On 11 February, Agence Française de Développement (AFD) and the World Bank will convene in Morocco to highlight “The Power of Co-financing,” a collaborative model designed to expand as international aid becomes scarcer while development needs continue to grow. With financing requirements rising across sectors such as roads, transport, energy, and climate action, partner countries… [Read More]
ILO–EU Collaboration Boosts Skills and Jobs
The International Labour Organization (ILO) and the European Training Foundation (ETF) have announced a strengthened partnership aimed at helping countries improve skills systems, vocational education, apprenticeships, and employment policies. The cooperation agreement, signed on 9 February by ETF Director Pilvi Torsti and ILO Employment Policy Director Sangheon Lee, sets the stage for joint efforts to… [Read More]
U Humanitarian Aid Expands Emergency Shelter for Palestine Refugees
Thousands of Palestine Refugee families across the occupied West Bank, including East Jerusalem, face daily threats of displacement and insecurity. To address this urgent need, the European Union (EU), through its European Civil Protection and Humanitarian Aid Operations (ECHO), has provided €5 million in emergency funding to UNRWA for protection and emergency shelter support for… [Read More]
Reducing Water Pollution in Dhaka: World Bank Steps In
The World Bank’s Board of Executive Directors has approved a $370 million financing package to improve sanitation and solid waste management services in Dhaka and surrounding areas, aiming to reduce water pollution and restore rivers and canals. The Metro Dhaka Water Security and Resilience Program seeks to strengthen the capacity of local and national institutions,… [Read More]
AgriConnect Senegal: Transforming Agriculture and Creating 800,000 Jobs by 2029
The Government of Senegal, in collaboration with the World Bank Group, has launched the AgriConnect Senegal Compact, a strategic initiative aimed at transforming the country’s agri-food systems and improving food security for millions of citizens. The initiative aligns with the Senegal National Agenda for Transformation 2050 and the Food Sovereignty Strategy 2025–2034, serving as a… [Read More]
Netherlands Donates €100 Million to Boost Ukraine’s Energy Sector
On 9 February 2026, the Netherlands announced an additional €35 million contribution to the Ukraine Energy Support Fund, bringing its total support through the Fund to €100 million. The Fund is administered by the Energy Community Secretariat and co-chaired by the European Commission. The Energy Community Secretariat highlighted that the increased contribution comes amid months… [Read More]
AgriConnect Compact Launched in Senegal to Modernize Farming and Strengthen Agri-Value Chains
The Government of Senegal, in collaboration with the World Bank Group, has launched the AgriConnect Senegal Compact, a strategic initiative aimed at transforming the country’s agri-food systems and enhancing food security for millions of Senegalese. The program aligns with Senegal’s National Agenda for Transformation 2050 and the Food Sovereignty Strategy (SSA 2025–2034), creating a coordinated… [Read More]
$8M Investment by IDB Lab to Drive Agtech Growth Through AgVentures III Fund
IDB Lab, the innovation and venture arm of the Inter-American Development Bank Group, has announced an $8 million investment in the AgVentures III Fund, managed by SP Ventures in collaboration with the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) and other partners. The fund aims to support “agtech” and “foodtech” innovation across Latin America and the Caribbean,… [Read More]
€100M EIB Support for Arctic Marine Sector
The European Investment Bank (EIB) has provided a €100 million loan to Iceland-based Arion Bank to support sustainable fisheries, land-based aquaculture, and other marine industries across Iceland, Greenland, and the Faroe Islands. The funding will be channeled through Arion Bank to small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) engaged in marine activities such as sustainable fishing, seafood… [Read More]
Creating a Safer Internet: Tips and Strategies for All Users
Twenty years ago, misinformation spread slowly through word of mouth, mistaken newspaper headlines, or simple text messages, making it relatively local and easier to correct. Today, misinformation, disinformation, and hate speech have evolved into powerful tools that can divide communities. Viral content is often harmful, and artificial intelligence is increasingly shaping local and global narratives…. [Read More]
Apply Now: Internet Society Foundation Funding for IGFs and SIGs
The Internet Society Foundation has opened applications for its Internet Governance Forum Events Grant program, supporting recognized National and Regional Initiatives (NRIs) and Schools on Internet Governance (SIGs). The program aims to provide financial assistance for organizing these forums, which facilitate inclusive, multi-stakeholder dialogue on Internet governance. By enabling these discussions, the Foundation seeks to… [Read More]
Harnessing 280 Days of Sunlight: North Macedonia’s Path to Energy Self-Sufficiency
North Macedonia currently generates about 24 percent of its energy from renewable sources, primarily hydropower, leaving significant untapped potential in solar and wind energy. With an average of 260-280 sunny days per year, the country receives thirty to forty percent more solar radiation than the European average, presenting a major opportunity to advance energy independence… [Read More]
