The United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (ESCAP) has launched the Energy Transition for Green Growth and Prosperity (ETGGP), a regional initiative aimed at supporting South-East Asian countries in achieving clean energy transitions while promoting growth, job creation, and social inclusion. The initiative aligns with ESCAP’s mandate to assist member… [Read More]
Ghana’s 2027 Elections: Rising Violence Against Women in Politics Exposed
As Ghana prepares for its 2027 local elections, new research presented in Accra highlights that violence against women in politics remains a significant barrier to democratic participation at the local level. A roundtable jointly hosted by UNDP Ghana and the Nordic Africa Institute brought together researchers, policymakers, development partners, and diplomats to examine structural obstacles… [Read More]
CAR Moves into Critical Phase Following Landmark Elections
The Central African Republic (CAR) is entering a “decisive period” following the country’s most extensive elections in history, according to the UN’s top envoy in CAR. The 28 December 2025 polls, which included presidential, legislative, regional and municipal elections—the first municipal votes since 1988—were conducted largely peacefully and securely across most of the country. Incumbent… [Read More]
Zimbabwe Rejects US Health Aid Deal Over Data Concerns
Zimbabwe has rejected a proposed US health funding agreement worth $367 million over five years, citing concerns over data sovereignty and unequal benefit-sharing. The decision emerged after a leaked government memo from December indicated that President Emmerson Mnangagwa considered the arrangement “lopsided”. The deal would have supported key public health programmes, but Harare objected to… [Read More]
Private Debt Emerges as Key to African Startup Expansion
Tech-enabled startups and scale-ups across Africa are transforming sectors such as fintech and agriculture, contributing to innovation, job creation and economic development. However, as these companies move beyond their early stages, many face a significant financing challenge known as the “missing middle” — a gap between small microfinance loans and large-scale institutional debt. This shortage… [Read More]
Japan Provides $4.2M Polio Support to Papua New Guinea
Japan has committed 18 million kina (approximately US$4.2 million) to support Papua New Guinea’s efforts to strengthen its polio vaccination campaign and outbreak response. The funding comes as the country’s Health Ministry prepares to roll out a third round of immunisation aimed at curbing the spread of the virus and protecting vulnerable populations. The upcoming… [Read More]
West of England Gets Major Support for Climate and Nature Projects
Communities across the West of England are set to benefit from expanded support for locally led climate and nature initiatives, as six new organisations join the Community Climate & Nature Action Project. Over the next two years, residents in Bath & North East Somerset, North Somerset and South Gloucestershire will be supported to design and… [Read More]
100+ Organisations Call for Landmark Good Food Bill
More than 100 organisations, including major supermarkets, food businesses, investors, NGOs and academics, have united to call for the introduction of a landmark Good Food Bill. The campaign is being led by The Food Foundation, Sustain and Green Alliance, which have warned that the UK’s failing food system poses serious risks to national security and… [Read More]
$5M Boost for Australian Critical Minerals Startup
Queensland-based startup Banksia Minerals is set to receive up to $5 million in funding to advance its copper production pilot project, aimed at strengthening Australia’s critical minerals capability and supporting the clean energy transition. The funding will help progress the company’s innovative processing technology and enhance domestic supply chains for critical energy minerals. Banksia has… [Read More]
$556M Funding to Strengthen Singapore’s Social Science Research
At the 2026 Social Science and Humanities Ideas Festival launch held at Singapore Management University, Minister for Education Desmond Lee announced that $556 million will be allocated over five years from FY2026 to FY2030 to strengthen Singapore’s social science and humanities research ecosystem. This represents a 21% increase, or $99 million more, compared to the… [Read More]
Scotland Launches £400k Fund to Protect Creative Spaces from Climate Change
The Scottish government, through Creative Scotland and the Scottish Futures Trust, has launched a new £400,000 pilot fund to help cultural and creative buildings across Scotland adapt to climate change. Supported by The National Lottery, the programme will provide grants of up to £80,000 per project, targeting 8–10 initiatives that address climate-related risks and ensure… [Read More]
EU Funding Helps SME Fight Water Pollution
Joaquín ‘Ximo’ Silvestre, a Professor of Inorganic Chemistry at the University of Alicante, and Sergey Mikhalovsky, co-founder of UK-based micro-SME ANAMAD, have spent nearly 25 years sharing a mission to remove harmful elements from both humans and the environment. Their work converged through EU funding via the Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions (MSCA), enabling cross-border collaboration and… [Read More]
