A World Bank Group delegation led by Dr. Ousmane Dione, Vice President for the Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan, and Pakistan (MENAAP) region, visited Damascus on November 19, 2025, to advance discussions on supporting Syria’s development priorities and recovery efforts. The delegation met with Syrian President Ahmed Al-Sharaa, Foreign Minister Asaad Al-Shaibani, and Finance Minister… [Read More]
Historic Ruling: Dominican Republic Lifts Ban on Same-Sex Relations in Security Forces
The Dominican Republic’s Constitutional Court has struck down provisions in the Codes of Justice of the National Police and the Armed Forces that criminalized consensual same-sex conduct by officers, marking a landmark victory for LGBT equality. The ruling, announced on November 18, 2025, ends a long-standing regime of state-sanctioned discrimination and affirms the human rights… [Read More]
Germany and African Union Deepen Collaboration to Drive Agenda 2063 Implementation
The African Union (AU) and the Federal Republic of Germany reaffirmed their enduring partnership for sustainable development, peace, and prosperity in Africa during the AU–Germany Negotiations on Development Cooperation, held on 6–7 November 2025 at the African Union Commission Headquarters in Addis Ababa. Germany committed an additional €88 million in funding to support AU-led priorities… [Read More]
Africa CDC Strengthens Continent’s Readiness with New Pandemic Fund Support
The Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC) took part in the Pandemic Fund Board Meeting held in Kigali, Rwanda, from 17–19 November 2025. The Pandemic Fund is the world’s primary financing mechanism dedicated to strengthening Pandemic Prevention, Preparedness, and Response (PPPR), with roughly half of its global investments focused on building core… [Read More]
Mongolia Strengthens Anti-Corruption and Crypto Risk Measures with OSCE Support
A two-day OSCE workshop held on 13–14 November in Ulaanbaatar convened 27 representatives from Mongolia’s Independent Authority Against Corruption (IAAC), the Financial Regulatory Commission, law enforcement agencies, financial institutions, and other relevant bodies to strengthen national capacities in addressing money-laundering risks linked to virtual assets and blockchain-based finance. The workshop emphasized practical aspects of compliance,… [Read More]
Leveraging Pacific Insights to Advance Integrated Climate Action
For generations, the Pacific Ocean has connected islands rather than separated them, guided by the knowledge and skills of ancient Polynesian wayfinders who navigated using stars, currents, winds, and wildlife. Today, Pacific peoples continue this legacy by leading climate responses across their region, demonstrating resilience and stewardship over vast ocean territories that span nearly a… [Read More]
Sudan Receives mUSD 4 Million from Kuwait Fund for New Infrastructure and Developent Initiatives
The United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) and the Kuwait Fund for Arab Economic Development (KFAED) have launched two new development projects in Sudan, totaling USD 4 million in financing from the Kuwait Fund, with an additional USD 4.2 million from the Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation (SDC) for one initiative. The projects aim to… [Read More]
Human Rights at Risk: EU’s Omnibus Simplification Plan Criticized
For years, the European Union has played a leading role in establishing regulations that safeguard human rights online, but recent moves under the guise of “simplification” threaten to weaken these protections. Digital and human rights advocates, including Amnesty International, have highlighted that emerging technologies increasingly impact individuals and communities, underscoring the need for stronger rights… [Read More]
Environmental Groups Appeal Denial of Injunction Against $4.7B Fossil Fuel Handout
Friends of the Earth US (FOE-US) and Justiça Ambiental (JA) have filed an appeal with the U.S. Court of Appeals for the D.C. Circuit, seeking to halt nearly $5 billion in financing by the U.S. Export-Import Bank (EXIM) for the Mozambique LNG project. This follows a lower court’s October 10 decision denying their request for… [Read More]
High Sugar in Baby Foods: Nestlé Faces NGO Criticism Across Africa
Swiss NGO Public Eye has accused Nestlé of maintaining a double standard regarding the sugar content in its infant cereals sold in Africa compared to those in more developed markets. The critique, which has drawn concern from health advocates, underscores ongoing debates over nutrition and marketing practices in the global food industry. In collaboration with… [Read More]
Apply Soon: CEPF Caribbean Small Grants to Support Local Conservation Projects
The Critical Ecosystem Partnership Fund (CEPF) will open its 11th Call for Letters of Inquiry (LOIs) on Wednesday, 26 November 2025, focusing exclusively on small grants for biodiversity conservation in the Caribbean Islands Biodiversity Hotspot. This round will make a total of US$200,000 available, with individual grants ranging from US$5,000 to US$50,000 to support civil… [Read More]
Lebanon’s Energy, Finance, and Manufacturing Get a Boost Through IFC Initiatives
