The UNESCO has partnered with Australia to support a new national education strategy aimed at addressing rising antisemitism in schools. As part of this initiative, a teacher-training programme is being piloted to help educators respond more effectively to incidents of antisemitism and promote inclusive and respectful school environments. The programme comes in response to a… [Read More]
New Evidence from Gavi Hub Reveals Hidden Zero-Dose Immunisation Gaps
New findings from the Zero-Dose Learning Hub supported by Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance show that many under-immunised children remain unseen due to aggregated data, fragmented health information systems, and assumptions made at national levels. The evidence suggests that improving immunisation coverage requires not only better data and funding but also stronger accountability and strategies tailored… [Read More]
UK Coastal Communities Face Challenges and New Opportunities Beyond Tourism
Coastal towns across the United Kingdom have long depended on tourism, but many are now facing economic and social challenges as visitor patterns have changed over the decades. The popularity of affordable package holidays, which began in the 1950s and expanded through the 1960s and 1970s, made overseas travel more accessible, while the rise of… [Read More]
Learning Poverty Crisis in Malawi Highlights Urgent Need for Education Reform
Learning poverty remains a major challenge across Sub-Saharan Africa, with an estimated 89% of children unable to read and understand a simple, age-appropriate text by the age of 10. In Malawi, this crisis is particularly evident, as many children attend school but still struggle to develop the basic reading skills needed to progress academically. This… [Read More]
ILO Adopts First Global Guidelines on Labour Rights for Professional Athletes
The International Labour Organization (ILO) has adopted the first global Guidelines aimed at promoting labour rights and preventing violence and harassment for professional athletes worldwide. The decision was reached on 6 March after five days of tripartite discussions involving government, employer, and worker representatives from the sport sector, marking a significant step toward improving working… [Read More]
World Bank Approves $240M WACA+ Program to Protect West Africa’s Coasts and Create 13,000 Jobs
The World Bank Group has approved $240 million to launch the first phase of the West Africa Coastal Areas Blue Economy and Resilience Program (WACA+), an initiative designed to protect vulnerable coastlines while promoting private sector–led growth in the blue economy across Benin and Mauritania. The financing package includes $207 million from the International Development… [Read More]
World Bank Debars PwC Africa Units for 21 Months Over Fraud Case
The World Bank Group has announced a 21-month debarment with conditional release for Mauritius-based PricewaterhouseCoopers Associates Africa Ltd., PricewaterhouseCoopers Limited, Kenya, and PricewaterhouseCoopers Rwanda Limited over collusive and fraudulent practices linked to the Eastern Electricity Highway Project under the first phase of the Eastern Africa Power Integration Program in Ethiopia. The project aimed to increase… [Read More]
ADB Unveils 2026–2030 Strategy to Drive Sustainable Growth in Pakistan
The Asian Development Bank (ADB) has launched a new country partnership strategy (CPS) for Pakistan covering the period 2026–2030, outlining a roadmap to support the country’s shift toward sustainable and inclusive economic growth driven by private sector development. The five-year strategy focuses on strengthening private sector growth, promoting inclusion and empowerment, and improving resilience and… [Read More]
Building Disability Inclusion Into the Design Process
The Inclusive Futures programme, UK aid’s flagship disability inclusion initiative, has shared valuable lessons after eight years of work across Bangladesh, Kenya, Nepal, Nigeria, Tanzania, and Uganda. Delivered by a consortium led by Sightsavers and the International Disability Alliance, the programme partnered with more than 200 organisations of persons with disabilities (OPDs), governments, INGOs, research… [Read More]
Poland’s Pension Reform: Lessons for Future Labour Supply
Pension reforms over the past three decades have sought to strengthen the connection between social security contributions during working life and the benefits received in retirement. This approach aims to encourage employment and extend working lives, while reducing fiscal pressures on ageing pension systems. The 1999 Polish pension reform, which replaced a traditional defined benefit… [Read More]
Community Consultation: Insights and Lessons Learned
An inquiry into the state government’s community consultation practices has revealed that recent engagements have not consistently followed best practice principles. The report highlighted that the state government’s Public Engagement Framework, which is intended to guide meaningful consultation, has often been applied inconsistently across departments and agencies. Conducted by the Legislative Council Environment and Planning… [Read More]
Lebanon War Sparks Hidden Health Crisis Beyond Frontlines
