Fiji has marked an important milestone in its economic development with the official launch of its first Agribusiness Incubation (ABI) Center. Designed as a hub for entrepreneurs, the center will provide critical support to Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) in the agricultural sector. It will offer business development services, training, mentorship, and improved access… [Read More]
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Nepal Prime Minister Resigns After Deadly Youth Protest Crackdown, UN Calls for Calm
Nepal has been plunged into crisis after youth-led protests against corruption, nepotism, and social media restrictions spiraled into widespread violence. The demonstrations, branded as a “Gen Z protest,” began peacefully on Monday but escalated after police responded with gunfire, leaving most of the dead and injured among young demonstrators. Hospitals continue to treat many in… [Read More]
Mastercard Foundation Invests $235 Million in Canadian Post-Secondary Institutions to Advance Reconciliation
The Mastercard Foundation has announced $235 million in funding to 30 post-secondary institutions and national Indigenous-led organizations in Canada to mark the 10th anniversary of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission’s Final Report and Calls to Action. This investment recognizes their achievements in advancing education for Indigenous youth and highlights the critical role education plays in… [Read More]
Canada Invests $28.7 Million to Train Clean Energy Workers and Advance AI Research
Canada has announced major new investments to prepare workers for the future of clean energy while strengthening the country’s artificial intelligence research capacity. The federal government emphasized the importance of equipping Canadians with the skills needed to thrive in an evolving energy sector, while ensuring researchers and innovators have access to the advanced AI tools… [Read More]
Ireland Expands Humanitarian Support Across the Middle East, Says Minister Richmond
Ireland’s Minister of State for International Development and Diaspora, Neale Richmond, has announced a new package of funding to strengthen humanitarian support across the Middle East. The commitment includes multi-million-euro contributions directed to UN agencies and UNICEF to address urgent needs in conflict-affected areas. Announcing the decision, Minister Richmond highlighted the dangerous and volatile situation… [Read More]
UN Experts Call on US to Grant Visas to Palestinian Officials to Support Peace Efforts
UN experts have urged the United States to grant Palestinian leaders visas ahead of the UN General Assembly in New York, stressing that excluding them undermines the role of the UN as a hub for global diplomacy, peace, and human rights. They highlighted that the US has a long-standing tradition of facilitating access to the… [Read More]
EU Grants 87 Million Lei in Electricity Compensation to Support Entrepreneurs
The European Union, through the Organization for Entrepreneurship Development (ODA), has provided Moldovan entrepreneurs with electricity compensation amounting to over 87 million lei between January and August 2025. This assistance is part of the Compensation Programme launched by the Government of the Republic of Moldova with EU financial backing, designed to support businesses facing increased… [Read More]
EIB Global Launches Innovation and Green Transformation Facility to Boost Western Balkans Economy
The European Investment Bank (EIB Global) has announced the launch of the Innovation and Green Transformation Facility (IGTF), a new initiative designed to accelerate sustainable private sector growth in the Western Balkans. The programme aligns with the EU Economic and Investment Plan and the New Growth Plan for the region, further supporting integration into the… [Read More]
North Macedonia Strengthens Climate Finance with Support from the GFS Programme
A recent market study conducted under the Greening Financial Systems (GFS) programme surveyed over 300 medium and large enterprises across key industries in North Macedonia to evaluate sustainability practices, climate risk exposure and green finance adoption. The findings revealed low levels of awareness about the green economy, with only 7 per cent of respondents identifying… [Read More]
Ireland Contributes €200,000 to Promote Safe and Inclusive Trade in Developing Nations
Ireland has announced a contribution of EUR 200,000 (approximately CHF 187,400) to the Standards and Trade Development Facility (STDF) to help strengthen sanitary and phytosanitary (SPS) systems in developing countries. This latest funding brings Ireland’s total support to the STDF since 2007 to more than CHF 3.8 million. The contribution will help implement the STDF’s… [Read More]
Afghanistan Earthquake: 11,600 Pregnant Women in Urgent Need of Support
The earthquake that struck eastern Afghanistan on 31 August, followed by several aftershocks, has left an estimated 11,600 pregnant women in urgent need of assistance. Within hours of the disaster, UNFPA, the United Nations sexual and reproductive health agency, deployed emergency response and mobile health teams to assess needs and provide lifesaving healthcare and protection… [Read More]
KfW IPEX-Bank Arranges Syndicated Term Loan to Support Agrobank in Uzbekistan
KfW IPEX-Bank has successfully arranged a syndicated Term Loan Facility for Uzbekistan’s state-owned Agrobank, totaling EUR 120 million. The three-year facility is designed to refinance German and European exports and support the bank’s investments in green technologies, reflecting a targeted approach to sustainable and strategic financing. As Sole Bookrunner, KfW IPEX-Bank led the syndication process… [Read More]
