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Oregon’s transportation system is facing a severe financial crisis after decades of underfunding and legislative missteps, offering a cautionary tale for the nation’s broader infrastructure challenges. The Oregon Department of Transportation (ODOT) carries hundreds of millions in debt and must make difficult decisions to maintain essential services like road maintenance, snow removal, and landslide mitigation,… [Read More]

Over the past several years, experience running agricultural and conservation incentive programs alongside governments, companies, and financial institutions has revealed a clear truth: scaling programs is not primarily a policy challenge, but an execution challenge. Success depends largely on how easily producers can participate and how efficiently staff can manage information, rather than on the… [Read More]

This knowledge product highlights the meaningful contributions of youth across Africa in promoting inclusive decision-making, social cohesion, and sustainable peace. It documents 44 initiatives from multiple countries, showcasing how young people are driving change in governance, peacebuilding, and community resilience. The examples demonstrate how youth can act as agents of social transformation, addressing complex challenges… [Read More]

The world’s great mountain ranges hold ancestral knowledge that is increasingly urgent today. Long before modern engineering, mountain communities developed systems capable of retaining water, cultivating steep slopes, and sustaining biodiversity. In the Andes, this expertise reached an extraordinary level of sophistication, offering strategies that are now essential for addressing global environmental and food security… [Read More]

The European Union has invested significantly in research and innovation to support the global transformation of agri-food systems. A policy brief analyzing 15 completed projects funded between 2014 and 2024 highlights how these initiatives, aligned with EU frameworks like the Green Deal, Farm to Fork strategy, and the Global Gateway Strategy, have strengthened local research… [Read More]

United Nations Secretary‑General António Guterres has warned that human rights are under attack globally, describing a world where the rule of law is being steadily replaced by the rule of force. He emphasized that this erosion is deliberate and often driven by those holding the greatest power, leaving millions to suffer through violence, discrimination, and… [Read More]

Moldova’s green transition is often discussed in terms of policy reforms, investments, and alignment with European standards. While these elements are important, the deeper challenge lies in systemic coherence. True coherence cannot be imposed externally—it must be cultivated from within the country. This perspective is informed both by experience in climate policy implementation and by… [Read More]

The updated joint Rapid Damage and Needs Assessment (RDNA5), issued by the Government of Ukraine, the World Bank Group, the European Commission, and the United Nations, highlights the scale of reconstruction required as the full-scale Russian invasion enters its fifth year. The assessment reports that direct damage in Ukraine has now surpassed $195 billion, up… [Read More]

Four years into Russia’s invasion, Ukraine faces unprecedented reconstruction and recovery challenges. An updated joint Rapid Damage and Needs Assessment (RDNA5) released by the Government of Ukraine, the World Bank Group, the European Commission, and the United Nations estimates that, as of 31 December 2025, Ukraine will require nearly $588 billion (€500 billion) over the… [Read More]

On 23 February 2026, CINEA launched a new call for projects under Green Assist, the EU advisory initiative aimed at supporting the development of sustainable investment projects across Europe. With a total budget of €3 million, the call offers tailored advisory support to small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), helping them develop and scale their green… [Read More]

Amnesty International has called on EU foreign ministers to ensure that their meeting on 23 February with Nikolai Mladenov, Director-General of the Board of Peace and High Representative for Gaza, prioritizes the rights of Palestinians. The organization stressed that the EU must address the structural flaws of the Board of Peace mechanism and ensure its… [Read More]

At the start of 2026, Finland’s Ministry for Foreign Affairs prioritized humanitarian assistance to address urgent crises worldwide, with a particular focus on Ukraine, major refugee situations in Africa, and humanitarian needs in the Middle East. Out of a total €72 million in humanitarian aid allocated this year, €20 million has been earmarked specifically for… [Read More]

The International Development Research Centre (IDRC) launched the webinar series “Thriving in Safety: Advancing Adolescent Health and Rights and Ending Gender-Based Violence in Central and West Africa” to strengthen adolescent health and rights, marking the 30th anniversary of the International Conference on Population and Development Programme of Action. The series aimed to foster knowledge exchange,… [Read More]

The GSMA has launched the Innovation Fund for Green Transition for Mobile, targeting small and growing enterprises across Africa, Central and South America, and South and Southeast Asia. The fund aims to address the dual challenge of advancing digital inclusion while promoting the clean energy transition, alongside exploring innovative solutions for refurbished handsets. By integrating… [Read More]

Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) occurs when bacteria, viruses, fungi, and parasites no longer respond to antimicrobial medicines, making infections harder or impossible to treat. This silent crisis is among the world’s top ten global health threats. AMR makes once-curable infections more difficult and costly to treat, placing immense pressure on health systems and endangering lives. Globally,… [Read More]

The World Health Organization (WHO), with support from the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO), convened a five-day Filovirus Disease Optimized Supportive Care Workshop in Brazzaville to update and harmonize clinical management guidelines for filovirus diseases (FVD). The workshop brought together 50 clinicians, researchers, and public health specialists from around the world to strengthen preparedness… [Read More]

The recent escalation of fighting in South Sudan has intensified risks for civilians and aid workers, with three humanitarian personnel killed between 7 and 16 February in Jonglei and Upper Nile states, according to the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA). Despite repeated commitments by authorities to allow relief operations, access to… [Read More]

A major milestone has been reached in Ireland’s efforts to protect vulnerable ground-nesting bird species, as 170 landowners have committed to conservation management through the Breeding Waders European Innovation Partnership (EIP). This initiative brings over 2,340 hectares of land under active management to support breeding waders, including the Eurasian Curlew, Eurasian Oystercatcher, Northern Lapwing, Common… [Read More]

The International Labour Organization (ILO) and the International Maritime Organization (IMO) are commemorating the 20th anniversary of the Maritime Labour Convention, 2006 (MLC, 2006), a landmark treaty that has significantly improved working and living conditions for seafarers worldwide while promoting fair competition in global shipping. Adopted on 23 February 2006 through a unique tripartite consensus… [Read More]

A regional survey conducted by the International Labour Organization (ILO) highlights persistent challenges faced by migrant workers in Asia’s fishing and seafood processing industries, emphasizing the urgent need to ratify and implement international labour standards on recruitment, work in fishing, and forced labour. The study, titled “Towards fair seas: Recruitment and working conditions for migrant… [Read More]

Four years into Russia’s invasion, Ukraine faces unprecedented recovery and reconstruction needs, with the updated Rapid Damage and Needs Assessment (RDNA5) estimating costs at nearly $588 billion (€500 billion) over the next decade, almost three times the country’s projected 2025 nominal GDP. This assessment, prepared jointly by the Government of Ukraine, the World Bank Group,… [Read More]

PORT MORESBY, February 23, 2026 – The World Bank Group has launched a six-year partnership with Papua New Guinea to support key reforms and investments aimed at creating jobs, improving public services, and building long-term resilience. This collaboration, formalized through the approval of the Country Partnership Framework (CPF) on February 17, 2026, will guide World… [Read More]

Six countries of the Congo Basin—Cameroon, Central African Republic, Democratic Republic of Congo, Equatorial Guinea, Gabon, and Republic of Congo—have launched Strategic Roadmaps for Carbon Market and Climate Finance in the Forest Sector. Developed with support from the World Bank, these roadmaps aim to transform the region’s forest wealth into engines for climate-resilient growth, sustainable… [Read More]