The Adaptation Fund (AF) launched the Adaptation Fund Climate Innovation Accelerator (AFCIA) in 2019 to promote locally led climate adaptation innovation in developing countries. In 2020, the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) and the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) were selected to implement two US$5 million AFCIA programmes. In 2021, the European Union contributed €10… [Read More]
New DAERA Initiative Aims to Boost Water Quality, Minister Announces
Department of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs (DAERA) Minister Andrew Muir has announced the opening of the 2026/2027 call for applications to the Water Quality Improvement Strand of the Environmental Challenge Fund Competition. This grant is aimed at not-for-profit organisations and local councils to support projects that enhance the local water environment, engage communities with… [Read More]
UK LGBTQ+ Charities Face ‘Hostile Environment’ as Donations Decline, Experts Warn
LGBTQ+ charities in the UK are facing a significantly more “hostile environment,” with experts warning that financial pressures are intensifying amid a global backlash on equalities programmes. Stonewall, the UK’s largest LGBTQ+ charity, reported that corporate donations more than halved in the last financial year, dropping from £348,636 in 2024 to £143,149 in 2025, while… [Read More]
United States Announces Exit from Multiple UN and Global Bodies
US President Donald Trump has announced plans to withdraw the United States from 66 United Nations and international organisations, including key forums addressing climate change, peace, democracy, and human rights. In a presidential memorandum, Trump stated that the decision follows a review of “organizations, conventions, and treaties” deemed contrary to US interests, and that the… [Read More]
COVID-19 Still Causes Severe Illness, But Updated Vaccines Remain Effective
The COVID-19 pandemic began on 31 December 2019 with the first reported cases of pneumonia in Wuhan, China, and over the next three and a half years caused an estimated 6.9 million deaths worldwide. While the global Public Health Emergency of International Concern ended in May 2023, COVID-19 continues to pose a significant health threat…. [Read More]
Pakistan’s Health Heroes Lead the Fight Against Cervical Cancer in Girls
In 2025, Pakistan launched its first-ever human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccination campaign to prevent cervical cancer, reaching over 9.6 million girls aged 9–14 years. This historic effort was made possible by 49,000 health workers trained with support from the World Health Organization (WHO), including frontline heroes such as Riffat, Saira, Shaheen, and Naheed. Cervical cancer remains… [Read More]
New Special Issue Explores How Primary Health Care Addresses Non-Communicable Diseases
The Pan American Journal of Public Health, the scientific publication of the Pan American Health Organization (PAHO), has released a special issue focused on strengthening primary health care to address noncommunicable diseases (NCDs) in the Americas. NCDs—including cardiovascular diseases, cancer, diabetes, and chronic respiratory conditions—are the leading cause of death in the region, responsible for… [Read More]
Ukraine Aid Workers Face Daily Risks Amid Drones, Fear, and Exhaustion
Frontline humanitarian work in Ukraine is fraught with danger, as illustrated by Oleg Kemin, a security officer with the UN World Food Programme (WFP). He travels deep into disputed territory along the 1,000-kilometre contact line separating Ukraine from Russia, where attack drones pose a constant threat. Kemin’s work involves delivering food aid to vulnerable communities… [Read More]
UN Report Highlights Ongoing Human Rights Challenges in the West Bank
A new report by the UN human rights office (OHCHR) documents what it describes as a decades-long system of discrimination against Palestinians in the West Bank, which has intensified sharply since at least December 2022. UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Volker Türk characterized the situation as “a systematic asphyxiation of the rights of Palestinians,”… [Read More]
UN Coordinator Highlights Iraq’s Recovery and Transformation After Years of War
Ghulam Isaczai, UN Resident and Humanitarian Coordinator for Iraq, briefed journalists in New York on Iraq’s transition from the long-running UN Assistance Mission for Iraq (UNAMI) to a partnership with national authorities focused on development. UNAMI, which was established in 2003 to support Iraq’s political transition after the fall of Saddam Hussein and the subsequent… [Read More]
Aleppo Violence in Syria Leaves Many Dead and Forces Thousands to Flee
Clashes resumed on Tuesday in Aleppo between the General Security Forces of the transition Government and the predominantly Kurdish Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF), following a brief pause after the ceasefire announced in late December 2025. Fighting initially erupted near the Alleramoon roundabout on the city’s western outskirts and quickly spread to the Kurdish-majority neighborhoods of… [Read More]
Government of Canada Announces 2026 Black History Month Theme
