Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science James Lawless and Minister of State for Further Education, Apprenticeship, Construction and Climate Skills Marian Harkin have launched a new €2 million Transport Fund for Learners with Intellectual Disabilities. The initiative aims to improve access to further education and training by helping learners with intellectual… [Read More]
New Caribbean Program Aims to Align Agricultural Trade Standards
A new regional initiative aimed at strengthening agricultural trade in the Caribbean has been launched following an inception meeting organised by the Caribbean Agricultural Health and Food Safety Agency (CAHFSA). The initiative forms part of a Caribbean Development Bank-funded project designed to strengthen the framework for intra-regional trade in agricultural products and improve the regulatory… [Read More]
UN Adopts New Global Framework to Improve Disaster Statistics
The 57th Session of the United Nations Statistical Commission has endorsed the Global Disaster-Related Statistics Framework (G-DRSF), marking the first global agreement aimed at improving how disaster-related data is defined, collected and used within national statistical systems. The framework creates a shared statistical structure that brings together National Statistical Offices, disaster management agencies and other… [Read More]
Pacific Nations Unite to Eliminate Cervical Cancer
A new initiative aimed at eliminating cervical cancer across the Pacific has received a funding boost of NZ$5.1 million (US$3 million). The programme is led by Te Poutoko Ora a Kiwa – Centre for Pacific and Global Health at the University of Auckland in collaboration with regional partners. The funding, provided through the Matariki Fund… [Read More]
Lebanon Crisis Deepens as 700,000+ People Displaced, IRC Warns
Escalating hostilities between Israel and Hezbollah have forced more than 700,000 people to flee their homes across Lebanon, creating a rapidly worsening humanitarian crisis. The International Rescue Committee (IRC) has issued an emergency Watchlist alert, warning that the renewed conflict is already triggering widespread displacement and placing immense pressure on families, host communities and humanitarian… [Read More]
New Smart Classrooms Accelerate Digital Learning in Buriram and Si Sa Ket, Thailand
Ten pilot schools in Thailand’s Buriram and Si Sa Ket provinces have introduced Smart Classrooms as part of the UNESCO–Huawei Technology-enabled Open Schools for All (TEOSA) initiative, marking a significant step toward advancing digital education in the country. The programme is led by the UNESCO Regional Office in Bangkok in partnership with Thailand’s Ministry of… [Read More]
Impact of Government Aid Cuts on Giving in the UK and Germany
A behavioural study conducted by GlobalGiving UK in collaboration with Professor Hanna Zagefka from Royal Holloway, University of London surveyed more than 2,000 participants in the UK and Germany to examine how awareness of government aid cuts influences public attitudes toward generosity and charitable giving. The research found that when government aid reductions were mentioned… [Read More]
Steps Underway to Improve Social Protection System: Minister
The federal government of Pakistan is implementing several initiatives aimed at strengthening the country’s social protection system, expanding economic opportunities and supporting marginalized communities. Federal Minister for Poverty Alleviation and Social Safety, Syed Imran Ahmed Shah, highlighted these efforts while presiding over a meeting with civil society organisations in Islamabad to review the progress of… [Read More]
$4.4M in Grants Awarded by Akron Community Foundation
Akron Community Foundation’s board of directors has announced quarterly grants totaling $4.4 million, along with $695,500 in competitive education grants approved by the foundation’s Community Investment Committee. A total of 37 nonprofit organizations received education-related funding aimed at supporting programs that strengthen learning opportunities, youth development and early childhood education in the community. One of… [Read More]
The Future of Digital Public Infrastructure: What Comes Next?
