The Minister for Culture, Communications and Sport, Patrick O’Donovan TD, has announced over €1.1 million in funding through Culture Ireland’s Regular Grants Programme to promote Irish arts and culture internationally. The investment will support 129 creative projects across more than 33 countries, spanning diverse disciplines such as circus, dance, film, literature, music, opera, theatre, and… [Read More]
Minister O’Brien announces nearly €27 million funding for community climate initiatives
Ireland’s Minister for Climate, Energy and the Environment, Darragh O’Brien, has announced almost €27 million in new funding from the Climate Action Fund (CAF) to help local authorities build low-carbon communities across the country. The investment is part of the Community Climate Action Programme, which aims to support initiatives that foster community participation in climate… [Read More]
European Investment Bank Provides €100 Million to Strengthen Armenia’s MSME Sector
The European Investment Bank’s development arm, EIB Global, has signed a €100 million loan agreement with the Central Bank of Armenia to expand access to finance for micro, small, and medium-sized enterprises (MSMEs) and mid-cap companies. Backed by the European Fund for Sustainable Development Plus (EFSD+), the initiative aims to strengthen economic resilience and promote… [Read More]
Third EU-Bahrain Conference on Freedom of Religion and Belief convenes in Brussels
The third EU-Bahrain Freedom of Religion and Belief (FoRB) Conference, titled “Freedom of Religion & Belief: The Practice of Promoting Coexistence,” was held in Brussels from 28 to 30 October 2025. This year’s conference built upon the success of the previous editions held in Manama in 2022 and 2023, further strengthening cooperation between the European… [Read More]
Bosnia and Herzegovina Deminers Receive €130,000 in Protective Gear from the European Union
The Bosnia and Herzegovina Mine Action Centre (BHMAC) and the Civil Protection Administrations of the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina and Republika Srpska have received a substantial delivery of uniforms and safety gear, enhancing the protection and efficiency of demining teams across the country. The European Union provided the equipment, valued at over €130,000, which… [Read More]
14 Red Cross and Red Crescent National Societies Receive Grants from National Society Investment Alliance
The National Society Investment Alliance (NSIA) has allocated approximately 3.1 million Swiss francs in 2025 to support the sustainable development of 14 Red Cross and Red Crescent National Societies operating in complex emergencies and fragile contexts. A joint initiative of the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC) and the International Committee… [Read More]
IFRC Expresses Shock Over Killing of Sudanese Red Crescent Volunteers in Sudan Conflict
The International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC) expressed deep sorrow and outrage over the killing of five volunteers from the Sudanese Red Crescent (SRC) in the city of Bara, North Kordofan, on October 27, 2025. The volunteers, who were part of a food distribution mission, were clearly identified by their Red… [Read More]
Investing in Youth: Advancing Adolescent Health and Wellbeing Across Central and West Africa
The International Development Research Centre (IDRC) concluded its three-part webinar series “Thriving in Safety: Advancing Adolescent Health and Rights and Ending Gender-Based Violence in Central and West Africa” with a final session on November 13, 2025. The series, launched in 2024 to mark the 30th anniversary of the International Conference on Population and Development Programme… [Read More]
First-Ever National Dialogue in the Philippines Focuses on Sustainable Aquaculture Supply Chain
The Philippines, a global leader in aquaculture and the world’s top producer of seaweed, is at a crucial stage as it works to strengthen its aquaculture sector amid global disruptions and declining wild fish stocks. With aquaculture playing an increasingly vital role in the nation’s economy and food security, the country is focused on improving… [Read More]
ILO Backs Launch of New Workplace Daycare Facility in Ethiopia
The International Labour Organization (ILO), in collaboration with Ethiopia’s Ministry of Industry, Kaliti Food Share Company (CEREALIA), Partnership for Change (PfC), and development partners from Germany and Norway, inaugurated a model on-site workplace childcare facility in Addis Ababa. The initiative, launched under the ILO’s ProAgro Ethiopia and Promoting Workers’ Rights and Gender Equality at Work… [Read More]
Global Leaders Gather at 2025 Human Capital Conclave to Tackle Skills and Job Gaps
A billion young people are expected to enter the workforce in the next decade, making skills development critical to future job creation. The 13th Human Capital Ministerial Conclave, held during the 2025 World Bank Group and IMF Annual Meetings, focused on the theme “Skills for Jobs.” Leaders from the manufacturing, digital, and health sectors discussed… [Read More]
World Bank Report: Liberia Can Unlock Job Creation by Strengthening Private Sector and Productivity
The World Bank has released the Sixth Edition of its annual Liberia Economic Update, titled “From Stabilization to Inclusion – Pathways to Resilient Growth and Productive Jobs.” The 2025 report provides an in-depth analysis of Liberia’s economic performance and private sector development, emphasizing how strengthening the private sector can drive productive employment and inclusive growth…. [Read More]
