Malawi has launched its second AVoHC–SURGE training cohort in Lilongwe to strengthen national capacity for responding to public health emergencies, with support from the Pandemic Fund, the World Bank’s HEPRR initiative, and the World Health Organization. The programme aims to build a skilled, coordinated, and rapidly deployable workforce capable of responding to increasingly complex health… [Read More]
STOSAR II highlights Zimbabwe’s agricultural competitiveness at ZITF 2026
At the Zimbabwe International Trade Fair in Bulawayo, the EU-funded STOSAR II project took centre stage through a high-level policy dialogue focused on strengthening Zimbabwe’s agricultural competitiveness by linking data systems directly to market opportunities. The event, convened by the Ministry of Lands, Agriculture, Fisheries, Water and Rural Development together with FAO, the EU, and… [Read More]
New Climate Investment Opportunities in Central Asia
Central Asia is accelerating efforts to unlock climate investment by building stronger regional cooperation and structured financing pathways. At a Ministerial Roundtable held during the Regional Environmental Summit, governments, international financial institutions, and climate funds came together with support from the Green Climate Fund and the United Nations Development Programme to explore practical solutions for… [Read More]
Why Nature Reporting Matters for Financial Institutions
Nature and business are deeply interconnected, with financial systems both dependent on and influencing biodiversity. As highlighted in recent assessments by the Intergovernmental Science-Policy Platform on Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services (IPBES), nature is effectively the “life support system of our economies,” yet this foundation is rapidly weakening as multiple planetary boundaries have already been exceeded…. [Read More]
New Push to Strengthen Social Protection in Arab Region
The International Labour Organization (ILO) and partner UN agencies are scaling up efforts to strengthen social protection systems across the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region in response to rising challenges such as conflict, displacement, economic instability, and climate-related shocks. The initiative focuses on helping governments build more connected and responsive systems that can… [Read More]
Women Entrepreneurs Driving Peace in Southern Libya
In Southern Libya, women entrepreneurs are emerging as key drivers of peacebuilding and economic recovery, despite facing long-standing barriers such as limited access to finance, high unemployment, and entrenched social stereotypes. Supported through a UN Peacebuilding Fund initiative, these women are using vocational training and small business creation not only to improve their livelihoods but… [Read More]
How Ports Are Reducing Emissions in a Disrupted Trade System
Ports, which handle more than 80% of global trade by volume, are under increasing pressure to decarbonise while maintaining efficiency and keeping international supply chains running smoothly. This dual challenge is becoming more urgent as global trade faces renewed instability and disruptions across key maritime chokepoints. Recent tensions in strategic routes such as the Strait… [Read More]
Marburg Virus in Uganda: How It Jumps from Bats to Humans
A new study has revealed how a Ugandan cave known for hosting Egyptian fruit bats—natural carriers of the deadly Marburg virus—also attracts a wide range of wildlife and human visitors, creating a rare but concerning environment where disease spillover could occur. The cave, located in Queen Elizabeth National Park, has become a focal point for… [Read More]
Strengthening Local Research in Africa’s Malaria Fight
As World Malaria Day (25 April) is observed, Africa stands at a critical turning point in its public health journey. While the continent has achieved significant progress over the past two decades—including rising life expectancy and a sharp reduction in under-five mortality—these gains are now slowing, and in some areas reversing. The current situation highlights… [Read More]
European Commission and EIB Unveil €600M Ukraine Aid Package
The European Commission and the European Investment Bank (EIB) Group have announced a new financing package of over €600 million to support urgent reconstruction and recovery efforts in Ukraine. The initiative combines more than €450 million in EIB-backed financing, enabled through an extended EU guarantee, along with around €150 million in EU grants and technical… [Read More]
EU Environmental Campaign Launched in Albania to Protect Nature
The European Union in Albania, in cooperation with the Ministry of Education and the Ministry of Environment, has launched a nationwide campaign titled “Protect Nature, while you still can,” aimed at mobilising schools, students, and communities to take active responsibility in protecting Albania’s biodiversity. The initiative delivers a clear message that environmental protection requires urgent… [Read More]
EU Pledges €235M Humanitarian Aid for West and Central Africa
