At a high-level side event during the 80th United Nations General Assembly, the Pan American Health Organization (PAHO) joined health ministers, global financial institutions, and strategic partners to advocate for expanding primary health care (PHC) as the foundation for addressing noncommunicable diseases (NCDs), which remain the leading cause of death globally. Co-hosted by the Governments… [Read More]
India-EU Ideathon Launches to Tackle Marine Plastic Litter under TTC Working Group 2
The India-EU Ideathon on “Combating Marine Plastic Litter” was officially launched on 25th September 2025, jointly organised by the Office of the Principal Scientific Adviser (PSA) to the Government of India and the Delegation of the European Union to India, under the India-EU Trade and Technology Council Working Group 2 on Green and Clean Energy… [Read More]
EU Launches Digital Rights Initiative in Tashkent with Lawyer Training Programme
On 25 September, Tashkent hosted the presentation of the Uzbekistan Digital Rights Media Initiative (UDRMI) project, bringing together representatives from government bodies, international organizations, and the legal community. The event, officially opened by Christos Marazopoulos, Second Secretary and Head of Cooperation at the EU Delegation to Uzbekistan, highlighted the project’s objectives and expected outcomes, emphasizing… [Read More]
CIDCA and UNDP Partner to Expand Solar Energy Access in Ulaanbaatar’s Ger Districts
The China International Development Cooperation Agency (CIDCA), the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), and the Chingeltei District of Ulaanbaatar have launched the “Upgrading Ger Districts in Ulaanbaatar Through Solar Photovoltaic System Implementation” project to address air pollution and advance Mongolia’s just energy transition. Air pollution in Ulaanbaatar, largely driven by coal burning in ger districts,… [Read More]
FAO’s EMA-i+ Mobile Application Strengthens Animal Health Monitoring in Ghana
The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), in partnership with Ghana’s Ministry of Food and Agriculture, has launched the Event Mobile Application Plus (EMA-i+), a digital tool designed to transform animal disease reporting and early warning in the country. EMA-i+ enables veterinary officers, community animal health workers, fisheries, bee health, and wildlife… [Read More]
Zimbabwe Boosts Local Capacity for Digital Surveillance of Key Quarantine Pests
Zimbabwe is hosting a major training workshop this week aimed at strengthening local capacity for digital surveillance of key quarantine pests. The workshop brings together over 50 national surveillance technicians to receive hands-on training in pest identification, mobile data collection, and geospatial mapping. Organized under the Africa Phytosanitary Programme (APP), in collaboration with the International… [Read More]
Donors Roundtable Strengthens Regional Coordination to Combat IUU Fishing in West Africa
The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), in collaboration with ECOWAS, the Fisheries Committee for the West Central Gulf of Guinea (FCWC), and the Sub-Regional Fisheries Commission (SRFC), convened a Donors Roundtable from 23 to 24 September 2025 in Abuja, Nigeria. The event aimed to mobilize support for the implementation of the… [Read More]
Floods Escalate in South Sudan, Triggering Growing Climate Security Concerns
Catastrophic flooding in Panyijiar County, South Sudan, has displaced more than 100,000 people, including 45,000 children and 26,000 women, submerging homes and livelihoods. County Commissioner Hon. Gabriel Majok has expressed grave concern over the dire situation, highlighting the urgent need for humanitarian assistance as communities struggle to survive. The crisis in Panyijiar represents not only… [Read More]
Sex, Satisfaction, and Switching: Unanswered Questions in Contraceptive Research
This World Contraception Day, Sexual and Reproductive Health Matters, The Pleasure Project, and the UN’s Special Programme in Human Reproduction (HRP) launched a groundbreaking systematic review on sexual well-being and contraceptive use. Published in the Sexual and Reproductive Health Matters (SRHM) Journal, the study is the first of its kind to explore how sexual pleasure,… [Read More]
Scaling Up Respiratory Virus Monitoring in Guyana: A Public Health Milestone
In a major step to strengthen national health security, Guyana’s Ministry of Health, in partnership with the Pan American Health Organization (PAHO), has significantly expanded its sentinel surveillance system for respiratory viruses. Launched in April 2023, this initiative enhances the country’s capacity to detect, monitor, and respond to influenza and other respiratory threats, marking a… [Read More]
EU Reaches Deal on Water Pollution While Existing Protections Face Cuts
After nearly three years of negotiations, the EU institutions have reached an agreement on updated water pollution rules, marking a significant step forward in regulating pollutants in surface and groundwater. The new standards require Member States to monitor and limit pollution from a wider range of substances, including more pesticides such as glyphosate, a group… [Read More]
EU Increases Humanitarian Aid to Yemen Amid Escalating Crisis
