The European Investment Bank’s development arm, EIB Global, is lending the Indian government $191 million to upgrade and expand water and sewerage infrastructure in the northern state of Uttarakhand. This marks EIB Global’s first operation fully dedicated to India’s water sector, targeting improvements in both water supply and sanitation amid the state’s rapid growth in… [Read More]
Global CO2 Levels Hit Record High in 2024, Says UN Weather Agency
The World Meteorological Organization (WMO) has reported a record surge in carbon dioxide levels in 2024, driven by continued human emissions, increased wildfire activity, and weakened absorption by land and ocean “sinks.” This combination of factors threatens to create a vicious cycle that could accelerate global warming. According to the WMO’s latest Greenhouse Gas Bulletin,… [Read More]
New ASEAN Power Grid Financing Initiative Launched by ADB and World Bank Group
The Asian Development Bank (ADB), the World Bank Group, and the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) have launched a new financing initiative to support tPower Grid (APG), a reghe ASEAN ional effort to connect electricity networks and enhance energy cooperation across Southeast Asia by 2045. The initiative was announced during the 42nd ASEAN Ministers on… [Read More]
New IMF-IICA Report Reveals Affordable Path to Eradicate Hunger in Latin America and the Caribbean
A new study by the Inter-American Institute for Cooperation on Agriculture (IICA) in collaboration with the International Monetary Fund (IMF) shows that eradicating hunger in Latin America and the Caribbean is achievable at a relatively low fiscal cost. The findings were presented to agri-food experts, opinion leaders, and journalists at an event in Costa Rica,… [Read More]
How The Bahamas’ Disaster Response Can Guide RP26 Planning
The Bahamas is bracing for a new hurricane season, with Hurricane Erin recently passing through and highlighting the ongoing risks faced by the islands. For Bahamians, the reality of storms is not abstract—years of lived experience have shown that early warning and swift action can mean the difference between safety and disaster. This awareness was… [Read More]
Cities and Innovation: How Urban Spaces Fuel Creative Growth
Cities today face mounting pressures to do more with fewer resources, from cutting emissions and adapting to climate risks to improving urban livability. Simultaneously, digital technologies, including AI, are reshaping urban life, impacting mobility, energy management, public services, and civic engagement. The most successful transformations come when these green and digital shifts are integrated, creating… [Read More]
The Future of Fashion: Innovation, Sustainability, and Technology in Textiles
Nino Goderidze’s passion for fabrics and crafting as a child laid the foundation for her experimental fashion brand, God Era, which explores identity, trauma, and transformation. Since launching the brand in 2020 during the COVID-19 pandemic, Nino has focused on the queer body and experiences of minorities, using innovative approaches such as creating vegan leather… [Read More]
Tuvalu Advances Climate Resilience with Coastal Adaptation Project and Land Creation
The people and Government of Tuvalu celebrated a significant milestone with the completion of eight hectares of reclaimed land under Phase 2/TCAP 1A of the Tuvalu Coastal Adaptation Project (TCAP). Funded with US$17.5 million by Australia, New Zealand, and the United States and implemented by the UN Development Programme (UNDP), the project has elevated land… [Read More]
Global Hunger Relief: Delivery Hero Teams Up to Deliver 100 Million Meals
Delivery Hero, the world’s leading local delivery company, has announced its most ambitious initiative yet in combating global hunger, committing to facilitate the donation of 111 million meals in 2025. Collaborating with the UN World Food Programme (WFP), the Global FoodBanking Network (GFN), and other charity partners, the company aims to leverage its extensive global… [Read More]
Post-Quake Afghanistan: Rising Health Risks for Children
A 6.3-magnitude earthquake struck eastern Afghanistan near the Pakistan border on 31 August, destroying homes and critical water, sanitation, and hygiene infrastructure. The disaster has left child survivors living in overcrowded displacement camps and makeshift shelters without access to toilets or safe water, creating conditions highly conducive to disease outbreaks. Dr. Tajudeen Oyewale, UNICEF’s representative… [Read More]
Post-Quake Afghanistan: Rising Health Risks for Children
A 6.3-magnitude earthquake struck eastern Afghanistan near the Pakistan border on 31 August, destroying homes and critical water, sanitation, and hygiene infrastructure. The disaster has left child survivors living in overcrowded displacement camps and makeshift shelters without access to toilets or safe water, creating conditions highly conducive to disease outbreaks. Dr. Tajudeen Oyewale, UNICEF’s representative… [Read More]
Bangladesh Takes Action on Enforced Disappearances, Says UN Human Rights Chief
Last week, Bangladesh’s International Crimes Tribunal (ICT) formally submitted charges in two cases related to alleged abuses at the Task Force for Interrogation Cell and the Joint Interrogation Cell, including crimes against humanity. Arrest warrants were issued for several former military officers, including ex-Directors-General of the Directorate General of Forces Intelligence (DGFI) and former officials… [Read More]
