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]
Celebrating World Mental Health Day 2025: Prioritizing Mental Health for All
Every year on 10 October, World Mental Health Day offers an important platform for raising awareness about mental health and mobilizing support to make mental health care accessible worldwide, recognizing it as a fundamental human right. The theme for 2025, “Providing mental health support and services during times of disaster and crisis,” highlights the impact… [Read More]
Fighting Maternal Death: Uganda Midwives Tackle Postpartum Bleeding
In Kampala, Uganda, Kawempe National Referral Hospital, the country’s busiest public birthing centre, is at the forefront of efforts to reduce maternal deaths caused by postpartum haemorrhage (PPH), or severe bleeding after childbirth. PPH remains the leading cause of maternal mortality globally, yet it is largely preventable and treatable when health workers are properly trained… [Read More]
Uzbekistan’s Just Energy Transition: Strategies for a Sustainable Future
Uzbekistan is advancing toward a low-carbon, climate-resilient future through a new initiative focused on ensuring an inclusive and equitable energy transition. Backed by the UN Joint SDG Fund and implemented by UNDP, ILO, and UNECE, the Promoting a Just Energy Transition (JET) project aims to embed social dialogue, equity, and climate justice at the heart… [Read More]
UNDP Reports Rising Mental Health Challenges for Myanmar’s Youth Amid Conflict
New York, 10 October 2025 – UNDP’s latest report, “A Generation on Edge: Youth Safety and Well-being in Myanmar”, warns that prolonged insecurity, economic hardship, displacement, and fear are severely undermining both human security and the mental health of Myanmar’s young people. The report finds that nearly one in seven youth — about 2.5 million… [Read More]
Europe’s Civil Society at Risk: Rising Challenges for Human Rights Defenders
Last week, Commissioner O’Flaherty met with human rights defenders and civil society activists in Strasbourg and Brussels, including those in exile, on the brink of leaving their countries, or defending peers in detention. These meetings highlighted the increasingly difficult conditions faced by civil society organisations across Council of Europe member states, driven by three major… [Read More]
Brazil Launches Inclusive Refugee, Migrant, and Stateless Policy, Welcomed by UNHCR
UNHCR, the UN Refugee Agency, has welcomed Brazil’s adoption of a new national policy aimed at advancing protection and support for vulnerable groups, including refugees. The policy, led by Brazil’s Ministry of Justice and Public Security, establishes a comprehensive framework that involves federal, state, and municipal governments, civil society, international organizations, private entities, and the… [Read More]
Criminal System Weaponized Against Human Rights Defenders in El Salvador
Amnesty International has raised serious concerns over the rule of law in El Salvador, warning that the state of exception and recent penal reforms have created a repressive apparatus used to criminalize human rights defenders and silence critical voices. The state of exception, now extended 42 consecutive times over more than three years, allows mass… [Read More]
Germany Receives €3 Million EU Funding to Help 915 Displaced Employees
On Wednesday, the European Parliament approved EU aid for 915 former Goodyear employees in Hanau and Fulda, Germany. With 577 votes in favour, 47 against, and 15 abstentions, MEPs endorsed Germany’s request for €3,085,166 from the European Globalisation Adjustment Fund for Displaced Workers (EGF) to support those laid off following the closure of Goodyear’s tyre… [Read More]
Belgium Workers Receive €900,000+ EU Funding to Boost Employment Support
On Wednesday, the European Parliament approved EU aid for workers affected by the closure of Belgian chip manufacturer BelGaN. With 578 votes in favor, 47 against, and 16 abstentions, Parliament endorsed Belgium’s request for €931,690 from the European Globalisation Adjustment Fund for Displaced Workers (EGF) to support 417 employees who lost their jobs following the… [Read More]
Alarming Human Rights Abuses Reported in Equatorial Guinea, Haiti, and China
On Thursday, the European Parliament adopted three emergency resolutions addressing human rights concerns in Equatorial Guinea, Haiti, and China. In Equatorial Guinea, MEPs condemned serious human rights violations, including torture, inhumane prison conditions, political persecution, and restrictions on freedom of expression under Teodoro Obiang’s regime. The Parliament highlighted the arbitrary detention of Spanish citizens Javier… [Read More]
Urgent Appeal: Unblock Humanitarian Aid and Address Gender Apartheid in Afghanistan
The European Parliament has called for urgent action to ensure humanitarian aid reaches all earthquake victims in Afghanistan, particularly in the Kunar and Nangarhar provinces, where restrictive gender policies by the Taliban are obstructing relief efforts. In a resolution adopted by 504 votes in favor, 74 against, and 30 abstentions, MEPs emphasized the need to… [Read More]
UK Families in Crisis: 500,000 Children Living in Benefits Debt Cycle
New data reveals that over 500,000 children in the UK live in families in debt to the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) due to loans taken out to cover the five-week wait for their first universal credit payments. Citizens Advice obtained the figures under freedom of information laws, showing that around 800,000 households on… [Read More]
PAHO and OAS Partner to Advance Mental Health Awareness During Inter-American Mental Health Week
The Pan American Health Organization (PAHO) and the Organization of American States (OAS) are marking the first-ever Inter-American Mental Health Week during the second week of October, focusing on the theme “Empower, Connect, Care: Strengthening Child and Youth Mental Health in the Americas.” The initiative highlights the importance of addressing mental health challenges in children… [Read More]
Kenya Court Upholds Women’s Rights: Restrictive Abortion Clause Struck Down
On October 2, 2025, the High Court of Kenya struck down Paragraph 12 of Clause 3.4.1 of the National Reproductive Health Policy 2022–2032, which sought to restrict access to safe and legal abortion by prioritizing the highest attainable standard of health of the foetus over the pregnant woman. The court found that this clause contradicted… [Read More]
Advancing Sustainable Agriculture: Nestlé Partners with World Farmers’ Organisation
Nestlé and the World Farmers’ Organisation (WFO) have launched a pioneering partnership aimed at enhancing the resilience of global food systems to climate change. The collaboration focuses on advocating for fair policies and practical solutions, including regenerative agriculture, to empower farmers and support their adaptation to climate-related challenges. Arnold Puech d’Alissac, President of the WFO,… [Read More]
$476 Billion Climate Threat Looms Over Small Island States: Report Calls for $12 Billion Annual Funding
Small Island Developing States (SIDS), which contribute less than one per cent of global greenhouse gas emissions, face catastrophic climate-related losses of up to $476 billion by 2050 if urgent adaptation measures are not implemented, according to a new report by the Global Commission on Adaptation (GCA). Rising seas, stronger storms, saltwater intrusion, and collapsing… [Read More]
Empowering Nigerian NGOs: Turning USAID Funding Cuts into Opportunity
The Development Research and Projects Centre (dRPC) has launched the NGO Support Initiative, a mentorship-driven capacity-building program designed to empower 17 Nigerian NGOs affected by recent USAID funding disruptions. The initiative aims to safeguard Nigeria’s civil society sector, particularly organizations promoting social inclusion, women’s rights, and good governance, by providing resources, guidance, and strategic support… [Read More]
