A new report by the International Labour Organization (ILO) reveals that violence and harassment in the workplace remain widespread in parts of West Africa. According to the study, 65 percent of workers in Senegal and 58 percent in Côte d’Ivoire report having experienced violence or harassment at work, while 43 percent of workers in Burkina… [Read More]
Japan Supports WFP School Feeding Programme in Guinea-Bissau
Japan and the United Nations World Food Programme (WFP) have signed a new food assistance agreement worth JPY 200 million (approximately US$1.32 million) to support food and nutrition programmes in Guinea-Bissau. The agreement, signed by the Embassy of Japan in Dakar and WFP, will help sustain critical nutrition and school feeding initiatives aimed at vulnerable… [Read More]
Climate Change Deepens Inequality for Women in Asia-Pacific
Across Asia and the Pacific, climate change is intensifying existing social and economic inequalities, particularly for women. Often described as a “threat multiplier,” climate change worsens vulnerabilities during disasters, where women face additional challenges due to restricted mobility, heavy unpaid care responsibilities, and limited access to land, credit, and financial resources. These barriers reduce their… [Read More]
Nscale Secures $2B in Europe’s Largest Funding Round
UK-based AI infrastructure company Nscale has raised $2 billion in a Series C funding round, marking the largest investment round in European history. The funding values the company at $14.6 billion and was led by Aker ASA and 8090 Industries, with participation from major technology and investment firms including Nvidia, Dell, Citadel, and Nokia. The… [Read More]
Women and Girls Make Up Nearly Half of Global Displacement
The International Organization for Migration (IOM) has warned that millions of displaced and migrant women and girls around the world continue to lack access to safe and adequate shelter, increasing their exposure to violence, exploitation, and exclusion from essential services. Marking International Women’s Day, the organisation urged governments and partners to increase investment in gender-responsive… [Read More]
ACT Alliance Opens 2026 Rapid Response Fund Appeal
The ACT Alliance humanitarian mechanism operates through two key components designed to respond to emergencies, conflicts, and natural disasters. One component is the appeals system, which supports large-scale humanitarian crises such as major earthquakes, wars, or typhoons. The second is the Rapid Response Fund (RRF), which allows national ACT members to quickly access funding to… [Read More]
£9M Funding Boost to Support Victims of Violence Against Women and Girls
The Mayor of London, Sadiq Khan, has announced an additional £9 million investment to support victims and survivors of violence against women and girls across the capital. The funding aims to strengthen specialist support services and help survivors rebuild their lives with greater safety, dignity, and independence. The funding package includes £6 million for a… [Read More]
ADB and LinkNet to Boost Digital Infrastructure in Indonesia
The Asian Development Bank (ADB) has announced a $150 million loan to PT Link Net Tbk (Linknet) to strengthen digital infrastructure in Indonesia and improve broadband quality across the country. The financing will support the expansion of Linknet’s fiber broadband services and enhance the company’s operational stability, enabling further investments in the fiber broadband market… [Read More]
WFP and KOICA Launch $10M “Sow and Grow” Nutrition Project in Sri Lanka
The United Nations World Food Programme (WFP), with support from the Korea International Cooperation Agency (KOICA), has launched a five-year “Sow and Grow” project in partnership with the Government of Sri Lanka. Backed by funding of USD 10 million, the initiative aims to strengthen Sri Lanka’s Thriposha programme by increasing the production of high-quality local… [Read More]
New Zealand COVID Inquiry Phase Two: Key Lessons to Strengthen Future Pandemic Preparedness
A second Royal Commission of Inquiry into New Zealand’s response to the COVID-19 pandemic has released an extensive report spanning several volumes and hundreds of pages. Commissioned by the coalition government, the inquiry examined key decisions made between 2021 and 2022, particularly those related to vaccine mandates, lockdown measures, and testing systems. During this period,… [Read More]
Climate Investment Lessons from Mammoth: What the World’s Largest Direct Air Capture Plant Reveals
Earlier this year, the team at Harmonic Financial Planning conducted an unusual site visit in Iceland, standing on volcanic rock beside the massive industrial fans of the Mammoth plant. Located in the Hellisheiði Energy Park and operated by Swiss cleantech company Climeworks, Mammoth is currently the world’s largest Direct Air Capture and Storage facility. Its… [Read More]
How EU Programmes Are Using Cooperation Actions to Tackle Regional Challenges
