The United Nations and the Government of Iraq have signed a new Sustainable Development Cooperation Framework covering the period from 2025 to 2029, marking a significant step in advancing Iraq’s national development priorities in line with the global 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. The agreement is designed to support Iraq’s progress toward long-term social, economic,… [Read More]
Iran Faces Deepening Water Crisis as Severe Drought and Mismanagement Force Water Imports
Iran is facing one of the most severe water crises in its modern history, driven by a combination of prolonged drought, climate change, and decades of mismanagement of water resources. While declining rainfall has played a significant role, experts argue that policy failures such as unchecked groundwater extraction, inefficient irrigation systems, and extensive dam construction… [Read More]
Ireland’s Fiscal Journey: Insights from Public Investment Successes and Challenges
The Irish experience of public investment and fiscal policy over the last 25 years offers valuable lessons for managing capital and promoting sustainable economic growth. Ireland’s journey through rapid economic expansion, a severe financial crisis, and subsequent recovery demonstrates the importance of adapting investment strategies to both short-term fiscal pressures and long-term structural challenges. The… [Read More]
Urban Resilience Through Community Assets: Leveraging What Works
Cities today face the dual challenge of economic regeneration and cultural recovery, prompting questions about how urban spaces can be rebuilt to preserve identity, foster social well-being, and support emotional durability. Liverpool exemplifies this approach, demonstrating how post-industrial cities can leverage local culture, community pride, and collective memory to navigate change. Its rich history—from a… [Read More]
What Madagascar Teaches Us About Climate Change: 5 Lessons
Madagascar, often described as a “curious wonderland” by Sir David Attenborough, is home to unique biodiversity that has evolved in isolation for over 60 million years. Beyond its natural wonders, the island is among the world’s most climate-vulnerable countries. With a largely rural population dependent on agriculture and a GDP per capita of just USD… [Read More]
Lessons from Zagreb: Enhancing Social Services in Central and Eastern Europe
Cities across Central and Eastern Europe are grappling with growing social needs while facing limited resources, making the strengthening of social services a critical priority. In Zagreb, the city’s approach has been to modernize services based on actual needs and inclusivity, while investing in delivery capacity. Lora Vidović, Head of the Office for Social Protection,… [Read More]
Algorithmic Justice and Human Rights: Ensuring Fairness and Judicial Independence
The rapid integration of artificial intelligence (AI) in court systems offers opportunities for greater efficiency and improved access to justice, yet it carries significant risks. Errors, bias, or overreliance on algorithmic outputs may undermine judicial independence and human rights. On 15 December 2025, experts including Margaret Satterthwaite, UN Special Rapporteur on the independence of judges… [Read More]
Human Rights Abuses in Russia: EU Sanctions Two More Individuals
The European Union has imposed restrictive measures on two Russian judiciary officials, Dmitry Gordeev and Lyudmila Balandina, for their roles in serious human rights violations, the repression of civil society and democratic opposition, and undermining democracy and the rule of law in Russia. Dmitry Gordeev, a judge of the Moscow City Court, has repeatedly issued… [Read More]
South Sudan Hunger Relief Receives Increased Backing from Norway
Norway is significantly increasing its support to the World Food Programme (WFP) in South Sudan, allocating an additional NOK 128.6 million (approximately USD 12.7 million) to bolster emergency assistance and initiatives aimed at strengthening community resilience. Minister of International Development Åsmund Aukrust highlighted the severity of the situation, noting that six million people in the… [Read More]
Securing Peace and Stability in Syria: Pathways from Crisis to Recovery
During a visit to seven of Syria’s 14 governorates last October, Syrians expressed that their greatest needs were access to health, education, housing, and above all, jobs. Over a decade of conflict has left around 7.4 million people internally displaced, while 1.2 million returnees struggle to sustain livelihoods. Support from the international community, complementing national… [Read More]
Iraq Launches First Public Innovation Hub in the South from a Youth Center
In Thi-Qar, southern Iraq, a public Youth Center has been transformed into the Souq Al-Shoyukh Community and Climate Hub (SSCH), the country’s first government-based community innovation hub in the south. The initiative was co-designed, co-financed, and implemented by UNDP-Iraq, the Ministry of Youth and Sports, and the Bahr Al-Uloom Foundation, creating a locally owned platform… [Read More]
How Women Are Challenging Gender Norms in the Footwear Industry
In rural Bangladesh, shoe repairing and manufacturing have traditionally been considered men’s work—physically demanding, socially stigmatized, and far removed from women’s expected roles. Shilpi Rani Das, a 35-year-old from Laksham, Cumilla, is challenging this perception. She spends her days at a local footwear workshop as an apprentice, learning the craft of shoe repairing and manufacturing,… [Read More]
