More than one in four people in Sub-Saharan Africa still lack access to financial services, preventing them from overcoming persistent and emerging challenges such as conflict, climate disruptions, and migration. The 2025 Africa Inclusive Finance Week focused on addressing these critical gaps under the theme, “(Re)focusing on vulnerable people to meet upcoming challenges in inclusive… [Read More]
Government of Canada Invests in Carbon Technologies and AI to Drive Clean Energy Innovation
Canada has announced a significant investment of more than $11 million to advance innovative, homegrown carbon utilization and storage technologies. The Honourable Tim Hodgson, Minister of Energy and Natural Resources, confirmed that the funding will support four projects under the Energy Innovation Program’s Carbon Capture, Utilization and Storage Research, Development and Demonstration (RD&D) Call. These… [Read More]
Minister Champagne Unveils Funding to Advance Equality and Safer Communities Across Canada
Canada is reinforcing its commitment to equality, safety, and inclusion through a major new funding announcement. In a world facing increasing instability, the government emphasized that while global events are beyond its control, it remains dedicated to building a stronger, fairer Canada. Central to this vision is ensuring the full and equal participation of women… [Read More]
Secretary of State van Koeverden Unveils Funding to Celebrate Canada’s Sports Legacy
The Government of Canada has reaffirmed its commitment to preserving the nation’s cultural and sporting heritage with a major new investment. The Honourable Adam van Koeverden, Secretary of State (Sport), announced $10 million in funding over 10 years for Canada’s Sports Hall of Fame, beginning in 2025–26. The announcement, made on behalf of Minister of… [Read More]
Yulia Svyrydenko Announces Expansion of Vlasna Sprava Grants to Empower Ukrainians and Veterans
Ukraine’s Prime Minister Yulia Svyrydenko announced the expansion of the country’s largest grant programme for entrepreneurs, Vlasna Sprava (Own Business), under the Made in Ukraine initiative. Starting in 2026, the programme will offer increased grant amounts and wider opportunities for Ukrainians who wish to start or grow their own businesses, even amid wartime challenges. The… [Read More]
Global Human Rights Under Threat: Amnesty Meets Abortion Defenders Worldwide
Amnesty International has announced that its delegation will join abortion providers and defenders from around the world at two major gatherings in Bogotá, Colombia, to assess global progress on abortion access and strategize against mounting threats to human rights. The meetings will take place at the Latin American Consortium Against Unsafe Abortion (CLACAI) from October… [Read More]
Historic Win in Malawi: High Court Affirms Justice for Sexual Violence Survivors
The High Court of Malawi has issued a landmark ruling affirming the rights of sexual violence survivors to access safe abortion care. The court ruled that denying a 14-year-old rape survivor a safe termination of pregnancy violated her sexual and reproductive health rights under Sections 19 and 20 of the Gender Equality Act. Amnesty International… [Read More]
‘Historic Victory’: France Redefines Rape Law to Center on Consent
France has taken a historic step toward gender justice as the Senate voted to introduce a consent-based definition of rape into the country’s penal code. The move has been hailed by Amnesty International France as a landmark victory for survivors of sexual violence and a testament to the tireless efforts of feminist organizations, activists, and… [Read More]
Europe’s Schengen Visa Barriers Undermine Access for Human Rights Defenders
Amnesty International has revealed that visa systems in Europe’s Schengen area have become major barriers for human rights defenders (HRDs) from across the Global South, preventing many from participating in vital global forums. In its new report Closing the door? How visa policies in Europe’s Schengen area fail human rights defenders, the organization highlights how… [Read More]
Historic Move: South Korea’s Census to Recognize Same-Sex Couples
South Korea’s Ministry of Data and Statistics has made a historic change to the 2025 Population and Housing Census, allowing same-sex couples to be officially counted for the first time. Conducted between October 22 and November 18, the updated census recognizes same-sex relationships of lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) people in national statistics—an unprecedented… [Read More]
No Accountability in Eswatini: Unresolved Abuses from June 2021 Protests
More than four years after Eswatini’s June 2021 pro-democracy protests, no member of the country’s security forces has been held accountable for the use of excessive and lethal force against demonstrators and civilians. During the unrest, tasers, teargas, rubber bullets, and live ammunition were deployed against protesters and bystanders, resulting in scores of deaths and… [Read More]
UNDP Highlights Sustainable Land Management at the 4th Arab Land and Climate Forum
The Arab Forum for Land and Climate, organized by the Arab Network for National NGOs (ANNGO), the Arab Gulf Programme for Development (AGFUND), and their partners, is a recurring regional event that unites governments, civil society, development organizations, philanthropists, and experts to address the pressing challenges of global warming and environmental degradation. Serving as a… [Read More]
