Ghana’s Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) has issued a new directive limiting the level of foreign securities exposure permitted for Collective Investment Schemes (CIS), citing the need to protect investors and safeguard financial market stability. Under the directive, CIS licensed to invest domestically may allocate no more than 20% of their assets to foreign securities…. [Read More]
Ghana Accelerates Irrigation for Rice and Food Security
Ghana is scaling up irrigation infrastructure to strengthen food security, increase rice production, and reduce its reliance on food imports, government and World Bank officials have said. The initiative was highlighted during a joint field visit by Finance Minister Cassiel Ato Forson and World Bank Division Director Robert Taliercio to the Kpong Irrigation Scheme, part… [Read More]
World Bank: Ghana Leads Region in Financial Readiness Despite Gaps
Ghana has emerged as a regional frontrunner in financial services readiness, but operational inefficiencies in public services, trade, and market competition could constrain its growth and ability to attract investment, according to the World Bank’s Business Ready (B-READY) 2025 report. The findings were presented at a dissemination event in Accra, where policymakers, private sector representatives,… [Read More]
How Türkiye’s Forests Help France Adapt to Climate Change
A unique forestry partnership between Türkiye and France is providing valuable insights into how European forests may adapt to climate change in the decades ahead. Supported by Agence Française de Développement (AFD) between 2019 and 2022, the programme brought together Turkish and French forestry institutions to strengthen sustainable forest management, protect biodiversity and build resilience… [Read More]
UK Export Credit Support Delivers £23B Economic Impact
A new study by Oxford Economics has highlighted the significant contribution of UK Export Finance (UKEF) to the national economy, revealing that exports backed by the government’s export credit agency added £23 billion to UK economic output over the past five years. The research shows that UKEF-supported exports sustained an average of 66,000 full-time equivalent… [Read More]
New Pilot Scheme Supports Landowners in the MacGillycuddy Reeks
Ireland’s Minister for Rural and Community Development and the Gaeltacht, Dara Calleary TD, has announced a new three-year pilot Upland Recreation Scheme for the MacGillycuddy Reeks, alongside additional funding to strengthen upland path management through the “Helping the Hills” network. The initiatives aim to support sustainable outdoor recreation, protect sensitive upland environments and recognise the… [Read More]
EBRD 2025 Finance for Ukraine Rises to Record €2.9 Billion
The European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) deployed a record €2.9 billion in financing in Ukraine in 2025, up from €2.4 billion in 2024, underscoring its sustained commitment to supporting the country’s economy amid ongoing war. Since Russia’s full-scale invasion in February 2022, the Bank has deployed a total of €9.1 billion in Ukraine…. [Read More]
EBRD Invested Over €800 Million in Serbia in 2025
In 2025, the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) delivered more than €800 million in new investments in Serbia for the third consecutive year, reinforcing its position as the country’s leading international financial institution. The Bank invested in a record 42 projects during the year, with 84% of total financing directed to the private… [Read More]
€20M EBRD Financing Backs Green Aluminium in Türkiye
The European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) is providing a €20 million loan to Assan Alüminyum to support a wide-ranging programme of decarbonisation investments aimed at improving efficiency and reducing energy and gas consumption in aluminium production. The financing will enable the installation of a foundry line filtration system to clean and reuse materials,… [Read More]
Irish Aid Supports Ukraine with €3M in NGO-Led Aid
Minister of State for International Development and Diaspora Neale Richmond has announced €3 million in Irish Aid humanitarian funding to support people affected by the ongoing war in Ukraine. The funding will be shared equally between three Irish NGOs — Concern, the Irish Red Cross and Trócaire — with each organisation receiving €1 million to… [Read More]
Irish Government Allocates €42M to Palestine in 2026
Ireland will provide €42 million in assistance to the people of Palestine in 2026, Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade Helen McEntee TD has announced, marking an increase from the €36 million provided in 2025. The funding includes €20 million in core support for UNRWA to deliver essential services to Palestinian refugees in Gaza, the… [Read More]
Ireland Approves €25 Million to Support Ukraine’s Energy Infrastructure
Ireland has approved €25 million in funding for the Ukraine Energy Support Fund (UESF) to help restore and protect Ukraine’s critical energy infrastructure amid continued Russian attacks. The decision was announced by Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade Helen McEntee TD and fulfils a commitment made to President Volodymyr Zelenskyy during his recent visit to… [Read More]
