Pastoralists and agropastoralists living in fragile and conflict-affected situations (FCAS) face unique challenges, with women and girls often experiencing heightened marginalization. Addressing women’s empowerment in these contexts was the focus of an action research initiative carried out by three locally-led projects in Nigeria and South Sudan. The projects were funded by the International Development Research… [Read More]
Ukraine Local Pooled Fund: Lessons in Leadership and Vision
In 2023, the Start Network was approached by members of the UK Disasters Emergency Committee (DEC) to design a locally led pooled fund in Ukraine, motivated by the fact that, despite a crisis receiving abundant funding, only 1% of humanitarian resources had reached local organisations. By 2025, the Ukraine Pooled Fund (UPF) had been launched,… [Read More]
Global Digital Compact: 3 Takeaways for Effective AI Governance
2026 is shaping up as a critical year for global AI governance, as artificial intelligence evolves at a pace that challenges existing international frameworks. The Global Digital Compact negotiations offer important lessons in translating technical complexity into political consensus, highlighting the need for multilateral cooperation and shared understandings to guide AI development responsibly. UN Secretary-General… [Read More]
Humanitarian Groups Appeal to Israeli High Court Ahead of Closure Deadline
Thirty-seven international humanitarian organizations operating in the occupied Palestinian territory have been ordered by Israeli authorities to cease operations by the end of February 2026 under revised registration rules. In response, these organizations have jointly petitioned the Israeli High Court, seeking to suspend the closures to prevent immediate and irreparable harm to civilians who rely… [Read More]
Women Leading the Way in Disaster Preparedness and Resilience
Mira Sarker grew up along the Kapotaksha River in southern Bangladesh, where her childhood was shaped by frequent cyclones, disasters, and displacement. Living near the coast, she and her community have faced persistent challenges, reflecting a broader trend: in the past three decades, Bangladesh has experienced over 200 natural hazards. Extreme weather events are becoming… [Read More]
UNFPA Partners with ACAI to Address Ageing Issues Across ASEAN
JAKARTA, 24 February 2026 – The ASEAN Centre for Active Ageing and Innovation (ACAI) and the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) Asia-Pacific Regional Office have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) to strengthen regional cooperation on population ageing and promote active, healthy, and productive ageing across ASEAN. The signing took place during a high-level roundtable,… [Read More]
BESTLIFE2030 Launches €8M Call for 81 EU Overseas Biodiversity Projects
The second call for proposals under the BESTLIFE2030 Programme will allocate over €8 million to support 81 locally led biodiversity projects across the European Union’s outermost regions (ORs) and Overseas Countries and Territories (OCTs). This achievement highlights strong interest in the Programme and marks an important step in delivering its overall €23.4 million budget, which… [Read More]
Breaking Barriers in HIV Treatment for People with Disabilities
The International Disability Alliance and the World Health Organization are hosting a webinar titled “Breaking Barriers: Advancing Health Equity for Persons with Disabilities in HIV Care and Treatment” on 26 February 2026, from 11:00 to 12:30 CET. The event aims to address persistent health inequities faced by persons with disabilities, a group that makes up… [Read More]
Kenya’s Melting Glacier: A Global Climate Concern
Climbing Mount Kenya in December, I visited the Lewis Glacier near the summit and was struck by how small and vulnerable it appeared. This glacier, one of Africa’s last, has persisted for 10,000 to 30,000 years but is now reduced to the size of just two football fields. Scientists predict it will disappear within three… [Read More]
How Viet Nam Is Reducing Environmental Toxins Through GEF Projects
In Viet Nam, a comprehensive initiative is underway to eliminate harmful substances from the healthcare and manufacturing sectors, ensuring that the country’s fast-growing industries develop without threatening public health or the environment. The four-year project, Reduce the Impact and Release of Mercury and POPs in Viet Nam through Lifecycle Approach and Ecolabel, targets mercury, persistent… [Read More]
Pacific Nations Boost Environmental Action through GEF Partnership
Pacific countries have emphasized the critical need for strengthened international partnerships and financing to help Small Island Developing States (SIDS) address escalating climate and environmental challenges. This commitment was highlighted at the opening of a regional meeting hosted by the Government of Fiji in collaboration with the Global Environment Facility (GEF). Deputy Prime Minister and… [Read More]
$6B World Bank Partnership Expands Finance Access in Emerging Markets
The World Bank Group has launched a $6 billion insurance-backed facility to expand lending to micro, small, and medium-sized enterprises (MSMEs) in emerging markets, supporting job creation and private sector growth. Through this initiative, participating insurers share credit risk on a portion of eligible loans made by IFC, the World Bank Group’s private sector arm,… [Read More]
