The Board of Directors of the African Development Bank Group has approved a €6.5 million investment in the Saviu II venture capital fund to expand access to financing for early-stage technology companies across Africa. The decision, taken at the Bank’s headquarters in Abidjan, is aimed at helping young tech start-ups overcome persistent funding gaps and… [Read More]
OAPI and WIPO Launch Regional IP Innovation Network
The African Intellectual Property Organization (OAPI) has joined forces with the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO) to establish a regional network of Technology and Innovation Support Centers (TISCs) across its 17 member states. The initiative aims to improve access to intellectual property information, patent databases, and scientific and technical resources through strengthened documentation centers in… [Read More]
Webinar Highlights Ship Inspection and Sanitation Certification
https://www.who.int/news/item/02-03-2026-global-webinar-on-core-public-health-capacities-to-conduct-ship-inspections-and-issue-ship-sanitation-certificatesShips play a vital role in connecting countries and sustaining the global economy, but disease outbreaks onboard can disrupt maritime traffic and pose serious public health and economic risks. Without strong systems to detect, prevent, and respond to health threats on ships, maritime travel can become a pathway for the international spread of infectious diseases…. [Read More]
WHO Calls for Action on Childhood Hearing Loss Prevention
On World Hearing Day, under the theme “From communities to classrooms: hearing care for all children,” the World Health Organization (WHO) is calling on governments, civil society, and partners in the health and education sectors to take urgent steps to protect children’s hearing. The organization emphasizes the need to promote healthy ear and hearing practices… [Read More]
Inclusive Health Policies Key to Advancing Gender Equality
A new policy brief from the International Labour Organization (ILO) highlights the critical role of social health protection in ensuring women have effective access to quality healthcare and income security during sickness and maternity. Released to mark International Women’s Day, the brief provides practical guidance on designing social health protection systems that better respond to… [Read More]
FitSpo Secures EBRD, UniCredit Support for Green Growth in Bulgaria
The European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) is supporting the expansion of FitSpo Nutrition OOD, a Bulgarian producer of functional food products, through a risk-sharing agreement with UniCredit Bulbank. Under the arrangement, UniCredit Bulbank is providing €5.3 million in long-term financing, while the EBRD is sharing the risk on up to €2.7 million of… [Read More]
Case Studies Help Local Nonprofits Drive Community Support
Case studies have become a powerful storytelling tool for local nonprofits seeking to strengthen community engagement and fundraising. By presenting detailed narratives of specific initiatives—highlighting processes, measurable outcomes, and personal impact—organizations can clearly demonstrate their effectiveness. These case studies often combine qualitative stories with quantitative data, making them both emotionally compelling and evidence-based. Research shows… [Read More]
Does the Iran Conflict Prove It’s Time to Quit Oil for Good?
Global oil prices surged on 1 March as Iran continued launching strikes across the Middle East amid escalating conflict with the United States and Israel. Brent crude, the global benchmark, jumped by 10 percent to over $82 per barrel following attacks on at least three ships near the Strait of Hormuz, a strategic 38-kilometre passage… [Read More]
Lifeline for Children as Vaccines Arrive in South Kordofan
The first shipment of vaccines to South Kordofan in nearly three years has arrived, restoring lifesaving immunisation services to children and communities that were cut off from medical supplies due to conflict and siege. Two truckloads carrying 18 metric tons of vaccines reached Kadugli town, marking a significant breakthrough for health services in the region…. [Read More]
Morocco Allocates $33 Million to Support Flood-Affected Farms
The Moroccan government has mobilized 300 million dirhams (approximately $33 million) to support farms affected by recent floods in the irrigated areas of Gharb and Loukkos. The funding was announced by Agriculture Minister Ahmed El Bouari during a meeting with agricultural professionals and regional officials in Kenitra, as part of an aid program launched under… [Read More]
World Birth Defects Day Urges Stronger Health Policies and Systems
World Birth Defects Day is observed to raise awareness about conditions that remain one of the leading causes of neonatal mortality and childhood disability in the Americas. Despite many being preventable or treatable, thousands of families each year face diagnoses that require specialized care, long-term follow-up, and comprehensive support. Under the theme “Every journey matters,”… [Read More]
€235,000 Funding Approved by Dara Calleary for Language Planning
