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ASEAN member States are preparing the next Regional Plan of Action on the Elimination of Violence against Women (RPA EVAW) for 2026–2035, building on nearly a decade of experience implementing the 2016–2025 plan. An end-term review process has gathered insights on progress, challenges, and unfinished priorities to inform the next 10-year strategy. This process has… [Read More]

The first-ever Regional Open Day on Women, Peace, and Security (WPS), held in Amman from 2 to 4 December, underscored the continuing importance of the WPS agenda in the Arab region while highlighting persistent challenges. Close to 100 participants, including government representatives, policymakers, UN entities, international partners, and women-led civil society organizations from across the… [Read More]

The World Food Prize Foundation, in partnership with America’s Cultivation Corridor, has launched applications for the 2026 Innovate for Impact Challenge, a global competition for AgTech startups offering a grand prize of USD $50,000. The competition seeks early-stage, technology-driven startups that provide solutions to strengthen global food security and promote sustainable agriculture. In 2025, the… [Read More]

The World Food Prize Foundation has opened submissions for its 2026 Top Agri-food Pioneers (TAP), an international initiative recognizing 40 innovators who are advancing practical, science-driven solutions to strengthen food and nutrition security worldwide. This year’s cohort coincides with the 40th anniversary of the World Food Prize, marking a milestone in the Foundation’s global efforts… [Read More]

On 27 January 2026, a global coalition comprising the Alliance for Feminist Movements, Gender Funders CoLab, Mama Cash, and Prospera International Network of Women’s and Feminist Funds launched a new campaign, Accelerate Together, to mobilise $600 million annually in funding for grassroots women-led movements worldwide. The initiative seeks to significantly increase investment in women’s organisations… [Read More]

The Department for Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS) is inviting applications from civil society organisations in England to deliver the Local Covenant Partnerships Fund, a new three-year programme valued at £11.59 million. The fund aims to strengthen collaboration between local authorities and civil society groups to provide joined-up, preventative, and self-directed care. Priority areas for… [Read More]

The Rewilding Innovation Fund is designed to support projects that accelerate rewilding efforts across Britain. It provides funding of up to £15,000 to help initiatives overcome obstacles, explore innovative approaches, and attract future investment. The fund is open to projects at any stage, from early planning to trialling new methods. Eligible projects must be based… [Read More]

In January 2026, IUCN, in partnership with UNEP and the UNEP-DHI Centre, and with support from Denmark, launched the Climate Resilient Eastern African Transboundary Water Management for Environmental Sustainability (CREATES) programme. This multi-year initiative aims to strengthen climate-resilient and cooperative water management across Eastern Africa, working closely with the governments of Kenya, Tanzania, and Uganda…. [Read More]

The Joint SDG Fund is the United Nations’ flagship catalytic financing mechanism, designed to accelerate integrated policy reforms and strategic investments that advance the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. Aligned with the UN Secretary-General’s Funding Compact 2.0, the Fund helps countries synchronize national priorities, financing frameworks, and institutional systems with the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)…. [Read More]

The Israel Cancer Research Fund (ICRF) and the Cancer Research Institute (CRI) have partnered to award Dr. Asaf Madi of Tel Aviv University the ICRF-CRI Immunotherapy Collaborative Project Grant. Dr. Madi received $180,000 over three years to support his research aimed at refining tumor-infiltrating lymphocyte (TIL) therapy to predict patient responses and overcome drug resistance… [Read More]

Eswatini’s Minister of Education and Training, Owen Nxumalo, sparked concern after media reports quoted him during back-to-school visits in the Hhohho Region, near Mbabane, saying that same-sex relationships have “no place” in schools and that LGBTI students should be expelled. Amnesty International’s Deputy Regional Director for East and Southern Africa, Flavia Mwangovya, condemned the remarks,… [Read More]

Ahead of a parliamentary vote on proposed legislative amendments by Georgia’s ruling Georgian Dream party, Amnesty International warned that the changes would further restrict dissent and tighten government control over foreign-funded civic activity. Denis Krivosheev, Deputy Director for Eastern Europe and Central Asia at Amnesty International, stated that the amendments significantly broaden the definition of… [Read More]

Unitaid has launched a new funding opportunity to accelerate the elimination of cervical cancer, with proposals due by 9 April 2026 and a webinar scheduled for 12 February 2026 to provide further details. Cervical cancer, though preventable and curable with timely intervention, remains one of the most common cancers among women globally, with 90% of… [Read More]

UNDP Bangladesh supported the Archive & Resist Conclave 2026, a two-day event that brought together human rights practitioners, archivists, journalists, researchers, and youth activists from Bangladesh and abroad to exchange knowledge, build solidarity, and share strategies for justice and societal healing. The Conclave, held on 26–27 January 2026 at BRAC University, focused on how documentation,… [Read More]

During the brutal two-year war in Gaza, healthcare workers bore a heavy burden, with thousands of Palestinian doctors and medical students halting or interrupting their studies to volunteer in hospitals and clinics. Many continued their education under extremely difficult conditions while simultaneously providing life-saving care to their communities. The United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) has… [Read More]

The Inter-American Development Bank has approved a new Unified Investment Lending Policy designed to make investment financing faster, simpler, and more closely linked to development outcomes. The reform streamlines the Bank’s lending instruments across loans, grants, and guarantees, creating a more flexible framework that improves clarity, efficiency, and impact in how financing is deployed. Under… [Read More]

The Ontario government is nearing completion of more than $100 million in rail infrastructure investments to support the return of the Northlander passenger rail service to northeastern Ontario. Ongoing work along the corridor includes track improvements, curve adjustments, and upgrades at rail crossings, all aimed at delivering smoother, safer, and more efficient travel while reducing… [Read More]

The Ontario government is investing more than $235,000 through Collaborative Research Agreements to support seven new research projects across the province aimed at protecting wildlife, improving fisheries management, and strengthening the forestry sector. This investment forms part of Ontario’s broader strategy to safeguard natural resources and communities, bringing the province’s total funding for active collaborative… [Read More]

Recurrent climate shocks are once again driving large-scale displacement across Mozambique, with severe flooding since the start of the year affecting southern and central regions already weakened by cyclones, storms, and drought. The floods have displaced nearly 392,000 people, compounding an already fragile situation in a country that is also facing conflict-driven displacement in the… [Read More]

As EU foreign ministers convene to discuss the Middle East, ActionAid has warned that there is no ceasefire for Palestinians in Gaza, only what it describes as the continuation of genocide under diplomatic cover. The organisation urged EU leaders to stop using diplomatic language to obscure realities on the ground and to acknowledge that large-scale… [Read More]

A multidisciplinary team from the Pan American Health Organization/World Health Organization and the National Institute for Public Health and the Environment of the Netherlands carried out a collaborative mission to Sint Maarten from 19 to 24 January 2026, focusing on strengthening systems for death certification and cause-of-death registration. The initiative aimed to reinforce key elements… [Read More]

The International Organization for Migration praised Brazil’s leadership on migration during an official visit by IOM Chief of Staff Mohammed Abdiker, who met with senior government officials and visited migrant reception centres and integration projects across the country. The visit offered firsthand insight into how Brazil supports migrants and assists them in settling into new… [Read More]

The International Organization for Migration (IOM) has raised alarm over a surge in displacement in eastern Yemen, where renewed insecurity is forcing families to flee their homes. Many of the newly displaced have arrived in Ma’rib Governorate, facing critical shortages of shelter, clean water, and essential services. The rapid influx is placing immense pressure on… [Read More]