Proparco, with support from the French Ministry for Europe and Foreign Affairs, is providing technical assistance for the second phase of a financial inclusion project in Uganda, implemented by the Grameen Crédit Agricole Foundation in partnership with UGAFODE Microfinance Limited and VisionFund Uganda. The project focuses on expanding access to financial services for refugees and… [Read More]
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Advancing Sustainability: Grupo Promerica Partners with Proparco on $50M Green Building Project
Grupo Promerica, a leading financial group in Central America, has reinforced its commitment to sustainable development through a USD 50 million financing agreement with Proparco, a subsidiary of the Agence Française de Développement Group, directed to Banco Promerica Costa Rica. The loan aims to expand support for projects promoting sustainable and green buildings, directly aligning… [Read More]
Nigeria’s Creative Startup Scene Gets $1M Boost from Chocolate City Group Founders Fund
Chocolate City Group, one of Africa’s leading entertainment companies, has launched a $1 million Founders Fund to support early-stage startups in Nigeria’s growing creative sector. The announcement coincided with the company’s 20th anniversary and the 50th birthdays of co-founders Audu Maikori and Paul Okeugo. The fund is designed to provide equity investment and mentorship to… [Read More]
Norway to Contribute Funding Toward US Military Equipment for Ukraine
Norway has pledged to provide NOK 2 billion toward a new military support package for Ukraine, joining other European countries in funding high-priority defence equipment as part of the NATO-coordinated effort. Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Støre emphasized that continued military and civilian support is essential for Ukraine to defend itself against Russia, and that collective… [Read More]
Driving Change: Norway Targets Areas of Maximum Impact
The Norwegian Government has proposed an increase of NOK 80 million in 2026 to strengthen efforts promoting women’s rights, an area identified as having significant global importance where Norway can make a tangible impact. Women’s rights are facing growing pressures worldwide, and targeted support in this sector is considered critical to ensuring the ability of… [Read More]
Norway Pledges Increased Support for Ukrainian Civilians
The Norwegian Government has proposed increasing civilian support to Ukraine by NOK 15 billion in 2026, maintaining a total minimum allocation of NOK 85 billion for the year. This continues the record-high level of civilian and military assistance provided in 2025, with NOK 15 billion designated for civilian needs and NOK 70 billion for military… [Read More]
Boosting the Arts: Private Funding Expands Cultural Support in Nordic Countries
Cultural policy in the Nordic countries has increasingly shifted toward promoting private-sector funding, reflecting both similarities and differences across the region. A knowledge overview produced by the Swedish Agency for Cultural Policy Analysis for the Nordic Council of Ministers highlights that while Denmark relies heavily on foundations to support museums and cultural institutions, Sweden has… [Read More]
New Funding of £15.3 Million to Advance Health and Care Research
The National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR) has announced a £157 million investment over five years to support 10 Applied Research Collaborations (ARCs) across the UK. As part of this initiative, partners from the North East and North Cumbria have secured £15.3 million to establish a regional ARC hosted by the Cumbria, Northumberland,… [Read More]
Barbadian Youth Urge Investment in Resilience Over Disaster Relief
Young people from across Barbados took center stage in national discussions on resilience financing during a special National Youth Platform to mark the 2025 International Day for Disaster Risk Reduction. Under the global theme “Fund resilience, not disasters,” participants emphasized the urgent need to increase investments that protect communities from climate and disaster risks, highlighting… [Read More]
Building Resilience: Innovative Approaches to Humanitarian Funding
Humanitarian organizations are increasingly exploring innovative funding models to respond effectively to crises amid declining traditional government support. As conventional aid shrinks, many organizations have had to reduce operations, limiting their ability to reach vulnerable populations. Medair, for example, is adopting alternative financial approaches to maintain humanitarian impact while adhering to core principles, ensuring programs… [Read More]
Empowering Rural Women: Leading the Fight Against Climate Change and Poverty
Rural women play a vital role in sustaining families, strengthening communities, and shaping local economies, often working quietly yet with significant impact. Their contributions extend beyond labor, bringing hope, resilience, and progress, even as global challenges such as climate change, shifting international funding, and increasing pressures on food systems intensify. The recognition of their work… [Read More]
Nearly 6 Million Italians Struggle with Absolute Poverty, Report Shows