Empowering Women in Uniform: The Elsie Initiative Fund’s Role in Transforming Peacekeeping
In international peacekeeping, a transformative shift is unfolding—one that goes beyond simply increasing the number of women to fundamentally reimagining how security institutions function. At the forefront of this change is the Elsie Initiative Fund (EIF) at UN Women. Through a systemic and evidence-based approach, EIF tackles the structural barriers—laws, policies, institutional cultures, and social… [Read More]
Milestones Defining What’s Next in Artificial Intelligence
Over the past 30 years, technology has evolved at an unprecedented pace, reshaping how people live, work, and connect. In 1995, the tech landscape was dominated by innovations such as Windows 95, the PalmPilot, and the PlayStation. Three decades later, smartphones have placed immense computing power in the hands of billions, making technology universally accessible… [Read More]
Aga Khan Development Network Pledges €10 Million for Paris Peace Forum Endowment
The Aga Khan Development Network (AKDN) has pledged €10 million to the Paris Peace Forum’s newly established endowment fund, aiming to ensure its long-term financial sustainability and support its ambitious growth strategy. The commitment reinforces AKDN’s enduring engagement in global peacebuilding and its emphasis on creating lasting institutions capable of addressing today’s complex challenges. As… [Read More]
Swedfund’s $10 Million Equity Boost to Moniepoint Highlights Rising DFI Focus on Fintech Lending
Swedfund’s recent $10 million equity investment in Moniepoint marks a shift in development finance priorities, emphasizing sustainable fintech models over user acquisition-driven growth. Moniepoint’s strategy of building robust financial infrastructure, rather than chasing app downloads, has positioned it as a trusted payments backbone in Nigeria. With POS transactions reaching ₦19.5 trillion in 2024, Moniepoint’s operations… [Read More]
Alcohol leaves a mark: WHO calls for tougher laws and public awareness on alcohol harm
Every drink of alcohol leaves a lasting mark on individuals, families, and societies. Beyond its social presence, alcohol contributes to a wide range of harms including cancers, liver disease, road accidents, violence, and family breakdowns. To address these issues, the World Health Organization (WHO) Regional Office for the Western Pacific has launched the “Alcohol Leaves… [Read More]
Hurricane Melissa: PAHO Mobilizes Urgent Medical Aid Across Affected Countries
The Pan American Health Organization (PAHO) has delivered over 2.6 tons of vital medical supplies to Cuba to support the country’s response to Hurricane Melissa, which struck eastern Cuba as a Category 3 storm with winds reaching up to 205 km/h. The shipment, sent from PAHO’s Regional Strategic Stockpile in Panama, arrived on October 28… [Read More]
AI in Public Health: New WHO Digital Health Learning Series Now on YouTube
The Pan American Health Organization’s (PAHO) Information Systems and Digital Health Unit (IS/EIH) has announced that the full recordings of Cycle I of the Seminar Series: Artificial Intelligence in Public Health are now available online. This marks an important milestone in advancing digital learning and knowledge sharing across the Americas in the field of public… [Read More]
New Hepatitis Community of Practice Unites Africa in the Battle Against Viral Hepatitis
The Hepatitis Community of Practice (HepCOP) was officially launched at the African Hepatitis Summit in Kigali, Rwanda, marking a significant milestone in Africa’s collective effort to eliminate viral hepatitis as a public health threat. The launch brought together health leaders, policymakers, civil society organizations, and experts from across the continent under the coordination of the… [Read More]
FAO Boosts Livelihoods in Somalia with Sustainable Fodder Value Chain Initiatives
FAO is intensifying its efforts to strengthen livelihoods in Somalia through a large-scale intervention focused on the Fodder Value Chain (FVC). With a portfolio worth USD 70 million—half of which is dedicated to fodder development—FAO’s systems-based approach is enhancing resilience, productivity, and income stability. This initiative is crucial as Somalia’s livestock sector supports nearly two-thirds… [Read More]
How Zambia is Harnessing Digital Tools to Build Climate-Resilient Agriculture
Digital technologies are transforming agriculture across Africa, revolutionizing how governments, partners, and farmers collaborate. In Zambia, this transformation is being driven by the Zambia Integrated Agriculture Management Information System (ZIAMIS), a platform designed to strengthen transparency, efficiency, and resilience in agricultural programmes. During the recent FAO Resilience Team for Africa Community of Practice meeting, Zambia’s… [Read More]
FAO Strengthens Operational Capacity of West African Country Teams through Targeted Training
The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) organized a five-day sub-regional training workshop on operations from October 20 to 24, 2025, in Saly, Senegal. The training aimed to strengthen the operational performance of project teams across FAO offices in West Africa. Coordinated by the FAO Sub-Regional Office for West Africa (SFW), the… [Read More]
