On August 14th, Minister for Rural and Community Development and the Gaeltacht, Dara Calleary TD, announced €8.7 million in funding for 221 recreational projects across Ireland under the Outdoor Recreation Infrastructure Scheme (ORIS). The funding, allocated through Measure 1 and the Project Development Measure, reflects the government’s continued commitment to supporting walking trails, cycleways, water-based… [Read More]
Ghana Issues Africa’s First FLEGT Timber Licence, Pioneering Forest Governance
Ghana has officially launched the Forest Law Enforcement, Governance and Trade (FLEGT) licence, becoming the first African country and only the second in the world after Indonesia to issue this certification. The launch follows the go-live of Ghana’s FLEGT licensing system on August 15, 2025, paving the way for the export of verified legal timber…. [Read More]
Supporting Smallholder Farmers in Africa: Boosting Food Security and Rural Livelihoods
PrAEctiCe, an EU-funded initiative, is supporting farming communities in sub-Saharan Africa to adopt more sustainable and resilient agricultural practices. At the core of the project is a decision support tool (DST) designed to promote agro-ecological practices and provide smallholder farmers in East Africa with solutions to address climate change, biodiversity loss, and food insecurity. While… [Read More]
Health and Aid Workers Under Attack: Growing Violations of International Humanitarian Law
Armed conflicts around the world are increasingly targeting the very systems meant to protect civilians, with health workers, hospitals, ambulances, and humanitarian aid staff facing unprecedented levels of violence. Attacks on healthcare facilities doubled between 2023 and 2024, while more than 900 health workers were killed last year. Humanitarian aid workers also faced record fatalities… [Read More]
UNEP and ICAO Launch $82.5M Initiative to Eliminate Toxic Firefighting Foams in African Airports
The United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) and the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) have launched the Fortifying Infrastructure for Responsible Extinguishment (FIRE) project, a major initiative to eliminate toxic firefighting foams at airports in Egypt, Ethiopia, Kenya, Nigeria, and South Africa. The $82.5 million project, supported by a $10 million grant from the Global Environment… [Read More]
WFP Warns of Looming Cuts to Food Aid in Cameroon Amid Funding Shortages
Half a million refugees and vulnerable Cameroonians could soon lose access to humanitarian food assistance as resources reach critically low levels, the United Nations World Food Programme (WFP) has warned. Without urgent new funding, WFP will be forced to halt life-saving food aid at the end of August for over 240,000 people who fled conflict… [Read More]
EU Funds WFP Emergency Aid for 500,000 People in Afghanistan
The United Nations World Food Programme (WFP) in Afghanistan has received a crucial €13 million (US$15 million) contribution from the European Union to provide emergency assistance to half a million vulnerable people over the next three months. With this support, WFP will distribute 2,500 metric tons of food to families experiencing severe hunger, €9 million… [Read More]
Japan to Boost Impact Investing in Africa at Upcoming TICAD Conference
The Japanese government is preparing to raise $1.5 billion for “impact investing” to support African nations in cutting greenhouse gas emissions and advancing sustainable development. The initiative will be officially announced during the Tokyo International Conference on African Development (TICAD), taking place over three days in Yokohama. Impact investing is a strategy that seeks to… [Read More]
Cameroon Approves $1.6 Billion in New Loans to Fund Projects and Pay Off Arrears
Cameroon’s finance minister has received authorisation to borrow up to 930 billion CFA francs ($1.67 billion) in domestic and external loans to finance development projects and clear arrears, according to a presidential decree. The funds will be mobilised through treasury bond issues, domestic private lenders, and international banking institutions. The decision comes as the country… [Read More]
Finland Scales Up Life-Saving Humanitarian Assistance, With One-Fifth Directed to Ukraine
Finland has made significant humanitarian assistance decisions in 2025, prioritising support to Ukraine, major refugee crises in Africa, and the humanitarian situation in the Middle East. By the end of July, Finland had provided around EUR 97.5 million in humanitarian aid, nearly EUR 18 million of which went to Ukraine. Funding has also been directed… [Read More]
Africa’s Climate Priorities: Key Reflections from AMCEN 20
ACT Alliance, as part of the Major Groups and Stakeholders – Africa, contributed actively to the Regional Consultative Meetings ahead of the 20th African Ministerial Conference on the Environment (AMCEN). Marking AMCEN’s 40th anniversary, these consultations, hosted by UNEP, aimed to inform African ministers on climate and environmental priorities. To prepare, ACT convened members from… [Read More]
Ensuring Mental Health and Psychosocial Support Reaches Those Most in Need
