In Bhutan, dietary insufficiency and affordability remain pressing challenges, with 86 percent of citizens not consuming enough fruits and vegetables and 27 percent of households unable to afford nutrient‑adequate diets. To address these issues, the World Food Programme (WFP) deepened its support in 2025, focusing on strengthening food systems, nutrition, and emergency preparedness through partnerships… [Read More]

UNESCO is intensifying efforts to protect cultural heritage and sustain cultural life in the Middle East and neighbouring regions as hostilities continue to pose risks. In Iran, where World Heritage properties, museums, and cultural institutions face heightened threats, UNESCO has been actively monitoring damage since February 2026. Satellite analysis and field reports have confirmed harm… [Read More]

Tanzania has taken a significant step toward modernizing its education system for the digital age. With support from UNESCO and funding from the Republic of Korea through the KFIT III Project, the country has strengthened the digital teaching capacity of ICT trainers nationwide. A Training of Trainers program held in Dar es Salaam in April… [Read More]

Smiths, the global industrial engineering company, has announced the third round of grants from its charitable foundation, awarding £1.3 million to 13 charities worldwide in 2026. Since its inception three years ago, the foundation has distributed nearly £3 million across 16 countries, supporting causes aligned with its values in STEM education, environmental sustainability, and community… [Read More]

The International Rescue Committee (IRC) has announced new support from the Weiss Asset Management Foundation, which is investing nearly US$1 million to strengthen cost-efficiency in malnutrition treatment. The funding will support the Malnutrition Optimization to Scale Treatment (MOST) initiative, led by IRC through the Dioptra Consortium, at a time when humanitarian budgets are shrinking and… [Read More]

This year, the William T. Grant Foundation, joined by the Annie E. Casey Foundation, Bezos Family Foundation, Doris Duke Foundation, and Spencer Foundation, awarded $2.6 million in Institutional Challenge Grants to four university–community partnerships. Each grantee receives $650,000 over three years, with the option of continuation funding, to strengthen collaborative research aimed at reducing inequality… [Read More]

In 2025, the Grundfos Jubilee Foundation received a DKK 5 million donation to mark the 50th anniversary of the Poul Due Jensen Foundation. This was followed in 2026 by an additional DKK 13 million, bringing the Jubilee Foundation’s total available grant funding to DKK 18 million until 2035. This significant increase means the foundation can… [Read More]

Your analysis of Zambia’s digital ID integration debate highlights a critical tension: the promise of efficiency versus the risk of eroding trust. The research paper you reference makes the case for linking INRIS with tax administration to boost revenue, drawing on examples from Ghana, Uganda, Nigeria, and Kenya. But as you point out, the evidence… [Read More]

The Calouste Gulbenkian Foundation’s annual Prize for Humanity awards €1 million to individuals and organisations driving extraordinary climate action, with unrestricted funding and minimal reporting requirements. Launched in 2019, the prize reflects the foundation’s commitment to sustainability and equity, highlighting achievements that benefit both people and nature. Over six years, it has surfaced transformative work… [Read More]

UK startup Naturbeads has secured a €4.1 million EU grant to build a new factory in Puglia, Italy, producing cellulose-based alternatives to microplastics. The funding comes from the European Structural Fund and will support both facility construction and R&D as the company moves toward full commercialisation over the next two years. Naturbeads, spun out of… [Read More]

UNESCO’s latest report underscores the extraordinary role of its designated sites in protecting both people and nature. While global wildlife populations have declined by 73% since 1970, those within UNESCO‑protected areas have remained comparatively stable, demonstrating their effectiveness in safeguarding biodiversity. The report, People and Nature in UNESCO‑Designated Sites: Global and Local Contributions, is the… [Read More]

UNESCO’s new global report, The Quantum Moment: Outcomes of the International Year of Quantum Science and Technology, highlights stark inequalities in access to quantum research facilities and opportunities. One in three researchers worldwide report having no access to quantum labs, severely limiting the potential of quantum science in areas such as healthcare, computing, cybersecurity, and… [Read More]

In Sioma District, Zambia, farming families are experiencing a major shift with the commissioning of the Malombe Centre Pivot Irrigation Scheme. President Hakainde Hichilema inaugurated the 25‑hectare system, which draws water from the Zambezi River to provide reliable, year‑round irrigation for 73 households in the IMIKAYA Cooperative. For the first time, these farmers can plan… [Read More]

In Honduras, the last electoral cycle revealed that more than half of all reported incidents occurred before election day, underscoring the importance of preparedness and early risk detection. To address this, national institutions and international partners developed the Electoral Early Warning System (SAT‑E), led by the National Human Rights Commission of Honduras (CONADEH) with support… [Read More]

New Zealand will introduce a citizenship test from late 2027 to strengthen the process of granting citizenship by application. Minister of Internal Affairs Brooke van Velden announced the initiative, emphasizing that citizenship is both a privilege and a commitment to shared responsibilities. The test builds on existing requirements in the Citizenship Act, which already mandate… [Read More]

The Government has announced new measures to strengthen youth mental health support in Northland, following a coroner’s report into the tragic loss of six young people. Mental Health Minister Matt Doocey confirmed the opening of a dedicated Youth Acute Respite Service alongside three new Youth Suicide Prevention Coordination roles, backed by $1.7 million in annual… [Read More]

New Zealand has launched a free online food safety training module to make compliance easier and more accessible for food businesses. Minister for Food Safety Andrew Hoggard announced the initiative, noting that it is part of a broader effort to modernize the country’s food safety system and make it simpler, smarter, and fairer for businesses… [Read More]

WHO is working with Nepal and Sri Lanka to integrate asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) services into primary health care (PHC), aiming to strengthen frontline respiratory care and improve access to timely diagnosis and treatment. Supported by Bloomberg Philanthropies, this initiative is part of WHO’s broader effort to enhance prevention, diagnosis, and management… [Read More]

Ten years after the UN Security Council unanimously adopted Resolution 2286 to protect health care in armed conflicts, the situation has worsened rather than improved. Violence against medical facilities, transport, and personnel continues unabated, undermining the resolution’s intent and leaving civilians without safe access to life‑saving services. The International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC),… [Read More]

WHO has launched a new behavioural insights toolkit to help countries better understand and address the drivers behind harmful skin‑lightening practices. The toolkit is part of a multicountry project to eliminate mercury‑containing cosmetics, which pose serious health and environmental risks. By collecting behavioural insights, countries can design more effective, context‑specific interventions to reduce demand for… [Read More]

WHO has launched a new free online course, WHO Good Practices for Clinical Trial Design and Implementation, to strengthen the quality and equity of clinical trials worldwide. Available on the WHO Academy platform, the self‑paced course translates WHO’s 2024 guidance into practical learning for researchers and institutions, responding to Member States’ requests to build stronger… [Read More]

The Inter-American Development Bank (IDB) has published Building Resilience: Advances and Challenges in Adaptive Social Protection, highlighting the need for more integrated public systems to respond effectively to crises such as climate shocks, economic downturns, or health emergencies. While multiple institutions mobilize during emergencies, their fragmented efforts often result in slower and less effective responses…. [Read More]

Care work for older adults in Latin America and the Caribbean is increasingly vital as populations age, yet it remains largely invisible in labor statistics and is predominantly informal. Most caregivers, who are primarily women, work without contracts, social security, or stable incomes, leaving them vulnerable to unemployment and poverty in old age. The lack… [Read More]