The COVID-19 pandemic has caused significant disruptions to health systems worldwide, particularly in low- and middle-income countries with fragile infrastructures and limited resources. In sub-Saharan Africa, where communicable diseases such as HIV, malaria, tuberculosis (TB), and vaccine-preventable illnesses remain prevalent, these disruptions threaten to reverse years of progress in disease control and prevention. Measures implemented… [Read More]
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Nepal Launches National Campaign to Integrate Informal Workers into Social Security System
Nepal has launched a National Campaign on Social Security for Informal Workers and the Self-Employed, marking a major step toward extending social protection to millions of workers outside formal safety nets. The initiative aims to provide access to social security throughout the life cycle, promoting equity, economic resilience, and inclusive development. The scale of the… [Read More]
European Union Delivers Relief to Flood-Affected Communities in Iraq
Following severe flooding caused by heavy rainfall in northern Iraq earlier this month, the European Union has allocated €100,000 in humanitarian funding to support communities most affected by the disaster. The assistance aims to address urgent needs arising from widespread damage to homes, livelihoods, and essential services. The EU funding is being channelled through the… [Read More]
EU-Funded “Digital Detectives” Project Launches Fact-Checking Club at Youth Affairs Agency
On 25 December 2025 in Tashkent, Uzbekistan, the EU-funded project “Digital Detectives” officially launched a Fact-Checking Club at the Youth Affairs Agency of Uzbekistan, in collaboration with the initiative Qizlar Ovozi (Voices of Girls). The opening ceremony marked a significant milestone in efforts to strengthen media literacy and fact-checking capacity among young people, while also… [Read More]
AfDB Group Mobilizes Global Private Capital to Address Africa’s Financing Gap
Building on the successful conclusion of the 17th replenishment of the African Development Fund, which mobilised $11 billion for Africa’s most vulnerable countries, the African Development Bank Group and the Government of the United Kingdom convened global investors in London to accelerate a new phase of private capital mobilisation for Africa’s development. The initiative aims… [Read More]
$8.7 Million Federal Education Innovation and Research Grant Awarded to Delaware Department of Education
The Delaware Department of Education (DDOE) has been awarded $8.7 million through the U.S. Department of Education’s Education Innovation and Research (EIR) program, a competitive federal initiative that funds evidence-based solutions to persistent educational challenges. This award is part of a $256 million national investment supporting 24 new EIR projects in Fiscal Year 2025, including… [Read More]
$450 Million India Aid to Sri Lanka Announced for Cyclone Ditwah Recovery Under Operation Sagar Bandhu
India has announced a $450 million assistance package to support Sri Lanka’s recovery from the severe devastation caused by Cyclone Ditwah, marking a major step in bilateral cooperation. The announcement was made on 23 December 2025 by External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar during his visit to Colombo, where he met with Sri Lankan President Anura… [Read More]
Europe’s 2025 Takeaways: Preparing for 2026 Challenges
In the autumn of 2025, a realization settled over Europe: the continent’s challenge was not decline, but habit. Decades of operating on inherited postwar capital had created the illusion of stability, masking the need for active maintenance. By 2025, the accumulation of small economic, political, and strategic shifts made it clear that Europe’s structural assumptions… [Read More]
From Crisis to Recovery: Advancing Stability and Peace in Syria
During a visit to seven of Syria’s fourteen governorates last October, Syrians expressed that their greatest needs were access to health services, education, housing, and employment. After over a decade of conflict, approximately 7.4 million people remain internally displaced, and 1.2 million refugees who have returned lack the means to sustain livelihoods. Support from the… [Read More]
UNDP and Swiss Insurers Collaborate to Enhance Local Resilience
The climate crisis is intensifying, and its impacts are disproportionately borne by communities in the Global South, who are the most vulnerable yet least responsible for climate change. For the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), the focus is not on whether disasters will occur, but on how to help these communities recover quickly and build… [Read More]
Youth Empowerment in Review: Major Lessons and Insights from the Year
As the year concludes, one thing is evident: youth empowerment is a practice, not just a concept. Across East Africa, young people have demonstrated the possibilities that emerge when opportunity meets preparation, education is paired with action, and communities invest in their own future. Through Asante Africa Foundation’s programs, 2025 has offered valuable lessons on… [Read More]
Top Lessons Entrepreneurs Can Learn from Startup Failures
Investing in startups carries high risk, with around nine out of ten startups failing. As a result, most active startup investors are likely to encounter failed investments at some point. Understanding the reasons behind startup failures can help investors make better decisions and apply valuable lessons to future investments. One common cause of startup failure… [Read More]
