In June 2023, the Government of the Republic of South Sudan launched the South Sudan Productive Safety Net for Socioeconomic Opportunities Project (SNSOP), locally known as ‘Shabaka Meisha,’ a five-year, $199 million program funded by the World Bank. The initiative aims to provide cash transfers and income-generating opportunities to vulnerable communities while strengthening the National… [Read More]
Accelerator Program 2.0: Fast-Tracking Innovation and Growth
The Accelerator Program 2.0 is a World Bank initiative aimed at supporting governments in low- and middle-income countries to strengthen foundational learning and reduce learning poverty. The program focuses on improving interactions between teachers, students, and learning content—the instructional core—through technical assistance that enhances early-grade teaching and learning. Its overarching goal is to demonstrate that… [Read More]
Inat’s Journey from Lost Hope to Future Water Supply Engineer
Tanzanian student Inat Mzee Saleh faced a major setback in her academic journey when a fire destroyed her high school just weeks before her final exams. The tragedy left her without essential study materials, and her A-level results fell short of the requirements to pursue a medical degree. Heartbroken, she enrolled in a basic teaching… [Read More]
Stone by Stone: Strengthening Safety for Barbados’ Fishing Communities
In July 2024, Hurricane Beryl, a powerful Category 4 storm, caused over B$190 million in damages in Barbados, severely impacting coastal sectors, particularly the fishing industry. Approximately 90 percent of the island’s fishing fleet was destroyed or damaged, along with key infrastructure, including the Bridgetown Port and the Fisheries Marina. The storm’s surge displaced the… [Read More]
FAO, GEF, and Namibia Partner to Strengthen Climate Resilience in Dryland Farming
In August 2025, over 65 agricultural stakeholders, including farmers, extension officers, and community organizations, participated in a two-week Training of Trainers (ToT) program in Omuthiya, Omusati, and Rundu regions of Namibia. The training focused on strengthening resilience in dryland areas through modules on Community Seed Banks, Farmer Field Schools, and Green Value Chains. This initiative… [Read More]
Northern Ghana Boosts Climate Resilience with Early Warning and Anticipatory Action
The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), in collaboration with the Government of Ghana and key partners, is strengthening climate resilience in the Upper East and Savannah Regions by enhancing Early Warning Systems (EWS) and Anticipatory Action (AA) mechanisms. FAO views multi-hazard early warning systems and anticipatory action as essential for resilient… [Read More]
Zimbabwe Launches STOSAR II Project to Enhance Agriculture and Market Access
The Government of Zimbabwe, in collaboration with the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), the Southern African Development Community (SADC) Secretariat, and the European Union (EU), has officially launched the second phase of the Support Towards the Operationalization of the SADC Regional Agricultural Policy (STOSAR II) project. Building on the successes of… [Read More]
FAO Study Highlights Critical Agricultural Land Degradation Across the Arab Region
A recent study by the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) has highlighted alarming levels of agricultural land degradation in the Arab region. The report reveals that over 46 million hectares of agricultural land—representing two-thirds of the 70 million hectares affected by human-induced degradation—are at risk. Cropland in particular is highly vulnerable,… [Read More]
Equal Pay Wins in Sport: Key Lessons for the Private Sector
Equal Pay Day serves as a stark reminder that women globally still earn roughly 20 per cent less than men, effectively working for free for the final two months of the year. UN Women’s Gender Snapshot 2025 emphasizes that achieving gender equality is not only a human rights imperative but also a significant economic opportunity,… [Read More]
106 Governments Pledge 191 Commitments to Accelerate Beijing Declaration for Women and Girls
In a historic multilateral move, 106 governments from all regions have pledged 191 commitments to advance gender equality and accelerate progress for women and girls by 2030. UN Women launched the Beijing+30 Priority Actions Dashboard to track these voluntary commitments, highlighting that gender equality continues to be a central rallying point for global cooperation. Sima… [Read More]
Pushing for Pay Equity: A Complete Guide for Employees and Employers
The gender pay gap remains a persistent global issue, with women earning on average 80 per cent of what men earn, and the disparity is even wider for women of colour, migrant women, those with disabilities, and mothers. These wage inequalities have significant real-life consequences, affecting not only women but their families and communities, particularly… [Read More]
Ontario Secures $207M Boost for Advanced Manufacturing Growth
