The UK government has allocated £5 million in funding to 26 innovative rail projects aimed at improving passenger safety and the overall railway experience. This investment, announced by the Department for Transport (DfT), is part of the First-of-a-Kind (FOAK) competition, run in partnership with Innovate UK, Network Rail, and train operators. The scheme supports projects… [Read More]
Google.org Pledges $5M to Strengthen APAC’s Fight Against Online Scams
Scams and fraud continue to affect millions across Southeast Asia, with losses estimated at $23.6 billion in 2024. In response, a $5 million fund from Google.org has been announced to support The ASEAN Foundation in expanding online scam prevention resources to three million people across the region. A key component of this effort is the… [Read More]
UNICEF Warns: Funding Cuts Threaten Education for 6 Million Children
UNICEF has warned that Official Development Assistance (ODA) for education is expected to fall by $3.2 billion, representing a 24 percent decline from 2023. Nearly 80 percent of these cuts are concentrated among just three donor governments. The decrease in funding could push the number of out-of-school children worldwide from 272 million to 278 million,… [Read More]
Rockefeller Foundation Launches Initiative to Strengthen Development Finance for Resilient Asian Economies
The Rockefeller Foundation has announced a US$200,000 grant through its Asia Regional Office to support AVPN’s new Asia Partnership for Investment in Resilient Economies (ASPIRE), an initiative aimed at strengthening development finance and supporting vulnerable communities across Asia. ASPIRE seeks to scale Asian-led financing solutions that address regional development challenges while connecting capital to community-driven… [Read More]
UNHCR Deputy Chief Urges Global Support to End Syrian Displacement
UN Deputy High Commissioner for Refugees Kelly T. Clements concluded a five-day visit to Lebanon and Syria, emphasizing the urgent need for international support to bring peace and stability to Syria and to end the displacement and suffering of millions of Syrians. She also called for continued assistance to countries hosting Syrian refugees, particularly Lebanon,… [Read More]
UK Halts Refugee Family Reunion Applications Amid Policy Review
The UK government has announced a temporary suspension of new applications under the dedicated refugee family reunion scheme, a move that will take effect immediately. Home Secretary Yvette Cooper explained that the decision aligns refugees with the same restrictions as other migrants seeking to bring family members to the UK, including minimum income requirements of… [Read More]
Pakistan Flash Floods: EU Launches Emergency Humanitarian Response
The European Union has mobilized nearly 350 million PKR (EUR 1,050,000) in emergency assistance to support communities affected by the recent flash floods in Pakistan. This aid will be delivered through trusted humanitarian partner organizations to address the immediate needs of the most vulnerable populations. The EU’s response focuses on providing life-saving health services, ensuring… [Read More]
Investing in Alberta: Building Safer, Stronger Communities Across the Province
The Government of Canada is investing over $276 million in Alberta in 2025 to strengthen communities and support sustainable growth. These funds are intended to enhance foundational infrastructure, including public transit, water systems, local roads, and bridges, ensuring that communities can expand to accommodate new housing while improving the quality of life for residents. The… [Read More]
Norway Supports UK’s Flagship Public Markets Programme
The UK’s MOBILIST programme is set to receive an additional NOK 40 million (£2.9 million) in funding from the Norwegian Agency for Development Cooperation (Norad) over the next three years. This funding aims to help MOBILIST unlock greater private capital investment in emerging markets through publicly listed financial products. The extension of support was formalized… [Read More]
Cambodia and China Partner to Expand Skills Training and Youth Employment Opportunities
Cambodia and China have launched a new collaboration aimed at enhancing technical and vocational education and training (TVET) in Cambodia, with a focus on boosting youth employability and supporting economic growth. The partnership seeks to modernize curricula, strengthen teacher capacity, expand student exchanges, and align training with the demands of Cambodia’s evolving industries. On 18… [Read More]
Lao Enterprises Embrace Responsible Business and Sustainable Practices
As Laos moves closer to graduating from Least Developed Country (LDC) status and integrates more deeply into regional and global value chains, the adoption of responsible business conduct (RBC) and Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) practices has become increasingly vital. For Lao enterprises, promoting sustainable business practices is not only a matter of meeting international… [Read More]
Myanmar Earthquake Recovery Boosted by ILO Skills Training and Resilience Programs
The International Labour Organization (ILO) has strengthened Myanmar’s capacity for post-earthquake recovery and community resilience through a specialized training initiative conducted in partnership with China. The “Capacity-Building Training for Post-Earthquake Recovery in Myanmar” was held online from 13–14 August 2025, bringing together over 50 participants, including vocational trainers, emergency responders, educators, and community leaders from… [Read More]
