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Ruven Menikdiwela, UNHCR’s Assistant High Commissioner for Protection, has warned that the recent series of deadly shipwrecks in the Mediterranean highlights the urgent need for stronger and more coordinated action to prevent further loss of life among people fleeing in search of safety. The incidents serve as a stark reminder that current responses remain insufficient… [Read More]

Iraq’s Ahwar marshlands, often described as the Garden of Eden and spanning between 2,000 and 4,000 square kilometres, are facing severe ecological decline. Despite their designation as a UNESCO World Heritage Site, these wetlands are under intense pressure from the worst drought in a century, upstream dam construction, excessive water abstraction, prolonged extreme heat and… [Read More]

As part of its Technical Assistance Programme with Riyadh Amanah, the United Nations Development Programme, in collaboration with the IE School of Architecture and Design, delivered a five-day executive training in Madrid focused on urban landscape enhancement. The programme, titled Urban Landscape Improvement Experiences, examined how cities can function as adaptive living systems capable of… [Read More]

The United Nations Development Programme in the Maldives, in collaboration with the Ministry of Finance and Planning and the Ministry of Tourism and Environment and supported by the Integrated National Financing Frameworks, convened a two-day national workshop in Malé to strengthen public and private sector capacity to design bankable green investment projects and mobilise climate… [Read More]

The United Nations Capital Development Fund and Annycent Capital have signed a Statement of Intent to mobilize public and private capital for high-impact renewable energy projects in Least Developed Countries and other developing African markets. The partnership aims to accelerate investment by developing innovative financing solutions that support the secondary renewable energy market while strengthening… [Read More]

The Kenyan government has launched the sale of a 65% stake in the Kenya Pipeline Company, aiming to raise approximately 106.3 billion Kenyan shillings (around US$825 million) in what is expected to be East Africa’s largest local-currency initial public offering. The move is part of President William Ruto’s broader plan to reduce state ownership in… [Read More]

Germany is in discussions with South Africa over an additional €720 million in concessional climate financing under the Just Energy Transition Partnership (JETP), aiming to support the country’s shift from coal to cleaner energy sources. The funding would focus on renewable power, electricity grid upgrades, and measures to manage the economic impact of decarbonization. If… [Read More]

The Lao Women’s Union (LWU) and The Asia Foundation (TAF) in Lao PDR have reaffirmed their long-standing partnership with the signing of a memorandum of understanding for the project “Strengthening the Lao Women’s Union in Amplifying the ASEAN Regional Plan of Action on Women, Peace and Security,” funded by the New Zealand Ministry of Foreign… [Read More]

The Alliance of African Multilateral Financial Institutions (AAMFI) has launched an early warning system to detect the first signs of sovereign debt distress in African countries, aiming to prevent future disputes and facilitate timely interventions. The initiative, announced on January 29, brings together seven regional institutions, including Africa Finance Corporation, Afreximbank, and the Trade and… [Read More]

In Dar es Salaam, Tanzania, stakeholders are rolling out a new initiative to expand access to modern, technology-enabled electric cookstoves for low-income households, supporting the Government’s goal of having 80 percent of Tanzanians using clean cooking energy by 2034. The initiative aims to reduce reliance on traditional fuels like firewood and charcoal, which are still… [Read More]

In 2025, the European Investment Bank (EIB) and European Investment Fund (EIF), together forming the EIB Group, provided around SEK 21.8 billion (€2.06 billion) in financing to Swedish municipalities and companies, supporting climate action, sustainable transport, industrial innovation, and access to growth capital for startups and small and medium-sized enterprises. More than half of this… [Read More]

In 2025, the European Investment Bank Group (EIB and EIF) provided €2.6 billion in financing for projects across Belgium, marking a strong commitment to social infrastructure, innovation, and the green transition. A record €700 million tranche supported the construction of 56,000 new social housing units in Flanders, while energy-efficient renovations and upgrades in the energy… [Read More]

The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) has launched the New World Screwworm (NWS) Grand Challenge, a major funding initiative aimed at preventing the spread of this livestock pest and safeguarding U.S. agriculture. Secretary of Agriculture Brooke L. Rollins emphasized that the program is a strategic investment in farmers and ranchers, focusing on protecting the food… [Read More]

The African Development Bank Group, through the African Green Banks Initiative and the Multilateral Cooperation Center for Development Finance, launched a $1 million technical assistance program on 28 January to support Crédit Agricole du Maroc Group (GCAM). The funding will help strengthen GCAM’s institutional, operational, and financial capacities, enabling the bank to access concessional and… [Read More]

The African Development Bank (AfDB) has approved a new USD 3.9 million, two-year technical assistance project to help African countries turn their National Energy Compacts into tangible electricity access under Mission 300, the AfDB–World Bank initiative aiming to connect 300 million Africans to power by 2030. Energy Compacts are national strategies where governments outline plans… [Read More]

The African Women’s Development Fund (AWDF) is offering an exciting opportunity for a Programme Manager – Impact and Learning to lead the organisation’s Monitoring, Evaluation, and Learning (MEL) strategy. This role is designed for professionals with experience in designing and implementing MEL frameworks that strengthen feminist grantmaking, enhance accountability to movements, donors, and stakeholders, and… [Read More]

The Nuclear Scaling Initiative (NSI) has received a $3.5 million philanthropic grant from the Bezos Earth Fund to accelerate the responsible deployment of nuclear energy in the United States. The funding will support NSI’s effort to establish an orderbook—a coordinated model that brings multiple buyers together to commit to building the same proven reactor design—facilitating… [Read More]

In 2025, countries across three WHO regions conducted region-wide simulation exercises to test their International Health Regulations (IHR) capacities, enhancing their ability to detect, report, and respond to public health threats with international impact. The exercises—SAPHIRE in South-East Asia, JADE in Europe, and CRYSTAL in the Western Pacific—brought together National Focal Points (NFPs) to stress-test… [Read More]

Marking World Neglected Tropical Diseases (NTDs) Day, the World Health Organization (WHO) highlights the urgent need to address the stigma, discrimination, and mental health challenges faced by millions living with NTDs. Over one billion people are affected by these diseases, many of whom experience physical impairments or disfigurement from conditions such as leprosy, lymphatic filariasis,… [Read More]

IFC is investing in Uzbekistan’s East Can Solutions to establish the country’s first greenfield aluminum can production plant in Tashkent. The facility will supply fully recyclable metal packaging to leading beverage producers, helping to strengthen domestic supply, meet rising market demand, and reduce reliance on imports. By producing locally, Uzbekistan aims to mitigate supply chain… [Read More]

In Aleppo, northern Syria, Fatima, eight months pregnant and a mother of three, has been forced to flee her home due to intensifying conflict. Sheltering in a makeshift camp, she describes displacement as more than losing her home—it has meant losing privacy, safety, and reliable access to healthcare, particularly as a woman. The violence around… [Read More]

UN Women Uganda, in partnership with the Ministry of Education and Sports, the Ministry of ICT and National Guidance, and the Ministry of Gender, Labour and Social Development, with support from the German Development Cooperation (GIZ), inaugurated two new African Girls Can Code Initiative (AGCCI) ICT Hubs in 2025. The hubs were established at Wanyange… [Read More]

The public organization “Center for Social Welfare Dobrochyn” has been active since 1998, evolving from a local initiative into a sustainable institution that unites local and regional efforts. In 2025, Dobrochyn joined the “Impulse” project, implemented by the International Renaissance Foundation and the Eastern Europe Foundation with funding from Norway and Sweden. Today, the organization… [Read More]