The World Bank Group’s latest Europe and Central Asia Economic Update says economic growth across developing countries in the region is expected to slow significantly in 2026 as the effects of the Middle East conflict, broader geopolitical tensions, and rising trade fragmentation weigh on activity. Regional growth is forecast to weaken to 2.1% this year,… [Read More]

The World Bank Group’s latest Economic Update for the Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan and Pakistan (MENAAP) says the recent conflict in the Middle East has caused a sharp and immediate economic shock across the surrounding region. The closure of the Strait of Hormuz and damage to energy and public infrastructure have disrupted markets, increased… [Read More]

The World Bank Group’s latest East Asia and Pacific Economic Update says growth across the region is expected to slow in 2026 as external shocks weigh more heavily on economic activity. Regional growth is projected to decline to 4.2% in 2026 from 5.0% in 2025, mainly due to the energy shock linked to the conflict… [Read More]

The World Bank Group has launched new Country Partnership Frameworks (CPFs) for Burkina Faso, Chad, Mali, and Niger covering the 2026–2031 period, marking a first-of-its-kind regional partnership designed to tackle shared challenges across the Central Sahel. The frameworks aim to promote job creation—especially for youth and women—by investing in human capital, infrastructure, and agricultural productivity,… [Read More]

The World Bank Group has warned that Sub-Saharan Africa’s economic recovery is beginning to lose momentum, even though overall growth remains stable. In its latest Africa Economic Update, released on 8 April 2026, the Bank said growth for the region is projected to hold at 4.1% in 2026, the same rate recorded in 2025. However,… [Read More]

The World Bank Group has projected that economic growth in South Asia will slow to 6.3% in 2026, down from 7% in 2025, mainly due to disruptions in global energy markets. According to the latest South Asia Economic Update released on 8 April 2026, the region is expected to recover to 6.9% growth in 2027…. [Read More]

The World Bank has warned that Bangladesh’s economy is facing serious challenges, including slowing growth, rising poverty, persistent inflation, weaknesses in the banking sector, weak revenue mobilisation, and subdued private investment. In its latest Bangladesh Development Update released on 8 April 2026, the Bank said these domestic pressures are being further intensified by the ongoing… [Read More]

The World Bank has projected that Nepal’s economic growth will slow sharply to 2.3% in fiscal year 2026, down from 4.6% in FY25, according to its latest Nepal Development Update released on 8 April 2026. The slowdown is attributed to the ongoing conflict in the Middle East and the lingering economic effects of domestic unrest… [Read More]

The United Nations World Food Programme (WFP) has received a contribution of 2,400 metric tons of rice from the Republic of Korea to support vulnerable families across Syria. The shipment has already arrived at WFP warehouses, and distribution is currently under way. This assistance is expected to help approximately 1.2 million people for one month,… [Read More]

The African Development Bank and the Development Bank of Namibia have launched DBN For Her, a major new financing facility created specifically for enterprises that are 100% women-owned in Namibia. Unveiled in Windhoek, the initiative marks the result of a two-year strategic partnership aimed at expanding access to finance for women entrepreneurs and addressing long-standing… [Read More]

The Board of Directors of the African Development Bank Group has approved a $10.41 million grant to help strengthen Ghana’s public financial management systems and support inclusive, climate-resilient economic growth. The funding will support reforms aimed at improving governance and enhancing the country’s economic resilience through stronger institutions and better management of public resources. The… [Read More]

The African Development Bank, in collaboration with Tunisia’s Ministry of Economy and Planning, organized a national procurement workshop in Tunis to strengthen the implementation of Bank-financed projects and improve their overall development impact. The training was held on 30–31 March and forms part of the Bank’s 2025–2026 Portfolio Performance Improvement Plan, which seeks to address… [Read More]

The African Development Bank’s Sustainable Energy Fund for Africa (SEFA) has launched a new Call for Proposals under its recently established Green Hydrogen Programme, inviting private sector entities across Africa to apply for support for green hydrogen and derivative projects. This initiative is aimed at advancing clean energy development on the continent and encouraging private… [Read More]

The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) will host the 34th Session of the FAO Regional Conference for Africa (ARC34) in Nouakchott, Mauritania, from 13 to 17 April 2026. The conference will bring together African ministers of agriculture, government officials, civil society representatives, youth groups, private sector actors, and development partners to… [Read More]

Africa’s agrifood systems are facing intensifying pressure from global shocks. Trade disruptions have raised the cost of fertilisers, fuel, and freight, while climate variability and conflict continue to displace farmers and reduce harvests. Despite these challenges, the most critical decisions about the continent’s agrifood future are made locally, through national budgets, regulatory frameworks, and investment… [Read More]

Afreximbank has approved a US$10 billion Gulf Crisis Response Programme (GCRP) to protect African and CARICOM economies, financial institutions, and corporates from the ongoing Gulf crisis, which escalated on 28 February 2026. The conflict has disrupted global markets, particularly affecting nations reliant on fuel, LNG, fertilisers, food imports, Gulf shipping corridors, tourism, investment flows, and… [Read More]

The UK government is significantly cutting its foreign aid budget to redirect funds toward a major expansion of national defence, increasing spending from £4.8 billion in 2026 to £6.5 billion in 2027. These reductions are expected to sharply reduce direct bilateral funding to African countries, threatening fragile health systems across the continent. The Foreign, Commonwealth… [Read More]

Charities and voluntary organisations in the UK are losing an estimated £28 million each year due to inefficient staff training, according to data from compliance training provider Skillcast. The sector accounts for 1.45 million lost training hours annually, ranking fifth highest among the industries surveyed. Charity, voluntary, and social enterprise organisations recorded more lost hours,… [Read More]

RIF has launched a new Software as a Service (SaaS) platform to manage all stages of project funding, from announcing calls to disbursing payments. The platform is designed to offer flexible capabilities for developing functionalities and business workflows, aiming to improve efficiency across the funding ecosystem. The project aims to create a modern and secure… [Read More]

The Czech government will provide an additional 175 million crowns from this year’s state budget to support live culture and cultural activities, Culture Minister Oto Klempíř announced following a meeting with representatives of cultural institutions and employers. Finance Minister Alena Schillerová pledged the extra funding, with 50 million crowns earmarked for theatres and orchestras, and… [Read More]

Hundreds of manufacturers across the North West are preparing to accelerate their digital transformation after the Government confirmed new funding for the Made Smarter programme from April. The £2.5M investment aims to provide SME manufacturers with expert technology advice, leadership training, digital skills development, and match-funded grants to enhance productivity, drive innovation, create high-value jobs,… [Read More]

Rural communities across Highland will have the opportunity to access more than £1 million in funding aimed at improving community assets and addressing inequalities affecting children, young people, and families. The Highland Local Action Group (LAG) is inviting organisations to submit applications for projects that align with these two key priorities. Funding is available through… [Read More]

The National Health and Medical Research Council (NHMRC) is focused on improving health outcomes for people living in regional, rural, and remote (RRR) Australia by supporting research that directly benefits these communities. Despite a strong history of high-quality and innovative RRR research, challenges persist in developing and sustaining a skilled RRR research workforce. To address… [Read More]