(Tokyo) – A coalition of 12 non-governmental organizations and experts has urged Japan’s Sports Agency (JSA) to adopt stronger policies to ensure safe sports by ending abuse and discrimination against athletes. The joint letter, addressed to JSA Commissioner Junichi Kawai, emphasizes that athlete safety must be a top priority to protect participants of all ages… [Read More]
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Schools Boost Tsunami Preparedness Across the Asia-Pacific Region
Countries in the Asia-Pacific are highly vulnerable to tsunamis, as the region lies along the Pacific “Ring of Fire,” where nearly 80% of all tsunamis occur. With dense coastal populations, including some of the world’s largest megacities, millions of people face significant risk. The region accounts for 99% of global tsunami fatalities, highlighting the urgent… [Read More]
Sweden, Norway, and UNDP Partner with Tuzara to Strengthen Climate Change Resilience
Tuzara commune in Călărași district is among the localities in Moldova most affected by climate change due to its higher altitude, experiencing snowfalls, freezing rain, droughts, and vegetation fires earlier than neighboring villages. In 2025, Tuzara recorded the highest number of fires in the district, mainly caused by abandoned agricultural land, highlighting the urgent need… [Read More]
Bitcoin Meets Aid: Save the Children Launches Innovative Fund for Global Relief
Save the Children has launched a groundbreaking Bitcoin Fund to transform humanitarian aid delivery, particularly during crises. Developed in partnership with digital asset leader Fortris, the fund allows the organization to hold Bitcoin donations securely for up to four years, enabling faster access to funds when emergencies strike. This initiative is designed to improve the… [Read More]
Europe’s Strategic and Technological Independence Gets Boost with EIB Group’s €100 Billion Financing Goal
The European Investment Bank (EIB) Group has approved its 2026–2028 Operational Plan, maintaining a record-high financing target of €100 billion for 2026. This includes €4.5 billion dedicated to security and defence projects within the European Union, representing 5% of the total financing. The investments will follow the eight priorities outlined in the EIB Group’s Strategic… [Read More]
West Africa Civil Society Institute Unveils Plan to Protect NGOs Digitally and Financially
The West Africa Civil Society Institute (WACSI) has announced a new strategic direction focused on strengthening digital resilience, expanding civic technology, and promoting sustainable African-led financing for civil society organisations (CSOs) across West Africa. The announcement was made during a press briefing in Accra as part of WACSI’s 20th Anniversary celebrations. Omolara Balogun, WACSI’s Head… [Read More]
Shell Foundation and Accion Launch Applications for ClimaFii Alliance Cohort 2 to Support Climate Finance Solutions
The Climate and Finance Innovations (ClimaFii) Alliance has opened applications for its second cohort, aiming to bring clean energy and sustainable financing solutions to microenterprises in sub-Saharan Africa and India. Led by UK charity Shell Foundation and global nonprofit Accion, in partnership with BFA Global and Upaya Social Ventures, the program supports startups and SMEs… [Read More]
GAFSP Unveils 2030 Strategic Plan to Strengthen Agriculture and Food Security
The Global Agriculture and Food Security Program (GAFSP) announced the formal approval of its 2030 Strategic Plan during its December 2025 Steering Committee Meeting in Rome, marking a significant milestone in the Program’s 15-year history of addressing hunger and rural poverty in low-income countries. The new plan operationalizes GAFSP’s Vision 2030, aiming to support locally… [Read More]
Russia’s Repression of Civil Society Signals Fear of Accountability: UN Expert
GENEVA – The human rights situation in Russia has sharply deteriorated, with intensifying attacks on human rights defenders and anti-war voices signaling a state increasingly insecure and fearful of accountability, according to Mariana Katzarova, the UN Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights in the Russian Federation. She highlighted a rapid dismantling of independent… [Read More]
Protecting Mountains and Glaciers: FAO Marks International Mountain Day 2025
FAO celebrated International Mountain Day 2025 at its Rome headquarters under the theme “Glaciers matter for water, food and livelihoods in mountains and beyond,” highlighting the critical role of mountains in sustaining life. The event launched a technical brief on glacier and mountain-related food and water security and announced the winners of the Mountain Future… [Read More]
Southern Africa’s Approach to Evaluating and Incentivizing Socially Impactful Research
The UK Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) has issued a tender, with submissions due by 9 January 2026, for a comparative analysis of research resource allocation methods aimed at enhancing research systems in Southern Africa that deliver socio-economic impact. The initiative responds to growing recognition that national research systems and funding frameworks must evolve… [Read More]
FAO Unveils New Villages Recognition Initiative to Honor Rural Culture and Innovation
