The Gates Foundation’s 2025 Goalkeepers Report warns that global child mortality is set to rise for the first time this century, reversing decades of progress. New projections from the Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation show that deaths of children under five are expected to increase from 4.6 million in 2024 to 4.8 million in… [Read More]
cat
New Gates Foundation–Qatar Fund Alliance Targets Health, Food Security and Economic Growth Worldwide
A new five-year strategic partnership between the Gates Foundation and the Qatar Fund for Development has been launched with a commitment of US$500 million to expand access to health services, climate-resilient agriculture, and education across Africa, South Asia, and Southeast Asia. Announced during the Doha Forum, the initiative aims to accelerate progress for mothers, children,… [Read More]
Auckland Council Announces $1 Million Fund for Community Climate Resilience and Emergency Readiness
Auckland Council has launched Te Ara Urutau – Climate and Emergency Ready Fund, investing more than $1 million to empower community organisations across Tāmaki Makaurau to take practical action on climate change and strengthen local emergency preparedness. The fund aims to help communities reduce emissions, improve resilience and adapt to growing climate impacts. This new… [Read More]
DRC Ends Ebola Outbreak as IFRC Pushes for Community-Led Disease Surveillance
The declaration of the end of the 16th Ebola outbreak in the Democratic Republic of the Congo marks an important milestone, but the IFRC stresses that the post-outbreak phase remains highly vulnerable. The organization warns that communities already dealing with cholera, mpox, and weak health systems face an elevated risk of renewed flare-ups. To prevent… [Read More]
Digital Violence Against Women Journalists Surges—A Growing Threat to Press Freedom in Africa
Women journalists across the world face relentless digital abuse that aims to intimidate and silence them. UNESCO’s global study shows that 73 per cent of women journalists have experienced online violence, while one in four has received threats of physical harm, including death threats. In East and Southern Africa, these attacks are part of everyday… [Read More]
Hope and Tension: UN Backs DR Congo–Rwanda Peace Deal as Clashes Continue
The Washington Accords for Peace and Prosperity were signed in Washington DC with United States facilitation, marking a significant diplomatic breakthrough for the Democratic Republic of the Congo and Rwanda. UN Secretary-General António Guterres praised US President Donald Trump for his role and congratulated Presidents Félix Tshisekedi and Paul Kagame, describing the agreement as an… [Read More]
Syria’s Future After Assad: Striving for Freedom, Sovereignty, and Unity
UN Secretary-General António Guterres has highlighted the resilience and courage of the Syrian people over the past year, emphasizing that meaningful change is possible when Syrians are empowered to lead their own transition. He described the coming period as an opportunity not only for political transition but also for rebuilding communities, healing divisions, and creating… [Read More]
Norwegian Funding Boosts Youth-Led HIV Programs in the Philippines
The Royal Norwegian Embassy in Manila and Palawan-based NGO Roots of Health commemorated World AIDS Day on 1 December with a forum emphasizing the importance of youth and community-led initiatives in addressing the HIV prevention gap in the Philippines. Since 2010, reported HIV infections in the country have surged by more than 550 percent, with… [Read More]
How Collaboration is Driving Rangeland Recovery in South Africa
Tukulo “TK” Mtshayelo grew up in Pietermaritzburg but returned to his mother’s rural home in Black Diamond village in South Africa’s Eastern Cape after finishing school in 2018. Adjusting to life in the small, remote village was challenging, with no internet, running water, or job opportunities, and TK initially felt like an outsider. Learning to… [Read More]
New Initiative Expands Mental Health Lessons in Primary Schools
A programme of mental health lessons for primary school children on the Isle of Man has received a two-year funding boost to help equip students with practical coping strategies and build their self-esteem. Isle Listen, which operates in all 32 state-funded primary schools on the island, has been granted £74,664 to cover the cost of… [Read More]
Civil Society Sustainability Amid Changing Development Finance Landscapes
The year 2025 began with a profound shock for civil society organisations (CSOs) following the closure and issuance of a stop-work order for all USAID-funded projects. This abrupt halt of ongoing programmes highlighted the vulnerability of CSOs heavily dependent on foreign aid and underscored the urgent need to diversify resources and rethink sustainability strategies. The… [Read More]
Humanitarian Response Under Pressure: Challenges and Consequences
In 2025, humanitarian funding experienced its sharpest decline in a decade, dropping below 2016 levels due to significant cuts from major donors, including the United States, France, Germany, Switzerland, and the United Kingdom. This dramatic reduction forced humanitarian organizations to make difficult decisions, prioritizing assistance for people with the most life-threatening needs and leaving millions… [Read More]
