The International Labour Organization (ILO) is set to play a leading role at the Second World Summit for Social Development (WSSD2), held in Qatar from 4 to 6 November 2025, aiming to strengthen a new multilateralism that delivers tangible progress on decent work and social justice. Building on the Fourth International Conference on Financing for… [Read More]
cat
Driving Digital Inclusion: Pacific Islands Unite for Connectivity for All
In June 2025, representatives from nine Pacific Small Island Developing States (SIDS) — including Fiji, Kiribati, Nauru, Papua New Guinea, Samoa, Tonga, Tuvalu, Vanuatu, and Palau — gathered in Koror, Palau, for a regional workshop focused on Promoting and Measuring Universal and Meaningful Connectivity (UMC). The three-day event brought together policymakers, statisticians, regulators, and telecom… [Read More]
APGF Initiative: Bridging Investment Gaps for ASEAN’s Regional Power Grid
The ASEAN Power Grid Financing (APGF) Initiative is a major regional effort aimed at creating an integrated transmission network to accelerate renewable energy development across Southeast Asia. Achieving the vision of a fully interconnected ASEAN Power Grid by 2045 is estimated to require around US$800 billion in generation and transmission investments. The initiative brings together… [Read More]
APGF Initiative: Boosting Investment in the ASEAN Power Grid
The ASEAN Power Grid Financing (APGF) Initiative is a major regional program designed to develop an integrated transmission network and accelerate the deployment of renewable energy across Southeast Asia. Achieving the ASEAN Power Grid vision by 2045 will require around US$800 billion in investments in both generation and transmission infrastructure. APGF brings together governments, utilities,… [Read More]
Shaping the Next Generation: Health and Skills for Young People
UNESCO and the National Council for Technical and Vocational Education and Training (NACTVET) have partnered to strengthen health and well-being education across Tanzania’s technical and tertiary institutions. The initiative aims to create safer, healthier, and more inclusive campuses by integrating life skills and health education into everyday learning, building on the successful rollout of UNESCO’s… [Read More]
Post-Conflict Syria: Reconstruction Costs Soar to $216 Billion
Syria’s post-conflict reconstruction is estimated to cost $216 billion after more than thirteen years of war, according to a new World Bank report. The Syria Physical Damage and Reconstruction Assessment 2011–2024 evaluated damage across infrastructure, residential, and non-residential buildings nationwide, covering the period from 2011 to 2024. Direct physical damages are estimated at $108 billion,… [Read More]
Grassroots Initiative Continues the Fight Against Hunger and Food Poverty
Wiltshire’s Positive Community Action (PCA) has reached a significant milestone by cooking 8,000 free meals for vulnerable people in the Marlborough and Pewsey area, reaffirming its commitment to tackling food poverty and social isolation. The community group, founded to address deprivation and support those in need, relies on a dedicated team of volunteers who have… [Read More]
Human Rights Concerns Rise Over Ecuador’s Violent Crackdown on Protests
Ecuadorian police and security forces have been accused of using excessive force and restricting freedom of assembly in response to anti-government protests that began in mid-September 2025. According to Human Rights Watch, the demonstrations—led by the country’s largest Indigenous organization—erupted after President Daniel Noboa’s decision to remove diesel fuel subsidies, which increased prices by more… [Read More]
Tobago Strengthens Sargassum Management with Support from Japan and UNDP
Tobago has received new equipment to help tackle the recurring problem of sargassum seaweed that affects the island’s coastline during certain times of the year. The handover ceremony, held on Tuesday, marked a collaborative effort between the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) in Trinidad and Tobago and the Government of Japan. Director of the Tobago… [Read More]
Congo Basin Forests Worth Trillions: Report Calls for Increased Global Investment
A new World Bank report highlights the immense economic, environmental, and climate value of the Congo Basin forests, home to the world’s second-largest tropical rainforest spanning six countries. The report reveals that the value of forest ecosystem services nearly doubled over two decades, increasing from $590 billion in 2000 to $1.15 trillion in 2020, while… [Read More]
African Development Bank Partners with Angola in $125 Million Youth Entrepreneurship Programme
The African Development Bank Group (AfDB), in collaboration with the Government of Angola and the European Union, has launched the $125 million Youth Employment Project (Crescer Project) to stimulate entrepreneurship, job creation, and skills development among young Angolans. The initiative aims to generate over 112,000 indirect jobs, support the growth of more than 10,000 micro,… [Read More]
African Development Bank Expands Support for Climate-Resilient Water Projects in Ethiopia’s Borana Zone