The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) has launched the Villages Recognition Initiative, a global effort celebrating the essential contribution of rural villages in advancing sustainable agrifood systems, conserving biodiversity, and preserving food traditions and local knowledge. Developed under FAO MuNe as part of the Organization’s 80th Anniversary, the initiative highlights how… [Read More]
$40 Million Investment Strengthens Education Through New Yemen Partnership
A new partnership agreement has been signed between the Saudi Development and Reconstruction Program for Yemen (SDRPY), the Global Partnership for Education (GPE), Yemen’s Ministry of Education, and UNESCO to strengthen education and rebuild educational infrastructure across Yemen. The agreement was formalized during the MOMENTUM Development Finance Conference in Riyadh and introduces an innovative development… [Read More]
How Community Midwives Are Reducing Maternal Mortality in the Central African Republic
The Central African Republic continues to face one of the highest maternal mortality rates in the world, with 829 deaths per 100 000 live births recorded in 2023. These figures reflect deep challenges, including women giving birth far from health facilities, long distances to reach care, limited medical resources and cultural beliefs that often hinder… [Read More]
How Community Health Workers Powered Lesotho’s Measles-Rubella Vaccination Drive
High in the mountains of Lesotho, where steep slopes and isolated villages make access difficult, a remarkable measles-rubella vaccination campaign succeeded in reaching even the most remote communities. In Qacha’s Nek and Mokhotlong Districts, Village Health Workers, local chiefs, and parents worked together to ensure that distance and rugged terrain did not stand between children… [Read More]
Stronger Protections Ahead: Indonesian Companies Unite Against Workplace Gender-Based Violence
JAKARTA, Indonesia (ILO News) — Indonesian workers remain vulnerable to violence and harassment in the workplace. A survey by the International Labour Organization (ILO) revealed that more than 70 percent of workers in Indonesia have experienced or become victims of some form of violence or harassment at work. This underscores the urgent need for companies… [Read More]
Ghana Exhibition Shows How Productivity and Decent Work Strengthen Each Other
The concept of productivity is often viewed through the lens of efficiency and output, yet for many workers in Ghana’s garment and shea sectors it is deeply personal. Their livelihoods support entire families and even other sectors such as agriculture, making their working conditions crucial to both economic stability and overall well-being. Challenges such as… [Read More]
Latin America and the Caribbean Maintain Job Growth Despite Persistent Informality and Inequality
The latest Labour Overview 2025 for Latin America and the Caribbean from the International Labour Organization (ILO) reports a moderate recovery in employment across the region. Despite these improvements, the report warns that persistent informality and inequality continue to limit progress, underscoring the need for urgent policy responses as the world of work undergoes rapid… [Read More]
ILO Launches Green Employment Diagnostic to Support Just Transition Across Montenegro, North Macedonia and Serbia
Representatives from Montenegro, North Macedonia, and Serbia gathered in Budapest for the ILO–GIZ Just Transition Practitioners’ Workshop, where they discussed policies to advance a just energy transition grounded in decent work and social justice. The event also marked the launch of three Green Employment Diagnostic (GED) reports, offering detailed assessments of the opportunities and risks… [Read More]
Youth Leadership Shines at Lao National Symposium on Social Protection
The second National Symposium on Social Protection in Lao PDR brought together students, government representatives and development partners to highlight youth-driven innovation in strengthening the country’s social protection system. Held over two days on 8 and 12 December 2025, the event served as a platform to exchange knowledge, celebrate progress and elevate the voices of… [Read More]
Empowering Women in Bolivia: Marcia’s Role in Strengthening Amazonian Food Systems
In the northern Amazon of Bolivia, the community of El Chorro relies on the Brazil nut as the cornerstone of its economy and cultural identity. For generations, families have depended on the seasonal harvest, known locally as zafra, which runs from December to March, to sustain their livelihoods. Marcia Zela Tuno, president of the El… [Read More]
Small Businesses to Benefit from Government Support for Lowering Operational Expenses
The UK Government has announced a £2 million funding boost to help small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) reduce operating costs through sustainability investments. Provided through the ‘Made Smarter Adoption Programme,’ this funding will support SMEs in adopting energy-efficient technologies such as heating, insulation, and solar power, enabling them to lower energy bills and improve operational… [Read More]
£3bn Funding Boost to Improve Education and Support for Children with SEND
The UK government has announced a transformational £3 billion investment to expand specialist educational support for children with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND). This initiative will create tens of thousands of new specialist places within mainstream schools, allowing children to access tailored learning environments close to home while still participating in regular classes where… [Read More]
