In 2025, South Sudan officially launched and signed off on the One Health Strategic Plan and the 2nd National Action Plan for Health Security (2025–2030), aimed at strengthening preparedness and response to public health emergencies of international concern. These complementary plans build on evidence from the 2024 Joint External Evaluation and integrate human, animal, and… [Read More]
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WHO Trains 49,000 Health Workers for Pakistan’s First HPV Vaccination Campaign Targeting 13 Million Girls
Pakistan, in partnership with the World Health Organization (WHO), is preparing to launch its first-ever human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccination campaign from 15 to 27 September, marking a historic milestone in the fight against cervical cancer. The initiative will target 13 million girls aged 9 to 14 years in Punjab, Sindh, Islamabad Capital Territory, and Pakistan-administered… [Read More]
Iraq Launches National Strategy 2025–2030 for Women’s, Children’s and Adolescents’ Health
In 2025, Iraq introduced the 2025–2030 National Strategy for Women’s, Children’s and Adolescents’ Health, a major milestone in its health sector reform. Developed under the technical leadership of WHO in collaboration with the Ministry of Health, UNICEF, and UNFPA, the strategy prioritizes the needs of the population in shaping health policies and services. It is… [Read More]
Ugandan Plant Breeders Drive Crop Innovation with New Grant-Based Model
Uganda faces an urgent need to accelerate agricultural innovation to boost productivity and support agro-industrial exports. With a rapidly growing population and lagging agricultural output, the country faces mounting challenges to food security, nutrition, and income, compounded by climate change. Strengthening the breeding of resilient and market-adapted crop varieties is seen as a key solution,… [Read More]
Breeding Networks Driving Better Crop Varieties in East Africa
Collaboration networks are essential to advancing agricultural research, especially in crop breeding, where partnerships between researchers, private companies, and public institutions generate innovation. At the Kenya Agricultural and Livestock Research Organization (KALRO), this collaborative approach is strengthened through partnerships with CGIAR and national institutes across East Africa. By pooling resources, expertise, and market knowledge, these… [Read More]
UK Launches £9.5M Fund to Boost Community-Led Digital Inclusion
Millions in the UK remain excluded from the benefits of the digital world due to barriers such as a lack of skills, confidence, or access to affordable devices like laptops, tablets, or mobile phones. These limitations hinder people’s ability to find work, access healthcare and education, and secure the best value for daily essentials. To… [Read More]
B.C. Invests in Tŝilhqot’in-Led Healing and Wellness Initiative
The Province of British Columbia is investing $8.3 million to launch a new Tŝilhqot’in-led healing and wellness model aimed at supporting First Nations people living with substance-use challenges. Developed in partnership between the Tŝilhqot’in National Government and Red Road Recovery, the Red Road River Tŝilhqox project will provide culturally grounded treatment and recovery services that… [Read More]
Clean Industry Projects Boost Climate Action and Create Quality Jobs
The Government of British Columbia is investing $35 million to support new industrial projects aimed at creating local jobs, strengthening communities, and expanding the province’s clean industry. Through the CleanBC Industry Fund, companies can adopt cleaner technologies, accelerate electrification, and transition toward net-zero operations. The fund, which reinvests part of B.C.’s industrial carbon pricing revenues,… [Read More]
U.S. Energy Department Unveils New Measures to Strengthen Critical Minerals Supply Chain
The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) has announced plans to issue nearly $1 billion in funding opportunities to strengthen and expand domestic mining, processing, and manufacturing technologies for critical minerals and materials. These initiatives, aligned with President Trump’s Executive Order on Unleashing American Energy, aim to build a secure, predictable, and cost-effective supply chain vital… [Read More]
ADB Backs Indonesia’s Tax Reforms to Boost Revenue and Fiscal Sustainability
The Asian Development Bank (ADB) has approved a $500 million policy-based loan to support Indonesia’s efforts to modernize its tax system. This initiative aims to improve tax collection efficiency, enhance equity, and strengthen fiscal resilience to better fund public services and long-term development goals. It is the first of three subprograms under ADB’s Domestic Resource… [Read More]
€28 Million Suckler Farmers Scheme Launched by Minister Heydon
The 2025 Beef Welfare Scheme (BWS) has officially opened for applications, offering increased funding and a higher upper limit on eligible animals compared to last year. Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine, Martin Heydon TD, highlighted that the scheme provides farmers with the chance to complete a wider range of straightforward measures aimed at… [Read More]
From Tradition to Transformation: How Youth Are Leading Global Sustainable Change
