The Ontario government is investing $3.2 million to launch the next intake of funding applications under the Indigenous Economic Development Fund (IEDF), aimed at supporting Indigenous businesses, communities, and organizations to boost economic growth and create jobs across the province. The program forms part of Ontario’s broader plan to foster prosperity and opportunities for Indigenous… [Read More]
Green Transition Fund Expands with UK and ASEAN Clean Energy Initiative
The UK Mission to ASEAN has officially launched the Clean and Just Energy Transition Pillar of the ASEAN-UK Green Transition Fund (GTF) during the 25th ASEAN Energy Business Forum (AEBF). Officiated by UK Ambassador to ASEAN Helen Fazey and Yanuar Fajari, Head of the Energy and Minerals Division at the ASEAN Secretariat, the initiative marks… [Read More]
Over One Million People Return to Khartoum as Sudan’s Recovery Remains Fragile
Between November 2024 and September 2025, over one million people returned to Khartoum, Sudan, according to the International Organization for Migration (IOM). These families are seeking to rebuild their lives after months of displacement caused by ongoing conflict. Ugochi Daniels, IOM Deputy Director General for Operations, highlighted that while the return of families reflects resilience,… [Read More]
Global Forests See Positive Signs as Deforestation Slows Over Ten Years
Nearly 500 million hectares of forest—equivalent to about 750 million football pitches—have been lost globally since 1990. However, deforestation has slowed in every region of the world over the past decade, according to the UN Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO). Deforestation refers to the loss of forest cover or its conversion to other uses, such… [Read More]
DR Congo Faces Surge in Sexual Violence Against Women, UN Reports
Speaking to journalists at the UN Office in Geneva, Shoko Arakaki, director of humanitarian affairs at the UNFPA, highlighted a sharp rise in sexual violence against women and girls in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC). Essential services have been severely disrupted, and incidents of rape and conflict-related sexual violence have surged by a third… [Read More]
Congo Reports Declining Cholera Cases Amid Ongoing Response
The cholera outbreak in Congo is showing significant signs of decline, with no confirmed cases reported between 15 and 16 October 2025. This progress reflects the strengthened response efforts led by the Ministry of Health and Population, supported by partners including the World Health Organization (WHO). Improved treatment and care have been key to reducing… [Read More]
Advancing Public Health in Africa: WHO and Africa CDC Deepen Collaboration
Addis Ababa, October 6, 2025 — The World Health Organization Regional Office for Africa (WHO AFRO) and the Africa Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC) have signed a landmark framework to strengthen their collaboration on disease prevention, health security, and universal health coverage across the continent. The agreement provides a strategic platform to… [Read More]
World Food Day 2025 in Ghana: Promoting Sustainable Food and Nutrition
Ghana joined countries worldwide to commemorate World Food Day 2025 under the theme “Hand in Hand for Better Food and a Better Future.” The national celebration, held at the Ministry of Food and Agriculture (MoFA) in Accra, brought together government officials, development partners, farmers, civil society, and media to reflect on collective efforts toward building… [Read More]
IOM Signs MoU with CCCPA to Advance Regional Peace, Security, and Migration Management
In Aswan, Egypt, on 19–20 October 2025, the International Organization for Migration (IOM) and the Cairo International Center for Conflict Resolution, Peacekeeping and Peacebuilding (CCCPA) signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) during the Fifth Edition of the Aswan Forum for Sustainable Peace and Development. The agreement underscores a shared commitment to advancing sustainable peace, inclusive… [Read More]
Promoting Decent Work: ILO Calls for Socially Just Multilateral Cooperation
The International Labour Organization (ILO) is set to play a leading role at the Second World Summit for Social Development (WSSD2), held in Qatar from 4 to 6 November 2025, aiming to strengthen a new multilateralism that delivers tangible progress on decent work and social justice. Building on the Fourth International Conference on Financing for… [Read More]
Driving Digital Inclusion: Pacific Islands Unite for Connectivity for All
In June 2025, representatives from nine Pacific Small Island Developing States (SIDS) — including Fiji, Kiribati, Nauru, Papua New Guinea, Samoa, Tonga, Tuvalu, Vanuatu, and Palau — gathered in Koror, Palau, for a regional workshop focused on Promoting and Measuring Universal and Meaningful Connectivity (UMC). The three-day event brought together policymakers, statisticians, regulators, and telecom… [Read More]
APGF Initiative: Bridging Investment Gaps for ASEAN’s Regional Power Grid
The ASEAN Power Grid Financing (APGF) Initiative is a major regional effort aimed at creating an integrated transmission network to accelerate renewable energy development across Southeast Asia. Achieving the vision of a fully interconnected ASEAN Power Grid by 2045 is estimated to require around US$800 billion in generation and transmission investments. The initiative brings together… [Read More]
