In the coffee-growing highlands of Lempira and Comayagua, Honduras, communities are embracing a new approach that places occupational health and safety (OHS) at the center of efforts to eliminate child labour. For decades, economic hardship and hazardous working conditions have forced many families to make the difficult choice between sending their children to work or… [Read More]
Advancing Sustainable Trade: Namibia Develops Roadmap for Responsible Business Conduct
Namibia recently hosted the National SUSTAIN Workshop from 30 September to 2 October, focusing on advancing decent work through responsible business conduct and international labour standards in trade and investment. The event brought together representatives from government, workers’ organizations, and employers to discuss how trade and investment can more effectively support decent work and sustainable… [Read More]
Ukraine Public Opinion Survey: Insights from Citizens on Key Issues
Ukraine continues to face high poverty and rising inequality in the fourth year of Russia’s invasion, with a preliminary poverty rate of 36.9% in 2025, similar to 2024 levels and significantly above pre-2022 rates. Income inequality has worsened, with the Gini coefficient increasing from 0.41 in 2023 to 0.50 in 2025, driven largely by uneven… [Read More]
European Commission and World Bank Group Deepen Collaboration at Global Gateway Forum
The European Commission and the World Bank Group are deepening their strategic partnership under the Global Gateway investment strategy to advance a new generation of connectivity projects. The initial pipeline includes 18 high-impact investments across energy, transport, and digital infrastructure in Africa, Asia and the Pacific, and Latin America and the Caribbean. The collaboration aims… [Read More]
Positive Economic Growth in Nigeria Signals Opportunity to Secure Benefits for All
Nigeria has made significant strides toward stabilizing its economy through recent policy reforms, but translating these gains into improved living standards remains a key challenge, according to the latest Nigeria Development Update (NDU) released by the World Bank. The report, titled “From Policy to People: Bringing the Reform Gains Home,” highlights progress in economic growth,… [Read More]
Africa 2025 Resilience Forum Highlights Shift: Farmers Should Supply, Not Receive, Food Aid
Agricultural experts at the 6th Africa Resilience Forum, held in Abidjan from 1–3 October 2025, urged African governments to reposition farmers from recipients of food aid to active providers. Panelists emphasized that agriculture is a critical activity in crisis zones and that sustainable development and peace depend on food security. Roland Fomundam, CEO of Greenhouse… [Read More]
Somalia Faces Deepening Humanitarian Crisis as IFRC Appeals for CHF 25 Million
The International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC) has launched an emergency appeal for 25 million Swiss francs to support the Somali Red Crescent Society (SRCS) in responding to a deepening humanitarian crisis in Somalia. Millions of people are struggling amid failed rains, food shortages, and the collapse of local systems. Naemi… [Read More]
IDB Supports Haiti in Strengthening Health Services for Vulnerable Communities
The Inter-American Development Bank (IDB) has approved a $100 million grant to support the reconstruction of essential health services in Haiti’s three northern departments, aiming to save lives and prevent disabilities. This funding, endorsed by the IDB’s Board of Executive Directors, will strengthen the country’s health system, conduct critical health surveys and analyses, and advance… [Read More]
CDB Introduces Region’s First Digital Training Program on Community Engagement
The Caribbean Development Bank’s Basic Needs Trust Fund (BNTF) is set to launch the Caribbean’s first online certified community engagement course for development practitioners on October 22, 2025. The course aims to equip community-development professionals and civil society leaders with the tools needed to strengthen community participation throughout project cycles. Participants will learn how to… [Read More]
The Impact of Organized Crime on Human Development in Latin America: A Call for Structural Solutions
Latin America and the Caribbean face a complex and persistent challenge as organized crime consolidates its influence while countries strive to advance development goals. Criminal organizations have diversified their activities, including illegal mining, human trafficking, and extortion, extending their control over institutions, territories, and communities. This expansion has profound consequences for human development, as these… [Read More]
In Zambia, African Development Fund Drives Major Reforms in Agriculture and Education
Concessional financing from the African Development Fund (ADF) has played a transformative role in reshaping Zambia’s agriculture and education sectors, fostering peace, prosperity, and regional competitiveness. During a recent visit to Zambia’s capital, Lusaka, ADF deputies gathered for discussions on the Fund’s 17th replenishment and toured two major project sites — the Nitrogen Chemicals of… [Read More]
African Development Bank Leads Regional Initiative to Tackle Toxic Pollution in Africa’s LDCs
The African Development Bank successfully concluded a two-day virtual workshop focused on launching a regional initiative aimed at helping Africa’s least developed countries (LDCs) manage hazardous chemicals and waste more effectively. Supported by the Global Environment Facility (GEF), the initiative—known as AFLDC-2—was approved by the Bank’s Board of Directors in December 2024. It seeks to… [Read More]