AfDB to Boost African Food Security Investments at Africa Food Systems Forum
The African Development Bank (AfDB) will host a high-level side event titled “From Pledges to Plates: Financing Africa’s Agriculture and Food Systems” on 3 September 2025 in Diamnadio, Dakar, Senegal, with livestream access for global participants. This event, held alongside the Africa Food Systems Forum, aims to foster dialogue, share lessons, and strengthen collaboration among… [Read More]
Ethiopia’s Urban Program Generates Over One Million Jobs, Strengthening Livelihoods
The Ethiopia Urban Institutional and Infrastructure Development Program (UIIDP), supported by the World Bank, has created over 1.15 million jobs while improving infrastructure and living conditions in 117 cities, benefiting more than 6.6 million people. The program strengthened local governance and financial systems, enabling cities to plan, deliver, and sustain employment-generating urban development, even amid… [Read More]
Energy for All: Accelerating Universal Energy Access in Mozambique
Mozambique has made significant strides in expanding electricity access, nearly doubling its electrification rate from 31 percent in 2018 to 60 percent by the end of 2024. This achievement, benefitting around 9.5 million people, is largely attributed to the World Bank-supported ProEnergia project, which forms part of Mozambique’s National Energy for All Program. ProEnergia has… [Read More]
Ethiopia Strengthens Livelihoods Through Poultry Farming Initiatives
Imran Abba Jihad, a disabled farmer in southwest Ethiopia, has transformed his livelihood through poultry farming under the Livestock and Fisheries Sector Development Project (LFSDP). Before joining the project, Imran had no income-generating activities and limited experience in poultry farming, leaving his family of five vulnerable to food insecurity. In 2023, he joined the Kena… [Read More]
Charting Inclusive Futures: Free to Be Me Economic Empowerment Forum Empowers Women
More than 100 business executives, civil society leaders, and diplomats gathered in Nairobi, Kenya, for the Free to Be Me Economic Empowerment Forum, addressing the growing social and economic exclusion faced by LGBTIQ+ communities. Hosted by Workplace Pride, Hivos, and the Netherlands Embassy, the three-day event provided a regional platform to design inclusive economic systems… [Read More]
Over 500 Days Under Siege: Women and Girls in El Fasher at Risk of Starvation
For over 500 days, women and girls in El Fasher, North Darfur, have endured a relentless siege, facing extreme risks of starvation, indiscriminate bombardment, and sexual violence. Cut off from humanitarian aid and protection, they are surviving under famine-level conditions, with food stocks depleted and families resorting to eating animal feed and tree leaves. The… [Read More]
GoB, China, and UNDP Launch Innovative Urban Livelihoods Project
The Ministry of Local Government, Rural Development and Cooperatives, in partnership with the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) and the China International Development Cooperation Agency (CIDCA), has launched the Livelihoods Support for Urban Poor Communities in Bangladesh (LSUPCB) project in Dhaka. Funded through the Global Development and South-South Cooperation Fund under CIDCA’s leadership, the initiative… [Read More]
EU Provides €9 Million for Biodiversity and Community Development Projects in Sierra Leone
The United Nations World Food Programme (WFP) has received a €9 million contribution from the European Union (EU) to launch a three-year project aimed at reducing biodiversity loss and enhancing the livelihoods of communities living in and around protected areas in Sierra Leone. The initiative, titled Nature Nourishes Territorial Approach for Local Development (NN-TALD), is… [Read More]
WFP Delivers Urgent Food Aid to Afghanistan’s Earthquake-Affected Communities
The World Food Programme (WFP) is urgently delivering food assistance to communities in eastern Afghanistan following a powerful 6.0-magnitude earthquake on Sunday, August 31, which killed hundreds and affected thousands more. Initial relief efforts include distributing High Energy Biscuits to quake-affected areas near the Pakistan border and dispatching mobile storage units to support broader emergency… [Read More]
Over One Billion People Live with Mental Health Conditions, Urgent Action Needed
More than one billion people worldwide are living with mental health conditions, according to new data from the World Health Organization (WHO), with disorders such as anxiety and depression causing profound human suffering and significant economic losses. While many countries have strengthened their mental health policies and programs, global investment and action remain insufficient to… [Read More]
UN Experts Raise Alarm Over Rising Human Rights Violations in Burundi Amid Elections
UN experts have expressed serious concern over a surge in human rights violations in Burundi, particularly in the context of the 2025 election period. Attacks against civil society, political opponents, and citizens have been reported, highlighting a climate of intimidation and impunity. Between January 2024 and May 2025, civil society organizations documented at least 200… [Read More]
