This independent external review examines the Scottish Government’s humanitarian funding system, including the Humanitarian Emergency Fund (HEF) and other funding mechanisms, to assess how it can better respond to global humanitarian crises. It explores current challenges, emerging global trends, and opportunities to strengthen impact through localisation, feminist approaches, and more future-focused funding models. A key… [Read More]

Human Rights Watch has announced the launch of a new five-episode narrative podcast series titled The Great Unrooting, which explores the experience of losing one’s home and the difficult process of starting over after displacement. The series is centered on the story of Maung, a Rohingya refugee now living in New York, and follows his… [Read More]

The United States has recently lifted sanctions on three senior Malian officials who were previously penalized for their links to Russia’s Wagner Group, a move that has raised serious concerns about accountability and human rights in Mali. Critics say the decision reflects a troubling disregard for ongoing atrocities committed during Mali’s conflict with Islamist armed… [Read More]

Amnesty International has strongly condemned the Algerian authorities’ decision to seal the Algiers office of SOS Disappeared, a human rights organization that has long campaigned for accountability for the thousands of people forcibly disappeared during Algeria’s internal armed conflict in the 1990s. The closure took place on 16 March 2026 and has been described as… [Read More]

In Agnéby-Tiassa, Côte d’Ivoire, N’Gbesso Sopie Sylvie’s story reflects the resilience and determination of rural women working to improve their families’ lives through agriculture. At 46 years old, married and a mother of seven, Sylvie had spent years working hard on her 2.45-hectare cocoa plantation, but her harvests rarely exceeded 500 kilograms per year. This… [Read More]

Civil society organizations from across Africa have called for stronger recognition of community knowledge, better participation of small-scale producers, and greater inclusion of grassroots voices in agrifood systems decision-making ahead of the 34th Session of the FAO Regional Conference for Africa (ARC34). These demands were raised during an online Civil Society Organizations consultation organized in… [Read More]

Amuru District in northern Uganda faced another major public health emergency when cholera broke out in Lorikowo West Village on July 2, 2025. Located along the porous Uganda–South Sudan border and surrounded by refugee-hosting districts such as Lamwo and Adjumani, Amuru has long been highly vulnerable to disease outbreaks. In 2025 alone, the district experienced… [Read More]

UN Secretary-General António Guterres has once again called for an immediate end to the war in the Middle East, warning that the escalating conflict is having devastating humanitarian consequences far beyond the immediate battlefield. In a statement issued through the UN Spokesperson’s Office, he stressed that all relevant UN Security Council resolutions aimed at ending… [Read More]

The Ontario government has welcomed a nearly $15.8 million investment by EnerQuest Technologies Solutions Inc. to expand its manufacturing facility in Harrow, Essex County, and reshore the production of switchgears from the United States. The project is expected to create 125 new good-paying jobs while protecting 154 existing positions in the region. To support the… [Read More]

Indigenous tourism is playing an increasingly important role across Canada by offering visitors authentic and meaningful experiences rooted in the histories, cultures, and traditional knowledge of First Nations, Inuit, and Métis communities. These tourism initiatives not only help deepen cultural understanding and connection but also support Indigenous entrepreneurs, strengthen local economies, and advance economic reconciliation… [Read More]

In Panama City, a quiet but transformative shift has taken place within the municipal market network, turning traditional public markets into platforms for sustainable urban innovation. Supported by catalytic seed funding from the Joint SDG Fund and the UN Food Systems Coordination Hub, the United Nations partnered with the Municipality of Panama to reduce food… [Read More]

Zambia’s Attorney General Mulilo Kabesha has reaffirmed the government’s commitment to fast-track major labour and social protection reforms, assuring the International Labour Organization (ILO) that the country remains on track to ratify ILO Convention 102 on Minimum Standards of Social Security and pass the Work Based Learning Bill before Parliament dissolves in May. The commitment… [Read More]

The International Labour Organization (ILO) and the Association of University Centers for Labor Relations and Labor Sciences (ARELCIT) have signed a collaboration agreement in Madrid to strengthen cooperation on labour rights, decent work, and social justice in Spain. The partnership is designed to support joint research projects as well as training and outreach activities that… [Read More]

World Bank Vice President for South Asia Johannes Zutt concluded a three-day visit to Bangladesh, during which he met with senior government leaders, officials, and civil society representatives to discuss the country’s development priorities. The visit highlighted the World Bank Group’s strong commitment to supporting Bangladesh’s efforts to promote large-scale job creation, strengthen skills development,… [Read More]

The United Nations World Food Programme (WFP) has warned that global acute food insecurity could rise to record levels in 2026 if the escalation in the Middle East continues to disrupt the world economy. According to WFP’s latest analysis, nearly 45 million additional people could fall into acute hunger this year if the conflict persists… [Read More]

The Government of Namibia has received a contribution of 4,896 metric tons of rice worth USD 1.7 million from the Republic of Korea through the United Nations World Food Programme’s OnDemand Service. This food assistance is intended to support communities recovering from the severe 2024–2025 drought, one of the worst in Namibia’s history, which affected… [Read More]

The United Nations World Food Programme (WFP) and the Asian Development Bank (ADB) have signed a landmark cooperation agreement at the Asia and the Pacific Food Systems Forum 2026 to strengthen collaboration on food systems transformation, emergency assistance, and nutrition-sensitive policies across the region. The partnership reflects a shared commitment to addressing food insecurity, improving… [Read More]

The Asian Development Bank (ADB) has exceeded its $14 billion commitment to strengthen food security in Asia and the Pacific during 2022–2025, marking a major milestone in its efforts to support the region’s agrifood sector. According to ADB President Masato Kanda, this funding has already reached 62 million farmers and helped create more than 500,000… [Read More]

Humanitarian needs in the Middle East are escalating as ongoing violence forces families to flee their homes and pushes communities deeper into crisis. Over 161 million women and girls live in countries affected by the conflict, many of whom face heightened risks of violence, exploitation, and loss of essential services. In Iraq, Jordan, Lebanon, the… [Read More]

The latest Integrated Food Security Phase Classification (IPC) analysis shows a severe deterioration in food security and malnutrition across Kenya, driven by consecutive failed rainfall seasons. While Kenya is not typically seen among the world’s worst hunger crises, the rapid decline in conditions highlights the growing urgency. In northern and north-eastern counties, families are witnessing… [Read More]

Three months ago, a women-led organisation in rural Malawi closed after eight years of running a girls’ education programme. The organisation had reached over 3,000 girls, trained 50 educators, and built trusted partnerships with local schools. When its main funder withdrew, the organisation had only 90 days of runway. The founder reached out, not for… [Read More]

Ipswich Borough Council’s Executive is set to decide how to allocate grant funding from the £1.5 million Pride in Place Impact Fund, following strong interest from local organisations. The fund, provided by the Government, is intended to improve community spaces and revitalize public areas across the town. Since the fund’s launch, the Council has engaged… [Read More]

Successful mission-oriented innovation policy requires a government policy mix and budget that are both targeted and sufficient to support transformative goals. Dedicated multi-year funding provides companies with certainty about the government’s commitment and can be flexibly used across programmes and ministries. Austria’s Transformative Missions use a centralized budget structure to allocate funds to specific missions,… [Read More]