Montreal and Singapore Lead the Way in Smart Underground Access
Urban development is increasingly looking underground as cities strive to enhance resilience, sustainability, and equitable growth. Rising population density, climate pressures, and limited natural resources are driving planners to explore subterranean infrastructure as a solution. Underground spaces can support housing, transport networks, parking facilities, and energy-efficient solutions like geothermal systems, while freeing surface land for… [Read More]
Sri Lanka Flood Crisis: More Than a Million Affected by Cyclone Ditwah Await Relief
Cyclone Ditwah made landfall on Sri Lanka’s eastern coast on 28 November, causing widespread flooding and deadly landslides across all 25 districts. While some displaced families have returned home, recent heavy rains have triggered fresh flooding, landslides, and road closures, particularly in the central districts of Kandy, Nuwara Eliya, and Polonnaruwa. UN assessments indicate that… [Read More]
Sudan Civil War Pushes Health System to the Verge of Collapse
The World Health Organization (WHO) has highlighted a dire health crisis in Sudan, revealing alarming figures on attacks against healthcare facilities. The country currently records the highest global percentage of deaths linked to targeting of the health sector, in blatant violation of international humanitarian law. Since the war began in April 2023, Sudan has faced… [Read More]
United Nations Pushes for Ceasefire Renewal in Sudan
The United Nations has renewed its appeal for a ceasefire in Sudan following a peace initiative presented by the country’s Transitional Prime Minister during a recent Security Council meeting. UN Secretary-General António Guterres welcomed the initiative, emphasizing that achieving lasting and inclusive peace is critical as the conflict enters a new year. He called on… [Read More]
Developing a Roadmap for Decent Jobs and Social Protection in Viet Nam
Viet Nam is advancing efforts to develop a national roadmap for decent jobs and universal social protection under the Global Accelerator on Jobs and Social Protection for Just Transitions, with technical and financial support from the Joint SDG Fund and United Nations partners. This initiative seeks to translate global commitments on just transitions into a… [Read More]
East and Horn of Africa Countries Strengthen Labour Rights Through Bilateral Agreements
Representatives from ministries of labour, foreign affairs, and workers’ and employers’ organizations across East and Horn of Africa states reaffirmed their commitment to advancing fair, rights-based, and gender-responsive labour migration governance following a five-day regional training on Bilateral Labour Agreements (BLAs) held from 8 to 12 December 2025 in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. The training was… [Read More]
COVID-19 Disruptions to HIV, Malaria, Tuberculosis, and Child Immunization Services in Guinea
The COVID-19 pandemic has caused significant disruptions to health systems worldwide, particularly in low- and middle-income countries with fragile infrastructures and limited resources. In sub-Saharan Africa, where communicable diseases such as HIV, malaria, tuberculosis (TB), and vaccine-preventable illnesses remain prevalent, these disruptions threaten to reverse years of progress in disease control and prevention. Measures implemented… [Read More]
Nepal Launches National Campaign to Integrate Informal Workers into Social Security System
Nepal has launched a National Campaign on Social Security for Informal Workers and the Self-Employed, marking a major step toward extending social protection to millions of workers outside formal safety nets. The initiative aims to provide access to social security throughout the life cycle, promoting equity, economic resilience, and inclusive development. The scale of the… [Read More]
European Union Delivers Relief to Flood-Affected Communities in Iraq
Following severe flooding caused by heavy rainfall in northern Iraq earlier this month, the European Union has allocated €100,000 in humanitarian funding to support communities most affected by the disaster. The assistance aims to address urgent needs arising from widespread damage to homes, livelihoods, and essential services. The EU funding is being channelled through the… [Read More]
EU-Funded “Digital Detectives” Project Launches Fact-Checking Club at Youth Affairs Agency
On 25 December 2025 in Tashkent, Uzbekistan, the EU-funded project “Digital Detectives” officially launched a Fact-Checking Club at the Youth Affairs Agency of Uzbekistan, in collaboration with the initiative Qizlar Ovozi (Voices of Girls). The opening ceremony marked a significant milestone in efforts to strengthen media literacy and fact-checking capacity among young people, while also… [Read More]
AfDB Group Mobilizes Global Private Capital to Address Africa’s Financing Gap
Building on the successful conclusion of the 17th replenishment of the African Development Fund, which mobilised $11 billion for Africa’s most vulnerable countries, the African Development Bank Group and the Government of the United Kingdom convened global investors in London to accelerate a new phase of private capital mobilisation for Africa’s development. The initiative aims… [Read More]
