Mastercard has launched a new embedded virtual card payment solution in Australia, with Westpac as the first commercial issuer to offer it to clients using Oracle Fusion Cloud Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP). This integration combines Mastercard’s virtual card technology with Oracle’s B2B platform to create a seamless and secure payment experience fully embedded within the… [Read More]
Africa Aims for $50B Annual Climate Funding Despite Historical Shortfalls
African nations have set a new target to raise $50 billion annually for climate solutions, announced at the second Africa Climate Summit (ACS2) held in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, from September 8 to 10, 2025. This goal is part of a broader strategy to address climate challenges while ensuring the continent speaks with a unified voice… [Read More]
UK Shared Prosperity Fund Awards £1.7M to Support Local Community Projects
The Scottish Borders will benefit from nearly £1.7 million in funding through the UK Shared Prosperity Fund for 2025–26, drawn from a one-year transitional fund approved by the UK Government following the success of the previous three-year program. Twenty-six projects across the region will receive support, with more than £1.1 million allocated to ten strategic… [Read More]
WFP and EU Launch European Tour of Gaza Art Exhibition Highlighting Youth Voices
The United Nations World Food Programme (WFP), in partnership with the European Union (EU), is launching a travelling art exhibition titled “Gaza: Stories of Hope and Resilience” to showcase the work of Gazan painter Ahmed Muhanna to European audiences for the first time. Opening in Brussels on 15 September 2025, the exhibition will tour nine… [Read More]
UN Launches Second Global Online Stakeholder Consultation Ahead of 2026 Water Conference
The United Nations has launched the second global online stakeholder consultation to gather input for the concept papers of the six Interactive Dialogues at the 2026 United Nations Water Conference. Stakeholders are invited to submit their contributions by 17 October 2025 (COB, EDT). The Conference, co-hosted by the Republic of Senegal and the United Arab… [Read More]
Madagascar Faces 50% Surge in Child Malnutrition Amid Worsening Drought
Cases of malnutrition among children under five in Madagascar are expected to rise sharply in the coming months, with projections indicating a 54% increase due to prolonged dry spells, cyclones, and the lingering effects of the 2021 drought. Save the Children, analysing new figures from the Integrated Food Security Phase Classification (IPC), estimates that 558,000… [Read More]
Afghanistan’s New Restrictions on Women UN Workers Threaten Humanitarian Aid
The UN Assistance Mission in Afghanistan (UNAMA) has warned that recent restrictions on women nationals working for the United Nations are putting life-saving humanitarian assistance and essential services at risk for hundreds of thousands of people affected by last month’s deadly earthquake. On Sunday, de facto security forces barred women Afghan staff and contractors from… [Read More]
South-South Cooperation: A Pathway to a Fairer, More Equitable World
South-South cooperation refers to the process by which developing countries, regardless of geographic location, collaborate to achieve their individual or shared development goals. This collaboration involves the exchange of knowledge, skills, and resources through partnerships with governments, regional organizations, civil society, academia, and the private sector. For countries in the Global South, these partnerships intersect… [Read More]
UK Pledges New Funding for Ukraine During Foreign Secretary’s Kyiv Visit
UK Foreign Secretary Yvette Cooper visited Kyiv to reaffirm the United Kingdom’s unwavering support for Ukraine, emphasizing that Ukraine’s security is integral to the security of the UK and Europe. The visit comes amid heightened Russian attacks on civilians and infrastructure, stalled peace talks, and the approach of a difficult winter, underscoring the urgency of… [Read More]
Minister O’Sullivan Highlights Role of Group Water Schemes at National Conference
At the opening of the National Federation of Group Water Schemes’ annual conference in Galway, Minister of State for Nature, Heritage and Biodiversity Christopher O’Sullivan TD reaffirmed the Government’s strong support for the group water scheme sector. He praised its role in sustaining rural communities, describing the movement as innovative, efficient, and deeply community-rooted, and… [Read More]
Guyana Marks World Electric Vehicle Day with Push for Electric Mobility
Guyana marked World Electric Vehicle Day 2025 by highlighting the rapid growth of its electric mobility sector and its contribution to a modern low carbon future. Over the past five years, the government has increased investment in electric vehicles, charging infrastructure, and skills development, in line with the Low Carbon Development Strategy 2030. The country… [Read More]
IFAD and Vanuatu Partner on $11M Project to Boost Nutrition and Food Security for Rural Families