Beirut, Lebanon, November 20, 2025 — The International Finance Corporation (IFC), a member of the World Bank Group, announced five new investments and engagements aimed at expanding access to finance and energy, supporting the growth of Lebanon’s manufacturing sector, and creating employment opportunities across the country. The announcements were made during the Beirut One investor… [Read More]
How Generali and UNDP Are Boosting MSME Resilience in Asia
Generali, in partnership with the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), hosted the regional conference “Protecting the Future: Building MSME Resilience in Asia” in Bangkok on 21 November 2025. The initiative focuses on strengthening the resilience of micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs) across Asia against rising risks, emphasizing access to insurance and sustainable business growth…. [Read More]
Egypt’s School Bank Initiative: How Early Financial Education Is Shaping a Smarter Generation
Financial education is no longer a luxury—it’s a necessity, especially in a country where young people make up 60% of the population. Egypt has embraced this reality through the groundbreaking School Bank initiative, led by the Central Bank of Egypt in partnership with the Ministry of Education, to equip children with the skills needed for… [Read More]
How Grant Funding Helped a Kenyan Recycler Create Jobs from Waste
A Nairobi-based glass recycling company has rapidly expanded over the past five years, growing its workforce from 60 to 140 employees and reaching an annual revenue of $800,000. Its growth was supported by a $36,000 grant from the World Bank-funded Kenya Youth Employment and Opportunities Project (KYEOP), which, through the MbeleNaBiz initiative, has helped 750… [Read More]
Building Lasting Growth: How Good Governance Is Transforming Sarawak
Thirty-eight-year-old journalist Norman Goh, originally from Kuching in Sarawak, reflects on how the state has evolved and how good governance can unlock its potential. Now based in Kuala Lumpur, he believes Sarawak can attract high-impact investments by improving efficiency, strengthening human capital, and focusing on key industries. For Goh, transparency and sound governance are essential… [Read More]
Nepal Transforms Forest Management Through Data-Driven Action
Nepal is taking major strides toward empowering every municipality to manage its forests sustainably by developing detailed biophysical forest data and strengthening local governance. For many years, forest data existed only at national and provincial levels, creating a gap that limited effective management under the country’s federal structure. To address this, the Ministry of Forests… [Read More]
Boosting Yemen’s Resilience Through Sustainable Fisheries
Yemen’s fisheries sector, once central to food security and local livelihoods, has suffered immense damage due to prolonged conflict, collapsing infrastructure, and worsening climate impacts. Fishers have faced rising costs, limited access to cold storage, and deteriorating landing sites, all of which have reduced earnings and made nutritious fish less affordable for communities. Despite these… [Read More]
Boosting Rural Incomes and Fisheries Productivity Across the Philippines
Agriculture plays a vital role in the Philippines, employing a quarter of the labor force and contributing significantly to the national economy. Despite its importance, the sector’s transformation has been slow due to persistent challenges such as low productivity, limited value addition, and the growing impacts of climate change, which have reduced yields and arable… [Read More]
Tajikistan to Modernize Livestock Sector with $17 Million ADB Grant
The Asian Development Bank (ADB) has approved a $17 million grant to help Tajikistan digitalize and modernize its livestock farming sector, aiming to increase farmer incomes and improve access to nutritious food. The financing includes a $14 million grant from the Asian Development Fund and a $3 million grant from the Japan Fund for Prosperous… [Read More]
New Cambodian Roadmap Aims to Save Lives Through Early Warning Systems
The Government of Cambodia, in partnership with the United Nations World Food Programme and other UN agencies, has launched the National Roadmap for Early Warnings for All (EW4ALL 2025–2028), a strategic plan designed to ensure inclusive, multi-hazard early warning systems reach every community in the country. Developed collaboratively with government ministries, UN partners, and civil… [Read More]
Pakistan to Boost Clean Energy Grid with $330 Million ADB Funding
The Asian Development Bank (ADB) has approved loans totaling $330 million to Pakistan for the Second Power Transmission Strengthening Project, a key investment aimed at expanding the national transmission network and facilitating the transfer of low-cost renewable and hydropower to major load centers. The project will construct a new 500-kilovolt transmission line spanning approximately 290… [Read More]
Lao PDR to Strengthen Inclusive and Green Growth with ADB Support
The Asian Development Bank (ADB) has approved a $36 million financing package to align technical and vocational education and training (TVET) with labor market demands in the Lao People’s Democratic Republic (Lao PDR). The Skills Enhancement for Inclusive and Green Economic Development Project aims to increase local employment opportunities for young people, particularly women, by… [Read More]
