In the aftermath of Hurricane Melissa, Jamaica has established a $1 billion fund to support tourism workers affected by the storm, with strong backing from both the government and private sector. Minister of Tourism Edmund Bartlett highlighted the rapid mobilization of the sector, emphasizing that the country’s tourism staff are its most valuable asset. The… [Read More]
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Jamaica Receives US$500,000 in Emergency Relief from CDF After Hurricane Melissa
The CARICOM Development Fund (CDF) has approved US$500,000 in emergency relief funding to assist the Government of Jamaica following the devastation caused by Hurricane Melissa. This decision, made by the CDF Board of Directors on 19 November 2025 under the Emergency Disaster Assistance Facility (EDAF), supplements a previous US$300,000 grant provided to the Caribbean Disaster… [Read More]
The Trillion-Dollar Opportunity: How the Energy Transition Is Redefining Smart Economics
The world is on track for far more than 1.5°C of warming, placing increasing pressure on businesses and financial institutions to respond to climate risk. UNEP FI’s Eric Usher highlights that while geopolitical shifts have caused some firms to tone down public climate commitments, many are quietly strengthening their sustainability strategies. This shift reflects the… [Read More]
ESCAP Backs Regional Push to Close US$4 Trillion Financing Gap Under Sevilla Commitment
Developing countries worldwide require an estimated US$4 trillion to advance their development agendas, and this financing gap is central to discussions among Asian and Pacific governments at a recent United Nations forum. Delegates emphasized the need to align national strategies with the newly adopted Sevilla Commitment, a global framework designed to mobilize large-scale investment for… [Read More]
Sudan Secures USD 4 Million from Kuwait Fund for New Recovery and Development Initiatives
Sudan is facing one of the world’s most severe humanitarian crises, with millions displaced and in urgent need of food, water and essential services. In response, UNDP and the Kuwait Fund for Arab Economic Development have signed two new development projects worth USD 4 million, alongside an additional USD 4.2 million contribution from Switzerland for… [Read More]
Recycling and Circular Economy Training Reaches 325 People in Antula and Safim
An intensive training programme on recycling, waste management and circular economy practices was recently carried out for the communities of Antula and Safim. Conducted under the Health Equity and Sanitation Project (GNB-HESP), the initiative is implemented by UNDP Guinea-Bissau with support from the Government of Japan and in partnership with ACRA and IMPACT HUB. A… [Read More]
US Says Global Diversity Policies Breach Human Rights Standards
The United States has introduced new rules that classify certain diversity, equity and inclusion policies, as well as other social measures implemented by foreign governments, as potential human rights violations. According to the State Department, these instructions will guide all US embassies and consulates in their contributions to the annual human rights report, marking a… [Read More]
Private Sector Joins Global Fund to Boost Access, Innovation and Health Impact
A surge of private sector and philanthropic support has generated US$1.34 billion for the Global Fund’s Eighth Replenishment, pushing the total private sector contributions since 2022 to US$1.49 billion. This marks the largest mobilization of private funding in the Global Fund’s history, demonstrating strong commitment to advancing innovation, expanding access, and strengthening health systems for… [Read More]
Funding Cuts Shut Down Critical Healthcare Access in War-Hit Ukraine
Lyudmila, a 66-year-old woman living near Kramatorsk in eastern Ukraine, anxiously awaits the arrival of a mobile medical team — one of the last remaining links to healthcare in a region shattered by war. Her son Maxim, paralyzed by a neurological illness, depends entirely on these rare visits for essential treatment. With the frontline only… [Read More]
Global Hunger Explained: What IPC Levels Reveal About Rising Food Insecurity
Ending global hunger begins with understanding its severity and scale. Hunger can range from missing occasional meals to going days without food, and the World Food Programme focuses on people facing the most dangerous levels of food insecurity. To identify who needs urgent help, hunger must be measured and monitored systematically. The Integrated Food Security… [Read More]
Strengthening Competition to Drive Inclusive Economic Growth in Armenia
Armenia’s newly released World Bank report highlights that stronger market competition is critical for accelerating the country’s economic growth. According to the analysis, concentrated markets undermine efficiency and fairness, limiting consumer choice and reducing opportunities for small producers. The report argues that improving the enforcement of competition rules and ensuring fairer supplier-retailer relationships would help… [Read More]
Extreme Weather Threatens Food Security: WFP Urges Major Boost in Disaster Risk Financing
