As population ageing accelerates across Asia and the Pacific, driving higher rates of noncommunicable diseases (NCDs), the Government of Kanagawa Prefecture in Japan and the WHO Western Pacific Regional Office have formalized a partnership to address these megatrends and inform regional health policy. The agreement was signed in Yokohama by Kanagawa Governor Yuji Kuroiwa and… [Read More]
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Unlocking Timor-Leste’s Economic Potential Through Land Reform, Says World Bank
Timor-Leste’s economy grew by 4.1 percent in 2024, marking its fastest pace in years. While growth has continued into 2025, sustaining this momentum and ensuring long-term prosperity will require reforms to strengthen land governance, reduce dependence on Petroleum Fund withdrawals, broaden domestic revenues, and enhance the efficiency of public spending. The September 2025 edition of… [Read More]
Enhancing Revenue Collection and Public Spending Efficiency to Strengthen Uganda’s Economy
Uganda’s economy continues to demonstrate strong performance, with real GDP accelerating from 6.1% to 6.8% between July 2024 and March 2025, according to the World Bank’s 25th Uganda Economic Update: Increasing Uganda’s Fiscal Space through Improved Revenue Mobilization and Enhanced Efficiency of Spending and Service Delivery. Growth was primarily driven by the supply side, particularly… [Read More]
Uganda Can Accelerate Economic Growth Through Improved Fiscal Management and Job Creation
Uganda’s economic growth remained strong, with real GDP rising from 6.1% to 6.8% between July 2024 and March 2025, driven largely by agriculture, manufacturing, construction, and household and government consumption, while the services sector experienced a slowdown. Inflation remained moderate at 3.5% in FY2024/2025, below the central bank’s 5% target, supported by stable food supply,… [Read More]
World Bank Supports Costa Rica in Strengthening Public Finances and Employment Opportunities
The World Bank’s Executive Board has approved a US$300 million loan to support Costa Rica in improving fiscal management and promoting sustainable economic activities that generate quality jobs, particularly in rural and coastal areas. The initiative aims to modernize fiscal and environmental policies to enhance service delivery in key sectors such as health, education, and… [Read More]
Rwanda Receives Enhanced World Bank Support to Tackle Natural Disaster Risks
The World Bank Board of Executive Directors has approved a Disaster Risk Management Development Policy Financing (DPF) with a Catastrophe Deferred Drawdown Option (Cat DDO) for Rwanda, aimed at strengthening the country’s ability to anticipate, prepare for, and respond to disasters, protecting both lives and livelihoods. This initiative comes as Rwanda faces increasing vulnerability to… [Read More]
Driving Clean Transport: Rwanda Invests in Energy Infrastructure for E-Mobility
Rwanda’s ambitious plan to electrify 20 percent of its bus fleet by 2030 will require significant investment in energy infrastructure, clear policy frameworks, and innovative financing, according to a new World Bank report. The study, Exploring Enabling Energy Frameworks for Electric Mobility in Rwanda, evaluates the readiness of the power sector to support the transition,… [Read More]
Central Viet Nam to Gain Flood Resilience and Better Connectivity with World Bank Support
The World Bank’s Board of Executive Directors has approved a new project designed to strengthen flood protection and transport connectivity in Da Nang City and Gia Lai Province in central Viet Nam. The initiative will benefit more than 1.2 million people by enhancing flood safety, ensuring reliable evacuation routes, and improving consistent access to markets… [Read More]
New Africa Water Center Launched in West Africa to Tackle Drought Challenges
A two-day High-Level Forum on Defying Drought (D2) in West Africa concluded in Ouagadougou with strong commitments to tackle the growing challenges of drought in the region against the backdrop of climate change and population growth. Senior policymakers from Burkina Faso, Chad, Mali, Mauritania, Niger, and Senegal, alongside experts from Morocco, Brazil, and various development… [Read More]
Rwanda: Korea and WFP Launch $1.2 Million Initiative for Sustainable Farming and Green Employment
The Korea International Cooperation Agency (KOICA) and the United Nations World Food Programme (WFP) have signed a grant arrangement worth USD 1.2 million to support sustainable agriculture and youth employment in Rwanda’s Gatsibo District. The signing ceremony in Kigali brought together KOICA Country Director Jinhwa Kim and WFP Rwanda Deputy Country Director Kaori Ura. This… [Read More]
Ireland Donates €4.5 Million to WFP Uganda to Support Refugees and Host Communities
The Government of Ireland has announced a contribution of EUR 4.5 million (USD 5.3 million) to the United Nations World Food Programme (WFP) in Uganda, aimed at strengthening the resilience of vulnerable communities in Karamoja and refugee-hosting regions. The partnership will combine food assistance, school feeding, livelihoods, and social protection initiatives to benefit nearly one… [Read More]
Youth4Climate Flagship Event 2025 to Empower Youth at Pre-COP30 in Brasília
