Over the past year, community climate finance in the United States has faced significant disruption, driven by broader challenges affecting community development financial institutions and the freezing of key federal funding streams, including the Greenhouse Gas Reduction Fund. To understand how these shifts are affecting lenders on the ground, The Kresge Foundation and Climate Impact… [Read More]
Business
Mirova Gigaton Fund: Scaling Climate Solutions While Integrating Gender Finance
More than 675 million people worldwide still lack access to electricity, with the majority living in Sub-Saharan Africa, despite the continent’s vast renewable energy potential. As solar power becomes one of the most affordable energy sources globally, distributed renewable solutions such as mini-grids, agri-solar systems, and commercial and industrial installations present a viable pathway to… [Read More]
West Bank Camp Faces New Demolition Order, Escalating Humanitarian Concerns
The International Labour Organization (ILO) has released its first comprehensive report on collective bargaining in Serbia’s private sector, highlighting significant opportunities for growth and improvement. Currently, only 13 percent of private companies in Serbia have collective agreements, yet those that do experience clear benefits, including improved communication, predictability, and workplace harmony. Collective bargaining is the… [Read More]
Ireland Secures €18.9 Billion for Renewable Energy and Grid Modernization
Minister for Climate, Energy and the Environment Darragh O’Brien has welcomed the Commission for the Regulation of Utilities (CRU) Final Determination on Price Review 6 (PR6), covering 2026 to 2030. PR6 sets expenditure by EirGrid and ESB Networks in five-year cycles and establishes a transformative framework for Ireland’s energy infrastructure, enabling historic investment of up… [Read More]
Tunisia Entrepreneurial Profile 2025 Published by AfDB and EBRD Backed by UK Embassy
The African Development Bank and the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) have jointly published the Tunisia Entrepreneurial Profile 2025, a comprehensive study of the country’s entrepreneurial ecosystem. Financed by the United Kingdom Embassy and developed in collaboration with the Tunisian government, the report examines the strengths and structural challenges of entrepreneurship in Tunisia… [Read More]
$23 Million Boost from African Development Fund to Enhance Clean Energy in Bosaso
The African Development Fund has approved a grants package of $23.36 million to bring clean and reliable electricity to Bosaso, Somalia. The project, named the Rehabilitation and Expansion of Bosaso Power Grid and Strengthening of Energy Sector Institutions, is funded through $9.62 million from the African Development Fund and $13.74 million from the Transition Support… [Read More]
Transforming Climate Action: 4 Key Innovations Driving Change
Countries implementing the next generation of Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs) face the challenge of creating investible strategies that drive climate action, enhance resilience, and promote economic growth. Achieving these goals requires strong national commitment and increased multilateral cooperation to close the climate finance gap, which in Africa alone sees only $30 billion of the $300… [Read More]
UNDP, UNCDF, DBSA and African Bank Launch Township Spark to Drive Inclusive Growth in South Africa
The United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) in South Africa, together with the United Nations Capital Development Fund (UNCDF) and partners including the Development Bank of Southern Africa (DBSA) and African Bank, officially launched Township Spark on the sidelines of the G20 Social Summit. This innovative blended-finance initiative aims to unlock capital flows for township-based micro,… [Read More]
CardinalStone Targets $120 Million Fund to Boost West African SMEs
CardinalStone Capital Advisers is preparing to raise $120 million for its second small and medium-sized enterprise-focused private equity fund, aimed at expanding access to growth capital across West Africa. The new vehicle, CardinalStone Capital Advisers Growth Fund II, is designed to support high-growth SMEs in markets where private equity financing remains limited and fragmented. The… [Read More]
Bodossaki Foundation Announces 54th Annual Scholarships Supporting Academic Excellence
Alexandra is pursuing her passion for bio-entrepreneurship at the Karolinska Institute in Sweden, Sophia is advancing her studies in microbiology within the multicultural academic environment of the University of Sorbonne, and Thodoris is focusing on socially impactful machine learning applications at MIT as part of his Master’s in Business Analytics. Their academic journeys were made… [Read More]
ILO Initiative Boosts Employment Opportunities for Former Drug Users in Afghanistan
Kabul (ILO News) – The International Labour Organization (ILO) has supported 150 former drug users in Afghanistan with business and vocational skills, helping them achieve economic independence and long-term recovery. Implemented under the Recovery to Empowerment: Entrepreneurship and Employment Initiatives (REE-EEI) South-eastern Project 2025, the program provided entrepreneurship and technical training tailored to local market… [Read More]
Türkiye Workforce Set to Benefit from ILO’s Care@Work Initiative for Resilient Workplaces
