A recent study titled “Breaking down barriers for women digital entrepreneurs: Insights from Africa” explores the systemic obstacles hindering women-led businesses in the digital economy and calls for targeted actions to address these challenges. The research offers new perspectives on structural and gender-based biases faced by female digital entrepreneurs in developing regions. It is based… [Read More]
Business
World Bank: Vietnam’s Growth to Stay Resilient in 2025, High-Tech Talent Pivotal for Future
Viet Nam’s economy is projected to grow by 6.6 percent in 2025, bolstered by a robust first half of the year in which growth surged to 7.5 percent, according to the World Bank’s latest Viet Nam Economic Update report. This strong performance was driven primarily by early-year export momentum. However, growth is expected to moderate… [Read More]
EU Boosts Moldova’s Economy with €18.9 Million Injection, Urges Business Investment
The European Commission has disbursed an additional €18.9 million to Moldova under the Reform and Growth Facility, reaffirming the EU’s commitment to supporting the country’s reform path. This funding comes in recognition of Moldova’s significant progress in implementing key reforms, particularly in energy security and the development of competitive electricity and gas markets. The disbursement… [Read More]
EU to Invest Nearly €300 Million in Pacific Through Global Gateway Initiative
The European Union (EU) and Pacific nations have announced a major investment package of nearly €300 million aimed at promoting sustainable economic development and enhancing climate resilience in the region, in line with the EU Global Gateway strategy. The package, comprising regional and national investments as well as budget transfers, was unveiled at the EU-Pacific… [Read More]
UN Experts Applaud Brazil’s Veto on Controversial Environmental Licensing Bill
UN experts have welcomed President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva’s decision to veto 63 articles of Brazil’s recently adopted environmental licensing law, calling it a crucial step in preventing the weakening of environmental oversight and safeguarding human rights, the environment, and the climate. The experts noted that these vetoes reflect Brazil’s commitment to upholding its… [Read More]
Adenia Revives Its Origins with New Entrepreneurial Fund
Mauritius-based Adenia Partners, a long-standing impact-oriented investor in Africa, is launching a new fund focused on founder-led small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) to complement its existing series of mid-cap funds. Over the past two decades, Adenia has grown from backing small firms with its first $10 million fund to managing $470 million in its fifth… [Read More]
UN Report Calls for Urgent Action to Deliver Reparatory Justice for Africans and Diaspora
The UN Human Rights Office has released a report urging States and other actors to strengthen efforts toward reparatory justice for Africans and people of African descent. The report emphasizes the importance of measures such as formal apologies, truth-seeking, memorialization, medical and psychosocial support, and financial compensation in addressing the enduring legacies of enslavement, the… [Read More]
Canada Launches Centre of Excellence to Boost Community Disaster Recovery
Recent disasters across Canada, including the Lytton wildfire in 2021, Hurricane Fiona in 2022, the Northwest Territories wildfires in 2023, and severe wildfire seasons in 2024 and 2025, have underscored the complexity of disaster recovery. Early planning—ideally before a disaster occurs—can significantly accelerate rebuilding, help businesses resume operations sooner, and integrate measures that reduce future… [Read More]
Norway Supports UK’s Flagship Public Markets Programme
The UK’s MOBILIST programme is set to receive an additional NOK 40 million (£2.9 million) in funding from the Norwegian Agency for Development Cooperation (Norad) over the next three years. This funding aims to help MOBILIST unlock greater private capital investment in emerging markets through publicly listed financial products. The extension of support was formalized… [Read More]
Lao Enterprises Embrace Responsible Business and Sustainable Practices
As Laos moves closer to graduating from Least Developed Country (LDC) status and integrates more deeply into regional and global value chains, the adoption of responsible business conduct (RBC) and Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) practices has become increasingly vital. For Lao enterprises, promoting sustainable business practices is not only a matter of meeting international… [Read More]
Ethiopia’s Urban Program Generates Over One Million Jobs, Strengthening Livelihoods
The Ethiopia Urban Institutional and Infrastructure Development Program (UIIDP), supported by the World Bank, has created over 1.15 million jobs while improving infrastructure and living conditions in 117 cities, benefiting more than 6.6 million people. The program strengthened local governance and financial systems, enabling cities to plan, deliver, and sustain employment-generating urban development, even amid… [Read More]
Energy for All: Accelerating Universal Energy Access in Mozambique
