More than $3 billion in international funding has been pledged to support 63 low-carbon projects in the Congo Basin, one of the world’s most important carbon sinks, during the 2026 Annual Meetings of the African Development Bank Group African Development Bank Group in Brazzaville. The commitments were announced at a high-level roundtable supporting the Congo… [Read More]

Berlin — May 28, 2026 — Russian authorities have escalated their campaign against LGBT rights by banning nine organizations that provide support, advocacy, and information to lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender communities. Courts across seven regions declared groups such as Coming Out, LGBT Resource Centre, Parni Plus, Moscow Community Center for LGBT+ Initiatives, Irida, Russian LGBT Network,… [Read More]

The African Development Bank Group African Development Bank Group and the World Economic Forum World Economic Forum have launched a new Humanitarian and Resilience Investing (HRI) Roadmap aimed at unlocking private investment in Africa’s most fragile and underserved economies. Announced during the 2026 Annual Meetings in Brazzaville, the initiative is designed to channel commercial and… [Read More]

African development finance leaders meeting at the 2026 Annual Meetings of the African Development Bank Group African Development Bank Group in Brazzaville have pledged stronger coordination to accelerate “Mission 300,” a major initiative aimed at connecting 300 million Africans to electricity by 2030. The initiative, developed jointly by the African Development Bank and the World… [Read More]

New York — May 28, 2026 — Ten years after the adoption of United Nations Security Council Resolution 2286, which was meant to safeguard healthcare in armed conflict, a new report shows that hospitals and medical workers remain under attack at alarming levels. The Safeguarding Health in Conflict Coalition (SHCC), which includes Human Rights Watch, documented more… [Read More]

At the 2026 Annual Meetings of the African Development Bank Group African Development Bank Group in Brazzaville, development finance leaders, policymakers, and business executives called for a stronger shift toward private sector-led growth as the main driver of Africa’s structural transformation. The discussions took place during the African Private Sector Forum, where participants emphasized that… [Read More]

African heads of state and development leaders gathered at the 2026 Annual Meetings of the African Development Bank Group African Development Bank Group in Brazzaville to call for stronger investment in energy, infrastructure, industrialisation and climate finance across the continent. The discussions formed part of a high-level presidential dialogue focused on mobilising capital for Africa’s… [Read More]

Chișinău — May 28, 2026 — Moldova is taking significant steps to reshape the conditions that define women’s lives, with new initiatives that support childcare, family‑friendly workplaces, and opportunities in education and employment. For many women, unpaid care remains a barrier to joining the workforce. In 2024, only 40 percent of women were employed compared to nearly… [Read More]

The African Development Bank Group African Development Bank Group and the United Nations Population Fund United Nations Population Fund have renewed their long-standing partnership through a new memorandum of understanding aimed at scaling up investments in maternal health, human capital development, and demographic resilience across Africa. The agreement was signed during the 2026 Annual Meetings… [Read More]

At the 2026 Annual Meetings of the African Development Bank Group African Development Bank Group in Brazzaville, African leaders expressed strong support for a new strategic direction aimed at accelerating economic transformation across the continent. The gathering brought together heads of state, policymakers, and financial leaders under the theme of mobilising Africa’s development finance in… [Read More]

Wellington — May 29, 2026 — The Government has announced a $294 million investment over four years to roll out a new planning and environmental management system, replacing the Resource Management Act (RMA). The reforms aim to deliver faster, more consistent planning decisions, reduce costs, and strengthen resilience to natural hazards. RMA Reform Minister Chris Bishop highlighted… [Read More]

The Government of the Netherlands has reaffirmed its long-standing partnership with the International Organization for Migration International Organization for Migration by announcing a new unearmarked contribution of EUR 16 million over four years, strengthening global efforts to support safe, orderly, and regular migration. The announcement was made during high-level meetings in The Hague between Dutch… [Read More]

