Thailand is facing some of its worst flooding in a generation, with severe impacts across the southern provinces. Schools in the 12 most affected provinces have been shut indefinitely, and communities are struggling with rising floodwaters, power outages, and displacement. Save the Children has warned that children are at serious risk of electrocution from downed… [Read More]
Strengthening Serbia’s Food Systems: UN Initiative Marks a Year of Progress
The United Nations joint programme “From Seed to Sustainability: Food Systems 4 All” concluded in August 2025, marking a significant step forward in Serbia’s efforts to build resilient, inclusive, and sustainable food systems. Running from July 2024 to August 2025, the initiative fostered cooperation across institutions and communities, introduced innovative food production models, and placed… [Read More]
Ending Violence Against Women and Girls: IOM Urges Worldwide Commitment
Geneva, 25 November 2025 – As the world begins the 16 Days of Activism against Gender-Based Violence (GBV), the International Organization for Migration (IOM) is calling on governments, humanitarian actors, and communities to strengthen efforts to prevent, address, and ultimately eliminate violence against women and girls globally. IOM emphasizes the urgency of placing women and… [Read More]
Peru’s UNESCO Initiative Promotes Safe Digital Spaces with “UNITE” Campaign
UNESCO Peru has launched the campaign “For a Web Without Violence” as part of the International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women, joining the United Nations global initiative “UNITE to End Violence against Women and Girls.” The campaign seeks to address the rising threat of digital violence, which affects women and girls at… [Read More]
€1 Billion Infrastructure Loans to Be Distributed by FIFA and Saudi Arabia
FIFA and the 2034 World Cup host, Saudi Arabia, have announced a plan to distribute up to $1 billion in concessional loans aimed at supporting sports infrastructure in developing nations. The initiative, formalized through a memorandum of understanding with the Saudi Fund for Development (SDF), will finance the construction or enhancement of FIFA-certified stadiums and… [Read More]
European Contribution Reductions Put Global Fund at Risk
Several European governments have announced cuts to the Global Fund at a recent fundraising summit in South Africa, signaling a shift away from their historically strong support for global health initiatives. The European Union did not commit to a specific amount, as negotiations for its long-term budget for 2028–2034 are still ongoing, meaning the total… [Read More]
Ending Online Violence: Protecting Women and Girls in the Digital Age
Digital technologies and artificial intelligence (AI) offer transformative potential for human development and the achievement of Sustainable Development Goals, yet they also create new risks that disproportionately affect women and girls. From deepfakes to coordinated online harassment, digital violence amplifies existing gender-based abuse while introducing new forms of harm. These threats intersect with broader global… [Read More]
England’s Wildlife at Risk: Conservation Leaders Warn of a ‘Perfect Storm’
Two of the UK’s largest conservation charities, the RSPB and The Wildlife Trusts, have issued a stark warning that the UK Government’s “Build Baby Build” agenda is creating a perfect storm for nature, putting wildlife and habitats at risk. The organisations stress that this approach runs counter to widespread public support for protecting the natural… [Read More]
How Emerging Countries’ Innovations Drive Global Climate Resilience
A new global development paradigm, the climate resilience transition, is emerging in response to the increasing frequency and severity of climate hazards such as floods, heatwaves, storms, droughts, and forest fires. While development finance institutions (DFIs) and development aid agencies (DAAs) support climate resilience projects, a significant portion of the market opportunity for private-sector innovation… [Read More]
From Cost to Investment: Advancing Health Equity for People with Disabilities
Around 1.3 billion people with disabilities continue to face substantial health inequities, many of which are rooted in how health systems are financed. High out-of-pocket costs, limited benefit packages, and insufficient funding for accessibility and reasonable accommodations prevent many from accessing essential health services. To mark the International Day of Persons with Disabilities, the International… [Read More]
Promoting Fair Labor Practices: Thailand’s Strategy for Competitive Trade
Bangkok (ILO News) — Thailand is increasingly linking trade policy with decent work principles to enhance long-term competitiveness, especially amid global trade uncertainty and volatility. A national policy dialogue held on 25 November 2025, titled “Decent Work and Trade Readiness: Harnessing Thailand’s Potential for Global Competitiveness in the Era of Changing Trade Patterns,” brought together… [Read More]
Practical Strategies for Decent Work in Supply Chains by Multinational Cooperatives
GENEVA — A joint webinar organized by the ILO’s Cooperative, Social and Solidarity Economy (COOP/SSE) Unit, the International Cooperative Alliance (ICA), and the International Cooperative Entrepreneurship Think Tank (ICETT) highlighted how large and multinational cooperatives advance decent work across global supply chains. The event brought together cooperative leaders, experts, and practitioners to share operational tools,… [Read More]