At the recent Mobile World Congress in Barcelona, discussions about the future of artificial intelligence, connectivity, and digital transformation highlighted the growing importance of digital public infrastructure (DPI). While many presentations focused on emerging technologies such as AI-powered devices and advanced computing, policymakers increasingly focused on how digital systems that support public services are evolving… [Read More]
Minister McEntee Launches New Reconciliation Fund Strategy
Ireland’s Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade, Helen McEntee, has launched the new Reconciliation Fund Strategy for 2026–2029 during an event in Belfast attended by civil society and cross-community organisations. The Reconciliation Fund provides grants to community groups working to strengthen relationships between traditions in Northern Ireland, promote cooperation between North and South, and foster… [Read More]
ILO Research Reveals Widespread Workplace Violence in West Africa
A new report by the International Labour Organization (ILO) reveals that violence and harassment in the workplace remain widespread in parts of West Africa. According to the study, 65 percent of workers in Senegal and 58 percent in Côte d’Ivoire report having experienced violence or harassment at work, while 43 percent of workers in Burkina… [Read More]
Japan Supports WFP School Feeding Programme in Guinea-Bissau
Japan and the United Nations World Food Programme (WFP) have signed a new food assistance agreement worth JPY 200 million (approximately US$1.32 million) to support food and nutrition programmes in Guinea-Bissau. The agreement, signed by the Embassy of Japan in Dakar and WFP, will help sustain critical nutrition and school feeding initiatives aimed at vulnerable… [Read More]
Climate Change Deepens Inequality for Women in Asia-Pacific
Across Asia and the Pacific, climate change is intensifying existing social and economic inequalities, particularly for women. Often described as a “threat multiplier,” climate change worsens vulnerabilities during disasters, where women face additional challenges due to restricted mobility, heavy unpaid care responsibilities, and limited access to land, credit, and financial resources. These barriers reduce their… [Read More]
Nscale Secures $2B in Europe’s Largest Funding Round
UK-based AI infrastructure company Nscale has raised $2 billion in a Series C funding round, marking the largest investment round in European history. The funding values the company at $14.6 billion and was led by Aker ASA and 8090 Industries, with participation from major technology and investment firms including Nvidia, Dell, Citadel, and Nokia. The… [Read More]
Women and Girls Make Up Nearly Half of Global Displacement
The International Organization for Migration (IOM) has warned that millions of displaced and migrant women and girls around the world continue to lack access to safe and adequate shelter, increasing their exposure to violence, exploitation, and exclusion from essential services. Marking International Women’s Day, the organisation urged governments and partners to increase investment in gender-responsive… [Read More]
ACT Alliance Opens 2026 Rapid Response Fund Appeal
The ACT Alliance humanitarian mechanism operates through two key components designed to respond to emergencies, conflicts, and natural disasters. One component is the appeals system, which supports large-scale humanitarian crises such as major earthquakes, wars, or typhoons. The second is the Rapid Response Fund (RRF), which allows national ACT members to quickly access funding to… [Read More]
£9M Funding Boost to Support Victims of Violence Against Women and Girls
The Mayor of London, Sadiq Khan, has announced an additional £9 million investment to support victims and survivors of violence against women and girls across the capital. The funding aims to strengthen specialist support services and help survivors rebuild their lives with greater safety, dignity, and independence. The funding package includes £6 million for a… [Read More]
ADB and LinkNet to Boost Digital Infrastructure in Indonesia
The Asian Development Bank (ADB) has announced a $150 million loan to PT Link Net Tbk (Linknet) to strengthen digital infrastructure in Indonesia and improve broadband quality across the country. The financing will support the expansion of Linknet’s fiber broadband services and enhance the company’s operational stability, enabling further investments in the fiber broadband market… [Read More]
WFP and KOICA Launch $10M “Sow and Grow” Nutrition Project in Sri Lanka
The United Nations World Food Programme (WFP), with support from the Korea International Cooperation Agency (KOICA), has launched a five-year “Sow and Grow” project in partnership with the Government of Sri Lanka. Backed by funding of USD 10 million, the initiative aims to strengthen Sri Lanka’s Thriposha programme by increasing the production of high-quality local… [Read More]
New Zealand COVID Inquiry Phase Two: Key Lessons to Strengthen Future Pandemic Preparedness
A second Royal Commission of Inquiry into New Zealand’s response to the COVID-19 pandemic has released an extensive report spanning several volumes and hundreds of pages. Commissioned by the coalition government, the inquiry examined key decisions made between 2021 and 2022, particularly those related to vaccine mandates, lockdown measures, and testing systems. During this period,… [Read More]
Climate Investment Lessons from Mammoth: What the World’s Largest Direct Air Capture Plant Reveals
Earlier this year, the team at Harmonic Financial Planning conducted an unusual site visit in Iceland, standing on volcanic rock beside the massive industrial fans of the Mammoth plant. Located in the Hellisheiði Energy Park and operated by Swiss cleantech company Climeworks, Mammoth is currently the world’s largest Direct Air Capture and Storage facility. Its… [Read More]
How EU Programmes Are Using Cooperation Actions to Tackle Regional Challenges
European programmes under the Investment for Jobs and Growth goal are increasingly exploring how cooperation actions can help address shared regional challenges more effectively. Through exchanges facilitated by the Interact programme, managing authorities, policymakers, and practitioners are coming together to share experiences and discuss how cooperation can complement mainstream regional funding. A recent exchange held… [Read More]
