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The African Development Bank Group African Development Bank Group and the United Nations Population Fund United Nations Population Fund have renewed their long-standing partnership through a new memorandum of understanding aimed at scaling up investments in maternal health, human capital development, and demographic resilience across Africa. The agreement was signed during the 2026 Annual Meetings… [Read More]

At the 2026 Annual Meetings of the African Development Bank Group African Development Bank Group in Brazzaville, African leaders expressed strong support for a new strategic direction aimed at accelerating economic transformation across the continent. The gathering brought together heads of state, policymakers, and financial leaders under the theme of mobilising Africa’s development finance in… [Read More]

Wellington — May 29, 2026 — The Government has announced a $294 million investment over four years to roll out a new planning and environmental management system, replacing the Resource Management Act (RMA). The reforms aim to deliver faster, more consistent planning decisions, reduce costs, and strengthen resilience to natural hazards. RMA Reform Minister Chris Bishop highlighted… [Read More]

The Government of the Netherlands has reaffirmed its long-standing partnership with the International Organization for Migration International Organization for Migration by announcing a new unearmarked contribution of EUR 16 million over four years, strengthening global efforts to support safe, orderly, and regular migration. The announcement was made during high-level meetings in The Hague between Dutch… [Read More]

The ongoing conflict involving Iran is creating a powerful global economic shock that is reshaping growth, inflation, and fiscal stability across Latin America and the Caribbean. Rising energy prices, disrupted supply chains, and tightening fertilizer markets are combining to slow economic momentum and increase pressure on households and governments. Higher global oil prices are one… [Read More]

Wellington — May 28, 2026 — Associate Education Minister David Seymour has announced that financial relief for early childhood education (ECE) services will be delivered in July 2026, six months earlier than planned. Most ECE services will receive a 1.5 percent increase in subsidy rates, providing the sector with an additional $40 million annually. Traditionally, such increases… [Read More]

Brasilia — May 27, 2026 — The International Labour Organization (ILO) and JDE Peet’s have announced the launch of the FAIR COFFEE project, a four‑year public‑private partnership designed to strengthen labour rights in Brazil’s coffee supply chains. The initiative will focus on tackling child labour, preventing forced labour violations, and promoting fair recruitment practices in key coffee‑producing… [Read More]

Bogotá — May 27, 2026 — More than 30 representatives from workers’ organisations, companies, and public institutions in Colombia’s coffee, banana, and palm oil sectors have completed the RURALIA diploma programme on living wages and incomes, promoted by the International Labour Organization (ILO). The 100‑hour programme combined in‑person, virtual, and asynchronous sessions, equipping participants with knowledge on… [Read More]

Ha Noi — May 27, 2026 — The Government of Viet Nam has approved a groundbreaking Programme to Support Sustainable Business (2026–2030), marking a major step toward embedding sustainability in the country’s private sector. Signed under Decision No. 926/QD‑TTg, the programme provides a comprehensive framework to promote responsible and resilient enterprise growth, balancing economic efficiency, social responsibility, and… [Read More]

Kampala — May 28, 2026 — The National Organisation of Trade Unions (NOTU), with support from the International Labour Organization (ILO) through the PROSPECTS programme, convened a national dialogue in Kampala to address challenges and opportunities in Uganda’s growing platform economy. The meeting brought together trade unions, platform workers, service providers, academics, government officials, UNHCR representatives, and… [Read More]

Rome — May 28, 2026 — The International Labour Organization (ILO) and the Centro Studi di Politica Internazionale (CeSPI) have launched a new programme to strengthen financial education among migrant worker communities in Italy. The initiative equips Embassies, Consulates, and community leaders with certified training tools to promote financial inclusion and decent work. Funded by the Asylum,… [Read More]

Lusaka — May 28, 2026 — The International Labour Organization (ILO) and the European Union (EU) have facilitated a landmark Ghana–Zambia exchange mission aimed at enhancing collaboration in skills development, technical and vocational education and training (TVET), and employability. During a private‑sector engagement forum at the Zambia Institute for Tourism and Hospitality Studies (ZITHS), Permanent Secretary Zechariah Luhanga… [Read More]

