UN peacekeeping operations play a crucial role in promoting women’s rights and access to justice in conflict-affected areas, where discriminatory laws, weak protections, and social norms often leave women and girls vulnerable. In fragile settings, justice systems are frequently weakened or destroyed, leaving survivors of gender-based violence with little recourse. Peacekeeping missions help rebuild police… [Read More]
Mars Launches Mars Impact Fund to Support People, Pets, and Communities
Mars, Incorporated has launched the Mars Impact Fund, a new philanthropic initiative aimed at driving lasting impact in the communities where the company operates. The Fund will allocate $85 million from 2025 to 2027, followed by at least $50 million annually from 2028, supporting long-term investments in community resilience, scientific opportunity, and companion animal wellbeing…. [Read More]
Six Months After Afghanistan Earthquake, Families Face Abandonment
Six months after the devastating earthquake in Kunar province, Afghanistan, thousands of families remain in limbo, living in tents or makeshift shelters through harsh winter conditions. Despite initial emergency support from the Norwegian Refugee Council (NRC) and other humanitarian organisations, funding shortages are forcing key services to scale back or close, leaving families without proper… [Read More]
Community Organisations Can Access £1.5M+ in Funding
Community groups and non-profit organisations in South Oxfordshire can apply for over £1.5 million in grants over the next year, as confirmed by South Oxfordshire District Council in their February budget announcement. The funding will support projects that improve community facilities, enhance residents’ health and wellbeing, promote cultural activities, and address climate change across the… [Read More]
Nearly £400,000 in Community Funding Now Available
Community groups in Solihull now have the opportunity to bid for a share of nearly £400,000 in funding to support local neighbourhood projects. The funding comes from the Community Infrastructure Levy (CIL), collected from new developments, and is available this year for groups in five wards: Elmdon, Knowle, Shirley East, Shirley South, and St Alphege…. [Read More]
India Requires $750M Funding to Build 100 Non-Profit Unicorns
A new report by Change Engine highlights that India will need nearly USD 750 million in flexible funding over the next five years to create 100 “non-profit unicorns” capable of impacting at least one million people each. The study, part of the “Ease of Doing Good” series, finds that most Indian non-profits struggle to scale… [Read More]
Bent Arrow Receives Alstom Foundation Funding for Workforce Program
The Alstom Foundation has donated funds to the Bent Arrow Traditional Healing Society in Edmonton, Canada, to support the Equipped to Work project, a community-focused initiative aimed at removing barriers to employment for Indigenous youth and women. The program helps participants gain professional certifications and provides essential resources such as personal protective equipment and monthly… [Read More]
AfDB and Tunisia Strengthen Oversight of Development Project Finances
The African Development Bank Group and the Tunisian government have launched a joint initiative to strengthen the financial and accounting management of Bank-funded projects in Tunisia, aiming to accelerate implementation and improve development outcomes. In collaboration with Tunisia’s Ministry of Economy and Planning, the General Financial Control, and the National Information Technology Centre (CNI), a… [Read More]
IDB-Backed Program to Improve Peru’s Identity and Registry Services
The Inter-American Development Bank (IDB) has approved an $80 million loan to improve access to civil registration and identification services in Peru, aiming to promote inclusion and economic participation. The project seeks to reduce costs and processing times, strengthen the National Registry of Identification and Civil Status (RENIEC), and build a more efficient, secure, and… [Read More]
New Program to Create Jobs for 18 Million Youth in East & Southern Africa
A new regional initiative, the Skills for Economic Transformation and Jobs Program (SET4Jobs), aims to equip 18 million young people across Eastern and Southern Africa with the education and skills needed to thrive in key economic sectors by 2034. Addressing the urgent challenge of youth unemployment—where roughly 8 million young people enter the labor market… [Read More]
Iceland Pledges ISK 400M to Strengthen Ukraine’s Energy Grid with UNDP
The Government of Iceland and the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) have signed a new agreement to strengthen the resilience of Ukraine’s energy sector, contributing ISK 400 million (around US$3.25 million) to the initiative. The project, part of the “Strengthening Energy Sector Resilience in Ukraine” programme, focuses on procuring decentralised energy solutions and modernising critical… [Read More]
Reimagining Healthcare in Trinidad and Tobago: Innovation at Work
In Trinidad and Tobago, healthcare is undergoing a transformative shift powered by innovation and strategic support from the Pan American Health Organization (PAHO) and the World Health Organization (WHO). Hospitals are now incorporating advanced technologies to improve patient care and operational efficiency. One example is the introduction of ultraviolet disinfecting robots, nicknamed Roberta, at Scarborough… [Read More]
