West Sussex County Council, in partnership with Brighton & Hove City Council, has secured a £15.6 million grant from the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) to deliver the Connect to Work programme. This new employment initiative, rolling out across England and Wales, aims to help up to 100,000 people nationally, including 3,950 residents in… [Read More]
Business
EIB Provides €25 Million Loan to Patria Bank to Support Romanian Businesses
The European Investment Bank (EIB) has provided a €25 million loan to Romania-based Patria Bank SA to expand financing for small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) and Mid-Cap companies across the country. The funding aims to make credit more accessible to businesses, particularly in less-developed regions, helping to strengthen economic cohesion and support inclusive growth. A… [Read More]
New £1M Funding Establishes Connector Project for Transatlantic Slavery Studies
National Museums Liverpool has been awarded a £1 million grant to launch the Connector project, a new initiative aimed at establishing an international network for researching the history and legacies of transatlantic slavery. The project seeks to bring together museums, heritage organisations, universities, creative practitioners, businesses, and community groups from around the world to foster… [Read More]
Global Gateway Forum: Finland Highlights Strengths in Green and Digital Transition
Finnish Minister for Foreign Trade and Development Ville Tavio will attend the Global Gateway Forum in Brussels on 9–10 October 2025, an event gathering high-level representatives from EU Member States, partner countries, financial institutions, and the private sector. The forum highlights the European Global Gateway strategy, which aims to strengthen modern and secure links in… [Read More]
£200,000 Boost from AKG’s Community Investment Fund Supports Local Initiatives
AKG has announced the Round 3 awardees of its Community Investment Fund, a £200,000 programme designed to drive sustainable local change. This funding round supports four community-led projects that help people in East Central England move closer to employment and realise their potential through innovative and practical approaches. The Community Investment Fund was established under… [Read More]
€100 Million Funding for Italian Small and Medium Agribusinesses from EIB and Banca di Asti
The European Investment Bank (EIB) and Banca di Asti have signed a new €100 million agreement to support small and medium agribusinesses in Italy, focusing on the agriculture and bioeconomy sectors. This agreement, signed at the 11th Annual Conference on Financial Instruments of the European Agricultural Fund for Rural Development (EAFRD) in Milan, marks the… [Read More]
EU-Guatemala Collaboration Boosts Green Transition and Development in Petén
The “More Sustainable Petén” initiative, part of the Global Gateway Investment Agenda, seeks to promote economic growth in Petén while safeguarding the environment and ensuring responsible use of natural resources. Funded and implemented by Team Europe—which includes the European Union, Germany, Spain, France, Ireland, and Sweden—and the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), the program also… [Read More]
Adapting Aquatic Food Systems to Climate Change: Lessons from Timor-Leste’s Seaweed Farms
In Timor-Leste, climate change is placing severe stress on aquatic food systems, with floods, cyclones, droughts, and deforestation threatening the livelihoods of fishing and fish farming communities. Even minor shocks can push households below subsistence levels, highlighting the urgent need for locally appropriate adaptation measures. The IkanAdapt project, funded by the Global Environment Facility and… [Read More]
How Solar-Dried Fish Transformed Premalata’s Livelihood in Odisha
Premalata Behera, a 40-year-old member of the Maa Women Self Help Group, hails from Dalimbapur, a coastal fishing village in Odisha, India. Her community has relied on the dried fish trade for generations, but Premalata and her fellow group members faced persistent challenges in running their businesses. Traditional open-air sun drying left fish vulnerable to… [Read More]
Building an Inclusive Blue Economy: Aquaculture Opportunities for Women and Youth in Kenya
WorldFish, through the Asia-Africa BlueTech Superhighway (AABS) project, is investigating how aquaculture, particularly Integrated Multi-Trophic Aquaculture (IMTA), can create sustainable livelihoods for women and youth in Kenya’s coastal counties of Kilifi, Kwale, and Mombasa. Despite living near abundant marine resources, women and young people often face exclusion from stable employment, while traditional sectors such as… [Read More]
AI for Growth: New Support for U.S. Small Business Innovation and Training
Small businesses play a vital role in communities and are increasingly embracing technology to drive growth and efficiency. Over half of small business leaders recognize AI tools as critical to their operations, with businesses like Chicago-based Heritage Bikes & Coffee leveraging AI platforms such as Gemini and NotebookLM for tasks ranging from cost estimation to… [Read More]
The Coconut Sector Reinvented: How AI is Driving Circular Economy Solutions
