Research shows that around 215,000 children in England are not receiving the free school meals they are entitled to, missing out on the nutritional, educational, and financial benefits these meals provide. Families face multiple barriers, including stigma, shame, and the administrative burden of applying, which prevents many eligible children from accessing their entitlement. To address… [Read More]
RIF Allocates $80 Million to Advance Critical Minerals Initiatives
The New Zealand Government has allocated $80 million from the Regional Infrastructure Fund to support the development and processing of domestic critical minerals, according to Foreign Minister Winston Peters and Regional Development and Resources Minister Shane Jones. Critical minerals play a vital role in modern life, underpinning technologies in clean energy, electronics, aviation, and medical… [Read More]
Zanzibar Drives Jobs and Entrepreneurship with Business Training
In Zanzibar, many young people face challenges securing employment after graduation, as technical skills alone often do not lead to income-generating opportunities, particularly where business planning, financial literacy, and marketing knowledge are limited. To address this gap, the International Labour Organization (ILO) and the Vocational Training Authority Zanzibar (VTA) have partnered to integrate practical, workplace-relevant… [Read More]
Indonesia Updates Fixed-Term Contract Rules for Garment Industry
The Ministry of Manpower in Indonesia, with support from the Better Work Indonesia (BWI) programme—a joint initiative of the ILO and IFC—has updated regulations on Fixed-Term Employment Contracts (PKWT) under Law No. 6/2023 on the Omnibus Law. The revised guidelines aim to harmonize the understanding and application of PKWT, strengthening legal certainty, enhancing productivity, and… [Read More]
Social Partners in India Unveil Strategic Roadmap for Ethical and Responsible Business
Employers’ and workers’ organizations in India have taken a significant step in promoting Responsible Business Conduct (RBC) for decent work with the presentation of a Bipartite Roadmap, in the presence of ILO Director-General Gilbert F. Houngbo. The roadmap is the result of a year-long engagement between these social partners and outlines shared priorities and joint… [Read More]
Cambodia Boosts Reintegration Programs for Returning Migrant Workers
Phnom Penh – A new initiative led by the International Labour Organization (ILO) in partnership with Cambodia’s Ministry of Labour and Vocational Training, with support from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Japan, aims to assist an estimated 20,000 returning migrant workers in reintegrating into the local economy. The 24-month project, titled “Promoting employment of… [Read More]
Japan Funds WFP to Deliver Food and Nutrition Aid to Displaced Families in Rwanda
KIGALI – The World Food Programme (WFP) has received a contribution of over USD 666,000 (around RWF 970 million) from the Government of Japan to provide lifesaving food assistance to refugees, asylum seekers, and returnees in Rwanda. The announcement was made at a ceremony in Kigali attended by Japanese Ambassador Kazuya Nakajo, Rwanda’s Permanent Secretary… [Read More]
Joint UN Mission Reaches Cut-Off Areas with Life-Saving Assistance in Sudan
A United Nations inter-agency convoy led by the World Food Programme (WFP), UNICEF, and UNDP has successfully reached Dilling and Kadugli in South Kordofan, delivering life-saving humanitarian assistance to over 130,000 people. This marks the first major aid delivery to the area in three months, addressing critical shortages that have persisted in these communities. The… [Read More]
ADB and Prima Launch Vanuatu Cable for Connectivity and Disaster Resilience
PORT VILA, VANUATU (18 February 2026) — The Asian Development Bank (ADB) has signed a financing package with Prima Limited to develop the 411-kilometer Tamtam submarine cable connecting Port Vila, Vanuatu, to Lifou, New Caledonia. The project aims to enhance telecommunications services across Vanuatu and strengthen natural hazard early warning systems through advanced sensor technology…. [Read More]
World News: Guterres on Fair Energy, Ramadan in Gaza, South Sudan Crisis
UN Secretary-General António Guterres has warned that the global dependence on fossil fuels remains a critical threat to stability and prosperity, criticizing attempts by some fossil fuel interests to slow the clean energy transition and spread misinformation. He emphasized that nations leading the shift to renewable energy will shape the future global economy. Guterres called… [Read More]
Asia-Pacific Falls Behind on SDGs Despite Years of Development Gains
The Asia and the Pacific SDG Progress Report 2026, published by the UN Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (ESCAP), warns that the region is on track to miss 103 of 117 measurable targets across the 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) by 2030, representing 88 per cent of all targets. These goals,… [Read More]
Climate Shocks and Conflict Trigger Acute Hunger for Millions in Pakistan
From December 2025 to March 2026, approximately 1.25 million people in Pakistan are expected to face ‘emergency’ levels of acute food insecurity, according to the latest Integrated Food Security Phase Classification (IPC) report. These populations are experiencing large food gaps and high rates of acute malnutrition, making immediate lifesaving assistance critical to prevent a humanitarian… [Read More]
