On the International Day of the World’s Indigenous Peoples, the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) announced the ten winners of the Equator Prize 2025 through its Equator Initiative. The prize honors Indigenous and local community-led initiatives that provide nature-based solutions for sustainable development and climate resilience. This year’s recipients come from Argentina, Brazil, Ecuador, India,… [Read More]
South African Courts Clarify Rules on Agricultural Land Development
Despite the introduction of new legislation, South Africa’s Subdivision of Agricultural Land Act (SALA) continues to play a vital role in shaping agricultural land development. While the Preservation and Development of Agricultural Land Act (PDALA) was introduced to eventually replace SALA, its partial implementation has led to confusion for developers, municipalities, and planners regarding land… [Read More]
Urgent IOM Warning: Mass Returns to Afghanistan Demand Immediate Funding Boost
The International Organization for Migration (IOM) has issued an urgent appeal for international support as Afghanistan experiences one of the largest return movements in recent history. Since September 2023, over 4 million Afghans have returned from Iran and Pakistan, including more than 1.5 million in 2025 alone. The situation is expected to worsen, with at… [Read More]
Small News Companies Hope New Google Fund Will Boost Their Survival Amid Controversy
Small and independent news publishers and broadcasters across South Africa are struggling to survive amid changing media landscapes. To support these vital local voices, Google has provided R114 million over three years to establish the Digital News Transformation Fund, aimed at helping small, local, and independent publishers strengthen their digital operations and sustainability. This fund,… [Read More]
How Collaboration Fueled South Africa’s Success Against Tuberculosis Amid Funding Threats
Close collaboration between researchers and community groups has been instrumental in South Africa’s significant success in reducing tuberculosis (TB) incidence by more than half over the past decade. Women researchers and advocates have played a central role in this fight, with South African scientists contributing to global breakthroughs in TB research. This progress was highlighted… [Read More]
Flood Raises $2.5M to Boost SuperApp Infrastructure in Emerging Markets
South African startup Flood has successfully raised $2.5 million in seed funding to accelerate the growth of its “SuperApp-as-a-Service” platform, which aims to digitize offline retail across emerging markets. Founded by André de Wet, Flood offers a no-code, API-based commerce platform tailored for telcos, banks, and enterprises. This platform supports marketplace models covering products, services,… [Read More]
Minister Calleary Approves €250,000 Funding for Irish Summer Colleges Umbrella Group CONCOS
The Minister for Rural and Community Development and the Gaeltacht, Dara Calleary TD, announced on 7th August 2025 the approval of €254,270 in funding for CONCOS, the umbrella organisation for Irish summer colleges, covering the period from 2025 to 2027. This funding is intended to support CONCOS in implementing its work programme and continuing its… [Read More]
Erasure or Empowerment? Women Face a Stark Choice in Africa’s Sahel
In Africa’s Sahel region, escalating violence and poverty driven by displacement, hunger, and terrorism are severely impacting women and girls, stripping them of their right to safety, education, and a hopeful future. The convergence of political instability, environmental collapse, and diminishing international support has intensified the systemic risks faced by women and girls across the… [Read More]
UN Officials Warn of Starvation Amid ‘Gender Emergency’ in War-Torn Sudan
The humanitarian situation in El Fasher, Sudan, is rapidly worsening, with hunger growing alarmingly and putting civilians’ lives at risk. The UN’s Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) has warned of this deteriorating crisis. Edem Wosornu, OCHA’s Director of Operations and Advocacy, currently in Sudan, described the immense suffering faced by people who… [Read More]
Gaza Faces Record High Levels of Acute Malnutrition Among Children
In July 2025, aid partners screened 136,000 children under five in Gaza, identifying nearly 12,000 as acutely malnourished. Among these, more than 2,500 suffered from severe acute malnutrition—the most life-threatening form—with 40 children requiring hospitalization in stabilization centers. The proportion of children experiencing severe acute malnutrition has increased, with 18% of acutely malnourished children affected… [Read More]
Zambia Strengthens Disability Inclusion Efforts with Provincial Training in Mongu
The Government of Zambia recently concluded a two-day provincial-level sensitisation workshop in Mongu District, Western Province, demonstrating its strong commitment to advancing disability inclusion and enhancing inclusive governance across all levels. Held from August 6 to 7, 2025, at Country Lodge, the workshop was organized under the framework of the National Policy on Persons with… [Read More]
WHO and Partners Launch Global Guide to Promote Respectful Maternal and Newborn Care
