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The Literary Arts Fund has announced $7.7 million in inaugural unrestricted general operating grants to 40 literary arts organizations and publishers across 19 U.S. states. The funding is designed to strengthen nonprofit institutions that support writers, readers and literary culture nationwide. The grants will support organizations that host book festivals, reading events, writing workshops, residencies… [Read More]

June 3, 2026 — Dakar/Bissau — The Least Developed Countries Fund (LDCF), managed by the Global Environment Facility, has approved US$20 million in financing for two new UNDP-supported climate adaptation projects in Senegal and Guinea-Bissau. Together, the initiatives will directly benefit nearly 483,000 people living in vulnerable coastal, urban, and peri-urban areas. In Senegal, the project will… [Read More]

The European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) and the European Union (EU) have launched a new Ukraine SME Recovery Programme aimed at strengthening the country’s private sector during wartime. The initiative focuses on improving access to finance, supporting innovation and helping small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), mid-cap companies and startups contribute to economic recovery…. [Read More]

The European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) and the European Union (EU) have announced an expanded support package to help Ukrainian businesses maintain access to financing during the ongoing war. The new initiative is designed to strengthen the resilience of micro, small and medium-sized enterprises (MSMEs) as well as larger companies facing significant economic… [Read More]

Phnom Penh — June 3, 2026 — Cambodia is stepping up its climate action, turning ambitious commitments into tangible progress as the country faces intensifying floods, droughts, heat stress, and rising sea levels. With more than half the population living in rural areas and an economy reliant on climate-sensitive sectors, Cambodia is among the most vulnerable nations… [Read More]

The European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) and the European Union (EU) have announced a €150 million increase in funding to accelerate digital transformation and green investment projects across multiple regions. The additional support will expand existing programmes aimed at strengthening digital infrastructure, climate resilience and sustainable economic development. The funding comes through additional… [Read More]

The European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) and the European Union (EU) have announced an expansion of their partnership to accelerate investment across the Bank’s EU countries of operation. The initiative will support sustainable infrastructure, green economy projects, digitalisation, small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), innovation and research. Under the strengthened collaboration, the EU will… [Read More]

Bengaluru — June 4, 2026 — Social distribution fintech platform WeRize has secured $7 million in a pre-Series C round, led by Sony Innovation Fund with participation from existing investor 3one4 Capital. This latest raise brings the company’s total equity capital to more than $28 million since inception. The Bengaluru- and Mumbai-based firm plans to use the… [Read More]

The European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) has approved a €26 million loan to SIA Next Biogas, a subsidiary of the Netherlands-based HoSt Group, to support the expansion of biomethane production in Latvia. The financing will be used to acquire an existing biogas facility in Lēdurga and convert it into a large-scale biomethane production… [Read More]

Innovafeed has entered a new phase of expansion after raising €51 million in fresh funding, strengthening its position as a global leader in sustainable aquaculture and pet food ingredients. The company’s Nesle site is now fully operational, producing more than 15,000 tons of protein and oil annually, with production costs reduced sevenfold. This milestone reflects… [Read More]

The European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) has signed an €18.9 million financing package to support the construction of a 32 MW solar photovoltaic park for Hellenic Halyvourgia, one of the largest steel producers in the Balkans. The project aims to increase the use of renewable energy in Greece’s industrial sector while reducing carbon… [Read More]

June 2026 – The Asia–Pacific region sits at the heart of the global energy transition. Accounting for nearly half of global greenhouse gas emissions and driving the majority of future energy demand growth, its trajectory will decisively shape global climate outcomes. Governments across the region have set ambitious renewable energy targets, expanded policy frameworks, and… [Read More]

Brussels, June 2026 – The European Commission (EC) has launched a landmark European Technological Sovereignty Package, designed to reduce dependency on US and Chinese supply chains and foster a sovereign, vertically integrated domestic technology stack. The initiative spans critical sectors including semiconductors, cloud infrastructure, and energy systems, aiming to build resilience and competitiveness across Europe’s… [Read More]

The European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) has announced a new portfolio risk-sharing facility of up to €25 million for maib, Moldova’s largest bank. The initiative is expected to unlock up to €50 million in new financing for micro, small and medium-sized enterprises (MSMEs), strengthening access to credit across the country. The agreement was… [Read More]

The European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) has announced a new financing package of up to US$40 million (€34.6 million equivalent) for Credo Bank, reinforcing its commitment to supporting micro, small and medium-sized enterprises (MSMEs) across Georgia. The funding will enable Credo Bank to increase the availability of medium-term financing for businesses throughout the… [Read More]

June 4, 2026 — Global — Philanthropist Melinda French Gates has pledged an additional $215 million to improve women’s health worldwide, expanding her focus on maternal care, contraceptive access, and underfunded areas such as menopause research. The new funding, announced through her philanthropic network Pivotal, brings her total contributions for women’s health to over $600 million in… [Read More]

London, June 2026 – A coalition of leading donors and aid organizations has announced a $500 million commitment to combat child malnutrition in the world’s most fragile humanitarian contexts. The initiative, known as the One Childhood, One Chance Alliance, brings together Save the Children, UNICEF, Action Against Hunger, ALIMA, CIFF, MBRGI, ELMA Relief Foundation, and… [Read More]

Kyiv — June 5, 2026 — The United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) in Ukraine, with funding from the Government of Japan, has supported the modernisation of Ukraine’s Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) monitoring platform, administered by the State Statistics Service of Ukraine. The upgraded platform, available at sdg.stat.gov.ua, provides transparent and user-friendly access to national SDG data, aligning… [Read More]

Bangkok — June 5, 2026 — The United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) and Thai apparel brand YUEDPAO have unveiled the Icons of Hope T-shirt collection, a campaign that turns fashion into a force for biodiversity conservation. Developed in partnership with Thailand’s Office of Natural Resources and Environmental Policy and Planning (ONEP) and community artists from Khao Sam… [Read More]

June 4, 2026 — Global — Since Mexico City launched its first multiyear air quality management strategy in 1990, the world has learned powerful lessons about how to tackle pollution. That early effort significantly reduced lead and sulfur emissions, driven by regional approaches, regulatory reforms, and investments in monitoring. Today, the World Bank Group (WBG) estimates that… [Read More]

June 4, 2026 — Pakistan — Pakistan has long tracked how many children are out of school, but new research shows that aggregate numbers alone fail to guide effective action. With nearly 25 million children aged 5–16 not enrolled, the country has the second largest out-of-school population in the world. Yet policymakers need more than national totals… [Read More]

The Arithmetic of Destruction: How Conflict Compounds Human Capital Loss By 2030, nearly 60% of the world’s extreme poor will live in countries affected by fragility, conflict, and violence. Conflict erodes human capital across homes, neighborhoods, and workplaces, compounding losses in ways that make recovery extraordinarily difficult. The 2026 Human Capital Report reframes the issue… [Read More]

June 4, 2026 — New Zealand — New research highlights a troubling mismatch in infant health: babies with older siblings are at greater risk of infectious illness, yet they are less likely to benefit from maternal vaccination during pregnancy. Maternal immunisation against pertussis (whooping cough) and influenza is publicly funded and recommended in New Zealand for every… [Read More]