$117M World Bank Project to Boost Fisheries and Aquaculture in Tanzania
Tanzania has launched a USD 117 million (EUR 99 million) World Bank-funded project, the Scaling-Up Sustainable Marine Fisheries and Aquaculture Management (TASFAM) initiative, aimed at increasing the country’s seafood production and reducing post-harvest losses. Initiated in early February 2026 after planning began in May 2025, the project will run for five years and is expected… [Read More]
10 Years of Waste Research and Innovation in South Africa
The Council for Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR) is hosting the Waste Research, Development, and Innovation Roadmap Conference online from 3 to 5 March 2026. The conference highlights a decade of waste research, development, and innovation in South Africa, showcasing achievements from the Waste Research, Development, and Innovation (RD&I) Roadmap, an initiative supported by the… [Read More]
6 Months After Earthquake: 25,000 Afghan Children in Temporary Schools
About six months after a devastating earthquake struck eastern Afghanistan, approximately 25,000 children in Kunar province are still living in tents, as homes and schools remain unrepaired and no reconstruction timeline has been established, according to Save the Children. The earthquake on 31 August 2025 killed more than 2,000 people and destroyed or damaged over… [Read More]
Rural Schools in Kenya: Beyond Outputs to Youth Resilience
Magaga Enos reflects on J‑term fieldwork in rural Kenyan schools, supported by the Harvard Center for International Development and the Women and Public Policy Program at Harvard Kennedy School. His inquiry focused on understanding how rural schooling can foster both unity and justice in communities, rather than merely advancing individual academic mobility. Enos connects this… [Read More]
Lesotho Teacher Development: Lessons from Zambia
Lesotho’s education system has historically faced significant challenges in managing and supporting its teaching workforce. Prior to a peer learning exchange with Zambia, the country lacked coherent structures for teacher professional development, data management, and regulatory oversight. There was no approved national framework guiding teacher education and Continuous Professional Development (CPD), which limited systematic professional… [Read More]
Four Years of Ukraine Conflict: Insights for Europe
Four years of war in Ukraine have transformed modern warfare, with drones, digital defence systems, and improvised solutions redefining the battlefield. At a recent symposium, Dutch and Ukrainian experts reflected on frontline conditions and explored lessons that Europe can learn to better prepare for future conflicts. One major lesson emphasized was the need for timely… [Read More]
Breaking the Silence: Advancing Gender Justice in Northern Kosovo
Gender-based and domestic violence remain pervasive issues worldwide, disproportionately affecting women. In many communities in Kosovo, domestic violence is still often regarded as a private matter to be handled within the family. While Kosovo’s legal framework on gender-based and domestic violence aligns with international standards, consistent enforcement remains a challenge. Many women do not report… [Read More]
Thailand Launches Migration Journalism E-Learning Course for Ethical Reporting
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MFA) of Thailand, together with the International Organization for Migration (IOM) in Thailand and Social Lab – Migration in Media, officially launched a new migration journalism e-learning curriculum aimed at strengthening ethical and evidence-based reporting on migration across the country. The launch event, held in Bangkok on 20 February 2026,… [Read More]
EU Pledges €8M to Boost Primary Health Care in Syria
The European Union has committed EUR 8 million to support the recovery and strengthening of Syria’s health system, with a particular focus on primary health care. Through its collaboration with the Syrian Ministry of Health and national institutions, WHO will help translate the national primary health care action plan into practical, Ministry-led initiatives. The support… [Read More]
UNESCO Boosts Living Heritage for Sustainable Urban Development
UNESCO is advancing its project “Latin America and the Caribbean: Capacity-building for resilient communities through sustainable tourism and the safeguarding of heritage,” which unites 10 countries in the region to strengthen capacities for protecting Intangible Cultural Heritage (ICH) and promoting its integration into urban planning. Supported by the Ministry of Culture of the Kingdom of… [Read More]
Sindh Strengthens Disaster Preparedness with UNESCO Support
From February 11–14, 2026, the UNESCO team in Pakistan, represented by Syed Muhammad Raza Shah and Ghazala Naeem, conducted a mission to Karachi, Sindh, to strengthen climate resilience, disaster preparedness, and science-driven collaboration. The mission coincided with the Asia-Pacific Shelter and Settlements Forum (APSSF) 2026, which brought together governments, development agencies, humanitarian organizations, and technical… [Read More]
