The latest Cluster Munitions Monitor reports that more than 1,200 people have been killed or injured in Ukraine since Russia’s full-scale invasion in February 2022, though the true number is likely much higher and may take years to determine. Loren Persi, team lead for the report, highlighted that similar underestimations occurred in conflicts in Syria… [Read More]
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Yemen Crisis Deepens: UN Warns of Famine, Fighting, and Aid Worker Detentions
UN Special Envoy Hans Grundberg addressed the Security Council, emphasizing that the crisis in Yemen is deeply intertwined with broader regional instability. He described Yemen as both a reflection and an amplifier of regional volatility, noting that progress toward peace is hindered by regional rivalries, cross-border tensions, and internal divisions. Grundberg highlighted that the ongoing… [Read More]
UN Revises 2026 Budget Proposal with Cost Cuts and Reform Measures
The United Nations has finalized revised estimates for its 2026 proposed programme budget, incorporating more than $500 million in reductions while introducing the first measures of the UN80 Initiative, a broader effort to make the Organisation more effective and resilient on its 80th anniversary. The revised estimates, shared with the Advisory Committee on Administrative and… [Read More]
Strengthening Supply Chains to Drive Inclusive Growth in Asia-Pacific
The International Labour Organization (ILO) convened the forum “Resilient Supply Chains and Equitable Growth in a Changing World of Work: Advancing Decent Work through Regional Cooperation in Asia and the Pacific” in Bangkok, Thailand, on 15–16 September 2025, highlighting the critical role of supply chains in driving inclusive growth across the region. Participants stressed that… [Read More]
New South4Care Platform Launched to Promote Decent Work in the Care Economy
The International Labour Organization (ILO) and its International Training Centre (ITCILO) have launched South4Care, a global platform aimed at strengthening South-South and Triangular Cooperation (SSTC) to advance decent work in the care economy. The initiative brings together governments, employers’ and workers’ organizations, and international partners to position care as a driver of decent work, gender… [Read More]
IFAD, EU, and FINCA Leverage Remittances to Boost Climate Resilience in Rural Tajikistan
More than 85,000 people in rural Tajikistan will now be able to leverage remittances from relatives working abroad to create long-term financial stability and adapt to environmental challenges linked to climate change. This initiative forms part of wider regional efforts in Central Asia to maximize the development impact of remittances and improve livelihoods in rural… [Read More]
Belize City Advances Local Disaster Risk Reduction Measures
Over three days, local authorities, civil society representatives, development partners, and community leaders in Belize City collaborated to advance the city’s resilience through the Making Cities Resilient 2030 (MCR2030) initiative. Participatory workshops marked a crucial step in developing a Local Disaster Risk Reduction (DRR) and Resilience Action Plan, with technical guidance from UNDRR and collaboration… [Read More]
Guatemala Secures World Bank Funding to Boost Public Spending Efficiency and Transparency
The World Bank’s Executive Board has approved a US$50 million project, Smart Public Finance: Data-Driven Public Expenditure Management for Greater Efficiency, to modernize Guatemala’s public financial systems. The initiative aims to improve transparency, strengthen decision-making, and enhance the efficiency of public spending, ultimately improving access to and quality of services for Guatemalan citizens. The project… [Read More]
ADB Funds Major Road Project to Boost Transport Connectivity in Kazakhstan
The Asian Development Bank (ADB) has approved a sovereign-guaranteed loan of $400 million to KazAvtoZhol National Company JSC for the construction of a new road in southern Kazakhstan. The project aims to strengthen regional connectivity, improve transport efficiency, facilitate cross-border trade, and enhance road safety. By developing the Saryagash Bypass Road, Kazakhstan is expected to… [Read More]
AfDB Grants $400,000 to Ethiopia for Public Disclosure Platform to Strengthen Capital Market
The African Development Bank Group (AfDB) and the Ethiopian Capital Market Authority (ECMA) have signed a grant agreement for $400,000 to establish a public disclosure platform and introduce new financial products, including exchange-traded funds (ETFs) and green bonds, at the Ethiopian Securities Exchange. This grant, provided through the Capital Markets Development Trust Fund (CMDTF), supports… [Read More]
Secretary Rollins Launches Reinvigorated Farm to School Grants to Support American Farmers and Children
The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) has announced the Fiscal Year (FY) 2026 Patrick Leahy Farm to School Grants, aiming to strengthen child health and support American agriculture. Through this initiative, the USDA will invest up to $18 million in projects that connect farmers to child nutrition programs via local food procurement, school gardens, agricultural… [Read More]
Webinar on Gender Violence Programs Targeting Men: Community of Practice for Gender Equality and Evidence Use