IFC Invests in Seraya Partners Fund II for Sustainable Southeast Asia Infrastructure
On 25 February 2026, the International Finance Corporation (IFC), a member of the World Bank Group, announced a USD 25 million equity commitment to Seraya Partners Fund II, a private equity infrastructure fund managed by Seraya Partners. This commitment anchors the Fund’s Southeast Asia Emerging Markets sleeve, targeting critical infrastructure investments across Indonesia, Malaysia, the… [Read More]
Bangladesh Unveils Third National Faunal Red List
On 14 January 2026, the Bangladesh Forest Department (BFD) and IUCN Bangladesh officially launched the project “Updating the Faunal Red List of Bangladesh,” marking a key step in strategic national conservation planning. This initiative aims to provide an up-to-date assessment of the conservation status of the country’s wildlife, supporting evidence-based policymaking and biodiversity protection efforts…. [Read More]
Driving Nature-Positive Agriculture: IUCN and CGIAR Join Forces
The International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) and CGIAR have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to strengthen collaboration in transforming global food and agricultural systems towards a nature-positive approach. The partnership will focus on promoting sustainable production landscapes, land restoration, and the integration of biodiversity conservation into food and agricultural practices. With billions… [Read More]
BESTLIFE2030: €8M for 81 EU Biodiversity Projects
The second call for proposals under the BESTLIFE2030 Programme will channel over €8 million to support 81 locally led biodiversity projects across the European Union’s outermost regions (ORs) and Overseas Countries and Territories (OCTs). This milestone reflects strong interest in the Programme and contributes to the overall €23.4 million budget, which is expected to fund… [Read More]
Aid Groups Denied Entry to Gaza and West Bank by Israel
Israeli authorities plan to bar 37 international nongovernmental organizations (INGOs) from operating in Gaza and the West Bank starting March 1, 2026, after the groups refused to provide lists of their staff and biodata under new registration requirements. Humanitarian organizations argue that these rules undermine the principles of neutrality and independence, threatening the delivery of… [Read More]
Marriage in Iraq: The Impact of the Personal Status Code
Iraq’s recently amended Personal Status Code has significantly weakened legal protections for women and girls, particularly by facilitating child marriage and creating a parallel religious legal system. Drawing on court observations and survivor testimonies, it is evident that unregistered religious marriages, previously illegal, are now legitimized, exposing underage brides to abuse and undermining state oversight…. [Read More]
Budget Bill C-15 Faces Scrutiny in Open Letter to Federal MPs
The resilience of Canadian democracy and the rule of law is both fragile and invaluable, serving as a cornerstone for protecting communities, sovereignty, and the economy. Bill C-15, presented as the federal government’s response to economic challenges, contains provisions that pose a direct threat to this constitutional framework, undermining the principles of democratic governance. Within… [Read More]
Angola Faces Backlash Over Bill Limiting Civil Society
Human Rights Watch has raised concerns over a bill passed by Angola’s parliament on January 22, 2026, aimed at regulating nongovernmental organizations (NGOs). The legislation, formally titled the Law on the Statute of Non-Governmental Organizations, grants broad administrative powers to the government, allowing authorities to authorize, monitor, suspend, and impose financial restrictions on NGOs. Human… [Read More]
Sudan Crisis: People with Disabilities Targeted in North Darfur
Human Rights Watch has documented systematic targeting, abuse, and killings of people with disabilities by Sudan’s Rapid Support Forces (RSF) during and after their takeover of El Fasher, the capital of North Darfur, on October 26, 2025. Survivors and witnesses reported that RSF fighters singled out people because of physical or cognitive disabilities, accused them… [Read More]
Acute Hunger in Somalia Doubles Over the Past Year, Says Report
According to the latest analysis by the IPC food security monitoring platform, more than 1.8 million children under five in Somalia are at risk of acute malnutrition between now and June 2026. This alarming situation follows the failed October–December Deyr rains, which sharply reduced crop production, leaving poor farmers, pastoralists, and internally displaced people particularly… [Read More]
Concerns Grow Over Forced Returns of Burundian Refugees in Tanzania
As of November 2025, over 140,000 Burundian refugees were residing in neighbouring Tanzania, having fled years of civil unrest in Burundi. While thousands continue to return voluntarily, UNHCR officials warn that many still require international protection, particularly those fearing for their safety or political persecution, including members of the opposition and former military personnel. Up… [Read More]