Around the world, young people are taking the lead in shaping sustainable development through climate resilience, digital innovation, stronger food systems, and inclusive governance. These initiatives are proving that youth are not only the leaders of tomorrow but essential change-makers today, driving efforts toward a more just, peaceful, and resilient future. In Bolivia’s Amazon region,… [Read More]
Costa Rica Boosts Indigenous Leadership in Forest Conservation with World Bank Backing
On August 11, the World Bank approved a $4 million grant to Costa Rica to enhance Indigenous Peoples’ participation in forest conservation and ensure their equitable access to the benefits of the country’s Emission Reductions Program from Deforestation and Forest Degradation. The initiative will foster inclusive decision-making and knowledge exchange on sustainable land use, with… [Read More]
High-Level Policy Dialogue Explores Strategies to Harness Africa’s Economic Potential
Africa–Japan economic relations are growing, offering significant potential for stronger, mutually beneficial partnerships. By working together, both regions can leverage complementary strengths to boost trade, investment, and sustainable development. Multilateral Development Banks (MDBs) and Japan’s Development Finance Institutions (DFIs) are positioned to play a key role in this process. Through their financial resources, technical expertise,… [Read More]
African Development Bank Boosts Africa’s Data Transformation with SDMX and Open Data Platform 2.0 Training
The African Development Bank’s Statistics Department, in partnership with the African Union Institute of Statistics (STATAFRIC), the Africa Centre for Statistics of the United Nations Economic Commission for Africa (UNECA), and other international organizations, hosted a regional workshop on Statistical Data and Metadata Exchange (SDMX) and the Bank’s Open Data Platform 2.0 (ODP 2.0). Held… [Read More]
AfDB Group Pledges $40M to Boost Alliance for Green Infrastructure Project Development Fund
The African Development Bank Group has committed $40 million to the Alliance for Green Infrastructure in Africa – Project Development Fund, marking the first close of $118 million toward the Fund’s $400 million target. Managed by Africa50, the Fund aims to mobilize blended, early-stage development capital to deliver a pipeline of investment-ready green infrastructure projects… [Read More]
African AI Startups Raise Over $40 Million in 2025, Eye $16.5 Billion Market
Africa’s AI sector, though currently holding just 2.5 percent of the global market, is attracting increasing investor interest. Valued at $4.51 billion in 2025, the industry is projected to reach $16.53 billion within five years. Following a funding slowdown in 2023 and 2024, tech startup investment across Africa is rebounding, with the first half of… [Read More]
£500,000 Funding Awarded to Support Community Flood Prevention Projects
Over £500,000 in grants is being awarded to support nearly 40 community projects aimed at reducing flooding across Oxfordshire. The funding comes from Oxfordshire County Council’s priority action grants scheme, which received more than 80 applications earlier this year from groups and organisations working to boost local flood resilience. Grants of up to £25,000 are… [Read More]
UK Government Launches £9.5 Million Fund to Help More People Get Online
The UK government has launched the £9.5 million Digital Inclusion Innovation Fund to tackle digital inequality, boost economic growth, and raise living standards as part of its Plan for Change. The funding will support initiatives that help people get online, such as running technology workshops and donating devices to those without internet access. Delivered in… [Read More]
EBRD Commits €20 Million to Spire Capital Partners Fund I
The European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) is investing €20 million in Spire Capital Partners Fund I, a new independent private equity fund based in Poland. This commitment has been instrumental in enabling the fund to reach its €90 million target size and establishing Spire Capital Partners as a new player in the region’s… [Read More]
Kyrgyzstan Equips Law Enforcement with New Data Tool to Combat Wildlife Smuggling
Kyrgyzstan has taken a major step in protecting its biodiversity by developing a new electronic database to help government agencies detect and prevent wildlife smuggling. Supported by TRAFFIC Central Asia, the Ministry of Natural Resources, Ecology and Technical Supervision of the Kyrgyz Republic, and Fauna & Flora, the initiative is designed to enhance law enforcement’s… [Read More]
New Tech Funding Award Strengthens Global Fight Against Illegal Wildlife Trade
A £350,000 grant from the Wolfson Foundation will enable TRAFFIC to upgrade its IT infrastructure, streamline data systems, and integrate advanced automation technologies to strengthen efforts against wildlife trafficking. The funding will support the use of specialised media monitoring software, web scraping tools, and AI-powered data processing, improving the organisation’s ability to detect and prevent… [Read More]
IOM Partners with Mission 89 to Combat Child Trafficking in Sports
The International Organization for Migration (IOM) has joined forces with Mission 89 to launch a campaign tackling the use of sport as a cover for child trafficking. Mission 89, a research and advocacy organization focused on protecting young athletes, has highlighted how traffickers exploit children’s aspirations for athletic success, luring them into abuse and exploitation…. [Read More]