Each year, Black History Month in Canada honours the experiences, achievements, and lasting contributions of Black communities, while fostering a deeper understanding of their history and impact on Canadian society. In 2026, the Honourable Marc Miller, Minister of Canadian Identity and Culture and Minister responsible for Official Languages, announced the theme: “30 Years of Black… [Read More]
Scotland Invests £140m in Local Growth Fund to Stimulate Jobs and Economy
The UK Government has launched a £140 million Local Growth Fund (LGF) aimed at driving economic prosperity across Scotland. Announced by Scottish Secretary Douglas Alexander on 8 January, the programme will allocate funding across five regions over the next three years (2026/27 – 2028/29), with Glasgow City receiving £60.9 million, Edinburgh & South East £37.8… [Read More]
How Storytelling Through Film Is Helping Native Youth Heal and Reclaim Identity
Native American and Alaska Native youth continue to face severe and disproportionate challenges, including high rates of suicide, violence, addiction, and mental health struggles. Recent federal funding cuts have further strained already limited resources, deepening isolation in many Native communities at a time when cultural connection, self-expression, and community support are especially critical for youth… [Read More]
Hybrid Rooftop Solar Gains Momentum in Uttar Pradesh, India
Hybrid rooftop solar systems are gradually carving out a niche in Uttar Pradesh by offering a practical solution to frequent power outages while also reducing electricity costs. Residents like Shankuntala Mishra in Kanpur have demonstrated how these systems can significantly lower monthly power bills and still provide electricity during blackouts, unlike conventional grid-tied rooftop solar… [Read More]
West Virginia Water Crisis Shows No End in Sight as System Consolidations Drive Up Costs
Residents of Gary, a small city in McDowell County, have long raised alarms about severe water and sewer problems, with discolored water, sewage overflows, and repeated system failures affecting daily life. At a 2023 Public Service Commission hearing, residents described years of basement flooding, sewage flowing into nearby rivers, and tap water that often appeared… [Read More]
Two Grass-Roots Human Security Projects Receive Japanese Funding
On January 6, 2026, Japan extended grants totaling Taka 13.8 million (USD 115,723) to two Bangladeshi non-governmental organizations under its Grass-Roots Human Security Projects (GGHSP) programme, supporting education and child welfare initiatives. The grant contracts were signed by Japanese Ambassador to Bangladesh Saida Shinichi and representatives of the recipient organizations at the Embassy of Japan… [Read More]
Apply Now: Mendip Hills Fund Community and Environmental Grants Open
The Mendip Hills Fund is now open for applications, offering grants of up to £2,000 to support local projects. Applications can be submitted between 2 January and 2 March, with all applications considered by the panel in March, regardless of submission date. The fund supports community and voluntary group projects that aim to help local… [Read More]
Submit Your Proposal: Adaptivity in Transitions Call Now Open
The KIC call “Adaptivity in Transitions” is now open for applications, offering a total budget of €7,000,000. The call aims to generate insights, perspectives for action, and the capacity to increase adaptivity in systems and actors involved in societal transitions. Mission-driven innovation for transitions takes place in a dynamic and complex environment. Adaptivity is essential… [Read More]
Submit Your Proposals: Take-Off Phase 2 Spring 2026 Introduces Exciting Changes
The 2026 spring round of Take-off Phase 2 Vroegefasetrajecten is now open for proposals. Take-off, funded by the Ministry of Economic Affairs and the Ministry of Education, Culture and Science and managed by NWO, supports innovative business activities based on scientific research. Researchers and early-stage entrepreneurs can apply for funding to launch a business and… [Read More]
How I Went From Brussels to Kabul and Landed at the UN
My journey into multilateralism began during my university years while traveling across Europe. Having studied law in Japan, a summer camping trip sparked a question that would shape my future: how could countries that had once fought wars now share a currency, a parliament, and a common future? Crossing borders by bus and observing languages… [Read More]
Junk Food Advertising Ban Falls Short as Businesses Continue Targeting Kids
The UK has introduced a landmark junk food advertising ban aimed at protecting children’s health, representing a major step forward in curbing exposure to unhealthy food marketing. While the regulations are a milestone, critics warn that big food companies are finding ways to continue targeting young audiences, particularly through outdoor and brand advertising. Corporate lobbying… [Read More]
Tunisia Court Releases NGO Workers Accused of Assisting Migrants
A Tunisian court has released a group of humanitarian workers, including Sherifa Riahi, the former director of the French NGO Terre d’Asile, after handing them two-year suspended sentences for facilitating the “illegal entry and residence” of migrants. By the time of their final hearing, the NGO staff had already spent more than 20 months in… [Read More]
