Twenty years after the European Union (EU) ratified the WHO Framework Convention on Tobacco Control (WHO FCTC), a new WHO/Europe report highlights both notable progress and persistent challenges in curbing tobacco use. While the EU has made significant strides in implementing strong tobacco control policies, tobacco consumption still claims over half a million lives annually…. [Read More]
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20 Years of the Pan-European Protocol on Water and Health: Advancing Resilience in a Changing World
The pan-European region, which includes the 53 Member States of the WHO European Region and Liechtenstein, is placing resilience at the heart of its water, sanitation, and hygiene (WASH) agenda in response to intensifying global challenges such as climate change, conflict, and evolving disease patterns. As the Protocol on Water and Health marks its 20th… [Read More]
PAHO Promotes Digital Tools to Improve Vaccination Tracking in Areas with Limited Connectivity
The Pan American Health Organization (PAHO), in collaboration with Peru’s Ministry of Health, has developed a new digital tool to strengthen vaccination data management in areas with limited internet access. The Offline Immunization Digital Application, known as “Vacuna Offline”, allows health workers to record vaccination data directly at the point of care, even without internet… [Read More]
Jamaica: PAHO/WHO Appeals for Urgent Donor Aid Following Hurricane Melissa’s Destruction
Hurricane Melissa has caused catastrophic damage across the Caribbean, leaving Jamaica, Cuba, Haiti, and the Dominican Republic reeling from its impact. In response, the Pan American Health Organization/World Health Organization (PAHO/WHO) has issued a donor alert calling for urgent international support to mobilize critical resources for the ongoing health response. The alert details the most… [Read More]
Innovative Strategies for Scaling Up Family Planning and Reproductive Services
Family planning is a cornerstone of public health and individual empowerment, allowing people to make informed choices about if and when to have children. However, access remains a challenge in many parts of the world where clinics are distant, services are costly, and misinformation is widespread. To address these barriers, governments, health experts, and communities… [Read More]
Hope and Healing: Youngest Ebola Patient Recovers in the Democratic Republic of the Congo
Ebola virus disease remains a life-threatening illness that, despite medical advances, continues to devastate families and communities when detected late. The Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) is currently facing its sixteenth Ebola outbreak in Bulape Health Zone, Kasai Province. Following the discharge of the last patient on 19 October 2025, authorities have begun the… [Read More]
Zimbabwe’s Tilapia Sector Gets a Boost as FAO Hands Over Improved Broodstock
The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) has handed over high-quality tilapia broodstock to the Henderson Research Station in Mazowe, Zimbabwe, marking a significant milestone in strengthening the country’s aquaculture seed systems and enhancing fish production capacity. The initiative, carried out under FAO’s Technical Support to Enhance Fish Breeding and Production in… [Read More]
£1 Billion Boost for Tree Planting as Two New National Forests Announced in the UK
The UK government has announced a major £1 billion investment to expand tree planting and boost green jobs through the creation of new national forests. Communities across England will gain from improved access to nature, as these initiatives aim to restore the environment, create thousands of jobs, and support national net zero goals. A new… [Read More]
How Digital Innovation Is Empowering Albania’s Rural Future
Across the diverse landscapes of Albania, a significant digital transformation is reshaping rural life and agriculture. Farmers, especially women and youth, are adopting new technologies that are redefining traditional practices and improving productivity. From precision farming in Korça to peer learning in Manëz, communities are embracing digital innovation to exchange knowledge and modernize their work…. [Read More]
Investment Promotion Key to Job Creation, Says ILO at WAIPA’s 29th World Investment Conference
At the 29th World Investment Conference (WIC), held in Sharjah, United Arab Emirates, from 21–23 October 2025, the International Labour Organization (ILO) showcased how investment promotion and facilitation can translate foreign direct investment (FDI) into more and better jobs, contributing to inclusive growth and sustainable development. The event, convened by the World Association of Investment… [Read More]
IOM Calls for Stronger Global Support and Enhanced Migration Cooperation in Djibouti
During her visit to Djibouti, Ugochi Daniels, Deputy Director General for Operations at the International Organization for Migration (IOM), called on the international community to increase investment in comprehensive migration management that integrates humanitarian aid with long-term development. Djibouti, located at the crossroads of the Horn of Africa, plays a crucial role in regional migration… [Read More]
New Save the Children–Qatar Charity Partnership to Aid Children in Crisis Zones
Save the Children and Qatar Charity have announced a new partnership aimed at delivering urgent relief to children and families affected by humanitarian emergencies in the Middle East and globally. The Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) was signed during the World Summit for Social Development in Doha, Qatar, by Save the Children CEO Inger Ashing and… [Read More]