Enhancing Learning in Cambodia: How Full-Day Primary School Schedules Can Improve Student Performance
Cambodia’s primary education curriculum allocates a relatively high proportion of time to literacy and numeracy, indicating that curriculum design itself is not the main barrier to student learning. However, actual instruction time is significantly lower than the prescribed 728 hours due to instruction time loss, which some studies estimate could be as high as a… [Read More]
Improving Teaching Quality and Instruction Time to Boost Primary Education in Cambodia
PHNOM PENH, November 25, 2025 — Cambodia has made significant progress in enrolling children in school, but urgent improvements are needed in classroom teaching, according to two new World Bank reports. The studies examine both the quality and quantity of instruction in primary schools and provide recommendations to strengthen basic literacy and numeracy, ensuring all… [Read More]
Cambodia’s Primary Education Reform: Enhancing Teaching Quality and Performance Incentives
Cambodia’s primary education sector has seen a significant rise in the attractiveness of the teaching profession, with a notable increase in high-caliber candidates applying for teaching positions. Between 2014 and 2024, half of the teacher trainees came from the top decile of Grade 12 examinees. Public primary school teacher salaries, adjusted for inflation, more than… [Read More]
ADB Supports Armenia’s Power Grid Modernization to Boost Energy Security
In the early 1990s, Armenia faced a severe energy crisis following the collapse of the Soviet Union and political tensions that disrupted energy supplies. The country’s only nuclear power plant, Metsamor, had been halted after the 1988 Spitak earthquake, leaving Armenia almost entirely dependent on hydropower. Widespread blackouts paralyzed industries and households, with electricity available… [Read More]
Financial Intermediary Fund Established to Support Gaza’s Reconstruction and Development
Conflict in Gaza has caused severe damage to its people, infrastructure, and economy, creating enormous recovery needs that go beyond traditional post-conflict reconstruction. By mid-2025, total recovery and reconstruction requirements in Gaza exceeded $67 billion, according to the Addendum to the Interim Rapid Damage and Needs Assessment (IRDNA) led by the World Bank Group, the… [Read More]
World Bank: Creating Jobs Essential for Faster Poverty Reduction and Social Equality in Bangladesh
Bangladesh achieved significant progress in poverty reduction between 2010 and 2022, lifting 25 million people out of poverty and 9 million out of extreme poverty, while improving access to electricity, education, and sanitation. However, since 2016, the pace of poverty reduction has slowed, and economic growth has become less inclusive, according to the Bangladesh Poverty… [Read More]
From Green Sukuk to Greener Halal Value Chains: Islamic Finance Driving Climate Solutions
The report analyzes the role of Islamic finance in advancing sustainable and climate finance within the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) member countries, examining market trends, financial instruments, and innovations. Drawing on surveys of Islamic finance professionals, halal industry enterprises, and interviews with policymakers and private sector participants, the report identifies opportunities and challenges for… [Read More]
Boosting Economic Stability and Employment in The Gambia
The World Bank Group has approved $45 million in grant financing from the International Development Association (IDA) to support The Gambia in enhancing domestic revenue mobilization, developing key infrastructure, strengthening the regulatory and skills environment for private sector growth, and improving climate resilience. The funding aims to help the government implement transformational reforms to sustain… [Read More]
World Bank Supports India with Two Projects to Enhance Education and Digital Agriculture
The World Bank has approved two projects in India aimed at improving education outcomes in Punjab and boosting farmers’ incomes in Maharashtra through innovative digital solutions. Together, these initiatives are expected to benefit over six million people, enhancing economic development, poverty reduction, and livelihoods through technology-driven interventions in key sectors. The Punjab Outcomes-Acceleration in School… [Read More]
Nigeria Faces Sharp Spike in Hunger Amid Escalating Insurgent Violence
Northern Nigeria is facing unprecedented levels of hunger amid growing instability and a surge in insurgent attacks, the United Nations World Food Programme (WFP) has warned. According to the latest Cadre Harmonisé regional food security analysis, nearly 35 million people are projected to experience severe food insecurity during the 2026 lean season, marking the highest… [Read More]
Asia-Pacific Nuclear Safety Strengthened Through ADB-IAEA Partnership
The Asian Development Bank (ADB) and the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) have signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) to strengthen cooperation on the safe, peaceful, and sustainable use of nuclear energy in Asia and the Pacific. The agreement was signed by ADB President Masato Kanda and IAEA Director General Rafael Mariano Grossi, aiming to… [Read More]
