International humanitarian organizations operating in the occupied Palestinian territory have warned that Israel’s recent registration measures threaten to halt their operations at a time of extreme civilian need, despite the ceasefire in Gaza. On 30 December, 37 international NGOs (INGOs) received official notice that their registrations would expire on 31 December 2025, initiating a 60-day… [Read More]
Optimizing Health Coverage: Key Takeaways from the ACA
The Affordable Care Act (ACA) sought to balance standardization of private health plans with maintaining consumer choice, yet selecting a health plan remains complex for many enrollees. This complexity persists despite reforms intended to simplify plan designs, present information more clearly, and structure the decision-making process. Research and policy analysis show that while the ACA… [Read More]
Understanding Federally Funded Contraceptive Programs in the U.S.
Federal financing for contraceptives plays a crucial role in improving access to family-planning services, which in turn enhances health and economic outcomes. Reductions in core federal programs, however, threaten these gains, underscoring the need to analyze public funding policies and their effects on equity, access, and choice. Research on this topic draws from expert interviews,… [Read More]
Croatia’s Future of Farming and Food: Policy Reforms for Sustainability and Resilience
Croatia’s agricultural policy and legal framework has undergone substantial transformation over the past three decades, shaped largely by its accession to the World Trade Organization and the European Union. These milestones prompted reforms that shifted agricultural support away from production-linked subsidies, reduced market-distorting measures, and expanded policy objectives to include rural development, environmental protection and… [Read More]
Strengthening National Evidence-Informed Policymaking Ecosystems: Bridging Research and Policy
This report synthesises the outcomes of a joint initiative by the European Commission’s Joint Research Centre and the OECD to strengthen evidence-informed policymaking across seven European countries. Although the project was initiated in response to governance challenges revealed during the COVID-19 pandemic, it demonstrates that the need for robust use of evidence in policymaking has… [Read More]
Social Mobility and Inequality in Latin America and the Caribbean: Trends, Challenges and Policy Insights
Latin America and the Caribbean continues to face deep challenges related to social mobility and inequality. Although the region has made notable progress in reducing poverty over recent decades, it remains one of the most unequal regions globally. Income inequality limits access to essential services, particularly quality education, and reinforces disadvantages based on socio-economic background…. [Read More]
Climate Mitigation in Intermediary Cities: Pathways to Sustainable and Resilient Growth
Intermediary cities are emerging as key drivers of Africa’s urban future, with cities such as Nakuru and Kiambu in Kenya and Beira and Quelimane in Mozambique experiencing rapid population growth and spatial expansion. These cities play an increasingly important role in national economies and service provision, yet their development trajectories are still being shaped. Unlike… [Read More]
Strategic Joint Evaluation of International Development and Humanitarian Assistance During COVID-19
The COVID-19 pandemic prompted an unprecedented global mobilisation involving governments, communities, international organisations and development and humanitarian actors. The crisis demonstrated that international co-operation can combine political resolve and technical expertise to deliver rapid, large-scale responses that reduce human suffering. At the same time, the response revealed persistent weaknesses, showing that co-operation alone cannot compensate… [Read More]
Direct Access to Climate Finance: Lessons for Strengthening National Institutions
Developing countries require substantial financial resources to pursue ambitious climate mitigation and adaptation actions. This paper examines the experiences of national institutions in developing countries that have sought direct access to multilateral climate funds, with the aim of identifying practical lessons that can help others plan for, secure and effectively use climate finance to support… [Read More]
From Paper to Practice: Implementing the United Nations Convention Against Corruption Worldwide
Dr. Muhyieddeen Touq, a key figure in negotiating the United Nations Convention against Corruption (UNCAC), views corruption as a profound injustice that strips people of their basic rights and undermines both national wealth and individual quality of life. Drawing from his academic background and extensive experience in Jordan’s government, he describes corruption as a deeply… [Read More]
Small Grants, Big Impact: Driving Local Development and Resilience
The federal government has a responsibility to manage taxpayer dollars effectively, balancing protection against waste, fraud, and abuse with strategic investments to deliver public results. However, the complexity of federal grantmaking often limits access for smaller jurisdictions and organizations. Funding tends to concentrate among applicants with the capacity and resources to navigate complex federal requirements,… [Read More]
Mekong Delta Adaptation: Lessons in Coastal Risk Management from Viet Nam