Sustainable Agave Farming Revives Oaxaca’s Dry Forests and Ecosystems
Oaxaca’s dry forests are ecosystems uniquely adapted to extreme conditions, enduring prolonged periods without rain by shedding leaves and storing water in deep roots. This resilience contributes to Oaxaca’s standing as one of Mexico’s most biodiverse states, with its dry forests hosting the country’s largest variety of reptiles and amphibians and 722 plant species found… [Read More]
Thi Qar Wetland Restoration Boosts Climate Resilience, Benefits 30,000 People
The International Organization for Migration (IOM), the UN Environment Programme (UNEP), and Iraqi national authorities have officially handed over a newly constructed wetland in Thi Qar, southern Iraq, designed to tackle pollution and drought. The project directly benefits 30,000 local residents by providing effective wastewater treatment while offering a sustainable, nature-based solution for climate adaptation,… [Read More]
Minister McEntee Advances Humanitarian Protection in Sudan with Joint Statement
The Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade, Helen McEntee TD, along with 31 international counterparts, has endorsed a Joint Ministerial Statement on the Protection of Civilians and Humanitarian Operations in Sudan. The statement expresses deep concern over the ongoing deadly attacks on civilians, civilian infrastructure, and humanitarian operations amid heavy fighting in the Kordofan and… [Read More]
Ethiopia to Receive New Funding for Maternal, Child Health and Gender-Based Violence Programs
Minister for International Development and Diaspora, Neale Richmond TD, has announced new funding to support maternal, neonatal and child health, as well as initiatives to tackle gender-based violence in Ethiopia. During his visit, Minister Richmond met with Ethiopia’s Minister for Health, Dr. Mekdes Daba, to reaffirm Ireland’s long-term commitment to strengthening Ethiopia’s health system and… [Read More]
Building Climate-Resilient Agriculture in Serbia: From Strategy to Implementation
After five years of coordinated efforts, Serbia’s agricultural sector is now better equipped to manage climate risks. The project Strengthening Disaster Resilience in Agriculture, funded by the European Union and implemented from March 2021 to January 2026, integrated climate resilience across agricultural policies, institutions, and farming practices, reinforcing the sector from national strategies down to… [Read More]
Unsafe Nurse Staffing in Europe Threatens Patient Safety and Drives Nurses Away
Health systems across Europe are facing growing pressures from nurse shortages, rising care demands, and increasing burnout. In response, WHO/Europe has issued the Region’s first policy brief on safe nurse staffing, defining it as having the right number and mix of appropriately educated and supported nurses to deliver safe care. Evidence shows that insufficient staffing… [Read More]
FAO Regions Collaborate to Harness Nuclear Technologies for Global Food Security
Senior leaders from the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) concluded a high-level visit to the Joint FAO/IAEA Centre of Nuclear Techniques in Food and Agriculture on 12 February 2026, highlighting their shared commitment to scaling science-based, innovative solutions to tackle food insecurity, malnutrition, and sustainability challenges across regions. The FAO and… [Read More]
NI SMEs Receive £10m+ Boost from Targeted Investment Fund
Northern Ireland’s Co-Fund III, managed by Clarendon Fund Managers, has invested over £10 million in local small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) during its first year of operation. The fund, part of Invest NI’s “Access to Finance” initiative, contributes alongside private investors and business angels to support high-growth companies across the region. In its initial year,… [Read More]
ECA Highlights $1.1 Trillion in Domestic Capital to Unlock Africa’s Growth Potential
The Economic Commission for Africa (ECA) has highlighted that Africa holds more than $1.1 trillion in domestic institutional capital, which could be strategically deployed to finance the continent’s transformation. Speaking at the Ninth Africa Business Forum in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, ECA Executive Secretary Claver Gatete emphasized that while Africa faces infrastructure-financing gaps and annual losses… [Read More]
N1bn Women Entrepreneurship Fund Unveiled by MTN Foundation and BOI
The MTN Foundation and the Bank of Industry (BOI) have partnered to establish a N1 billion Matching Fund aimed at expanding access to finance and capacity-building support for women-led microenterprises across Nigeria. This initiative, operating under the Y’ellopreneur 3.0 programme, is designed to reach women who run viable businesses but are often excluded from formal… [Read More]
$3.9 Billion Raised by African Startups in 2025 as Venture Investments Stabilize
In 2025, African startups raised a total of $3.9 billion across 506 deals, signaling a stabilising trend for the continent’s venture ecosystem after two years of global market adjustments, according to the African Private Equity and Venture Capital Association’s (AVCA) 2025 Venture Capital Activity in Africa report. While overall capital deployment remained below previous peak… [Read More]
