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The International Labour Organization (ILO) and partner UN agencies are scaling up efforts to strengthen social protection systems across the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region in response to rising challenges such as conflict, displacement, economic instability, and climate-related shocks. The initiative focuses on helping governments build more connected and responsive systems that can… [Read More]

In Southern Libya, women entrepreneurs are emerging as key drivers of peacebuilding and economic recovery, despite facing long-standing barriers such as limited access to finance, high unemployment, and entrenched social stereotypes. Supported through a UN Peacebuilding Fund initiative, these women are using vocational training and small business creation not only to improve their livelihoods but… [Read More]

Ports, which handle more than 80% of global trade by volume, are under increasing pressure to decarbonise while maintaining efficiency and keeping international supply chains running smoothly. This dual challenge is becoming more urgent as global trade faces renewed instability and disruptions across key maritime chokepoints. Recent tensions in strategic routes such as the Strait… [Read More]

A new study has revealed how a Ugandan cave known for hosting Egyptian fruit bats—natural carriers of the deadly Marburg virus—also attracts a wide range of wildlife and human visitors, creating a rare but concerning environment where disease spillover could occur. The cave, located in Queen Elizabeth National Park, has become a focal point for… [Read More]

As World Malaria Day (25 April) is observed, Africa stands at a critical turning point in its public health journey. While the continent has achieved significant progress over the past two decades—including rising life expectancy and a sharp reduction in under-five mortality—these gains are now slowing, and in some areas reversing. The current situation highlights… [Read More]

The European Commission and the European Investment Bank (EIB) Group have announced a new financing package of over €600 million to support urgent reconstruction and recovery efforts in Ukraine. The initiative combines more than €450 million in EIB-backed financing, enabled through an extended EU guarantee, along with around €150 million in EU grants and technical… [Read More]

The European Union in Albania, in cooperation with the Ministry of Education and the Ministry of Environment, has launched a nationwide campaign titled “Protect Nature, while you still can,” aimed at mobilising schools, students, and communities to take active responsibility in protecting Albania’s biodiversity. The initiative delivers a clear message that environmental protection requires urgent… [Read More]

The European Commission has announced €235 million in humanitarian assistance to support vulnerable populations across West and Central Africa, where ongoing conflicts, food insecurity, displacement, and climate-related shocks continue to drive urgent humanitarian needs. The funding will target displaced people, host communities, and hard-to-reach populations across multiple crisis-hit countries in the region. A significant share… [Read More]

A new joint report by the Food and Agriculture Organization and the World Meteorological Organization warns that extreme heat is pushing global food systems to the brink, endangering the livelihoods of more than a billion people. Rising temperatures and increasingly frequent heatwaves are already reshaping how food is produced, with the report estimating that nearly… [Read More]

As the world marks Earth Day, the Pacific island nation of Tuvalu is facing an existential crisis, with rising sea levels threatening to submerge most of its land by the end of the century. Communities across the low-lying nation are already grappling with the effects of climate change, while also exploring ways to preserve their… [Read More]

Average cuts of around $7,000 to individual NDIS budgets for social and community participation supports are expected to significantly reduce the ability of participants to engage in everyday activities, with disability groups warning the changes could be “horrible” to lose. The federal government is seeking $35 billion in savings from the National Disability Insurance Scheme… [Read More]

A new report by the International Labour Organization reveals that more than 840,000 people die each year due to health conditions associated with workplace risks such as long working hours, job insecurity, harassment and bullying. The study highlights how the way jobs are designed, organized and managed has a profound impact on workers’ health, with… [Read More]

58 animal rehoming organisations across New South Wales will receive critical funding to support the care and protection of vulnerable cats and dogs under the first phase of the NSW Government’s $6 million Companion Animal Welfare and Rehoming Grants program. In this initial round, $1.5 million has been distributed to support shelters, rescue groups, and… [Read More]

The financial inclusion funding landscape is significantly broader than previously captured in earlier research. CGAP identifies 2,015 “new” capital providers beyond the traditional set of donors, development finance institutions, philanthropy, and impact investors. A large majority of these new actors are commercial in nature and do not operate with explicit impact mandates, marking a shift… [Read More]

The United Nations has expressed deep concern over escalating insecurity in Sudan’s Darfur region and its devastating impact on civilians. UN Spokesperson Stéphane Dujarric reported that more than 10 people were killed and several others injured in a drone strike on the town of Um Dukhun in Central Darfur. The UN strongly condemned the attack,… [Read More]

The Republican Union of Employers of Armenia (RUEA), with support from the International Labour Organization (ILO), convened a high-level conference in Yerevan on “Formalization of the Economy as a Precondition for Business Growth,” bringing together government representatives, employers’ and workers’ organisations, and international partners to explore practical pathways for reducing informality and strengthening Armenia’s economic… [Read More]

Trade unions in Japan are strengthening their capacity to promote responsible business conduct (RBC) and advance labour rights with support from the International Labour Organization (ILO). A capacity development programme implemented with major national federations, including UA ZENSEN, RENGO, FOOD-RENGO, and the Japanese Council of Metalworkers’ Unions, has helped equip union leaders with practical tools… [Read More]

The African Union (AU) and the International Labour Organization (ILO) have advanced preparations for their second Joint Operational Plan (JOP) for 2025–2029, building on the outcomes of their first collaboration. A joint planning meeting held in Addis Ababa brought together technical experts and decision-makers from both institutions, along with partners such as the United Nations… [Read More]

The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) has announced $32.4 million in grant funding through the Local Agriculture Market Program (LAMP) to support the development and expansion of local and regional food systems across the United States. The funding aims to strengthen producer-to-consumer marketing, improve local food supply chains, and support the growth of food enterprises… [Read More]

The CLARE programme’s 2022 open call for proposals received a strong global response, attracting 1,661 applications from nearly 70 countries. This widespread participation highlighted both the diversity of organisations working on climate adaptation and the growing demand for inclusive, practical, and action-oriented research, particularly across the Global South. A new report by Transitions Research, commissioned… [Read More]

The International Labour Organization (ILO)-organized South-4-Care Learning Hub in Colombo brought together countries across South Asia for a four-day knowledge exchange focused on advancing decent work in the care economy. Held from 21–24 April 2026 in collaboration with the World Bank Group and the International Training Centre of the ILO, the initiative served as a… [Read More]

A new International Labour Organization (ILO) report warns that more than 840,000 people die each year worldwide from health conditions linked to psychosocial risks at work, including long working hours, job insecurity, and workplace harassment. These risks are strongly associated with cardiovascular diseases and mental health disorders, including suicide, and represent a major and growing… [Read More]

The United States Government has provided new funding to the United Nations World Food Programme (WFP) to strengthen its emergency response operations in Haiti, enabling the delivery of life-saving food assistance to at least 390,000 people over the next 18 months. The support comes at a critical time, as more than 5.9 million Haitians face… [Read More]