One week after a devastating earthquake struck central Philippines, approximately 2.7 million children, or 10 percent of the country’s students, remain out of school, many too frightened to attend classes due to thousands of aftershocks continuing to shake the region. In Cebu, over 2,200 schools were damaged or destroyed, leaving more than 1,800 classrooms unusable… [Read More]
New International Partnership Boosts Gender Equality in Sport
UN Women has entered into a landmark partnership with the International Working Group on Women and Sport (IWG) to advance gender equality in sports globally. The agreement aims to harness the transformative power of sport to empower women and girls, strengthen advocacy movements, and drive systemic change. Through the new Memorandum of Understanding, both organizations… [Read More]
Fighting for Humanity: A Corrections Officer’s Work to Improve Life in Congo’s Prisons
Olukemi Ibikunle, known as Kemi, left her family in Lagos, Nigeria, in 2020 to take on a pivotal role within the country’s prison service. With a background in geology, she quickly became indispensable, overseeing five custodial centers holding nearly 9,000 detainees. Her work balances security with respect for the dignity of prisoners, designing facilities with… [Read More]
WHO Urges International Support to Restore Gaza’s Fragile Health Sector
Dr. Hanan Balkhy, WHO Director for the Eastern Mediterranean, described Gaza’s health services as “shattered” and on the brink of total collapse after two years of conflict. She emphasized that once the fighting ends, the immediate challenge will be rebuilding the health system to prevent famine and despair, restore dignity, and provide hope for the… [Read More]
Europe and International Leaders Commit to Solving Housing Emergency
Ministers and senior government representatives from over 30 countries met in Geneva to commit to stronger policies and increased financing aimed at addressing housing affordability and sustainability across the UNECE region, which includes Europe, North America, and Central Asia. The meeting was convened by the UN Economic Commission for Europe (UNECE) to tackle pressing challenges… [Read More]
Unprecedented Child Displacement in Haiti Sparks Humanitarian Alarm
An alarming 3.3 million children in Haiti now require humanitarian assistance, marking the highest number on record, with rising cases of acute malnutrition, child recruitment, gender-based violence, and other violations of children’s rights. UNICEF chief Catherine Russell highlighted that each instance of displacement robs children not only of their homes but also of safety, education,… [Read More]
Madagascar Violence: UN Chief Expresses Deep Concern Over Protest Deaths
The Secretary-General of the United Nations has expressed deep sadness over the loss of life and property damage resulting from youth-led protests in Madagascar, which began on 25 September. He extended condolences to the families of the victims and called on authorities to adhere to international human rights law. Emphasizing the need for peaceful demonstrations,… [Read More]
Myanmar Airstrike Kills Civilians: UN Issues Strong Condemnation Amid Rising Violence
At least 24 people were killed and more than 45 injured when explosives were dropped on civilians attending a religious festival in Chaung-U township, Sagaing Region, Myanmar. Witnesses reported that a “motorized paraglider” was used to deliver two bombs on the crowd gathered to mark a national holiday. The United Nations condemned the incident, emphasizing… [Read More]
Building Angola’s Capacity for Effective National Health Accounts Implementation
Angola is advancing efforts to strengthen sustainable health financing, a key factor in achieving Universal Health Coverage and the Sustainable Development Goals. Central to this effort is the implementation of National Health Accounts (NHA), which follow the internationally recognized System of Health Accounts framework. The NHA provides a comprehensive view of health financing, detailing who… [Read More]
Boosting Health in Uganda: Tackling Family Planning Bottlenecks Key to Transformation
In Kampala, the World Health Organization (WHO), alongside Uganda’s Ministry of Health and other stakeholders, disseminated the Family Planning Bottleneck Analysis Report, a rapid assessment identifying barriers to scaling up evidence-based family planning practices in the country. The study, conducted in collaboration with Makerere University School of Public Health and UNFPA, adapted the WHO global… [Read More]
International Labour Organization Strengthens Labour Governance with Innovative Indicators
The International Labour Organization (ILO) has introduced a set of indicators aimed at strengthening labour administration systems to enhance governance and effectiveness amid rapid technological, demographic, and economic changes reshaping the world of work. These indicators were developed and validated in collaboration with ministries of labour from diverse regions and legal systems, translating the United… [Read More]
CLEAR Supply Chains Project Strengthens Occupational Safety in Uganda’s Coffee Industry through WIND Methodology
In September 2025, the International Labour Organization (ILO) conducted a Workplace Improvement in Neighbourhood Development (WIND) training of trainers in Uganda under the CLEAR Supply Chains project, aimed at eliminating child labour in coffee supply chains. The training brought together 56 participants, including agronomists from leading coffee companies, local government officials from six districts, representatives… [Read More]
Rethinking Masculinity: Improving Safety and Health for Madagascar’s Construction Workforce
The International Labour Organization’s Occupational Safety, Health and Environment Branch has released a report examining how cultural norms around masculinity influence the health and safety of construction workers in Madagascar. Using a participative “photo-elicitation” methodology, the study engaged workers through photographs and interviews to uncover how peer dynamics and groupthink shape attitudes toward workplace safety…. [Read More]
How Occupational Health and Safety Can Help Eradicate Child Labour
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]
