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The International Labour Organization (ILO) has released a report highlighting ways to improve Pacific labour migration schemes, focusing on Australia’s Pacific Australia Labour Mobility (PALM) scheme and New Zealand’s Recognised Seasonal Employer (RSE) scheme. While these programs have provided employment opportunities, supported economic resilience, and addressed labour shortages, the report emphasizes the need for stronger… [Read More]

Persons with disabilities in Kenya are increasingly shaping policies and systems to ensure national efforts in promoting decent work and social inclusion reflect lived experiences. Benter Bella Mboya, based in Kisumu County, is a leading advocate, bringing her perspective as a woman with a physical disability into national discussions on inclusion. Growing up as the… [Read More]

Nigeria has achieved notable progress in restoring macroeconomic stability, yet translating these gains into inclusive growth and improved livelihoods requires stronger investment in people and job creation, beginning in early childhood. The April 2026 Nigeria Development Update (NDU), titled Nigeria’s Tomorrow Must Start Today: The Case for Early Childhood Development, emphasizes that strengthening human capital… [Read More]

Communities in the Republic of the Marshall Islands (RMI) will gain enhanced protection from climate and disaster risks through new World Bank support aimed at strengthening urban resilience, safeguarding livelihoods, and supporting jobs in Majuro, the country’s capital and main economic hub. RMI is among the countries most vulnerable to climate change and natural hazards,… [Read More]

The Asian Development Bank (ADB) has launched the Regional Connectivity Fund for Energy in Southeast Asia (RCF), a multi-partner fund designed to finance project preparation for cross-border energy and transmission infrastructure within ASEAN. This fund is the first of its kind in the region and aims to accelerate the development of the ASEAN Power Grid,… [Read More]

The Government of Zambia, in collaboration with Norway, has launched a Carbon Feed-In Premium (CFIP) program seeking proposals for up to 300 MW of grid-connected solar projects with battery storage to attract private investment. Developers are required to submit proposals by May 31, 2026, with final selections expected by the end of June 2026. This… [Read More]

The Partnership for Vivax Elimination (PAVE), funded by Unitaid and led by Medicines for Malaria Venture (MMV), PATH, Menzies School of Health Research, and The Burnet Institute, conducted feasibility studies across five countries to evaluate the operational integration of G6PD testing for guiding radical cure of P. vivax malaria. These studies, implemented in collaboration with… [Read More]

A decade ago, accessing public services in Brazil was cumbersome, requiring citizens to navigate fragmented systems, complete repetitive paperwork, and visit multiple government offices. While digital solutions existed, they were siloed, costly, and difficult to scale, limiting access for millions. The creation of GOV.BR, a collaboration between the World Bank and Brazil’s Digital Government Secretariat,… [Read More]

Global electricity demand is rising rapidly, driven in part by the expansion of AI data centers, making the availability of low-carbon power a critical factor for the energy transition. Solar and wind energy have expanded quickly in countries like China and the US over the past decade, yet deployment is uneven across regions. Some states… [Read More]

Mississippi State University’s Center for Entrepreneurship and Outreach is expanding its support for aspiring entrepreneurs with a grant from the Regions Foundation. The funding will bolster two accelerator programs, the MSU VentureCatalyst in Starkville and the Million Dollar Checklist in Vicksburg, while also powering the university’s Startup Summit, a flagship event connecting students, innovators, and… [Read More]

In rural Zambia, access to reliable and affordable electricity is a key driver of economic opportunity. Many communities rely on unpredictable grid connections or costly diesel generators, with over half of the population underserved or living off-grid. In 2024, Sustainable Energy for All (SEforALL), together with the Global Energy Alliance and support from The Rockefeller… [Read More]

As we mark World Health Day 2026, it is important to recognize the critical role of reliable energy in healthcare. Nearly a billion people depend on health facilities with limited or no electricity, undermining the delivery of quality services. While the pandemic brought new attention and momentum to the sector, the post-pandemic era presents changing… [Read More]

The Strait of Hormuz, a vital corridor carrying around 20 million barrels of oil daily, is at the center of what experts call the greatest threat to global energy security in history. The crisis surpasses the impact of the 1970s oil shocks and the 2022 Ukraine gas disruption combined, with oil prices spiking over 60%… [Read More]

The Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) continues to face escalating violence from armed groups, leading to widespread displacement and food insecurity. According to OCHA, at least 14.9 million people require humanitarian assistance. Women and girls are particularly vulnerable, facing heightened risks of sexual and gender-based violence (GBV), while those in remote areas struggle to… [Read More]

Ethiopia faces a critical intersection of macroeconomic challenges and climate risks, making climate finance central to its development trajectory. Despite contributing only 0.4% of global emissions, the country is highly vulnerable due to its dependence on rain-fed agriculture and hydropower. High inflation, foreign-exchange shortages, rising debt obligations, and a recent sovereign default have constrained fiscal… [Read More]

The PM-KUSUM scheme, launched by the Union Government, aims to expand solar-powered irrigation, enhance farmer incomes through energy generation, and reduce agricultural power subsidies. While the scheme provides flexibility for state administrations to adapt it to local contexts, implementation has often been hindered by low awareness among farmers. Surveys indicate that knowledge of the scheme’s… [Read More]

In 2020, Enterprise Community Partners facilitated the merger and expansion of two philanthropy-supported funding programs to create the Detroit CDO Fund, designed to build capacity and support the sustainability of less-resourced community development organizations (CDOs) in Detroit while strengthening the city’s overall development ecosystem. During Phase I (2020–2022), the CDO Fund provided $12.2 million in… [Read More]

South and Southeast Asia are at a critical juncture, facing the complex challenge of sustaining rapid and inclusive economic growth while advancing human development and addressing widening financing gaps. These gaps are particularly evident in infrastructure, climate action, and social development, all within a context of constrained public budgets and increasing economic and environmental risks…. [Read More]

The Michigan State Police, Emergency Management and Homeland Security Division (MSP/EMHSD) has announced the opening of the Federal Emergency Management Agency’s (FEMA) Building Resilient Infrastructure and Communities (BRIC) grant program for fiscal year 2025. The program is now accepting project proposals from eligible applicants across Michigan. BRIC provides federal funding to support hazard mitigation projects… [Read More]

The North Carolina Department of Commerce’s Division of Community Revitalization (DCR) has announced the first round of funding for the newly launched Commercial District Revitalization (CDR) Program, offering $40 million in federal support to restore commercial districts in western North Carolina impacted by Hurricane Helene. The program targets local governments and nonprofit organizations and is… [Read More]

A group of B.C. not-for-profits is shifting from traditional donation-based funding to launching venture funds aimed at commercializing research while retaining potential financial returns. Praxis Spinal Cord Institute, based in Vancouver, plans to raise capital for its venture fund later this year, focusing on spinal cord injury research, innovation, and care. This approach follows similar… [Read More]

Small and marginal farmers in the Eastern Gangetic Plain (EGP), covering Bangladesh, India, and Nepal, have long been trapped in rice-wheat monocultures, facing poverty, food insecurity, and climate vulnerability. Despite decades of available technologies, adoption has remained low due to weak extension and advisory services (EAS), misaligned policies, limited mechanisation, water scarcity, credit constraints, and… [Read More]

Ukraine has faced severe disruption to basic services and human capital due to the ongoing conflict, putting its prospects for economic growth and job creation at risk. Between February 2022 and December 2025, 55,600 civilian casualties were recorded, with 5.9 million refugees and 3.3 million internally displaced by January 2026. The conflict, coupled with deteriorating… [Read More]