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]
Experts Warn Kyrgyzstan’s Death Penalty Proposal Threatens Women’s Rights
Kyrgyzstan is considering a highly controversial proposal to reinstate the death penalty, following an order from President Sadyr Japarov to draft amendments targeting crimes against women and children. Capital punishment had been abolished in 2007, and the new draft legislation has been published for public discussion. The proposal follows the brutal killing of 17-year-old Aisuluu… [Read More]
Promoting Healthy Ageing: WHO South-East Asia Sets Regional Agenda
The Member States of the WHO South-East Asia Region have adopted the Colombo Declaration on ‘Healthy Ageing through Strengthened Primary Health Care’, addressing the health and well-being of the region’s ageing population, which is expected to nearly double by 2050. The declaration was endorsed during a ministerial round table attended by Health Ministers, senior representatives,… [Read More]
€300,000 PEACEPLUS Funding Awarded to 11 Innovative Projects Through Change Maker Grants
Eleven innovative projects across Northern Ireland and the border counties of Ireland have been awarded nearly €300,000 under the first round of the PEACEPLUS Change Maker Funding Programme. The programme, administered by Pobal on behalf of the Special EU Programmes Body (SEUPB), will distribute €40 million in tranches over three years to community and voluntary… [Read More]
Global-Hub Spotlight: Indigenous Peoples’ Food Systems at WFF 2025
Indigenous Peoples leaders, ministers, and high-level delegates gathered at the FAO headquarters in Rome for the Global-Hub on Indigenous Peoples’ Food Systems, held in two Sami Nomadic tents symbolizing an Indigenous territory. This third edition coincides with FAO’s 80th anniversary and the World Food Forum, bringing together Indigenous scientists and non-Indigenous experts to co-create proposals… [Read More]
World Food Forum 2025: Hand-in-Hand Initiative Attracts $15.9 Billion for Agrifood Transformation
The Hand-in-Hand (HIH) Investment Forum 2025 opened at the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) headquarters in Rome, presenting over $15.9 billion in investment opportunities aimed at improving food security for vulnerable populations worldwide. The four-day event brings together more than 2,000 participants from governments, private companies, development banks, and foundations, enabling countries to pitch projects… [Read More]
FAO Marks 80 Years as World Food Forum 2025 Kicks Off
The 2025 edition of the World Food Forum (WFF) began at the FAO headquarters in Rome, coinciding with the Food and Agriculture Organization’s 80th anniversary. The week-long event brings together over 25,000 participants, including heads of state, ministers, youth leaders, Indigenous Peoples, civil society, private sector representatives, and international organizations. Under the theme “Hand in… [Read More]
How Spain Is Rethinking African Migration Policies
Spain is taking a markedly different approach to African migration and broader engagement with the continent, contrasting sharply with the policies of many Western nations. While countries such as the US, UK, France, and Germany have been cutting back development aid, Spain remains committed to expanding its support, hosting initiatives like the African Union-backed AfroMadrid2025… [Read More]
Bangladesh Begins Nationwide Typhoid Vaccine Drive to Protect 50 Million Children
The Government of Bangladesh, with support from UNICEF, Gavi, and WHO, launched a nationwide Typhoid Conjugate Vaccine (TCV) campaign on 12 October 2025, aiming to vaccinate approximately 50 million children aged 9 months to under 15 years. Bangladesh becomes the eighth country globally to introduce TCV, a life-saving vaccine designed to protect children from deadly… [Read More]
Empowering Africa’s Women Entrepreneurs: Breaking Barriers, Creating Opportunities
Africa faces a pressing need to generate millions of new jobs each year, with projections indicating the continent must create 15 million new jobs annually up to 2050 to keep pace with population growth. Women entrepreneurs represent a powerful solution to this challenge, as their businesses drive job creation, lift families out of poverty, and… [Read More]
