The United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) convened a closed-door roundtable on Governance and Sovereign Credit Ratings on 15 October 2025 in Washington D.C., in partnership with AfriCatalyst, the African Center for Economic Transformation, the African Peer Review Mechanism (APRM), UNECA, and the Center for Strategic and International Studies. The event was part of the UNDP… [Read More]
cat
New Program Seeks EU Integration for Ukraine’s Digital and Telecommunications Systems
The kick-off meeting of the EU-funded project “Digital Regulation Support to Ukraine” (DRS2UA) was held in Kyiv during the 2025 Annual Conference organized by the National Commission for the State Regulation of Electronic Communications (NCEC). The project aims to strengthen Ukraine’s regulatory framework in the electronic communications sector, enhance IT security against rising cyber threats,… [Read More]
Boosting Nigeria’s Health Sector: EU Partnership to Expand Local Manufacturing
On 30 October 2025, the EU Delegation, in partnership with Nigeria’s Presidential Initiative for Unlocking the Healthcare Value Chain (PVAC) and the National Institute for Pharmaceutical Research and Development (NIPRD), hosted the first-ever EU-Nigeria Health Investment Forum at the International Conference Centre in Abuja. Themed “Made in Nigeria. Made for Health,” the Forum aimed to… [Read More]
Alliance for the Amazon: 10-Year Commitment to Community Resilience and Climate Adaptation by IFRC and TNC
The International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC) and The Nature Conservancy (TNC) have launched the Alliance for the Amazon, a ten-year program (2025–2035) aimed at strengthening disaster risk reduction and climate resilience through Nature-based Solutions (NbS) across the Amazon rainforest. The initiative, announced at COP30 in Brazil, seeks to raise the… [Read More]
Polio-Free for 25 Years: Western Pacific Countries Strengthen Commitment to Global Eradication
Leaders from the World Health Organization (WHO) Western Pacific Region convened in Tokyo to celebrate 25 years since the region was certified polio-free. The milestone coincided with the 31st meeting of the Regional Commission for the Certification of Poliomyelitis Eradication in the Western Pacific (RCC), the independent body responsible for verifying that poliovirus transmission remains… [Read More]
Diabetes Crisis in Pakistan: WHO Reports One-Third of Adults Impacted
On 14 November 2025, in Islamabad, the World Health Organization (WHO) and the Government of Pakistan highlighted that diabetes affects 34.5 million people in the country, including one in three adults. Pakistan carries the highest diabetes burden globally in percentage terms and accounts for over 40% of estimated cases in the Eastern Mediterranean Region. To… [Read More]
Pakistan and WHO Launch National Consultations to Prevent Violence Against Children
Pakistan’s Ministry of Human Rights and the World Health Organization (WHO) have launched consultations to develop a Strategic Action Plan on Violence Against Children, aiming to protect 112 million children nationwide. The initiative addresses the multiple forms of violence children face in Pakistan, including physical, sexual, psychological abuse, child neglect, and violent killings. The consultations,… [Read More]
Zambia’s Environmental Issues: Asking the Hard Questions
Joseph Mwenda, a prominent investigative journalist in Zambia, has gained recognition for his hard-hitting reporting on environmental issues. In May 2025, his outlet, News Diggers, a digital media company specializing in investigative journalism, prepared to release a documentary examining Chinese operations in Zambia, including mining companies accused of water and soil contamination and other environmental… [Read More]
First World Prematurity Day: WHO Promotes Critical Interventions for Preterm and Low-Birth-Weight Infants
The World Health Organization (WHO) is commemorating its first official World Prematurity Day by launching a global clinical practice guide for Kangaroo Mother Care (KMC), a simple yet lifesaving method that substantially improves survival rates for preterm and low birth weight babies. Each year, about 15 million babies are born prematurely, with complications from preterm… [Read More]
WHO Launches Evidence-Based Recommendations for Pregnancy Diabetes Management Worldwide
The World Health Organization (WHO) has released its first global guidelines specifically for managing diabetes during pregnancy, a condition affecting approximately one in six pregnancies, or 21 million women each year. These guidelines provide a structured approach to reduce serious complications for both mothers and children, including life-threatening conditions such as pre-eclampsia, stillbirth, and birth… [Read More]
First Marburg Virus Disease Cases Confirmed in Ethiopia
Ethiopia’s Ministry of Health has confirmed the country’s first outbreak of Marburg virus disease in the South Ethiopia Region, following laboratory testing of samples from a cluster of suspected viral haemorrhagic fever cases. Genetic analysis by the Ethiopia Public Health Institute identified the virus as the same strain previously reported in other East African outbreaks…. [Read More]
How Prevention Protects Communities from Ebola: Strategies and Insights