The International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD) and the Government of Vanuatu have launched a US$11 million partnership to improve food security and nutrition for more than 15,000 people in one of the world’s most climate-vulnerable countries. The Agricultural Investment for Markets and Nutrition (AIM-N) initiative will build on traditional farming systems to help families… [Read More]
Rwanda: Farmers and Private Sector Partner to Strengthen Maize and Soybean Value Chains
The International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD), in collaboration with the Rwanda Agriculture Board (RAB), farmer cooperatives, private sector partners, and development organizations such as IDH, has launched the pilot phase of the Food and Agriculture Resilience Mission Pillar 3 (FARM P3) in Rwanda. The initiative will focus on strengthening maize and soybean value chains… [Read More]
IOM Seeks $16.8M to Scale Up Earthquake Response in Afghanistan Before Winter
The International Organization for Migration (IOM) is scaling up life-saving assistance following the powerful earthquakes that struck eastern Afghanistan. In line with the joint humanitarian appeal, IOM is urgently seeking USD 16.8 million to support 134,000 affected people, many of whom have been displaced. The country is already grappling with multiple crises, and the earthquakes… [Read More]
Thailand’s Labour Department Enhances Protection for Women Domestic Workers
Thailand’s Department of Labour Protection and Welfare (DLPW), with support from the ILO’s EU-funded PROTECT project, is advancing efforts to extend labour rights to domestic workers, most of whom are women. The initiatives focus on educating workers about their rights and strengthening the ability of labour inspectors to ensure effective enforcement across the country. A… [Read More]
Kazakhstan Strengthens National Capacity with ILO Labour Inspection Training Program
Kazakhstan is advancing its efforts to modernize labour inspection and strengthen compliance with international labour standards through a recent training-of-trainers course organized by the International Labour Organization (ILO) in Turin, Italy. Supported by the ILO project on promoting occupational safety and health through social dialogue in the mining sector, four officials from the State Labour… [Read More]
Embracing Climate-Smart Growth: A Net Win for Uganda’s Future
Climate change poses a significant threat to Uganda’s economic future, with projections showing it could cut growth by up to 3.1% by 2050. This could push more than 613,000 people into poverty and force 12 million into internal migration. The World Bank Group’s Country Climate and Development Report (CCDR) for Uganda, launched in Kampala, highlights… [Read More]
ADB Approves $135 Million to Boost Ocean Health and Water Security in Fiji
The Asian Development Bank (ADB) has approved a $125 million concessional loan and a $10 million grant to help Fiji strengthen water security and improve ocean and environmental health. The Healthy Oceans and Water Security Improvement Project will focus on major upgrades to the Kinoya wastewater treatment plant in Suva, the development of a more… [Read More]
Nigeria: AfDB and ICRC Join Forces to Strengthen Water Access in Maiduguri
The Government of Borno State, in partnership with the African Development Bank (AfDB) and the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC), has launched a new initiative to expand access to safe, resilient, and inclusive water services in Maiduguri. The partnership was announced at a roundtable on Tuesday, 10 September, marking one year since devastating… [Read More]
£4.75m Investment to Strengthen North Paddington Communities
North Paddington residents are set to benefit from a £4.75 million investment from Westminster City Council, aimed at improving community spaces and supporting grassroots projects that promote skills, jobs, and wellbeing. The funding combines a £4.5 million Community Capital Grants Fund with over £175,000 from the North Paddington Community Chest Fund. Together, the two streams… [Read More]
£170k Boost for East Lothian Community Facilities
More than £170,000 has been awarded to organisations across East Lothian to improve and develop community facilities. The funding comes from East Lothian Council’s Community Intervention Fund, which supports capital projects that help strengthen community life. Eight groups will benefit from the latest round of grants. Eskmuthe Community Rowing Club has received £10,000 towards the… [Read More]
EU to Back 350,000 SMEs with €17.5 Billion Energy Efficiency Push
More than 350,000 European small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) are set to benefit from a new €17.5 billion financing package by the European Investment Bank (EIB) Group, supported by the European Commission. The initiative, announced today in Brussels, aims to help SMEs cut energy bills, strengthen competitiveness, and advance Europe’s decarbonisation goals. Running from 2025… [Read More]
CSR Funding Strengthens Subhojanam Kitchens with New Equipment
Touch Stone Charities, an organization affiliated with the Hare Krishna Movement, has received kitchen equipment worth ₹3 lakh from PharmaZell Pvt. Ltd. as part of the company’s Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) initiative. The equipment was formally handed over by PharmaZell MD, Anant Dattatray Barbadhikar, to Nishkrinchan Bhakta Das, President of Touch Stone Charities. PharmaZell’s HR… [Read More]