European programmes under the Investment for Jobs and Growth goal are increasingly exploring how cooperation actions can help address shared regional challenges more effectively. Through exchanges facilitated by the Interact programme, managing authorities, policymakers, and practitioners are coming together to share experiences and discuss how cooperation can complement mainstream regional funding. A recent exchange held… [Read More]
Project Europe Explained: Key Lessons for Entrepreneurs and Startup Founders
The venture capital ecosystem is actively discussing “Project Europe,” a €10 million founder-led initiative designed to support the next generation of young entrepreneurs across Europe. The program has attracted attention from investors, startup founders, and industry experts because of its focus on funding and mentoring founders under the age of 25. While many view the… [Read More]
Women’s Solar Training Empowers Communities and Education
In Madagascar’s coastal villages, women trained through the Barefoot College National Programme, with support from WWF, are bringing solar-powered light to remote stilted homes, transforming both living conditions and opportunities for communities. In villages like Andavoanemboka, families live above rising tides in wooden huts, relying on mangroves for protection against flooding and storms. Solar technicians… [Read More]
Adapting to U.S. Funding Shifts: Faith-Based Health Care in Kenya & Zambia
Faith-based health providers in Africa are adapting to major shifts in global aid, with leaders in Kenya and Zambia highlighting both challenges and opportunities arising from changes in U.S. foreign assistance. Recent policy shifts under the Trump administration, including deep cuts to the United States Agency for International Development (USAID), accelerated a transition toward locally… [Read More]
How Literacy Drives Gender Equality and Women’s Empowerment
On International Women’s Day 2026, UNESCO highlighted how literacy initiatives are empowering women and girls, demonstrating that education can be a powerful pathway to gender equality. The theme of this year’s celebration, “Rights. Justice. Action. For ALL women and girls,” emphasizes ensuring that women and girls have the right to learn, express themselves freely, access… [Read More]
Call for Nominations: 2026 UNESCO Prize for Women’s Education
The UNESCO Prize for Girls’ and Women’s Education 2026 is now accepting nominations for initiatives that drive transformative change in education for girls and women. Despite decades of progress, 133 million girls remain out of school and women still account for nearly two-thirds of all adults who cannot read. Barriers such as gender norms, cultural… [Read More]
Asia-Pacific Schools Lead in Disaster Preparedness Education
The side event “Building a Culture of Preparedness for a Sustainable Future for All” held during the 13th Asia-Pacific Forum on Sustainable Development focused on the critical role of schools in disaster preparedness. Organized by UNDP and the Government of Japan in collaboration with ESCAP, UNESCO, UNESCO-IOC, and JICA, the event highlighted how schools serve… [Read More]
WHO Foundation, Lilly Partner to Boost Obesity Care
The WHO Foundation has announced a collaboration with Eli Lilly and Company to strengthen global health systems for obesity prevention and care. The initiative aims to assess gaps in healthcare systems and develop sustainable, equitable approaches to obesity management, particularly in resource-limited settings. Obesity is a growing global health crisis, with over 2.5 billion adults… [Read More]
Taiwan Launches Gender Equality Week in NYC Ahead of UN Session
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Taiwan, together with various non-governmental organizations, launched a series of gender equality events in New York to coincide with the 70th session of the UN Commission on the Status of Women. Taiwan Gender Equality Week (TGEW) officially kicked off in Times Square on International Women’s Day, one day before… [Read More]
Nigeria Declared World’s Poverty Capital, Says Peter Obi
Peter Obi, the 2023 Labour Party presidential candidate, has highlighted Nigeria’s worsening socio-economic situation, describing the country as one of the poorest in the world despite its abundant natural and human resources. Obi emphasized that millions of Nigerians are trapped in poverty, warning that the nation has become one of the worst-performing countries globally and… [Read More]
Advancing Gender Justice in Arab States: A Development Priority
Each year on International Women’s Day, global attention turns to the progress and ongoing challenges in achieving gender equality. In the Arab States, this reflection comes amid escalating conflicts and crises that threaten to undo hard-won development gains. These challenges deepen social and economic fragility, heighten insecurity, and exacerbate existing inequalities, with women and girls… [Read More]
Flood Relief Funding: Ontario Invests in Nairn and Hyman
The Ontario government is providing the Township of Nairn and Hyman with up to $90,000 in disaster recovery funding to support emergency response efforts and repairs to critical infrastructure following the July 2025 flooding. The funding is part of the Municipal Disaster Recovery Assistance (MDRA) program, which helps municipalities cover extraordinary costs from natural disasters… [Read More]
