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In western Serbia, a growing network of farmers, producers, and local communities is helping reshape food production and strengthen sustainable local food systems through the country’s first biodistrict in the Kolubara District. The initiative has created a collaborative platform where organic producers, institutions, and communities work together to promote environmentally friendly agriculture and improve how… [Read More]

The International Organization for Migration (IOM) has launched an urgent appeal for USD 19 million to expand its emergency response in Lebanon, where nearly one million people have been displaced following a sharp escalation of hostilities since 2 March 2026. The agency warned that the crisis is worsening rapidly, with families in urgent need of… [Read More]

Ethiopia is strengthening its national Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL) system through intensive training for 35 assessors in Bahir Dar, Amhara region, under the ILO Global Skills Programme with support from the Norwegian Agency for Development Cooperation (NoRAD). The initiative is designed to build institutional capacity for implementing the National RPL Framework and Policy, enabling… [Read More]

Agriculture remains central to Albania’s rural economy, but many rural communities continue to face challenges such as digital exclusion, limited access to technology, and changing labour market demands. To address these issues, the Digital Agriculture and Rural Transformation in Albania (DART) project is combining digital innovation with skills development and institutional support to help rural… [Read More]

The World Bank, through the International Bank for Reconstruction and Development (IBRD), has priced a six-year Swiss franc-denominated benchmark bond maturing in April 2032, raising CHF 300 million to support its sustainable development activities in member countries. The issuance is notable because it marks the largest IBRD Swiss franc transaction since April 2009, underscoring strong… [Read More]

The World Bank’s Board of Executive Directors has approved new financing for the Philippines to help strengthen fiscal resilience, attract higher-quality private investment, and improve workforce skills for better and more productive jobs. The support comes through the new Philippines Growth and Jobs Development Policy Loan, which is aimed at helping the country convert strong… [Read More]

The World Bank has approved a $250 million grant from the International Development Association (IDA) to help Niger strengthen its financial sector and expand access to finance for micro, small, and medium-sized enterprises (MSMEs). The project is designed to restore liquidity in the banking system, encourage lending to viable businesses, and support job creation and… [Read More]

The World Bank Group’s latest EU Regular Economic Report says Bulgaria, Croatia, Poland, and Romania could increase labor productivity by 10 to 15 percent through wider adoption of digital technologies, especially software and AI-enabled tools. At a time when the European Union economy is growing at only about one percent annually, productivity gains of this… [Read More]

A new World Bank and Malaysia Productivity Corporation study shows that Malaysia is turning regulatory reform into measurable economic gains by speeding up industrial approvals and reducing bureaucratic delays. The report highlights how better-designed processes and faster government services are improving productivity, attracting investment, creating jobs, and supporting broader economic growth. The study, Investors Can’t… [Read More]

The World Bank’s Board of Executive Directors has approved a $600 million loan to support Kazakhstan’s ongoing reform agenda aimed at strengthening private-sector-led growth, creating more and better-paid jobs, and improving the country’s economic resilience. The financing comes through the Second Inclusive and Sustainable Economic Growth Development Policy Operation, which is designed to help Kazakhstan… [Read More]

The World Bank, the Government of India, and the Government of Haryana have signed an agreement to support Haryana’s multi-sectoral action plan to improve air quality across the state. The initiative is designed not only to reduce pollution but also to create new employment opportunities, particularly for youth and women, while strengthening long-term public health… [Read More]

The World Bank has approved a $10.6 million grant to help Uzbekistan reduce leaks in its aging gas transmission system and recover valuable gas for use by households and industry. The project is aimed at improving energy security, increasing state revenues, and supporting job creation by making the country’s gas infrastructure more efficient and reliable…. [Read More]

The United Nations World Food Programme (WFP) has launched a three-month emergency response in Liberia to provide immediate food and nutrition support to 11,500 people affected by the Mpox outbreak. The assistance is aimed at individuals and families facing isolation and disrupted access to food, helping them cope with the impact of public health measures… [Read More]

The United Nations World Food Programme (WFP) has launched a large-scale emergency response in Afghanistan to support communities affected by the conflict with Pakistan, while also adapting its operations to continue delivering life-saving aid despite violence and major shipping disruptions. The agency has already started mobilizing assistance rapidly as the humanitarian situation worsens across the… [Read More]

The Inter-American Development Bank Group (IDB Group) has launched LAC Crece, a new platform designed to accelerate private-sector-led growth in Latin America and the Caribbean by aligning public policies with private investment. The initiative aims to unlock productivity, create jobs, and boost long-term economic growth by turning development priorities into sequenced, practical, and financed actions…. [Read More]

Asian Development Bank (ADB) President Masato Kanda has pledged to strengthen ADB’s support for the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) as the regional bloc begins implementing its long-term development agenda, ASEAN Vision 2045. Speaking at the 32nd ASEAN Economic Ministers’ Retreat in Manila, he emphasized that Southeast Asia is prioritizing economic integration and cooperation… [Read More]

Warwickshire has taken an important step in tackling food poverty by developing a new plan to increase the availability of affordable food and empower communities to improve health outcomes and diets. A key event brought together stakeholders involved in the Warwickshire Food Strategy to assess the effectiveness of the outgoing strategy (2023-26) and gather input… [Read More]

Human Rights Watch (HRW) reported on Thursday that recent attacks by Islamist armed groups in Burkina Faso have led to civilian deaths and widespread infrastructure destruction, qualifying as war crimes. The rights group has called on local authorities to thoroughly investigate these crimes and urged the international community to offer necessary support to Burkina Faso…. [Read More]

The UN Independent International Commission of Inquiry on Ukraine has confirmed that Russian authorities committed crimes against humanity by deporting and forcibly transferring children, and by enforcing their disappearances. Over 1,200 children have been deported to Russia or transferred to occupied Ukrainian territories, with many still unaccounted for four years later. The Commission found that… [Read More]

A new online training course under the action “Strengthening anti-trafficking action in Serbia” has been launched to enhance the capacity of 36 Serbian lawyers in handling trafficking cases and safeguarding victims’ rights. Organized in partnership with the Serbian Bar Association and the Bar Academy, and supported by the HELP Programme in the Western Balkans, the… [Read More]

The UN Independent International Fact-Finding Mission on Venezuela has reported that the country’s repressive State machinery remains operational following the abrupt apprehension of former President Nicolás Maduro by U.S. forces on January 3, 2026. In its update to the Human Rights Council in Geneva, the Mission highlighted both significant events and positive developments, but emphasized… [Read More]

The £5 million funding, part of the Defence Growth Deal, will support technology development in Scotland’s marine and advanced manufacturing sectors. This funding will specifically focus on skills development and innovation at the Arrol Gibb Innovation Campus (AGIC), which operates both virtually and physically at Rosyth Docks in Fife. AGIC, established in 2022, aims to… [Read More]

Lebanon’s crisis of hundreds of thousands of displaced people remains a critical concern, and France is taking an active role in providing aid. In partnership with the CMA CGM company, the Ministry for Europe and Foreign Affairs (MEAE) and its Crisis and Support Centre (CDCS) successfully shipped nearly 60 tonnes of humanitarian supplies to Lebanon… [Read More]