The Global Change Award (GCA) 2026, launched by the H&M Foundation, is now accepting nominations for early-stage ideas aimed at reshaping the textile industry toward a net-zero future. This annual innovation challenge supports bold changemakers who seek to transform how fashion is made, used, and valued. Program Director Annie Lindmark highlights that each year brings… [Read More]
Business
EU Provides €250 Million in Macro-Financial Assistance to Support Jordan’s Economy
Today, the European Commission disbursed the first instalment of €250 million in Macro-Financial Assistance (MFA) to the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan. This payment is part of the €500 million EU MFA IV programme, approved by the European Parliament and the Council in April 2025. The disbursement follows the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding by… [Read More]
2030 Is in Sight: Debunking 5 SDG Myths with Real-World Success Stories
With just five years remaining until 2030, questions about the feasibility and relevance of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) are widespread. While myths and misconceptions often dominate global discourse, significant progress is being made at grassroots, national, and international levels, with real, measurable impacts that are worth scaling up. Ahead of the High-level Debate at… [Read More]
ADB Commits $52 Million to Accelerate Cambodia’s Renewable Energy Transition
The Asian Development Bank (ADB) has approved a $52.72 million loan for Cambodia’s Grid Expansion Project, aimed at strengthening the country’s transmission network to integrate more renewable energy into the national grid. The initiative seeks to meet rising electricity demand with cleaner, locally generated power while enhancing energy reliability and resilience. Cambodia has rapidly expanded… [Read More]
UK Extends Multi-Million Pound Investment in Culture Sector for Another Year
Liverpool City Council has announced that its flagship Culture and Arts Investment Programme (CAIP) will be extended for an additional 12 months, continuing support for the city’s cultural sector through to March 2027. The extension follows a Cabinet report highlighting the need for one-off funding of £2.245 million to help arts organisations navigate rising costs… [Read More]
ScaleUp Africa Youth Innovation Challenge Shines at Africa Food Systems Forum
Youth-owned agribusinesses in Africa face numerous structural challenges that hinder their growth and resilience. These challenges include limited access to affordable finance, insecure land tenure, and weak market linkages, which often prevent them from scaling beyond subsistence. Climate variability and environmental degradation further increase the risks for young entrepreneurs, many of whom operate on thin… [Read More]
African Development Bank Invests in Morocco’s Rail Modernization to Boost Mobility and Competitiveness
Casablanca’s mornings reflect Morocco’s rapid transformation, where efficient train travel has become a lifeline for professionals and entrepreneurs like Mohamed Al Mamoune, a digital strategist from Senegal. For him, the railways are more than a means of transport—they are essential to expanding his business across Morocco, offering affordability, speed, and an environmentally friendly alternative to… [Read More]
Central African Republic to Launch National Guarantee Fund Supporting SMEs
The Central African Republic (CAR) has announced plans to establish a new national guarantee fund to improve small and medium-sized enterprises’ (SMEs) access to financing. The initiative was revealed by Minister of Economy Richard Filakota during a roundtable on the National Development Plan (PND-RCA 2024–2028) in Casablanca, Morocco, on September 15, 2025. The fund is… [Read More]
AGF and Visa Foundation Announce $2M Grant to Support Women Entrepreneurs
The African Guarantee Fund (AGF) and Visa Foundation have signed a $2 million grant agreement to strengthen financing opportunities for women-led and women-owned small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) across Africa. The partnership aims to advance financial inclusion and promote women’s entrepreneurship on the continent. The funding will directly support the Affirmative Finance Action for Women… [Read More]
Rising Poverty Risk: Over 500,000 Americans May Fall Below the Poverty Line
Hundreds of thousands of Americans could be pushed into poverty next year due to price increases linked to President Donald Trump’s tariffs, according to a recent analysis by Yale University’s Budget Lab. The research projects that the overall number of Americans living in poverty could rise by between 650,000 and 875,000, depending on the poverty… [Read More]
South Africa’s Financial Sector Confronts Rising Risks Amid Economic Turmoil
South Africa is currently grappling with deep and persistent socio-economic challenges, according to Financial Sector Conduct Authority (FSCA) Commissioner Unathi Kamlana. Speaking at the 11th Archbishop Thabo Makgoba Development Trust Annual Lecture at Rhodes Business School, Kamlana emphasized the urgent need for vision, integrity, and courage among leaders to navigate both domestic difficulties and global… [Read More]
U.S. and Côte d’Ivoire Partner on Regional Energy Development via MCC Compact
Deputy Secretary of State Christopher Landau joined officials from Côte d’Ivoire and the Millennium Challenge Corporation (MCC) to sign the Côte d’Ivoire Regional Energy Compact at the U.S. Department of State. The compact represents a significant U.S. investment aimed at strengthening Côte d’Ivoire’s energy sector and promoting regional power integration across West Africa. By expanding… [Read More]
