A new global initiative to support pandemic preparedness in low- and middle-income countries will be officially launched later this week. The South African Department of Health, in partnership with the World Health Organization (WHO), the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), and UNICEF, will lead the launch of the Pandemic Fund. The initiative aims to enhance… [Read More]
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New Aid Budget Prioritizes Transparency, Value for Money and Results
The UK government has released new figures outlining how its international aid budget for 2025–2026 will be spent, with a clear focus on delivering value for money to taxpayers and achieving the highest possible impact for vulnerable populations overseas. This strategic shift comes in light of a planned reduction in the aid budget to 0.3%… [Read More]
Expanded Investment in Entrepreneurial Education to Empower Future Innovators
The Scottish Government has announced an increase in funding for the Entrepreneurial Education Fund for the year 2025–26, raising the total available to up to £1.2 million. This funding aims to inspire and support young people in developing business skills and considering entrepreneurship as a viable career path. The fund represents an increase of more… [Read More]
€45 Million Investment to Advance Green Hydrogen in Sustainable Industries
The Dutch Research Council (NWO) and the National Growth Fund programme GroenvermogenNL have awarded over €45 million to the HyCARB project, led by the Netherlands Organisation for Applied Scientific Research (TNO). This funding follows the call for proposals under the theme “Hydrogen and green electrons for carbon-based chemistry,” aiming to support the Dutch chemical industry’s… [Read More]
Pre-Call Announcement: Water4All 2025 Funding Opens 12 September
The European Water4All research programme is preparing to launch a new call focused on the theme “Water and Health.” This initiative brings together 31 participating countries aiming to fund research that enhances the understanding and management of water’s role in human, animal, and environmental health. The Netherlands Organisation for Scientific Research (NWO) will participate in… [Read More]
£3M Investment to Drive Digital Transformation in Livestock Farming
A new multinational initiative, DIGI-Rangeland, aims to enhance how digital technologies and innovative data collection methods are tailored to the needs of livestock managers and communities in moorland areas. Moorlands—also referred to as rangelands outside the UK and Ireland—cover over a third of the Earth’s surface and are vital for extensive grazing systems that produce… [Read More]
New Funding Agreements to Improve Education in Mauritania and Chad
The Governments of Mauritania and Chad have signed funding agreements for the Regional Engagement for Learning and Collaboration in Education (RELANCE) Project, backed by the World Bank and the Federal Republic of Germany. The total financing amounts to $137 million, aimed at transforming the education systems in both countries. RELANCE seeks to improve education sector… [Read More]
New World Bank Report Highlights India’s Urban Resilience Opportunity
A new World Bank report emphasizes the immense economic potential of Indian cities, projecting that by 2030, 70 percent of new jobs will originate from urban areas. However, it warns that immediate action is necessary to address the impacts of extreme weather events, which could otherwise lead to billions in future economic losses. Titled Towards… [Read More]
Government Unveils Scheme to Aid Long-Established Young Farmers
The scheme to support Long Established Young Farmers, also known as Forgotten Farmers, officially opened for online applications on 22 July 2025, following a survey conducted in May 2025. The application window will remain open until 5:30 PM on 13 August 2025. A total of €5 million was allocated for this support measure in Budget… [Read More]
€3.68 Billion NDP Investment to Boost Irish Enterprise, Innovation, and Tourism
The Department of Enterprise, Tourism and Employment (DETE) has announced a €3.68 billion capital allocation under the National Development Plan (NDP) to fund enterprise, innovation, and tourism initiatives through 2030. This includes an additional €400 million in funding and is aimed at enhancing the competitiveness and productivity of Irish businesses across all regions, supporting start-ups… [Read More]
€4.55 Billion Investment Secured by Minister Lawless to Advance Irish R&D and Education
The Irish Cabinet has approved a significant €4.55 billion capital allocation for the Department of Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science under the revised National Development Plan (NDP) for 2026–2030. This investment represents a major step forward in strengthening Ireland’s knowledge economy by supporting long-term initiatives in research, education, and innovation. The funding… [Read More]
Ireland to Invest €3.5 Billion in Upgrading National Electricity Infrastructure
The Irish government has approved a record €3.5 billion investment in the country’s electricity grid infrastructure for the period 2026–2030, as part of the National Development Plan. This is the largest investment in Ireland’s electricity network to date and is aimed at reinforcing energy security, promoting economic growth, and accelerating the transition to renewable energy…. [Read More]
