Africa–Japan economic relations are growing, offering significant potential for stronger, mutually beneficial partnerships. By working together, both regions can leverage complementary strengths to boost trade, investment, and sustainable development. Multilateral Development Banks (MDBs) and Japan’s Development Finance Institutions (DFIs) are positioned to play a key role in this process. Through their financial resources, technical expertise,… [Read More]
African Development Bank Boosts Africa’s Data Transformation with SDMX and Open Data Platform 2.0 Training
The African Development Bank’s Statistics Department, in partnership with the African Union Institute of Statistics (STATAFRIC), the Africa Centre for Statistics of the United Nations Economic Commission for Africa (UNECA), and other international organizations, hosted a regional workshop on Statistical Data and Metadata Exchange (SDMX) and the Bank’s Open Data Platform 2.0 (ODP 2.0). Held… [Read More]
AfDB Group Pledges $40M to Boost Alliance for Green Infrastructure Project Development Fund
The African Development Bank Group has committed $40 million to the Alliance for Green Infrastructure in Africa – Project Development Fund, marking the first close of $118 million toward the Fund’s $400 million target. Managed by Africa50, the Fund aims to mobilize blended, early-stage development capital to deliver a pipeline of investment-ready green infrastructure projects… [Read More]
African AI Startups Raise Over $40 Million in 2025, Eye $16.5 Billion Market
Africa’s AI sector, though currently holding just 2.5 percent of the global market, is attracting increasing investor interest. Valued at $4.51 billion in 2025, the industry is projected to reach $16.53 billion within five years. Following a funding slowdown in 2023 and 2024, tech startup investment across Africa is rebounding, with the first half of… [Read More]
£500,000 Funding Awarded to Support Community Flood Prevention Projects
Over £500,000 in grants is being awarded to support nearly 40 community projects aimed at reducing flooding across Oxfordshire. The funding comes from Oxfordshire County Council’s priority action grants scheme, which received more than 80 applications earlier this year from groups and organisations working to boost local flood resilience. Grants of up to £25,000 are… [Read More]
UK Government Launches £9.5 Million Fund to Help More People Get Online
The UK government has launched the £9.5 million Digital Inclusion Innovation Fund to tackle digital inequality, boost economic growth, and raise living standards as part of its Plan for Change. The funding will support initiatives that help people get online, such as running technology workshops and donating devices to those without internet access. Delivered in… [Read More]
EBRD Commits €20 Million to Spire Capital Partners Fund I
The European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) is investing €20 million in Spire Capital Partners Fund I, a new independent private equity fund based in Poland. This commitment has been instrumental in enabling the fund to reach its €90 million target size and establishing Spire Capital Partners as a new player in the region’s… [Read More]
Kyrgyzstan Equips Law Enforcement with New Data Tool to Combat Wildlife Smuggling
Kyrgyzstan has taken a major step in protecting its biodiversity by developing a new electronic database to help government agencies detect and prevent wildlife smuggling. Supported by TRAFFIC Central Asia, the Ministry of Natural Resources, Ecology and Technical Supervision of the Kyrgyz Republic, and Fauna & Flora, the initiative is designed to enhance law enforcement’s… [Read More]
New Tech Funding Award Strengthens Global Fight Against Illegal Wildlife Trade
A £350,000 grant from the Wolfson Foundation will enable TRAFFIC to upgrade its IT infrastructure, streamline data systems, and integrate advanced automation technologies to strengthen efforts against wildlife trafficking. The funding will support the use of specialised media monitoring software, web scraping tools, and AI-powered data processing, improving the organisation’s ability to detect and prevent… [Read More]
IOM Partners with Mission 89 to Combat Child Trafficking in Sports
The International Organization for Migration (IOM) has joined forces with Mission 89 to launch a campaign tackling the use of sport as a cover for child trafficking. Mission 89, a research and advocacy organization focused on protecting young athletes, has highlighted how traffickers exploit children’s aspirations for athletic success, luring them into abuse and exploitation…. [Read More]
IOM Announces 2025 Youth Leaders Driving Climate and Migration Action in Africa
The International Organization for Migration (IOM) has announced the selection of 40 young changemakers from across Africa to drive youth-led initiatives addressing the impacts of climate change on migration. This is part of IOM’s Youth Capacity Enhancement Programme on Climate Mobility, aimed at equipping young leaders with the resources, skills, and networks needed to scale… [Read More]
Apply Now: Grants Available for Innovative Waste Reduction and Reuse Ideas
The second year of the Waste Not Somerset fund is now open for applications, offering financial support for innovative community projects that tackle waste. The fund, provided by Somerset Council in partnership with its waste collections contractor SUEZ Recycling and Recovery UK, targets local community groups and organizations across Somerset. This initiative aims to drive… [Read More]
