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]
Industry
Africa’s Creative Economy Spotlighted at timbuktoo Creatives Hub Showcase
This week, Cape Town’s historic Homecoming Centre in District Six hosted the timbuktoo Creatives Hub Showcase, an event organized by the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) in South Africa in partnership with the Western Cape Government, the City of Atlanta, and other collaborators. The showcase highlighted Africa’s creative economy, placing it firmly in the global… [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]
From Thread to Opportunity: Silk Industry Empowers Women with Jobs in Egypt
In Naqada, Upper Egypt, silk weaving is giving women like Sumaya Mohamed a new sense of purpose and independence. Once struggling to find work, Sumaya discovered opportunity through a weaving workshop run by the Egypt Network for Integrated Development (ENID), with support from the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) and the Spanish Agency for International… [Read More]
Google.org Grants US$1M to Support Wits MIND Institute’s Innovation and Research
The Machine Intelligence and Neural Discovery (MIND) Institute at Wits University has received core funding of US$1 million from Google.org. Under the leadership of Professor Benjamin Rosman, recently recognized in TIME magazine’s TIME100 AI 2025 list, the institute is set to strengthen its position as a leading hub for artificial intelligence research in Africa. The… [Read More]
UK Invests £5 Million in 26 New Rail Safety Projects Nationwide
The UK government has allocated £5 million in funding to 26 innovative rail projects aimed at improving passenger safety and the overall railway experience. This investment, announced by the Department for Transport (DfT), is part of the First-of-a-Kind (FOAK) competition, run in partnership with Innovate UK, Network Rail, and train operators. The scheme supports projects… [Read More]
Cambodia and China Partner to Expand Skills Training and Youth Employment Opportunities
Cambodia and China have launched a new collaboration aimed at enhancing technical and vocational education and training (TVET) in Cambodia, with a focus on boosting youth employability and supporting economic growth. The partnership seeks to modernize curricula, strengthen teacher capacity, expand student exchanges, and align training with the demands of Cambodia’s evolving industries. On 18… [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]
IFC and Ayala Land Strengthen Sustainability Financing to Boost Green Buildings in the Philippines
The International Finance Corporation (IFC) and Ayala Land, Inc. (ALI) are expanding their partnership to scale green and resilient buildings in the Philippines, combining sustainability with financial innovation while supporting job creation. IFC is providing a second sustainability-linked loan (SLL) of up to PHP12.87 billion (US$225 million equivalent) to ALI, reinforcing sustainable finance in the… [Read More]
Libya Launches Sahara Desert’s First Solar Power Plant to Boost Renewable Energy
Libya has officially commissioned its first solar power facility in the remote southeastern town of Kufra, located deep in the Sahara Desert near Egypt, Sudan, and Chad. Developed by Infinity Libya in partnership with the Al-Jouf Free Zone, the 1 MW installation became fully operational just eight months after the agreement was signed in September… [Read More]
Namibia Eyes $250 Million Funding for Green Hydrogen Projects
The Green Hydrogen Programme (NGH2P) in Namibia has been invited by the Climate Investment Funds (CIF) to develop a Sectoral Transformation Investment Plan (STIP), which could unlock access to up to $250 million in catalytic funding. This initiative, announced by the Namibian Government in collaboration with investment firm Ninety One, aims to support large-scale commercial… [Read More]
$20 Million Boost for Pest Control and Biosecurity in Western Queensland
Western Queensland graziers and farmers are set to benefit from a $20 million funding boost to combat invasive pests and weeds that have emerged following severe floods earlier this year. This investment forms part of a larger $45.75 million primary industry recovery package, jointly funded by the Australian and Queensland Governments under the Disaster Recovery… [Read More]
World Bank Report Outlines Strategies for Energy Security and Job Creation in East Asia
The World Bank has released a new report, Green Horizon: East Asia’s Sustainable Energy Future, which presents actionable strategies for modernizing and upgrading the region’s energy systems. The report focuses on aligning power and industrial sectors to sustain long-term growth, create jobs, and enhance economic competitiveness across East Asia. It serves as a follow-up to… [Read More]
Green Horizon: Advancing Sustainable Energy in East Asia