EU Commission Approves €403 Million in State Aid for Major Healthcare Innovation Project
The European Commission has approved the second Important Project of Common European Interest (IPCEI) in the healthcare sector, known as “IPCEI Tech4Cure.” This project is designed to support innovation in medical devices, including the integration of advanced digital and artificial intelligence (AI) technologies. The initiative promotes collaborative research and development as well as the initial… [Read More]
Funding Cuts Threaten Food Assistance for Millions in South Sudan
The United Nations World Food Programme (WFP) has provided life-saving assistance to over two million people in South Sudan in 2025. However, a severe funding shortfall is jeopardizing the continuation of this aid, placing millions of people at risk of losing access to critical food support. Currently, 7.7 million people—half of South Sudan’s population—are experiencing… [Read More]
Government of Canada Enhances Access to Healthcare for Francophone Minorities
The Government of Canada has announced over $78 million in funding over five years to support seven organizations, including five post-secondary institutions in Atlantic Canada. This funding is aimed at improving access to French-language health services for Francophone minority communities. The announcement was made by the Honourable Marjorie Michel, Minister of Health, alongside Member of… [Read More]
Canada Invests $14.4M to Support Youth Climate Action and Environmental Projects
The Government of Canada is strengthening youth engagement in environmental protection by investing over $14.4 million from the Environmental Damages Fund’s Climate Action and Awareness Fund. This funding will support 17 environmental literacy projects across the country, aimed at equipping young Canadians with the knowledge, tools, and skills needed to develop sustainable solutions and combat… [Read More]
AfDB’s Capital Markets Fund Supports Côte d’Ivoire’s Digital Transformation in Public Offerings
The Central Depository/Settlement Bank (DC/BR) has officially launched DIGIAPE, a new digital platform for public offerings, with support from the African Development Bank. The platform is designed to automate primary market subscriptions within the West African Monetary Union’s (UMOA) regional financial market. By enabling real-time allocation of securities at the close of trading, DIGIAPE aims… [Read More]
African Development Bank’s SEFA Fund Backs Electric Cooking Projects in Three African Nations
The Sustainable Energy Fund for Africa (SEFA), managed by the African Development Bank (AfDB), is addressing the reliance on charcoal for cooking in Kenya, Uganda, and Zambia through a $4 million reimbursable grant. This funding supports the Burn Electric Cooking Expansion Program (BEEP), which will distribute 115,000 electric induction cookers to low-income households connected to… [Read More]
African Development Bank Approves $50 Million Trade Finance Facility for CRDB Bank in Tanzania
The African Development Bank Group’s Board of Directors has approved a $50 million Trade Finance Transaction Guarantee facility for CRDB Bank Plc in Tanzania. This strategic initiative aims to strengthen trade finance operations within the country, particularly for small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) and local corporates. The approved facility allows the African Development Bank to… [Read More]
U.S. Withdrawal from UNESCO: Official Statement by Director-General Audrey Azoulay
The United States has announced its decision to withdraw from UNESCO, a move set to take effect at the end of December 2026. This marks the second such withdrawal in recent years, following a similar decision in 2017 under President Donald Trump. The decision is seen as a setback to the principles of multilateralism and… [Read More]
Kenya’s Path to Sustainability: Forest and Landscape Restoration Efforts
Kenya is at a crucial stage in its environmental journey, with increasing urgency to restore degraded landscapes and enhance climate resilience. UK PACT (Partnering for Accelerated Climate Transitions) is actively supporting these efforts by facilitating collaboration among government agencies, research institutions, and conservation organizations. These partnerships aim to deliver sustainable, large-scale forest and landscape restoration… [Read More]
Investing in Rural Economies to Ease the Burden of High Food Prices on the Poor
High food prices continue to impact people across the globe, especially in low-income countries. At a special event for the upcoming State of Food Security and Nutrition in the World 2025 (SOFI 2025) report, Alvaro Lario, President of the International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD), emphasized the urgent need for strategic investments in agriculture and… [Read More]
Women’s Fund Circles Empower Gender Equity Leaders Worldwide
The Women’s Fund of Omaha was founded in 1990 with a mission to empower women and promote gender equity across the Omaha community. A key part of its strategy became Women in Leadership—work that evolved through research, advocacy, and eventually programs focused on community building and action. In 2017, the organization launched Circles Projects, which… [Read More]
