cat

The International Labour Organization (ILO) has warned that the Middle East crisis is increasingly impacting jobs, working conditions, and incomes worldwide. Rising energy costs, disrupted transport routes, supply chain pressures, weaker tourism, and migration constraints are already transmitting shocks across economies and labour markets. The report notes that the effects will likely persist, with their… [Read More]

The humanitarian situation in Sudan is rapidly deteriorating as the United Nations warns that millions of people are now facing acute food shortages amid escalating conflict and economic instability. Widespread displacement, disrupted supply chains, and ongoing violence have severely limited access to food, pushing vulnerable populations closer to famine-like conditions in several regions. According to… [Read More]

Minister Dara Calleary has announced €42,000 in funding from the Department of Rural and Community Development and the Gaeltacht to support the maintenance and management of the restored Croagh Patrick path for 2026. This initiative continues the collaboration between the Department, Mayo County Council, and the Croagh Patrick Stakeholder Forum, ensuring the sustainability of the… [Read More]

Global disruptions in energy markets and international trade are increasingly pushing millions of people into poverty, according to recent economic assessments highlighting worsening vulnerabilities across developing and low-income countries. Rising fuel prices, supply chain instability, and uneven economic recovery have significantly increased the cost of living, making basic necessities less affordable for large segments of… [Read More]

The Rockefeller Foundation has released its 2025 impact report, Big Bets, Real Results, highlighting a year of strategic investments to support vulnerable communities and tackle global challenges. Despite a decline in global aid, the Foundation awarded over US$350 million, directly mobilized US$3 billion, and helped mobilize an additional US$29 billion in indirect capital, reaching 731… [Read More]

New Zealand has announced the creation of a streamlined Transition Research Fund for 2027, designed to align science funding with national priorities and deliver outcomes that benefit the country. The fund was developed on advice from Research Funding New Zealand, the newly established science funding decision‑maker, and consolidates investigator‑led research into a single structure with… [Read More]

The Danish Refugee Council (DRC) has issued a strong warning that the ceasefire situation in Lebanon is deteriorating rapidly, describing it as being “in pieces” due to a significant surge in hostilities. The organization highlights that instead of bringing relief and stability, the ceasefire has failed to stop ongoing violence, leaving civilians exposed to continued… [Read More]

Multilateral Development Banks (MDBs) have announced coordinated measures to support countries facing the compound impacts of the conflict in the Middle East. These impacts include disruptions to energy and fertilizer markets, trade routes, and spillover effects on inflation, food security, jobs, fiscal balances, and financing conditions. MDBs emphasized their unique ability to combine financing, policy… [Read More]

The UBS Optimus Foundation has strengthened its collaborative philanthropy model by expanding its network of co-funders, enabling larger-scale and more coordinated investments in global social impact initiatives. The foundation operates as part of UBS’s broader social impact and philanthropy platform, mobilizing capital from clients, employees, and institutional partners to support programs focused on education, health,… [Read More]

Viet Nam’s economy has shown strong resilience despite global uncertainty, according to the World Bank’s latest Viet Nam Economic Update. Growth is projected to moderate to 6.8% in 2026, following an 8% expansion in 2025, reflecting continued strength in exports, investment, and domestic activity alongside a sweeping reform agenda. The report highlights that while the… [Read More]

The World Bank has approved a new project to catalyze investment in low‑carbon industrial commodities, clean fuels, and enabling infrastructure in Brazil’s Northeast region. Anchored by a US$500 million loan, the total financing package amounts to US$968 million, including concessional loans and grants from the Climate Investment Funds’ Clean Technology Fund, the Livable Planet Fund,… [Read More]

Qatar Foundation’s Qatar Science & Technology Park (QSTP) has launched a $30 million Tech Venture Fund to support early-stage deep technology startups based in Qatar. The initiative is designed to strengthen the country’s innovation ecosystem by backing science-driven companies working in advanced technology sectors and enabling them to scale regionally and globally. The fund focuses… [Read More]

Queensland communities impacted by recent floods and cyclones will benefit from a $48 million recovery funding package aimed at supporting long‑term recovery. The funding, delivered under the joint Commonwealth‑state Disaster Recovery Funding Arrangements (DRFA), targets primary producers, vulnerable residents, environmental restoration, sport and community infrastructure, and recovery efforts in Cook Shire. The largest share of… [Read More]

The Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation has fully exited its long-held position in Microsoft, selling its remaining 7.7 million shares worth approximately $3.2 billion. This marks the end of a decades-long investment relationship with the company co-founded by Bill Gates. The divestment is part of a broader strategy by the foundation to gradually liquidate its… [Read More]

Leaders across West and Central Africa are urging greater funding to help communities cope with the impacts of climate change, as floods, droughts, and environmental degradation increasingly drive displacement and reshape migration patterns. At a regional conference in Lagos, Nigeria, held on 12–13 May, governments and partners developed a roadmap to protect livelihoods and strengthen… [Read More]

The City Bridge Foundation, one of London’s largest independent charitable funders, has announced that it has distributed approximately £895 million in grants to more than 9,000 organisations across the capital. This milestone highlights nearly three decades of sustained investment in community development, social justice initiatives, and grassroots support across London. The foundation, which also serves… [Read More]

The Board of Directors of the African Development Bank Group has approved a $200 million financing facility for Nigeria’s Bank of Industry (BOI) to expand access to long‑term financing for enterprises in key growth sectors. The initiative is designed to drive Nigeria’s industrial transformation by supporting businesses in infrastructure, transport, agro‑food processing, health, pharmaceuticals, and… [Read More]

The Australian Sports Foundation’s FY25 “Giving for Sport” report highlights the growing role of philanthropy in supporting grassroots and community sport across Australia. The report shows that sports fundraising and donations have continued to rise, reflecting increasing reliance on community contributions to sustain clubs, athletes, and sporting programs nationwide. According to the findings, tens of… [Read More]

The Children’s Tumor Foundation (CTF) has officially re-launched the NF Registry on World NF Awareness Day, marking a significant step forward in advancing global research on neurofibromatosis (NF) and schwannomatosis. The updated registry is designed as a patient-powered research platform that enables individuals living with NF to contribute directly to scientific studies aimed at improving… [Read More]

The Department of Environment (DOE) and the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) have launched a collaborative study to assess the impact of sand and dust storms (SDSs) on biodiversity, with a focus on understanding how these environmental events affect ecosystems and natural habitats. The initiative is part of broader efforts to strengthen environmental resilience and… [Read More]

The United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC), in collaboration with the African Development Bank, UNDP, UNEP, and the Partnership on Transparency in the Paris Agreement (PATPA), concluded a three‑day Regional Training Workshop in Maputo from 27–29 April 2026. The workshop aimed to strengthen Africa’s capacity to prepare high‑quality Biennial Transparency Reports (BTRs) under… [Read More]

UN Women has been supporting women affected by recent typhoons in Viet Nam through targeted cash assistance programs aimed at helping them rebuild livelihoods and restore economic stability. The initiative focuses on assisting vulnerable women whose incomes and living conditions were severely disrupted by extreme weather events, particularly in communities heavily dependent on agriculture, small… [Read More]

The African Development Bank Group, in partnership with the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank (AIIB) and the Government of Rwanda, has launched the Energy Sector Results Based Financing Phase II (RBF II) Program to advance universal access to reliable, clean, and affordable energy. With a total cost of $300 million, the program is financed through a… [Read More]