The Irish Government has announced a €13.6 million investment to support 103 projects across the country under the Barrier Mitigation Programme, led by Inland Fisheries Ireland (IFI). These projects aim to restore free-flowing rivers by addressing physical barriers such as dams and weirs that disrupt waterways, degrade river function, and hinder fish migration. The initiative… [Read More]
Obesity Now a Chronic Disease: WHO Supports Expanded Use of Weight-Loss Medications
The World Health Organization (WHO) has issued new guidance on GLP-1 therapies, including liraglutide, semaglutide, and tirzepatide, providing conditional recommendations for their safe, long-term use as part of obesity treatment. These medicines mimic a natural hormone that regulates appetite, blood sugar, and digestion, helping people with obesity achieve significant weight loss and improve related health… [Read More]
UN Secretary-General Warns $1.6 Billion in Unpaid Dues as Financial Pressures Mount
The United Nations is confronting its most fragile cash position in years, as highlighted by Secretary-General António Guterres before the Fifth Committee. Despite deep reductions already factored into the 2026 budget, the UN faces an “unacceptable volume of arrears” from Member States. The organization ended 2024 with $760 million in unpaid assessments, and an additional… [Read More]
Reporting Under Fire: The Role of Journalism in the Occupied Palestinian Territory
At a forum held at UN Headquarters, the challenges of reporting from the Occupied Palestinian Territory were discussed, emphasizing the critical role of journalism amid conflict. Melissa Fleming, head of the UN Department of Global Communications, highlighted that reporting in Gaza and the West Bank has become both a battleground and a lifeline, underscoring the… [Read More]
New Prevention Strategies and Funding Key to Combating AIDS
On World AIDS Day, the World Health Organization (WHO) urged governments and partners to rapidly expand access to new WHO-approved tools, including lenacapavir (LEN), to reduce HIV infections and counter disruptions to essential health services caused by cuts to foreign aid. LEN, a twice-yearly injectable for HIV prevention, offers a long-acting alternative to oral pills… [Read More]
How to Participate to Transform Communities and Make an Impact
In São Pedro da Barra, Hoje-Ya-Henda, a roundtable discussion brought together local authorities, health professionals, international experts, and community members to address a pressing question: why are so many children still unvaccinated? The conversation highlighted that the barriers to vaccination are often not about unwillingness, but rather lack of information, trust, and dialogue, compounded by… [Read More]
Malawi Accelerates Health Labour Market Analysis to Strengthen Workforce Planning and Development
Malawi is advancing efforts to strengthen its health workforce as a critical step toward achieving Universal Health Coverage (UHC) and resilient, primary health care-oriented health systems. The Ministry of Health, with technical support from the World Health Organization (WHO), is finalizing a comprehensive national Health Labour Market Analysis (HLMA). This analysis aims to standardize findings… [Read More]
Democratic Republic of the Congo Marks End of 16th Ebola Epidemic
The Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) has officially declared the end of its 16th Ebola outbreak in Kasai Province after no new cases were reported in the 42 days following the discharge of the last patient on 19 October 2025. Dr. Samuel Roger Kamba, the country’s Minister of Public Health, Hygiene, and Social Welfare,… [Read More]
Zimbabwe Commits $1 Million to Strengthen Global HIV Fight
Zimbabwe has pledged US$1 million to the Global Fund Grant Cycle 8, signaling its continued commitment to combating HIV, AIDS, Tuberculosis, and Malaria. This funding also aims to strengthen national health systems amid reductions in donor support. The pledge was announced during World AIDS Day commemorations in Umzingwane District, which were held under the theme… [Read More]
Over $1 Million in Cancer Research Grants Granted to Boost Early Detection and Treatment
The Cancer Society continues to be a major funder of life-saving cancer research in New Zealand through its National Research Grants Programme, having invested over $50 million in the past decade. In 2025, the Society announced two post-doctoral fellowships, two project grants, and one PhD scholarship as part of its National Research Grant Round, reinforcing… [Read More]
Strengthening Global Action Against Intimate Image Abuse: Introducing the Global Clearing Centre
The SWGfL Revenge Porn Helpline, in collaboration with the UK Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO), is launching a pilot project for a Global Clearing Centre to address non-consensual intimate image (NCII) abuse. This initiative aims to help NGOs worldwide identify and remove NCII content more efficiently, leveraging the StopNCII.org tool to limit the spread… [Read More]
Youth-Led Social Innovation in Cambodia Gets a Boost from UNICEF and Impact Hub
