Some 25 buildings in a West Bank camp face imminent demolition starting on 18 December, threatening hundreds of forcibly displaced Palestinians, according to Roland Friedrich, Director of UNRWA Affairs for the occupied West Bank. Satellite imagery indicates that nearly half of all buildings in the camp, 48 percent, had already been damaged or destroyed before… [Read More]
Deepening Repression in Venezuela and Growing Toll in Ukraine: UN Rights Chief Warns
High Commissioner for Human Rights Volker Türk, addressing the Geneva-based Human Rights Council, warned that the human rights situation in Venezuela has continued to deteriorate since his last update in June. He highlighted an intensifying crackdown on civic space, which is severely restricting people’s freedoms. Arbitrary detentions and enforced disappearances remain prevalent, while social and… [Read More]
New UN Deal Simplifies International Trade Procedures Worldwide
The United Nations has introduced the Convention on Negotiable Cargo Documents, establishing, for the first time, a single document that can be used for goods transported by trains, trucks, and planes. This innovative framework allows logistical adjustments for cargo already in transit, enabling goods to be sold, rerouted, or used as collateral for financing during… [Read More]
Ontario Energy Expansion Drives $30 Million Investment by Hitachi Energy
Hitachi Energy is investing $30 million to upgrade and expand its recently acquired facility in Stoney Creek, Ontario, securing 155 existing jobs and creating 30 new positions. The investment aims to strengthen Ontario’s energy infrastructure, supporting long-term energy security and the province’s economic competitiveness. Minister of Energy and Mines Stephen Lecce highlighted that this investment… [Read More]
Canada Responds with Emergency Assistance Following Cyclone in Sri Lanka
Sri Lanka has been severely impacted by Cyclone Ditwah, which caused extensive flooding and landslides across the country. The disaster resulted in loss of life and widespread damage to homes and infrastructure, disrupting communities and local economies. In response, Canada announced over $2 million in humanitarian assistance to support emergency relief efforts. This includes $1.4… [Read More]
Ireland Secures €18.9 Billion for Renewable Energy and Grid Modernization
Minister for Climate, Energy and the Environment Darragh O’Brien has welcomed the Commission for the Regulation of Utilities (CRU) Final Determination on Price Review 6 (PR6), covering 2026 to 2030. PR6 sets expenditure by EirGrid and ESB Networks in five-year cycles and establishes a transformative framework for Ireland’s energy infrastructure, enabling historic investment of up… [Read More]
Minister Heydon Announces Strengthened Oversight for Agri-Food Regulator to Ensure Food Supply Transparency
Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine, Martin Heydon TD, has announced new regulations granting enhanced powers to the Agri-Food Regulator, reinforcing a key commitment under the Programme for Government to improve transparency and fairness across the agri-food supply chain. Established in December 2023 under the Agricultural and Food Supply Chain Act 2023, the Regulator… [Read More]
Enhanced Health, Education, and Social Services in Salvador Backed by World Bank Financing
The World Bank Board of Directors has approved a new operation to expand access to quality health, education, and social assistance services in Salvador, a major municipality in Brazil’s northeastern State of Bahia. The Salvador Social III Program is expected to directly benefit 1.7 million residents relying on the public health system, 104,000 students in… [Read More]
Piauí Receives World Bank Backing for Fiscal Reform and Economic Development
The World Bank Board of Directors has approved a new operation to strengthen fiscal sustainability and promote economic development in the State of Piauí, Brazil. This Development Policy Financing (DPF) aims to support reforms that enhance the quality of public expenditure and expand private sector participation in water and land resources management, key sectors for… [Read More]
Syria’s Subsidized Bread Programme Scaled Up by WFP to Reach More Families
The United Nations World Food Programme (WFP), in collaboration with Syria’s Ministry of Economy and Industry, is expanding and extending its Subsidized Bread Programme through March 2026, supported by a generous contribution from the United States government. Starting in January 2026, the programme will operate through more than 300 bakeries nationwide, providing daily bread assistance… [Read More]
Afghanistan Faces Deepening Hunger Crisis as Winter Approaches, Latest Report Confirms
Over 17 million Afghans are facing acute food insecurity this winter, as hunger and malnutrition intensify across the country, according to the latest Integrated Food Security Phase Classification (IPC) report. This represents an increase of three million people compared to last year, with nearly four million children projected to suffer from malnutrition in the coming… [Read More]
ADB Approves $16.7M Grant for Nature-Based Coastal Protection in Fiji
The Asian Development Bank (ADB) has approved a $16.7 million grant to support Fiji’s efforts to protect coastal communities from storm surges, sea level rise, and coastal erosion. The grant will fund the Enhancing Climate Resilience of Coastal Communities Sector Project, which aims to reduce vulnerability to extreme weather events while strengthening the resilience of… [Read More]