The Green Horizon: East Asia’s Sustainable Energy Future report provides a comprehensive roadmap for aligning energy and development objectives across East Asia. It emphasizes decarbonizing the power and industrial sectors—which together account for 75–87 percent of regional emissions—through strategies such as enhanced efficiency, electrification, renewable energy deployment, and advanced technologies like green hydrogen and carbon… [Read More]
Canada Invests $33M in Indigenous-Led Solar Energy Project in Saskatchewan
Canada is partnering with the George Gordon First Nation through Wicehtowak Solar Ltd. to advance clean and reliable energy development. The Honourable Tim Hodgson, Minister of Energy and Natural Resources, announced an investment of over $33 million to support the creation of the Wicehtowak Solar Project, an Indigenous-owned solar power farm near Regina, Saskatchewan. Funded… [Read More]
DAF Donors Increase Charitable Giving as Disasters Drive Higher Payouts
Donor-advised funds (DAFs) continue to demonstrate their growing importance in the philanthropic landscape, with new data underscoring their rapid rise in charitable giving. While debates persist around the advantages and limitations of DAFs compared to private foundations, the structure remains a preferred choice for many high-net-worth individuals seeking effective ways to give. Vanguard Charitable, a… [Read More]
WEIDE Fund Empowers Women Beneficiaries in Mongolia as Implementation Accelerates
Forty-six women-led businesses in Mongolia have been selected as beneficiaries of the Women Exporters in the Digital Economy (WEIDE) Fund, launched by the WTO Secretariat and the International Trade Centre (ITC) in 2024. The selected micro, small, and medium-sized enterprises (MSMEs) were announced at an event in Ulaanbaatar on 25 August in partnership with the… [Read More]
ILO-China Partnership on Skills Development Boosts Emerging Industry Needs in Cambodia
A new milestone in Cambodia-China skills collaboration was achieved with the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) aimed at strengthening Cambodia’s technical and vocational education and training (TVET) system to meet the evolving needs of emerging industries. Supported by the ILO/China Partnership Programme on Skills Development, the agreement was signed on 30 July 2025… [Read More]
Kyndryl Announces $2.25 Billion Investment Plan to Expand Operations in India Over Three Years
Kyndryl, a leading provider of mission-critical enterprise technology services, has announced plans to invest $2.25 billion in India over the next three years. The investment aims to modernize essential technology infrastructure, expand artificial intelligence (AI) initiatives, and foster the development of the next generation of technology talent in the country. This growth builds on Kyndryl’s… [Read More]
Governor Hochul Awards $11M+ for Clean Hydrogen Research and Development in New York
Governor Kathy Hochul announced over $11 million in funding for five clean hydrogen research and development projects in New York State. These projects aim to advance technology designs, reduce costs of hydrogen storage and distribution, explore large-scale storage opportunities, and deploy zero-emission hydrogen-powered transportation. The initiative addresses key barriers to adopting clean hydrogen as a… [Read More]
Unitaid Launches Flagship Investments to Boost Local Manufacturing of Diagnostics and Medicines in Africa
Unitaid has announced a foundational investment of nearly US$50 million in two flagship programs designed to strengthen Africa’s capacity to manufacture its own medical diagnostics and treatments. This initiative is part of Unitaid’s broader commitment to building regional manufacturing infrastructure and improving access to quality-assured health products for priority global health challenges, including HIV, malaria,… [Read More]
UK Industrial Strategy Invests Over £30 Million to Boost Northern Ireland’s Science and Tech Industries
Northern Ireland’s science and technology sectors are set to receive a major boost from the UK Government’s modern Industrial Strategy, with at least £30 million earmarked for innovative tech projects. The funding aims to strengthen local jobs, promote economic growth, and support key industries of the future, including cybersecurity, advanced manufacturing, and creative industries. Industry… [Read More]
£9 Million in Grants Awarded to 31 Organisations to Help Vulnerable Households with Energy Bills
More than £9 million in grants is being distributed to 31 charities and community groups across England, Scotland, and Wales through round 11 of the Ofgem Energy Redress Scheme. The funding is aimed at supporting vulnerable households with energy bills while also advancing initiatives that promote carbon reduction and sustainable energy use. Among the recipients… [Read More]