In the Philippines, where coconut palms shape both landscapes and livelihoods, a transformative initiative is underway to modernize the coconut sector using artificial intelligence (AI) and circular economy principles. Announced at the World Coconut Congress 2025 in Manila by the International Labour Organization (ILO), this vision aims to make coconut farming a driver of inclusive,… [Read More]
Commission Launches Dual AI Strategies to Boost European Industry and Scientific Innovation
The European Commission has unveiled two new strategies to accelerate the adoption of Artificial Intelligence (AI) across Europe, aiming to position the EU at the forefront of AI-driven industry and scientific research. The Apply AI Strategy focuses on expanding the use of AI in key industries and the public sector, while the AI in Science… [Read More]
October 2025 Infringement Package: Key Energy Decisions and EU Actions
The European Commission regularly issues infringement decisions to ensure that EU Member States comply with their obligations under EU law, protecting the interests of citizens and businesses across the Union. These decisions cover various sectors, including energy, and aim to promote the proper application of EU regulations and directives. In October 2025, the Commission issued… [Read More]
Boosting Sustainability: Ontario Commits $10M to Forest Sector Innovation
The Ontario government is investing $10 million through the Forest Sector Investment and Innovation Program to help Daiken North America upgrade its laminated board production line at its Huntsville facility. This investment will enable the company to bring a first-of-its-kind wood panel product to market, create jobs, and boost productivity, while supporting the province’s plan… [Read More]
Advancing Sustainable Trade: Namibia Develops Roadmap for Responsible Business Conduct
Namibia recently hosted the National SUSTAIN Workshop from 30 September to 2 October, focusing on advancing decent work through responsible business conduct and international labour standards in trade and investment. The event brought together representatives from government, workers’ organizations, and employers to discuss how trade and investment can more effectively support decent work and sustainable… [Read More]
European Commission and World Bank Group Deepen Collaboration at Global Gateway Forum
The European Commission and the World Bank Group are deepening their strategic partnership under the Global Gateway investment strategy to advance a new generation of connectivity projects. The initial pipeline includes 18 high-impact investments across energy, transport, and digital infrastructure in Africa, Asia and the Pacific, and Latin America and the Caribbean. The collaboration aims… [Read More]
The Impact of Organized Crime on Human Development in Latin America: A Call for Structural Solutions
Latin America and the Caribbean face a complex and persistent challenge as organized crime consolidates its influence while countries strive to advance development goals. Criminal organizations have diversified their activities, including illegal mining, human trafficking, and extortion, extending their control over institutions, territories, and communities. This expansion has profound consequences for human development, as these… [Read More]
North Macedonia Hosts World Energy Forum from 28–30 October 2025
The 14th International Forum on Energy for Sustainable Development (14-IFESD) is scheduled to take place from 28–30 October 2025 in Skopje, Republic of North Macedonia. The event is jointly organized by the Ministry of Energy, Mining and Mineral Resources of North Macedonia, UNDP North Macedonia, and the five United Nations Regional Commissions, including UNECE, UNESCAP,… [Read More]
Minsk Forum Unites Stakeholders to Build Belarus’ Artificial Intelligence Ecosystem
The forum in Belarus represents a significant step in the country’s systematic development of artificial intelligence by fostering partnerships between the public sector, private enterprises, and academia. AI is increasingly recognized as a critical element of the global agenda, with experts highlighting its potential to advance Sustainable Development Goals in areas such as healthcare, education,… [Read More]
Amazon Announces €20,000 Fund to Break Barriers for Irish Creatives
Amazon has launched the Regional Creatives Fund Ireland to open new pathways into creative careers for underrepresented individuals across the country. The fund offers grants of up to €20,000 to registered Irish charities that help people pursue careers in publishing, music, gaming, film, TV, fashion, visual arts, podcasting, and other creative sectors. The initiative aims… [Read More]
Sweden Pledges $15 Million to Boost Vietnam’s Business Growth Fund
Swedfund, the Swedish government’s development finance institution, has invested $15 million in the Excelsior Capital Vietnam Fund II, a new initiative supporting the growth of medium-sized businesses in Vietnam. The fund targets sectors including healthcare, education, consumer goods, and technology, aiming to strengthen companies that have high growth potential. This investment forms part of a… [Read More]
New Climate Adaptation Projects Mark Deepening UK-Malaysia Partnership
The UK Minister for the Indo-Pacific, Seema Malhotra, launched two new climate adaptation initiatives with Malaysia at the Forest Learning Centre in Kuala Lumpur on 6 October. The event was also attended by Datuk Mas Rizal bin Mohd Hilmi, Deputy Secretary General of Malaysia’s Ministry of Natural Resources and Environmental Sustainability. These initiatives aim to… [Read More]
