World Food Day 2025 brought together people and communities across Europe and Central Asia to promote a sustainable, safe and climate-resilient future where everyone has access to nutritious food. Marked annually on 16 October, the celebration coincided this year with a major milestone: the eightieth anniversary of the founding of the Food and Agriculture Organization… [Read More]
Another Child Dies in Gaza as Extreme Conditions Worsen, Says UNICEF
UNICEF has reported the death of another child in Gaza, identifying the victim as seven-year-old Ata Mai, who drowned on 27 December during severe flooding in an improvised camp for internally displaced people in Sudaniyeh, northwest of Gaza City. The agency said Ata’s death highlights the extreme risks facing children as winter storms, inadequate shelter… [Read More]
Landmark Central African Republic Elections: Results Expected on 5 January
Preliminary assessments from election observers indicate that the voting process in the Central African Republic unfolded largely as planned, with more than 99 per cent of polling stations opening on schedule on election day. According to the UN peacekeeping mission MINUSCA, the transfer of envelopes containing election results from 19 prefectural capitals to the national… [Read More]
COVID-19 Continues to Cause Severe Disease, While Updated Vaccines Prove Effective
Six years after the first pneumonia cases were reported in Wuhan in December 2019, the world has formally moved beyond the acute phase of the COVID-19 pandemic. In May 2023, following an estimated global death toll of more than 6.9 million, the World Health Organization declared an end to the Public Health Emergency of International… [Read More]
How Health Systems Made Advances in 2025 Despite Wars and Funding Cuts
Even as funding cuts, armed conflict and climate-related shocks placed immense strain on health systems worldwide in 2025, governments and global partners continued to register important gains in disease control, prevention and emergency preparedness. Disruptions to essential services were widespread, yet the year demonstrated both the resilience of health systems under pressure and the tangible… [Read More]
IOC Joins Global Effort to Unlock Ocean Finance and Strengthen Coastal Resilience
The Intergovernmental Oceanographic Commission of UNESCO has joined the Ocean Risk and Resilience Action Alliance as an Institutional Partner, marking a significant step toward accelerating global investment in ocean action and coastal resilience. The partnership aims to scale financial solutions that address ocean risk while strengthening the resilience of coastal and island communities facing climate-driven… [Read More]
Virginia Awards $6.2 Million in Growth and Opportunity Grants, Says Governor Youngkin
Governor Glenn Youngkin has announced $6.2 million in Growth and Opportunity for Virginia (GO Virginia) grants to support 10 projects aimed at strengthening the Commonwealth’s economic competitiveness. The funded initiatives focus on innovation, workforce development, and strategic industry growth, and are expected to leverage an additional $4 million in non-state investment to expand their overall… [Read More]
Creating Lasting Impact for Refugees and Community Members: A Practical Guide
Refugee settlements are often located in fragile environments where local communities already face limited access to land, water, and energy. These areas frequently experience erratic rainfall, degraded soils, and low vegetation cover, making them highly vulnerable to environmental stress. When displaced families arrive, pressure on shared natural resources increases, highlighting the need for approaches that… [Read More]
EBRD Supports Green Lending in Uzbekistan to Boost Sustainable Finance
The European Bank for Reconstruction and Development is providing up to US$30 million in financing to Hamkorbank to support green lending in Uzbekistan and improve access to sustainable finance for micro, small, and medium-sized enterprises as well as households. The funding is being extended under the Uzbekistan Green Economy Financing Facility II, which aims to… [Read More]
Lessons from the Early 1990s: Key Insights for Today’s Economy
The transition impact concept was developed to clarify what the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development aimed to achieve through its investments and to guide the selection and design of projects. In the early 1990s, traditional cost–benefit analysis was used to assess project proposals, but this approach measured potential economic value rather than whether a… [Read More]
Israel Bars 37 NGOs from Gaza and West Bank for Failing to Comply with New Registration Guidelines
Israel has announced that the licenses of 37 international NGOs operating in Gaza and the West Bank will expire on January 1, 2026, due to noncompliance with new registration requirements introduced under a government resolution on March 1, 2025. The resolution mandates that NGOs submit detailed documentation about their organization and operations, including a complete… [Read More]
Why Zambia Struggles with Enforcing Its Environmental Laws and Standards