Mozambique has made significant strides in expanding electricity access, nearly doubling its electrification rate from 31 percent in 2018 to 60 percent by the end of 2024. This achievement, benefitting around 9.5 million people, is largely attributed to the World Bank-supported ProEnergia project, which forms part of Mozambique’s National Energy for All Program. ProEnergia has… [Read More]
Charting Inclusive Futures: Free to Be Me Economic Empowerment Forum Empowers Women
More than 100 business executives, civil society leaders, and diplomats gathered in Nairobi, Kenya, for the Free to Be Me Economic Empowerment Forum, addressing the growing social and economic exclusion faced by LGBTIQ+ communities. Hosted by Workplace Pride, Hivos, and the Netherlands Embassy, the three-day event provided a regional platform to design inclusive economic systems… [Read More]
Heifer International Calls for Youth-Led Agricultural Innovation to Fight Africa’s Hunger Crisis
Heifer International has called on African governments, development partners, and investors to focus on youth-driven agricultural innovations and community-led solutions as Africa faces a growing hunger crisis. The organisation emphasized this need ahead of the Africa Food Systems Forum (AFSF) 2025 in Dakar, highlighting alarming data from the 2025 State of Food Security and Nutrition… [Read More]
Poland: Twitter/X Enables Spread of Anti-LGBTI Hate and Harassment
X, the social media platform formerly known as Twitter, has been found to contribute significantly to the spread of targeted hate against LGBTI people in Poland, according to a new Amnesty International report. The report, titled ‘A Thousand Cuts’: Technology-Facilitated Gender-Based Violence Against Poland’s LGBTI Community on X, provides the first analysis of the platform’s… [Read More]
Rising Uncertainty in Global Trade: A Hidden Tariff Hurting Developing Economies
Global trade has long been impacted by shocks such as tariffs, pandemics, and geopolitical tensions. However, what sets the current situation apart is that uncertainty itself has become a systemic feature of the global economy. Unlike isolated incidents, policy unpredictability is now embedded within the trade landscape, altering trade patterns and slowing down investment. The… [Read More]
How ILO’s Systems Approach Empowers Small Businesses at the Base of Supply Chains
The International Labour Organization (ILO) has released a new brief advocating for a “systems approach” to improve conditions in the lowest tiers of global supply chains. Titled From Root Causes to Real Change: Using a Systems Approach to Foster Decent Work Deep in Supply Chains, the brief outlines how this methodology can unlock opportunities for… [Read More]
IOM and Robert Bosch Stiftung Collaborate to Prioritize Migrant Voices in Labour Mobility
The International Organization for Migration (IOM) and the Robert Bosch Stiftung have jointly launched an initiative called Amplifying Migrant Voices. This pilot project, set in Kenya and Germany, seeks to incorporate migrants’ lived experiences into policies and practices related to labour mobility. By emphasizing participatory research and dialogue, the initiative aims to ensure that labour… [Read More]
Finnfund Invests $4M in Poa Internet to Expand Affordable Broadband in Kenya
Finnfund has completed a $4 million debt investment in Poa Internet Kenya Ltd., a Kenyan internet service provider, to expand its network and increase internet accessibility. The funding aims to bridge the digital divide by delivering affordable broadband to underserved communities, enabling more inclusive access to education, healthcare, financial services, remote work, and opportunities for… [Read More]
ADB President Approves $3 Million Emergency Grant for Pakistan Flood Relief
Asian Development Bank (ADB) President Masato Kanda has expressed condolences for those affected by the recent severe monsoon rains and floods in Pakistan, announcing a rapid response grant of $3 million from the Asia Pacific Disaster Response Fund to support emergency relief efforts. This funding, to be provided at the request of the Government of… [Read More]
Queenslanders Recognized at the 2025 Resilient Australia Awards
Outstanding contributions by Queenslanders to disaster resilience were celebrated at the 2025 Queensland Resilient Australia Awards, highlighting community-focused efforts to strengthen safety and preparedness for future disasters. Now in its eighth year, the awards showcased a strong spirit of innovation and collaboration across communities, schools, local councils, businesses, and government bodies throughout the state. Seven… [Read More]
UN Expert on Indigenous Peoples’ Rights to Conduct Official Visit to Botswana
The UN Special Rapporteur on the rights of Indigenous Peoples, Albert K. Barume, will undertake an official visit to Botswana from 1 to 12 September 2025. His mission will focus on examining a wide range of issues impacting Indigenous Peoples, including land and resource rights, access to justice, equality and non-discrimination, participation in decision-making, violence… [Read More]
IFAD Appoints New Country Director to Lead $327 Million Rural Development Push in India
James Marc de Sousa Shields has formally assumed his role as the new Country Director and Head of the Multi-Country Office for the International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD) in India, presenting his credentials to Tanmaya Lal, Secretary (West), Ministry of External Affairs. He emphasized India’s pivotal moment on its path to becoming a fully… [Read More]