Washington — May 27, 2026 — A new World Bank Group report, Waste, Reimagined: Practical Guidance for Digitalizing Waste Management, reveals how digital tools can help cities reduce waste‑management costs, improve service reliability, and advance circular‑economy goals. The report underscores that global municipal solid waste is projected to rise by 50 percent by 2050, reaching nearly 3.9 billion tonnes. Without action, health… [Read More]

Chișinău — May 28, 2026 — More than 31,000 girls from 204 schools across the Republic of Moldova will benefit from free menstrual products during the 2026–2027 academic year, funded through the state budget. The initiative, part of the EduLIFE School Programme, aims to create a safe, inclusive, and supportive school environment for adolescent girls. Launched in… [Read More]

Madrid — May 27, 2026 — The European Investment Bank (EIB) has signed an agreement with Spanish credit rating agency INBONIS to help innovative startups and scaleups across Europe gain easier access to bank financing. The initiative, funded by the InvestEU Advisory Hub, will pilot how independent credit ratings can accelerate funding for high‑growth companies. Through EIB… [Read More]

Mexico City — May 27, 2026 — The European Investment Bank (EIB) has signed a €150 million loan agreement with Bancomext, Mexico’s state development bank, to support private‑sector investments in climate action, circular economy, and social development. This marks the EIB’s first operation in Mexico since 2020 and a major step toward deepening cooperation between Mexico and the… [Read More]

Paris — May 28, 2026 — The European Investment Bank (EIB) has granted a €300 million loan to French seed producer Limagrain to accelerate research and development in plant genetics and reinforce Europe’s agricultural independence. The financing, one of the EIB’s largest operations in the agricultural sector, will help Limagrain develop more productive, resilient, and sustainable crops. The… [Read More]

Linz — May 28, 2026 — Officials from the European Investment Bank (EIB) Group and UniCredit Bank Austria visited Austrian pipe and climate‑control systems manufacturer KE KELIT to showcase how European financing is driving technological innovation, sustainability, and digital transformation among small and medium‑sized enterprises (SMEs). KE KELIT, a family‑owned company employing around 500 people, has benefited from loans… [Read More]

Brussels — May 27, 2026 — The European Investment Fund (EIF) and BCAS have announced a joint initiative to mobilize €72 million aimed at expanding access to professional training and upskilling opportunities across Europe. The partnership seeks to strengthen workforce development, support lifelong learning, and enhance employability in a rapidly evolving labor market. The new financing will help… [Read More]

Washington — May 27, 2026 — The World Bank Group has announced an 18‑month debarment with conditional release of China National Technical Import & Export Corporation (CNTIC), a Beijing‑based state‑owned enterprise specializing in technology trade and engineering. The sanction follows findings of fraudulent practices affecting three World Bank‑financed energy projects in Pakistan, Bangladesh, and the Maldives. The… [Read More]

Maseru — May 27, 2026 — The World Bank Group has approved a $50 million credit under the Accelerating Sustainable and Clean Energy Access Transformation in Lesotho (ASCENT–Lesotho) project to expand reliable, affordable electricity to nearly 147,000 residents and businesses. The initiative aims to reduce energy poverty, strengthen household incomes, and boost private sector growth through integrated electrification… [Read More]

Bridgetown — May 27, 2026 — A new World Bank Education Public Expenditure Review has found that while Barbados invests heavily in education, the country must sharpen its focus on translating this investment into workforce‑ready skills. The report was released during the launch of the Barbados Education Sector Transformation program, which aims to align education with national… [Read More]

Kingston — May 27, 2026 — Jamaica’s Programme of Advancement Through Health and Education (PATH) is proving that social protection and school quality can work hand in hand to improve educational outcomes. The conditional cash transfer program, which provides financial support to low‑income families in exchange for school attendance and health checkups, has helped raise primary and… [Read More]