The UK government has launched the Better Youth Spaces fund, a new capital grants programme worth £30.5 million, aimed at supporting not-for-profit youth organisations in some of England’s most deprived areas. The initiative, delivered by Social Investment Business (SIB), is designed to help organisations improve facilities and better serve young people by funding small-scale capital… [Read More]
Business
Kenya Clean Energy Startups Secure 83% of Africa’s $550M July 2025 Investment
In July 2025, Kenya emerged as the dominant force in Africa’s clean energy startup ecosystem, securing 83% of the continent’s $550 million startup funding. The major contributors to this success were Sun King and d.light. Sun King closed a landmark $156 million securitisation deal, while d.light expanded its receivables financing by $300 million. Structured by… [Read More]
Radio IITA and Yam Breeding Program Boost Women’s Role in Agriculture
At the heart of IITA–CGIAR’s mission lies a strong dedication to improving livelihoods in sub-Saharan Africa by ensuring that advanced agricultural research translates into real-world benefits. This commitment was recently brought to life through a transformative outreach event for female yam farmers, jointly organized by Radio IITA and the IITA Yam Breeding Program. The initiative… [Read More]
EU Proposes Additional €500 Million in Macro-Financial Assistance to Jordan
The European Commission has proposed a new Macro-Financial Assistance (MFA) package worth up to €500 million for Jordan, marking a significant milestone in the EU’s long-standing relationship with the country. This initiative supports Jordan’s external financing needs and reform agenda, aiming to enhance economic stability, promote investment, and foster employment and growth. The funding aligns… [Read More]
$50 Million Climate Resilience Fund Launched to Support At-Risk Communities
A new Adaptation and Resilience Fund (A&R Fund) has been launched to deliver over $50 million to locally led climate adaptation solutions. The fund is a collaborative effort by several global philanthropic organizations including ClimateWorks Foundation, Howden Foundation, Laudes Foundation, Quadrature Climate Foundation, and The Rockefeller Foundation. It aims to support people in low- and… [Read More]
EU–Africa Partnership for Sustainable Growth and Development
In 2025, the EU-AU Partnership marks its 25th anniversary since its establishment at the Cairo Summit in 2000. This milestone comes at a critical time, following the successful 3rd EU-AU Ministerial Meeting in Brussels and ahead of the 7th AU-EU Summit scheduled for later in the year. The EU and Africa remain firmly committed to… [Read More]
Rising Global Tariffs Push Landlocked Developing Countries to Diversify Economies
Recent global trade uncertainties and rising tariffs are impacting Landlocked Developing Countries (LLDCs) more severely than their coastal counterparts. According to the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), each 1% rise in global tariff rates results in a 4% drop in LLDC trade volumes, causing a significant decline in national incomes. A new UNDP policy paper,… [Read More]
Africa’s Path to Sustainability: Stakeholders Rally to Unlock Local Capital for SDG Financing
The United Nations estimates that between $3 trillion and $5 trillion is needed annually to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) by 2030. For Africa alone, the annual financing gap stands at $194 billion, representing about 7% of the continent’s GDP. Addressing this shortfall, the Global Compact Network Kenya (GCNK), in collaboration with the Principles… [Read More]
South Africa and UNESCO Urge G20 to Prioritize Social Protection Systems
UNESCO participated in the inaugural session of the G20 Working Group on Illicit Financial Flows and Social Protection, held in South Africa. This initiative stems from a commitment made earlier in the year by South Africa’s Deputy President Paul Mashatile, who emphasized that closing illicit financial flows must be tied to reinforcing social protection and advancing… [Read More]
FM Sitharaman: NABARD Supports Over 6,200 Farmer Producer Organisations Across India
The National Bank for Agriculture and Rural Development (NABARD) has so far promoted the formation of 6,215 Farmer Producer Organisations (FPOs) under various government schemes. Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman informed the Lok Sabha that NABARD’s key support to these FPOs includes assistance with their formation, capacity building, credit facilitation, financial literacy, and establishing market linkages… [Read More]
NABARD Disburses ₹1.59 Lakh Crore to States for Rural Infrastructure: FM Sitharaman
Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman informed the Lok Sabha that the National Bank for Agriculture and Rural Development (NABARD) has provided over ₹1.59 lakh crore in loan assistance to state governments for rural infrastructure development over the last three financial years (2022–23 to 2024–25). A significant portion, ₹1.23 lakh crore, was disbursed under the Rural Infrastructure… [Read More]
Six Local Projects Receive Funding to Boost Waste Reduction and Sustainability
Tauranga City Council has awarded a total of $122,000 in funding to six innovative projects through its annual Resource Wise® Community Fund. These initiatives are aimed at reducing waste and promoting sustainability across the city. The funding, sourced from the Ministry for the Environment’s Waste Levy, supports local efforts without impacting general rates. Councillor Glen… [Read More]