Iraq Pledges $30 Million in Multi-Year Strategic Partnership with UNRWA
The Government of Iraq and UNRWA have formalized a multi-year strategic partnership to support Palestine Refugees across the Middle East. Signed in Baghdad by Shorsh Khalid Said, Undersecretary for Multilateral and Legal Affairs, and UNRWA Commissioner-General Philippe Lazzarini, the agreement commits US$30 million over three years (2026–2028) to sustain essential services, including education and healthcare,… [Read More]
UNRWA Lebanon Facilities Powered by Japan-Supported Solar Energy
UNRWA and the Government of Japan have completed a major solar power installation project in Lebanon, providing reliable electricity to key education, health, and water facilities serving thousands of Palestine Refugee families. At the Siblin Training Centre (STC), a technical and vocational education training campus, the solar system now powers the training facilities as well… [Read More]
WHO, UNICEF, and Gavi Scale Up Cholera Vaccines to Protect Millions
Global cholera vaccine supply has reached a level sufficient to resume preventive vaccination campaigns for the first time in over three years, according to WHO, UNICEF, Gavi, and other partners. Mozambique is the first country to restart preventive vaccination following a halt in 2022 caused by surging cholera cases and limited vaccine stocks. Preventive campaigns… [Read More]
WHO Calls for Mental Health in Neglected Tropical Disease Care
The World Health Organization has released a groundbreaking Essential Care Package (ECP) designed to integrate mental health support and stigma reduction into neglected tropical disease (NTD) programs for the first time. The package responds to evidence showing that people affected by NTDs experience higher rates of depression, anxiety, distress, and suicidal behaviors, caused not only… [Read More]
CSW70 Calls for Justice for Women and Girls Everywhere
At the 70th session of the Commission on the Status of Women, UN Women Executive Director Sima Bahous emphasized that access to justice for women and girls is non-negotiable and fundamental to achieving equality, peace, security, and sustainable development. She highlighted that discriminatory laws, impunity, and structural barriers continue to deny justice to millions of… [Read More]
Kenya’s FGM Survivors Call for Justice and Cultural Change
Survivors and activists from Kenya emphasize that banning female genital mutilation (FGM) is not enough to ensure justice for women and girls. For survivors, justice goes beyond holding perpetrators accountable—it requires access to healing, psychosocial support, education, and opportunities to rebuild their lives. The long-term consequences of FGM are often physical, emotional, and social, continuing… [Read More]
UN Women Supports Refugee Women in Uganda with Vocational Skills
UN Women, in partnership with local organizations and funding from the Government of Japan, is providing refugee women in Uganda with vocational training to build independence and challenge gender stereotypes. The programme focuses on second-chance education, giving women marketable skills in male-dominated fields such as motor vehicle mechanics, empowering them to earn a living and… [Read More]
$4.8M from Bezos Earth Fund to Scale Climate Solutions
The Bezos Earth Fund has launched a $4.8 million partnership with The Earthshot Prize to accelerate 48 pioneering climate and nature solutions over the next three years. This initiative aims to support innovations that have been nominated for The Earthshot Prize but not selected as Finalists, helping scale transformative projects that advance climate mitigation and… [Read More]
IFC Supports Egypt’s Port Projects to Boost Trade and Create Employment
The International Finance Corporation (IFC) has partnered with Safaga Terminal Operating Company, part of the UAE-based AD Ports Group, to enhance port services in Egypt. This collaboration aims to create direct and indirect employment opportunities across trade, construction, and maritime and logistics sectors, reflecting a strategic South-South investment approach. The project, supported by the National… [Read More]
Cholera Vaccination Restarts Worldwide as Supply Achieves Key Milestone
Global cholera vaccine supply has increased to a level sufficient to resume preventive vaccination campaigns for the first time in over three years, according to Gavi, UNICEF, and the World Health Organization (WHO). Mozambique is the first country to restart preventive vaccination, following a halt in 2022 caused by a surge in cholera cases and… [Read More]
One Year On: USAID Closure and the Ongoing Story of Global Solidarity
One year after the United States Government dismantled the United States Agency for International Development (USAID), the global development landscape has experienced significant shifts. According to Thomas Mélonio, Chief Economist at AFD, the immediate aftermath in 2025 was marked by uncertainty, rapid budget cuts, and a cultural struggle in the United States and, to a… [Read More]
