The European Investment Bank (EIB), through its international partnerships and development arm EIB Global, has announced a €1 billion financing initiative to strengthen electricity infrastructure and promote renewable energy across Central America. Launched at the CELAC-EU summit in Colombia, the initiative aligns with the EU Global Gateway Investment Agenda and aims to support transmission and… [Read More]
Business
Why Adaptation Finance Is Rising on the Climate Agenda and How Banks Can Participate at COP30
As climate change impacts intensify, climate adaptation—the process of adjusting systems, communities, and economies to cope with changing climate conditions—is increasingly moving from the periphery to the core of climate action. For financial institutions, adaptation is not only a policy imperative but also an emerging area of risk management, investment opportunity, and strategic relevance. By… [Read More]
Ontario Unveils Pothole Prevention and Repair Program to Strengthen Road Infrastructure
The Ontario government has announced a $10 million investment to improve road safety and prevent damage caused by potholes. The new Pothole Prevention and Repair Program will provide funding to municipalities with populations of up to 10,000 people to support essential road maintenance. This initiative is part of the province’s broader infrastructure strategy aimed at… [Read More]
How ‘Mama Mobokoli’ is Shaping the Future of Young Women Entrepreneurs
Jocelyne Mpila, once identified as a vulnerable individual through the Single Social Registry (RSU), has transformed her life through the Social Protection and Productive Inclusion of Youth (PSIPJ) project. After receiving vocational training and earning a certificate of aptitude, she became a “Mamapreneur,” a term used to describe women entrepreneurs who manage community childcare centers…. [Read More]
European Investment Bank supports Ukraine with €100 million for energy and economic recovery
The European Investment Bank (EIB) has disbursed €100 million to Ukraine to support economic resilience and critical municipal heating infrastructure amid the ongoing war. The financing, backed by the EU for Ukraine Fund and the European Commission’s Ukraine Investment Framework, demonstrates the European Union’s continued commitment to sustaining Ukraine’s economy and essential public services. This… [Read More]
€1.1 Billion Impact+ Facility Launched at AFIS 2025 to Boost High-Impact African SMEs
At the Africa Financial Summit (AFIS) in Casablanca, Proparco and the European Union announced the launch of the Impact+ Facility, an innovative guarantee programme designed to enhance access to credit for micro, small, and medium-sized enterprises (MSMEs) across Africa. The initiative aims to empower local financial institutions, strengthen their lending capacity, and promote inclusive and… [Read More]
Africa’s Mini-Grid Revolution: New Study Reveals Key Lessons to Accelerate Energy Access Through Smarter Financing
A new study by The Future of Energy, titled “Lessons Learned from 12 Years of Mini-Grid Results-Based Financing in Africa,” reveals crucial insights and future recommendations for scaling up energy access across the continent through more effective financing mechanisms. Despite collective commitments exceeding EUR 250 million for mini-grid development and ambitious goals to attract private… [Read More]
Jobs in a Changing Climate: How the Green Transition Is Reshaping Employment
A new World Bank report titled “Jobs in a Changing Climate: Insights from World Bank Group Country Climate and Development Reports (CCDRs)” reveals that investments in building climate resilience could generate benefits equivalent to 150 million jobs by 2050. Drawing on evidence from 93 economies—which together represent 64 percent of the population and 77 percent… [Read More]
Doha Summit Urges Countries to Turn Social Pledges into Action
The Second World Summit for Social Development concluded in Doha on Thursday with calls for countries to move from commitments to implementation, ensuring the Doha Political Declaration translates into measurable progress on poverty reduction, decent work, and social inclusion. Speaking at the closing press conference, UN General Assembly President Annalena Baerbock described the Summit as… [Read More]
EU Commits €1.4 Billion to Boost Deep Tech Startups with 2026 European Innovation Council Work Programme
The European Commission has adopted the 2026 European Innovation Council (EIC) work programme, allocating €1.4 billion to support Europe’s most promising deep tech entrepreneurs and researchers. The initiative is designed to address the needs of European innovators, offering simplified access to substantial funding, investment opportunities, and connections to customers and partners across Europe and beyond…. [Read More]
M Ventures Launches Support Program for Menstrual Health Enterprises in East Africa
Applications are now open for M Ventures, a new enterprise support program under Capital M, the Sanitation and Hygiene Fund’s market-led initiative for menstrual health. The program is designed to help menstrual health enterprises strengthen commercial strategies and user-pays models, enhance product quality and manufacturing processes, and expand access to affordable, high-quality, and sustainable menstrual… [Read More]
IDB Opens Applications for Korea-LAC Tech Corps Scholarships to Boost Public Sector Innovation