Hunger Worsens in DRC: WFP and FAO Call for Swift Global Response
The Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) and the United Nations World Food Programme (WFP) have sounded the alarm over the worsening humanitarian crisis in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), where hunger and malnutrition continue to rise sharply. According to the latest Integrated Food Security Phase Classification (IPC) analysis, 26.6 million people are projected… [Read More]
Nature Investments Hold the Key to Asia-Pacific’s Economic Future, Says ADB
The Asian Development Bank (ADB) has released a new report emphasizing that protecting ecosystems is essential for driving economic growth, job creation, and fiscal stability across the Asia-Pacific region. The report, Asia-Pacific Climate Report 2025: Unlocking Nature for Development, warns that 75% of the region’s output depends on natural systems that are rapidly degrading. It… [Read More]
Uzbekistan to Host Central Asia’s Largest Solar-Battery Power Plants Under New ADB Partnership
The Asian Development Bank (ADB), in partnership with ACWA Power Company, Sumitomo Corporation, Chubu Electric Power Co. Inc., and Shikoku Electric Power Co. Inc., has signed a major financing agreement to construct two large-scale solar power plants with battery energy storage systems (BESS) in Uzbekistan. Known as the Samarkand 1 and 2 Solar PV and… [Read More]
Angola: AfDB Executive Director Tours Key Development Projects, Commends $1.45 Billion Investment
The African Development Bank (AfDB) is currently investing $1.45 billion in 16 ongoing projects in Angola as part of efforts to support the country’s economic diversification beyond oil dependency. The announcement was made by Eugénio Maria Paulo, the Bank’s newly appointed Executive Director for Angola, Mozambique, Namibia, and Zimbabwe, during high-level meetings held in Luanda…. [Read More]
AfDB Grants $6 Million to Strengthen Disaster Preparedness and Risk Reduction Across Africa
The African Development Bank Group’s Board of Directors has approved a $6 million grant to the African Risk Capacity (ARC) to enhance disaster preparedness and risk financing across Africa during 2025–2026. Approved on October 29 under the Bank’s African Disaster Risk Financing Initiative (ADRiFi), the grant will enable ARC to continue providing critical capacity-building and… [Read More]
Union of the Comoros Launches $137 Million Maritime Corridor Project with AfDB Support
The President of the Union of the Comoros, Azali Assoumani, officially launched the Maritime Corridor and Regional Trade Facilitation Project in a ceremony held on 27 October 2025 in Moroni. The project, financed by the African Development Bank (AfDB) Group with $137 million, represents a major step toward strengthening Comoros’ maritime infrastructure and boosting regional… [Read More]
Mongolia Conducts Inaugural Exercise to Enhance National Health Emergency Response
Mongolia has become the first country to conduct the national health emergency workforce readiness and response functional exercise developed by the Global Outbreak Alert and Response Network (GOARN). The initiative, held on 14–15 October in collaboration with the Ministry of Health of Mongolia, aimed to assess and strengthen the country’s emergency workforce and leadership capacities…. [Read More]
Building Inclusive Communities: Key Learnings from Bangladesh’s Manikganj CBR Model
The Community-Based Rehabilitation (CBR) project in Manikganj, Bangladesh, was launched in 2013 by the Disability Rehabilitation and Research Association (DRRA) in partnership with the Dutch organization Niketan to address the needs of children with complex and multiple disabilities. Despite global concerns over the sustainability and evidence base of CBR programs, this initiative has built a… [Read More]
30 Years of International IDEA: Strengthening Democracy Across Asia and Africa
As International IDEA celebrates its 30th anniversary, this year also marks the 70th anniversary of the historic Asia-Africa Conference, originally held in Bandung, Indonesia. That landmark event laid the foundation for South-South cooperation, promoting solidarity and partnership between Asia and Africa. Upholding this legacy, International IDEA, the Non-Aligned Movement Centre for South-South Technical Cooperation (NAM… [Read More]
What Wikipedia Teaches Us About Transparency and Public Trust
In today’s digital world, misinformation often spreads faster than truth, with social media posts and forwarded messages frequently lacking source verification or traceability. This lack of transparency erodes public trust, as readers are left unable to determine where information originated or how it evolved. In contrast, Wikipedia has emerged as a model of openness and… [Read More]
Beyond Grantmaking: A Foundation’s Journey to Transform Social Narratives
Metta Fund embarked on a bold strategic experiment two years ago: to invest in narrative and cultural transformation as a way to complement traditional grantmaking and advance equity for older adults. The organization recognized that the dominant narratives surrounding aging — particularly those depicting immigrant and caregiving communities — failed to reflect their strength, wisdom,… [Read More]