Making Climate Action the Smartest Investment in Asia-Pacific
The transition from global climate commitments to actual financial mobilization remains one of the key challenges for achieving the 2030 Agenda. The Sevilla Commitment, adopted at the Fourth International Conference on Financing for Development (FfD4) in June 2025, emphasized that bridging the financing gap is essential for progress. Translating this global mandate into actionable regional… [Read More]
Humanitarian Alert: 6.5 Million Somalis Face Severe Hunger
Nearly 6.5 million people in Somalia are facing high levels of hunger, with over 1.8 million children at risk of acute malnutrition, as drought conditions continue to devastate the country, according to a report from the Somali government and UN agencies. The Integrated Food Security Phase Classification (IPC) projects that a third of the population… [Read More]
New EU Platform Boosts Aid for Ukraine War-Affected Regions
The European Commission is set to launch the EastInvest Facility, a new initiative aimed at providing easier access to financing and advisory support for EU Member States bordering Russia, Belarus, and Ukraine. The facility forms a central part of the EU’s strategy for its eastern regions, adopted to help these territories address the economic and… [Read More]
EU Backs Digital Media Hub Launch in Samoa
The Ministry of Agriculture and Fisheries of Samoa has inaugurated its first Digital Media Hub at the TATTE Building in Apia, designed to enhance public outreach and communication. Equipped with advanced digital and audiovisual technologies, the Hub will produce timely, high-quality information and awareness content on food, agriculture, and fisheries. The initiative aims to strengthen… [Read More]
Toxic Pollution Threat Linked to Organized Crime and Poor Oversight
A new report by the UN Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) exposes the global scale of illegal waste trafficking, conservatively estimated to generate up to $18 billion annually. While comprehensive data is limited outside Europe, the report highlights that all regions are affected. Legal waste management reached $1.2 trillion in 2024, up from $410… [Read More]
Over a Billion People at Risk of Losing Land and Homes by 2031
A recent UN-backed report highlights the urgent need for stronger political commitment and inclusive policies around land rights, particularly in the context of climate change, biodiversity protection, gender equality, and rural transformation. While over the past two decades more than 70 countries have undertaken land reforms and adopted national and international frameworks for responsible regulation… [Read More]
Ontario Drives Innovation in Life Sciences Sector
The Ontario government is investing $5.8 million to support two Kitchener-based medical technology companies as they expand production, scale globally, and commercialize Ontario-made health innovations. This funding marks the first round under the Life Sciences Scale-Up Fund (LSSUF) and aligns with Phase 2 of Ontario’s Life Sciences Strategy, complementing the Health Innovation Pathway to accelerate… [Read More]
Ontario Strengthens Protections for Livestock Farmers in Rural Areas
The Ontario government is modernizing its Veterinary Assistance Program (VAP) to expand eligibility and simplify the application process, ensuring livestock producers in Northern and rural Ontario have reliable access to veterinary care. These changes aim to strengthen the province’s agri-food sector and support veterinarians in safeguarding livestock health. Minister of Northern Economic Development and Growth,… [Read More]
$500M Boost for Retooling Canada’s Forestry Industry
The forest sector is a cornerstone of Canada’s economy, providing vital jobs and supporting communities nationwide. Facing challenges from U.S. trade measures, the Government of Canada is taking decisive action to protect workers, stabilize businesses, and enable the sector to modernize and diversify for long-term growth. Measures announced in August 2025, including the creation of… [Read More]
Canada Expands AgriStability to Cover Pasture Feed Costs
On February 25, 2026, in Ottawa, Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada announced an important update to the AgriStability program to better support Canadian livestock producers. The changes add pasture-related feed costs as an allowable expense under the program, starting with the 2026 program year. This amendment aims to provide fairer support for producers whose animals graze… [Read More]
Ministers Announce €10M EU Support for Bioeconomy Demos
Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine, Martin Heydon TD, and Minister for Climate, Energy and the Environment, Darragh O’Brien TD, have announced €10 million in funding under the EU Just Transition Fund Bioeconomy Demonstration Initiative to support two bioeconomy projects in Ireland’s Midlands. The funding, co-supported by the Government of Ireland and the European… [Read More]