Green Investments Partnership Secures US$510M in First Close under Singapore’s FAST-P Initiative
The Monetary Authority of Singapore (MAS) announced that the Green Investments Partnership (GIP), a blended finance fund under Singapore’s Financing Asia’s Transition Partnership (FAST-P) initiative, has achieved its first close with US$510 million in committed capital. This funding, contributed by a mix of global and regional private, public, and philanthropic institutions, will be deployed into… [Read More]
Minister Richmond Launches Civil Society Fund Application Process for NGOs
Minister of State for International Development and Diaspora, Neale Richmond TD, has officially launched the call for applications to the 2026 Civil Society Fund, which provides support for NGOs implementing development projects in countries eligible for Official Development Assistance. The Fund enables organizations to carry out initiatives in sectors such as education, health, human rights,… [Read More]
Climate Change Exacerbates Social Protection Gaps Across Europe and Central Asia
Despite relatively high social protection coverage in Europe and Central Asia, significant gaps in adequacy and inclusiveness remain, according to a new International Labour Organization (ILO) report. While 85.2 per cent of the population benefit from at least one social protection measure, 14.8 per cent remain entirely unprotected. Strengthening social protection systems is increasingly critical… [Read More]
Uzbekistan Boosts Labour Oversight with Intensive Training-of-Trainers Program
Uzbekistan is modernizing its labour inspection system through a recent training-of-trainers course held at the International Training Centre of the International Labour Organization (ITCILO) in Turin, Italy. This initiative, part of the ILO project “Improving labour inspection and occupational safety and health systems in Uzbekistan,” enabled four officials from Uzbekistan’s State Labour Inspectorate to complete… [Read More]
IOM Highlights Migration as a Crucial Strategy for Climate Resilience at Africa Summit
At the Second Africa Climate Summit (ACS2) in Ethiopia, the International Organization for Migration (IOM) is emphasizing the importance of strategically integrating climate-driven migration into Africa’s adaptation and resilience efforts. More than 25,000 delegates, including African leaders and experts, are convening to address urgent climate priorities, with IOM advocating for migration as a tool to… [Read More]
Accion Closes $61.6M Fund to Boost Early-Stage Inclusive Fintech Startups
Accion has officially closed its $61.6 million Accion Venture Lab Fund II, LP, now rebranded as Accion Ventures, to invest in early-stage fintech companies addressing the needs of financially underserved populations globally. Managed by Accion Impact Management, the fund will target up to 30 new investments across Africa, South and Southeast Asia, Latin America, and… [Read More]
African Leaders Advocate for Increased Climate Investment at Ethiopia Summit
African leaders convened in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, for the second Africa Climate Summit, calling for a shift from traditional climate aid to climate investment. The summit emphasized that Africa should be seen not as a victim of climate change, but as a continent with significant investment potential. With a population exceeding one billion, African nations… [Read More]
EU Donates €6 Million to Improve Education for Afghan Children with Save the Children
The European Union has signed a EUR 6 million grant agreement with Save the Children to launch the “Facilitating Access to Knowledge, Hope, and Education Resilience (FAKHAR)” initiative. This funding will provide safe, inclusive, gender-responsive, and uninterrupted quality learning opportunities for Afghan children, particularly those out-of-school, living with disabilities, or from vulnerable groups. The FAKHAR… [Read More]
European Union Allocates SBD 226 Million to Improve Water and Sanitation in Solomon Islands
The European Union (EU) and the European Investment Bank (EIB) have announced a €24 million (approximately SBD 226 million) funding package to upgrade the Solomon Islands’ urban water and sanitation systems. The announcement was made by European Commissioner for International Partnerships, Jozef Síkela, at the EU-Pacific Business Forum in Fiji on 5 September. Commissioner Síkela… [Read More]
EU Boosts Pacific Climate Resilience with Extra FJD 4 Million Funding
The European Union (EU) has announced an additional EUR 1.5 million (approximately FJD 4 million) in grant funding to support Fiji and fifteen other Pacific Island countries (PICs) in building green climate resilience into their Public Finance Management (PFM) systems. The announcement was made by European Commissioner for International Partnerships, Jozef Síkela, at the first-ever… [Read More]
Halo Launches $1M Enterprise Revolution Program for Select Global Organisations
Halo, a leading independent provider in Enterprise Service Management (ESM), has launched its new “$1M Forever” program, offering select organisations predictable, fixed ESM licensing costs for life. The initiative promises faster deployments, greater agility, and a level of partnership and support that traditional legacy vendors cannot match. The program targets large enterprises that are often… [Read More]
