Costa Rica has long relied on renewable energy, with hydropower providing around 70% of the country’s electricity generation. While this approach has supported low-carbon development, it has also exposed the energy system to climate-related risks, particularly droughts that reduce hydropower production and increase dependence on thermal generation and electricity imports. Growing electricity demand and aging… [Read More]
Inclusive Labor Market Reforms Help More Bolivians Secure Formal Employment
Bolivia has made significant progress in expanding access to formal employment through the Program to Support Employment (PAE II), implemented in partnership with the Inter-American Development Bank. The initiative was designed to address longstanding labor market challenges where many people relied on personal networks to find work, leaving women, youth, and persons with disabilities at… [Read More]
How Colombia Is Expanding Export Markets to Boost International Trade
Colombia is pursuing export diversification as a key strategy to enhance its competitiveness in global markets and reduce dependence on a limited number of products and trading partners. By expanding the range of goods and services it exports, the country aims to strengthen economic resilience, increase productivity, and create new opportunities for businesses and workers…. [Read More]
EBRD, Switzerland and EU Support Wastewater Services Upgrade in Kyrgyz Republic
The European Bank for Reconstruction and Development, with support from Switzerland and the European Union, is investing in improved wastewater services in the city of Naryn in the Kyrgyz Republic. The project will support the construction of a new wastewater treatment plant and expand access to safer sanitation services for local residents. The financing package… [Read More]
Türkiye Businesses to Benefit from €50 Million Green Financing Package
The European Bank for Reconstruction and Development is providing a €50 million financing package to Garanti BBVA Leasing to help businesses in Türkiye access green, resource-efficient and climate-resilient technologies. The support is designed to strengthen business resilience while promoting long-term investment in sustainable growth. The financing package includes €47 million from the EBRD and €3… [Read More]
EBRD Green Cities Programme Marks 10 Years of Urban Climate Impact
The European Bank for Reconstruction and Development is marking 10 years of its Green Cities programme with the Green Cities Mayors’ Meeting 2026 at its headquarters in London. The event, taking place on 22 and 23 June, will bring together city leaders, private-sector partners and experts to celebrate a decade of progress and discuss the… [Read More]
Sudan Water Crisis: AfDB and UNICEF Invest $58 Million to Restore Safe Water Access
The African Development Bank Group and UNICEF have launched a major emergency initiative to address the worsening water crisis in Port Sudan through an investment of approximately $58 million. The project aims to restore access to safe water and sanitation services for hundreds of thousands of people, particularly children and displaced families who are increasingly… [Read More]
EBRD Provides $29 Million Loan to Boost Building Materials Production in Uzbekistan
The European Bank for Reconstruction and Development is supporting the expansion of Khorezm Insulation Group, one of Uzbekistan’s leading producers of basalt wool insulation panels. The bank is providing a loan of up to USD 29 million, equivalent to around €25 million, to strengthen the company’s financial position and support its growth plans. The financing… [Read More]
Amazon Basin Nations Strengthen Cooperation on Food Security and Climate Action
Policymakers, diplomats, and government officials from all eight Amazon countries gathered in Brasília, Brazil, to strengthen regional cooperation on food systems transformation and climate action. Organized through a partnership involving international and regional organizations, the event aimed to enhance capacities, share experiences, and identify opportunities for coordinated action across the Amazon Basin. The discussions built… [Read More]
Germany Joins UNIDO Global Alliance for Responsible and Green Minerals to Promote Sustainable Supply Chains
Germany’s Federal Ministry for the Environment, Climate Action, Nature Conservation and Nuclear Safety has officially joined the Global Alliance for Responsible and Green Minerals, a major international initiative led by the United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO). The membership agreement was signed in Vienna by German Environment Minister Carsten Schneider in the presence of UNIDO… [Read More]
Women Human Rights Defenders Need Greater Protection in CEDAW’s Draft Gender Equality Recommendation
The Committee on the Elimination of Discrimination against Women (CEDAW) has released a draft general recommendation aimed at dismantling gender stereotypes and addressing the unequal power structures that sustain discrimination against women. The draft outlines the causes, forms, and impacts of gender stereotypes while examining their effects across key sectors such as education, employment, healthcare,… [Read More]
Caribbean Nations Achieve Major Milestones in Preventing Mother-to-Child Disease Transmission
