UN Spokesperson Stéphane Dujarric briefed reporters in New York on Monday regarding the ongoing protests in Iran, noting that demonstrations have taken place in Tehran, Yasuj, and across a majority of Iranian provinces, according to human rights activists and online reports. Videos circulating on social media have highlighted the scale of these protests, reflecting widespread… [Read More]
Maduro Seized and International Norms Challenged: UN Security Council Split on Venezuela
The UN Security Council is deeply divided over the recent US operation in Venezuela, which resulted in the seizure of President Nicolás Maduro. Council members debated whether Washington’s actions uphold accountability or undermine the principles of international law. Some delegations viewed the operation as an exceptional, justified measure, while others warned it risks normalizing unilateral… [Read More]
Social Justice Strategies for a Just Transition in Uzbekistan
Muynak, once a thriving port town on the southern shore of the Aral Sea, illustrates the profound human and ecological consequences of environmental collapse. In the mid-20th century, the town flourished as a fishing hub, with the Muynak Canned Fish Combine providing tens of thousands of jobs and supporting a vibrant maritime economy. By the… [Read More]
Labour Rights, Supply Chains, and Trade: Essential Terms Guide
The International Labour Organization (ILO) has released a practical, user-friendly publication designed to clarify the often complex terminology connecting labour rights, trade, and supply chains. Titled Understanding Rights at Work: A Guide to Key Terms Related to Fundamental Principles and Rights at Work, Trade and Supply Chains, the guide provides accessible explanations of critical concepts… [Read More]
Life-Saving Food Assistance in Burundi: Japan and WFP Support Refugees and Returnees
The World Food Programme (WFP) has received over US$625,000 from the Government of Japan to provide urgent food assistance for refugees fleeing recent violence in eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) and Burundians returning from refugee camps in Tanzania. This contribution, equivalent to roughly two billion Burundian francs, comes at a critical time as… [Read More]
Libya Economic Diversification: The Role of Public-Private Dialogue
The EU-OECD project on Promoting Public-Private Dialogue (PPD) in Libya (2020–2023) demonstrated how structured dialogue between public and private actors can underpin economic transition. By engaging over 200 institutions across four major cities—Tripoli, Benghazi, Misrata, and Sebha—the initiative helped reduce fragmentation, build trust, and identify priority reforms to foster diversification and private sector development. Inclusive… [Read More]
Enhancing Active Labour Market Programs in Spain to Boost Jobs
The report provides a comprehensive qualitative assessment of 38 active labour market programmes (ALMPs) implemented under Spain’s Recovery and Resilience Plan (RRP), managed by either the State Public Employment Service (SEPE) or regional public employment services. The assessment is structured around nine criteria covering the full ALMP cycle, from evidence-based design and outreach to implementation,… [Read More]
Finance Solutions for Women Entrepreneurs: Bridging the Gap
This report, prepared by the OECD and the Global Women’s Entrepreneurship Policy Network, examines the barriers women entrepreneurs face in accessing finance for creating and growing businesses, and explores the policy reforms governments can introduce to address them. The report provides international data on the rate and nature of entrepreneurship by women compared with men,… [Read More]
International NGOs Raise Alarm Over Israel’s Registration Measures Impacting Humanitarian Work
International humanitarian organizations operating in the occupied Palestinian territory have warned that Israel’s recent registration measures threaten to halt their operations at a time of extreme civilian need, despite the ceasefire in Gaza. On 30 December, 37 international NGOs (INGOs) received official notice that their registrations would expire on 31 December 2025, initiating a 60-day… [Read More]
Optimizing Health Coverage: Key Takeaways from the ACA
The Affordable Care Act (ACA) sought to balance standardization of private health plans with maintaining consumer choice, yet selecting a health plan remains complex for many enrollees. This complexity persists despite reforms intended to simplify plan designs, present information more clearly, and structure the decision-making process. Research and policy analysis show that while the ACA… [Read More]
Understanding Federally Funded Contraceptive Programs in the U.S.