UNDP Awards Small Grants to 470 Nigerian MSMEs for Economic Empowerment
About 470 Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) across Nigeria will benefit from the Global Environment Facility Small Grants Program (GEF-SGP), implemented by the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) through the International Trade Facilitators Association (ITFA). This support comes under the Support to Potential and Existing Nature-Positive MSMEs (SPENM) programme, which targets environmentally and socially… [Read More]
Oyo State Hosts New Agro-Processing Hub to Drive Nigeria’s Industrial Agriculture
Nigeria has officially launched a new Special Agro-Industrial Processing Zone (SAPZ) in Oyo State, representing a significant stride in the country’s agricultural transformation and rural industrialization efforts. The groundbreaking ceremony took place in Ijaiye, near Ibadan, and was attended by prominent national and international dignitaries, including Dr. Akinwumi Adesina, President of the African Development Bank… [Read More]
Honduran Employers Advance Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) Priorities for Sustainable Growth
Under the leadership of the Honduran Council of Private Enterprise (COHEP) and its affiliated organizations, three Honduran companies—Ingenio Azucarero Choluteca, Banco Atlántida, and Corporación Petrolera Montecristo (COPEMSA)—have taken concrete steps to promote Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) principles. These efforts are part of the International Labour Organization’s (ILO) “Leader” programme, which supports the development of… [Read More]
AfDB Participates in Groundbreaking of Special Agro-Industrial Zone in Oyo, Nigeria
The Federal Government of Nigeria and the Oyo State Government, in collaboration with the African Development Bank, are set to hold the groundbreaking ceremony for the Oyo State Special Agro-Industrial Processing Zone (SAPZ) on 2 August 2025. The event, which will take place in Ijaiye, Akinyele Local Government Area, will feature prominent figures including Nigeria’s… [Read More]
Immigration New Zealand Strengthens Efforts to Combat Human Trafficking
World Day Against Trafficking in Persons, observed on 30 July, serves as a global reminder to act against human trafficking. Immigration New Zealand (INZ) is actively engaged in preventing, detecting, and disrupting this serious crime. This year’s theme, “Trafficking in Persons is Organised Crime — End the Exploitation,” underscores the growing role of organised criminal… [Read More]
Integrating Informal and Hard-to-Tax Sectors into the Formal Tax System
The informal economy and hard-to-tax (HTT) sectors remain largely outside the formal tax system for several reasons. While the informal economy represents economic activity not captured in GDP figures, HTT sectors are defined by their exclusion from the effective tax base. In both cases, accurate measurement and targeted policy are crucial to bringing them into… [Read More]
FAO Regional Office for Africa: Driving Food Security and Agricultural Development
The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) has reinforced its commitment to advancing inclusive, investment-driven transformation of agrifood systems in Southern Africa through the Hand-in-Hand Initiative (HIH). Implemented in collaboration with the Southern African Development Community (SADC), the initiative focuses on unlocking opportunities for sustainable agricultural growth across the region. During the… [Read More]
African Development Bank Backs Rural Youth Entrepreneurship in Burkina Faso
On July 15, 2025, the African Development Bank and the Government of Burkina Faso officially launched the third phase of the incubator program under the Support Project for Youth Employment and Skills Development in Rural Areas (PADEJ-MR) in Ouagadougou, the capital of Burkina Faso. The PADEJ-MR initiative aims to address rural unemployment and underemployment by… [Read More]
$8.7 Million in CDBG Grants Announced by Commerce to Support Local Development
The Kansas Department of Commerce has announced that over $8.7 million in Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) funding has been awarded to support 16 community projects across the state. These projects aim to enhance public infrastructure and improve the quality of life in rural and low-to-moderate-income areas. The total federal funding of $8,749,350 is supplemented… [Read More]
Montenegro to Boost Digital Financial Access with World Bank Support
The World Bank’s Board of Executive Directors has approved a EUR 8 million loan to Montenegro to modernize its digital payments infrastructure. The initiative aims to expand access to digital financial services for both businesses and consumers while reducing the cost of domestic and international transactions. The project, titled Montenegro Financial Infrastructure Modernization and its… [Read More]
World Bank Supports Belize’s Efforts to Boost Climate and Disaster Resilience
The World Bank Group’s Board of Executive Directors has approved a US$20 million Development Policy Credit with a Catastrophe Deferred Drawdown Option (Cat-DDO) for Belize. This funding mechanism offers immediate access to emergency financing in the event of a natural disaster and supports critical policy reforms aimed at enhancing the country’s climate and disaster resilience…. [Read More]
