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Mental health care needs are rising across the WHO European Region, placing growing strain on health systems already affected by long waiting times, workforce shortages and gaps in coverage. To help countries improve affordable access to mental health services, WHO/Europe has published four new policy briefs that examine how health financing reforms can reduce barriers… [Read More]

The South China Sea Tsunami Advisory Center completed its 2025 short-term secondment programme, a two-month initiative aimed at strengthening regional cooperation on tsunami early warning and response. Organized by the Intergovernmental Oceanographic Commission of UNESCO and hosted by China’s National Marine Environmental Forecasting Center in Beijing, the programme brought together tsunami warning specialists from Malaysia,… [Read More]

East Asia stands at a turning point in its energy and economic development. After decades of coal-driven industrial growth, the region now faces rising emissions, energy security risks and growing pressure to remain competitive in a low-carbon global economy. A new World Bank Group report, Green Horizon: East Asia’s Sustainable Energy Future, finds that the… [Read More]

The Global Environment Facility has approved a $9.45 million grant to support climate-resilient water governance in the Zambezi River Basin, a critical transboundary water system in Southern Africa. The regional project, led by the African Development Bank Group, aims to strengthen ecosystem protection, climate adaptation and cooperative water management across one of Africa’s most important… [Read More]

Young people across Bangladesh are eager to contribute to decisions that affect their lives, yet many—particularly those from marginalized communities—lack safe, trusted and effective channels to be heard. To address this gap, UNESCO has led a nationwide initiative to strengthen youth participation and embed it more systematically into public decision-making. Working closely with the Ministry… [Read More]

The Advancing Women’s Engagement: Strengthening Opportunities to Mobilize for Equality (AWESOME) Programme concluded in December 2025 after five years of feminist consortium work across Ethiopia, Kenya and Uganda. Funded by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Netherlands, the programme brought together women’s rights organisations and disability rights organisations to strengthen feminist organising, advance women’s… [Read More]

Finland and Åland jointly led the Nordic Council of Ministers in 2025, with a strong focus on children and youth, and on strengthening societal security across the Nordic region. The Co-Presidency advanced the shared Nordic vision of becoming the world’s most sustainable and integrated region by 2030 through close coordination among governments, ministries and regional… [Read More]

Bangladesh continues to face a persistent mismatch between technical education outcomes and labour market needs, limiting productivity and employment opportunities for diploma graduates. To address this challenge, a re-modelled industrial attachment pilot supported by the International Labour Organization has demonstrated how stronger collaboration between industries and polytechnic institutions can significantly improve workplace readiness and employability… [Read More]

Ethiopia’s Amhara Region has faced persistent public health pressures caused by disease outbreaks, displacement linked to conflict, and limited access to clean water and sanitation. Cholera has been among the most serious threats, spreading rapidly in settings where hygiene awareness and surveillance capacity are weak. In response, support from the United Nations Central Emergency Response… [Read More]

Public finance systems worldwide are under growing strain as governments confront climate shocks, rising inequality, and increasing demand for public services amid shrinking fiscal space and rising debt. While reform fatigue is widespread, recent experience shows that effective public finance reform is still possible—when it focuses less on new technical tools and more on how… [Read More]

The Ghana Scholarly Society (GSS) has opened a call for sponsors for the International Conference on African Development (iCAD) 2026, scheduled for 17–19 June 2026. The event will bring together policymakers, researchers, financiers, and industry leaders to examine how finance can drive Africa’s green industrialisation and long-term development. Hosted by Anglia Ruskin University, iCAD 2026… [Read More]

Ghana’s Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) has issued a new directive limiting the level of foreign securities exposure permitted for Collective Investment Schemes (CIS), citing the need to protect investors and safeguard financial market stability. Under the directive, CIS licensed to invest domestically may allocate no more than 20% of their assets to foreign securities…. [Read More]

Ghana is scaling up irrigation infrastructure to strengthen food security, increase rice production, and reduce its reliance on food imports, government and World Bank officials have said. The initiative was highlighted during a joint field visit by Finance Minister Cassiel Ato Forson and World Bank Division Director Robert Taliercio to the Kpong Irrigation Scheme, part… [Read More]

Ghana has emerged as a regional frontrunner in financial services readiness, but operational inefficiencies in public services, trade, and market competition could constrain its growth and ability to attract investment, according to the World Bank’s Business Ready (B-READY) 2025 report. The findings were presented at a dissemination event in Accra, where policymakers, private sector representatives,… [Read More]

A unique forestry partnership between Türkiye and France is providing valuable insights into how European forests may adapt to climate change in the decades ahead. Supported by Agence Française de Développement (AFD) between 2019 and 2022, the programme brought together Turkish and French forestry institutions to strengthen sustainable forest management, protect biodiversity and build resilience… [Read More]

A new study by Oxford Economics has highlighted the significant contribution of UK Export Finance (UKEF) to the national economy, revealing that exports backed by the government’s export credit agency added £23 billion to UK economic output over the past five years. The research shows that UKEF-supported exports sustained an average of 66,000 full-time equivalent… [Read More]

The European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) deployed a record €2.9 billion in financing in Ukraine in 2025, up from €2.4 billion in 2024, underscoring its sustained commitment to supporting the country’s economy amid ongoing war. Since Russia’s full-scale invasion in February 2022, the Bank has deployed a total of €9.1 billion in Ukraine…. [Read More]

In 2025, the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) delivered more than €800 million in new investments in Serbia for the third consecutive year, reinforcing its position as the country’s leading international financial institution. The Bank invested in a record 42 projects during the year, with 84% of total financing directed to the private… [Read More]

The European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) is providing a €20 million loan to Assan Alüminyum to support a wide-ranging programme of decarbonisation investments aimed at improving efficiency and reducing energy and gas consumption in aluminium production. The financing will enable the installation of a foundry line filtration system to clean and reuse materials,… [Read More]

Minister of State for International Development and Diaspora Neale Richmond has announced €3 million in Irish Aid humanitarian funding to support people affected by the ongoing war in Ukraine. The funding will be shared equally between three Irish NGOs — Concern, the Irish Red Cross and Trócaire — with each organisation receiving €1 million to… [Read More]

Ireland will provide €42 million in assistance to the people of Palestine in 2026, Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade Helen McEntee TD has announced, marking an increase from the €36 million provided in 2025. The funding includes €20 million in core support for UNRWA to deliver essential services to Palestinian refugees in Gaza, the… [Read More]

Ireland has approved €25 million in funding for the Ukraine Energy Support Fund (UESF) to help restore and protect Ukraine’s critical energy infrastructure amid continued Russian attacks. The decision was announced by Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade Helen McEntee TD and fulfils a commitment made to President Volodymyr Zelenskyy during his recent visit to… [Read More]