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The reflection is written in the context of the FAO’s Year of the Woman Farmer and explores what meaningful partnership looks like when the goal is to strengthen women’s role in agriculture. It highlights that resilient, climate-smart and commercially viable supply chains cannot be built without investing in women, who play essential roles as farmers,… [Read More]

The NBSCALE project explored how startups from small domestic markets can successfully expand into international markets. It supported growth-oriented companies from Finland, Sweden, and Estonia by developing a structured methodology to help them prepare for, enter, and scale in foreign markets. The project focused on equipping startups with the skills, tools, and strategic clarity needed… [Read More]

Lebanon is facing a worsening humanitarian crisis as more than one million people have been displaced due to ongoing Israeli attacks and continued ceasefire violations. In response, Türkiye has delivered 360 tons of humanitarian aid to Beirut, with Turkish and Lebanese officials highlighting the urgency of relief efforts during a ceremony at the port. The… [Read More]

The Resilient Neighbours Project, a major cross-border initiative aimed at strengthening emergency preparedness, response, and community resilience, was officially launched on 17 April 2026. The project is funded with €2.3 million through the PEACEPLUS programme, managed by the Special EU Programmes Body (SEUPB), and is being delivered in partnership with Fermanagh and Omagh District Council,… [Read More]

EU countries will be able to use existing funds under the European Maritime, Fisheries and Aquaculture Fund (EMFAF) to provide emergency compensation to fishers, aquaculture producers, processors, and retailers affected by disruptions linked to the Middle East crisis. The support measure applies retroactively from 28 February 2026 and will cover eligible costs until the end… [Read More]

The Illinois Department of Natural Resources (IDNR) Coastal Management Program has awarded $970,770 in grants to support a range of coastal projects along Illinois’ Lake Michigan shoreline. The funding, delivered in partnership with the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), will support initiatives focused on coastal education, habitat restoration, water quality monitoring, environmental planning, and… [Read More]

The African Union Commission (AUC) has signed grant agreements with 13 leading African think tanks, grouped into three pan-African consortia, marking the official launch of the Africa Think Tank Platform (ATTP). The initiative is designed to strengthen evidence-based policymaking across the continent and support the accelerated implementation of Agenda 2063, Africa’s long-term development framework. The… [Read More]

Nearly £3 million in government funding has been allocated to support major upgrades across cultural and arts venues in Suffolk, aiming to improve infrastructure, accessibility, and long-term sustainability. The investment is being directed toward Britten Pears Arts at Snape Maltings Concert Hall, Ipswich County Library, and the New Wolsey Theatre in Ipswich, each of which… [Read More]

The United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO) has officially joined the ENACT Partnership (Enhancing Nature-based Solutions for an Accelerated Climate Transformation), marking a significant expansion of the coalition into the field of inclusive and sustainable industrial development. The announcement was made in Washington DC on 17 April 2026, reinforcing growing global efforts to scale up… [Read More]

The International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN), through its Regional Office for Eastern Europe and Central Asia, and The Nature Conservancy (TNC) in Europe have signed a Memorandum of Understanding to strengthen cooperation on sustainable financing for protected areas across the Western Balkans. The partnership aims to develop long-term financial mechanisms that can improve… [Read More]

Children’s books written by ni-Vanuatu authors and inspired by local life are being delivered to children across Vanuatu, including some of the most remote communities, through an innovative horseback delivery system. In one challenging journey, 59 books were packed into waterproof boxes and transported across rugged terrain, dense jungle, mountains, and rivers to reach young… [Read More]

A new analysis from the Integrated Food Security Phase Classification (IPC), released with Save the Children, warns that more than 2.7 million children under the age of five in Pakistan are expected to suffer from acute malnutrition before September 2026. The findings highlight a worsening humanitarian situation in rural districts across three provinces that are… [Read More]

Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade Helen McEntee has announced the opening of the 2026 round of the Shared Island Civic Society Fund, aimed at strengthening North–South cooperation between civic society organisations across Ireland. The fund is part of the Irish Government’s Shared Island initiative and supports grassroots cross-border projects that contribute to building stronger… [Read More]

New grants of up to £15,000 have been announced under the refreshed Reach Fund to support charities, social enterprises, and community organisations across England in becoming investment ready. The programme, run by Social Investment Business and funded by Access – The Foundation for Social Investment, aims to help organisations move closer to securing social investment… [Read More]

Burkina Faso’s military government is intensifying a broad crackdown on civil society through dissolutions, restrictive laws, and administrative measures targeting both domestic and international organisations, according to human rights groups including Human Rights Watch, FIDH, the World Organisation Against Torture, and Observatoire KISAL. On April 15, 2026, authorities announced the dissolution of 118 civil society… [Read More]

A broad coalition of organizations and individuals has welcomed the start of preparatory work on a new Crimes Against Humanity Convention, describing it as a critical opportunity to strengthen international protection against gender-based crimes. The signatories emphasize the need for a gender-competent and intersectional treaty-making process that reflects the lived experiences of victims, particularly women… [Read More]

Amnesty International’s latest report on The State of the World’s Human Rights highlights a deepening global crisis in 2025, warning that multilateralism, international law, and civil society are under unprecedented attack. According to the report, powerful states, corporations, and anti-rights movements are driving a shift toward an unequal, authoritarian, and exclusionary global order. Amnesty argues… [Read More]

The latest Integrated Food Security Phase Classification (IPC) update, released by Haiti’s National Food Security Coordination (CNSA), shows that 5.83 million people—about 52% of the population—are currently facing acute food insecurity. This represents an increase of around 130,000 people compared to the previous assessment in September 2025, indicating a continued deterioration of the crisis across… [Read More]

The EIB Group, comprising the European Investment Bank and the European Investment Fund, has entered into a €400 million financing agreement with the Mediocredito Centrale (MCC) Group to support small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) and mid-cap companies in Italy. The operation is structured through a securitisation transaction involving performing residential mortgage loans originated by BdM… [Read More]

The European Investment Bank’s development arm, EIB Global, has committed €110 million to support rural agricultural development in Ethiopia. The funding will be channelled through the Development Bank of Ethiopia, which will distribute the credit to local financial institutions such as microfinance organisations and Rural Savings and Credit Cooperatives. The initiative aims to improve farmers’… [Read More]

The European Investment Bank Group’s development arm, EIB Global, has partnered with Ethiopia’s Zemen Bank to mobilise up to €40 million in financing for agricultural enterprises. Under the agreement, EIB Global is providing a €20 million credit line, which Zemen Bank will match, doubling the available funding. This marks the first direct loan extended by… [Read More]

The European Investment Bank (EIB) Group has confirmed more than €2.4 billion in new financing for energy resilience and deep tech innovation, announced at Hannover Messe under the InvestEU programme. The initiative includes five operations with Commerzbank, akf bank, Turbine Capital, Atlantic Bridge, and Obloo, aimed at strengthening Europe’s energy infrastructure, supporting industrial innovation, and… [Read More]

The European Union, in partnership with the Ministry of Youth & Sports and several local and international organisations, launched the “AGREEN Gambia” project on 17 April 2026. Funded through the Erasmus+ programme, the GMD 34.5 million initiative brings together partners from Spain, Croatia, Ireland, and The Gambia to strengthen vocational education, promote climate-smart agriculture, and… [Read More]