Well-planned, well-managed nature-based tourism is emerging as a powerful engine of economic growth and sustainable development. Tourist spending on activities, transportation, food, and accommodation creates ripple effects across local economies, generating jobs, strengthening value chains, and driving private sector growth. In destinations rich in natural assets but limited in economic opportunities, this form of tourism… [Read More]
Business
Honduras to Strengthen Sustainable Forest Management with IDB Support
The Inter-American Development Bank (IDB) has approved a $25 million loan to support forest conservation and restoration efforts in Honduras. The project, titled “Sustainable and Resilient Agroforests,” aims to promote forestry and agroforestry practices that increase forest cover, enhance community forestry through sustainable management and income diversification, and strengthen the institutional capacity of the Honduran… [Read More]
Thriving Rural Communities Are the Foundation of Global Security, IFAD Emphasizes at UN General Assembly
In an increasingly unpredictable global economy, investments in the socio-economic transformation of rural areas are essential to building a more stable and prosperous world. This is the message Alvaro Lario, President of the International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD), is bringing to the 80th UN General Assembly in New York, urging the international community to… [Read More]
Philippines Launches Comprehensive Freedom of Association Training to Strengthen Labour Rights
The Philippines has taken a major step to strengthen fundamental rights at work with the launch of a new comprehensive Freedom of Association (FOA) training resource. Developed jointly by the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) and the International Labour Organization (ILO), and crafted in consultation with workers and employers, the initiative aims to raise… [Read More]
Duke and Duchess of Edinburgh Launch New UK-Japan MUSUBI Programmes to Empower Youth and Strengthen Ties
The Duke and Duchess of Edinburgh attended a reception at the British Embassy in Tokyo to mark the launch of new UK-Japan partnership programmes under the MUSUBI Initiative, a unique public-private collaboration designed to foster the next generation of leaders in both countries. The event highlighted the deepening friendship and shared values between the United… [Read More]
UK Targets Georgia-Linked Supporters of Russia with Fresh Sanctions Amid Ukraine War
The UK has imposed new sanctions on Georgia-linked individuals and businesses backing Putin’s illegal war in Ukraine, aiming to disrupt the Kremlin’s network of international support. With Russia facing mounting setbacks in Ukraine, the Kremlin is increasingly relying on proxies in third countries, including Georgia, to sustain its war effort and propaganda operations. Two oil… [Read More]
£26,000 Fund Launched to Spark Creative Manx Language Projects
A new £26,000 funding programme has been launched to inspire community projects that celebrate and develop the Manx language, the native tongue of the Isle of Man. The initiative, announced by Culture Vannin as part of the Year of the Manx Language, invites creative, ambitious, and impactful proposals that can strengthen the language’s presence both… [Read More]
UN Experts Warn of Rising Enforced Disappearances of Environmental Defenders
The UN Working Group on Enforced or Involuntary Disappearances has sounded the alarm over a growing global pattern of enforced disappearances targeting people who defend land, natural resources, and the environment—often in contexts marked by systemic discrimination and weak rule of law. “This report is a wake-up call,” the experts said, warning of a “clear… [Read More]
UK Civil Society Urges Stronger Action on Israel, Recognition of Palestinian State
A coalition of prominent UK civil society networks has released a joint statement calling on the UK government to take stronger action against Israel and formally recognise a Palestinian state as a step toward lasting peace. The appeal comes ahead of next week’s high-level sessions of the UN General Assembly. The networks warn that, despite… [Read More]
Beyond Tech: How Digital Traceability is Powering Fair Trade and Green Growth in the Global South
Small businesses across Africa and Asia are blending age-old practices with cutting-edge digital traceability to boost trade compliance, expand market access, and strengthen local economies. In Addis Ababa, Ethiopian and Indian researchers are testing enzyme-based tanning methods to replace harmful chemicals in leather production. Thousands of kilometres away in Pakistan and Bangladesh, each hide’s journey… [Read More]
From Innovation to Impact: How Congolese Entrepreneurship is Driving Jobs and Economic Growth
In the bustling neighborhoods of Kinshasa, Sivi Malukisa recalls the early days of her entrepreneurial journey when she had a vision but no production facility or funding. Today, her company, Manitech Congo, produces tons of peanut butter and chili sauces monthly, employs dozens, and supports local industries. Her success story is emblematic of the broader… [Read More]
From Hardship to Hope: Cash Transfers Helping Women Build Businesses in South Sudan