Strengthening Safeguards: UNFPA Launches PSEAH Standards for Guyana’s Public Sector
The introduction of the Protection from Sexual Exploitation, Abuse, and Harassment (PSEAH) Guidelines and Standards for the public sector in Guyana represents a decisive reaffirmation of ethical integrity and professional accountability. The initiative establishes a definitive framework for conduct within the Gender-Based Violence (GBV) prevention and response ecosystem and forms part of the Government of… [Read More]
IFC and Central Puerto Accelerate Strategic Energy Investments in Argentina
Buenos Aires, December 23, 2025 — The International Finance Corporation (IFC), a member of the World Bank Group, announced a strategic investment in Central Puerto S.A., one of Argentina’s leading electricity generation companies. The investment aims to enhance the reliability and flexibility of the national power system, support greater integration of renewable energy, and boost… [Read More]
PKR 33.6 Billion Agri Financing: IFC, Standard Chartered Pakistan, and Engro Fertilizers Strengthen Pakistan’s Farming Sector
In December 2025, the International Finance Corporation (IFC) announced its first local currency investment in Pakistan, providing an unfunded Partial Credit Guarantee of up to PKR 33.6 billion (around US$120 million) to support Standard Chartered Bank Pakistan’s long-term financing to Engro Fertilizers. This landmark financing is designed to strengthen Pakistan’s agri-value chain by mobilizing domestic… [Read More]
Supporting Small Businesses: IFC, BRED Bank Vanuatu, and BRED Bank Solomon Drive SME Growth
The International Finance Corporation (IFC), a member of the World Bank Group focused on the private sector, has announced a partnership with BRED Bank Vanuatu and BRED Bank Solomon to enhance financing access for institutional commercial customers. The initiative aims to support business growth and job creation in Vanuatu and the Solomon Islands, where SMEs… [Read More]
How IDB Invest Supports Caribbean Businesses to Weather Economic and Climate Shocks
Caribbean Small Island Developing States (SIDS) are highly vulnerable to extreme weather events, a reality highlighted by Hurricane Melissa in November 2025. The hurricane caused extensive damage, including torn-off roofs, flooded ground floors, and snapped power lines. In Jamaica alone, damages were estimated at US$8.8 billion, representing roughly 41% of the country’s 2024 GDP, with… [Read More]
Boosting Literacy Education: UIL Introduces New Digital Skills Course for Teachers
The UNESCO Institute for Lifelong Learning (UIL), in partnership with Huawei and as part of the Global Alliance for Literacy (GAL), has developed a new multilingual course aimed at empowering literacy educators with essential digital skills. This initiative emphasizes the growing importance of digital competencies for educators in guiding learners through an increasingly technology-driven society…. [Read More]
How ANLCA’s Khalid Fettah is Driving Digital Skills and Inclusive Literacy
Since 2023, the National Agency for the Fight Against Illiteracy (ANLCA) in Morocco has partnered with the UNESCO Institute for Lifelong Learning (UIL), with support from Huawei, to integrate digital technology into adult literacy programmes. This effort is part of Morocco’s National Literacy Strategy 2023–2035 and aims to modernize teaching methods, expand access to training,… [Read More]
Advancing Sustainability: Timor-Leste’s First Ecohydrology Demonstration Project
Timor-Leste is facing increasing vulnerability to natural hazards such as droughts, floods, and erosion, which are further intensified by climate change. These challenges threaten water availability, ecosystem health, and local livelihoods. To address these risks, Nature-Based Solutions (NbS) and ecohydrology approaches provide a resilient framework for integrated management of water and ecosystems, tailored to the… [Read More]
How Living Heritage Supports Displaced Communities in Greece
UNESCO’s pilot initiative in Greece highlights the crucial role of intangible cultural heritage in supporting displaced communities. Recognizing that conflict erodes not only physical monuments but also traditions and community practices, the initiative aims to safeguard living heritage as a tool for resilience, cultural continuity, and dialogue. Implemented in partnership with the Hellenic Ministry of… [Read More]
Kazakhstan Integrates Media and Information Literacy into School Curriculum
In 2025, Kazakhstan took significant steps to integrate Media and Information Literacy (MIL) into its compulsory education system, aiming to equip students with the skills to actively participate in the media environment, critically analyse information, create content, and engage responsibly in social and civic processes. The UNESCO Regional Office in Almaty collaborated with the National… [Read More]
OECMs and the One Health Approach: Advancing the Global Biodiversity Framework
As countries work to implement the Global Biodiversity Framework (GBF), increasing attention is being paid to how area-based conservation can support biodiversity while also benefiting human and animal health. The 1Health4Nature webinar, Beyond Protected Areas: understanding the role of Other Effective Area-Based Conservation Measures (OECMs), held on 9 December 2025, explored how OECMs can complement… [Read More]