UN Warns of Clear Violations in Lebanon Following Recent Israeli Airstrikes
The latest Israeli airstrikes in southern Lebanon occurred amid ongoing efforts by the Lebanese Armed Forces to control unauthorized weapons and infrastructure in the region, marking a year since the announced cessation of hostilities. The UN Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL) urged the Israel Defense Forces to use established liaison and coordination channels and cautioned… [Read More]
After Pakistan’s Worst Floods, Communities Face Long Road to Recovery
Since June 2025, Pakistan has been grappling with unusually heavy monsoon rains that have affected over six million people and claimed nearly 1,000 lives, including around 250 children. The floods have devastated communities, sweeping away homes, livestock, and infrastructure, leaving many displaced in government-run camps or with host families already stretched beyond capacity. In northern… [Read More]
Illicit Finance Summit 2025: Building an International Coalition Against Money Laundering
The United Kingdom is set to host a major international summit next summer to tackle the global flows of dirty money that threaten both national security and public safety. Scheduled for 23–24 June at Lancaster House in London, the Illicit Finance Summit will bring together governments, civil society organizations, and private sector representatives, including major… [Read More]
Ethiopia Strengthens Fight Against Antimicrobial Resistance with New NAP at WAAW 2025
Ethiopia marked World Antimicrobial Resistance Awareness Week (WAAW) 2025 with a high-level national event at the Africa CDC Headquarters in Addis Ababa, officially launching the Fourth National Action Plan for the Prevention and Containment of Antimicrobial Resistance (AMR) 2026–2030. The event, held under the global theme “Act Now: Protect Our Present, Secure Our Future,” brought… [Read More]
Senegal Battles Rift Valley Fever: Strategies to Safeguard Communities
Since September 2025, Senegal has been facing an outbreak of Rift Valley Fever (RVF), a viral disease transmitted by mosquitoes or contact with infected animals, affecting both humans and livestock, particularly in pastoral and transhumance zones. By late November, health authorities had confirmed 500 human cases, including 31 deaths, and 425 animal cases with over… [Read More]
Local Food Sourcing from Smallholder Farmers Enhances Nutrition and Food Security in Latin America and the Caribbean
The World Food Programme (WFP), the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), and the Economic Commission for Latin America and the Caribbean (ECLAC) have released a report highlighting the potential of local public food procurement from smallholder farmers to strengthen food security and nutrition in the region. Smallholder farms, which account for 81 percent of agricultural… [Read More]
$533 Million Investment Set to Transform Ontario’s Agri-Food Manufacturing Industry
The Ontario government has welcomed a $533 million investment from Lee Li Holdings Inc. to expand its existing operations and build a new, state-of-the-art bottling and packing facility in Mississauga. The project will create 275 well-paying jobs and strengthen Ontario’s position in the agri-food manufacturing sector by establishing an end-to-end supply chain for food and… [Read More]
$85 Million Investment to Strengthen Ontario’s Advanced Manufacturing Sector
The Ontario government has welcomed an $85 million investment from Sandvik, a global engineering group, to establish a state-of-the-art maintenance, repair, and overhaul (MRO) facility in Greater Sudbury. The project will sustain 400 existing jobs and create more than 60 new positions, reinforcing Northern Ontario’s leadership in next-generation tools and technologies to support critical mineral… [Read More]
Sustainable Travel as a Key Driver for Indonesia’s Small Business Sector
The Ministry of Tourism of Indonesia, in collaboration with the International Labour Organization (ILO), convened the Policy Forum on Green Tourism MSMEs in Jakarta on 5 December 2025 to accelerate the country’s shift toward sustainable tourism. Minister Widiyanti Putri Wardhana emphasized that this transition is essential for the future of Indonesia’s tourism sector, particularly for… [Read More]
ILO Highlights Urgent Need for G7 Action on Youth Employment and Future Work Skills
ILO Director-General Gilbert F. Houngbo has urged the G7 Labour and Employment Ministers to take bold measures to empower young people for the future of work, highlighting that one in five youths globally is not in education, employment, or training, with two-thirds of them being women. Speaking during an online meeting under Canada’s G7 presidency,… [Read More]
Advancing Mongolia’s E-Business Platform: Civil Servants Tackle Complexity
The third workshop on improving Mongolia’s E-business platform was held on 4 November 2025, gathering representatives from five ministries, 30 government agencies, IT specialists, and social partners. The event was jointly organized by the Ministry of Economy and Development (MED) and the International Labour Organization (ILO), highlighting the collaborative effort to modernize digital services for… [Read More]
