Malaysia is facing a rapidly aging population, with projections indicating that 14% of its citizens will be aged 65 or older by 2045 and 20% by 2056. However, the country’s social pension coverage remains among the lowest globally. The Bantuan Warga Emas (BWE) currently reaches only about 4% of the elderly, and although around 60%… [Read More]
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WFP Partners with Michael Kors in $2.7 Million Initiative to Combat Hunger in Sri Lanka
The United Nations World Food Programme (WFP) has received a generous contribution of US$2.7 million from global fashion brand Michael Kors to strengthen Sri Lanka’s National School Meals Programme. The funding, made through Michael Kors’ long-running “Watch Hunger Stop” campaign, will support WFP’s Home-Grown School Feeding (HGSF) initiative, which connects school meal programs with local… [Read More]
Green Climate Fund Backs $250 Million ADB Initiative to Tackle Glacial Melt in Central and South Asia
The Green Climate Fund (GCF) has approved $250 million for the “Glaciers to Farms” program, an initiative led by the Asian Development Bank (ADB) to help communities in glacier-dependent regions of Central Asia, the South Caucasus, and Pakistan adapt to the growing impacts of climate change. The program aims to build resilient water and agriculture… [Read More]
Kiribati to Boost Education Access with $30 Million Asian Development Bank Grant
The Asian Development Bank (ADB) has approved a $30 million grant to enhance access to quality education in Kiribati, focusing on improving primary and secondary schooling. The Equitable Access to Quality Education Project aims to provide students—particularly those in remote and outer island communities—with modern, disaster-resilient learning environments that promote inclusion and equal opportunity. The… [Read More]
India to Expand Solar-Powered Agriculture with $460 Million ADB Loan
The Asian Development Bank (ADB) has approved a $460 million results-based loan to modernize rural power infrastructure and promote renewable energy adoption in India’s state of Maharashtra. The Maharashtra Power Distribution Enhancement Program for Agricultural Solarization aims to improve agricultural productivity by providing farmers with reliable daytime solar electricity for irrigation. This initiative supports Maharashtra’s… [Read More]
Africa Embraces Circular Economy Solutions for Sustainable Growth
On the outskirts of Addis Ababa, 30-year-old Behailu Seboka, founder of Askema Engineering, is turning waste into opportunity. His company manufactures brake pads from discarded slaughterhouse materials—a business that started as a university project and now employs 268 people while serving 6,400 customers across Ethiopia. Askema Engineering, featured at the 2025 Annual Meeting of the… [Read More]
African Development Bank Group Advances Civil Society Partnerships Through Regional Consultations
The African Development Bank Group is convening Regional Consultations on the Civil Society Engagement Capacity Building Workplan, inviting civil society organizations (CSOs) from across Africa to participate. The consultations will be held virtually via Zoom on October 29, 2025 (in English) and November 3, 2025 (in French). Organized by the Bank’s Civil Society and Community… [Read More]
AfDB Empowers Tanzania with Training to Advance Sustainable Development Goals
Tanzania has taken a significant step toward advancing sustainable development by strengthening the capacity of project implementers to apply environmental and social safeguards effectively. More than 80 participants from government ministries, project teams, environmental agencies, and development partners, including the World Bank, attended a week-long training in Arusha on the African Development Bank’s Updated Integrated… [Read More]
Mozambique Enhances Climate Disaster Preparedness with AfDB-Led Training Programme
Mozambique has taken a significant step toward strengthening its disaster resilience through the launch of the Drone-Based Disaster Management Project, jointly implemented by the African Development Bank, the Government of Mozambique, and Korea’s Busan Techno Park. The initiative introduces advanced drone and data technologies to enhance the country’s capacity to anticipate, monitor, and respond to… [Read More]
Ending Poverty in a World of Plenty: Key Challenges and Solutions
The 2030 Agenda is built on a core principle: development must prioritize people and the planet. This vision stems from the first World Summit for Social Development held in Copenhagen in 1995, which established a long-term path for global progress. Ending poverty remains central to this mission — ensuring dignity, fairness, and opportunity for every… [Read More]
Calls Grow for International Action Against Human Rights Abuses in Kashmir
Pakistan’s Federal Minister for Climate Change and Environmental Coordination, Dr. Musadik Malik, has urged the international community to end its silence over what he described as systematic and ongoing human rights violations in Indian Illegally Occupied Jammu and Kashmir (IIOJK). His remarks came as Pakistan observed Kashmir Black Day on Monday, commemorating the day in… [Read More]
Mali Urged to Release Former Prime Minister Moussa Mara and End Crackdown on Rights