The ILO Office for Türkiye has launched the “Care@Work Türkiye: Building Resilient and Care-Supportive Workplaces through Equality and Care Project” to promote equality, social justice, and decent work by supporting enterprises in designing workplaces that acknowledge and address employees’ paid work and care responsibilities. Funded by Sweden, the initiative aims to foster more inclusive, resilient,… [Read More]
EIB Provides €25 Million Loan to Agricover Credit to Support Romanian Farmers
Romanian farmers will benefit from enhanced financing options through a €25 million loan provided to Agricover Credit IFN SA by the European Investment Bank (EIB). The funds are targeted at micro agricultural businesses seeking to boost productivity and adopt environmentally sustainable practices. This initiative aims to improve access to finance in a sector that is… [Read More]
€1.3 Billion Financing in Spain: EIB Group and BBVA Back Sustainable Housing and Small Businesses
The EIB Group, through the European Investment Bank (EIB) and the European Investment Fund (EIF), has invested a total of €714 million in two BBVA securitisation transactions in Spain. This investment is expected to mobilize approximately €1.3 billion to support small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), mid-cap companies, entrepreneurs, and sustainable housing construction. A portion of… [Read More]
EU and IFC Launch €5 Million Programme to Boost Afghanistan’s Private Sector
The European Union has signed a EUR 5 million Administration Agreement with the International Finance Corporation (IFC), a member of the World Bank Group, to implement the Afghanistan Private Sector Stabilisation Programme. This initiative represents the ongoing EU–WBG partnership in Afghanistan, aimed at stabilizing the economy and promoting inclusive, private sector-led recovery by creating livelihoods… [Read More]
Improving Premature Newborn Survival: Lithuania’s Policy Approach
Lithuania has launched a series of ambitious initiatives aimed at improving health outcomes for preterm and sick newborns, positioning the country as a leader in Europe’s efforts to secure the well-being of its youngest citizens. The announcement, made through a Call to Action at the Growing Europe 2025 summit in Vilnius, was attended by Lithuania’s… [Read More]
Government of Canada Supports Business Growth Through Strategic Investments
Toronto, Canada’s business and financial hub, contributes 50 percent of Ontario’s GDP and serves as a national centre for innovation and entrepreneurship. With nearly 110,000 businesses and a workforce of 1.8 million people, small- and medium-sized enterprises form the backbone of the city’s economy. Recognizing their vital role, the Government of Canada is committed to… [Read More]
UK Boosts South Africa’s Green Economy with New Climate Finance Initiative
The Climate Finance Accelerator (CFA) South Africa, funded by the UK Government, has opened its fourth call for proposals, aiming to support the development and financing of low-carbon projects that advance South Africa’s transition to a net-zero economy. The programme targets businesses and project developers working in sectors such as energy, transport, waste management, water,… [Read More]
Modernized Municipal Services to Improve Quality of Life for 1 Million People in Uzbekistan
The World Bank has approved a $250 million financing package to support Uzbekistan’s Livable and Productive Cities Program (LPCP), aimed at improving municipal infrastructure and services in 16 districts and cities. The program targets urban areas with a combined population of 3.6 million, addressing the needs of residents and businesses amid rapid urbanization, aging infrastructure,… [Read More]
Türkiye Sees Boost in Job Creation and Finance Access with World Bank Support
The World Bank Board has approved the Access to Finance for Jobs and Growth Project in Türkiye, a major initiative aimed at expanding financial access for micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs) and promoting job creation, with a strong focus on women and youth. The project will be implemented in partnership with Türkiye Vakıflar Bankası T.A.O…. [Read More]
PNG Revenue Boost: World Bank Approves Support for Key Reforms
PORT MORESBY, December 15, 2025 — The World Bank has approved a $150 million budget support package to help Papua New Guinea advance reforms aimed at strengthening revenues, facilitating trade, creating jobs, and improving disaster resilience. PNG’s economy relies heavily on mining, oil, and gas, yet most citizens earn their livelihoods through agriculture and informal… [Read More]
Enhancing Fiscal Transparency in Nigeria: Key Reforms and Strategies
The World Bank has released a report titled Fiscal Governance Reform in Nigeria: Lessons from the State Fiscal Transparency, Accountability and Sustainability Program (SFTAS), analyzing one of Nigeria’s most significant subnational fiscal reform initiatives. Implemented between 2018 and 2022, the SFTAS Program aimed to strengthen fiscal transparency, accountability, and sustainability across the country’s 36 states,… [Read More]
Enhanced Finance Access in Uzbekistan to Support Business Growth and Job Creation
The World Bank’s Board of Executive Directors has approved a $100 million loan and a $5 million grant to Uzbekistan to implement the Access to Finance for Jobs and Growth Project (FINGROW), aimed at expanding credit and private equity financing for micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs) that face capital constraints. MSMEs in Uzbekistan account… [Read More]