The Caribbean is emerging as a global leader in the fight against mother-to-child transmission of HIV, syphilis, and hepatitis B through a coordinated regional effort led by the Pan American Health Organization (PAHO) and supported by the India-UN Development Partnership Fund. The initiative aims to strengthen maternal and child health services, improve disease surveillance, enhance… [Read More]
WHO Promotes Equitable Access to Precision Medicine and Genomic Healthcare
The World Health Organization (WHO) has taken a major step toward integrating precision medicine into global healthcare systems following the adoption of Resolution EB158.R2 at the 79th World Health Assembly. The resolution establishes a strategic framework to guide countries in implementing precision medicine in ways that are effective, ethical, equitable, and accessible to all populations…. [Read More]
Pakistan Nears Nationwide Elimination of Maternal and Neonatal Tetanus
Pakistan has moved significantly closer to eliminating maternal and neonatal tetanus (MNT) following the World Health Organization’s pre-validation of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province. This achievement means that approximately 94 percent of Pakistan’s population, representing around 250 million people, now live in areas where neonatal tetanus transmission remains below the internationally accepted elimination threshold of fewer than… [Read More]
FAO Highlights LEADER Approach for Sustainable Agrifood Transformation in Europe
The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) brought together representatives from across Europe and Central Asia in Tartu, Estonia, to explore how the LEADER approach can support sustainable agrifood systems transformation and rural development. The technical workshop, held on 3–4 June 2026 in collaboration with the Tartu County Development Association, focused on… [Read More]
WHO and Sindh Launch Vaccination Centre in Karachi to Serve 2.5 Million People
The World Health Organization (WHO) and the Government of Sindh have inaugurated a model vaccination centre at the National Institute of Child Health (NICH) in Karachi. The facility is expected to serve approximately 2.5 million people living in District South and provide free routine immunization services for children and pregnant women. The initiative has been… [Read More]
Rising Liver Cancer Deaths Highlight Urgent Need for Prevention and Early Detection
Liver cancer is one of the fastest-growing causes of cancer-related deaths in the United Kingdom and the third leading cause of cancer mortality worldwide. More than 6,000 people die from the disease annually in the UK, yet many of its major risk factors are preventable. Most liver cancers develop in people with chronic liver disease,… [Read More]
Novo Nordisk Foundation Launches €60 Million Initiative to Accelerate Cardiometabolic Drug Discovery Across Europe
The Novo Nordisk Foundation has launched CardioMetabolic Bridge, a new pan-European initiative backed by up to €60.2 million over six years to accelerate drug discovery and the development of next-generation therapies for cardiometabolic diseases such as obesity, type 2 diabetes, and cardiovascular disease. The programme aims to address a major challenge in Europe’s research ecosystem:… [Read More]
IOM Expands Ebola Prevention Measures in High-Risk African Countries
The International Organization for Migration (IOM) has conducted more than one million health screenings across borders, travel corridors, and key transit points in response to the ongoing Ebola outbreak affecting eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) and Uganda. The milestone reflects the scale of efforts being undertaken to contain the disease and reduce the… [Read More]
FAPA Supports Equity Crowdfunding to Unlock SME Growth in Ethiopia
The African Development Bank and the Government of Japan recently completed a joint field mission to Ethiopia to evaluate the progress of projects designed to improve access to finance for small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs). The visit focused on the Ignite – Financing the Missing Middle Project, an initiative supported by the Fund for African… [Read More]
AI Learning Penalty: New Study Warns of Negative Impact on Student Learning
A recent study highlighted by the World Bank raises important concerns about the impact of generative artificial intelligence on education and human capital development. While AI is increasingly being explored as a tool to improve education, healthcare, and other public services, researchers are beginning to examine the unintended consequences of widespread and uncontrolled AI use…. [Read More]
New Zealand Announces $1.7 Million in Grants to Strengthen Disability Leadership
The Ministry of Disabled People – Whaikaha – Ministry of Disabled People has announced the distribution of $1.7 million in community grants for the 2025/26 financial year to strengthen disability leadership, governance, and community engagement across New Zealand. The funding aims to support Deaf and disabled people, tāngata whaikaha Māori, families, whānau, and disability support… [Read More]
New Zealand Increases Funding for Rockquest and Student Arts Programmes
The New Zealand Government has announced an increase in funding for Rockquest Promotions, providing an additional $50,000 annually to support a range of student-focused arts and performance programmes across the country. Education Minister Erica Stanford said the funding boost recognizes rising operational costs and brings total annual government support for Rockquest events to $1.765 million…. [Read More]
