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In Phnom Penh, Cambodia, the Ministry of Labour and Vocational Training (MLVT) and the International Labour Organization (ILO) are joining forces to advance decent work through a comprehensive 2026–2027 workplan under the Cambodia Decent Work Country Programme (DWCP) 2024–2028. The plan focuses on labor policy reforms, institutional strengthening, skills development, and the expansion of social… [Read More]

The World Bank Group Board of Executive Directors has approved a new Country Partnership Framework (CPF) for Mozambique for 2026–2031, aimed at fostering inclusive and resilient growth. The strategy comes as the country faces the severe impacts of recent floods, underscoring its vulnerability to natural disasters, and emphasizes support for affected communities while focusing on… [Read More]

The World Bank Group (WBG) and the Qatar Fund for Development (QFFD) signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) during the official opening of the WBG’s new office in Doha, marking a major step in strengthening strategic cooperation to deliver sustainable development solutions worldwide. The ceremony was attended by senior officials from both institutions, including WBG… [Read More]

The World Bank’s Board of Executive Directors has approved the Botswana Health Emergency Preparedness, Response and Resilience (HEPRR) Project, aimed at strengthening the country’s capacity to manage future pandemics, climate-related illnesses, and everyday health challenges. The project will enhance critical medicine supplies, accelerate the detection of disease outbreaks, and make life-saving health data available in… [Read More]

The World Bank’s Board of Executive Directors has approved a new US$500 million policy reform framework for Peru, marking the second phase of a two-part program aimed at supporting the government’s efforts to strengthen fiscal management, enhance productivity, and create more and better jobs. The initiative also reinforces Peru’s ongoing preparations for OECD accession. This… [Read More]

A new World Bank report, Waste Management in the Middle East and North Africa, reveals that the MENA region generates more waste per person than the global average, causing an estimated US$7.2 billion in environmental damage each year. The region produces over 155 million tons of waste annually, a figure projected to double by 2050… [Read More]

The United Nations World Food Programme (WFP) has received a USD 5.5 million contribution from the Korea International Cooperation Agency (KOICA) to prevent malnutrition among pregnant and breastfeeding women and young children in Ethiopia. The funding aims to improve access to nutritious foods, strengthen local food systems, and build community resilience, supporting the government’s efforts… [Read More]

The Asian Development Bank (ADB) has approved a GEL 270 million (approximately $100 million) loan to JSC TBC Bank in Georgia to expand access to affordable financing for micro, small, and medium-sized enterprises (MSMEs). Up to 70% of the loan will directly support MSMEs, with at least 20% earmarked for women-owned or led businesses and… [Read More]

Juliette Touma, Director of Communications at UNOPS, emphasized the urgent need to ease congestion at Gaza’s crossing points and reopen critical supply routes like the Jordan corridor. While the 3 October ceasefire has provided some relief, she stressed that people continue to face daily threats to their lives and cannot wait for a formal reconstruction… [Read More]

Despite global progress in education, stark inequalities persist, particularly in the poorest countries where 36 per cent of children and youth are out of school compared to just 3 per cent in the richest nations. Ahead of the International Day of Education, which this year highlights “The power of youth in co-creating education,” UN News… [Read More]

Maryanne Gichanga, a Kenyan agricultural entrepreneur and participant in a UN-supported initiative, is helping farmers confront the growing pressures of climate change through innovation. In a country where agriculture employs up to 75 per cent of the population, shifting weather patterns, recurring droughts and the loss of productive land are threatening livelihoods and food security,… [Read More]

The UN Mission in South Sudan (UNMISS) has expressed grave concern over reports that a senior military leader is urging troops to carry out violence against civilians, warning that such rhetoric has already contributed to the displacement of more than 180,000 people. UN officials condemned calls for attacks on civilians as abhorrent and urged an… [Read More]

UN Secretary-General António Guterres delivered a stark warning to the Security Council during a high-level open debate convened by Somalia, which holds the Council’s presidency for January. His remarks came at a moment of growing global instability, as conflicts multiply, tensions rise, and confidence in international institutions erodes, even as the United Nations marks 80… [Read More]

Now eight months pregnant and sheltering in a makeshift camp, Fatima says her greatest fear is not the freezing cold but what might happen if she goes into labour without access to medical care. As a displaced mother of three, she describes displacement as more than the loss of a home, noting that women are… [Read More]

Two senior officials from UNICEF and the World Food Programme (WFP) say the ceasefire in Gaza has led to meaningful humanitarian improvements, but conditions remain extremely dangerous for children. Speaking to journalists in New York after a week-long visit to Gaza and the occupied West Bank, they stressed that while aid delivery has increased significantly,… [Read More]

Tuesday’s solemn commemoration marked 81 years since the liberation of the Auschwitz-Birkenau concentration and extermination camp by Allied forces, a site where more than one million people were murdered during the Holocaust. The remembrance served as a powerful moment to honour the victims and reflect on the enduring legacy of one of history’s darkest chapters… [Read More]

From 29–30 January, WHO/Europe will host a two-day capacity-building workshop under the EU-funded Technical Support Instrument (TSI) 2025 flagship project, “EU Health Hub – Investing in Resilient Health Systems.” The initiative supports countries in strategically strengthening their health systems using European funding, with financial backing from the EU’s Technical Assistance and Information Exchange (TAIEX), a… [Read More]

As 2026 begins, Asia and the Pacific are entering a significant electoral season, with hundreds of millions of citizens set to vote. This period represents a “year of opportunity” for governance renewal, allowing countries to either confirm existing leadership or embrace new directions. Elections in countries such as Bangladesh and Nepal illustrate a renewal of… [Read More]

The Community Foundation of Frederick County has awarded over $758,000 through its Impact Grant program to support projects that improve life in Frederick County. In 2026, more than 55 organizations received funding for initiatives spanning arts, historic preservation, agriculture, health and human services, education, cultural understanding, animal welfare, scholarships, elder care, youth programs, and civic… [Read More]

Across the globe, menstrual health and sanitation markets are already being reshaped by climate shocks, resource pressures, and environmental degradation. These markets are deeply connected to climate resilience, economic stability, and social equity. Building inclusive, climate-resilient systems is critical not only for environmental goals but also for ensuring equitable access to sanitation and menstrual health… [Read More]

DAERA Minister Andrew Muir has announced that over the past year, more than £7.91 million in grants has been awarded to over 2,350 rural community organisations and businesses across Northern Ireland. These funds were distributed through the Department’s Rural Micro Capital Grant Scheme and Rural Business Development Grant Scheme to support local initiatives, strengthen rural… [Read More]

The Province of Nova Scotia has launched the 2SLGBTQIA+ Community Impact Grant program to support community-based organizations serving 2SLGBTQIA+ residents. The initiative aims to strengthen the capacity, stability, and long-term impact of these organizations, helping them better serve underrepresented and underserved communities, including those in rural areas. This funding program is part of the Province’s… [Read More]

The United States has formally completed its withdrawal from the World Health Organization (WHO), a year after former President Donald Trump ordered the exit. This move ends all US participation in the UN health agency but leaves behind an unpaid debt of approximately $260 million. The US Department of Health and Human Services confirmed that… [Read More]