The ongoing conflict involving Iran is creating a powerful global economic shock that is reshaping growth, inflation, and fiscal stability across Latin America and the Caribbean. Rising energy prices, disrupted supply chains, and tightening fertilizer markets are combining to slow economic momentum and increase pressure on households and governments. Higher global oil prices are one… [Read More]

Wellington — May 28, 2026 — Associate Education Minister David Seymour has announced that financial relief for early childhood education (ECE) services will be delivered in July 2026, six months earlier than planned. Most ECE services will receive a 1.5 percent increase in subsidy rates, providing the sector with an additional $40 million annually. Traditionally, such increases… [Read More]

Brasilia — May 27, 2026 — The International Labour Organization (ILO) and JDE Peet’s have announced the launch of the FAIR COFFEE project, a four‑year public‑private partnership designed to strengthen labour rights in Brazil’s coffee supply chains. The initiative will focus on tackling child labour, preventing forced labour violations, and promoting fair recruitment practices in key coffee‑producing… [Read More]

Bogotá — May 27, 2026 — More than 30 representatives from workers’ organisations, companies, and public institutions in Colombia’s coffee, banana, and palm oil sectors have completed the RURALIA diploma programme on living wages and incomes, promoted by the International Labour Organization (ILO). The 100‑hour programme combined in‑person, virtual, and asynchronous sessions, equipping participants with knowledge on… [Read More]

Ha Noi — May 27, 2026 — The Government of Viet Nam has approved a groundbreaking Programme to Support Sustainable Business (2026–2030), marking a major step toward embedding sustainability in the country’s private sector. Signed under Decision No. 926/QD‑TTg, the programme provides a comprehensive framework to promote responsible and resilient enterprise growth, balancing economic efficiency, social responsibility, and… [Read More]

Kampala — May 28, 2026 — The National Organisation of Trade Unions (NOTU), with support from the International Labour Organization (ILO) through the PROSPECTS programme, convened a national dialogue in Kampala to address challenges and opportunities in Uganda’s growing platform economy. The meeting brought together trade unions, platform workers, service providers, academics, government officials, UNHCR representatives, and… [Read More]

Rome — May 28, 2026 — The International Labour Organization (ILO) and the Centro Studi di Politica Internazionale (CeSPI) have launched a new programme to strengthen financial education among migrant worker communities in Italy. The initiative equips Embassies, Consulates, and community leaders with certified training tools to promote financial inclusion and decent work. Funded by the Asylum,… [Read More]

Lusaka — May 28, 2026 — The International Labour Organization (ILO) and the European Union (EU) have facilitated a landmark Ghana–Zambia exchange mission aimed at enhancing collaboration in skills development, technical and vocational education and training (TVET), and employability. During a private‑sector engagement forum at the Zambia Institute for Tourism and Hospitality Studies (ZITHS), Permanent Secretary Zechariah Luhanga… [Read More]

Washington — May 27, 2026 — A new World Bank Group report, Waste, Reimagined: Practical Guidance for Digitalizing Waste Management, reveals how digital tools can help cities reduce waste‑management costs, improve service reliability, and advance circular‑economy goals. The report underscores that global municipal solid waste is projected to rise by 50 percent by 2050, reaching nearly 3.9 billion tonnes. Without action, health… [Read More]

Chișinău — May 28, 2026 — More than 31,000 girls from 204 schools across the Republic of Moldova will benefit from free menstrual products during the 2026–2027 academic year, funded through the state budget. The initiative, part of the EduLIFE School Programme, aims to create a safe, inclusive, and supportive school environment for adolescent girls. Launched in… [Read More]

Madrid — May 27, 2026 — The European Investment Bank (EIB) has signed an agreement with Spanish credit rating agency INBONIS to help innovative startups and scaleups across Europe gain easier access to bank financing. The initiative, funded by the InvestEU Advisory Hub, will pilot how independent credit ratings can accelerate funding for high‑growth companies. Through EIB… [Read More]