Federal financing for contraceptives plays a crucial role in improving access to family-planning services, which in turn enhances health and economic outcomes. Reductions in core federal programs, however, threaten these gains, underscoring the need to analyze public funding policies and their effects on equity, access, and choice. Research on this topic draws from expert interviews,… [Read More]
Croatia’s Future of Farming and Food: Policy Reforms for Sustainability and Resilience
Croatia’s agricultural policy and legal framework has undergone substantial transformation over the past three decades, shaped largely by its accession to the World Trade Organization and the European Union. These milestones prompted reforms that shifted agricultural support away from production-linked subsidies, reduced market-distorting measures, and expanded policy objectives to include rural development, environmental protection and… [Read More]
Strengthening National Evidence-Informed Policymaking Ecosystems: Bridging Research and Policy
This report synthesises the outcomes of a joint initiative by the European Commission’s Joint Research Centre and the OECD to strengthen evidence-informed policymaking across seven European countries. Although the project was initiated in response to governance challenges revealed during the COVID-19 pandemic, it demonstrates that the need for robust use of evidence in policymaking has… [Read More]
Social Mobility and Inequality in Latin America and the Caribbean: Trends, Challenges and Policy Insights
Latin America and the Caribbean continues to face deep challenges related to social mobility and inequality. Although the region has made notable progress in reducing poverty over recent decades, it remains one of the most unequal regions globally. Income inequality limits access to essential services, particularly quality education, and reinforces disadvantages based on socio-economic background…. [Read More]
Climate Mitigation in Intermediary Cities: Pathways to Sustainable and Resilient Growth
Intermediary cities are emerging as key drivers of Africa’s urban future, with cities such as Nakuru and Kiambu in Kenya and Beira and Quelimane in Mozambique experiencing rapid population growth and spatial expansion. These cities play an increasingly important role in national economies and service provision, yet their development trajectories are still being shaped. Unlike… [Read More]
Strategic Joint Evaluation of International Development and Humanitarian Assistance During COVID-19
The COVID-19 pandemic prompted an unprecedented global mobilisation involving governments, communities, international organisations and development and humanitarian actors. The crisis demonstrated that international co-operation can combine political resolve and technical expertise to deliver rapid, large-scale responses that reduce human suffering. At the same time, the response revealed persistent weaknesses, showing that co-operation alone cannot compensate… [Read More]
Direct Access to Climate Finance: Lessons for Strengthening National Institutions
Developing countries require substantial financial resources to pursue ambitious climate mitigation and adaptation actions. This paper examines the experiences of national institutions in developing countries that have sought direct access to multilateral climate funds, with the aim of identifying practical lessons that can help others plan for, secure and effectively use climate finance to support… [Read More]
From Paper to Practice: Implementing the United Nations Convention Against Corruption Worldwide
Dr. Muhyieddeen Touq, a key figure in negotiating the United Nations Convention against Corruption (UNCAC), views corruption as a profound injustice that strips people of their basic rights and undermines both national wealth and individual quality of life. Drawing from his academic background and extensive experience in Jordan’s government, he describes corruption as a deeply… [Read More]
Small Grants, Big Impact: Driving Local Development and Resilience
The federal government has a responsibility to manage taxpayer dollars effectively, balancing protection against waste, fraud, and abuse with strategic investments to deliver public results. However, the complexity of federal grantmaking often limits access for smaller jurisdictions and organizations. Funding tends to concentrate among applicants with the capacity and resources to navigate complex federal requirements,… [Read More]
Mekong Delta Adaptation: Lessons in Coastal Risk Management from Viet Nam
Viet Nam’s Mekong Delta, one of the world’s most engineered deltas, serves as a crucial food basket for both the country and global markets. Decades of intensive development, combined with rising seas and erratic weather patterns, have placed enormous strain on its ecology, water systems, and agriculture. In response, the Vietnamese government and local communities… [Read More]
HIV Response at Risk as Funding Falls Short Despite Promises
In January 2025, the US government paused all foreign assistance, abruptly affecting the delivery of HIV medicines and prevention services to millions of people. According to UNAIDS, if global action is not taken, this disruption could result in an additional 6 million new HIV infections and 4 million AIDS-related deaths by 2029. The sudden funding… [Read More]
USF Team Leverages Senegal Health Care Project Insights to Improve Global Health Work
Researchers at the University of South Florida’s College of Public Health (USF COPH) have applied lessons from their collaborative project in Senegal, known as Bajenu Gox, which aims to improve maternal and child health through community-led initiatives. The program leverages “neighborhood godmothers,” or Bajenu Gox volunteers, who provide essential health education, facilitate access to reproductive… [Read More]
Small Businesses as Economic Anchors in Climate-Vulnerable Somalia
Communities in the riverine villages of Yontoy, Haji Weyne, and Bula Gaduud in Somalia are facing a deepening drought after failed rains in late 2025 destroyed grazing lands and farms. With forecasts indicating no significant rainfall until at least April 2026, extreme heat and water scarcity are eroding livelihoods for families already living on the… [Read More]