J-PAL LAC’s Community of Practice (CoP) for Gender Equality and Evidence Use aims to bring together government officials, researchers, NGOs, and civil society to address structural barriers that limit the empowerment of girls and women across Latin America and the Caribbean (LAC). The CoP facilitates periodic meetings where evidence is shared, and participants exchange knowledge,… [Read More]
India Scale-Up Summit 2025: Driving Growth and Innovation with ASPIRE
The India Scale-Up Summit 2025: An ASPIRE Convening is a day-long immersive event that brings together leaders from government, philanthropy, academia, and civil society to explore strategies for scaling evidence-based programs. The Summit serves as both a celebration of past successes and a platform for advancing the next phase of scaling impactful initiatives, emphasizing collaboration… [Read More]
India Launches Rs 100 Crore Call for Proposals to Support Hydrogen Start-Ups
India’s Union Minister of New and Renewable Energy, Pralhad Joshi, has launched a Rs 100 crore Call for Proposals to support start-ups in hydrogen innovation, offering up to Rs 5 crore per project for pilot initiatives in hydrogen production, storage, transport, and utilisation technologies. At the launch conference, 25 start-ups showcased innovations ranging from electrolyser… [Read More]
Ukraine’s Development Ministry and UNDP Launch Educational Tools to Boost Integrity in Recovery Sector
The Ministry for Development of Communities and Territories of Ukraine, with support from UNDP Ukraine and funding from the Government of Japan, has launched two new educational tools aimed at strengthening integrity and accountability in the country’s recovery sector. The resources include an online course, “Integrity and Ethics: A Course for the Ministry for Development… [Read More]
Urban October 2025: Promoting Sustainable Cities and Communities
Urban October 2025 is a global initiative that highlights the central role of cities in addressing today’s crises and shaping tomorrow’s solutions. The month-long observance brings together stakeholders to explore innovative approaches to urban challenges, focusing on building resilient, inclusive, and sustainable cities. Urban October begins with World Habitat Day on 6 October and concludes… [Read More]
Iloilo Province and UNDP Transform Post-Election Waste into Sustainable Solutions
The Iloilo Provincial Government, in partnership with the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) Philippines and supported by The Coca-Cola Foundation, has launched the Weave Out Waste (WOW) Limpyo Iloilo program. This initiative transforms post-election waste from the Limpyo Eleksyon 2025 into marketable consumer products, demonstrating a practical application of circular economy principles. The program builds… [Read More]
Indonesia Unveils 16.23 Trillion Rupiah Stimulus to Drive Growth and Support Workers
Indonesia has unveiled a 16.23 trillion rupiah (S$1.3 billion) stimulus package aimed at countering slowing economic growth and supporting households and businesses. The package, announced by Coordinating Minister for Economic Affairs Airlangga Hartarto, includes eight programmes focused on strengthening social protection, creating jobs, and accelerating growth in strategic sectors. The government also plans infrastructure projects… [Read More]
Crane Venture Partners Unveils $135M APAC I Fund to Boost Regional Startups
Crane Venture Partners has announced the launch of Crane APAC I, a new $135 million fund dedicated to supporting early-stage founders in India, Singapore, and Australia. With this fund, the firm now manages $450 million in assets across Europe and Asia-Pacific, strengthened by its expanded partnership with MassMutual Ventures (MMV). The initiative reflects Crane’s belief… [Read More]
EBRD Launches US$ 634 Million Programme to Build Greener Financial Systems
The European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) has launched a new programme, “Greening financial systems: delivering climate finance for all”, with a total expected value of US$ 634 million. The initiative will be implemented in 13 countries across the EBRD regions, including Armenia, Egypt, Georgia, Jordan, Kazakhstan, the Kyrgyz Republic, Moldova, Mongolia, Morocco, North… [Read More]
EBRD and BII Provide $100 Million to MHP to Strengthen Ukraine’s Food Security
The European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD), together with British International Investment (BII), has announced a financing package of up to US$100 million for Ukraine’s leading agribusiness producer, MHP. Of this, the EBRD will provide US$80 million, while BII will contribute US$20 million. The financing aims to strengthen food security and resilience in wartime… [Read More]
EBRD Promotes Sustainable Infrastructure in Egypt Through Public-Private Partnerships
The European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD), in partnership with Egypt’s Ministry of Finance and with support from the Ministry of Planning, Economic Development and International Cooperation, has launched the €10 million Egypt Project Preparation Facility (EPPF). The initiative is designed to encourage greater private-sector participation in Egypt’s infrastructure projects through public-private partnerships (PPPs),… [Read More]
EBRD and EU Launch Green Investment Initiative in the West Bank
The European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD), in partnership with the European Union (EU), has launched the Green Economy Financing Facility (GEFF) in the West Bank to accelerate the shift toward a greener and more sustainable economy. The programme is designed to strengthen private-sector and residential investments in small-scale renewable energy as well as… [Read More]