Farmers in Zambia are suing Sino-Metals Leach Zambia, a subsidiary of the Chinese state-owned China Nonferrous Metal Mining Group, following the collapse of the company’s tailings dam on 18 February. The disaster released an estimated 50 million litres of acidic, toxic wastewater and up to 1.5 million tonnes of waste into the Kafue River, causing… [Read More]
Supporting Recovery in Fragile Contexts: Building a Stronger Future
Today, more than half of UNDP’s work takes place in regions devastated by conflict, climate shocks, and disasters, reflecting a commitment to solutions that strengthen resilience, restore hope, and reduce future needs. From Ukraine to Sudan to the Asia-Pacific, UNDP and its partners are delivering tangible impacts where they are needed most, demonstrating that development… [Read More]
JMMB TT Raises $500,000 to Support Jamaica’s Disaster Relief Efforts
JMMB Trinidad and Tobago has successfully raised over TT$540,000 through its CSR Disaster Relief fund, “One Love,” to support communities in Jamaica affected by Hurricane Melissa. The fundraising effort was a combined initiative, drawing contributions from the JMMB Group, its employees, and the wider Trinidad and Tobago public. All proceeds from the fund will be… [Read More]
Caribbean Development Bank Invests USD 190K in Regional Creative Industry Conferences
The Caribbean Development Bank (CDB) has announced a grant opportunity through its Cultural and Creative Industries Innovation Fund (CIIF), offering a total of USD 190,000 to support regional events and conferences that advance the growth and competitiveness of the Caribbean’s Cultural and Creative Industries (CCIs). Applications for this funding close on January 31, 2026, and… [Read More]
New 2026 R&D Initiatives Announced by Secretary Rollins
U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Brooke L. Rollins announced new priorities for research and development at the USDA, aimed at strengthening national security, safeguarding U.S. agriculture, and supporting American farmers and consumers. The announcement comes as part of a broader effort by the Trump Administration to address challenges facing the farm economy, including inflation, overregulation, and… [Read More]
UNDRR Aids Yemen in Advancing Disaster Risk Reduction Roadmap
Yemen is advancing its National Implementation Plan for Disaster Risk Reduction and Climate Change Adaptation for 2026–2030, with leadership from the Ministry of Water and Environment and support from the UN Office for Disaster Risk Reduction (UNDRR) Regional Office for Arab States and the UN Development Programme (UNDP). The plan aims to translate national priorities… [Read More]
National Biodiversity Strategies and Action Plans (NBSAPs): A Complete Guide
Biodiversity, encompassing everything from microscopic organisms to vast ecosystems, is essential for life on Earth. However, it is being lost at an unprecedented rate, threatening the survival of countless species, including humans. In response, governments worldwide agreed in 2022 on the Kunming–Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework (GBF), which provides a roadmap to halt and reverse biodiversity… [Read More]
NYC Mayor Adams Pledges $2 Million to Support Transgender and Nonbinary Communities
New York City Mayor Eric Adams has announced a $2 million emergency fund to support organizations serving transgender, gender nonconforming, and nonbinary (TGNCNB) New Yorkers. Administered by the Department of Health and Mental Hygiene (DOHMH), the funding is intended to help community-based organizations provide essential, affirming services that address urgent needs including health and wellness,… [Read More]
Ivory Coast Secures $480 Million in US Health Funding Through ‘America First’ Initiative
The United States and Ivory Coast have signed a health agreement committing $480 million from the U.S. to strengthen the West African nation’s healthcare sector. This deal, part of the “America First” global health funding initiative, reflects a shift in U.S. foreign policy toward transactional, partnership-based aid and comes amid previous aid cuts that have… [Read More]
Irish Government Invests in Diaspora Projects Worldwide
Ireland is reinforcing its connection with its global diaspora through a significant investment in international community projects, ensuring that Irish citizens abroad remain linked to their heritage while accessing essential support services. Ministers Helen McEntee and Neale Richmond announced that €16.4 million will be allocated to 176 organizations through the Emigrant Support Programme (ESP), reaching… [Read More]
HIV Care Crisis in Nigeria: Two Million People at Risk as N4.8bn Funding Ends
For more than twenty years, donor-backed programmes have been the cornerstone of HIV care in Nigeria, providing millions of people with free antiretroviral drugs, testing, and support services. These initiatives have kept countless lives stable and helped contain the epidemic. However, recent global funding disruptions are eroding this safety net, quietly reshaping lives and threatening… [Read More]
150-Year-Old Women’s Refuge Faces Severe Funding Crisis
A women’s refuge that has operated for 150 years is appealing for public donations as it faces the prospect of closure due to severe funding difficulties. Salisbury Women’s Refuge in Wiltshire provides vital support to women and children fleeing domestic abuse from across the UK, offering safety and stability at moments of extreme vulnerability. For… [Read More]
