Millions across England are being urged to prepare for flooding as Flood Action Week 2025 begins, running from 13–19 October. The Environment Agency is encouraging people to take proactive steps such as checking their flood risk, signing up for flood warnings, and preparing a flood plan to protect homes, businesses, and communities. Despite a dry… [Read More]
Minister Calleary Launches €20.5 Million Funding for Nationwide Rural Renewal
The Minister for Rural and Community Development and the Gaeltacht, Dara Calleary TD, announced over €20.5 million in funding for 30 landmark rural regeneration projects across Ireland. This investment, provided under the Rural Regeneration Development Fund (RRDF), aims to rejuvenate town centres, drive economic growth, increase footfall, combat dereliction, develop pedestrian zones, and boost tourism… [Read More]
Additional State Funding Allocated to Support Pre-School Access for Children with Disabilities
The Minister for Children, Disability, and Equality, Norma Foley, has announced additional funding to support children with disabilities in accessing State-funded pre-school. The Access and Inclusion Model (AIM), which provides targeted support to children with disabilities, will see its capitation increase by 10 percent, directly benefiting early learning and care services that help children participate… [Read More]
Investing in Global Solutions: Experts Urge Acting as “Good Ancestors”
Launched in February 2025, the World Bank’s Framework for Financial Incentives (FFI) provides countries with a comprehensive package of benefits—including increased financing, longer repayment periods, and lower interest rates—when their projects generate benefits that extend beyond national borders. The FFI is designed to reward middle-income countries for scaling up investments in pandemic preparedness, biodiversity conservation,… [Read More]
Girls Face Rising Hardship as Global Aid Reductions Target Inequality-Stricken Countries
A Save the Children analysis released on the International Day of the Girl reveals that approximately 167 million adolescent girls are among those worst affected by global aid cuts in 2025, particularly in countries with the widest gender equality gaps. Of the 20 countries most severely impacted, 17 are ranked as having ‘poor’ or ‘very… [Read More]
Enhancing Mental Health Support During Crises Across Africa
Brazzaville – The World Health Organization (WHO) is working with African countries to integrate mental health and psychosocial support into every stage of emergency response, with the goal of having at least 80% of countries equipped with functional systems by 2030. This initiative addresses the growing mental health needs that arise from public health emergencies,… [Read More]
Africa Faces Mental Health Crisis: 150 Million Affected, Care Services Insufficient
Brazzaville — Nearly 150 million people in Africa live with mental health conditions, yet access to decentralized and integrated care remains extremely limited, underscoring the continent’s ongoing mental health challenges. A new mental health dashboard launched by the World Health Organization (WHO) Regional Office for Africa highlights the prevalence of conditions such as depression, anxiety,… [Read More]
Uganda Scales Up Mental Health Support for Ebola Survivors
Aisha Nangobi, a 29-year-old midwife and mother of two in Uganda, faced immense adversity when her husband became the first confirmed case in the 2025 Ebola outbreak and died within ten days. Nangobi herself tested positive, and shortly after, her 18-month-old son also contracted the virus. She describes the experience as psychologically, physically, and mentally… [Read More]
Public Health Perspective Boosts Nigeria’s Mental Health Response
Over the past three years, Nigeria has made significant strides in mental health policy and programmes, guided by Dr. Tunde Massey-Ferguson Ojo, psychiatrist and National Mental Health Programme coordinator. His guiding principle, “There is no health without mental health,” underpins a renewed national effort to integrate mental health into public health strategies. Key achievements include… [Read More]
Thailand’s Rubber Industry to Benefit from New ILO-Canada Initiative
The International Labour Organization (ILO), with funding from the Government of Canada, has launched a project to support labour rights and enhance competitiveness in Thailand’s rubber sector and supply chain. Named “Strengthening Fundamental Principles and Rights at Work and Trade Readiness in Thailand,” the three-year initiative was inaugurated on 10 October 2025, bringing together the… [Read More]
Mental Health Crisis Among Healthcare Workers Strains Europe’s Health Systems
A landmark survey conducted by WHO/Europe in collaboration with the European Commission, coinciding with World Mental Health Day, analyzed nearly 100,000 responses from healthcare workers across 29 countries between October 2024 and April 2025. The study found that doctors and nurses are working under conditions that severely harm their mental health, with implications not only… [Read More]
Millions Displaced in Africa’s Sahel Amid Escalating Conflict and Climate Crises
Displacement in Africa’s Sahel has surged dramatically over the past five years, with numbers rising by two-thirds, particularly affecting Burkina Faso, Mali, and Niger. According to Abdouraouf Gnon-Kondé, UNHCR Regional Director for West and Central Africa, people in the central Sahel are being forced from their homes due to violence, insecurity, and the devastating impacts… [Read More]
Girls Leading Change: Voices of Boldness and Resilience in a World in Crisis
Senior UN officials and young advocates marked the International Day of the Girl Child with declarations, dialogue, and a show of solidarity for girls whose voices have been silenced, particularly in Afghanistan and other crisis-affected regions. Sixteen-year-old Nafisa from Ghana shared the story of a friend forced to leave school due to conflict but who… [Read More]
Haiti Food Crisis: 5.7 Million People at Risk of Hunger
The latest analysis by the Integrated Food Security Phase Classification (IPC), a UN-backed index tracking hunger and malnutrition in crisis-affected regions, indicates that 5.7 million people in Haiti are facing worsening food insecurity. The study covers the period from September 2025 to February 2026, with projections extending to March through June 2026, highlighting a deteriorating… [Read More]
Sudan Displacement Camp Attack Leaves 17 Children Dead
UNICEF has reported that an attack on a facility hosting families displaced by ongoing conflict in Sudan has killed 17 children, with an additional 21 children injured. Media reports indicate that up to 60 people were killed during Saturday’s assault, carried out by the Rapid Support Forces (RSF), which has been fighting the Sudanese army… [Read More]
AI and Inclusion: Can Technology Build a Fairer Future for People with Disabilities?
