The inaugural Pan-Asia Training on International Water Law (IWL), convened by UNECE in Bangkok, Thailand, and online, addressed the growing challenges of climate change, rising water demand, and development pressures on shared rivers, lakes, and aquifers. With 25 of Asia’s 30 countries sharing transboundary water resources, cooperation frameworks remain uneven despite progress in international water… [Read More]
Why Central Bank Independence Is Key: Insights from the Past Five Decades
Recent political pressures in several countries to influence central banks to lower policy rates regardless of economic conditions have reignited discussions about the importance of central bank independence. The fundamental idea is that central banks insulated from government interference can focus on their primary mandate—typically price stability—without political pressures distorting their decisions. In contrast, politically… [Read More]
International NGO Honoured for Lifesaving Disaster Response
Youth for Voluntary Action in Himachal (YouVAH) has been honoured with the Social Impact Award-2025 in recognition of its outstanding disaster relief and community service efforts during recent emergencies in the state. The award was presented during a two-day workshop on “Environment and Youth” at Panjab University, Chandigarh, which highlighted the role of NGOs in… [Read More]
Building Rural Climate Resilience: IFAD and GEF Invest in Eritrea, Kiribati, and Malawi
The International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD), in partnership with the Global Environment Facility (GEF) and the governments of Malawi, Eritrea, and Kiribati, announced three new climate-resilience investments aimed at helping rural communities restore ecosystems, strengthen adaptive capacity, protect biodiversity, and improve livelihoods. The GEF approved over US$44.5 million in financing, supplemented by more than… [Read More]
How Community Participation Drives Just and Equitable Energy Transitions
The report, produced by UNDP’s Global Policy Centre for Governance in collaboration with UNDP offices in Nigeria and South Africa, examines how civic participation influences the planning and implementation of just energy transitions in both countries. It highlights that energy transition processes are not purely technical challenges but are deeply intertwined with political, social, and… [Read More]
Beyond Fear and Constraints: Building a Transformative Relationship with Nature for a Sustainable Future
For decades, discussions about the planetary crisis have centered on limits—carbon budgets, tipping points, and planetary boundaries. While scientifically important, this framing often emphasizes fear and restriction, focusing on what must be avoided rather than what can be achieved. Pedro Conceição, Director of the Human Development Report Office at UNDP, highlights that the upcoming 2026… [Read More]
Turning Displacement into Opportunity: Stories of Creativity and Strength
The return and reintegration of displaced individuals into their communities in Iraq is a critical phase that impacts both returnees and host communities. Families coming back from displacement face a range of challenges, including limited job opportunities, high living costs, damaged homes, and the collapse of social and livelihood structures they once relied on. A… [Read More]
Indonesia Leads Dialogue on Effective Development Cooperation with Key Stakeholders
On 17 December 2025, the Government of Indonesia, through the Ministry of National Development Planning/BAPPENAS, hosted a high-level Multi-Stakeholder Dialogue on Development Effectiveness in Jakarta. Co-organized with UNDP, the event brought together over 85 representatives from government, development partners, civil society, private sector, philanthropy, academia, and trade unions to reflect on development cooperation, validate findings,… [Read More]
UNFPA Joins Jamaica in Campaign Against Online Violence Targeting Women and Girls
For many women and girls in Jamaica, the threat of violence extends beyond physical spaces into the digital world. Cyberharassment, grooming, and image-based abuse are increasing, prompting the Bureau of Gender Affairs to host an event for the International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women. UNFPA attended the event, emphasizing the urgent need… [Read More]
WSBI’s Scale2Save Initiative Supports Women Farmers in Nigeria Through New Pilot
The World Savings and Retail Banking Institute (WSBI) has launched a flagship initiative in Nigeria aimed at enhancing financial inclusion and promoting climate-smart agriculture, supported by grants from the Visa Foundation and ”la Caixa” Foundation. The pilot program specifically targets women smallholder farmers and women-led businesses in rural areas, expanding access to finance and supporting… [Read More]
Building Earthquake Resilience: Key Lessons from Türkiye–Italy Knowledge Exchange
Italy and Türkiye share a long history of living with seismic risk, shaped by their locations along active fault lines and by devastating earthquakes that have affected communities, infrastructure, and governance systems. Recent disasters, particularly the 2023 Kahramanmaraş earthquakes in Türkiye, have underscored the urgent need to strengthen resilience, address weaknesses in construction practices, and… [Read More]
How Sub-Study Approaches Boost Research Productivity: Insights from an Early-Career Grant