Viet Nam’s Mekong Delta, one of the world’s most engineered deltas, serves as a crucial food basket for both the country and global markets. Decades of intensive development, combined with rising seas and erratic weather patterns, have placed enormous strain on its ecology, water systems, and agriculture. In response, the Vietnamese government and local communities… [Read More]
HIV Response at Risk as Funding Falls Short Despite Promises
In January 2025, the US government paused all foreign assistance, abruptly affecting the delivery of HIV medicines and prevention services to millions of people. According to UNAIDS, if global action is not taken, this disruption could result in an additional 6 million new HIV infections and 4 million AIDS-related deaths by 2029. The sudden funding… [Read More]
USF Team Leverages Senegal Health Care Project Insights to Improve Global Health Work
Researchers at the University of South Florida’s College of Public Health (USF COPH) have applied lessons from their collaborative project in Senegal, known as Bajenu Gox, which aims to improve maternal and child health through community-led initiatives. The program leverages “neighborhood godmothers,” or Bajenu Gox volunteers, who provide essential health education, facilitate access to reproductive… [Read More]
Small Businesses as Economic Anchors in Climate-Vulnerable Somalia
Communities in the riverine villages of Yontoy, Haji Weyne, and Bula Gaduud in Somalia are facing a deepening drought after failed rains in late 2025 destroyed grazing lands and farms. With forecasts indicating no significant rainfall until at least April 2026, extreme heat and water scarcity are eroding livelihoods for families already living on the… [Read More]
Sudan Faces Famine as Food Insecurity Reaches Catastrophic Levels
Crises such as floods, droughts, cyclones, epidemics, and conflicts are becoming more frequent and severe due to climate change and global instability, pushing vulnerable communities deeper into poverty. These shocks disrupt food systems, healthcare access, livelihoods, and water supplies, creating conditions where malnutrition gradually takes hold rather than appearing suddenly. Children and pregnant or breastfeeding… [Read More]
SIWI Reflections 2025 Highlights How Science-Driven Dialogue Leads to Action
Supporting the Scientific Programme Committee of World Water Week was one of the most meaningful responsibilities undertaken in 2025, with a particular focus on ensuring the success of the SIWI Seminar Series. The Seminar Series represents the scientific backbone of the conference and is structured around seven Seminars, each comprising three sessions. These sessions examine… [Read More]
Global: Amnesty International Warns of Human Rights Risks After US Military Action in Venezuela
Amnesty International has raised serious concerns over the human rights implications of the US Trump Administration’s military action in Venezuela, which led to the capture of Nicolás Maduro and Cilia Flores. The organization warned that the operation most likely violates international law, including the UN Charter, and expressed alarm at statements suggesting US control over… [Read More]
Ahead of Elections, Uganda Faces Claims of Crackdown on Opposition Supporters
Ugandan security forces have unlawfully targeted opposition rallies using unnecessary and excessive force, arbitrary arrests, and acts amounting to torture or other ill-treatment, according to Amnesty International. The organization reports that police and military personnel used tear gas, pepper spray, beatings, and intimidation tactics against peaceful crowds attending campaign events organized by the opposition National… [Read More]
European Funding Surge Strengthens Poland’s 2026 Development Strategy
Poland has secured a record €43 billion in European Union funding for 2026, marking a significant boost to the country’s development and reform agenda. The funding reflects strong EU support for Poland’s economic programs and enhances the country’s capacity to address ongoing financial pressures and investment needs. According to European sources, the funding package combines… [Read More]
Israel Urged by UN Human Rights Chief to Scrap Death Penalty Plans for Palestinians
UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Volker Türk expressed serious concerns over a series of draft proposals before Israel’s Knesset, warning that they could lead to discrimination, violations of due process, and breaches of international human rights and humanitarian law. He emphasized that the United Nations opposes the death penalty under all circumstances, noting that… [Read More]
Winter Worsens Humanitarian Crisis in Gaza Amid Strained Aid Efforts
Since the fragile October ceasefire began as part of the US-led peace plan, thousands of tents and hundreds of thousands of tarpaulins have been distributed in Gaza. Despite these efforts, partners estimate that over one million people—around half of Gaza’s population—still urgently need shelter support. The UN highlighted that harsh winter weather has further deepened… [Read More]
Cervical Cancer Claims a Woman’s Life Every Two Minutes, Says UN
Jeanette, a woman who shared her story with the World Health Organization (WHO), described feeling “betrayed by my body” after being diagnosed with cervical cancer, a disease that claimed her life within a year. Cervical cancer is the fourth most common cancer among women and develops in the cervix, potentially spreading to other parts of… [Read More]
