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The CCM Suriname Secretariat has stepped up efforts to strengthen the Country Coordinating Mechanism, a national multi-stakeholder platform responsible for overseeing the implementation of Global Fund grants in the country. Bringing together representatives from government, civil society, the private sector, multilateral organizations, and affected communities, the CCM works to ensure that health programs are inclusive,… [Read More]

For many years, women’s participation in Uzbekistan’s transport sector was restricted by legislation that prohibited them from driving passenger vehicles with more than 14 seats and freight vehicles exceeding 2.5 tons. These legal barriers effectively excluded women from working as bus and heavy truck drivers, reinforcing gender imbalances in a sector traditionally dominated by men… [Read More]

The Bombay Natural History Society (BNHS), in collaboration with the National Mission for Clean Ganga (NMCG), has launched a new conservation initiative in Dehradun aimed at protecting the endangered Indian Skimmer in the Ganga Basin. The project was recently inaugurated by Union Minister for Jal Shakti, C R Patil, marking an important step toward safeguarding… [Read More]

Public administrations across OECD countries are major employers, yet many are under strain from staff shortages, heavy workloads and fiscal constraints. At the same time, they are responsible for large volumes of administrative and support tasks such as document processing, claims management and citizen information services. Artificial intelligence offers significant potential to support and accelerate… [Read More]

When Tanzania’s young people took to the streets following the disputed October 29, 2025 elections, many observers were taken by surprise. Long viewed as a country of political stability where dissent was tightly controlled, Tanzania had rarely seen large-scale youth-led protests. Yet for a generation grappling with unemployment, rising living costs and shrinking civic space,… [Read More]

The Learning and Inclusion for Transformation (LIFT) programme in Rwanda is transforming the educational landscape for out-of-school children and youth by embedding Gender Equality, Disability, and Social Inclusion (GEDSI) principles into every aspect of its work. Using implementation science, LIFT ensures that data drives actionable policy shifts and practical interventions, enabling government and communities to… [Read More]

This publication presents the key findings and recommendations from the Promoting Rural Women’s Empowerment in Kosovo project, jointly implemented by UN Women and the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), with support from the Austrian Development Agency. The project tackles structural barriers, entrenched gender norms, and inequalities that limit rural women’s participation in economic activities, access… [Read More]

In 2025, AWF Kenya focused on practical solutions to reduce pressure on both people and ecosystems amid increasingly scarce water resources, especially during the driest months in northern Kenya. By strengthening water access, supporting livelihoods, engaging youth, and promoting transparent governance, the organization worked across Marsabit County, key wildlife corridors, and community conservancies—including the Tsavo… [Read More]

Remote work has evolved from a temporary trend to a defining feature of modern business, particularly for startups. Accelerated by the global pandemic, many startups have successfully adopted fully distributed models, navigating both challenges and opportunities. By examining case studies, startups can glean practical insights to guide their transition to remote work, helping maintain productivity,… [Read More]

In Brazil’s Amazonas state, the revival of the pirarucu fish has become a powerful symbol of how Indigenous knowledge and science can work together to restore nature and protect livelihoods. The Paumari people, who live along the Purus River and call themselves “the people of the water,” once faced a devastating crisis when the pirarucu—an… [Read More]

Securing reliable water supplies has long been a challenge across Africa, and the situation is expected to worsen as droughts grow more frequent and severe. Past crises in other regions, such as Iran’s warning of potential evacuations due to water shortages and Cape Town’s near ‘Day Zero’ scenario in 2018, underscore the urgency. Recent dry… [Read More]

The European Union (EU) is intensifying its support for Tunisia’s energy transition with €35.8 million in grant financing through the Neighbourhood Investment Platform (NIP) to accelerate renewable energy generation and electricity infrastructure development. Contribution agreements of €20.4 million with the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) and €15.4 million with the European Investment Bank… [Read More]

Representatives from the scientific and academic sector in Latin America and the Caribbean participated in the Regional Preparatory Consultation for the 39th Session of the FAO Regional Conference (LARC 39), a forum organized by FAO to gather technical and strategic inputs for regional food and agriculture priorities. The virtual meeting brought together universities, research centers,… [Read More]

Lithuania has introduced an excise tax on sugar-sweetened beverages (SSBs), effective 1 January 2026, marking a significant step toward reducing preventable diseases and premature deaths linked to excess sugar consumption. This policy aligns Lithuania with a growing number of countries using fiscal measures to encourage healthier consumption habits. The sugar tax is designed to address… [Read More]

On 16 January 2026, the second round of a routine immunization catch-up campaign began in the Gaza Strip, led by UNICEF, UNRWA, WHO, and partners in collaboration with the Ministry of Health. Scheduled from 18 to 29 January 2026, the campaign targets children under the age of three, aiming to strengthen protection against vaccine-preventable diseases… [Read More]

On 18 January 2026, the World Health Organization (WHO), in collaboration with Pakistan’s Benazir Income Support Programme (BISP), announced the establishment of 40 new nutrition stabilization centres to provide life-saving treatment for children under five suffering from severe acute malnutrition with medical complications. Since November, these centres have been set up to expand access to… [Read More]

In Somalia, acute malnutrition remains a critical public health challenge, particularly affecting children under five, pregnant and breastfeeding women, and other vulnerable populations. In fragile and emergency settings, timely identification and early intervention are often the difference between life and death for malnourished children. To strengthen the country’s response, the World Health Organization (WHO), in… [Read More]

The Pan American Health Organization (PAHO) has announced that the United States and Mexico will participate in a virtual meeting on April 13, 2026, to review their measles elimination status. This meeting comes in the wake of measles outbreaks reported in the United States starting January 20, 2025, and in Mexico beginning February 1, 2025…. [Read More]

The Government of Kenya has officially launched the National Cervical Cancer Elimination Action Plan 2026–2030, a five-year strategy developed with support from the World Health Organization (WHO) to accelerate prevention, early detection, and treatment of cervical cancer. The plan is designed to strengthen national health systems, improve service coverage, and reduce the burden of this… [Read More]

Global food systems are deeply implicated in today’s interconnected crises, driving ecological degradation, climate change, declining public health, and persistent food insecurity. The dominant industrial model, focused on intensification, global trade, and economic growth, has become a major contributor to these crises. Recent research shows food systems are a leading factor in breaching seven of… [Read More]

The African Union (AU) Peace and Security Council is urged to use its January 19 ambassadorial-level meeting to address the escalating human rights abuses and urgent protection needs in South Sudan. The meeting follows an assessment by the AU High-Level Ad Hoc Committee on South Sudan, which evaluated the implementation of the 2018 peace agreement…. [Read More]

Human Rights Watch has raised concerns over Sri Lanka’s proposed counterterrorism legislation, warning that it mirrors many of the abusive provisions of the existing Prevention of Terrorism Act (PTA) and risks enabling similar rights violations. The bill, officially titled the Protection of the State from Terrorism Act (PSTA), was published by the Ministry of Justice… [Read More]

Amnesty International has raised serious concerns following videos that appear to show mass releases and escape attempts from scamming compounds across Cambodia. Montse Ferrer, Amnesty International’s Regional Research Director, warned that thousands of individuals, likely victims of human trafficking and torture, are now stranded without support and at risk of being re-trafficked. She called on… [Read More]