UNAIDS has welcomed the announcement of two new agreements that dramatically reduce the cost of lenacapavir, a revolutionary long-acting HIV prevention medicine, from USD 28,000 to just USD 40 per person per year. Lenacapavir, produced by Gilead, is administered via injections twice a year and has been shown to be between 96% and 100% effective… [Read More]
Ukraine’s Inclusive Recovery: How Communities Are Leading Barrier-Free Infrastructure Projects
Ukraine’s recovery goes beyond rebuilding structures and restoring infrastructure—it is about creating communities where everyone can move, participate, and live independently. Recognizing this, the Barrier-Free Routes School was launched in 2025 as a collaborative initiative by UNDP in Ukraine, the Ministry for Communities and Territories Development, and with support from the Government of Japan. The… [Read More]
Affordable HIV Prevention: Gates Foundation Collaborates with Indian Manufacturer to Boost Access
The Gates Foundation has partnered with Indian manufacturer Hetero Labs to expand access to a low-cost, generic version of lenacapavir, a groundbreaking twice-yearly injectable pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) for HIV. Supported by upfront funding and volume guarantees, Hetero will produce the treatment at roughly $40 per patient per year, making it more affordable for national health… [Read More]
Libya Moves Forward on Sustainable and Inclusive Energy Transition
The United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) and the European Union Delegation to Libya, in partnership with Libya’s Ministry of Oil and Gas, launched the “Just and Sustainable Energy Transition” Conference under the EU-funded “Support to Energy Transition and Climate Change Mitigation in Libya” project. The conference is part of ongoing efforts by national and international… [Read More]
From Farm to Fork: Understanding the Critical Stages Between Production and Consumption
Every year, millions of tons of food are lost before reaching consumers, with Morocco losing as much as half of its fruits and vegetables before they make it to market. This waste impacts farmers’ incomes, raises food prices for families, and contributes to climate change, as decomposing food in landfills releases methane, a greenhouse gas… [Read More]
Life is Easy in Digital’ Project Empowers Women Entrepreneurs with Grants for Digital Growth
The 2025 cycle of the “Life is Easy in Digital” Project, implemented by Türk Telekom, the Union of Chambers and Commodity Exchanges of Türkiye (TOBB), the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), and the Habitat Association, has opened applications for its mentorship and grant program. The initiative aims to equip women entrepreneurs with essential digital skills,… [Read More]
Burkina Faso, Mali, and Niger Announce ICC Withdrawal: A Setback in Combating Impunity in the Sahel
Amnesty International has strongly condemned the announcements by Burkina Faso, Mali, and Niger to withdraw from the Rome Statute of the International Criminal Court (ICC). Marceau Sivieude, Amnesty’s Regional Director for West and Central Africa, described the withdrawals as an affront to victims and survivors of serious crimes and to all those fighting against impunity… [Read More]
Qatar Fund for Development and Saudi Fund Partner with UNDP to Support Syria’s Public Services
On the sidelines of the 80th United Nations General Assembly, the Qatar Fund for Development (QFFD) and the Saudi Fund for Development (SFD), in partnership with the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), announced a joint initiative to support the Syrian Arab Republic. The initiative provides US$89 million in funding through UNDP to ensure the continuity… [Read More]
EU’s Kallas Calls on Hungary to End Russian Energy Purchases
The European Union’s top diplomat, Kaja Kallas, urged Hungary and other EU member states that continue to purchase Russian energy to end their imports, emphasizing that cutting funding is essential to stop the war in Ukraine. Speaking in an interview with Bloomberg Television, Kallas highlighted that the EU’s transition away from Russian energy should accelerate… [Read More]
Revolutionizing NCD Care: How Primary Health Care Can Boost Prevention and Treatment – PAHO
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]