The Ontario government is welcoming a nearly $207 million investment from Northern Transformer Corporation (NTC), a leading Canadian manufacturer of high-voltage power transformers, to establish a new, state-of-the-art facility in Innisfil. This investment marks NTC’s entry into the large power transformer market, creating 151 new jobs and strengthening the province’s energy supply chain. The facility… [Read More]
Ontario Launches Measures to Protect Communities from Respiratory Illnesses
The Ontario government is preparing to launch its fall immunization programs to protect families and vulnerable populations from respiratory illnesses, including flu, COVID-19, and RSV. Residents are encouraged to receive their vaccines as soon as they become available, with a focus on high-risk and priority groups to prevent serious illness. Deputy Premier and Minister of… [Read More]
Ontario Launches Flood Recovery Support for Strong and Joly Townships
The Ontario government is providing up to $555,000 to support the Township of Strong and the Township of Joly in recovering from severe flooding that occurred in June 2024. The funding, delivered through the Municipal Disaster Recovery Assistance (MDRA) program, will help cover emergency response costs and critical infrastructure repairs, forming part of the province’s… [Read More]
Portugal and EIB Secure €1.34 Billion for Affordable Housing Projects
The European Investment Bank (EIB) has approved a €1.34 billion framework loan to support the construction and renovation of approximately 12,000 affordable housing units across Portugal. The first €450 million tranche of this financing was signed by the Republic of Portugal and the EIB, marking a significant step in addressing the country’s housing challenges while… [Read More]
Clicking for Digital Democracy: How Citizens Can Shape Online Governance
As Malawi and the Southern Africa region approach the 2025 General Elections, experts emphasize that civic participation must go beyond simply providing digital access to citizens. While online platforms facilitate rapid information sharing and debate, true democracy relies on more than connectivity alone. In environments where NGOs face restrictive regulations, surveillance, and even violence against… [Read More]
RightsCon 2025 Highlights: Care, Cybersecurity, and the Connect, Defend, Act! Initiative
In 2025, digital rights advocates, technologists, journalists, and civic leaders from around the world convened in Taipei, Taiwan, for RightsCon, one of the leading forums on human rights and technology. The summit provided a critical space for reflection and strategy, particularly for organizations navigating the increasingly restricted civic space in Southeast Asia. For Hivos’ Connect,… [Read More]
A New Chapter in the Amazon: Protecting Rainforests and Wildlife
Hivos has launched a new project in Colombia, Living Forests, Strong Communities, aimed at empowering Indigenous communities to use legislative tools to protect their lands and endangered forests. Colombia is home to some of the world’s most biodiverse regions, with Indigenous peoples managing over 30 million hectares of forest. These communities, however, face multiple threats,… [Read More]
Billion-Dollar Military AI and Innovation Boost Through Strategic Partnership
The UK is set to become a global leader in defence innovation through a new strategic partnership with Palantir, designed to unlock up to £1.5 billion in investment, create hundreds of high-skilled jobs, and strengthen national security. The partnership, signed on 18 September 2025 by Defence Secretary John Healey, will see Palantir establish its European… [Read More]
Durham WWI Soldier Finally Laid to Rest 109 Years After Death
Sergeant Richard Rounsley of the 12th Battalion, The Durham Light Infantry, was finally laid to rest on 17 September 2025 in France, nearly 109 years after his death during the First World War. The burial, held at the Commonwealth War Graves Commission’s Warlencourt British Cemetery on the Somme, included two unknown soldiers and was organized… [Read More]
Ireland Hits €1 Billion in Horizon Europe Grants for Research and Development
Ireland has officially surpassed the €1 billion mark in funding secured from the EU’s Framework Programme for Research and Innovation, Horizon Europe, according to Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science James Lawless. This achievement places Ireland ahead of its national target of €1.5 billion (1.6%) of Horizon Europe’s €95.5 billion budget… [Read More]
UN Warns: Fragile Progress in Syria Threatened by Exclusion and Foreign Interference
The United Nations has issued a warning that Syria’s fragile gains are at risk due to foreign military action, political exclusion, and dwindling resources. UN Special Envoy Geir Pedersen, who announced his resignation during the meeting, described the interim authorities in Damascus as inheriting not only the ruins of destroyed buildings but also a deeply… [Read More]
Gaza City Faces Humanitarian Collapse, UN Warns of Critical Aid Shortages
The head of the UN Palestine refugee agency, UNRWA, has renewed calls for foreign journalists to be granted access to the Gaza Strip to counter what he describes as an “information war,” which includes attempts to deny the growing famine in the area. OCHA reported that in just five days, 11 UNRWA premises in Gaza… [Read More]