Ukraine’s Universities Embrace Digital Transformation and Emerging Technologies
At I.I. Mechnikov Odesa National University in Ukraine, master’s student Anna Brodarska is working with a newly commissioned liquid chromatograph—an advanced scientific instrument that will play a central role in her future PhD research on chromatography. The new equipment represents a major leap in technical modernization for the university, benefiting both chemistry and biology students…. [Read More]
Nepal Enhances Disaster Preparedness with ADB, IDA, and Switzerland Partnership for Climate-Resilient Infrastructure
The Asian Development Bank (ADB), the World Bank Group’s International Development Association (IDA), and the Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation (SDC) have signed a three-year Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to strengthen Nepal’s disaster risk reduction and management and support the development of climate-resilient infrastructure. This partnership reaffirms their joint commitment to helping the Government… [Read More]
WFP Receives Chinese Support to Assist Communities Facing Severe Drought in Zambia
The United Nations World Food Programme (WFP) has received a contribution from the Government of the People’s Republic of China to locally procure over 5,600 metric tonnes of maize to provide food assistance to drought-affected communities in Zambia. Through China’s Global Development and South-South Cooperation Fund, the support will enable WFP to purchase maize from… [Read More]
Italy Donates Crucial Funds to WFP for Sudanese Refugee Aid in Libya
The United Nations World Food Programme (WFP) in Libya has received a generous contribution of EUR 3 million from the Italian Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation through the Italian Agency for Development Cooperation to address the urgent food needs of Sudanese refugees and Libyan host communities. This support comes in response to the… [Read More]
FAO supports Malawi in enhancing fish value chains for better nutrition and community income
Johannesburg, South Africa: The Government of Malawi, in collaboration with the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) and local fisheries cooperatives, is scaling up fish-based products to enhance school feeding programs, improve child nutrition, and create income-generating opportunities for small-scale aquatic food producers. The “Linking Small-Scale Aquatic Food Producers to the School… [Read More]
Stepwise Agribusiness Programme Transforms Mozambique’s Smallholder Farmers into Agripreneurs
Johannesburg, South Africa: The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), in collaboration with the Government of Mozambique and the European Union, is helping smallholder farmers transition from subsistence farming to inclusive agribusiness through the PROMOVE Agribiz programme. Implemented in Nampula and Zambézia provinces, the initiative strengthens rural resilience and food security by… [Read More]
FAO Supports Seychelles in Eco-Friendly Sandfish Farming for Food Security and Marine Conservation
Seychelles is advancing sustainable sandfish aquaculture to protect fragile marine ecosystems while generating new economic opportunities for coastal communities. With wild sea cucumber stocks under pressure from overharvesting, the initiative supports the country’s blue economy agenda by reducing dependence on natural populations and promoting environmentally responsible livelihoods. The programme, highlighted at the 19th FAO Subregional… [Read More]
South Africa Enhances Rural Livestock Care by Training Veterinary Paraprofessionals
Johannesburg, South Africa is enhancing rural livelihoods and livestock health through a pioneering programme that equips veterinary paraprofessionals with clinical, business, and entrepreneurial skills. Led by the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) in collaboration with national partners, the initiative enables Animal Health Technicians to establish Primary Animal Healthcare businesses that deliver… [Read More]
Biological Solutions Boost Maize Production as Tanzania Tackles Fall Armyworm
The United Republic of Tanzania is advancing sustainable pest management through the deployment of indigenous biological control agents to combat Fall Armyworm, a pest that has caused over USD 300 million in agricultural losses since its arrival in the country. With support from the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), scientists and… [Read More]
Harnessing Behavioural Science: Zambia Promotes Climate-Smart Farming Practices
Zambia is enhancing climate resilience and sustainable food systems by integrating behavioural science into climate-smart agriculture training and extension services. Through collaboration between the Sustainable Intensification of Agriculture in Zambia (SIFAZ) and FACE-NDC projects, the initiative supports smallholder farmers in adopting climate-smart technologies and sustainable intensification practices at scale. The approach, which combines climate education,… [Read More]
Enhancing Team Collaboration: FAO Pilot Training Boosts Programme, Operations, and Administration Integration in Dakar
The Subregional Office of the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) for West Africa in Dakar hosted its first-ever pilot training session from October 27 to 29, 2025, organized by the FAO Finance Division (CSF). The training aimed to enhance collaboration between Programme, Operations, and Administration teams to ensure more effective project… [Read More]
