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United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs has raised alarm over the rapidly worsening humanitarian crisis in Haiti, following a recent mission by its Crisis Response Director. Large parts of the country, including nearly 90% of the capital Port-au-Prince, are under the control of armed gangs, contributing to escalating insecurity, displacement, and severe… [Read More]

Martin Heydon has announced a €100 million Fuel Subsidy Support Scheme to assist farmers, agricultural contractors, and fishers in Ireland facing rising fuel costs. The support will cover the period from March to July, aligning with peak fuel usage in the agriculture and fisheries sectors. The scheme responds to a sharp increase in the price… [Read More]

The Government of the Democratic Republic of the Congo, in partnership with the United Nations and the World Bank, launched a joint programme in March 2026 to strengthen social protection systems and expand access to decent work. The initiative focuses on improving opportunities for young people, women, and vulnerable groups by creating more inclusive and… [Read More]

The World Bank has approved a $500 million financing package for the Morocco under the First Morocco Jobs and Green Growth Development Policy Loan. This initiative aims to boost employment by improving labor market policies, supporting small and medium-sized enterprises, and promoting investments in clean energy, energy efficiency, and export-oriented industries such as pharmaceuticals. This… [Read More]

The Asian Development Bank has approved a $115.8 million loan to improve environmentally sustainable and resilient urban services in Narayanganj City Corporation in Bangladesh. The initiative aims to enhance basic urban infrastructure while strengthening the city’s ability to manage rapid urbanization and environmental challenges. The Narayanganj Green and Resilient Urban Development Project will upgrade drinking… [Read More]

The African Development Bank Group has approved a $200 million loan to Nigeria to support a major digital infrastructure initiative aimed at deploying 90,000 kilometres of open-access fibre nationwide. This project is designed to strengthen connectivity, expand digital skills, and create employment opportunities across the country. As Africa’s most populous nation, Nigeria is increasingly relying… [Read More]

On 25 March 2026, the United Nations General Assembly adopted the Declaration on the Trafficking of Enslaved Africans and Racialised Chattel Enslavement of Africans as the Gravest Crime Against Humanity. Led by African and Caribbean states, the resolution was passed with 123 votes in favour, 3 against, and 52 abstentions, reflecting deep divisions within the… [Read More]

Norway is investing NOK 69 million over three years to strengthen knowledge, innovation, and reform in the humanitarian sector. The funding has been awarded to eight international organisations working to improve the efficiency, relevance, sustainability, and accountability of humanitarian action. According to Norad, the selection prioritises organisations with strong expertise in policy development, evidence generation,… [Read More]

More than one million Sudanese refugees in Chad are facing an escalating humanitarian crisis as severe funding shortages force UN agencies to cut life-saving assistance. The UN Refugee Agency (UNHCR) and the World Food Programme (WFP) have warned that essential support for food, water, shelter, protection, and healthcare will be drastically reduced in the coming… [Read More]

Social responsibility in business has become a fundamental expectation rather than an optional extra. Modern organisations are increasingly required to balance profitability with purpose by considering their social, ethical, and environmental impact. This shift reflects a broader move toward responsible or purpose-led business practices, where values are embedded either in core operations or delivered through… [Read More]

The status of LGBTQ+ rights in Europe remains highly contested, shaped by a growing tension between democratic safeguards and rising populist and anti-LGBTQ+ political narratives. While disinformation, scapegoating, and restrictive policies have intensified in several countries, EU institutions and courts have also emerged as key defenders of equality and non-discrimination rights across the region. In… [Read More]

A UN expert in Geneva has expressed grave concern over the worsening trafficking crisis linked to escalating conflict in South Sudan, warning that ongoing violence is driving a severe humanitarian emergency. According to the Special Rapporteur on trafficking in persons, especially women and girls, persistent attacks on civilians by armed groups are disproportionately affecting children… [Read More]

UN Special Rapporteurs in Geneva have condemned what they describe as a systematic strategy by Russian authorities to suppress dissent, human rights advocacy, and anti-war expression under the pretext of national security. They warned that since the start of the war against Ukraine in 2022, Russia has intensified measures aimed at dismantling independent civil society… [Read More]

The Government of Portugal has voluntarily contributed €70,000 to two trust funds of the Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW), reinforcing international efforts to eliminate chemical weapons and strengthen global chemical security. The contribution supports both Syria-related missions and capacity-building activities for Portuguese-speaking Member States under the Chemical Weapons Convention (CWC). A total… [Read More]

The global economy has largely moved past the pandemic recession, but many fragile and conflict-affected situations (FCS) have not experienced a full recovery. Instead, these economies continue to face repeated shocks, including new global disruptions driven by conflict in the Middle East, rising energy prices, tighter financial conditions, and heightened uncertainty. As a result, the… [Read More]

In rural Montserrado County’s Morris Farm in Liberia, community activist Betty Moore walks through her neighborhood using illustrated posters to spark conversations about household relationships, decision-making, and power dynamics. As one of 250 activists supported by the Liberia Women Empowerment Project (LWEP), she works to promote a vision where women are not only safe but… [Read More]

When crises strike, local organisations are often the first responders, but they frequently operate with limited resources, recognition, and decision-making power. Older people, in particular, have often remained on the margins of humanitarian responses. Over the past five years, HelpAge International has worked with its network members to address this gap by strengthening local organisations… [Read More]

On World Health Day 2026, Angola organized a national roundtable to explore how scientific evidence can be transformed into accessible, equitable, and high-quality healthcare for all citizens. Held under the theme “Together for Health. Support Science,” the event emphasized the importance of linking research, innovation, and public policy to improve health outcomes and address national… [Read More]

Ghana has officially launched its Maternal Mental Health Policy (MMHP), marking a major effort to close a long-standing gap in the country’s healthcare system. The initiative, led by the Mental Health Authority in collaboration with the World Health Organization (WHO), national stakeholders, and supported by the UK Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (UKFCDO), was introduced… [Read More]

In the outskirts of Gueskérrou in Niger’s Diffa region, displaced residents like Amina, a 34-year-old mother, continue to live in fragile conditions after fleeing insecurity. Living in a refugee camp near the Nigerian border, she had been uncertain about whether her children would still have access to essential healthcare. The arrival of vaccination teams brought… [Read More]

The Government of Angola, in partnership with the World Food Programme (WFP) and the World Health Organization (WHO), has conducted a three-day workshop in Luanda to strengthen warehouse management and digital health logistics for medical supplies as part of the national cholera response. The training, held from 30 March to 1 April, brought together 40… [Read More]

Official preliminary data from the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) shows that global official development assistance (ODA) fell by 23% between 2024 and 2025, marking one of the steepest single-year declines in decades. The drop exceeds earlier projections and signals a significant setback for international development financing, particularly for low- and middle-income countries… [Read More]

A series of intensive training sessions on hot pepper production was conducted from March 16 to 25 across the Windward and Leeward regions of Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, including key sites such as Dumbarton and Orange Hill. The initiative was implemented by the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) in collaboration… [Read More]