APGF Initiative: Boosting Investment in the ASEAN Power Grid
The ASEAN Power Grid Financing (APGF) Initiative is a major regional program designed to develop an integrated transmission network and accelerate the deployment of renewable energy across Southeast Asia. Achieving the ASEAN Power Grid vision by 2045 will require around US$800 billion in investments in both generation and transmission infrastructure. APGF brings together governments, utilities,… [Read More]
Shaping the Next Generation: Health and Skills for Young People
UNESCO and the National Council for Technical and Vocational Education and Training (NACTVET) have partnered to strengthen health and well-being education across Tanzania’s technical and tertiary institutions. The initiative aims to create safer, healthier, and more inclusive campuses by integrating life skills and health education into everyday learning, building on the successful rollout of UNESCO’s… [Read More]
Post-Conflict Syria: Reconstruction Costs Soar to $216 Billion
Syria’s post-conflict reconstruction is estimated to cost $216 billion after more than thirteen years of war, according to a new World Bank report. The Syria Physical Damage and Reconstruction Assessment 2011–2024 evaluated damage across infrastructure, residential, and non-residential buildings nationwide, covering the period from 2011 to 2024. Direct physical damages are estimated at $108 billion,… [Read More]
Congo Basin Forests Worth Trillions: Report Calls for Increased Global Investment
A new World Bank report highlights the immense economic, environmental, and climate value of the Congo Basin forests, home to the world’s second-largest tropical rainforest spanning six countries. The report reveals that the value of forest ecosystem services nearly doubled over two decades, increasing from $590 billion in 2000 to $1.15 trillion in 2020, while… [Read More]
African Development Bank Partners with Angola in $125 Million Youth Entrepreneurship Programme
The African Development Bank Group (AfDB), in collaboration with the Government of Angola and the European Union, has launched the $125 million Youth Employment Project (Crescer Project) to stimulate entrepreneurship, job creation, and skills development among young Angolans. The initiative aims to generate over 112,000 indirect jobs, support the growth of more than 10,000 micro,… [Read More]
African Development Bank Expands Support for Climate-Resilient Water Projects in Ethiopia’s Borana Zone
The Board of Directors of the African Development Bank (AfDB) has approved $16.38 million in additional financing for the Borana Resilient Water Development for Improved Livelihoods Programme II, further strengthening Ethiopia’s efforts to build climate-resilient water infrastructure in the drought-prone Borana zone of the Oromia region. The funding includes a $9.38 million grant from the… [Read More]
Lesotho Launches 2025 Human Development Report Focused on People-Centered AI
The United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), in partnership with the Government of Lesotho, launched the 2025 Human Development Report (HDR) on 6 August, marking a significant step in advancing the country’s efforts to integrate technology and innovation into its human development agenda. The report, themed “A Matter of Choice: People and Possibilities in the Age… [Read More]
Empowering Belarus: UNDP’s Role in Advancing Local Energy Transition
In 2024, Belarus achieved a major milestone by replacing about three billion cubic meters of imported natural gas with locally sourced fuels, primarily wood waste. Given that over 40% of the country is covered by forests, this transition represents a natural and strategic move toward energy diversification. The United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) has played… [Read More]
Germany’s Climate Action in Somalia Offers Key Insights Ahead of Berlin Climate Security Talks
Germany’s support for climate action in Somalia is demonstrating how environmental restoration can reduce conflict and strengthen community resilience ahead of the Berlin Climate and Security Conference 2025. Backed by the German government, the UN Environment Programme (UNEP), and the International Organization on Migration (IOM), projects in Somalia are linking climate, peace, and security by… [Read More]
“Our Children Cannot Wait”: Bié Residents Take Action Against Malaria
Thousands of families in Angola continue to face the threat of malaria, a disease that disproportionately affects children and pregnant women. To reduce this burden and strengthen community protection, a new mosquito net distribution campaign has been launched across Bié province. The initiative is led by the National Malaria Control Programme, with technical support from… [Read More]
Nearly 900 Million Poor at Risk from Climate Change, Warns UN
Nearly 80% of the world’s poorest, or roughly 900 million people, are directly exposed to climate hazards intensified by global warming, according to the United Nations. This population bears a “double and deeply unequal burden,” facing frequent and increasingly severe impacts from droughts, floods, heat waves, and air pollution. Haoliang Xu, acting administrator of the… [Read More]
