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The International Labour Organization (ILO) is supporting the Government of the Lao People’s Democratic Republic (Lao PDR) as it develops a new National Social Protection Strategy (NSPS) for 2026–2030, aimed at reducing poverty and inequality. The ILO conducted the final, end-term review of the NSPS 2021–2025 through the “Accelerating universal social protection for achieving the… [Read More]

A new World Bank study finds that frontier market economies—a group of mostly middle-income countries considered potential future economic leaders—have largely underperformed in recent decades. Investment growth per person in these economies during the 2020s has been less than half the rate seen in the 2010s, although some top-performing frontier markets provide lessons for the… [Read More]

The United Nations World Food Programme (WFP) and the European Union (EU) have officially handed over Madagascar’s first humanitarian hub to the government, located in the eastern city of Manakara. The hub aims to strengthen the country’s emergency preparedness and response, particularly for the cyclone-prone eastern and southern coasts. It will allow essential supplies like… [Read More]

For many companies with agricultural supply chains, land use occupies an uneasy space in sustainability strategies. It is often framed as a reputational risk, a compliance requirement, or a distant emissions issue rather than a core business concern. Over time, this has resulted in a proliferation of pilots, pledges, and projects that rarely address the… [Read More]

The Government of Ethiopia, with support from development partners, has been implementing a range of social protection programmes to reduce poverty and strengthen the economic resilience of poor and vulnerable populations, particularly in rural areas where nearly three-quarters of the population reside. Two of the country’s flagship interventions are the Productive Safety Net Program (PSNP)… [Read More]

Israel’s Ministry of Energy and Infrastructure has awarded $4.2 million in grants to 18 innovative projects aimed at advancing the country’s energy sector. The funding targets initiatives across electricity, renewable energy, energy storage, alternative fuels, and advanced infrastructure technologies, supporting both early-stage research and demonstration-ready solutions under local market conditions. The grants are allocated through… [Read More]

IUCN and its Commission on Ecosystem Management (CEM), in collaboration with the IUCN Regional Office for Mexico, Central America, and the Caribbean (ORMACC), have published a case study highlighting the application of the IUCN Global Standard for Nature-based Solutions (NbS) in Guatemala’s Resilient Highlands project. Available in English and Spanish, the publication demonstrates how a… [Read More]

A promising conservation initiative in Jordan, the Taziz project, is combining forest landscape restoration, livelihood enhancement, and protected area expansion to protect both biodiversity and the UNESCO World Heritage Site of Petra. Implemented by IUCN’s Regional Office for West Asia (ROWA) in partnership with the Petra Development and Tourism Region Authority (PDTRA) and Jordan’s Ministry… [Read More]

IFC, in partnership with the Oman Investment Authority (OIA), the OPEC Fund, and several regional banks, has announced a major investment to support United Solar Polysilicon (FZC) SPC in establishing the Middle East’s largest polysilicon manufacturing facility in Oman’s Sohar Freezone. The greenfield plant, with a total investment of $1.6 billion, will produce up to… [Read More]

In rural Kosovo, many residents face significant challenges accessing traditional banking services, often having to travel long distances for routine transactions. For artisans and smallholders like Hazbije Berisha, the nearest bank branch can be nearly 20 kilometers away, making everyday financial tasks costly and time-consuming. This accessibility issue has historically limited the economic participation of… [Read More]

Recent incidents of extreme violence across South Asia, including the killing of a Hindu man in Bangladesh over a false blasphemy claim, assaults on minority groups in India, and the death of a Dalit man in Nepal due to wrongful accusations, highlight a deepening crisis in rule of law and human rights in the region…. [Read More]

Amnesty International has raised serious concerns on the one-year mark of President Trump’s return to office, highlighting a growing wave of authoritarian practices that are severely eroding human rights in the United States. In its new report, *Ringing the Alarm Bells: Rising Authoritarian Practices and Erosion of Human Rights in the United States*, the organization… [Read More]

The Black-necked Crane, the only crane species to inhabit high-altitude wetlands year-round, serves as a key indicator of ecological health and climate resilience on the Qinghai–Tibet Plateau, one of the world’s most sensitive ecosystems. Strengthened by the UNDP-GEF Flyway Conservation Network Project since 2022, the Black-necked Crane Conservation Network has become a transboundary platform connecting… [Read More]

On 19 January 2026, the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) in Kuwait organized an introductory session on sovereign thematic bonds and sukuks. The event brought together representatives from national economic and financial institutions, including government agencies, commercial banks, and Islamic financial organizations, to foster a shared understanding of these financing instruments and their relevance to… [Read More]

The European Investment Bank (EIB) is providing €500 million in long-term promotional loans to support climate adaptation and flood protection projects in Germany’s Emscher-Lippe region. The funding will benefit the Emschergenossenschaft and Lippeverband (EGLV), two regional water management associations, enabling them to implement vital infrastructure projects, including river restoration, dyke rehabilitation, pumping station upgrades, and… [Read More]

Heriot-Watt University has announced the launch of the Hoogenboom Scholarship Programme, a new international initiative designed to support women from Sub-Saharan Africa in pursuing postgraduate studies over the next five years. The programme offers fully funded scholarships to women whose education has the potential to create lasting impact within their communities and professional sectors. It… [Read More]

UNESCO spotlighted the environmental and ethical implications of Artificial Intelligence at the Adopt AI Summit on 26 November 2025, emphasizing the need for stronger international collaboration to ensure AI contributes to climate action rather than exacerbating environmental harm. The organization convened a high-level panel titled “Greening AI and Greening with AI: From Climate Footprint to… [Read More]

UNESCO and the World Bank convened senior ICT policymakers, regulators, and industry leaders from across Africa to explore strategies for sustainable and resource-efficient AI development. The meeting, held on 11 November in Conakry, Guinea, aimed to highlight the environmental impacts of AI and encourage the integration of sustainability considerations into national AI strategies. Participants examined… [Read More]

The International Labour Organization (ILO) is hosting a hybrid conference titled Trade and Labour in Uncertain Times – Shaping Africa’s Future in the Global Economy, focusing on Africa’s evolving role in global trade. The event will examine how geopolitical shifts, sustainability requirements, and changing regulatory frameworks are reshaping global value chains, creating both opportunities and… [Read More]

ICT policymakers and industry leaders from 23 African countries convened at the 7th Transform Africa Summit in Conakry, Guinea, on 12 November 2025, to advance practical data governance solutions and launch the French edition of UNESCO’s Data Governance Toolkit. The workshop brought together over 50 senior ICT policymakers, regulators, and industry representatives, focusing on bridging… [Read More]

Two local organisations in New South Wales have been awarded $250,000 each through the Supporting Women in Business Grants program 2025/26, aimed at helping over 90 women enhance their skills, confidence, and capacity to achieve their business goals. The funding was granted to Unkya Local Aboriginal Land Council and The Social Outcomes Lab, supporting initiatives… [Read More]

The Water Discovery Challenge is returning with £7.5 million in funding to accelerate the development and adoption of innovative solutions for the water sector in England and Wales. Managed by Ofwat’s Water Innovation Fund, the competition is designed to attract ideas from outside the water industry, encouraging fresh thinking from sectors such as energy, transport,… [Read More]

Many rural women in Bosnia and Herzegovina begin their day before dawn, balancing long hours on the farm with household chores, childcare, and community responsibilities. They are often the first to feel the effects of droughts, floods, or post-conflict rebuilding, managing family plots, livestock, and local economies, yet remain excluded from decision-making spaces and have… [Read More]