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The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) will host the 34th Session of the FAO Regional Conference for Africa (ARC34) in Nouakchott, Mauritania, from 13 to 17 April 2026. The conference will bring together African ministers of agriculture, government officials, civil society representatives, youth groups, private sector actors, and development partners to… [Read More]

Africa’s agrifood systems are facing intensifying pressure from global shocks. Trade disruptions have raised the cost of fertilisers, fuel, and freight, while climate variability and conflict continue to displace farmers and reduce harvests. Despite these challenges, the most critical decisions about the continent’s agrifood future are made locally, through national budgets, regulatory frameworks, and investment… [Read More]

Afreximbank has approved a US$10 billion Gulf Crisis Response Programme (GCRP) to protect African and CARICOM economies, financial institutions, and corporates from the ongoing Gulf crisis, which escalated on 28 February 2026. The conflict has disrupted global markets, particularly affecting nations reliant on fuel, LNG, fertilisers, food imports, Gulf shipping corridors, tourism, investment flows, and… [Read More]

The UK government is significantly cutting its foreign aid budget to redirect funds toward a major expansion of national defence, increasing spending from £4.8 billion in 2026 to £6.5 billion in 2027. These reductions are expected to sharply reduce direct bilateral funding to African countries, threatening fragile health systems across the continent. The Foreign, Commonwealth… [Read More]

Charities and voluntary organisations in the UK are losing an estimated £28 million each year due to inefficient staff training, according to data from compliance training provider Skillcast. The sector accounts for 1.45 million lost training hours annually, ranking fifth highest among the industries surveyed. Charity, voluntary, and social enterprise organisations recorded more lost hours,… [Read More]

RIF has launched a new Software as a Service (SaaS) platform to manage all stages of project funding, from announcing calls to disbursing payments. The platform is designed to offer flexible capabilities for developing functionalities and business workflows, aiming to improve efficiency across the funding ecosystem. The project aims to create a modern and secure… [Read More]

The Czech government will provide an additional 175 million crowns from this year’s state budget to support live culture and cultural activities, Culture Minister Oto Klempíř announced following a meeting with representatives of cultural institutions and employers. Finance Minister Alena Schillerová pledged the extra funding, with 50 million crowns earmarked for theatres and orchestras, and… [Read More]

Hundreds of manufacturers across the North West are preparing to accelerate their digital transformation after the Government confirmed new funding for the Made Smarter programme from April. The £2.5M investment aims to provide SME manufacturers with expert technology advice, leadership training, digital skills development, and match-funded grants to enhance productivity, drive innovation, create high-value jobs,… [Read More]

Rural communities across Highland will have the opportunity to access more than £1 million in funding aimed at improving community assets and addressing inequalities affecting children, young people, and families. The Highland Local Action Group (LAG) is inviting organisations to submit applications for projects that align with these two key priorities. Funding is available through… [Read More]

The National Health and Medical Research Council (NHMRC) is focused on improving health outcomes for people living in regional, rural, and remote (RRR) Australia by supporting research that directly benefits these communities. Despite a strong history of high-quality and innovative RRR research, challenges persist in developing and sustaining a skilled RRR research workforce. To address… [Read More]

The European Commission announced a €30 million investment at the One Health Summit in Lyon to strengthen the global response to antimicrobial resistance (AMR). This funding, part of the EU4Health program, aims to enhance medical countermeasures against AMR, a growing health threat responsible for over 35,000 deaths annually in the EU/EEA and costing healthcare systems… [Read More]

Agnès Callamard, Secretary General of Amnesty International, strongly condemned President Donald Trump’s apocalyptic threats against Iran made on Truth Social on 7 April 2026, warning that “a whole civilization will die tonight, never to be brought back again.” She described the threats, including the promise of destroying Iran’s power plants and bridges, as displaying a… [Read More]

The prosecution of Amnesty International Türkiye’s former Chair, Kerem Dikmen, along with ten other members of the executive and supervisory boards of the Genç LGBTI+ Association, reflects a broader pattern of harassment against LGBTI+ organizations in Türkiye. The hearing is scheduled to begin tomorrow, highlighting ongoing concerns over the targeting of human rights defenders. In December… [Read More]

Global leaders convened in France on World Health Day 2026 for the landmark One Health Summit, where the World Health Organization (WHO) and partners unveiled a series of concrete initiatives to protect humans, animals, and the environment from future health crises. The Summit emphasized translating the One Health approach—recognizing the interconnection between human, animal, and… [Read More]

On World Health Day 2026, the World Health Organization emphasized the critical role of science in protecting health, saving lives, and building resilient societies, under the theme “Together for Health. Support Science.” This message is particularly relevant for Angola, where evidence-based policies have delivered tangible health improvements despite challenges such as outbreaks of cholera, polio,… [Read More]

Globally, women continue to face systemic challenges in healthcare, with UN data showing they are less likely to be taken seriously, accurately diagnosed, or properly treated. Misdiagnosis, delayed care, and entrenched medical bias persist, undermining women’s health, safety, and quality of life. Despite healthcare being a fundamental human right, inequalities remain widespread, affecting day-to-day access… [Read More]

The UN Security Council vote on a draft resolution addressing security in the Strait of Hormuz ended with a veto by permanent members China and Russia. Eleven countries voted in favor, while Colombia and Pakistan abstained. The resolution aimed to encourage states using commercial maritime routes in the strait—situated between Iran, Oman, and the United… [Read More]

This year, nearly 1,000 migrants and refugees have died attempting to cross into Europe, highlighting ongoing dangers in the Central Mediterranean. A recent tragedy saw over 80 people go missing when a boat capsized after leaving Tajoura, Libya, while another incident on 1 April left 19 dead near Lampedusa, Italy. Amy Pope, head of the… [Read More]

The Government of Canada is advancing its commitment to strong communities through the Build Communities Strong Fund, announced in Budget 2025. This $51 billion, 10-year initiative aims to enhance critical infrastructure across the country, including hospitals, schools, bridges, water systems, and transit networks, supporting economic growth, housing development, and climate adaptation. The fund is expected… [Read More]

The Government of Canada is investing in youth employment and skills development to help young Canadians build rewarding careers, particularly in the natural resource sectors. A $30 million initiative announced by Ministers Tim Hodgson and Patty Hajdu will create 900 employment and skills training opportunities over two years across industries such as energy, forestry, mining,… [Read More]

British organic food producers are set to gain easier access to Japan’s rapidly growing organic market, following a formal recognition of equivalency between UK and Japanese organic livestock standards, effective 1 April 2026. This agreement allows British exporters to sell organic meat and dairy products in Japan using a single UK organic certification, reducing bureaucracy… [Read More]

The British High Commission (BHC) in Nairobi, on behalf of the Secretary of State for the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office, is inviting qualified contractors to supply electrical materials. The commission is seeking suppliers with the necessary professional skills, experience, technical resources, and financial capacity to meet the project requirements. Detailed information, including instructions for… [Read More]

Adakhan Mamadaliev spent 35 years in prison and faced a bleak outlook when diagnosed with tuberculosis after his release. His life began to change when he found a shelter in southern Kyrgyzstan, where he discovered purpose, community, and support that gave him a reason to keep living. His experience highlights the broader challenges faced by… [Read More]