When disasters such as hurricanes, floods, fires, or droughts occur, the most visible impacts are often damaged homes, destroyed crops, and disrupted infrastructure. However, crises also create less visible consequences by deepening existing social inequalities, particularly gender inequality. Women and girls frequently face increased risks during emergencies, including higher exposure to violence, heavier caregiving responsibilities,… [Read More]

The International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD), the European Union (EU), and Hamkorbank have launched a new programme aimed at strengthening rural entrepreneurship and improving financial inclusion in Uzbekistan. The initiative targets nearly 4,000 households that receive remittances as well as migrant workers who have returned to their home communities. By supporting these groups, the… [Read More]

The European Union is seeking to rapidly conclude new free trade agreements with Thailand and other Southeast Asian countries as it looks to diversify its trading partners amid increasing global uncertainty. This push follows recent trade agreements with Mercosur and India signed in January. However, critics argue that in its eagerness to expand trade relations,… [Read More]

The United Kingdom, Germany, Ireland, the Netherlands, and Norway announced on February 26 the creation of a new coalition aimed at preventing atrocities and promoting justice in Sudan. Formed by countries that make up the Sudan Core Group at the Human Rights Council, the initiative comes at a time when violence in the country continues… [Read More]

The United Nations has declared 2026 the International Year of Rangelands and Pastoralists to highlight the critical role that rangelands and pastoralist communities play in sustainable food production, ecosystem protection and climate resilience. According to FAO Assistant Director-General Thanawat Tiensin, rangelands are diverse landscapes used for grazing, including grasslands, savannahs, deserts, mountains, wetlands and drylands…. [Read More]

Across much of sub-Saharan Africa, farming activities depend heavily on the timing of seasonal rains. Farmers have only a short window to prepare their land and plant crops, and missing this period can significantly reduce yields or lead to crop losses. However, many farmers are unable to complete these tasks on time due to limited… [Read More]

Burundi is facing a growing humanitarian crisis as thousands of people fleeing violence in eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo continue to cross the border. Since late 2025, more than 100,000 refugees—most of them women and children—have arrived in the country after escaping armed conflict in South Kivu. Many have settled in refugee camps where… [Read More]

The Ontario government is investing more than $47 million this year through the Ontario Trillium Foundation to support 153 non-profit organizations, First Nations communities and small municipalities across the province. The funding aims to strengthen community services and support programs that encourage active lifestyles, promote arts, culture and heritage, and expand opportunities for children and… [Read More]

UN officials have raised serious concerns about the health and environmental consequences of recent Israeli and U.S. strikes on oil depots in Tehran. Speaking in Geneva, UN Human Rights Office spokesperson Ravina Shamdasani warned that toxic pollutants released into the air following the attacks could pose major risks to public health and the environment. She… [Read More]

The UN High Commissioner for Human Rights has called for an immediate ceasefire in South Sudan, warning that violence has caused significant civilian casualties in recent weeks. Over the past 17 days alone, more than 160 civilians have reportedly been killed. Among the dead were at least 139 people who were killed on 1 March… [Read More]

A new report presented at the Human Rights Council in Geneva warns of “alarming trends” in online risks faced by children and calls for urgent action from the entire digital ecosystem to better protect them. According to UN Spokesperson Stéphane Dujarric, the findings highlight the need for governments, technology companies, educators and communities to act… [Read More]

In Chile’s rural Ñuble region, where internet connectivity and access to digital tools are limited, young girls are beginning to explore opportunities in science and technology through digital inclusion initiatives. One example is 15-year-old Jessika Hurtado, who developed an interest in technology after learning about electric circuits and communication systems. Her curiosity has led her… [Read More]

Ireland’s Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade Helen McEntee and Minister of State for International Development and Diaspora Neale Richmond have announced €3 million in humanitarian funding to assist people affected by the worsening crisis in Lebanon. The funding is intended to support urgent relief efforts for civilians displaced by the ongoing conflict, as the… [Read More]

Minister for Children, Disability and Equality Norma Foley has announced the opening of applications for the Nurturing Skills Learner Fund 2026. The initiative is designed to support early years educators in pursuing degree-level qualifications while continuing to work in the early learning and care sector. Under the scheme, the fund covers up to 90% of… [Read More]

DaVinci Growth Capital Fund is a private equity growth capital fund established through a collaboration between RedFish Capital Partners and Alternative Capital Partners SGR (ACP) to support innovative Italian small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs). The fund targets businesses operating in digital technology, industrial technology, and life sciences and health. Positioned in the underserved small-cap growth… [Read More]

As violence continues to escalate across Lebanon and displacement increases, the European Union has delivered 45 metric tons of emergency humanitarian supplies through UNICEF to support families affected by the conflict. The shipment was handed over to Lebanon’s Ministry of Social Affairs to help address urgent needs among displaced populations. The supplies include essential items… [Read More]

A new International Labour Organization (ILO) report reveals that violence and harassment in the workplace are widespread in several West African countries. According to the study, more than half of workers in Senegal (65%) and Côte d’Ivoire (58%) and nearly half in Burkina Faso (43%) reported experiencing violence or harassment at work. The research highlights… [Read More]

The World Bank’s Board of Directors has approved a new project to strengthen social protection and expand opportunities for vulnerable populations in São Paulo, Brazil’s largest city. The initiative aims to improve access to social assistance services, modernize the city’s social protection infrastructure, and strengthen systems that support residents facing social and economic exclusion. It… [Read More]

The Asian Development Bank (ADB) has approved a $50 million concessional loan to support a major transformation of Fiji’s health system. The initiative aims to strengthen primary healthcare services, modernize digital health systems, and address the growing burden of noncommunicable diseases across the country. The funding forms part of a broader $181.94 million financing package… [Read More]

The Asian Development Bank (ADB) has approved a $40 million concessional loan to support Nepal’s efforts to accelerate digital transformation and expand access to high-impact digital services for citizens and businesses. The funding will help modernize public service delivery, improve efficiency, and support the country’s broader economic development goals through stronger digital infrastructure. The Nepal… [Read More]

The African Development Bank Group has approved a $20 million Trade Finance Transaction Guarantee facility for Banco Comercial e de Investimentos S.A. (BCI), Mozambique’s leading commercial bank. The initiative aims to expand access to trade finance for small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), which often face difficulties securing financial support for import and export activities. The… [Read More]

Seven community-based projects across Scotland will receive a total of £5.8 million in funding to strengthen whole family support and help tackle child poverty. The funding aims to expand services that support families, enhance early child development, and scale up initiatives designed to reduce poverty at the community level. The funding announcement was made by… [Read More]

Millions of Americans depend on Social Security disability benefits to meet their basic needs, but recent changes to the federal benefits system have made the process increasingly difficult. A new report highlights that policy shifts introduced in 2025 by the second Trump administration and the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), including staffing reductions and administrative… [Read More]