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When Klint Reci returned to his hometown of Rrëshen, Albania, he faced the question many young returnees share: what comes next? At 30, he invested in himself by enrolling in a professional cooking course at Vocational High School “Shën Jozefi Punëtor,” part of a UNDP-supported initiative under the LEAP Albania programme, funded by the Joint… [Read More]

The Youth, Peace and Security (YPS) agenda has gained notable momentum in 2025, marking the 10-year anniversary of UN Security Council resolution 2250 and the adoption of resolution 2807, which emphasizes greater youth participation and leadership in peace processes. In the Arab States, recent regional commitments and ongoing crises have highlighted young people’s critical contributions… [Read More]

As the Hong Kong BN(O) visa scheme approaches its fifth anniversary, more than 180,000 people have moved to the UK under the program following restrictions on democratic freedoms in Hong Kong. Many of the first arrivals are now preparing applications for Leave to Remain, with the intention of becoming British citizens in 2027. While the… [Read More]

The East African Science and Technology Commission (EASTECO), in collaboration with the Inter-University Council for East Africa (IUCEA), will host the 4th East African Community (EAC) Regional Science, Technology, and Innovation (STI) Conference from 4th to 6th March 2026 at the Kigali Convention Centre in Rwanda. Under the theme “Harnessing Artificial Intelligence for a Resilient,… [Read More]

On January 27, 2026, the International Finance Corporation (IFC) announced its investment in FIBRA Macquarie to expand energy-efficient industrial infrastructure across Mexico’s key economic hubs. The initiative aims to support job creation, strengthen local value chains, and advance sustainable development, leveraging the role of industrial parks as engines of inclusive economic growth. These parks currently… [Read More]

With an estimated USD 700 billion needed annually to protect and restore nature and over half of global economic value dependent on natural systems, closing the nature finance gap represents both a major challenge and opportunity for the financial sector. Banks, insurers, and investors can reduce material risks, strengthen sustainability strategies, and unlock investable projects… [Read More]

In 2023, the World Heritage Institute of Training and Research for the Asia and the Pacific Region under UNESCO (WHITR-AP, Shanghai Center) launched the “World Heritage Contribution to Sustainable Development Goals” project (2023–2028) to help heritage practitioners integrate sustainable development perspectives into World Heritage conservation and management. The project aims to translate the 2015 UNESCO… [Read More]

On 15 January 2026, the Africa–Europe Partnerships for Culture project formally launched its implementation phase, initiating a multi-country effort to harness culture and heritage for sustainable tourism, inclusive development, and youth employment across six Southern African countries. The launch established governance, delivery, and partnership frameworks, validating the project’s roadmap and coordination mechanisms to enable structured… [Read More]

Women’s leadership in peace processes delivers clear and proven results, yet women continue to be systematically excluded from decision-making spaces. Addressing this gap has been central to the work of the Netherlands Institute for Multiparty Democracy (NIMD), which has taken consistent steps to promote women’s full and meaningful participation in politics and peace. Between 2021… [Read More]

Climate change is no longer a distant or abstract threat; it is part of everyday life. From unpredictable weather patterns to rising air pollution, communities across Thailand and around the world are already experiencing its impacts. As these challenges intensify, education is emerging as one of the most powerful starting points for meaningful climate action…. [Read More]

Kenya’s exceptional biodiversity, spanning forests, rangelands, wetlands and marine ecosystems, is one of the country’s most valuable assets, yet it is under increasing pressure from a complex mix of human and environmental stressors. Rapid population growth, competing land uses, weakly enforced and unharmonized conservation laws, over-exploitation of natural resources, unsustainable recreational activities and accelerating deforestation… [Read More]

As sustainability regulations tighten and geopolitical tensions continue to reshape global trade, companies are under growing pressure to demonstrate credible Human Rights and Environmental Due Diligence (HREDD) across increasingly complex value chains. Eneco’s early adoption of HREDD shows how organisations can move beyond compliance and turn sustainability obligations into resilience and long-term value creation. The… [Read More]

IUCN’s BRIDGE (Building River Dialogue and Governance) programme recently awarded Gender Grants to thirteen organisations from Africa, Asia, and South America, selected from over 130 applications. These grants aim to advance gender equality and women’s leadership in transboundary water governance, strengthening the role of women in decision-making and fostering resilient freshwater ecosystems. The grants are… [Read More]

The Coral Triangle, recognized as the global epicenter of marine biodiversity, provides critical ecosystem services that support food security, livelihoods, and climate resilience for millions of people. However, these marine and coastal ecosystems face increasing pressures from climate change and human activities, making coordinated, science-based, and community-centered action across national and regional levels essential. With… [Read More]

In Mustang, one of Nepal’s most climate-vulnerable districts, Indigenous women in Jomsom are leading a quiet but impactful transformation by reviving a traditional water mill. The initiative addresses multiple challenges, including reducing women’s daily workload, conserving Indigenous knowledge, and strengthening community-based climate adaptation. Mustang’s Indigenous communities, including the Thakali, Gurung, Loba, and Magar, rely heavily… [Read More]

The International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) is inviting proposals to scale up green economy solutions that generate sustainable livelihoods while enhancing conservation outcomes in selected Transfrontier Conservation Areas (TFCAs) in Southern Africa, including several World Heritage sites. The SADC TFCA Financing Facility, supported by the German Government (€44 million) and the European Union… [Read More]

World Neglected Tropical Diseases (NTDs) Day, observed on 30 January 2026, highlights the persistent global burden of NTDs, which affect over a billion people worldwide, disproportionately impacting children. These diseases not only harm health but also perpetuate poverty, particularly in marginalized communities. Skin NTDs such as leprosy and lymphatic filariasis cause deformities, inflammation, and social… [Read More]

Stoke-on-Trent City Council has launched the Pride in Place Impact Fund, a £1.5 million initiative aimed at improving community spaces, parks, high streets, and public areas across the city. The fund will support visible, lasting enhancements such as renovating community buildings, upgrading playgrounds and parks, revitalizing high streets, and adding features like lighting, benches, or… [Read More]

Community organisations across East Lindsey are being invited to attend a Community Funding Information Session aimed at helping local groups access the financial support they need to grow, strengthen activities, and launch new projects. The informal drop-in event will be held on Wednesday, 25 February 2026, from 6pm to 7.30pm at the Horncastle Hub on… [Read More]

India convened the Influenza Chintan Shivir from 22–23 December 2025, a two-day hybrid meeting that brought together key national ministries, scientific institutions, and partners to strengthen interministerial and intersectoral coordination for influenza preparedness, surveillance, and response. The workshop emphasized influenza as a persistent public health threat and a crucial entry point for reinforcing national and… [Read More]

On 27 January 2026, Syria made a major step forward in addressing substance use as a public health priority, following a high-level inter-ministerial meeting in Damascus. Chaired by Dr. Musaab Alali, Minister of Health, and supported by the World Health Organization (WHO) and the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC), the meeting brought… [Read More]

The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), in collaboration with the Ministry of Agriculture, Lands, Fisheries and the Blue Economy in Antigua and Barbuda, recently completed a week-long mission aimed at transforming local protected agriculture farms into bankable investment opportunities. The initiative brought together 15 farmers alongside over 20 government officials and… [Read More]

Young people from Latin America and the Caribbean gathered on 26 and 27 January for the Youth Forum for the Transformation of Agrifood Systems, a regional platform organized by the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO). The event brought together youth representatives from 16 countries to engage in dialogue, build capacities, strengthen… [Read More]