The Board of Directors of the African Development Bank (AfDB) has approved $16.38 million in additional financing for the Borana Resilient Water Development for Improved Livelihoods Programme II, further strengthening Ethiopia’s efforts to build climate-resilient water infrastructure in the drought-prone Borana zone of the Oromia region. The funding includes a $9.38 million grant from the… [Read More]
Lesotho Launches 2025 Human Development Report Focused on People-Centered AI
The United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), in partnership with the Government of Lesotho, launched the 2025 Human Development Report (HDR) on 6 August, marking a significant step in advancing the country’s efforts to integrate technology and innovation into its human development agenda. The report, themed “A Matter of Choice: People and Possibilities in the Age… [Read More]
Empowering Belarus: UNDP’s Role in Advancing Local Energy Transition
In 2024, Belarus achieved a major milestone by replacing about three billion cubic meters of imported natural gas with locally sourced fuels, primarily wood waste. Given that over 40% of the country is covered by forests, this transition represents a natural and strategic move toward energy diversification. The United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) has played… [Read More]
Germany’s Climate Action in Somalia Offers Key Insights Ahead of Berlin Climate Security Talks
Germany’s support for climate action in Somalia is demonstrating how environmental restoration can reduce conflict and strengthen community resilience ahead of the Berlin Climate and Security Conference 2025. Backed by the German government, the UN Environment Programme (UNEP), and the International Organization on Migration (IOM), projects in Somalia are linking climate, peace, and security by… [Read More]
“Our Children Cannot Wait”: Bié Residents Take Action Against Malaria
Thousands of families in Angola continue to face the threat of malaria, a disease that disproportionately affects children and pregnant women. To reduce this burden and strengthen community protection, a new mosquito net distribution campaign has been launched across Bié province. The initiative is led by the National Malaria Control Programme, with technical support from… [Read More]
Nearly 900 Million Poor at Risk from Climate Change, Warns UN
Nearly 80% of the world’s poorest, or roughly 900 million people, are directly exposed to climate hazards intensified by global warming, according to the United Nations. This population bears a “double and deeply unequal burden,” facing frequent and increasingly severe impacts from droughts, floods, heat waves, and air pollution. Haoliang Xu, acting administrator of the… [Read More]
The High Cost of Suppressing Rights in Vietnam
Vietnam has attracted increasing attention from governments worldwide due to its rapid economic growth and strategic position in Asia. The country has secured comprehensive strategic partnerships with major powers, including the U.S., EU, Japan, Australia, and several ASEAN nations, positioning itself as a key trade partner and a potential counterbalance to Chinese influence. These partnerships… [Read More]
Africa Private Credit Fund Hits $100 Million First Close, Enko Capital Leads
Enko Capital, an Africa-focused alternative asset manager with $1.3 billion in assets under management, has announced the first close of its new impact-focused private credit fund, raising $100 million toward a $150 million target, with a hard cap of $200 million at final close. The fund has attracted commitments from a range of high-profile investors,… [Read More]
Brazil Invests in WIPO Initiatives to Boost Innovation in Developing Nations
The Government of Brazil has made a voluntary contribution of BRL 1,500,000 (approximately 244,000 Swiss Francs) to support WIPO-administered capacity-building activities. The funding aims to promote the use of intellectual property (IP) by innovators and creators across Latin America, the Caribbean, and Portuguese-speaking countries in Africa. Brazil’s donation is provided through a “funds-in-trust” arrangement, which… [Read More]
€4.4 Million EU-UN Project Aims to Reduce Waste and Boost Recycling in Georgia
The European Union, in collaboration with a United Nations-led consortium, has launched a €4.4 million initiative to accelerate Georgia’s transition to a circular economy. The two-year project, running from 2025 to 2027, was officially launched on 16 October in Tbilisi and aims to help the country reduce waste, increase recycling, expand access to green finance,… [Read More]
Energy Transition Must Uphold Human Rights, UN Special Rapporteur Says
Human rights are essential to ensuring that the global energy transition benefits both people and the environment, according to Elisa Morgera, the UN Special Rapporteur on human rights and climate change. In her latest report to the UN General Assembly, Morgera emphasized that States must take action to address inequities in energy production, extraction, and… [Read More]
Human Rights at Risk: UN Expert Urges Reform in Global Water Governance
Governments must move away from market-driven models and adopt democratic, rights-based approaches to water governance, according to Pedro Arrojo Agudo, the UN Special Rapporteur on the human rights to safe drinking water and sanitation. In a report to the UN General Assembly, he emphasized that water is a common good essential to life, dignity, and… [Read More]