Navigating the Unexpected: Essential Resources from “Grant Writing Strategies”
The Preservation Leadership Forum recently hosted a webinar on Grant Writing Strategies, offering insights from both a grant reviewer, Nicky Vann, and a grant writer, Haley Powell Kelly. While the session video is unavailable, the slide deck and a Q&A transcript provide a wealth of resources for historic preservationists seeking funding. Participants are encouraged to… [Read More]
Ireland Approves Funding for Minor Flood Mitigation and Coastal Protection in Cahore, Wexford
The Minor Flood Mitigation Works and Coastal Protection Scheme was established by the Office of Public Works (OPW) in 2009 to provide financial support to local authorities for addressing localized flooding and coastal protection issues. Since its introduction, Wexford County Council has successfully secured funding for 24 projects under this initiative. The scheme is designed… [Read More]
Parkinson’s Foundation Awards $4.3M+ in Grants to Advance Research and Treatment
The Parkinson’s Foundation has announced an investment of over $4.3 million to fund 44 grants aimed at accelerating innovative research on Parkinson’s disease (PD). These grants support scientists exploring various aspects of PD with the goal of developing new therapies, improving treatments, and ultimately finding a cure for the 10 million people worldwide affected by… [Read More]
Sri Lanka Unveils Floating Solar Projects to Reach Net-Zero Carbon by 2050
The Cabinet of Ministers in Sri Lanka has approved a call for proposals from companies to provide consultancy services for launching floating solar power projects. These services will include pre-feasibility studies, feasibility studies, and environmental impact assessments to ensure the projects are viable and sustainable. Sri Lanka has prioritized renewable energy development as a national… [Read More]
HCLTech Celebrates 49 Years with Nationwide Sapling Plantation Drive
HCLFoundation, the corporate social responsibility arm of HCLTech, celebrated the 49th anniversary of HCL Group with a nationwide plantation drive, planting 49,000 saplings across India. The initiative took place in major cities including Noida, Nagpur, Pune, Bengaluru, and Lucknow, highlighting the company’s dedication to environmental sustainability. The plantation drive brought together HCLTech employees, their families,… [Read More]
ADB Approves $400 Million Loan to Strengthen Philippines’ Social Protection Program
The Asian Development Bank (ADB) has approved a $400 million loan to help the Philippines tackle hunger, food insecurity, and poor nutrition amid escalating climate and disaster risks. The funding will support the Reducing Food Insecurity and Undernutrition with Electronic Vouchers Project, which aims to expand the government’s flagship Walang Gutom (Zero Hunger) Food Stamp… [Read More]
Strengthening Civil Society in Serbia to Boost Regional Youth Cooperation
For the eighth consecutive year, the RYCO Local Branch Office in Serbia, with support from the OSCE Mission to Serbia, hosted a capacity-building training for Civil Society Organizations (CSOs) focused on project proposal writing in the areas of intercultural exchange, peacebuilding, and reconciliation. The 2025 edition took place on Kopaonik mountain from 7th to 10th… [Read More]
Canada Strengthens Wildfire Preparedness with Strategic Knowledge Investments
Canada is experiencing an intense wildfire season, with communities across the country facing growing risks and impacts. In response, the Government of Canada is investing in wildfire resilience, prevention, mitigation, and recovery through advances in knowledge, science, and innovation. Corey Hogan, Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Energy and Natural Resources, announced $45.7 million in… [Read More]
Minister Olszewski Pledges New Support for Saskatchewan’s Agriculture Sector
The Government of Canada, through PrairiesCan, is investing over $4.2 million to strengthen Saskatchewan’s agriculture sector, aiming to boost innovation, production, and value-added activities. These investments target advanced breeding programs for crops and livestock, local grain bin manufacturing, food processing, and the promotion of value-added agriculture. The Global Institute for Food Security (GIFS) at the… [Read More]
Apply Now: Funding Opportunities for Digital Technologies and Deep-Tech Innovations
The Polish Agency for Enterprise Development (PARP) and the National Centre for Research and Development have launched new funding opportunities for investment and R&D projects in digital technologies and deep-tech innovations under the STEP initiative. The program is structured into two tracks: “Innovativeness” and “Strategic Independence,” supporting projects that introduce breakthrough or state-of-the-art technologies with… [Read More]
WFP Calls for Urgent Food Aid as Hunger Escalates in Myanmar’s Rakhine State
The World Food Programme (WFP) has issued an urgent appeal for increased humanitarian support in Myanmar’s Rakhine State, where conflict, blockades, and funding cuts are driving a sharp rise in hunger and malnutrition. In central Rakhine, 57 percent of families are now unable to meet basic food needs, up from 33 percent in December 2024,… [Read More]