ADB Partnership Helps Bhutan Expand Trade and Build a Resilient Economy
The Asian Development Bank (ADB) has approved a $25 million financing package to support Bhutan in expanding trade and diversifying its economy. The package includes a $13 million policy-based loan and a $12 million grant funded through the ADB-administered Asian Development Fund (ADF). The Trade Expansion and Diversification (TREAD) Program aims to implement comprehensive policy,… [Read More]
MTN Backs Fintech Startups to Scale Digital Finance in Africa
MTN is actively targeting fintech startups operating in payments, lending, and remittances as part of a broader strategy to strengthen its platform-led growth across Africa. The telecom group is moving beyond opportunistic investments and focusing on integrating fintech capabilities directly into its digital ecosystem, allowing it to scale services rapidly and reach millions of customers… [Read More]
Advancing Women’s Health: KAS–UNITE and WHO Foster Global Health Partnerships
On 20 January 2026, the World Health Organization (WHO) hosted a high-level dialogue at its Geneva headquarters, welcoming parliamentarians to discuss advancing women’s health, strengthening sexual and reproductive health and rights (SRHR), addressing the rising burden of noncommunicable diseases (NCDs), and the future of global health cooperation. The event was convened by the Konrad-Adenauer-Stiftung (KAS)… [Read More]
Global NGOs Brief CEDAW on Gender Equality Challenges in Argentina, Czech Republic, and El Salvador
Representatives of civil society organizations briefed the Committee on the Elimination of Discrimination against Women (CEDAW) on the situation of women’s rights in Argentina, the Czech Republic, and El Salvador, ahead of the Committee’s review of these countries’ reports during its ninety-second session. No civil society organizations were present to provide input on Lesotho, which… [Read More]
EU Study Maps Caucasus Route to Revive Europe–Central Asia Trade
The Trans-Caspian Corridor, a network of railways and ports connecting Europe, Türkiye, the Black Sea region, Armenia, Azerbaijan, and Central Asia, is emerging as a key alternative trade route between the two continents. Since 2022, trade along the corridor has quadrupled, and with strategic investments, it could potentially triple by 2030. To guide this development,… [Read More]
Moldova Upgrades Nine Schools with State-of-the-Art Labs Through EU Support
With financial support from the European Union, nine model schools in Moldova have been equipped with fully modernized laboratories for physics, chemistry, biology, and mathematics. These upgrades aim to enhance practical learning experiences and foster student engagement in STEAM subjects. Approximately 7,000 students and 490 teachers and school administrators will directly benefit from the improved… [Read More]
Palau’s Disaster Refuges: Protecting Communities and Building Resilience
The small Pacific island nation of Palau is strengthening its resilience against climate change-driven extreme weather through the establishment of a network of emergency refuges, with support from the United Nations. These shelters aim to protect communities from rising sea levels, typhoons, storm surges, and flooding, which are increasingly threatening homes, livelihoods, and cultural heritage… [Read More]
UN Women Boosts Women’s Empowerment in Central Asia
In Astana on 28 January 2026, UN Women’s Central Asia Liaison Office and the UN Women Country Office in Kazakhstan hosted a roundtable titled “Advancing Partnerships for Gender Equality and Women’s Empowerment in Central Asia,” bringing together international partners to strengthen regional coordination and strategic engagement. The event built on the political momentum generated by… [Read More]
Bold US HIV Funding Package Receives Strong Support from UNAIDS
UNAIDS has welcomed the signing into law of a bipartisan US$5.88 billion US spending package, reinforcing the United States’ leadership and commitment to the global HIV response. Signed by President Donald Trump on 3 February 2026, the package allocates US$4.6 billion for bilateral HIV support through the America First Global Health Strategy, US$1.25 billion to… [Read More]
Boosting Somalia’s Economy: Key Programs and Investments for Development
The World Bank-financed Somalia – Horn of Africa Infrastructure Integration Project (SHIIP) is part of a broader programme aimed at fostering economic development and structural transformation in the Horn of Africa by enhancing regional integration. The initiative focuses on strengthening Somalia’s connectivity through strategic transport infrastructure, which is expected to facilitate trade, tourism, and investment,… [Read More]
Lebanon’s Key Logistics Hub Modernized with UNOPS and Canadian Support
UNOPS and the government of Canada have partnered to modernize the logistics operations of the Lebanese Armed Forces Logistics Brigade, a critical unit supporting peace and security across Lebanon. The project comes at a time of significant regional challenges and aims to strengthen the Brigade’s ability to manage equipment and resources efficiently. The modernization involved… [Read More]
