The World Bank Group has warned that Sub-Saharan Africa’s economic recovery is beginning to lose momentum, even though overall growth remains stable. In its latest Africa Economic Update, released on 8 April 2026, the Bank said growth for the region is projected to hold at 4.1% in 2026, the same rate recorded in 2025. However,… [Read More]
World Bank Says South Asia Growth Slowing in 2026
The World Bank Group has projected that economic growth in South Asia will slow to 6.3% in 2026, down from 7% in 2025, mainly due to disruptions in global energy markets. According to the latest South Asia Economic Update released on 8 April 2026, the region is expected to recover to 6.9% growth in 2027…. [Read More]
Bangladesh Needs Urgent Reforms to Restore Growth
The World Bank has warned that Bangladesh’s economy is facing serious challenges, including slowing growth, rising poverty, persistent inflation, weaknesses in the banking sector, weak revenue mobilisation, and subdued private investment. In its latest Bangladesh Development Update released on 8 April 2026, the Bank said these domestic pressures are being further intensified by the ongoing… [Read More]
Nepal Growth Projected to Moderate in FY26
The World Bank has projected that Nepal’s economic growth will slow sharply to 2.3% in fiscal year 2026, down from 4.6% in FY25, according to its latest Nepal Development Update released on 8 April 2026. The slowdown is attributed to the ongoing conflict in the Middle East and the lingering economic effects of domestic unrest… [Read More]
Republic of Korea Backs WFP Food Aid in Syria
The United Nations World Food Programme (WFP) has received a contribution of 2,400 metric tons of rice from the Republic of Korea to support vulnerable families across Syria. The shipment has already arrived at WFP warehouses, and distribution is currently under way. This assistance is expected to help approximately 1.2 million people for one month,… [Read More]
Namibia: AfDB Backs Women-Owned Enterprises with Credit Facility
The African Development Bank and the Development Bank of Namibia have launched DBN For Her, a major new financing facility created specifically for enterprises that are 100% women-owned in Namibia. Unveiled in Windhoek, the initiative marks the result of a two-year strategic partnership aimed at expanding access to finance for women entrepreneurs and addressing long-standing… [Read More]
AfDB Approves $10.41 Million Grant for Ghana
The Board of Directors of the African Development Bank Group has approved a $10.41 million grant to help strengthen Ghana’s public financial management systems and support inclusive, climate-resilient economic growth. The funding will support reforms aimed at improving governance and enhancing the country’s economic resilience through stronger institutions and better management of public resources. The… [Read More]
Tunisia: AfDB Strengthens Procurement Capacity for Projects
The African Development Bank, in collaboration with Tunisia’s Ministry of Economy and Planning, organized a national procurement workshop in Tunis to strengthen the implementation of Bank-financed projects and improve their overall development impact. The training was held on 30–31 March and forms part of the Bank’s 2025–2026 Portfolio Performance Improvement Plan, which seeks to address… [Read More]
AfDB Launches Green Hydrogen Grant Programme in Africa
The African Development Bank’s Sustainable Energy Fund for Africa (SEFA) has launched a new Call for Proposals under its recently established Green Hydrogen Programme, inviting private sector entities across Africa to apply for support for green hydrogen and derivative projects. This initiative is aimed at advancing clean energy development on the continent and encouraging private… [Read More]
Africa Agrifood Systems Conference Opens in Mauritania
The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) will host the 34th Session of the FAO Regional Conference for Africa (ARC34) in Nouakchott, Mauritania, from 13 to 17 April 2026. The conference will bring together African ministers of agriculture, government officials, civil society representatives, youth groups, private sector actors, and development partners to… [Read More]
Taking Action to Protect Africa’s Agrifood Sector
Africa’s agrifood systems are facing intensifying pressure from global shocks. Trade disruptions have raised the cost of fertilisers, fuel, and freight, while climate variability and conflict continue to displace farmers and reduce harvests. Despite these challenges, the most critical decisions about the continent’s agrifood future are made locally, through national budgets, regulatory frameworks, and investment… [Read More]
Afreximbank Allocates $10B to Protect African, CARICOM Economies
Afreximbank has approved a US$10 billion Gulf Crisis Response Programme (GCRP) to protect African and CARICOM economies, financial institutions, and corporates from the ongoing Gulf crisis, which escalated on 28 February 2026. The conflict has disrupted global markets, particularly affecting nations reliant on fuel, LNG, fertilisers, food imports, Gulf shipping corridors, tourism, investment flows, and… [Read More]