UNICEF Cambodia and Impact Hub Phnom Penh hosted the Generation Future 2025 Demo Day and Exhibition on 29 November, celebrating the achievements of over 100 young Cambodian changemakers from Phnom Penh and Siem Reap. Over the past six months, these young leaders developed entrepreneurship skills to design and implement social community solutions aimed at creating… [Read More]
Asia Flood Crisis 2025: Humanitarian Response Mobilized as Millions Affected
Severe flooding across Southeast and South Asia has affected millions of people, prompting an urgent humanitarian response from the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC). Countries including Indonesia, Sri Lanka, Malaysia, and Viet Nam are experiencing widespread devastation, displacement, and critical needs for food, water, shelter, and healthcare. Intense monsoon rains… [Read More]
Ensuring Locally-Led Education in Crises: Teach For All’s Emergency Relief Fund
Teach For All is responding to today’s “polycrisis”—a combination of geopolitical conflicts, climate disasters, and economic instability—by ensuring that children in crisis-affected regions continue to access quality education. Across fragile and stable contexts alike, the organization emphasizes that education is more than learning; it provides stability, helps children recover from trauma, and fosters resilience and… [Read More]
UEFA Teams Up with United Nations for Road Safety Campaign
UEFA has launched the fifth module of its Take Care programme, focused on road safety, highlighting football’s role in promoting health and well-being both on and off the pitch. Developed in partnership with the Office of the UN Secretary-General’s Special Envoy for Road Safety (UN SSERS), the module builds on UEFA’s long-standing support for global… [Read More]
How Nizhyn Locals Are Helping Citizens During the Ongoing Conflict
Nizhyn, one of Ukraine’s oldest cities with a population of over 80,000, had been steadily developing before the full-scale invasion, with improvements in roads, the city hospital, and public spaces. The war, however, transformed the city into a combat zone and logistical hub for the defence of Chernihiv, bringing new challenges and forcing the community… [Read More]
Finland Unveils Updated National Action Plan for Youth, Peace, and Security
Finland has published its second National Action Plan to implement UN Security Council Resolution 2250 on Youth, Peace, and Security, providing a roadmap for engaging young people in peace and security work at both national and international levels. The development of the plan prioritized youth ownership and participation, reflecting extensive collaboration among young people, youth… [Read More]
Right-Wing EU Politicians Escalate Efforts to Restrict Civil Society
Nongovernmental groups have raised serious concerns following the first meeting of the European Parliament’s new “Scrutiny Working Group” on November 26, which focuses on funding for civil society organizations. While the initiative is presented as a move to enhance transparency in the use of EU grants, its limited mandate, narrow focus on nonprofits, and politically… [Read More]
European Union and UNESCO Unveil Major Program to Strengthen Literacy and Livelihoods in Afghanistan
The European Union has launched a €4.7 million partnership with UNESCO to expand community-based skills development and literacy training in Afghanistan. The initiative aims to strengthen economic empowerment by reaching 7,500 youth and adults, including both returnees and host community members, across five provinces. It is designed to meet locally identified needs through flexible and… [Read More]
Addressing Mining Abuses: A Global Opportunity for Change
In northern Zambia earlier this year, 29-year-old Norbert Amoya discovered dead fish and foul-smelling river water, a result of a major mining disaster. On February 18, a dam at a Chinese copper mine burst, releasing toxic waste into a tributary of Zambia’s largest river. The disaster has threatened the local ecosystem, jeopardized livelihoods for millions,… [Read More]
Women in Argentina Confront Increasing Violence and Safety Risks
Argentina is facing a growing crisis of gender-based violence, with domestic violence reports rising significantly. Data from the Office of Domestic Violence (OVD) of Argentina’s Supreme Court show that at least 39 percent of cases involve severe or repeated abuse, frequent episodes, or injuries indicating a high likelihood of ongoing harm. Feminist observatories have also… [Read More]
IRC Warns: Reduced Aid in West Africa Puts Women and Girls at Increased Risk of Gender-Based Violence
Across Burkina Faso, Mali, Niger, and Nigeria, more than half of gender-based violence (GBV) survivors supported in early 2025 have lost access to essential services due to broad funding cuts. In Menaka, Mali, nearly 90% of survivors’ cases remain unresolved. Burkina Faso’s Sahel and North regions have 52% of GBV cases unaddressed, leaving over 500… [Read More]
Environmental Improvement Plan Criticized as “Insufficient”
The UK government has unveiled its new Environmental Improvement Plan, which ministers describe as a “step change in restoring nature.” The plan replaces the previous version and sets out ambitious targets aimed at reducing pollution, restoring natural habitats, and protecting the environment. It is intended to guide national efforts to meet legally binding environmental commitments… [Read More]
