The Spotlight Initiative, a United Nations–European Union partnership, emphasizes that effective action against gender-based violence occurs when women and girls are “at the heart of every decision,” according to Erin Kenny, the Initiative’s Global Coordinator. Since its launch in 2017, Spotlight has worked to prevent all forms of violence, including sexual and gender-based violence, femicide,… [Read More]

The Independent International Fact-Finding Mission on Iran expressed alarm over credible reports that Iranian security forces had been ordered to carry out a “decisive” crackdown on protesters without restraint, as demonstrations entered their third week. On the evening of 8 January, internet and mobile connectivity were shut down, severely limiting access to information as the… [Read More]

UN agencies have warned that nearly three years of sustained violence, restricted humanitarian access, and shrinking funding have pushed Sudan into the largest humanitarian emergency in the world. An estimated 33.7 million people—around two-thirds of the population—are expected to need humanitarian assistance in 2026, with more than 20 million requiring health support and 21 million… [Read More]

From an early age, Safia learned the importance of looking out for others. As a primary school student, she began helping newly arrived families by translating at GP appointments and other essential meetings, drawing on her own family’s experience of migration. Today, Safia leads the Women’s Inclusive Team (WIT) as Chief Executive, a grassroots charity… [Read More]

The Health Information and Digital Health (HID) unit at the WHO Regional Office for the Western Pacific has successfully supported 19 countries, covering 99% of the Region’s population, in conducting comprehensive health information system (HIS) assessments. This achievement surpasses the regional target of 15 countries set for 2025 and advances efforts toward universal health coverage…. [Read More]

The Pan American Health Organization (PAHO) has urged countries across the Americas to remain vigilant and strengthen health system preparedness due to the simultaneous circulation of seasonal influenza and respiratory syncytial virus (RSV). This dual circulation could place additional pressure on hospitals and clinics for the remainder of the Northern Hemisphere winter season. The alert… [Read More]

T Sopo, a 31-year-old from Tsalka, is taking her first steps toward building a small cheese business with her mother. She emphasizes the importance of supporting other women farmers, sharing information about projects, training, and exhibitions to help their businesses grow. Alongside her entrepreneurial efforts, Sopo founded the non-profit Tsalka Development Center and runs a… [Read More]

The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), in partnership with the Government of Zimbabwe and funded by the French Government, has coordinated the Agricultural Voucher System under the Nourish and Thrive: Inclusive and Sustainable Nutrition and Livelihoods Initiative Project. This initiative aims to enhance food security and nutrition by providing rural households… [Read More]

Nearly one in three people in Sudan has been displaced, either within the country or across borders, over the past one thousand days since the outbreak of the conflict. This crisis has devastated lives, uprooted communities, and triggered the largest displacement emergency in the world, with an average of five displacement-triggering events occurring every week… [Read More]

The OPEC Fund for International Development and the Trade and Development Bank Group have joined the Alliance for Special Agro-Industrial Processing Zones, reinforcing efforts to accelerate agro-industrialisation across Africa. Launched at the 2023 Africa Investment Forum in Marrakech, Morocco, the Alliance combines financing, technical expertise, and private sector engagement to scale agricultural value-chain development throughout… [Read More]

Rice production in Mali is increasingly threatened by climate-related stresses such as unpredictable rainfall, droughts, flooding, and a higher incidence of pests and diseases. These challenges exacerbate the vulnerability of rice monoculture systems, which depend on consistent water supply and fertile soils, leading to declining soil health, increased production risks, and greater reliance on agricultural… [Read More]

Rice is the primary staple in Mali, forming the backbone of livelihoods for rural farm households who rely on rice farming for food security and income. However, the country is highly vulnerable to extreme weather events, including droughts, floods, irregular rainfall, and heatwaves, which have increasingly threatened rice production. In 2025, severe flooding in key… [Read More]

Project Lemon Aid brings shark science out of the field and into classrooms across the Turks & Caicos Islands, transforming research into engaging, hands-on learning experiences. While the team collects data on lemon sharks in mangroves and sandy flats, these real-world findings are translated into lessons that help students understand shark biology, local marine ecosystems,… [Read More]

After reconnaissance surveys supported by the Save Our Seas Foundation, intervention sites were identified in three coastal municipalities in Benin: POPAC in Cotonou, Ahouandji in Ouidah, and Agoué in Grand-Popo. The project team, assisted by trained enumerators, conducted surveys with 300 respondents, including fishermen and fishmongers, to assess knowledge of the Scalloped Hammerhead Shark, awareness… [Read More]

Seychelles is celebrated for its turquoise waters, vibrant marine life, and tropical landscapes, yet its fragile ecosystems face increasing threats from climate change, coral bleaching, rising sea levels, and coastal erosion. Protecting these environments requires more than policies; it demands educational initiatives that inspire young people to become stewards of the ocean. In Seychelles, the… [Read More]

Artificial intelligence (AI) is now deeply embedded in everyday decision-making, from determining loan approvals to managing traffic flow and prioritizing medical interventions. In this context, AI education requires instructors who go beyond theory, providing students with practical insights from real-world experiences in deploying AI systems, shaping policy, and managing ethical and operational tradeoffs. Practitioner faculty,… [Read More]

The federal government of Canada is inviting proposals for projects that aim to enhance equity and prevent harassment in federally regulated workplaces, with a total of $16.5 million in funding available over the next three years. Employment and Social Development Canada, in collaboration with the Privy Council Office, launched two calls for proposals targeting employers… [Read More]

Masspara village, situated in Badapaktari Panchayat, Jharkhand, faced severe challenges in accessing clean and reliable water before 2025. Residents relied on a nearby spring well located at a lower elevation, which required women and children to walk long distances daily, carry heavy pots of water, and climb back uphill. This task consumed several hours each… [Read More]

In rural Chile, microentrepreneurs face significant obstacles in developing sustainable businesses, often due to limited access to networks, resources, and training. Balloon Latam’s Trafkintunkimun program was created to address these challenges by fostering business and social networks that promote entrepreneurship with a triple impact: economic, social, and environmental benefits. The program aims to strengthen business… [Read More]

The UK’s community energy sector is calling on the government to provide increased and more evenly distributed funding to local projects, emphasizing that timely support is essential for community-led energy to contribute meaningfully to national climate and fuel-poverty targets. This call is detailed in the State of the Sector 2025 report, published by Community Energy… [Read More]

Agroforestry in the community of Tsiatosika was designed to address land degradation, food insecurity, and livelihood challenges by combining local knowledge with sustainable farming practices. Led by agricultural engineer Cédric Andriamananarivo Doriens, the initiative focuses on restoring degraded land, strengthening food production, and diversifying incomes through agroforestry systems that work in harmony with the environment…. [Read More]

Mali is located in the central Sahel, a region increasingly affected by climate change through rising temperatures, erratic rainfall patterns, and more frequent extreme weather events such as floods and droughts. These climatic shifts have reduced the reliability of rain-fed agriculture, intensified land degradation, and heightened risks for smallholder farmers. Rice producers are particularly vulnerable,… [Read More]

Mali’s rice-based farming systems are under growing pressure from climate change, with rising temperatures, erratic rainfall, recurrent droughts, and periodic flooding increasingly undermining agricultural productivity and rural livelihoods. These climate stresses have made water management more difficult in irrigated rice systems, shortened or disrupted growing seasons, and increased the frequency of severe yield losses. Changing… [Read More]