The European Commission has announced €235 million in humanitarian assistance to support vulnerable populations across West and Central Africa, where ongoing conflicts, food insecurity, displacement, and climate-related shocks continue to drive urgent humanitarian needs. The funding will target displaced people, host communities, and hard-to-reach populations across multiple crisis-hit countries in the region. A significant share… [Read More]
Extreme Heat Threatens Global Food Systems and Farmer Livelihoods: UN Report
A new joint report by the Food and Agriculture Organization and the World Meteorological Organization warns that extreme heat is pushing global food systems to the brink, endangering the livelihoods of more than a billion people. Rising temperatures and increasingly frequent heatwaves are already reshaping how food is produced, with the report estimating that nearly… [Read More]
Tuvalu Fights Rising Seas as Climate Change Threatens Its Survival
As the world marks Earth Day, the Pacific island nation of Tuvalu is facing an existential crisis, with rising sea levels threatening to submerge most of its land by the end of the century. Communities across the low-lying nation are already grappling with the effects of climate change, while also exploring ways to preserve their… [Read More]
NDIS Cuts May Reduce Vital Social Interaction Support
Average cuts of around $7,000 to individual NDIS budgets for social and community participation supports are expected to significantly reduce the ability of participants to engage in everyday activities, with disability groups warning the changes could be “horrible” to lose. The federal government is seeking $35 billion in savings from the National Disability Insurance Scheme… [Read More]
Workplace Stress and Long Hours Linked to 840,000 Deaths Annually: ILO Report
A new report by the International Labour Organization reveals that more than 840,000 people die each year due to health conditions associated with workplace risks such as long working hours, job insecurity, harassment and bullying. The study highlights how the way jobs are designed, organized and managed has a profound impact on workers’ health, with… [Read More]
Grants Awarded to 58 Animal Rehoming Organisations
58 animal rehoming organisations across New South Wales will receive critical funding to support the care and protection of vulnerable cats and dogs under the first phase of the NSW Government’s $6 million Companion Animal Welfare and Rehoming Grants program. In this initial round, $1.5 million has been distributed to support shelters, rescue groups, and… [Read More]
Mapping Financial Inclusion Funders: Key Trends and Shifts
The financial inclusion funding landscape is significantly broader than previously captured in earlier research. CGAP identifies 2,015 “new” capital providers beyond the traditional set of donors, development finance institutions, philanthropy, and impact investors. A large majority of these new actors are commercial in nature and do not operate with explicit impact mandates, marking a shift… [Read More]
Sudan Darfur Violence, Global Landmine Threat, Singapore Executions Raise UN Alarm
The United Nations has expressed deep concern over escalating insecurity in Sudan’s Darfur region and its devastating impact on civilians. UN Spokesperson Stéphane Dujarric reported that more than 10 people were killed and several others injured in a drone strike on the town of Um Dukhun in Central Darfur. The UN strongly condemned the attack,… [Read More]
Armenia: Employers Promote Formalization to Boost Growth
The Republican Union of Employers of Armenia (RUEA), with support from the International Labour Organization (ILO), convened a high-level conference in Yerevan on “Formalization of the Economy as a Precondition for Business Growth,” bringing together government representatives, employers’ and workers’ organisations, and international partners to explore practical pathways for reducing informality and strengthening Armenia’s economic… [Read More]
Japan Unions Strengthen Responsible Business Conduct for Labour Rights
Trade unions in Japan are strengthening their capacity to promote responsible business conduct (RBC) and advance labour rights with support from the International Labour Organization (ILO). A capacity development programme implemented with major national federations, including UA ZENSEN, RENGO, FOOD-RENGO, and the Japanese Council of Metalworkers’ Unions, has helped equip union leaders with practical tools… [Read More]
AU and ILO Advance Joint Plan on Social Justice and Decent Work
The African Union (AU) and the International Labour Organization (ILO) have advanced preparations for their second Joint Operational Plan (JOP) for 2025–2029, building on the outcomes of their first collaboration. A joint planning meeting held in Addis Ababa brought together technical experts and decision-makers from both institutions, along with partners such as the United Nations… [Read More]
$32.4M USDA Grant Funding Open for Local Agriculture Markets
The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) has announced $32.4 million in grant funding through the Local Agriculture Market Program (LAMP) to support the development and expansion of local and regional food systems across the United States. The funding aims to strengthen producer-to-consumer marketing, improve local food supply chains, and support the growth of food enterprises… [Read More]