US-UK Partnership to Revolutionize Drug Discovery, Create Tens of Thousands of Jobs
The United Kingdom and the United States have launched the Tech Prosperity Deal, marking the first UK-US technology agreement aimed at accelerating AI, quantum, and nuclear innovations. The pact will drive breakthroughs in healthcare, including faster drug development, improved cancer treatments, and life-saving medical technologies. It also seeks to advance clean nuclear energy, generate high-paying… [Read More]
African Development Bank and Algeria Partner at IATF 2025 to Empower Startups and SMEs in Africa
The African Development Bank and Algeria’s Ministry of Knowledge Economy, Startups, and Micro-Enterprises have reaffirmed their commitment to strengthening collaboration to accelerate the growth of startups and small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) across Africa. The announcement came at the close of the fourth edition of the Intra-African Trade Fair (IATF 2025), held in Algiers from… [Read More]
Gilde Healthcare Launches €100 Million Fund for Lower Mid-Market Healthcare Services
Gilde Healthcare, a private equity firm specializing in the healthcare sector, has announced the first and final close of its €100 million Healthcare Services fund, Gilde Healthcare Services II. The fund will focus on supporting the growth of healthcare service providers in the Benelux and Germany, targeting areas such as specialist clinics, elderly care, primary… [Read More]
Kessner Capital Launches Africa’s First Private Credit Fund to Support SME Financing
Kessner Capital Management has launched its first private credit fund focused on Africa, aiming to provide growth capital to small and mid-sized businesses across the continent. This fund is positioned not just as a lending vehicle but as a long-term partner for businesses, emphasizing governance, transparency, and sustainable impact. The co-founders, Bruno-Maurice Monny and Benny… [Read More]
WIPO Global Innovation Index 2025: Switzerland, Sweden, US, South Korea & Singapore Lead; China Breaks Into Top 10
The World Intellectual Property Organization’s Global Innovation Index (GII) 2025 ranks Switzerland, Sweden, the United States, the Republic of Korea, and Singapore as the top innovators worldwide. They are followed by the United Kingdom, Finland, the Netherlands, Denmark, and China, which enters the top 10 for the first time. However, the report highlights a slowing… [Read More]
UKRI Awards £120 Million in Future Leaders Fellowships to Top UK Researchers
UK Research and Innovation (UKRI) has announced the latest round of its prestigious Future Leaders Fellowships (FLF), awarding £120 million to 77 promising early-career researchers across the UK. These fellowships aim to empower the next generation of research and innovation leaders by providing them with the resources and support to lead cutting-edge projects. Among the… [Read More]
The future of UK Shipping Office for Reducing Emissions (UK SHORE)
The UK Government has announced a £448 million investment in research and development for the UK Shipping Office for Reducing Emissions (UK SHORE), enabling the maritime sector to plan the next five years of clean innovation. This funding aligns with the Department for Transport’s March 2025 maritime decarbonisation strategy (MDS), which sets out a pathway… [Read More]
Strengthening Supply Chains to Drive Inclusive Growth in Asia-Pacific
The International Labour Organization (ILO) convened the forum “Resilient Supply Chains and Equitable Growth in a Changing World of Work: Advancing Decent Work through Regional Cooperation in Asia and the Pacific” in Bangkok, Thailand, on 15–16 September 2025, highlighting the critical role of supply chains in driving inclusive growth across the region. Participants stressed that… [Read More]
IFAD, EU, and FINCA Leverage Remittances to Boost Climate Resilience in Rural Tajikistan
More than 85,000 people in rural Tajikistan will now be able to leverage remittances from relatives working abroad to create long-term financial stability and adapt to environmental challenges linked to climate change. This initiative forms part of wider regional efforts in Central Asia to maximize the development impact of remittances and improve livelihoods in rural… [Read More]
Iloilo Province and UNDP Transform Post-Election Waste into Sustainable Solutions
The Iloilo Provincial Government, in partnership with the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) Philippines and supported by The Coca-Cola Foundation, has launched the Weave Out Waste (WOW) Limpyo Iloilo program. This initiative transforms post-election waste from the Limpyo Eleksyon 2025 into marketable consumer products, demonstrating a practical application of circular economy principles. The program builds… [Read More]
Indonesia Unveils 16.23 Trillion Rupiah Stimulus to Drive Growth and Support Workers
Indonesia has unveiled a 16.23 trillion rupiah (S$1.3 billion) stimulus package aimed at countering slowing economic growth and supporting households and businesses. The package, announced by Coordinating Minister for Economic Affairs Airlangga Hartarto, includes eight programmes focused on strengthening social protection, creating jobs, and accelerating growth in strategic sectors. The government also plans infrastructure projects… [Read More]
