Minister for Enterprise, Tourism and Employment, Peter Burke, has released a new report titled “Market Demand for and Supply of Scaling Finance in Ireland.” The report highlights a significant shortfall in equity financing available to Irish enterprises at the scaling stage of their development. This financing gap is estimated at approximately €1.1 billion over the… [Read More]
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EU Renews Crucial Support for WFP’s Lifesaving Food Assistance in Algeria
The European Union has renewed its support for Sahrawi refugees in Algeria by continuing its annual funding of €5 million to the United Nations World Food Programme (WFP). This funding supports food assistance for over 133,000 vulnerable people living in long-term displacement in remote camps near Tindouf. The contribution enters its second year as part… [Read More]
Over 40% in English- and Dutch-Speaking Caribbean Face Daily Food Insecurity
Nearly 3.2 million people in the English- and Dutch-speaking Caribbean are currently food insecure, according to the latest Food Security and Livelihoods Survey conducted by the UN World Food Programme (WFP) and CARICOM. In 2025, 30% of the population reported eating less than usual, reflecting a continuing trend driven by rising food prices linked to… [Read More]
Japan Supports Lesotho’s Fight Against Hunger and Malnutrition
The United Nations World Food Programme (WFP) has received a significant contribution of JPY 200 million (approximately US$1.36 million) from the Government of Japan to support Lesotho’s national school feeding programme. This funding will be used over the next year to provide hot, nutritious meals to 50,000 pre-primary school children across the country. The contribution… [Read More]
Apply Now: E-Learning Course on Decentralization and SDG Localization in Asia-Pacific
Registration is now open for the 2025 edition of the e-learning course on Decentralization, Local Governance, and Localizing Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) in Asia and the Pacific. This tutored course is tailored to the learning needs of Asian Development Bank (ADB) staff and government officials from ADB’s developing member countries (DMCs). The program is organized… [Read More]
Sandpit Workshop on Slavery Pasts Sparks Dialogue on Historical Injustice and Memory
The Dutch Research Council (NWO) is organizing a sandpit workshop from August 25 to 29, 2025, as part of the NWA-Call titled “Slavery pasts: (understudied forms of) impacts and perspectives.” This workshop offers an intensive, collaborative environment designed to foster co-creation, with strong emphasis on inclusion and equality among participants. Special attention will be given… [Read More]
Strengthening Nature-Based Solutions Through Capacity Building for Climate Resilience
NETFUND, in partnership with the International Labour Organization (ILO) and the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN), is hosting Kenya’s first training on Nature-based Solutions (NbS) under the National Projects Coordination (NPC) mechanism. Scheduled for August 4–8, 2025, the training will be held in Nanyuki, Laikipia County. This five-day programme aims to equip implementing… [Read More]
IOM Deputy Chief Urges Global Response to Escalating Climate Crisis in Somalia
The Deputy Director General of the International Organization for Migration (IOM), Ugochi Daniels, concluded a four-day mission to Somalia, where she raised urgent concerns about the escalating climate and displacement crisis. She emphasized that while Somalia contributes minimally to global emissions, its people are enduring some of the most severe consequences, including mass internal displacement,… [Read More]
Zambia Launches HIV/AIDS Guidelines and Private Sector Strategy for Informal Economy
The Government of Zambia has officially launched the HIV and AIDS Guidelines for the Informal Economy and the Private Sector Engagement Strategy (2025–2027), in partnership with employers’ and workers’ organizations and with support from the International Labour Organization (ILO). The launch event, held at the Government Complex in Lusaka, brought together senior officials, private sector… [Read More]
Honduran Employers Advance Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) Priorities for Sustainable Growth
Under the leadership of the Honduran Council of Private Enterprise (COHEP) and its affiliated organizations, three Honduran companies—Ingenio Azucarero Choluteca, Banco Atlántida, and Corporación Petrolera Montecristo (COPEMSA)—have taken concrete steps to promote Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) principles. These efforts are part of the International Labour Organization’s (ILO) “Leader” programme, which supports the development of… [Read More]
Global Anti-Poverty Agenda: UN Task Force on Social and Solidarity Economy to Shape Roadmap
The UN Inter-Agency Task Force on the Social and Solidarity Economy (UNTFSSE) held its 53rd Regular Meeting on July 15, 2025, amid what the UN Secretary-General has described as a “global development emergency.” With only 35% of Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) targets currently on track, the meeting focused on aligning the Task Force’s work with… [Read More]
Ontario Invests $4 Million to Enhance Worker Safety in Thunder Bay