The World Food Programme (WFP) warned that even a one-degree rise in global temperatures could push an additional 70 million people into food insecurity across 45 countries where it operates. As COP30 concludes in the Amazon, WFP highlighted how extreme weather is intensifying the global hunger crisis. Recent disasters such as Hurricane Melissa in the… [Read More]
Portugal Partners with WFP to Strengthen Child Nutrition in Lesotho
The World Food Programme has received a contribution of EUR 50,000 from the Government of Portugal to improve the diets of young children in Lesotho’s schools. The funding will support local vegetable and fruit production for school meals, helping provide nearly 1,000 children under five in the Berea district with more diverse and nutritious food… [Read More]
Asian Development Bank Announces $10 Billion Plan to Deepen CAREC Regional Integration
The Asian Development Bank announced that it will invest more than $10 billion through 2030 to strengthen projects under the Central Asia Regional Economic Cooperation (CAREC) Program. The commitment aims to advance regional goals of digital connectivity, economic resilience, environmental sustainability, and social inclusion. ADB President Masato Kanda emphasized that this expanded support will help… [Read More]
African Development Bank Greenlights $68 Million to Stabilize Electricity in Bamako
The African Development Bank Group has approved $68.26 million in financing to support Mali’s Bamako 225 KV North Loop Project, aimed at strengthening the city’s electricity network. The funding package includes concessional loans, transition support, and climate-focused contributions from multiple partners, forming part of a larger $190 million investment jointly financed by regional and international… [Read More]
UN-Supported Initiative Drives Digital and Economic Revival in Rural Indonesia
Members of the South Bandung Farming Cooperative have seen strong economic gains in the past two years, with productive loans rising by 38 per cent and sales volumes increasing by 43 per cent after the introduction of a digital business app. Cooperative head Aun Gunawan explained that easier access to financing allows farmers to expand… [Read More]
UN Decries Horrific Massacres Amid Rising Violence in DR Congo
The UN condemned one of the most shocking attacks in a rising wave of violence carried out by the Allied Democratic Forces, an armed extremist rebel group. During the assault in Byambwe, a remote community west of Lubero in North Kivu province, four hospital wards filled with patients were set on fire. The region has… [Read More]
UN Deputy Chief Urges Protection of Nigeria’s Schools After Latest Mass Abduction
It was first reported that 215 pupils had been kidnapped from St. Mary’s School in Papiri, Niger state, but the number was later revised to 303 students and 12 teachers, according to the Christian Association of Nigeria. The association’s chair, who visited the school, said more than 80 students were taken after attempting to flee… [Read More]
Climate Finance Surges at Belém COP30 as Nations Pledge a Managed Fossil Fuel Transition
UN climate chief Simon Stiell emphasized that a new clean economy is emerging as COP30 concluded after long negotiations that ran into early Saturday. He highlighted that the world is moving away from polluting systems, marking a shift in global climate ambition and cooperation. The conference produced major financial commitments, including a goal to mobilise… [Read More]
Lower Malaria Vaccine Costs to Protect an Extra 7 Million Children by 2030
The agreement will reduce the price of the R21/Matrix-M malaria vaccine to $2.99 per dose within a year, a move expected to generate savings of up to $90 million. These savings will enable countries to purchase more than 30 million additional doses over the next five years, significantly expanding access. Gavi officials highlighted that this… [Read More]
Upholding Life and Justice in Chad: A Human Rights Imperative
In recent years, violence between herders and farmers in Chad has sharply increased, resulting in significant loss of life and property. Between 2022 and 2024, Amnesty International documented seven violent incidents across the provinces of Moyen-Chari, Mandoul, Logone Oriental, and Logone Occidental, leaving at least 98 people dead, over 100 injured, and more than 600… [Read More]
EIB Group backs €17.7 billion in funding for semiconductors, green infrastructure, energy networks, and social housing
The European Investment Bank (EIB) Group has approved a €17.7 billion financing package to drive Europe’s green transition, strengthen economic competitiveness, and foster global partnerships. The investments will support innovation in semiconductor manufacturing, battery storage, and strategic infrastructure, while also addressing social priorities such as social housing in Belgium, climate adaptation projects in Italy and… [Read More]
Transnet secures €350 million EIB Global loan to drive South Africa’s green transformation
EIB Global has signed a €350 million loan agreement with South Africa’s state-owned transport and logistics company, Transnet, supported by a €21 million grant from the European Union, to advance the country’s green transition under the Just Energy Transition Partnership. The funding will modernize port and rail infrastructure, develop green hydrogen facilities, and promote cleaner… [Read More]