World Bank’s Livable Planet Fund Receives €19.5 Million Commitment from Spain
Spain has committed €19.5 million to the World Bank’s Livable Planet Fund (LPF) as part of a broader support package for sustainable development and debt relief. This funding aims to scale up cross-border projects in energy, water, and nature protection, reinforcing Spain’s leadership in tackling global challenges. The LPF, housed within the World Bank Group,… [Read More]
Smarter Irrigation Boosts Productivity and Sustainability for Nigerian Farmers
Agriculture remains a cornerstone of Nigeria’s economy, employing over a third of the population, but unpredictable weather and climate change make farming a challenging and uncertain livelihood. To address these challenges, the Transforming Irrigation Management in Nigeria (TRIMING) project has expanded and modernized irrigation across 43,400 hectares, enabling farmers to produce enough food to feed… [Read More]
World Bank Receives Strategic Contributions from Singapore and New Zealand
Singapore and New Zealand have announced significant contributions to innovative World Bank financial instruments designed to expand the Bank’s lending capacity and address global development challenges. Singapore pledged $20 million to the Bank’s hybrid capital instrument and will redirect interest payments from this instrument to the Bank’s net income. Leveraged effectively, Singapore’s contribution could provide… [Read More]
Empowering Rural Youth and Women in Nepal through Skills Development
Over 111,000 beneficiaries in Nepal have been trained in market-relevant short-term vocational skills through five rounds of project-supported programs, with 85 percent of trainees being women or youth from disadvantaged backgrounds. Approximately 77 percent of participants secured wage employment or self-employment within six months of completing training, earning between Rs 10,000–35,000 per month—well above the… [Read More]
Right to Work Initiative in Ethiopia Paves the Way for Economic and Social Transformation
Ethiopia has introduced groundbreaking legislation granting refugees and asylum seekers the right to work for the first time in the country’s history, a milestone achieved through the 2019 Refugee Proclamation. This historic law allows refugees to engage in wage employment, self-employment, and business ownership, significantly expanding their economic opportunities. Since its implementation, over 24,000 refugees… [Read More]
Uzbekistan’s Economic Reforms and Global Trade Integration Boosted by ADB Support
The Asian Development Bank (ADB) has approved a $500 million policy-based loan to help Uzbekistan strengthen public sector efficiency, enhance economic governance, and accelerate its integration into the global economy. The support, provided under the Economic Management Improvement Program (Phase 2), builds on earlier reforms and introduces a new set of institutional measures aimed at… [Read More]
Tajikistan to Boost Digital Connectivity as ADB and Tcell Ink $30 Million Deal
The Asian Development Bank (ADB) and Indigo Tajikistan Closed Joint Stock Company (Tcell) have signed a $30 million equivalent local currency financing agreement to expand and modernize mobile connectivity across Tajikistan. The initiative represents ADB’s first nonsovereign loan in the country, marking a major milestone in its support for private sector development. According to ADB… [Read More]
Africa’s Economic Resilience and Investment Opportunities Spotlighted by AfDB Chief Economist
Africa’s growing economic strength and vast investment opportunities took center stage during a recent African Development Bank Group (AfDB) mission to Yokohama, Japan, from 20–22 August 2025. Addressing Japanese businesses at the “Economic Partnership in Indian Ocean–Africa” Forum, AfDB Chief Economist Prof. Kevin Chika Urama emphasized that Africa’s appeal lies in its youthful and expanding… [Read More]
AfDB and ITFC Join Forces to Boost Investment and Economic Growth in Tanzania
The African Development Bank Group’s Tanzania Office and the Islamic Trade Finance Corporation (ITFC) have reaffirmed their commitment to advancing private sector development as a driver of sustainable economic growth and competitiveness in Tanzania. During a meeting held on 29 September 2025, ITFC’s delegation, led by Senior Manager and Regional Head for East Africa and… [Read More]
Empowering Africa’s Rural Women: Celebrating the International Day of Rural Women 2025
The International Day of Rural Women highlights the essential role women play in Africa’s development as farmers, entrepreneurs, and innovators who sustain families, drive rural economies, and protect the environment. Despite these contributions, many still face barriers to land ownership, finance, and decision-making. For the African Development Bank Group (AfDB), this day underscores its mission… [Read More]
World Bank Revises Global Poverty Figures Upward with New Data and Purchasing Power Parities
The World Bank has released its June 2025 Global Poverty Update, incorporating new survey data and the 2021 Purchasing Power Parities (PPPs). This update reveals a significant upward revision in global extreme poverty rates for 2022, impacting millions worldwide. The report also introduces revised international poverty lines and nowcasted estimates extending to 2025. Key Takeaways… [Read More]