$11 Billion Mobilized by African Development Fund to Boost Ownership and Investment-Led Growth in Africa
The African Development Fund (ADF), the concessional financing arm of the African Development Bank Group, has secured a record $11 billion from 43 partners for its 17th Replenishment (ADF-17), the largest in the Fund’s history. This represents a 23% increase over the previous replenishment and underscores global confidence in Africa’s development prospects, the African Development… [Read More]
$9 Million African Development Fund Grant to Boost Climate Resilience in Tanzania’s Mkondoa Region
The African Development Fund (ADF) has approved a $9.38 million grant to Tanzania to enhance climate resilience in the Mkondoa Catchment, a critical water resource area vulnerable to floods and droughts exacerbated by climate change. The Enhancing Climate Resilience on Water Resources in Mkondoa Catchment project, approved on 12 December 2025, will be financed through… [Read More]
Tunisia Entrepreneurial Profile 2025 Published by AfDB and EBRD Backed by UK Embassy
The African Development Bank and the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) have jointly published the Tunisia Entrepreneurial Profile 2025, a comprehensive study of the country’s entrepreneurial ecosystem. Financed by the United Kingdom Embassy and developed in collaboration with the Tunisian government, the report examines the strengths and structural challenges of entrepreneurship in Tunisia… [Read More]
Serious Threats to Press Freedom: UNESCO Warns of Declining Safety for Journalists Worldwide
UNESCO’s flagship report on global trends in freedom of expression and journalism highlights a historic 10% decline in freedom of expression worldwide between 2012 and 2024. This deterioration is largely driven by rising self-censorship among journalists and increasing attacks against them, both offline and online. During the reporting period from 2022 to 2025, 186 journalists… [Read More]
Enhancing Inclusivity in Insider Mediation for Stronger Organizational Harmony
This guidance note emphasizes the vital role of women, young people, and other historically excluded groups in insider mediation (IM) across diverse contexts. Despite their active engagement, these actors often face intersecting structural, sociocultural, and institutional barriers, including violence, stigmatization, limited access to decision-making spaces, and the lack of long-term support tailored to their realities…. [Read More]
$23 Million Boost from African Development Fund to Enhance Clean Energy in Bosaso
The African Development Fund has approved a grants package of $23.36 million to bring clean and reliable electricity to Bosaso, Somalia. The project, named the Rehabilitation and Expansion of Bosaso Power Grid and Strengthening of Energy Sector Institutions, is funded through $9.62 million from the African Development Fund and $13.74 million from the Transition Support… [Read More]
African Development Bank Backs Liberia’s Landmark Mercury-Reduction Project in Gold Sector
Liberia has secured approval from the Global Environment Facility (GEF) for a transformative project designed to drastically reduce mercury pollution in artisanal and small-scale gold mining (ASGM). Developed by Liberia’s Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and supported by the African Development Bank Group, the initiative combines $7.67 million in GEF financing with $24.57 million in indicative… [Read More]
Transforming Climate Action: 4 Key Innovations Driving Change
Countries implementing the next generation of Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs) face the challenge of creating investible strategies that drive climate action, enhance resilience, and promote economic growth. Achieving these goals requires strong national commitment and increased multilateral cooperation to close the climate finance gap, which in Africa alone sees only $30 billion of the $300… [Read More]
$311 Million Kenya Power Lines Project Backed by Africa Fund and Indian Company
Kenya has signed a $311 million agreement to construct two high-voltage electricity transmission lines in partnership with Africa50, a Morocco-based pan-African infrastructure fund, and PowerGrid Corporation of India. The project will be executed through a public-private partnership, reflecting Kenya’s strategy to fund infrastructure amid high public debt and constrained fiscal space. The agreement involves Africa50… [Read More]
South Africa’s Shift to a Liberalised Electricity Market: Lessons from International Experience
South Africa has made significant progress in stabilising its electricity supply and addressing the long-standing issue of loadshedding, where controlled power cuts occur when electricity demand exceeds supply. To sustain this progress and secure energy for future economic growth, the country will need over $100 billion in new investment by 2035, marking one of the… [Read More]
UNDP, UNCDF, DBSA and African Bank Launch Township Spark to Drive Inclusive Growth in South Africa
The United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) in South Africa, together with the United Nations Capital Development Fund (UNCDF) and partners including the Development Bank of Southern Africa (DBSA) and African Bank, officially launched Township Spark on the sidelines of the G20 Social Summit. This innovative blended-finance initiative aims to unlock capital flows for township-based micro,… [Read More]