African Development Bank Approves $8.9 Million GEF Grant to Strengthen São Tomé and Príncipe’s Agriculture and Fisheries
The African Development Bank Group’s Board of Directors has approved an additional grant of $8.9 million from the Global Environment Facility (GEF) to support São Tomé and Príncipe in building resilience against climate change and improving agricultural productivity. This new financing increases the total project funding to $18.9 million, combining the earlier $10.05 million African… [Read More]
Tracking Climate Action: Africa Introduces New Systems to Monitor Green Commitments
A decade after the adoption of the Paris Agreement, which aims to limit global temperature rise to below 2°C and ideally 1.5°C, African nations are intensifying their efforts to ensure accountability and progress in meeting their climate commitments. In a landmark move, the African Technology Policy Studies Network (ATPS), in collaboration with the Pan African… [Read More]
$25 Million Solar Investment Announced to Accelerate Mongolia’s Clean Energy Transition
India’s investment in Mongolia’s solar energy sector marks a major milestone in Mongolia’s efforts to diversify its energy sources and reduce its dependence on coal. Currently, about 90% of Mongolia’s electricity is generated from a single coal-fired power plant. The new solar power plant, backed by Indian funding and technology, represents a crucial step toward… [Read More]
Turning the Tide: How Global Movements and Youth Activism Are Tackling Poverty
Around the world, campaigns, festivals, and grassroots engagement are combining music, education, and activism to draw attention to global poverty, its causes, and solutions. Ongoing initiatives emphasize the role of youth and education, highlighting practical ways citizens and policymakers can make a difference. Key Takeaways Global poverty rates have dropped significantly, but large-scale efforts remain… [Read More]
North Macedonia Hosts World Energy Forum from 28–30 October 2025
The 14th International Forum on Energy for Sustainable Development (14-IFESD) is scheduled to take place from 28–30 October 2025 in Skopje, Republic of North Macedonia. The event is jointly organized by the Ministry of Energy, Mining and Mineral Resources of North Macedonia, UNDP North Macedonia, and the five United Nations Regional Commissions, including UNECE, UNESCAP,… [Read More]
Minsk Forum Unites Stakeholders to Build Belarus’ Artificial Intelligence Ecosystem
The forum in Belarus represents a significant step in the country’s systematic development of artificial intelligence by fostering partnerships between the public sector, private enterprises, and academia. AI is increasingly recognized as a critical element of the global agenda, with experts highlighting its potential to advance Sustainable Development Goals in areas such as healthcare, education,… [Read More]
Protecting Communities and Economies with Climate Data and Early Warnings
As extreme weather events intensify due to climate change, anticipating hazards before they strike has become critical for saving lives and protecting economies. Central to this capability is climate information, collected through weather stations, gauges, and sensors, which is transformed into actionable knowledge about climate trends, vulnerabilities, and impacts. This data supports reliable weather forecasts,… [Read More]
Caribbean Schools Embrace Climate-Smart Education Initiatives
The 2024 Hurricane Beryl underscored the urgent need for climate-resilient planning in Caribbean education, particularly in Grenada and Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, where infrastructure losses were catastrophic. Loraine St. Louis Nedd, Permanent Secretary of Grenada’s Ministry of Education, highlighted that nearly all school structures on Union Island, Carriacou, and Petite Martinique were destroyed, disrupting… [Read More]
Second Phase of UNESCO Initiative Tackles Antisemitism in Europe, Ensures Safe Learning Spaces
The rise of antisemitism across Europe poses a serious threat not only to Jewish communities but also to the democratic fabric of societies, which depend on transparency, accountability, and freedom of expression. In response, UNESCO has launched the second phase of its “Addressing Antisemitism through Education in Europe” programme in 2025, supported by 1 million… [Read More]
UNESCO Strengthens Protection of Traditional Knowledge in Balkan Communities
The UNESCO Balkan regional workshop, held in Sarajevo on 8-9 September 2025, focused on harnessing Indigenous and Local Knowledge (ILK) to address climate change, disaster risk reduction, and biodiversity protection. Experts from diverse fields—including biodiversity, ILK, and disaster risk management—gathered to explore how traditional knowledge can complement scientific approaches to environmental challenges. The workshop built… [Read More]
Amazon Announces €20,000 Fund to Break Barriers for Irish Creatives
Amazon has launched the Regional Creatives Fund Ireland to open new pathways into creative careers for underrepresented individuals across the country. The fund offers grants of up to €20,000 to registered Irish charities that help people pursue careers in publishing, music, gaming, film, TV, fashion, visual arts, podcasting, and other creative sectors. The initiative aims… [Read More]
