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In Georgia, municipalities are translating the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) into practical solutions that improve daily life, from waste management to child welfare. Seed funding from the Joint SDG Fund has catalyzed a growing movement for local innovation, accountability, and inclusive growth, helping towns and cities turn ambitious plans into measurable outcomes. A joint programme… [Read More]

The Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), the International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD), and the World Food Programme (WFP) marked International Women’s Day 2026 with a joint event focused on strengthening women farmers’ access to justice, rights, and opportunities. This year’s theme, “Rights. Justice. Action. For ALL Women and Girls,” aligns with the global International… [Read More]

In Bangladesh, more than 1,000 girls—85% of 1,200 participants—have been able to avoid child marriage and continue their education after receiving income-generating support from Save the Children. The programme, which includes providing goats for rearing, has allowed girls to generate independent incomes, reducing financial pressures that often push families to marry off daughters at an… [Read More]

The UN Environment Programme (UNEP) has opened nominations for the 2026 Champions of the Earth award, the UN’s highest environmental honour, with a focus on ocean health. This year, the award seeks to recognize individuals, organizations, and governments leading efforts to protect and restore the ocean, a vital ecosystem critical to climate stability, biodiversity, food… [Read More]

The European Union has contributed €1 million to the World Trade Organization’s (WTO) Global Trust Fund (GTF) to support capacity-building initiatives for developing economies, including least developed countries (LDCs). The funding will help implement the WTO’s technical assistance plan, enabling government officials to deepen their understanding of the multilateral trading system and enhance compliance with… [Read More]

Zimbabwe’s conservation efforts are set to receive a significant boost with a €1 million grant from the Postcode Lottery aimed at protecting wildlife and habitats in the Hwange-Matetsi-Zambezi landscape. The funding will support ongoing rescue and conservation work by the International Fund for Animal Welfare (IFAW) and the Zimbabwe Parks and Wildlife Management Authority (ZimParks)… [Read More]

The Rockefeller Foundation announced the expansion of its Mission 300 Fellowship Program to at least 18 African countries to support efforts by the World Bank and African Development Bank to provide electricity to 300 million Africans by 2030. The initiative, launched during Mission 300 Day at the 2026 Africa Energy Indaba, will see additional fellows… [Read More]

Zimbabwe has withdrawn from negotiations on a $367 million bilateral health agreement with the United States, citing concerns over the sharing of sensitive health data. Government spokesperson Nick Mangwana described the proposed arrangement as “unequal,” noting that Zimbabwe would have been asked to provide its biological resources and health data without any guarantee of access… [Read More]

The German government’s proposed legislation to replace the current basic income program for job seekers with a stricter, more punitive system has raised serious human rights concerns, Human Rights Watch said. The bill, scheduled for its second reading in the lower house of parliament, would tighten obligations for claimants and expand the scope and severity… [Read More]

The Israeli military’s recent call for the immediate evacuation of all residents south of the Litani River in Lebanon has raised serious legal and humanitarian concerns, according to Human Rights Watch. This region, covering about eight percent of Lebanon’s territory, is home to hundreds of thousands of people. The military’s announcement, made on March 4,… [Read More]

Angolan President João Lourenço has signed a new law regulating nongovernmental organizations (NGOs) and other civil society groups, raising serious concerns about the shrinking civic space in the country. Human rights organizations, including Human Rights Watch, have warned that the legislation could be used to suppress dissent and restrict independent operations. The law, published on… [Read More]

Hilda Macheso, a Malawian disability rights advocate and recipient of the Human Rights Watch Marca Bristo Fellowship for Courageous Leadership in Disability Rights, welcomed the Independent Expert’s report highlighting the persistent structural discrimination faced by persons with albinism. People with albinism continue to encounter stigma, harmful stereotypes, and myths that limit their opportunities and safety…. [Read More]

This week, Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney visited Australia to meet with Prime Minister Anthony Albanese amid escalating hostilities in the Middle East. The meeting presented an opportunity for the two middle-power nations to assert leadership in upholding human rights protections. While the visit was framed by welcoming messages emphasizing the close partnership and shared… [Read More]

A year after the detention of Fidel Antonio Zavala Pérez, spokesperson for the Unidad de Defensa de Derechos Humanos y Comunitarios (UNIDEHC), Amnesty International has expressed serious concern over his prolonged pre-trial detention and the broader misuse of criminal law to target human rights defenders and community leaders in El Salvador. Ana Piquer, Americas director… [Read More]

Strikes by the United States and Israel on Iran, followed by Iran’s retaliatory attacks across the region, have escalated the Middle East into its most serious open conflict in years. These developments stem from longstanding tensions between Iran and the US since the 1979 revolution, ongoing domestic unrest in Iran, and a deepening conflict with… [Read More]

Forests cover nearly half of Kosovo’s territory, playing a crucial role in shaping the country’s landscapes, livelihoods, and long-term development. They provide essential ecosystem services such as water regulation, climate buffering, biodiversity support, and soil protection. For rural communities, forests supply firewood, non-wood products, and employment opportunities, while also underpinning tourism and wood processing. Recognizing… [Read More]

The Director-General of the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), QU Dongyu, officially launched the International Year of the Woman Farmer 2026, a designation made by the United Nations General Assembly. The initiative was presented during the 39th Session of the FAO Regional Conference for Latin America and the Caribbean (LARC39) in… [Read More]

Rome-based UN agencies—the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), the International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD), and the World Food Programme (WFP)—marked International Women’s Day 2026 with a joint event focused on strengthening women farmers’ access to justice, rights, and economic opportunities. The celebration highlighted the critical role women play in agrifood systems worldwide and emphasized… [Read More]

Kenya is taking a major step to enhance its emergency response capacity by developing Africa’s second military emergency medical team. The Kenya Defence Forces, the Ministry of Health, and the World Health Organization (WHO) convened a two-day Governance Orientation Workshop to advance the creation of the country’s first Type 2 emergency medical team, a specialized… [Read More]

The global shift from a fossil-fuel-based economy to one powered by clean electrification is progressing despite geopolitical challenges. Demand for critical minerals such as lithium, nickel, cobalt, graphite, and rare earths has surged, driven by the rapid expansion of electric vehicles, batteries, and renewable energy technologies. Lithium demand alone grew by nearly 30 per cent… [Read More]

In South Kordofan, Sudan, clashes between the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) and the Sudanese Armed Forces have intensified, including a recent drone strike on Dilling General Hospital that killed at least four patients and injured civilians. Violence has also escalated in North Kordofan, with continued drone attacks reported in the city of El Obeid over… [Read More]

Young Canadians represent the future of the agriculture and agri-food sector, and providing them with hands-on experience is essential for strengthening the workforce and supporting long-term food security. Recognizing this, the Honourable Heath MacDonald, Minister of Agriculture and Agri-Food, announced at the Atlantic Grains Council Cereals and Oilseeds 2026 conference that the federal government will… [Read More]

The Government of Canada has announced funding support to strengthen the growth of agri-food businesses in Quebec’s Montérégie region. Nathalie Provost, Member of Parliament for Châteauguay–Les Jardins-de-Napierville and Secretary of State (Nature), announced a total contribution of $1,649,000 on behalf of the Minister of Industry and Minister responsible for Canada Economic Development for Quebec Regions… [Read More]