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The article emphasizes that human well-being is deeply connected to the health of ecosystems and biodiversity. Natural systems such as forests, pollinators, wetlands, and green urban spaces play essential roles in supporting food production, regulating water systems, reducing flood risks, and maintaining environmental balance. Recognizing the growing threats to biodiversity, governments around the world have… [Read More]

Slovenia is hosting the third International Forum for Action on Sustainable Beekeeping and Pollination on World Bee Day, bringing together international organizations, government agencies, researchers, and beekeeping associations. Organized with FAO and Apimondia, the event highlights the crucial role of bees and other pollinators in food security, biodiversity, and ecosystem resilience. Participants emphasized that sustainable… [Read More]

Uzbekistan and the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations are scaling up efforts to strengthen the sweet cherry value chain through a new FAO-China South-South Cooperation project under the One Country One Priority Product initiative. A regional workshop held in Namangan from 18 to 20 May 2026 brought together government officials, farmers, private… [Read More]

The article highlights how Pacific Island Countries are increasingly recognizing coral reefs and coastal ecosystems as some of the most important forms of climate infrastructure. Rather than viewing nature conservation as separate from climate action, Pacific communities see healthy oceans and reefs as essential for protecting coastlines, supporting fisheries, sustaining livelihoods, and ensuring long-term survival… [Read More]

The Indian Institute of Technology Roorkee has signed a Memorandum of Understanding with the Uttarakhand Space Application Centre to strengthen collaboration in space science and geospatial applications. The agreement, formalized at the IIT Roorkee campus, reflects a shared commitment to advancing research and innovation relevant to the state of Uttarakhand. Senior representatives from both institutions… [Read More]

Bank Indonesia and Bank Negara Malaysia have signed a memorandum of understanding to strengthen bilateral cooperation across key areas of central banking. Announced in Jakarta on 11 May 2026, the agreement expands collaboration in monetary policy, financial stability, macroprudential oversight, payment systems, and financial sector development. It also establishes a framework for structured information exchange… [Read More]

The European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) has officially launched its InvestEU Portfolio Risk Sharing Facility in Romania, marking an important step in expanding sustainable investment and green financing across the country. Through the programme, the EBRD expects to mobilize more than €270 million in new green financing through local banks, supporting Romania’s climate… [Read More]

At the 79th World Health Assembly, Russia faced sharp condemnation from member states over its ongoing attacks on Ukraine’s health system. Despite attempts by Russia’s delegate to interrupt debate and dismiss discussion, countries highlighted the devastating toll of the war. The WHO Director-General’s report estimated 55,600 civilian casualties, including nearly 15,000 deaths, with violence intensifying… [Read More]

Indonesia has faced rising syphilis cases without national guidance for diagnosis and treatment, leaving medical specialties without standardized protocols. At the same time, the country’s hepatitis national action plan had fallen out of alignment with the five-year national development planning cycle (RPJMN), limiting its effectiveness. To address these gaps, the World Health Organization supported the… [Read More]

Informal waste pickers in Pakistan play a vital role in managing and recycling the country’s growing solid waste, yet they continue to face insecure working conditions, low incomes, and limited legal recognition. Pakistan produces more than 50 million tonnes of solid waste annually, and waste pickers handle a significant share by collecting, sorting, and recovering… [Read More]

The European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) is providing up to €70 million in financing to Slovenian energy storage company NGEN Energetske Rešitve to strengthen grid stability and energy security across central Europe. The investment will support the construction and operation of five large-scale battery energy storage systems in Latvia, Poland, Romania, and Slovenia…. [Read More]

The International Labour Organization (ILO) has launched a new global database on National Social Dialogue Institutions (NSDIs) to mark the 50th anniversary of the Tripartite Consultation Convention (No. 144). This initiative is designed to strengthen evidence-based social dialogue policies and institutions by providing governments, employers, workers’ organizations, and researchers with comparative data and insights. The… [Read More]

Action Against Hunger has issued a stark warning about worsening food insecurity in Somalia, with the latest IPC analysis indicating a credible risk of famine in Burhakaba District, Bay Region. The organization reports a surge in admissions of severely malnourished children to its stabilization centers and is calling for an urgent scale-up of humanitarian assistance… [Read More]

The European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) has announced a financing package of up to €25 million for BNP Paribas Finansal Kiralama, one of Türkiye’s leading privately owned leasing companies. The funding is intended to support businesses across the country in adopting sustainable and climate-friendly investments, helping improve resilience and accelerate the transition toward… [Read More]

The Asian Development Bank (ADB) has successfully priced a $4 billion five-year global bond, with proceeds to be added to its ordinary capital resources. This marks ADB’s second fixed-rate global benchmark of the year and reflects strong investor confidence, as the issue was oversubscribed four times. ADB Treasurer Tobias Hoschka noted that the robust demand… [Read More]

Hamburg Energienetze GmbH (HNE) and vhh.mobility have secured major financing from the European Investment Bank (EIB) to advance Hamburg’s energy and mobility transition. HNE will receive €1 billion to modernize and expand the city’s electricity distribution grid, while vhh.mobility will obtain €125 million to purchase 188 new electric buses and upgrade depot infrastructure. Both companies… [Read More]

The European Investment Bank (EIB) Group has approved €6 billion in new financing to support clean energy, climate-resilient agriculture, and European competitiveness. The package includes renewable energy projects in Austria, electricity grid upgrades in Germany, energy efficiency improvements in Slovakia and Sweden, and a new food manufacturing facility in Portugal. It also supports research and… [Read More]

AFIN IFN SA, Romania’s first non-bank financial institution dedicated exclusively to the social economy, will strengthen its capacity to finance social enterprises, cooperatives, and NGOs with support from the European Investment Fund (EIF). Backed by InvestEU, the EIF has provided a subordinated loan of 2.5 million Romanian lei (about €480,000) under a 10-year agreement, reinforcing… [Read More]

The European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) has announced a US$22 million financing package for Spinneys Levant Limited, one of Lebanon’s leading food retailers operating through its subsidiary Gray Mackenzie Retail Lebanon SAL. The funding is designed to support the company’s expansion plans, strengthen the resilience of Lebanon’s food retail sector, and advance sustainable… [Read More]

The global economy is entering a period of heightened stress, with geopolitical tensions, policy uncertainty, climate risks, and rapid technological change complicating decision-making. Rising oil prices and tightening supplies are straining public finances, especially in developing countries, fueling inflation, widening external imbalances, and disrupting supply chains. Governments are facing difficult trade-offs between short-term stabilization and… [Read More]

Technology is often seen as the driver of growth, but nature itself represents a form of ancient intelligence — the original technology refined over millennia. In many developing economies, natural systems such as mangroves that protect coastlines or agroforestry that sustains soil fertility are powerful, affordable technologies that underpin livelihoods. At the World Bank Group,… [Read More]

Africa’s working-age population is set to double by 2050, adding around 600 million people to the labor force. Meeting this challenge requires not only infrastructure investment and private capital but also ensuring that cities along transport corridors are prepared to absorb and sustain job creation. While rail and road projects are accelerating, the real test… [Read More]

The UN refugee agency, UNHCR, has strongly condemned the deadly Russian missile and drone strikes carried out in Dnipro, Ukraine, on Tuesday night. The attacks killed at least two civilians and injured several others while also damaging a warehouse operated under contract with UNHCR. The strike destroyed large quantities of humanitarian supplies intended for displaced… [Read More]