Artificial Intelligence (AI), when developed with the lived experiences of persons with disabilities at its core, has the power to transform accessibility into true empowerment. Tools such as conversational screen readers, adaptive dashboards, and real-time captioning are not just removing barriers but creating opportunities for learning, leadership, and full participation in society. By centering inclusion… [Read More]
WFP Reduces Food Rations in Ethiopia, Deepening Hunger Crisis Among Refugees
The United Nations World Food Programme (WFP) has warned that refugees in Ethiopia are facing worsening hunger as severe funding shortages force major cuts in food assistance. In October, WFP reduced food rations for 780,000 refugees across 27 camps from 60 percent to just 40 percent of their daily requirements. This reduction means that each… [Read More]
World Food Programme Expands Emergency Aid Amid Emerging Ceasefire
The World Food Programme (WFP) has launched a major scale-up of its humanitarian operations in Gaza following the implementation of a ceasefire, which has opened access for aid agencies to reach communities that have been cut off from essential assistance. After two years of devastating conflict, food systems in the territory are in ruins, and… [Read More]
AfDB and IOM Sign $62 Million Agreement to Restore Essential Social Infrastructure in Sudan
The African Development Bank Group and the International Organization for Migration (IOM) have signed a $62 million grant agreement to support the rebuilding of vital social infrastructure and the restoration of essential services in conflict-affected regions of Sudan. The initiative, known as the Sudan Integrated Social Sector Infrastructure Rehabilitation Project (SISSIRP), focuses on strengthening the… [Read More]
African Development Bank, WFP, and IFPRI Unveil Report on Innovative Food System Investments in Northern Nigeria
The African Development Bank, in collaboration with the United Nations World Food Programme (WFP) and the International Food Policy Research Institute (IFPRI), has unveiled a comprehensive study advocating for innovative and coordinated investments to enhance food security and agricultural productivity in northern Nigeria. Released during the 31st Nigerian Economic Summit in Abuja, the report highlights… [Read More]
Nigeria’s Presidency Disputes World Bank Poverty Figures, Citing Methodological Concerns
The Nigerian presidency has strongly contested a recent World Bank report estimating that 139 million Nigerians live in poverty. Presidential spokesperson Sunday Dare argued that the World Bank’s figures, based on a global poverty line of $2.15 per day, do not accurately reflect Nigeria’s local economic realities and overlook the informal economy. The government insists… [Read More]
A Decade Lost? How Climate Crisis and Slow Growth Threaten Global Poverty Eradication
The world is facing a complex tangle of setbacks—dubbed a "polycrisis"—where climate change, stalled economic growth, and persistent poverty create unprecedented challenges. Despite earlier progress, the past decade has seen a stagnation in extreme poverty reduction, as well as worsening climate risks and economic disparity. Key Takeaways Extreme poverty now affects nearly 700 million people,… [Read More]
Poverty Deepens in Afghanistan and Pakistan Despite Modest Economic Growth, Warns World Bank
Economic concerns loom over Afghanistan and Pakistan as new World Bank reports reveal that growth indicators obscure intensifying poverty, fragility, and inequality for millions. Humanitarian challenges, weak governance, and the impacts of regional crises mean marginalized populations are left behind even as headline numbers improve. Key Takeaways Nearly half of Afghanistan’s population survives on less… [Read More]
