IFC, a member of the World Bank Group, has announced a US$20 million investment in Bank of Bhutan (BoB), the country’s oldest and largest bank, marking a significant milestone for Bhutan’s financial sector. This five-year fixed-rate financing, supported by the International Development Association’s Private Sector Window, will enable BoB to expand lending to micro and… [Read More]
Business
Promoting Fairness at Work: ILO Unveils “This is Social Justice” Campaign
The International Labour Organization (ILO) has launched the “This is Social Justice” campaign, featuring a series of social media videos that showcase how social justice positively transforms the lives of workers, employers, and communities. The initiative emphasizes the importance of social justice in achieving decent work and advancing the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), ahead of… [Read More]
How Taliban’s Internet Ban Silences Women and Blocks Access to Essential Services
In recent weeks, the Taliban cut off Internet and phone networks across Afghanistan, silencing millions of women and girls and severing their last link to the outside world. For those with connectivity, the blackout disrupted access to education, work, and vital services, highlighting how fragile these digital lifelines are in a country where many women… [Read More]
Bosnia and Herzegovina: EU and EBRD Launch Initiative to Improve Access to Finance
The European Union, in partnership with the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) and Raiffeisen Bank, has signed two financial agreements aimed at improving access to finance for small businesses and households across Bosnia and Herzegovina (BiH). The agreements focus on supporting small businesses led by women, young people, and entrepreneurs outside major cities,… [Read More]
Nigeria’s Creative Startup Scene Gets $1M Boost from Chocolate City Group Founders Fund
Chocolate City Group, one of Africa’s leading entertainment companies, has launched a $1 million Founders Fund to support early-stage startups in Nigeria’s growing creative sector. The announcement coincided with the company’s 20th anniversary and the 50th birthdays of co-founders Audu Maikori and Paul Okeugo. The fund is designed to provide equity investment and mentorship to… [Read More]
Norway Pledges Increased Support for Ukrainian Civilians
The Norwegian Government has proposed increasing civilian support to Ukraine by NOK 15 billion in 2026, maintaining a total minimum allocation of NOK 85 billion for the year. This continues the record-high level of civilian and military assistance provided in 2025, with NOK 15 billion designated for civilian needs and NOK 70 billion for military… [Read More]
Serbia’s Economic Growth Must Respect Human Rights and the Environment, Say UN Experts
The UN Working Group on Business and Human Rights has emphasized that Serbia’s economic development must be closely aligned with the protection of human rights. Experts Lyra Jakulevičienė and Robert McCorquodale acknowledged Serbia’s legal framework and efforts to meet EU standards on environmental protection and labor rights, but noted that implementation remains inconsistent and weak,… [Read More]
Future Farmer Initiative in PEI Aims to Build Sustainable Careers for Young Farmers
The Government of Prince Edward Island, in partnership with Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada, has launched the revamped Future Farmer Program 2.0 to support new and emerging farmers in establishing profitable and sustainable farm businesses. The program provides mentorship, project funding, and training to help participants set business goals and strengthen essential planning, management, and technical… [Read More]
$60 Million Investment by Ontario to Strengthen Skilled Trades Apprenticeships
The Ontario government has announced a $64.2 million investment over the next three years to expand in-class apprenticeship training, aiming to help more apprentices across the province gain the skills needed for rewarding careers in the skilled trades. This initiative is part of the broader strategy to support Ontario’s $200 billion infrastructure plan, including highways,… [Read More]
Mongolia and EIB Global Join Forces to Accelerate Clean Energy Projects with €1 Billion Support
EIB Global, the development arm of the European Investment Bank, has signed a memorandum of understanding with the government of Mongolia to accelerate the country’s green transition and diversify its energy mix. The partnership, announced at the Mongolia-EU Business and Investment Forum in Ulaanbaatar, could unlock up to €1 billion in investment for renewable energy,… [Read More]
India to Receive INR 5,200 Crore from EIB Global for Water, Transport, and Green Energy Initiatives
EIB Global, the development arm of the European Investment Bank, has announced three major financing packages to strengthen its partnership with India, supporting clean water, sustainable urban mobility, and climate action. These investments, totaling over INR 5,200 crore, demonstrate EIB Global’s commitment to India’s national development priorities while advancing the EU Global Gateway strategy. The… [Read More]
New ASEAN Power Grid Financing Initiative Launched by ADB and World Bank Group