The Inter-American Development Bank (IDB) is inviting applications for the Korea-LAC Tech Corps Program, a scholarship initiative funded by the Knowledge Partnership Korea Fund for Technology and Innovation. This program offers up to 23 fully funded scholarships for mid-level public sector professionals from Latin America and the Caribbean who aim to enhance their leadership and… [Read More]
IDB Approves $150 Million Loan to Reduce Flood Risk in San Salvador Metropolitan Area
The Inter-American Development Bank (IDB) has approved a Conditional Credit Line for Investment Projects (CCLIP) of up to $500 million to help reduce flood vulnerability in El Salvador. As part of this initiative, the IDB’s Executive Board has authorized an initial $150 million loan to finance a project specifically targeting the Metropolitan Area of San… [Read More]
Uzbekistan Pioneers Universal Maternity Protection to Empower Women and Families
Uzbekistan is embarking on a transformative journey to modernize its social protection system, aiming to ensure that every woman, worker, and family receives the support they need during critical moments of life. Currently, nearly 94 percent of pregnant women in the country lack access to maternity benefits, highlighting the urgent need for reform. The government… [Read More]
ILO and European Commission to Co-Host the Just Transition Pavilion at COP30
The International Labour Organization (ILO) and the European Commission (EC) will jointly host the Just Transition Pavilion at the 30th United Nations Climate Change Conference of Parties (COP30), to be held from 10 to 21 November 2025 in Belem, Brazil. Organized in collaboration with the International Organisation of Employers (IOE), the International Trade Union Confederation… [Read More]
Global Coalition for Social Justice Recognized as Key Driver for Implementing the Doha Declaration
The Global Coalition for Social Justice, led by the International Labour Organization (ILO), has been recognized as a pivotal platform for advancing the principles and goals of the Doha Political Declaration on Social Development, adopted at the World Summit for Social Development in Doha. The Coalition’s role was highlighted during a high-level forum held on… [Read More]
Sierra Leone’s Economy Gains Stability as Private Sector Reforms Take Center Stage for Job Creation
Sierra Leone’s economy is demonstrating renewed resilience amid global challenges, with growth projected to reach 4.3 percent in 2025 and 4.6 percent by 2027, according to the latest World Bank Sierra Leone Economic Update (SLEU) launched in Freetown. The report attributes this positive outlook to improvements in agricultural productivity, expansion in the mining sector, and… [Read More]
Empowering Women and Driving Innovation: How Georgia’s GENIE Project Created Jobs and Transformed the Digital Economy
The Georgia National Innovation Ecosystem (GENIE) Project, launched in 2016 with support from the World Bank, has significantly advanced innovation, digital inclusion, and job creation across Georgia. By the time it concluded in 2023, the project had reached 52,000 beneficiaries—half of them women—financed 138 start-ups, and created more than 2,100 jobs, 50% of which were… [Read More]
ADB Approves $100 Million Loan to Strengthen Sri Lanka’s Financial Sector and Boost Economic Resilience
The Asian Development Bank (ADB) has approved a $100 million loan to support Sri Lanka in advancing critical structural reforms within its financial sector, focusing on stronger governance, policy continuity, and wider financial inclusion. The initiative aims to enhance the sector’s resilience and ensure long-term financial stability in the wake of the country’s recent economic… [Read More]
Human Rights at Risk: Why Immediate Climate Change Action Is Critical
The Australian Human Rights Commission has called for urgent action from government and business to address the growing impacts of climate change on Australians’ human rights. Launching its first major report on the issue, Human Rights on a Warming Earth, Commission President Hugh de Kretser emphasized that climate change poses an extreme threat to human… [Read More]
Global Inclusive Insurance Innovation Programme Rolled Out by UNDP, BMZ, Generali and ICMIF Foundation
The United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), the German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ), Generali Group, and the International Cooperative and Mutual Insurance Federation (ICMIF) Foundation have unveiled early results from the world’s largest inclusive insurance innovation programme, launched in 2023. The initiative is projected to benefit 2.7 million people across 30 countries… [Read More]
R2.5 Billion Youth Fund to Drive Entrepreneurship and Small Business Growth in South Africa
The National Youth Development Agency (NYDA) has unveiled a R2.5 billion youth empowerment initiative to support small businesses and address rising unemployment among young South Africans. The fund will provide financial assistance ranging from R750,000 to R2 million per enterprise, targeting sectors such as agriculture, renewable energy, industrial development, and property ownership. Funding will be… [Read More]
$1.1 Billion Polish Initiative Aims to Expand Trade Opportunities in Africa
Poland’s state-owned development bank, Bank Gospodarstwa Krajowego (BGK), has announced a US$1.1 billion program designed to support Polish companies in expanding into African markets. This initiative forms part of BGK’s broader strategy through 2030, which seeks to increase Poland’s economic presence on the continent, where Polish exports currently account for only about 1.2% of total… [Read More]
