Congo’s economy experienced moderate growth in 2024, with real GDP rising by 2.6%, marking the first increase in real per capita income since 2016. While agriculture expanded due to local content policies supporting domestic inputs and manufacturing benefited from higher regional exports, oil production fell because of technical issues and lower global prices. This highlighted… [Read More]
Reducing Stunting and Enhancing Health in Lesotho: A Holistic Approach
In Lesotho, childhood stunting remains a persistent challenge. In 2014, about one in three children were stunted, and a decade later the rate increased to 35.6%. Stunting is primarily caused by chronic undernutrition during the first 1,000 days of life, compounded by poor maternal nutrition, limited access to clean water and sanitation, frequent infections, and… [Read More]
Pakistan Urged to Implement Bold, People-Centered Reforms to Tackle Poverty and Protect Vulnerable Communities
The World Bank has released “Reclaiming Momentum Towards Prosperity: Pakistan’s Poverty, Equity and Resilience Assessment,” the first comprehensive evaluation of poverty and welfare trends in Pakistan since the early 2000s. The report shows that after a steady decline in poverty from 64.3% in 2001-02 to 21.9% in 2018-19, the national poverty rate began rising in… [Read More]
Türkiye’s Energy-Efficient Buildings Boost Savings and Enhance Quality of Life
Türkiye is taking decisive steps to enhance energy efficiency in response to a growing economy and rising energy demand, aiming to reduce reliance on imports and cut harmful emissions. Energy-saving measures are being implemented across public hospitals, schools, and government offices, including improved insulation, efficient heating and cooling systems, LED lighting, and solar panels. Supported… [Read More]
Morocco Sees Rapid Rise in Preschool Enrollment as Education Reforms Take Effect
In 2018, Morocco set a national goal to achieve universal preschool access for children aged 4 to 5 by 2028, prioritizing rural and disadvantaged communities with limited access to early learning. Over the six years since the initiative began, preschool enrollment surged from 45% to 80% nationally and from 33% to 91% in rural areas,… [Read More]
17 Countries Pledge Concrete Plans to Expand Electricity Access as Mission 300 Grows
Seventeen African governments have committed to reforms and actionable plans to expand electricity access as part of Mission 300, a partnership led by the World Bank Group and the African Development Bank Group aiming to connect 300 million Africans to electricity by 2030. The pledges were made at the Bloomberg Philanthropies Global Forum, where national… [Read More]
Over 650,000 Zambians to Gain from World Bank Support for Sustainable Natural Resource Management
The World Bank is expanding its support for Zambia’s watershed management and forest conservation through the second phase of the Transforming Landscapes for Resilience and Development (TRALARD II) project. The initiative aims to sustainably manage over 680,000 hectares of land and enhance livelihood resilience for more than 650,000 people in vulnerable communities within Zambia’s Miombo… [Read More]
Afghanistan Earthquake: Babies Born in Tents as Winter Approaches
In earthquake-devastated Eastern Afghanistan, babies are being born in tents as rockfalls and boulder-strewn roads make travel to hospitals extremely dangerous for pregnant women, according to Save the Children. An estimated 11,000 women in the affected areas are currently pregnant and may give birth in makeshift shelters in the coming months, where temperatures regularly fall… [Read More]
AI and Circular Economies: Transforming the Coconut Sector for a Sustainable Future
The International Labour Organization (ILO), through its Inclusive, Competitive, and Responsible Digital Philippines (Digital-PINAS) programme, presented a transformative vision for the coconut industry at the World Coconut Congress 2025 in Manila. During a session on Environmental and Social Challenges in the Coconut Supply Chain, the ILO highlighted how artificial intelligence (AI) and circular economy principles… [Read More]
EU-Funded Project Launches ‘Lost in Transit’ Report on Filipino Fishers in the UK
The International Labour Organization (ILO), in collaboration with the Department of Migrant Workers (DMW) and the National Maritime Polytechnic (NMP), launched the report Lost in Transit: Philippines Migrant Fishers in the United Kingdom Fishing Industry at the DMW-NMP Maritime Research, Education, and Training (MRET) Summit held on 25–26 September in Manila. Produced under the EU-funded… [Read More]
Kenya’s President Ruto Calls for Permanent African Seat on UN Security Council, Voices Support for Haiti
Kenya’s President William Ruto called for reforms to the United Nations Security Council, demanding at least two permanent African seats with full voting rights, including the power to veto, as well as two additional non-permanent seats. Speaking at the UN’s annual high-level debate, Ruto emphasized that Africa contributes significantly to the Security Council’s agenda, provides… [Read More]
Global Shipping Faces ‘Stormy Seas’ as Trade Slows and Costs Surge
Global seaborne trade volumes are projected to increase by just 0.5 per cent in 2025, marking the slowest growth in years, according to UNCTAD’s Review of Maritime Transport 2025, launched in Geneva. This slowdown reflects the impact of geopolitical tensions, new trade barriers, and climate pressures, which are reshaping shipping routes, increasing costs, and exposing… [Read More]
