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BBC Children in Need, in partnership with several major UK funders including Co‑op Foundation, Esmée Fairbairn Foundation, Henry Smith Foundation, Joseph Levy Foundation, Paul Hamlyn Foundation, Postcode Justice Trust, UK Community Foundations, and The National Lottery Community Fund, has launched Lead the Change, a new initiative aimed at empowering young people to strengthen their local… [Read More]

The NIHR has awarded nearly £1 million to two projects in the final phase of its Innovation Fund to Reduce Demand for Illicit Substances (RDIS), bringing total funding across all phases to almost £5 million. The fund, delivered in partnership with the Department of Health and Social Care and the Joint Combating Drugs Unit, supports… [Read More]

Economic growth is often seen as a goal in itself, but recent discussions highlight that health is both a prerequisite for growth and a measure of its success. Poor health limits workforce participation, reduces productivity, and strains public services, while decisions in housing, transport, employment, and urban regeneration directly shape long-term health outcomes. Ignoring the… [Read More]

Global health is facing a complex and challenging landscape in 2026, with multiple interconnected threats that could undermine progress toward health equity. Conflict, climate change, funding cuts, health misinformation, emerging pathogens, and unknown future threats are creating an environment in which disease outbreaks, environmental health risks, and weakened health systems pose serious risks to populations… [Read More]

A new scheme to support Islanders facing sudden financial hardship is set to launch this spring. The Crisis and Resilience Fund (CRF), starting on 1 April 2026, will provide around £2.2 million annually for the next three years. Funded by central government, the CRF will replace the Household Support Fund, which ends on 31 March…. [Read More]

The East Europe Foundation (Ukraine) has announced the second wave of its grant competition, titled ‘Support for CSO advocacy campaigns on the recovery of territorial communities and preparation for Ukraine’s accession to the EU’. The initiative is part of the project ‘Phoenix: The Power of Communities’, implemented by the Foundation with backing from the European… [Read More]

Climate Fund Managers has committed USD 32.2 million from its EU-supported Climate Investor Two Construction Equity Fund to Akaia Green Fuels, a commercial-scale waste-to-biogas facility in Uttar Pradesh, northern India. The investment reflects the European Union’s partnership with India to accelerate decarbonisation, support industrial transition, and expand renewable energy. The project converts approximately 94,000 tonnes… [Read More]

This week, the Australian government introduced the Migration Amendment (2026 Measures No. 1) Bill 2026, which, if passed, would give the home affairs minister the power to issue an “arrival control determination” to prevent people from conflict- and crisis-affected regions from entering Australia on temporary visas, including tourist, student, or sporting visas. The measure automatically… [Read More]

The Supreme Court of Ukraine has upheld a lower court ruling recognizing a same-sex couple as a de facto family, marking a significant step for LGBTI rights in the country. Veronika Velch, Director of Amnesty International Ukraine, emphasized that the decision reaffirms the right of same-sex couples to be recognized as a family and prevents… [Read More]

Amnesty International has called on Israel, the United States, and the Islamic Republic of Iran to immediately cease unlawful attacks on energy infrastructure, emphasizing the catastrophic risks to civilians and the environment. Recent airstrikes by Israeli-US forces targeted multiple fuel storage and distribution facilities in Iran, while Iranian military actions have affected oil and gas… [Read More]

The Government of Canada has announced a dedicated investment of up to $10 million to support Jewish communities in enhancing the security of their gathering spaces, including schools, day cares, overnight camps, and places of worship, through the Canada Community Security Program (CCSP). This funding aims to address rising hate-motivated incidents and ensure that members… [Read More]

The successful listing of Africa Logistics Properties Real Estate Investment Trust (ALP REIT) on the Nairobi Securities Exchange (NSE) marks a major milestone for Kenya’s industrial real estate sector. The listing was made possible through a UK–Kenya partnership, which included a USD 24 million commitment from the UK via the MOBILIST programme and the Private… [Read More]

The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations in the Near East and North Africa (FAO NENA) commemorated International Women’s Day 2026 with a regional webinar titled “Women Farmers in the Near East and North Africa Region: Advancing Visibility, Knowledge and Inclusion.” The event brought together over 115 participants, including women farmers, government officials,… [Read More]

Member countries of the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) have agreed that El Salvador will host the 40th FAO Regional Conference for Latin America and the Caribbean (LARC40) in 2028. The decision was announced during the 39th FAO Regional Conference for Latin America and the Caribbean (LARC39), which gathered ministerial delegations… [Read More]

Across Asia-Pacific, extreme weather events and long-term climate impacts are increasingly disrupting agrifood systems, damaging infrastructure, and threatening rural livelihoods. The region is considered the most disaster-prone in the world, accounting for nearly half of global disaster-related agricultural losses. These challenges are placing growing pressure on food security, nutrition, and the resilience of farming communities,… [Read More]

The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations has welcomed the adoption of a resolution by the United Nations General Assembly declaring 1 October as International Coffee Day. The resolution, approved in New York, recognizes the cultural, social, and historical significance of coffee, highlighting its journey from its origins to its important role in… [Read More]

Zimbabwe has reached an important milestone in the development of its aquaculture sector with the completion and validation of a national Farmed Tilapia Market Strategy. The achievement was highlighted during a multi-stakeholder workshop in Harare, where government representatives, farmers, private-sector actors, and technical partners reviewed the strategy. The initiative aims to transform farmed tilapia into… [Read More]

Private sector leaders from across Africa have called for stronger partnerships, increased investment, and greater innovation to accelerate the transformation of the continent’s agrifood systems. The appeal was made during the 4th African Agribusiness Leaders Dialogue, an online consultation organized ahead of the 34th Session of the FAO Regional Conference for Africa. The event gathered… [Read More]

Ukraine has introduced the human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccine into its national immunization schedule for the first time, offering a single dose to girls aged 12–13. The move marks the first addition of a new vaccine to the country’s routine immunization programme in nearly two decades. Despite the ongoing war, the rollout began in early 2026,… [Read More]

A nationwide vaccination campaign in Pakistan successfully combined protection against measles, rubella, and polio, demonstrating how integrated public health efforts can reach vulnerable populations more effectively. Supported by the World Health Organization, the campaign in late 2025 delivered measles–rubella vaccines to about 34 million children while also administering oral polio vaccines to more than 19… [Read More]

The ongoing escalation of conflict in the Middle East is placing significant strain on health systems across the region, according to the World Health Organization. More than ten days after the latest surge in violence, rising casualties, displacement, and continued attacks on healthcare facilities are worsening the humanitarian situation and increasing public health risks. Health… [Read More]

Under a European Union–funded regional initiative focused on addressing climate and environmental risks in Central Asia, eight local civil society organizations were selected in August 2025 through a competitive call for proposals to support community-led actions. The initiative is implemented with technical assistance from the United Nations Environment Programme and aims to strengthen peace and… [Read More]

Tom Fletcher, the United Nations’ top emergency relief coordinator, has warned that humanitarian crises are escalating faster than aid agencies can respond as violence spreads across multiple regions. Speaking to reporters in Geneva, he described the situation as a “moment of grave peril,” stressing that without additional international support, millions of vulnerable people could lose… [Read More]