In June 2023, the Government of the Republic of South Sudan launched the South Sudan Productive Safety Net for Socioeconomic Opportunities Project (SNSOP), locally known as ‘Shabaka Meisha,’ a five-year, $199 million program funded by the World Bank. The initiative aims to provide cash transfers and income-generating opportunities to vulnerable communities while strengthening the National… [Read More]
Equal Pay Wins in Sport: Key Lessons for the Private Sector
Equal Pay Day serves as a stark reminder that women globally still earn roughly 20 per cent less than men, effectively working for free for the final two months of the year. UN Women’s Gender Snapshot 2025 emphasizes that achieving gender equality is not only a human rights imperative but also a significant economic opportunity,… [Read More]
Ontario Secures $207M Boost for Advanced Manufacturing Growth
The Ontario government is welcoming a nearly $207 million investment from Northern Transformer Corporation (NTC), a leading Canadian manufacturer of high-voltage power transformers, to establish a new, state-of-the-art facility in Innisfil. This investment marks NTC’s entry into the large power transformer market, creating 151 new jobs and strengthening the province’s energy supply chain. The facility… [Read More]
EBRD Boosts Youth Entrepreneurship and Startups in Morocco
The European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) is extending a loan of up to €10 million in local currency to Fondation Arrawaj, a leading Moroccan microlender, to support young entrepreneurs in the country. The financing comes under the EBRD’s Youth in Business programme and will prioritize private micro, small, and medium-sized enterprises (MSMEs) owned… [Read More]
EBRD Supports Infinity Power’s First Greenfield Wind Farm Project in Egypt
The European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) has approved a financing package worth US$ 74.1 million to support the development of a 200 MW wind farm in Ras Ghareb, Egypt. The project, jointly owned by Infinity Power and Masdar, will receive an EBRD senior loan of up to US$ 60.7 million, a concessional loan… [Read More]
Breaking the Cycle of Poverty: Strategic Partnership Empowers Youth with Careers and Opportunities
Jim Bowman, Chairperson of the New Jersey Advisory Board for Think Big for Kids, recognized the need for a strong alliance to advance the organization’s mission of breaking the cycle of poverty for teens and young adults. Drawing on his long-standing commitment to the nonprofit, Bowman turned to the Association for Corporate Growth New Jersey… [Read More]
UNGA80: World Leaders Unite to Tackle War, Climate, AI, and Equality in Historic 80th Session
The world’s most influential voices are gathering in New York City as the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) opens its landmark 80th session, setting the stage for one of the most consequential global meetings in recent history. From 23 to 29 September 2025, leaders from all 193 UN Member States, alongside international organizations and key… [Read More]
Lebanon Showcases School Meals Success and Community Impact at Global Summit
Lebanon highlighted the remarkable growth and impact of its national school meals programme at the Second School Meals Coalition Global Summit, held under the high patronage of the President of Brazil on 18–19 September 2025. The two-day gathering brought together leaders from member states, UN agencies, financial institutions, NGOs, philanthropies, and research organizations to assess… [Read More]
Israel’s Glilot Partners Secures $500M to Fund Young Cyber and AI Startups
Israeli venture capital firm Glilot Capital Partners has successfully raised $500 million to support local entrepreneurs and rapidly growing startups in cybersecurity, enterprise software, and AI tools. The capital was primarily sourced from large financial institutions in the US and Europe, signaling strong confidence in Israel’s tech ecosystem despite international criticism of the country’s actions… [Read More]
MCC Celebrates Completion of Côte d’Ivoire Compact, Boosting U.S.-Ivorian Relations
This week, Millennium Challenge Corporation (MCC) Acting Vice President Jason Small visited Abidjan to mark the successful closeout of the U.S.-Côte d’Ivoire transport and workforce development compact and to sign a new regional energy compact. The visit highlighted the U.S.’ commitment to partnerships that promote shared prosperity, advance American interests, and create opportunities for U.S…. [Read More]
Bank of Agriculture Launches $1 Billion Financing Programme to Support Farmers
The Bank of Agriculture (BOA) has partnered with the African Export-Import Bank (Afreximbank) to mobilize up to $1 billion in financing aimed at supporting smallholder farmers and strengthening the agricultural value chain in Nigeria. The agreement was finalized during the Intra-African Trade Fair (IATF) 2025 in Algiers, Algeria, highlighting a strategic effort to enhance productivity,… [Read More]
How Cooperatives in Senegal Connect Farmers to Finance and Markets
The International Trade Centre (ITC) supports farmers in Senegal and other countries by helping them establish farm cooperatives, enabling small producers to gain more value from their products rather than selling raw goods. One notable example is the Agricultural Cooperative Society for Inclusive Development of the Niayes (COOPADIN), which operates in four towns near Dakar… [Read More]