In 2024, over 2.2 million households in Italy, representing 8.4% of the nation’s families, were living in conditions of absolute poverty, according to data from Istat reported by ANSA. These households encompassed a total of 5.7 million individuals, meaning that 9.8% of Italy’s population was affected by absolute poverty, slightly up from 9.7% in 2023…. [Read More]
UNGA President Highlights India’s Poverty Reduction Through Smartphone Use
Dennis Francis, President of the 78th session of the UN General Assembly, praised India’s digitalization initiatives for their role in driving development and reducing poverty. He highlighted that over the past five to six years, smartphones have enabled 800 million people in India to escape poverty by facilitating easy access to financial services and accelerating… [Read More]
Promoting Health Equity: Health as a Human Right
The Council of Europe recently held a conference on the protection of health, highlighting its extensive work in healthcare across Europe. The organisation emphasised that health is a fundamental human right and showcased initiatives ranging from the ethical use of artificial intelligence in medical treatment to ensuring the quality of medicines and addressing medical disinformation,… [Read More]
Human Rights Body Highlights Belgium’s Declining Legal Protections
The Federal Institute for Human Rights (IFDH) has raised alarms over an “insidious and worrying” decline in the rule of law in Belgium, highlighting growing concerns about the country’s commitment to fundamental democratic principles. In its latest report, presented to members of parliament and the federal government at the start of the parliamentary session, the… [Read More]
UN Expert Urges Justice and Human Dignity for Gaza Amid Ongoing Conflict
GENEVA – The recent halt of the military assault in Gaza and the release of Israeli hostages and some detained Palestinians offers a rare moment of hope amid widespread suffering. However, the UN Special Rapporteur Bernard Duhaime emphasized that sustainable peace must be anchored in justice, inclusivity, and accountability, and must uphold the Palestinian people’s… [Read More]
Serbia’s Economic Growth Must Respect Human Rights and the Environment, Say UN Experts
The UN Working Group on Business and Human Rights has emphasized that Serbia’s economic development must be closely aligned with the protection of human rights. Experts Lyra Jakulevičienė and Robert McCorquodale acknowledged Serbia’s legal framework and efforts to meet EU standards on environmental protection and labor rights, but noted that implementation remains inconsistent and weak,… [Read More]
Voting Rights Under Scrutiny in High-Stakes US Supreme Court Case
On October 15, the U.S. Supreme Court will rehear Louisiana v. Callais, a case with far-reaching implications for Black voters’ ability to achieve equal representation in Congress. The central question is whether creating majority-Black districts, a measure designed to comply with the Voting Rights Act, constitutes unconstitutional racial discrimination. In 2022, Louisiana lawmakers drew a… [Read More]
Mexico’s Supreme Court Decision: A Step Forward, Yet Incomplete
On October 13, Martha García, a young disability activist and student at the National Autonomous University of Mexico, learned that the Supreme Court planned to change a legal precedent that could weaken the rights of people with disabilities to participate in the democratic process. In response, she and other activists organized a demonstration outside the… [Read More]
European Union Expands Support for UNHCR Winter Programs to Aid Ukrainians Impacted by Conflict
As Ukraine faces its fourth winter amid full-scale war, the European Union (EU) has announced an additional €12 million in support to UNHCR, the UN Refugee Agency, to provide life-saving winter assistance to 359,000 of the most vulnerable people affected by the conflict. The funding targets primarily families and individuals living near the frontline or… [Read More]
One Country One Priority Product Gains Momentum at WFF 2025 Special Event
At the World Food Forum 2025 in Rome, the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) hosted a high-level event to accelerate the implementation of the One Country One Priority Product (OCOP) Initiative, a flagship program designed to strengthen the value chains of crops, forestry, fishery, and livestock products. Since its launch in… [Read More]
Healthy Nature, Resilient Food Systems: UN Awards Innovative World Restoration Flagships
The United Nations (UN) has announced four new World Restoration Flagships under the UN Decade on Ecosystem Restoration, recognizing large-scale initiatives that restore degraded ecosystems, support food security, and improve community livelihoods. The awards, presented at a high-level side event during the World Food Forum in Rome ahead of World Food Day, are led by… [Read More]
Canada Announces Emergency Assistance to Support Philippines Disaster Relief Efforts
In recent weeks, the Philippines has been hit by multiple natural disasters, including a tropical cyclone and earthquakes, causing loss of life and significant damage to homes and infrastructure. These events have severely impacted local communities and disrupted economic activities, prompting urgent humanitarian needs. In response, the Honourable Randeep Sarai, Canada’s Secretary of State (International… [Read More]
