Crane Venture Partners has announced the launch of Crane APAC I, a new $135 million fund dedicated to supporting early-stage founders in India, Singapore, and Australia. With this fund, the firm now manages $450 million in assets across Europe and Asia-Pacific, strengthened by its expanded partnership with MassMutual Ventures (MMV). The initiative reflects Crane’s belief… [Read More]
Business
EBRD Launches US$ 634 Million Programme to Build Greener Financial Systems
The European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) has launched a new programme, “Greening financial systems: delivering climate finance for all”, with a total expected value of US$ 634 million. The initiative will be implemented in 13 countries across the EBRD regions, including Armenia, Egypt, Georgia, Jordan, Kazakhstan, the Kyrgyz Republic, Moldova, Mongolia, Morocco, North… [Read More]
EBRD and BII Provide $100 Million to MHP to Strengthen Ukraine’s Food Security
The European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD), together with British International Investment (BII), has announced a financing package of up to US$100 million for Ukraine’s leading agribusiness producer, MHP. Of this, the EBRD will provide US$80 million, while BII will contribute US$20 million. The financing aims to strengthen food security and resilience in wartime… [Read More]
EBRD and EU Launch Green Investment Initiative in the West Bank
The European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD), in partnership with the European Union (EU), has launched the Green Economy Financing Facility (GEFF) in the West Bank to accelerate the shift toward a greener and more sustainable economy. The programme is designed to strengthen private-sector and residential investments in small-scale renewable energy as well as… [Read More]
Kresge Foundation Pledges $180M to Revitalize Detroit Neighborhoods, Announces New Headquarters
The Kresge Foundation has announced a landmark $180 million investment in Detroit neighborhoods, underscoring its long-term commitment to community-led development. This announcement coincides with the foundation’s plan to relocate its headquarters from Troy to the Marygrove Conservancy Campus in Northwest Detroit. Over more than a decade, Kresge has invested significantly in improving neighborhood quality of… [Read More]
IFC and Sicredi Boost Financing for Women Entrepreneurs in Brazil’s Legal Amazon
The International Finance Corporation (IFC), part of the World Bank Group, is investing up to $250 million in Sicredi, a nationwide cooperative financial institution in Brazil, to expand access to finance for micro and small enterprises (MSEs), with a particular focus on women-led businesses and underserved communities in the Legal Amazon. This financing package includes… [Read More]
IFC Celebrates 20 Years in Iraq, Unveils $1 Billion in New Investments for Development
The International Finance Corporation (IFC), a member of the World Bank Group, held an IFC Partnerships Day in Baghdad to celebrate 20 years of impact in Iraq and to announce $1 billion in new investments across energy, infrastructure, agribusiness, and finance. The event, held under the patronage of Prime Minister Mohammed Shia’ al-Sudani, underscored IFC’s… [Read More]
KawiSafi Secures $90 Million to Drive Climate Solutions Across Africa
Acumen has launched its second KawiSafi fund, securing $90 million in approved capital, including $40 million in committed capital, to accelerate climate solutions across Africa. Supported by the African Development Bank, the Green Climate Fund, the Schmidt Family Foundation, and the Quadrature Climate Foundation, the fund targets fast-growing businesses that promote a low-carbon, climate-resilient, and… [Read More]
US Awards $500 Million Grant to Expand Green Iron Production and Reduce Emissions
The Australian government has released guidelines for the National Development Stream of the Green Iron Investment Fund, providing eligible businesses with an early opportunity to prepare their applications. The program offers $500 million in grant funding to support the growth of a domestic green iron industry, aiming to position Australia as a leader in sustainable… [Read More]
HKMU Wins Over HK$33 Million in RGC Research Funding, Leading Self-Financing Institutions
In the latest round of the Competitive Research Funding Schemes for the Local Self-financing Degree Sector of the Research Grants Council (RGC), Hong Kong Metropolitan University (HKMU) secured over HK$33.42 million for 47 projects, representing more than 37.1% of the total allocation. For the third consecutive year, HKMU ranked first among all local self-financing institutions… [Read More]
Jordan’s Green Industrial Shift: A Key Step in Protecting the Ozone Layer
Jordan’s foam, refrigeration, and air conditioning industries once relied heavily on chemicals that contributed to greenhouse gas emissions and damaged the ozone layer. In line with its commitment under the Montreal Protocol, the country pledged to eliminate these harmful substances by 2030. With support from a World Bank-funded initiative, Jordan reduced its consumption of ozone-depleting… [Read More]
Ontario Pledges $3 Million to Strengthen Francophone Communities