More than 150 young climate leaders from around the world and across Brazil will gather in Brasília from 12-14 October for the Youth4Climate Flagship Event 2025, held alongside Pre-COP30. Organized by the Italian Ministry of Environment and Energy Security (MASE) and the UNDP Rome Centre for Climate Action and Energy Transition, in collaboration with the… [Read More]
UN Agencies Launch Programme to Build Climate-Resilient Rural Communities in Western China
The United Nations agencies UNICEF, UNDP, and UNFPA have launched a joint programme to support the development of child-friendly, climate-resilient, and prosperous rural communities in four regions of Western China. The initiative, titled “Building Child-Friendly, Climate-Resilient, and Prosperous Rural Communities in the Western Region of China,” has secured US $5.5 million in funding and will… [Read More]
Guatemala Receives World Bank Support to Strengthen Climate and Disaster Resilience
The World Bank’s Executive Board has approved a project to strengthen Guatemala’s resilience to natural hazards and extreme climate events. The initiative aims to enhance institutional capacity to manage risks and protect vulnerable groups, including women heads of household, Indigenous peoples, persons with disabilities, and residents of informal settlements. By targeting areas with high exposure… [Read More]
New World Bank Initiative Aims to Bring Safe Water and Sanitation to Millions in Sierra Leone
The World Bank Board of Executive Directors has approved the Sierra Leone Water Security and WASH Access Improvement Project, supported by a $40 million International Development Association (IDA) grant targeting the Western Area. This initiative marks the first phase of a Multiphase Programmatic Approach, totaling $180 million over the next decade, aimed at improving institutional… [Read More]
BCR Social Finance Receives €25 Million from CEB to Support Inclusive Romanian Entrepreneurs
The Council of Europe Development Bank (CEB) and BCR Social Finance (BCRSF), a non-bank financial institution, have signed a €25 million loan agreement to enhance financial inclusion and support micro-enterprises, farmers, and social economy entities across Romania. The funding will target underserved communities, with a special focus on women entrepreneurs, young people, and rural households…. [Read More]
Empowering Women Boosts Water Management Efficiency in Indian Villages
A recent study in Madhya Pradesh, India, highlights the critical role of women in driving sustainable development through participation in local governance. Evidence from India shows that legally mandated quotas for women on village councils, combined with low-caste and minority representation, have expanded access to public goods like drinking water. These policies have given women… [Read More]
South Africa Hosts Launch of Africa’s AI Safety, Peace, and Security Hub
The African Hub on AI Safety, Peace and Security has been launched at the University of Cape Town, South Africa, on the margins of the G20 2025 ministerial meetings. As part of the Artificial Intelligence for Development (AI4D) network, the hub aims to address urgent risks and opportunities posed by artificial intelligence within African contexts…. [Read More]
What Happens to African Trade if AGOA Comes to an End?
The African Growth and Opportunity Act (AGOA) is a US trade preference program launched in May 2000 to support sub-Saharan African economies. It provides duty-free access to the US market for over 1,800 products from eligible African countries. Currently, 32 countries benefit from AGOA, with 21 “lesser developed countries” also receiving special preferential treatment for… [Read More]
€545 Million EU Funding Package to Accelerate Renewable Energy Expansion in Africa
European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen has announced a €545 million Team Europe package to accelerate Africa’s clean energy transition. Unveiled via video message at the Global Citizen Festival during the United Nations General Assembly, the funding supports the ‘Scaling Up Renewables in Africa’ campaign, co-hosted with South African President Cyril Ramaphosa, which aims… [Read More]
WTO–ITC Fund Receives $200,000 from Bahrain to Support Women in Trade
The Women Exporters in the Digital Economy (WEIDE) Fund, launched in February 2024 at the WTO’s 13th Ministerial Conference in Abu Dhabi, is a $50 million initiative jointly funded and managed by the WTO Secretariat and the International Trade Centre (ITC). The Fund provides grants, mentorship, and access to international business networks, enabling women entrepreneurs… [Read More]
Sustainable Agriculture Success Stories: Scaling Practices for Global Impact
The Food Securities Fund (FSF) demonstrates how targeted financial innovation can unlock sustainable and equitable agriculture financing. Developed by Clarmondial with support from the Global Environment Facility (GEF) through Conservation International, the fund leverages blended finance to channel investment into agricultural supply chains in emerging and developing markets. By providing pre-harvest working capital, FSF enables… [Read More]
The Elsie Initiative Fund Expands Support for Uniformed Women Peacekeepers in South Sudan
The Elsie Initiative Fund (EIF) has announced funding for a two-year pilot project with the United Nations Mission in South Sudan (UNMISS) aimed at improving conditions for uniformed women peacekeepers deployed to remote areas. Assessments conducted by UNMISS between 2022 and 2024 revealed that inadequate accommodation and water, sanitation, and hygiene facilities within Company Operating… [Read More]