The Asian Development Bank (ADB), the World Bank Group, and the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) have launched a new financing initiative to support tPower Grid (APG), a reghe ASEAN ional effort to connect electricity networks and enhance energy cooperation across Southeast Asia by 2045. The initiative was announced during the 42nd ASEAN Ministers on… [Read More]
The Future of Fashion: Innovation, Sustainability, and Technology in Textiles
Nino Goderidze’s passion for fabrics and crafting as a child laid the foundation for her experimental fashion brand, God Era, which explores identity, trauma, and transformation. Since launching the brand in 2020 during the COVID-19 pandemic, Nino has focused on the queer body and experiences of minorities, using innovative approaches such as creating vegan leather… [Read More]
Empowering Rural Youth and Women in Nepal through Skills Development
Over 111,000 beneficiaries in Nepal have been trained in market-relevant short-term vocational skills through five rounds of project-supported programs, with 85 percent of trainees being women or youth from disadvantaged backgrounds. Approximately 77 percent of participants secured wage employment or self-employment within six months of completing training, earning between Rs 10,000–35,000 per month—well above the… [Read More]
Right to Work Initiative in Ethiopia Paves the Way for Economic and Social Transformation
Ethiopia has introduced groundbreaking legislation granting refugees and asylum seekers the right to work for the first time in the country’s history, a milestone achieved through the 2019 Refugee Proclamation. This historic law allows refugees to engage in wage employment, self-employment, and business ownership, significantly expanding their economic opportunities. Since its implementation, over 24,000 refugees… [Read More]
Tajikistan to Boost Digital Connectivity as ADB and Tcell Ink $30 Million Deal
The Asian Development Bank (ADB) and Indigo Tajikistan Closed Joint Stock Company (Tcell) have signed a $30 million equivalent local currency financing agreement to expand and modernize mobile connectivity across Tajikistan. The initiative represents ADB’s first nonsovereign loan in the country, marking a major milestone in its support for private sector development. According to ADB… [Read More]
Africa’s Economic Resilience and Investment Opportunities Spotlighted by AfDB Chief Economist
Africa’s growing economic strength and vast investment opportunities took center stage during a recent African Development Bank Group (AfDB) mission to Yokohama, Japan, from 20–22 August 2025. Addressing Japanese businesses at the “Economic Partnership in Indian Ocean–Africa” Forum, AfDB Chief Economist Prof. Kevin Chika Urama emphasized that Africa’s appeal lies in its youthful and expanding… [Read More]
How Spain Is Rethinking African Migration Policies
Spain is taking a markedly different approach to African migration and broader engagement with the continent, contrasting sharply with the policies of many Western nations. While countries such as the US, UK, France, and Germany have been cutting back development aid, Spain remains committed to expanding its support, hosting initiatives like the African Union-backed AfroMadrid2025… [Read More]
Empowering Africa’s Women Entrepreneurs: Breaking Barriers, Creating Opportunities
Africa faces a pressing need to generate millions of new jobs each year, with projections indicating the continent must create 15 million new jobs annually up to 2050 to keep pace with population growth. Women entrepreneurs represent a powerful solution to this challenge, as their businesses drive job creation, lift families out of poverty, and… [Read More]
EIB Global and India Energy Transition Fund join forces for $300 million green investment push
EIB Global, the development arm of the European Investment Bank, has announced a commitment of up to $60 million to the India Energy Transition Fund, managed by EAAA Alternatives. With a target size of $300 million, the fund aims to accelerate private capital investment in sustainable infrastructure and support India’s decarbonisation goals. This marks India’s… [Read More]
Government of Canada Announces $26.4M Investment to Strengthen Quebec’s cConstruction Sector
The Government of Canada has announced over $26.4 million in funding through Canada Economic Development for Quebec Regions (CED) to boost innovation and productivity in Quebec’s residential construction supply chain. The investment aims to accelerate the construction of affordable housing and support the development of sustainable, modern homebuilding solutions across the province. The announcement was… [Read More]
7.5 Million Homes to Benefit from Newly Approved Clean Energy Plans
The government has approved the Tillbridge Solar Farm in Lincolnshire, marking the 17th nationally significant clean energy project sanctioned since July 2024. Once operational, the project will generate enough clean energy to power over 7.5 million homes, significantly boosting the country’s energy security and contributing to its goal of becoming a clean energy superpower. The… [Read More]
Addressing Migrant Worker Grievances: IOM Provides Businesses with Practical Tools
The International Organization for Migration (IOM) has launched two new guides to help businesses respond effectively to grievances raised by migrant workers. These resources aim to create grievance systems that are fair, transparent, and centred on the rights and needs of workers, ensuring that their voices are heard and their concerns addressed. IOM Deputy Director… [Read More]