Leading global health and development agencies have released a groundbreaking implementation guide designed to help countries provide respectful, dignified care and eliminate mistreatment in maternal and newborn health services. The guide, titled the Compendium on Respectful Maternal and Newborn Care, addresses widespread issues such as neglect, abuse, and non-consensual medical procedures that many women face… [Read More]
IDRC Champions Care Society at Regional Conference on Women in Mexico
From August 12 to 15, 2025, Mexico City will host the XVI Regional Conference on Women for Latin America and the Caribbean, focusing on the transformations required to address the unequal burden of care work that disproportionately falls on women. The conference takes place 50 years after Mexico hosted the First World Conference on Women,… [Read More]
10 Bold Scenarios That Could Shape the Future of Education
A new foresight study supported by the International Development Research Centre (IDRC) explores what education might look like in the year 2035. Titled 10 Scenarios for Education in 2035, the research invites educators, policymakers, and innovators to imagine and prepare for potential futures of learning. Developed by EdTech Hub through the EmpowerED initiative, the study… [Read More]
Government Accelerates Reforms to Strengthen Child Protection Laws
The UK government has announced a major step forward in protecting vulnerable children by accelerating its children’s social care reforms under the “Plan for Change.” An additional £18 million has been allocated to councils across England to enhance early intervention strategies, aiming to prevent families from reaching crisis points. The focus is on strengthening leadership… [Read More]
UN Launches Food Systems Transformation Programme in The Gambia to Boost Resilience and Market Access
The joint programme titled “Empowering Communities for Resilient Food Systems in Foni” was officially launched on 29 July 2025. This one-year initiative focuses on transforming food systems in The Gambia by tackling key challenges related to governance, market access, and sustainability. It aims to build local resilience and promote sustainable development through a coordinated, inclusive… [Read More]
Funding Opportunity for Sports Organizations to Advance Gender Equity
Sporting organisations aiming to build more inclusive and equitable environments are being encouraged to apply for the Australian Sports Commission’s (ASC) Women Leaders in Sport (WLIS) Executive Program. Now in its fourth year, the program supports national sporting organisations, national sporting organisations for people with disabilities, and state-level bodies by offering expert guidance on advancing… [Read More]
ADB Approves $126 Million Loan to Boost Rural Tourism Development in India
The Asian Development Bank (ADB) has approved a $126.42 million loan along with $1 million in technical assistance to promote rural development through sustainable and climate-resilient tourism in the Tehri Lake area of Uttarakhand, India. This initiative is aimed at enhancing the livelihoods of people in the Tehri Garhwal District—one of the most economically challenged… [Read More]
Arlington County Unveils $750.7 Million Proposed Budget for FY 2026
The Arlington City Council began its review of the proposed $750.7 million Fiscal Year 2026 operating budget on August 5. The budget plan outlines several measures, including spending cuts, the introduction of new fees, and a proposed property tax rate increase. These steps are aimed at addressing a projected $20 million budget shortfall necessary to… [Read More]
Kentucky Awarded $10.1M in SBA Relief for Storm, Wind, and Tornado Recovery Efforts
The U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) has approved over $10.1 million in federal disaster loans to assist residents, businesses, and nonprofits in Kentucky impacted by the severe storms, straight-line winds, and tornadoes that struck the state between May 16 and 17, 2025. As of August 6, 2025, the SBA has distributed more than $9.8 million… [Read More]
Children’s Hospital Los Angeles Awarded $10 Million by Wyss Foundation to Expand Orthopedic Care
Children’s Hospital Los Angeles (CHLA) has received a generous $10 million gift from the Wyss Foundation to expand and enhance its pediatric orthopedic care services. This funding will not only continue supporting the Hansjörg Wyss Orthopedic Trauma Initiative but also enable CHLA to bring orthopedic services to its Santa Monica Specialty Care Center—bringing specialized care… [Read More]
Over $1 Million Invested in 19 Municipal Projects to Boost Local Development
The Government of Saskatchewan has announced an investment of over $1 million in 19 municipal projects through the Targeted Sector Support (TSS) Initiative. This funding aims to encourage regional collaboration among municipalities to improve service delivery and strengthen local communities across the province. According to Government Relations Minister Eric Schmalz, the initiative supports municipalities in… [Read More]
Ethiopia’s Digital Health System Drives Major Gains in Maternal and Healthcare
Across Africa, digital technologies are transforming the delivery, monitoring, and evaluation of healthcare services. In Ethiopia, the adoption of the national web-based District Health Information Software 2 (DHIS2) has emerged as a powerful tool for enhancing maternal and child health (MCH) outcomes, particularly in areas with limited medical resources. A recent study published in the… [Read More]
