks, including the Hunga Tonga–Hunga Ha’apai volcanic eruption and the… [Read More]
Türkiye’s Beko Receives IFC Investment to Accelerate Sustainable Growth
IFC has signed a €100 million sustainability-linked loan with Beko, marking the company’s first-ever sustainability-linked financing. The loan will support Beko in expanding its renewable energy capacity, enhancing earthquake resilience, and driving research and development (R&D) for eco-efficient appliances. In addition to environmental goals, the financing includes sustainability-linked targets such as increasing women’s representation in… [Read More]
Women Leading Peace: Mediation and Crisis Response in South Lebanon
As war and displacement continue to affect daily life across South Lebanon, local communities are turning to emerging leaders for support and guidance. Among these leaders are women mediators, trained to resolve conflicts, ease tensions through dialogue, and champion non-violent communication. Many of these women gained their skills through UN Women’s Women, Peace and Security… [Read More]
Sudan War Enters More Deadly Phase, UN Highlights Rising Violence in Kordofan
Senior UN political and humanitarian officials briefed the Security Council on 22 December 2025, highlighting a sharply deteriorating situation in Sudan marked by indiscriminate attacks, expanding territorial gains by the Rapid Support Forces (RSF), and escalating dangers for civilians, aid workers, and peacekeepers. The conflict, which began in April 2023 amid a power struggle between… [Read More]