The Ontario government is investing $3 million through the 2025-26 Francophone Community Grants Program (FCGP) to support 71 organizations and businesses that strengthen the cultural and economic contributions of Franco-Ontarians. The funding aims to create jobs, enhance community services, improve employee training, expand hiring, and increase outreach, reinforcing the province’s economic growth and cultural vibrancy…. [Read More]
Ontario Launches New Programs to Boost Entrepreneur Training
The Ontario government is investing $5 million to support racialized and Indigenous entrepreneurs through the 2025-26 Racialized and Indigenous Supports for Entrepreneurs (RAISE) program. This initiative provides free business development training, coaching, networking opportunities, and a one-time grant of $10,000 to help over 400 entrepreneurs turn innovative ideas into successful businesses, creating local jobs and… [Read More]
Hands Off Nature: 200,000 Citizens Oppose EU Environmental Law Rollbacks
In just ten days, the European Commission received an unprecedented response from citizens concerned about the future of EU nature protections. A total of 196,118 messages were submitted through the #HandsOffNature campaign, urging the Commission to halt any attempts to roll back environmental laws under the guise of “simplification.” The Call for Evidence, launched by… [Read More]
EIB and Jordan Kuwait Bank Partner to Drive Green Transition in Jordan’s Private Sector
EIB Global and Jordan Kuwait Bank have launched the first Green Transition Facility (GTF) guarantee in the region, unlocking $45 million in green investments for Jordan’s private sector. This initiative marks a key milestone in the European Investment Bank’s efforts to expand climate finance across the European Union’s Southern Neighbourhood, with Jordan Kuwait Bank serving… [Read More]
Mastercard Integrates with Oracle to Streamline Business Payments
Mastercard has launched a new embedded virtual card payment solution in Australia, with Westpac as the first commercial issuer to offer it to clients using Oracle Fusion Cloud Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP). This integration combines Mastercard’s virtual card technology with Oracle’s B2B platform to create a seamless and secure payment experience fully embedded within the… [Read More]
UK Shared Prosperity Fund Awards £1.7M to Support Local Community Projects
The Scottish Borders will benefit from nearly £1.7 million in funding through the UK Shared Prosperity Fund for 2025–26, drawn from a one-year transitional fund approved by the UK Government following the success of the previous three-year program. Twenty-six projects across the region will receive support, with more than £1.1 million allocated to ten strategic… [Read More]
Guyana Marks World Electric Vehicle Day with Push for Electric Mobility
Guyana marked World Electric Vehicle Day 2025 by highlighting the rapid growth of its electric mobility sector and its contribution to a modern low carbon future. Over the past five years, the government has increased investment in electric vehicles, charging infrastructure, and skills development, in line with the Low Carbon Development Strategy 2030. The country… [Read More]
Rwanda: Farmers and Private Sector Partner to Strengthen Maize and Soybean Value Chains
The International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD), in collaboration with the Rwanda Agriculture Board (RAB), farmer cooperatives, private sector partners, and development organizations such as IDH, has launched the pilot phase of the Food and Agriculture Resilience Mission Pillar 3 (FARM P3) in Rwanda. The initiative will focus on strengthening maize and soybean value chains… [Read More]
Eldik Bank and UNDP Join Forces to Boost Green and Climate Finance in Kyrgyzstan
Eldik Bank and the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to accelerate Kyrgyzstan’s shift toward a green and climate-resilient economy. The agreement paves the way for closer cooperation on sustainable development, climate finance, and the creation of innovative financial products. The partnership will strengthen the banking sector’s ability to… [Read More]
Mãezinha of Rincão: A Woman of the Sea Pioneering Change in Her Community
On the western coast of Santiago Island in Cabo Verde lies the tranquil fishing village of Rincão, where the Atlantic Ocean shapes the rhythm of daily life. Among the village’s modest homes and bustling fish markets, Maria Sábado Horta Fidalgo, known affectionately as Mãezinha, has carved out a remarkable path. At 44, she is more… [Read More]
King County Allocates $755,000 in Grants to Strengthen Local Food Infrastructure Amid Federal Funding Cuts
King County Executive Shannon Braddock announced today that a total of $755,000 in grant funding has been allocated to support local hunger relief organizations, farm businesses, and food distributors following the abrupt withdrawal of federal funds for a planned South Seattle Community Food Hub earlier this year. The grants are intended to help these organizations… [Read More]
Ireland Launches 2025 Circular Economy Innovation Grant Scheme with €650,000 Funding
The Minister of State at the Department of Climate, Energy and the Environment, responsible for Circular Economy, Alan Dillon, has officially opened applications for the 2025 round of the Circular Economy Innovation Grant Scheme (CEIGS) on 10 September 2025. This annual initiative aims to support innovative projects that advance Ireland’s circular economy, providing crucial funding… [Read More]
