The European Commission has announced a €700 million pledge to the Global Fund, reinforcing the EU’s role as a key player in global health financing. Unveiled by Commissioner Jozef Síkela at the One Health Summit in Lyon, the commitment is part of a wider effort to combat infectious diseases and strengthen health systems worldwide. Alongside… [Read More]
SGD 4.9M Funding Supports 22 Social Entrepreneurs in Asia
DBS Foundation has announced SGD 4.9 million in grant funding for its 2025 cohort of 22 social enterprises and small-and-medium enterprises across Asia, marking the 11th edition of its grant programme. Since its launch in 2015, the programme has supported purpose-driven businesses tackling pressing societal challenges through innovative and scalable solutions. Beyond funding of up… [Read More]
Youth Climate Projects Secures €500K Investment
Minister for Education and Youth Hildegarde Naughton has announced nearly €500,000 in funding for ten youth-led climate justice projects across Ireland in 2026. The initiative forms part of the Government’s ongoing commitment to empowering young people to take a leadership role in climate action within their communities. The projects include both national and regional initiatives,… [Read More]
Stronger Protections Needed for Pacific Migrant Workers: ILO
A new International Labour Organization (ILO) report has called for stronger protections and reforms in Pacific labour migration schemes, emphasizing measures such as reducing migration costs, allowing easier employer changes, and expanding healthcare access for migrant workers. The report, Temporary labour migration schemes in the Pacific through the lens of international human rights and labour… [Read More]
Creative Economy Tops Morocco’s Job Market
In partnership with the Kingdom of Morocco and the Moroccan Federation for Cultural and Creative Industries (FICC), IFC has launched a strategic analysis of Morocco’s creative and cultural industries (CCIs), highlighting their economic significance, growth potential, and key development drivers. The report, Assessment of the Creative and Cultural Industries in Morocco: Market Challenges, Opportunities, and… [Read More]
Lebanon: Urgent Action Needed as Israeli Attacks Escalate
The Israeli military conducted a massive wave of airstrikes across Lebanon, hitting 100 sites within just ten minutes. This operation, described by Israel as its largest coordinated attack, struck areas including south Lebanon, the Beqaa Valley, and central Beirut, resulting in hundreds of deaths and injuries. Hospitals were quickly overwhelmed, issuing urgent calls for blood… [Read More]
Vaccines and Children’s Development
Children who remain in school longer and achieve higher educational outcomes generally earn better wages and have improved employment prospects as adults. Researchers have begun to explore whether similar long-term benefits extend to those who receive childhood vaccinations. Evidence from Burkina Faso suggests they do. By analyzing differences in vaccination coverage across regions and birth… [Read More]
Evidence to Action: Nigeria Strengthens Public Health and Saves Lives
On World Health Day 2026, Nigeria marked the theme “Together for health. Stand with science” by highlighting how evidence-based approaches are driving improvements in public health across the country. Central to this effort is the implementation of the Nigeria Health Sector Renewal Investment Initiative (NHSRII), which ensures that scientific evidence informs policy, disease prevention, early… [Read More]
Vaccination Party Initiative: Safeguarding the Next Generation
In late March, Angola witnessed a nationwide polio vaccination campaign that transformed neighborhoods, communes, and municipalities into vibrant celebrations of life. The campaign brought together local authorities, families, community leaders, churches, young volunteers, health professionals, and national and international partners, including the private sector, to ensure no child was left unvaccinated. The images from across… [Read More]
Canada Launches New Funding to Boost School Food Programs
The Government of Canada has launched a new research funding initiative, the FRESH Team Grant, to support school food programs across the country. Announced by Secretary of State for Children and Youth, Anna Gainey, and Minister of Health, Marjorie Michel, the program allocates $12.6 million over three years to strengthen research on the health, well-being,… [Read More]
Ireland Allocates €1.4M to Promote Irish Arts Worldwide
Minister for Culture, Communications and Sport, Patrick O’Donovan TD, has announced over €1.4 million in funding through Culture Ireland’s Regular Grants Programme to support the global promotion of Irish arts. This funding will enable 208 projects across 44 countries, spanning architecture, circus, dance, film, literature, music, theatre, visual arts, and multidisciplinary initiatives. Minister O’Donovan highlighted… [Read More]
Ireland Provides Aid to Strengthen Public Services in Palestine
Ireland has announced an additional €3 million contribution to support vital public services in Palestine, Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade Helen McEntee confirmed. This funding will be channelled through an EU mechanism to ensure continued operation of essential services, including education and healthcare, amid a financial crisis confronting the Palestinian Authority. The contribution forms… [Read More]
Schools Receive €2 Million to Address Children’s Behaviour Challenges
The Minister for Education and Youth, Hildegarde Naughton, has announced a €2 million investment aimed at expanding training and supports for schools to effectively respond to behaviours of concern, with the overarching goal of improving outcomes and experiences for children. This initiative focuses on early intervention, de-escalation, and promoting wellbeing, while ensuring school staff are… [Read More]
Minister Heydon Launches €750,000 Farm Buildings Grant 2026
Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine Martin Heydon has announced the opening of the 2026 Traditional Farm Buildings Grant Scheme, backed by €750,000 in funding. The scheme is delivered through a partnership between the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine and the Heritage Council, and is aimed at helping farmers restore and protect… [Read More]
Green Finance Cuts Emissions in North Macedonia
The Green Finance Facility (GFF) in North Macedonia is helping turn climate finance into practical improvements for households, businesses, and public health. Supported by the UN Joint SDG Fund, the programme enables families to replace old wood-burning stoves with cleaner heating systems such as heat pumps, while also helping small businesses invest in renewable energy… [Read More]
Green Finance Cuts Emissions in North Macedonia
The Green Finance Facility (GFF) in North Macedonia is helping turn climate finance into practical improvements for households, businesses, and public health. Supported by the UN Joint SDG Fund, the programme enables families to replace old wood-burning stoves with cleaner heating systems such as heat pumps, while also helping small businesses invest in renewable energy… [Read More]
Together for Health Through Environmental Governance
On World Health Day, the message is clear: human health is deeply connected to the health of the environment. Clean air, safe water, fertile soil, and biodiversity are essential for human survival and wellbeing, yet growing pollution, land degradation, unsustainable water use, and biodiversity loss are putting these natural systems under severe pressure. The article… [Read More]
Japan Gives $39 Million for IOM Global Operations
The Government of Japan has committed USD 39 million to support the International Organization for Migration’s global operations in 2026, aligning with IOM’s Global Appeal and reinforcing humanitarian assistance for vulnerable populations worldwide. The funding will help IOM respond to conflict, disaster, and complex humanitarian crises while also strengthening border management in affected countries. IOM… [Read More]
Latin America Growth Slows Amid Global Uncertainty
Latin America and the Caribbean is expected to see slower economic growth in 2026, with the World Bank projecting the region to expand by 2.1%, down from 2.4% in 2025. Growth is expected to improve slightly to 2.4% in 2027, but the overall outlook remains subdued. According to the latest regional economic update, the slowdown… [Read More]
Europe and Central Asia Growth Slows as Risks Rise
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]
Conflict Slows MENAAP Growth, Jobs at Risk
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]
Energy Shock Slows East Asia Pacific Growth
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]
World Bank Unveils Sahel Framework for Jobs and Growth
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]