The European Commission has announced an additional €40 million in humanitarian aid to respond to Yemen’s worsening crisis and avert famine. With this new allocation, EU humanitarian support for Yemen reaches €120 million in 2025 and nearly €1 billion since 2015. The country continues to face devastating consequences from years of war, economic collapse, and… [Read More]
EU Provides Additional €50 Million in Emergency Humanitarian Aid to Palestine
The European Commission has announced an additional €50 million in humanitarian aid to respond to the worsening crisis in Gaza and the West Bank. This latest funding brings the EU’s total emergency humanitarian support in 2025 to €220 million and to more than €550 million since 2023. The aid comes as conditions in Gaza deteriorate… [Read More]
Palestine’s Local Businesses to Benefit from €400M EIB and European Commission Support
The European Investment Bank (EIB) and the European Commission have signed a €400 million financing facility with the Palestine Monetary Authority to strengthen the resilience of the Palestinian private sector. Announced at the UN General Assembly in New York, the initiative will improve access to affordable financing for micro, small, and medium-sized enterprises (MSMEs) and… [Read More]
EBRD and EU Invest Over €2 Million to Boost Green Innovation in Ukraine
Kyiv recently hosted the Final Award Ceremony of the “Climate Innovation Vouchers” project, marking a significant milestone in Ukraine’s cleantech development. Eleven Ukrainian companies were announced as winners of the fourth wave of the final phase, securing a total of €384,241 to further their climate-friendly innovations. Often called Ukraine’s “climate Oscars,” the initiative is the… [Read More]
Sustainable Development in the Age of AI: Opportunities and Challenges
The UNDP Human Development Report 2025 poses a pressing question: Are we entering an AI-powered renaissance that advances human development, or are we headed toward a future of inequality and reduced freedoms? This dilemma reflects the growing influence of artificial intelligence, which is shifting rapidly from theoretical promise to a practical tool shaping global development…. [Read More]
UK Approves Direct Funding to Africa CDC After Successful Due Diligence Review
The timbuktoo MineTech Accelerator Programme has successfully concluded after an intensive five-week hybrid bootcamp and dynamic pitch sessions before an audience of investors and venture capitalists. From over 350 applications, ten startups were initially selected, with five emerging as winners of critical seed financing. These five startups will now enter a three-month incubation programme designed… [Read More]
UK Approves Direct Funding to Africa CDC After Successful Due Diligence Review
The Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC) has reached a historic milestone with the United Kingdom formally approving direct funding following nearly a year-long Due Diligence Assessment. This approval signals renewed confidence in Africa CDC’s strengthened fiduciary and governance systems and marks a new era of direct collaboration between the UK and… [Read More]
Community Project Funding Workshop Helps Local Initiatives Secure Support
Armidale Regional Council is inviting individuals, community groups, clubs, and organisations to participate in a free community grant writing workshop designed to help secure funding for local projects. The workshop, open to anyone in the region interested in developing their ideas into funded initiatives, aims to equip participants with practical skills and confidence in the… [Read More]
Financial Institutions Must Stay Committed to Net Zero Goals
As climate impacts intensify, disrupting economies, communities, and value chains, financial institutions appear to be hesitating. Instead of accelerating climate action, many banks and asset managers are retreating from net zero commitments, while key industry alliances are weakening. Despite the changing political and regulatory landscape, the scientific imperative to limit global warming to 1.5°C and… [Read More]
Sahel Nations’ ICC Withdrawal Threatens Civilian Protection, Experts Warn
Burkina Faso, Mali, and Niger have announced their intention to withdraw from the International Criminal Court (ICC), a move that Human Rights Watch warns will jeopardize access to justice for victims of atrocity crimes and put civilians at greater risk. The announcement, made by the military leaders of the three Sahel countries on September 22,… [Read More]
EU-Vietnam Trade Deal Criticized for Weak Human Rights Enforcement
European Union Trade Commissioner Maroš Šefčovič’s visit to Vietnam this week comes amid growing concerns over the country’s violations of the 2020 EU-Vietnam Free Trade Agreement (EVFTA) and its unfulfilled commitments to human and labor rights. Human Rights Watch and other organizations had warned EU officials prior to the EVFTA’s ratification that Vietnam’s rights record… [Read More]
Cambodia Microfinance Practices Threaten Indigenous Communities, Report Finds
A recent Human Rights Watch report highlights that Cambodian microfinance institutions (MFIs), backed by international investors, have been aggressively lending to Indigenous communities, using the value of their land as collateral. These predatory lending practices have resulted in coerced land sales, over-indebtedness, debt-driven suicides, and severe violations of the economic, cultural, and social rights of… [Read More]