Over 300 million people worldwide currently need humanitarian assistance as a result of conflict, climate change, political instability, and natural disasters. This growing crisis has created an unprecedented demand for mental health and psychosocial support, which is often overlooked during emergency responses. To address this urgent need, WHO and its partners have developed the Mental… [Read More]
Renewable Energy Adoption in Nigeria: Key Insights from a High-Level Roundtable
On July 2, 2025, BudgIT Foundation, through its Natural Resources and Climate Governance team and with support from Publish What You Pay (PWYP) Nigeria, hosted a high-level roundtable in Abuja on promoting renewable energy adoption. The event brought together government representatives, private sector actors, civil society, and academia to discuss strategies for scaling renewable energy… [Read More]
Local Voices, Real Impact: Insights on Localising Aid from Dakar
On June 18, 2025, BudgIT, in collaboration with Connected Development, hosted a Pause and Reflect session in Dakar, Senegal. The event was intentionally designed as a space for civil society organisations, community-based organisations, community leaders, and development actors to share candid reflections on what it truly means to localise development aid. Unlike typical conferences or… [Read More]
Global Fight Against Poverty Gains Momentum Through Diverse Initiatives
Global efforts to combat poverty are gaining momentum through a multifaceted approach involving legislative action, educational initiatives, research partnerships, and innovative technological solutions. Lawmakers, educators, researchers, and technologists are collaborating to address the complex challenges of poverty, aiming for sustainable and impactful change. Key Takeaways Bipartisan legislative efforts in the U.S. are crucial for sustaining… [Read More]
Qatar Faces Criticism Over Jailing of Bahai Community Leader
Human Rights Watch (HRW) has strongly condemned Qatar following the sentencing of Remy Rowhani, the 71-year-old leader of the country’s Bahai community, to a five-year prison term. The organization denounced the verdict as a severe blow to religious freedom and an act of targeted persecution. Key Takeaways Remy Rowhani, president of the National Spiritual Assembly… [Read More]
Free Funding Opportunities for Community Groups – Apply Today!
Looking to bring in extra funds for your community group? A free online session hosted by easyfundraising will show you how to unlock unrestricted funding simply by encouraging your supporters to shop online. The session will guide participants on how every online purchase—from groceries to holidays—can generate free donations for your group. Becky Coleman from… [Read More]
EBID Secures $40 Million Credit Line from India Exim Bank to Boost African Development Projects
The ECOWAS Bank for Investment and Development (EBID) and India Exim Bank have signed a commercial credit line agreement worth USD 40 million in London. The signing ceremony was attended by Dr. George Agyekum Donkor, President and Chairman of EBID, and Mr. Ashok Kumar Vartia, Chief Executive of India Exim Bank’s London Branch. This agreement… [Read More]
OHSU Knight Cancer Institute Secures Historic $2 Billion Gift from Phil and Penny Knight
The Oregon Health & Science University (OHSU) Knight Cancer Institute has received a record-breaking $2 billion donation from Phil and Penny Knight, marking the largest single gift ever made to a U.S. university, college, or academic health center. The gift is intended to transform the future of cancer care and set a global standard in… [Read More]
Mines Advisory Group Wins 2025 Hilton Humanitarian Prize on 30th Anniversary
The Conrad N. Hilton Foundation has announced that the Mines Advisory Group (MAG) will receive the 2025 Conrad N. Hilton Humanitarian Prize. MAG is a humanitarian, development, and peacebuilding organization that focuses on landmine removal and reducing armed violence in communities affected by conflict. Since 1989, MAG has helped over 23 million people across more… [Read More]
New Dairy Grant Program to Boost Farm Growth and Promote Sustainability
The Minnesota Department of Agriculture (MDA) has opened applications for the Dairy Profitability Enhancement Grant, a new initiative aimed at improving financial stability and long-term sustainability for dairy farms across the state. This program, formally known as the Dairy Profitability and Enhancement Program (DPEP), provides technical assistance, resources, and guidance to farms of all sizes,… [Read More]
Mayor Adams Celebrates NYC Nonprofit Week with Record Contract Registrations, Boosting Support for Local Nonprofits
New York City Mayor Eric Adams and the Mayor’s Office of Nonprofit Services (MONS) launched “NYC Nonprofit Week” to highlight the city’s support for nonprofit organizations that provide essential services to vulnerable New Yorkers. As part of the celebration, the administration announced a major contracting milestone: 812 human service contracts were submitted for registration on… [Read More]
Angola Launches Nationwide Polio Vaccination Drive Targeting 7 Million Children
Angola has launched the first round of its National Polio Vaccination Campaign, targeting 6,852,372 children under the age of five across all 326 municipalities. The official launch took place in Camama, Luanda province, and was attended by national, provincial, and municipal authorities, along with representatives from the United Nations System and international partners. The campaign… [Read More]
