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Last week marked one year since Donald Trump began his second term as President of the United States, bringing with it immediate and sweeping changes to the global aid landscape. Within days of taking office, he issued Executive Orders freezing all US foreign assistance, a move that disrupted international development efforts and affected millions of… [Read More]

The US government has frozen funding to Gavi, the global vaccine alliance, until it commits to phasing out the preservative thimerosal from all vaccines it distributes. The demand stems from claims by US Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. and his allies that thimerosal, which contains mercury, is linked to autism—a link… [Read More]

The European Commission has announced €153 million in emergency humanitarian aid to support Ukraine and refugee-hosting Moldova amid severe winter conditions and ongoing Russian attacks on energy infrastructure. An initial €145 million will be directed to Ukraine to provide protection assistance, shelter, food, cash aid, psychosocial support, and access to water and healthcare. A further… [Read More]

BBC Cymru Wales, BBC Network, and Creative Wales have launched a new development fund aimed at supporting the creation of a Factual Entertainment series, announced at last year’s Wales Media Summit. Production companies with a significant presence in Wales were invited to pitch original and bold ideas that showcase Welsh creativity while appealing to audiences… [Read More]

Dogger Bank Wind Farm has opened applications for its 2026 round of Operator Fund community grants, inviting projects from South Tyneside, Redcar and Cleveland, and the East Riding of Yorkshire. Each year, £80,000 is allocated to the fund, with individual grants of up to £1,000 available to support grassroots initiatives that enhance the quality of… [Read More]

The Africa Conference on Sustainable Agricultural Mechanization (ACSAM), organized by the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) and hosted by the Government of the United Republic of Tanzania, is a key event inviting media participation to highlight advancements in sustainable farming practices across the continent. The conference opens on Tuesday, 3 February,… [Read More]

India has reported two confirmed cases of the Nipah virus in West Bengal in January 2026, marking the country’s seventh documented outbreak and the third in the state since 2001 and 2007. The infected individuals, a male and a female nurse at the same private hospital, are receiving treatment, with the male patient recovering and… [Read More]

Nigeria is experiencing a deepening humanitarian crisis as violence spreads far beyond its historically conflict-affected regions. While the northeast has long suffered from the Boko Haram insurgency, insecurity now affects much of the country, displacing millions and leaving communities without access to basic services. Mohamed Malik Fall, the UN resident and humanitarian coordinator, emphasized that… [Read More]

Renewed fighting between opposition militia and army forces in South Sudan’s Jonglei State has led to numerous deaths and injuries, displacing approximately 180,000 people. The army launched a major offensive against opposition forces, ordering civilian evacuations and instructing aid agencies to leave areas affected by military operations. UN Secretary-General António Guterres expressed deep concern over… [Read More]

Ireland has approved a €25 million contribution to the Ukraine Energy Support Fund (UESF) to help restore and protect the country’s critical energy infrastructure amid severe winter conditions. This support comes as repeated Russian attacks have caused prolonged electricity, heating, and water outages, leaving many civilians struggling to meet basic needs during temperatures falling below… [Read More]

Over three million people have returned to their areas of origin in Sudan, despite widespread destruction of homes, basic services, and critical infrastructure. The International Organization for Migration (IOM) is calling for sustained funding to meet the rising needs of returnees and to support solutions that can help break the cycle of displacement. IOM Director… [Read More]

A regional policy forum organized by the International Labour Organization (ILO) in Bangkok on 29–30 January 2026 highlighted the urgent need to transform demographic shifts in Asia and the Pacific into opportunities for decent work. Funded by the European Union, the “Demographic Shifts and the Future of Work” forum brought together government representatives, employers’ and… [Read More]

The International Labour Organization (ILO), in collaboration with its International Training Centre, has launched the Diploma in Evidence-Based Public Policy for Decent Work and Social Justice to meet the growing global demand for data-driven policymaking in the rapidly evolving world of work. The programme was introduced during a virtual open house on 23 January 2026,… [Read More]

The Asian Development Bank (ADB) Board of Directors has endorsed a new Strategic Human Resource Framework aimed at empowering a high-performing and agile workforce to address complex development challenges across Asia and the Pacific. The Framework establishes a consistent set of guiding principles to ensure fair and supportive employment practices throughout every stage of a… [Read More]

The African Development Bank Group has approved $29.85 million in financing for Phase II of Rwanda’s Centre of Excellence for Biomedical Engineering and e-Health Project, part of a $33.64 million initiative aimed at building future-ready skills and strengthening the country’s health system. The Bank Group’s support includes $24.64 million from the African Development Fund and… [Read More]

Mozambique is facing one of its most severe flooding crises in recent history, prompting immediate search, rescue, and disaster assessment operations using advanced drone technology financed and supported by the African Development Bank (AfDB) through the Korea-Africa Economic Cooperation (KOAFEC) Trust Fund and its partners. Government-trained teams, with technical support from Korean experts, are deploying… [Read More]

Despite global commitments, low- and middle-income countries (LMICs) continue to experience significant gaps in the availability, affordability, and accessibility of quality life-saving maternal and newborn health (MNH) products. Although initiatives like the Global Strategy for Women’s, Children’s and Adolescents’ Health (2016–2030) and Every Woman Every Newborn Everywhere aim to ensure essential products for evidence-based reproductive,… [Read More]

Google has announced a comprehensive set of partnerships, product updates, and funding initiatives to promote responsible AI-powered learning in India. The announcement comes in response to research showing that 74% of Indians believe AI can improve student outcomes. Key highlights include an ₹85 crore (nearly $10 million) Google.org grant to Wadhwani AI to support 75… [Read More]

Across Mongolia, 60 percent of the urban population live in traditional dwellings called gers, where households primarily rely on coal-burning stoves for heating and cooking. This practice is the largest contributor to air pollution in urban areas, especially in the capital, Ulaanbaatar, accounting for 55.6 percent of emissions. Winter fuel costs consume up to 40… [Read More]

For years, the Transportation Energy Institute (TEI) has argued that simply replacing the world’s 1.5 billion combustion vehicles with new technology vehicles is an inefficient path to reducing transportation emissions. Achieving environmental objectives requires addressing the existing fleet while ensuring affordable and reliable access to energy for all users. TEI’s recent report, Driving Insight: A… [Read More]

A recent case study from Nigeria examines how different types of community organizations impact women farmers’ ability to access savings and exercise financial decision-making. In many rural and marginalized communities, formal financial institutions are limited, and women are disproportionately excluded. Community-based organizations, therefore, play a critical role in enabling women to invest, grow their income,… [Read More]

Years of working with small-scale farmers across East Africa have revealed key lessons for making carbon farming both effective and equitable. Farmers in the region are adopting practices like minimum tilling, intercropping, cover crops, agroforestry, and biochar to protect soil, improve productivity, and adapt to climate pressures. However, participation in carbon markets remains challenging due… [Read More]

In a joint publication with Adam Smith International, Claudia Baez Camargo and Renee Kantelberg highlight that effective anti-corruption work requires more than technical interventions, such as capacity building for civil society. Anti-corruption initiatives operate in complex and politically charged environments, where change is rarely linear or predictable. The authors emphasize the importance of thinking and… [Read More]