Amnesty International has condemned the conviction of former Malian Prime Minister Moussa Mara, calling it a serious miscarriage of justice and demanding his immediate release. Mara has been sentenced to two years in prison, including one year mandatory, and fined on charges related to “discrediting the state” and other alleged offenses. The organization argues that… [Read More]
Teiu Cultural Hall Reopens After Major Renovation Backed by EU and UNDP
The Cultural Hall in Teiu, located on the left bank of the Nistru River, has reopened after its first major renovation in 55 years. The restoration was made possible through the European Union’s Confidence Building Measures Programme, implemented by UNDP. With an investment of approximately €103,907, the project carried out essential repairs to enhance event… [Read More]
IRC & GiveWell Partner to Provide Safe Water for 1.7 Million People in Chad, Nigeria & Somalia
The International Rescue Committee (IRC) has partnered with GiveWell to launch a new initiative that will bring safe, clean drinking water to communities in Nigeria, Chad, and Somalia affected by conflict and climate crises. The project will introduce in-line chlorination technology to improve access to safe water for displaced people and vulnerable host populations who… [Read More]
Turning Vision into Action: UNFPA–UNDP Launch Joint Country Programmes to Advance Ethiopia’s Future
The United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) and the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), in collaboration with Ethiopia’s Ministry of Finance, officially launched their new Country Programmes for 2025–2030 in Addis Ababa. The joint initiative represents a renewed partnership to advance Ethiopia’s development priorities in line with the United Nations Sustainable Development Cooperation Framework, the Government’s… [Read More]
UNDP and UNFPA Unveil 2025–2030 Country Programmes to Support Inclusive Growth and Human Development
The speech reflects on the global commitment made ten years ago by world leaders, including Ethiopia, to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). These goals aim to eradicate poverty, protect the planet, and ensure dignity and equality for all. Ethiopia has strongly embraced this agenda, integrating it into its national development plans and making progress… [Read More]
UNDP Unveils New Initiative to Fight Climate Change Misinformation
The United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) has launched a new global campaign, #ClimateCounts, designed to communicate the urgency of climate action through powerful numbers and visuals. The campaign highlights 30 climate facts in a visually engaging way to make climate change more relatable and motivate individuals to act. This initiative comes ahead of the COP30… [Read More]
Government Announces Additional Support for Communities Impacted by Extreme Weather
The Government has announced an additional $100,000 in funding to support communities in Kaikōura and Hurunui affected by recent severe weather. Minister for Emergency Management and Recovery, Mark Mitchell, stated that this new funding will go toward the Mayoral Relief Funds, with each district receiving $25,000 to assist with ongoing response and recovery efforts. This… [Read More]
Hunger Crisis Deepens for Refugees Seeking Safety in Ethiopia
Thousands of South Sudanese refugees are fleeing escalating violence and hunger, seeking safety in Ethiopia’s western Gambella Region. Among them is Nyibol, a mother of four, who walked for two weeks with no food before reaching Ethiopia. Though she and her children escaped the conflict, they now face hunger and uncertainty as humanitarian funding shortfalls… [Read More]
Green Groups Turn Down Water Firm’s Funding Citing Ethical Issues
Little Green Change, an environmental education group based in Lyme Regis, Dorset, has turned down a grant of £4,825 from South West Water’s (SWW) community fund, citing concerns over “greenwashing.” The not-for-profit social enterprise, which runs sustainability and environmental awareness programs across South West England, stated that accepting the funds would contradict its mission to… [Read More]
Hurricane Melissa: Direct Relief Mobilizes $250,000 and Emergency Medical Supplies for the Caribbean
Hurricane Melissa, now a Category 5 storm, is devastating parts of the Caribbean, prompting Direct Relief to commit an initial $250,000 in financial assistance and make its entire medical inventory available to regional health providers. The hurricane is bringing catastrophic rain, flooding, and winds exceeding 150 miles per hour, with Jamaica and Cuba preparing for… [Read More]
Caribbean Development Bank Funds Strategic Plan to Strengthen Haiti’s Agricultural Bank
The Caribbean Development Bank (CDB), through its Caribbean Technological Consultancy Services (CTCS) Network, has provided a grant of USD 72,163 to support Haiti’s Banque Nationale de Développement Agricole (BNDA) in completing its new five-year Strategic Plan. This initiative aims to strengthen BNDA’s institutional capacity and improve access to finance for agricultural stakeholders across the country…. [Read More]
Massive Investment to Drive Business Expansion and Innovation Across Victoria
The Allan Labor Government has announced a $75 million investment in five specialized venture capital funds to help innovative Victorian companies expand and thrive. This strategic move, led by Minister for Economic Growth and Jobs Danny Pearson, aims to support startups in sectors such as climate technology, health and life sciences, high-growth tech, and female-led… [Read More]
