UNESCO and the World Bank convened senior ICT policymakers, regulators, and industry leaders from across Africa to explore strategies for sustainable and resource-efficient AI development. The meeting, held on 11 November in Conakry, Guinea, aimed to highlight the environmental impacts of AI and encourage the integration of sustainability considerations into national AI strategies. Participants examined… [Read More]

The International Labour Organization (ILO) is hosting a hybrid conference titled Trade and Labour in Uncertain Times – Shaping Africa’s Future in the Global Economy, focusing on Africa’s evolving role in global trade. The event will examine how geopolitical shifts, sustainability requirements, and changing regulatory frameworks are reshaping global value chains, creating both opportunities and… [Read More]

ICT policymakers and industry leaders from 23 African countries convened at the 7th Transform Africa Summit in Conakry, Guinea, on 12 November 2025, to advance practical data governance solutions and launch the French edition of UNESCO’s Data Governance Toolkit. The workshop brought together over 50 senior ICT policymakers, regulators, and industry representatives, focusing on bridging… [Read More]

Two local organisations in New South Wales have been awarded $250,000 each through the Supporting Women in Business Grants program 2025/26, aimed at helping over 90 women enhance their skills, confidence, and capacity to achieve their business goals. The funding was granted to Unkya Local Aboriginal Land Council and The Social Outcomes Lab, supporting initiatives… [Read More]

The Water Discovery Challenge is returning with £7.5 million in funding to accelerate the development and adoption of innovative solutions for the water sector in England and Wales. Managed by Ofwat’s Water Innovation Fund, the competition is designed to attract ideas from outside the water industry, encouraging fresh thinking from sectors such as energy, transport,… [Read More]

Many rural women in Bosnia and Herzegovina begin their day before dawn, balancing long hours on the farm with household chores, childcare, and community responsibilities. They are often the first to feel the effects of droughts, floods, or post-conflict rebuilding, managing family plots, livestock, and local economies, yet remain excluded from decision-making spaces and have… [Read More]

The world faces the dual challenge of increasing food production while reducing greenhouse gas emissions from agriculture. One emerging solution involves the use of environmental inhibitors (EIs), substances designed to lower methane emissions from cows and other livestock, and to reduce nitrogen losses from fertilizers in crop production. These technologies have the potential to mitigate… [Read More]

The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) has welcomed the entry into force of the Agreement under the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea on the Conservation and Sustainable Use of Marine Biological Diversity of Areas beyond National Jurisdiction (BBNJ Agreement). This binding global treaty, effective from 17 January… [Read More]

Julien Harneis, UN Resident and Humanitarian Coordinator in Yemen, issued a stark warning that children in the country are dying and that conditions are expected to worsen, with mortality and morbidity likely to rise significantly in the coming year. His alert follows recent clashes in eastern governorates, where forces affiliated with the Southern Transitional Council… [Read More]

The International Criminal Court (ICC) has raised serious concerns about the escalating violence in Sudan, particularly in the Darfur region, where civilians are facing organized and widespread atrocities. ICC Deputy Prosecutor Nazhat Shameem Khan described the situation as “darkening even further,” with mass executions, arbitrary detentions, rape, and the use of collective torture as tools… [Read More]

The United Nations continues to advocate for the universal abolition of the death penalty, emphasizing that the right to life is protected under the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, ratified by 175 countries. For states that retain capital punishment, it should only be applied in exceptional cases for the “most serious crimes.” Despite… [Read More]

The UN World Food Programme (WFP) has highlighted a growing global hunger crisis, reporting that an estimated 318 million people now face crisis levels of hunger or worse, with hundreds of thousands already experiencing famine-like conditions. Funding shortfalls are forcing the WFP to cut rations and scale back assistance even as needs surge. With less… [Read More]

The Ontario government has launched the second intake of the Rural Ontario Development Program, committing $20 million to support rural communities by strengthening local economies, building infrastructure, and keeping workers employed. The program is open to rural municipalities, businesses, Indigenous groups, and not-for-profit organizations, and the announcement was made at the 2026 Rural Ontario Municipal… [Read More]

PacifiCan has announced a $2.5 million investment in Kelowna-based MAKR Group, a manufacturer of steel components, playground equipment, and water management systems. MAKR supplies splash pads and park installations globally, and this funding will support the implementation of an innovative Industrial Internet of Things (IIoT) system. The IIoT system will connect smart manufacturing machines to… [Read More]

The Westcott Space Hub has officially opened in Buckinghamshire, marking a major boost for the UK space sector. The £20 million facility, supported by £5.8 million from the UK Space Agency and £15 million in private sector match funding, spans 62,000 square feet and provides state-of-the-art infrastructure for space businesses. It aims to support innovation,… [Read More]

In Guatemala, digital transformation achieves meaningful results when people are able to use technology in ways that improve their daily lives. For many communities, this goes beyond merely having access to devices—it requires the skills, confidence, and support necessary to navigate an increasingly digital world. “My First Digital Steps” is designed around this people-centred approach,… [Read More]

The International Organization for Migration (IOM) has deployed emergency teams to Eastern Libya to assist dozens of migrants recently freed from appalling detention conditions. These cases highlight the severe risks faced by migrants along migration routes, where criminal networks exploit vulnerable populations. IOM Chief of Mission in Libya, Nicoletta Giordano, emphasized that the abuses uncovered… [Read More]

At the World Economic Forum’s Annual Meeting 2026 in Davos, themed “A Spirit of Dialogue,” the Director General of the International Organization for Migration, Amy Pope, joined global leaders to discuss pressing challenges including international cooperation, economic growth, responsible innovation, investment in people, and sustainable prosperity. IOM’s participation emphasized how well-managed migration can transform mobility… [Read More]

One hundred days into the ceasefire, the World Food Programme has significantly expanded its life-saving operations across the Gaza Strip, now reaching more than one million people each month. These efforts have helped push back the immediate risk of famine, but the situation remains extremely fragile. Continued access through all border crossings, the steady flow… [Read More]

The World Food Programme has received a EUR 6.5 million contribution from the European Union to support lifesaving humanitarian assistance for crisis-affected people in Somalia, alongside continued operations of the United Nations Humanitarian Air Service across the country. The funding comes at a critical time as food insecurity and malnutrition continue to rise, placing millions… [Read More]

As Lebanon enters the new year, food insecurity remains widespread and fragile despite signs of modest easing under current conditions. A new Integrated Food Security Phase Classification analysis covering November 2025 to July 2026 shows that around 874,000 people, representing about 17 percent of the population analysed, are facing crisis or emergency levels of acute… [Read More]

Across the world, the blue economy is under increasing pressure as marine pollution, climate change, and unsustainable consumption degrade ocean ecosystems that support food systems, employment, and coastal livelihoods. Plastic waste has become one of the most visible and damaging threats, clogging waterways, harming marine life, and undermining fisheries across developing regions. Experts warn that… [Read More]

An ongoing familiarisation visit by journalists from Africa and the Pacific to India has highlighted a critical development challenge for many developing countries: the need to build infrastructure that can withstand climate shocks, disasters, and rapid urbanisation while supporting long-term growth. The discussions underscored how infrastructure resilience has become central to sustainable development as countries… [Read More]