The Ontario government has announced a new investment of over $4 million through the Skills Development Fund (SDF) to support nearly 500 people in Thunder Bay and surrounding areas in accessing well-paying jobs across the construction, industrial, mining, and transportation sectors. This latest funding brings the province’s total investment in training initiatives in Thunder Bay… [Read More]
Eswatini Accelerates Digital Transformation to Boost Economy and Create Jobs
The latest edition of the Eswatini Economic Update launched by the World Bank Group emphasizes the urgent need for Eswatini to embrace digitalization, improve public finance management, and address structural economic weaknesses to sustain long-term growth. The report, titled Harnessing the Potential of Digital Technologies for Eswatini’s Growth and Job Creation, analyzes the country’s recent… [Read More]
World Bank Launches Initiatives to Boost Jobs and Economic Resilience in the Pacific
World Bank Managing Director of Operations, Anna Bjerde, recently concluded a week-long visit to Fiji, Papua New Guinea, and Australia, where she focused on advancing new strategies for job creation, economic resilience, and delivering faster, more effective development outcomes in the Pacific region. The visit aimed to strengthen partnerships and bring global expertise closer to… [Read More]
Philippines: World Bank Supports Resilience Building for 18 Million Vulnerable Households
Around 18 million households in the Philippines are expected to see a reduction in their vulnerability to natural disasters through a new World Bank-supported initiative known as the Philippines Community Resilience Project, or “Pagkilos.” The project focuses on strengthening community-led planning and infrastructure investment to tackle climate and disaster risks. Local communities will be directly… [Read More]
Nigeria and AfDB Deepen Delivery Dialogue at 2025 Country Portfolio Review
The African Development Bank recently held a workshop in Abuja to review the performance of its portfolio in Nigeria as part of the 2025 Country Portfolio Performance Review (CPPR). Nearly 200 participants attended, including representatives from the Federal Ministry of Finance, the Bank, and implementing agencies overseeing Bank-supported public sector projects across the country. Both… [Read More]
AfDB Participates in Groundbreaking of Special Agro-Industrial Zone in Oyo, Nigeria
The Federal Government of Nigeria and the Oyo State Government, in collaboration with the African Development Bank, are set to hold the groundbreaking ceremony for the Oyo State Special Agro-Industrial Processing Zone (SAPZ) on 2 August 2025. The event, which will take place in Ijaiye, Akinyele Local Government Area, will feature prominent figures including Nigeria’s… [Read More]
AfDB Approves $46 Million to Strengthen Healthcare System in Sokoto State, Nigeria
The African Development Bank Group has approved a $46 million loan to finance the Sokoto State Health Infrastructure Project, a major initiative aimed at improving access to and the quality of healthcare services in Sokoto State, Nigeria. This intervention comes in response to alarming health statistics in the region, where only one in twenty children… [Read More]
South Sudan and AfDB Launch Project to Strengthen Revenue Collection and Transparency
The Government of South Sudan has launched two major initiatives aimed at enhancing revenue collection and financial accountability: the South Sudan Institute of Revenue Administration (SSIRA) and the second phase of the Non-Oil Revenue Mobilisation and Accountability Project (NORMA II). The launch event, held near Juba on July 25, marked a significant step in the… [Read More]
Breaking the Silence: Survivor Stories of Domestic Violence in Kazakhstan
Kazakhstan’s 2024 domestic violence reforms mark a significant shift in addressing intimate partner violence, resulting from years of advocacy by UN Women, civil society organizations, and the public. Survivors now have better access to emergency services, legal aid, and psychosocial support, following a strong legal framework designed to prioritize their protection. Previously, Kazakhstan’s legal system… [Read More]
From Risk to Remedy: Investor Action Against Modern Slavery
The UNDP Finance Against Slavery and Human Trafficking (FAST) Initiative, in partnership with the UK’s Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO), has launched a global study to guide investors on how to engage with survivors of modern slavery and human trafficking. This engagement is intended to improve human rights due diligence and support the development… [Read More]
How JRCT Is Supporting Social Justice Through Grassroots Funding
The Joseph Rowntree Charitable Trust (JRCT) supports initiatives that address the root causes of conflict and injustice. Recognizing the essential role of grassroots movements led by directly affected communities, JRCT launched a pilot Grassroots Movements Fund to back such efforts. Over the past three years, the pilot program awarded £1.5 million through 22 grants to… [Read More]
Uzbekistan Boosts Data Governance with New Workshop on Open and Gender Data
The OSCE Project Co-ordinator in Uzbekistan, in collaboration with the Open Data Charter and the National Committee on Statistics, hosted a two-day workshop on 29–30 July 2025. The event aimed to promote the effective use of open and gender data within Uzbekistan’s public sector. The workshop brought together data professionals from ministries, government agencies, and… [Read More]