Armed conflict often draws attention to immediate casualties and overwhelmed hospitals, but the broader health consequences for civilians are less visible. In the Middle East, the recent escalation in Lebanon, Iran, and the Gulf countries is another phase of a prolonged conflict, where dense urban areas face repeated bombardment. While direct injuries are evident, the… [Read More]
Unlocking Human Security Through Digital Wallets
Digital wallets are increasingly used to store payment cards digitally, but their potential goes far beyond payments. When integrated as digital public goods with appropriate safeguards, they allow people to prove eligibility for social protection benefits, share health records in emergencies, or present certified documents for employment quickly and securely. Recognition and interoperability across systems… [Read More]
UNDP Study: Ukrainian Youth Optimistic Despite Conflict
The United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) in Ukraine, in collaboration with the Ministry of Youth and Sports, has released the 2025 study “Impact of the War on Young People in Ukraine,” which examines how the fourth year of the full-scale war has affected youth attitudes, needs, and priorities. The research focused on young people’s perceptions… [Read More]
Promoting Women’s Leadership in East Asia’s Humanitarian Sector
National Red Cross Societies in East Asia are actively advancing gender equality and promoting women’s leadership through concrete actions that extend from internal governance to community engagement. These efforts include enhancing female representation at all levels and implementing family-friendly workplace policies. Significant progress has been made in increasing women’s leadership within the societies. East Asia… [Read More]
Energy Resilience Project Hits the Shoreline
The Vanuatu Energy Resilience Project (VERP) has progressed from planning to field implementation, with technical experts from the Department of Energy (DoE) and UNDP conducting on-site assessments in mid-February to safeguard critical solar infrastructure using Nature-based Solutions (NbS). Launched in July 2025 and funded by CDRI, the project aims to enhance the durability of renewable… [Read More]
Thailand Forum: Youth Activists Drive Environmental Solutions
The Asia-Pacific region is harnessing the energy and passion of its youth to tackle environmental challenges, with nearly 60 percent of the world’s young population driving innovative solutions. This momentum was showcased at the annual Asia-Pacific Forum for Sustainable Development, held at the United Nations Conference Centre in Bangkok, where officials, experts, and activists gathered… [Read More]
Largest Corporate Watchdog Faces Funding Loss in Sweden
Sweden has withdrawn core funding from Swedwatch, an independent watchdog that has monitored business, human rights, and environmental justice for the past 20 years. The decision by the Swedish International Development Cooperation Agency (Sida) has been described as a major setback for civil society, potentially leaving vulnerable populations, particularly in the Global South, exposed to… [Read More]
NZ Boosts Tonga’s Fight Against Drug Trafficking
New Zealand Prime Minister Christopher Luxon announced further support to combat drug trafficking in Tonga during his Pacific visit, highlighting the region as a “super highway” for cartels. Speaking at Tonga’s police headquarters, Luxon outlined enhancements to the Pacific Detector Dog Programme, jointly managed by New Zealand Police and Customs, which in 2025 led to… [Read More]
How Women, Youth, and Civil Society Drive SDG Progress
With less than five years remaining to achieve the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, civil society leaders convened on 11 March 2026 for the CSW70 side event “Leading Change: Women, Youth, and Civic Action for SDG Acceleration.” The discussion focused on how local action driven by women and youth can accelerate progress on the Sustainable… [Read More]
Technology Driving Impact for Asia-Pacific Nonprofits
Across the Asia-Pacific region, nonprofits are facing growing community needs while navigating rapid digital change. To support this transition, Infoxchange launched the Asia-Pacific Digital Transformation Program with backing from Google.org, helping organizations strengthen digital capabilities, leverage Artificial Intelligence (AI) tools like Gemini, and increase social impact. The program’s first phase focused on building core digital… [Read More]
Barbados Launches BB$5,000 Child Wealth Fund for Newborns
The Government of Barbados has announced the launch of the Barbados Republic Child Wealth Fund, a landmark initiative that will provide every eligible child with a BBD$5,000 investment at birth. Unveiled in the 2026–27 budget, the fund applies to children born on or after November 30, 2021, and will be held in trust and invested… [Read More]
CSW70 Conclusions Adopted: ACT Alliance Calls for Justice Access
ACT Alliance welcomed the adoption of the Agreed Conclusions at the 70th Session of the Commission on the Status of Women (CSW70) on 9 March 2026, marking a historic moment as the outcome document was adopted by recorded vote rather than consensus. The document focused on ensuring and strengthening access to justice for all women… [Read More]