Drastic UK Aid Reductions Impact African Health Sector
The UK government is significantly cutting its foreign aid budget to redirect funds toward a major expansion of national defence, increasing spending from £4.8 billion in 2026 to £6.5 billion in 2027. These reductions are expected to sharply reduce direct bilateral funding to African countries, threatening fragile health systems across the continent. The Foreign, Commonwealth… [Read More]
Inefficient Training Costs Charities Nearly £30M Each Year
Charities and voluntary organisations in the UK are losing an estimated £28 million each year due to inefficient staff training, according to data from compliance training provider Skillcast. The sector accounts for 1.45 million lost training hours annually, ranking fifth highest among the industries surveyed. Charity, voluntary, and social enterprise organisations recorded more lost hours,… [Read More]
RIF Unveils Platform to Boost Grant Efficiency
RIF has launched a new Software as a Service (SaaS) platform to manage all stages of project funding, from announcing calls to disbursing payments. The platform is designed to offer flexible capabilities for developing functionalities and business workflows, aiming to improve efficiency across the funding ecosystem. The project aims to create a modern and secure… [Read More]
Czech Culture Funding Rises, But Sector Calls It Short
The Czech government will provide an additional 175 million crowns from this year’s state budget to support live culture and cultural activities, Culture Minister Oto Klempíř announced following a meeting with representatives of cultural institutions and employers. Finance Minister Alena Schillerová pledged the extra funding, with 50 million crowns earmarked for theatres and orchestras, and… [Read More]
£2.5M Digital Upgrade Planned by North West Manufacturers
Hundreds of manufacturers across the North West are preparing to accelerate their digital transformation after the Government confirmed new funding for the Made Smarter programme from April. The £2.5M investment aims to provide SME manufacturers with expert technology advice, leadership training, digital skills development, and match-funded grants to enhance productivity, drive innovation, create high-value jobs,… [Read More]
Highland Rural Communities Awarded £1M+ to Boost Local Assets and Reduce Inequalities
Rural communities across Highland will have the opportunity to access more than £1 million in funding aimed at improving community assets and addressing inequalities affecting children, young people, and families. The Highland Local Action Group (LAG) is inviting organisations to submit applications for projects that align with these two key priorities. Funding is available through… [Read More]
Boosting Rural and Regional Research Across Australia
The National Health and Medical Research Council (NHMRC) is focused on improving health outcomes for people living in regional, rural, and remote (RRR) Australia by supporting research that directly benefits these communities. Despite a strong history of high-quality and innovative RRR research, challenges persist in developing and sustaining a skilled RRR research workforce. To address… [Read More]
Commission Commits €30 Million to Strengthen AMR Response
The European Commission announced a €30 million investment at the One Health Summit in Lyon to strengthen the global response to antimicrobial resistance (AMR). This funding, part of the EU4Health program, aims to enhance medical countermeasures against AMR, a growing health threat responsible for over 35,000 deaths annually in the EU/EEA and costing healthcare systems… [Read More]
Global Urgent Action Needed After Trump’s Apocalyptic Iran Threats
Agnès Callamard, Secretary General of Amnesty International, strongly condemned President Donald Trump’s apocalyptic threats against Iran made on Truth Social on 7 April 2026, warning that “a whole civilization will die tonight, never to be brought back again.” She described the threats, including the promise of destroying Iran’s power plants and bridges, as displaying a… [Read More]
Türkiye: LGBTI+ Organization Board Faces Unjust Charges
The prosecution of Amnesty International Türkiye’s former Chair, Kerem Dikmen, along with ten other members of the executive and supervisory boards of the Genç LGBTI+ Association, reflects a broader pattern of harassment against LGBTI+ organizations in Türkiye. The hearing is scheduled to begin tomorrow, highlighting ongoing concerns over the targeting of human rights defenders. In December… [Read More]
New One Health Initiatives: WHO and France Turn Vision into Action
Global leaders convened in France on World Health Day 2026 for the landmark One Health Summit, where the World Health Organization (WHO) and partners unveiled a series of concrete initiatives to protect humans, animals, and the environment from future health crises. The Summit emphasized translating the One Health approach—recognizing the interconnection between human, animal, and… [Read More]