In Bulape locality, Kasai Province, Democratic Republic of the Congo, the first signs of Ebola were detected in a maternity ward when a pregnant woman arrived with severe symptoms, including difficulty breathing and haemorrhage. Tragically, the mother, newborn, and midwife Juliette, who accidentally pricked herself with a contaminated needle, all succumbed to the disease. Another… [Read More]
FAO Report: Disasters Cause $3.26 Trillion Losses in Global Agriculture Over Three Decades
Disasters have caused an estimated $3.26 trillion in global agricultural losses over the past 33 years, averaging $99 billion annually, roughly 4 percent of global agricultural GDP, according to the FAO’s 2025 report on the Impact of Disasters on Agriculture and Food Security. The report highlights how droughts, floods, pests, storms, and marine heatwaves have… [Read More]
Philippines Typhoon Response: IOM Supports Relief and Community Preparedness
The International Organization for Migration (IOM), in coordination with the Government of the Philippines, has mobilized emergency response and early recovery efforts following the impacts of Typhoon Tino (Kalmaegi) and Super Typhoon Uwan (Fung-wong). These storms, with sustained winds up to 185 km/h, struck communities still recovering from a 6.9-magnitude earthquake, displacing nearly 1.8 million… [Read More]
Human Rights Groups Call on Israel to Halt Controversial Death Penalty Legislation
Amnesty International has strongly condemned the recent first reading of a proposed amendment to the Israeli Penal Law, which would make the death penalty mandatory for individuals convicted of killing an Israeli with racist or nationalistic motives. Erika Guevara Rosas, Senior Director for Research, Advocacy, Policy and Campaigns at Amnesty International, highlighted that although the… [Read More]
Malaysia: Death Penalty Review Should Lead to Complete Abolition, Say Rights Groups
Following the Malaysian government’s announcement of a comprehensive study on the total abolition of the death penalty, Amnesty International Malaysia emphasized that this review represents a crucial opportunity for the country to demonstrate a firm commitment to human rights. Nicole Fong, Research and Advocacy Officer at Amnesty International Malaysia, highlighted that while the 2023 reforms—abolishing… [Read More]
MPs Urged to Reject Slovenian ‘Security’ Bill Threatening Civil Liberties
Ahead of an anticipated vote in Slovenia’s parliament on 17 November, Amnesty International has raised serious concerns over a hastily proposed law that would expand police powers, restrict welfare rights, and weaken key procedural safeguards. Esther Major, Deputy Director for Research in Europe at Amnesty International, warned that the draft legislation could strip Slovenians of… [Read More]
New Adult Time for Violent Crime Laws Announced by Victorian Government
The Victorian Government has proposed new laws that would allow children as young as 14 to be tried as adults, including the possibility of facing life sentences. These laws align with “tough-on-crime” policies previously implemented in Queensland and the Northern Territory, which have resulted in higher rates of youth incarceration, trauma for families, and little… [Read More]
Strategic Partnership Between GFTN Capital and Accion Targets Underserved Communities Through Inclusive FinTech
Singapore and Washington D.C., 12 November 2025 – GFTN Capital Pte. Ltd., a growth-equity venture firm under the Global Finance & Technology Network (GFTN), has announced a strategic alliance with Accion, a global nonprofit dedicated to advancing inclusive financial services. The partnership aims to mobilize capital for digital finance and inclusive FinTech companies that serve… [Read More]
UNDP Analysis Shows Heating Compensation Program Reduces Energy Poverty
On 13 November 2025, a policy dialogue hosted by the Ministry of Labor and Social Protection in Moldova reviewed the outcomes of the previous heating season and preparations for the 2025-2026 cold season. During the event, UNDP presented an impact analysis of the heating compensation programme, conducted with support from the Italian Government. The study… [Read More]
Hurricane Melissa Relief: IOM and Airbnb.org Mobilize Housing for Displaced Jamaicans
Geneva/Kingston, 14 November 2025 – The International Organization for Migration (IOM) and Airbnb.org have partnered to provide free emergency housing for families and frontline responders displaced by Hurricane Melissa in Jamaica. The Category 5 storm, which made landfall on 29 October, was the first of its kind to hit Jamaica, causing widespread flooding, landslides, and… [Read More]
Advancing decent work in East Africa: ILO IMPLEMENT’s impact in Kenya and Uganda
In October, over 60 representatives from governments, social partners, and civil society in Kenya and Uganda participated in a series of activities under the ILO IMPLEMENT project, funded by the Government of Flanders, Belgium, to advance decent work through trade and investment policy. The programme, facilitated by experts from the ILO Research Department and the… [Read More]
Responsible Business Conduct Gains Momentum Among Lao Enterprises
Enterprises across Lao PDR are increasingly adopting responsible business conduct as part of efforts to improve competitiveness and long-term sustainability. By integrating human rights due diligence, labour standards, and environmental, social and governance considerations into their operations, businesses aim to better align with global expectations and strengthen their position in international supply chains. In October,… [Read More]