Early-career researchers in low- and middle-income countries often face significant constraints, including limited funding, small datasets, and fewer publication opportunities. Despite these challenges, innovative research strategies can turn modest support into substantial impact. The experience of Collins Ankunda, an RSTMH Early Career Grant awardee, illustrates how strategic thinking and adaptability can transform a small grant… [Read More]
Key Takeaways from the Webinar on Supporting Social Enterprises
The international MERSE webinar held on November 27 explored how social enterprises can contribute to inclusive rural communities and sustainable regional development, bringing together speakers from Sweden and Ireland to share practical experiences and policy perspectives. The discussion focused on how collaboration between social enterprises, public authorities, and civil society can address labour market gaps,… [Read More]
Why Trauma-Informed Care Matters: Key Lessons from De Regenboog Groep’s Pilot Project
De Regenboog Groep is an Amsterdam-based organisation working with people who use drugs, people experiencing homelessness, individuals with mental health challenges, and refugees. In 2025, the organisation launched a Trauma-Informed Care Project aimed at strengthening trauma sensitivity across its services. The initiative was designed to improve how the organisation understands and responds to trauma experienced… [Read More]
Africa’s Peace Operations at a Crossroads: The Role of Deployed Missions and the African Standby Force
Since the 1990s, Africa has faced increasingly complex and interconnected security challenges, including intra-state conflicts, insurgencies, terrorism, maritime insecurity, organised crime, climate pressures, and governance deficits. These threats have highlighted the limitations of externally driven responses and reinforced the need for African ownership of peace and security. As a result, African-led peace support operations have… [Read More]
Nigeria Launches National Initiative to Safeguard Cultural Heritage During Emergencies
On 7 November 2025, Nigeria launched a national initiative to strengthen the protection of museum collections facing growing risks from riots, protests, and other emergencies. Supported by UNESCO’s Heritage Emergency Fund, the initiative reinforces Nigeria’s commitment to safeguarding irreplaceable cultural heritage within the national museum system and ensuring its preservation for future generations. The launch… [Read More]
Conservation in Action: Highlights and Achievements from Our Year in Review
As 2025 comes to a close, IUCN Save Our Species and the Integrated Tiger Habitat Conservation Programme (ITHCP) reflect on a year marked by measurable impact, strategic partnerships, and community leadership. Together, these initiatives have supported nearly 400 conservation projects worldwide, protecting more than 500 threatened species, restoring habitats, strengthening local livelihoods, and empowering communities… [Read More]
Celebrating 20 Years of Digital Progress: Milestones and Innovations
Twenty years ago, world leaders gathered in Geneva and Tunis with a shared vision that digital technologies should serve humanity, not just advance with innovation. These meetings led to the creation of the World Summit on the Information Society (WSIS), which has since guided global digital cooperation and development. On 15 December 2025, the international… [Read More]
US Signs New Health Agreements with Nine African Countries Aligned with Trump-Era Priorities
The US government has signed health agreements with at least nine African countries as part of a new global health funding approach, reflecting the Trump administration’s priorities and aiming to provide less aid while emphasizing mutual benefits. Countries including Kenya, Nigeria, and Rwanda are among the first to enter agreements under this framework, which links… [Read More]
PayPal to Launch Global Digital Wallet in Africa in 2026
Payments giant PayPal is planning to launch a new cross-border digital wallet platform in Africa in 2026 as part of its strategy to tap into the continent’s rapidly growing digital payments market. The initiative, called PayPal World, will allow interoperability between local digital wallets and international transactions, enabling users to pay for goods overseas or… [Read More]
Employment Rights Act 2025: Seven Practical Steps to Prepare for Upcoming Changes
The new Employment Rights Act 2025 (ERA 2025), which became law at the end of December, represents a significant reform in UK employment law, modernising workplace protections and strengthening employee rights. Key changes include enhanced protections against unfair dismissal and harassment, updated rules on ‘fire and rehire’, guaranteed hours, and new provisions on family rights,… [Read More]
Major Investment in Justice System Aims to Serve Thousands Nationwide
A multi-million pound grant will expand free legal support for people facing debt, house repossession, or custody battles, the Deputy Prime Minister announced on 23 December. The nearly £20 million funding, spread over the next three years, is part of the Government’s Plan for Change to improve access to justice. It aims to help individuals… [Read More]
Serbia Introduces Innovative Green Financing Model to Boost Sustainable Development
The United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), in partnership with Serbia’s Ministry of Environmental Protection and the European Investment Bank’s EIB Global arm, has launched a new green financing model under the EU for Green Agenda in Serbia initiative. This model combines donor grants with favorable bank loans that offer lower interest rates and longer repayment… [Read More]