UNGA Hosts First-Ever Development Finance Summit to Accelerate SDGs
The United Nations hosted its first-ever Biennial Development Finance Summit, marking a historic step in global efforts to accelerate progress toward the 2030 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). UN Secretary-General António Guterres emphasized that the summit is unprecedented, highlighting its significance as more than just a regular meeting. The summit was attended by top political leaders,… [Read More]
WFP and Qatar Sign $10 Million Funding Agreement to Combat Global Hunger
The United Nations World Food Programme (WFP) and the Qatar Fund for Development (QFFD) have signed a strategic agreement providing US$10 million in flexible funding over two years to deliver rapid, lifesaving assistance wherever hunger strikes, from sudden emergencies to protracted crises worldwide. Signed during the 80th session of the United Nations General Assembly, this… [Read More]
ADB Launches First Health Initiative to Strengthen Turkmenistan’s Healthcare System
The Asian Development Bank (ADB) has approved a $75 million equivalent loan and a $2 million grant from the Japan Fund for Prosperous and Resilient Asia and the Pacific (JFPR) to enhance the quantity and quality of nurses and midwives in Turkmenistan. The Improving Nursing Quality and Capacity Project marks ADB’s first health sector initiative… [Read More]
Asian Development Bank Launches Housing Finance Program to Support Ethnic Armenian Refugees
The Asian Development Bank (ADB) has approved a $250 million results-based loan to support Armenia’s social housing policy, provide long-term housing for ethnic Armenian refugees, and improve the country’s social and economic conditions. The Transformative Housing Reforms for Improved Vitality and Empowerment (THRIVE) Program will address the sustainable housing needs of approximately 109,000 refugees who… [Read More]
African Development Bank Provides €30 Million to Bridge Bank Côte d’Ivoire to Empower Women Entrepreneurs
The African Development Bank Group and Bridge Bank Group Côte d’Ivoire have signed an agreement to establish a €30 million financing facility aimed at supporting small and medium enterprises (SMEs) in Côte d’Ivoire, with a particular emphasis on women-led businesses. This facility is designed to provide Bridge Bank Group Côte d’Ivoire with the financial resources… [Read More]
NDF Invests $10.5 Million to Expand Clean Energy Access in Africa’s Remote Regions
Acumen, in partnership with the Nordic Development Fund (NDF), has officially launched the fully operational Hardest-to-Reach Initiative (H2R), a pioneering effort to expand clean energy access in underserved communities across Sub-Saharan Africa. The initiative leverages blended finance to address energy poverty, focusing on regions where traditional capital has historically failed to reach. NDF is contributing… [Read More]
Global Fund Secures Over $1 Billion in Private Sector Pledges at UNGA Sidelines
The Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria announced private sector pledges totaling more than US$1 billion this past week, marking a significant milestone in its Eighth Replenishment. These contributions highlight the essential role of private sector partners in advancing global health innovation, equity, and resilience. The pledges, unveiled at the Global Fund’s Eighth… [Read More]
CIFF Pledges Additional $50 Million to Global Fund to Expand TB Diagnosis Worldwide
The Children’s Investment Fund Foundation (CIFF) has announced a US$50 million commitment to accelerate the rollout of innovative tuberculosis (TB) diagnostics, marking the Foundation’s first-ever investment in TB. Building on its experience in HIV diagnostic innovation, CIFF aims to improve access to life-saving technologies and promote integration across health systems and related disease areas. This… [Read More]
IOM and KSrelief Launch $4.45 Million Projects to Enhance Water and Education in Yemen
The King Salman Humanitarian Aid and Relief Centre (KSrelief) has partnered with the International Organization for Migration (IOM) to launch two major humanitarian projects in Yemen, totaling USD 4.45 million. These initiatives aim to expand access to clean water and improve education services for communities affected by ongoing crises, reflecting KSrelief’s commitment to alleviating the… [Read More]
AfDB President Sidi Ould Tah Calls for Increased Financing and Partnerships at UNGA80 to Drive Africa’s Development
African Development Bank Group President Sidi Ould Tah attended the 80th United Nations General Assembly (UNGA80) to advocate for Africa’s development priorities and mobilize support for the upcoming replenishment of the African Development Fund, the Bank’s concessional lending arm. His agenda focused on key areas including financing, resource mobilization, climate change, African financial architecture, concessional… [Read More]
African Development Bank Issues USD 500 Million Hybrid Capital Perpetual NC10 Bond
The African Development Bank (AfDB), rated Aaa/AAA/AAA, has successfully launched and priced its second hybrid capital transaction, raising USD 500 million through perpetual subordinated hybrid capital notes. The instrument carries an annual coupon of 5.875% until August 2035, with a first call option after 10 years at the Bank’s discretion. This achievement underscores AfDB’s leadership… [Read More]
