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The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) will convene the 34th Session of the FAO Regional Conference for Africa (ARC34) in Nouakchott, Mauritania, in April 2026. The event will be hosted by the Islamic Republic of Mauritania and is expected to bring together ministers and senior officials from across Africa with portfolios… [Read More]

The Ontario government has expanded access to mental health and addictions care with the opening of a new Homelessness and Addiction Recovery Treatment (HART) Hub in Lambton County. This initiative is part of a province-wide investment of nearly $550 million to establish 28 HART Hubs, aimed at improving recovery and treatment services for individuals experiencing… [Read More]

The Government of Ireland has announced a significant investment in the country’s built heritage, with €8.1 million allocated under the Built Heritage Investment Scheme (BHIS) 2026. The funding, announced on 23 January 2026 by Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage James Browne TD and Minister of State for Nature, Heritage and Biodiversity Christopher O’Sullivan… [Read More]

Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine, Martin Heydon TD, has announced a call for proposals for Agri-Food Tourism Initiatives under the 2026 Rural Innovation and Development Fund, which is managed by the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine. The initiative aims to strengthen connections between local food production and tourism, supporting business development,… [Read More]

Minister of State with responsibility for Food Promotion, New Markets, Research and Development, Noel Grealish TD, is leading an agri-food trade mission to the United Arab Emirates (UAE) this week, in partnership with Bord Bia and Enterprise Ireland. The mission aims to strengthen government-to-government relationships, support Irish companies on the ground and at Gulfood, and… [Read More]

The Office of Public Works (OPW) and Limerick City and County Council (LCCC) have announced that the €12 million Castleconnell Flood Relief Scheme has progressed to the detailed design stage following planning permission approval from An Coimisiún Pleanála. Once completed, the project will provide flood protection for approximately 50 properties in Castleconnell, addressing a long-standing… [Read More]

Communities worldwide will benefit from a £14 million funding boost from the UK to protect oceans and reduce poverty, as announced by Nature Minister Mary Creagh on 26 January 2026. This funding, part of the second round of the Ocean Community Empowerment and Nature (OCEAN) Grants Programme, will support at least eight community-led projects in… [Read More]

The Mitigation Action Facility supports ambitious climate mitigation initiatives that help societies transition towards carbon-neutral development. Central to its Theory of Change is the concept of transformational change, defined as catalytic shifts in systems and behaviours triggered by disruptive climate actions. Rather than focusing only on direct emissions reductions, projects supported by the Facility aim… [Read More]

The new Armed Forces Bill introduces strengthened protections for military personnel and civilians who experience sexual assault, domestic abuse, or stalking by serving members of the Armed Forces. The legislation, currently under its Second Reading in Parliament, aims to improve victim safety and support within the Service Justice System. Key measures include new protective orders… [Read More]

“They weren’t hard to reach; they were just rarely listened to.” That insight captures what Gaunless Gateway’s Big Local journey reveals about the real power of community-led change. Learning from Big Local launched today, a new website showcasing the impact of the Big Local programme set up by The National Lottery Community Fund in 2010…. [Read More]

The Digital Agriculture and Rural Transformation (DART) programme in Albania reached a significant milestone on 29 July 2025, when government officials and UN partners convened at the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development to review progress and set priorities for the next phase. The meeting was co-chaired by Minister Anila Denaj and UNDP Resident Representative… [Read More]

Mongolia’s transition to clean energy is about more than upgrading power plants or reducing carbon emissions; it directly affects how people heat their homes, the air quality in winter, regional employment opportunities, and the future of coal-dependent communities. To guide this process, the joint programme on the Acceleration of Just Energy Transition in Mongolia has… [Read More]

In Phnom Penh, Cambodia, the Ministry of Labour and Vocational Training (MLVT) and the International Labour Organization (ILO) are joining forces to advance decent work through a comprehensive 2026–2027 workplan under the Cambodia Decent Work Country Programme (DWCP) 2024–2028. The plan focuses on labor policy reforms, institutional strengthening, skills development, and the expansion of social… [Read More]

The World Bank Group Board of Executive Directors has approved a new Country Partnership Framework (CPF) for Mozambique for 2026–2031, aimed at fostering inclusive and resilient growth. The strategy comes as the country faces the severe impacts of recent floods, underscoring its vulnerability to natural disasters, and emphasizes support for affected communities while focusing on… [Read More]

The World Bank Group (WBG) and the Qatar Fund for Development (QFFD) signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) during the official opening of the WBG’s new office in Doha, marking a major step in strengthening strategic cooperation to deliver sustainable development solutions worldwide. The ceremony was attended by senior officials from both institutions, including WBG… [Read More]

The World Bank’s Board of Executive Directors has approved the Botswana Health Emergency Preparedness, Response and Resilience (HEPRR) Project, aimed at strengthening the country’s capacity to manage future pandemics, climate-related illnesses, and everyday health challenges. The project will enhance critical medicine supplies, accelerate the detection of disease outbreaks, and make life-saving health data available in… [Read More]

The World Bank’s Board of Executive Directors has approved a new US$500 million policy reform framework for Peru, marking the second phase of a two-part program aimed at supporting the government’s efforts to strengthen fiscal management, enhance productivity, and create more and better jobs. The initiative also reinforces Peru’s ongoing preparations for OECD accession. This… [Read More]

A new World Bank report, Waste Management in the Middle East and North Africa, reveals that the MENA region generates more waste per person than the global average, causing an estimated US$7.2 billion in environmental damage each year. The region produces over 155 million tons of waste annually, a figure projected to double by 2050… [Read More]

The United Nations World Food Programme (WFP) has received a USD 5.5 million contribution from the Korea International Cooperation Agency (KOICA) to prevent malnutrition among pregnant and breastfeeding women and young children in Ethiopia. The funding aims to improve access to nutritious foods, strengthen local food systems, and build community resilience, supporting the government’s efforts… [Read More]

The Asian Development Bank (ADB) has approved a GEL 270 million (approximately $100 million) loan to JSC TBC Bank in Georgia to expand access to affordable financing for micro, small, and medium-sized enterprises (MSMEs). Up to 70% of the loan will directly support MSMEs, with at least 20% earmarked for women-owned or led businesses and… [Read More]

Juliette Touma, Director of Communications at UNOPS, emphasized the urgent need to ease congestion at Gaza’s crossing points and reopen critical supply routes like the Jordan corridor. While the 3 October ceasefire has provided some relief, she stressed that people continue to face daily threats to their lives and cannot wait for a formal reconstruction… [Read More]

Despite global progress in education, stark inequalities persist, particularly in the poorest countries where 36 per cent of children and youth are out of school compared to just 3 per cent in the richest nations. Ahead of the International Day of Education, which this year highlights “The power of youth in co-creating education,” UN News… [Read More]

Maryanne Gichanga, a Kenyan agricultural entrepreneur and participant in a UN-supported initiative, is helping farmers confront the growing pressures of climate change through innovation. In a country where agriculture employs up to 75 per cent of the population, shifting weather patterns, recurring droughts and the loss of productive land are threatening livelihoods and food security,… [Read More]