The Minister for Rural, Community and Gaeltacht Development, Dara Calleary TD, has approved a capital funding package of €235,000 over a five-year period to support Ireland’s language planning sector. The announcement was made at the Language Planning Conference in Castlebar and reflects the Government’s continued commitment to strengthening the Irish language ecosystem nationwide. Of the… [Read More]
Women Drive Montenegro’s Agriculture Yet Own Little Land
Women in Montenegro carry out a significant share of agricultural work, yet they remain largely excluded from land ownership and decision-making. According to the new National Gender Profile of Agriculture and Rural Livelihoods, developed by the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) in partnership with the Government of Montenegro, women account for more than half of… [Read More]
World Birth Defects Day: Strengthening Public Health Support
On World Birth Defects Day, marked on March 3, 2026, the Pan American Health Organization (PAHO) called for stronger public policies and resilient health systems to address birth defects, which remain one of the leading causes of neonatal mortality and childhood disability in the Americas. Although overall neonatal mortality in the region has declined significantly… [Read More]
IDB Backs Colombia’s Territorial Legal Defense Reform
The Executive Board of the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB) has approved a Specific Investment Loan of up to $20 million to support Colombia’s Program to Strengthen the Legal Defense of the State at the Territorial Level. The initiative is designed to enhance the effectiveness of Colombia’s legal defense system at both national and subnational levels,… [Read More]
Unlocking Africa’s $29.5T Minerals Through Industrial Development
Africa holds an estimated $29.5 trillion in mine-site mineral value, representing around 20 percent of global mineral wealth, yet it captures only a small share of the associated economic benefits, according to a new study by the Africa Finance Corporation. The report reveals that approximately $8.6 trillion of this value remains undeveloped due to fragmented… [Read More]
UN Security Council: UK Calls for Safe and Inclusive Education for Children
At a UN Security Council meeting on Children, Technology and Education in Conflict, Ambassador James Kariuki, the UK Chargé d’Affaires to the United Nations, emphasized the urgent need to protect children’s right to safe, inclusive and quality education in conflict-affected regions. He welcomed the Council’s focus on the issue and reaffirmed the United Kingdom’s support… [Read More]
$39.5M Boost for SolarAfrica CESA from Vantage Capital
Commercial Energy South Africa (CESA), a subsidiary of renewable energy developer SolarAfrica, has secured R635 million (approximately $39.5 million) in funding from African mezzanine debt provider Vantage Capital, with participation from co-investor Greenpoint Capital. The structured mezzanine financing package facilitated the exit of Inspired Evolution from CESA, making SolarAfrica the sole shareholder of the company…. [Read More]
Moldova’s Energy Shift from Russia Challenges Europe’s Energy Union
On 31 January 2026, a voltage collapse in Moldova’s electricity grid, triggered by disturbances in Ukraine’s system, left large parts of the country without power. While electricity was restored the same day, the incident underscored Moldova’s fragile energy infrastructure. For years, Russia has leveraged its control over Soviet-era grids, gas supplies, and energy companies to… [Read More]
Rising Family Numbers Drive Child Cancer Foundation Street Appeal Call
Hundreds of volunteers across Aotearoa will participate in March’s Street Appeal to support families affected by childhood cancer, ensuring that no family faces the journey alone. The need for assistance continues to grow, with the number of families supported by Child Cancer Foundation Family Support Coordinators increasing by more than 20 percent compared to last… [Read More]
Kenyan Startups Shine with Three Major African Innovation Wins
Three Kenyan startups have been recognised with top continental awards for their innovative solutions addressing Africa’s social and economic challenges. At the Africa Entrepreneurship Awards 2026, held during the 13th Sankalp Africa Summit in Nairobi on February 25-26, Kenya secured three of the five category prizes, placing its enterprises ahead of competitors from across the… [Read More]
Menstrual Hygiene: Women, Youth, and PWDs Seek Clear Standards
The Department of Women, Youth and Persons with Disabilities (DWYPD) has engaged the University of the Free State (UFS) following a peer-reviewed study that detected endocrine-disrupting chemicals (EDCs) in certain sanitary pads and pantyliners in South Africa. While the research does not indicate immediate health risks, it raises concerns about potential long-term exposure and cumulative… [Read More]
Japan and Uzbekistan Join UNDP to Boost Aral Sea Water Sustainability
Uzbekistan, in collaboration with Japan and the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), has launched a new project to transform water management in the Aral Sea region. Officially titled “Strengthening Water Resources Governance and Climate Resilience in the Aral Sea Region,” the initiative was inaugurated at the Ministry of Water Resources of Uzbekistan with financial support… [Read More]
