The Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria has welcomed Switzerland’s early pledge of CHF 64 million to its Eighth Replenishment, covering the period 2026–2028. This renewed support underscores Switzerland’s commitment to saving lives, preventing the spread of infectious diseases, and strengthening health systems in vulnerable countries. The pledge also reflects Switzerland’s continued dedication… [Read More]
Labor
$5 Million Boost from Johnson & Johnson Foundation Strengthens Africa’s Community Health Workforce
The Johnson & Johnson (J&J) Foundation has announced a $5 million investment in the Africa Frontline First (AFF) Catalytic Fund, hosted by the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, TB & Malaria, increasing its total commitment to $20 million. This investment supports the training and deployment of 200,000 professional community health workers (CHWs) across national health… [Read More]
UK Backs Lebanon’s National Plan for Renewable Energy Expansion
The British Ambassador to Lebanon, Hamish Cowell, together with Lebanon’s Minister of Energy and Water, Joe Saddi, officially launched Lebanon’s National Renewable Energy Action Plan (NREAP 2025–2030) during the Lebanon Grand Energy Event 2025. The updated NREAP provides a strategic roadmap outlining the country’s renewable energy ambitions and implementation priorities for the coming years, marking… [Read More]
Violence Against Women in Switzerland: Country Submits Updated State Report
On 26 September, the Swiss Federal Council adopted its second state report on the implementation of the Istanbul Convention, focusing on developments since 2021. The report provides detailed information on prevention, protection, and prosecution measures, highlighting new trends in Switzerland and data from the past two years. Violence against women and domestic violence remain serious… [Read More]
Preparing Francophone Nations for the Future: WHO Launches Digital Health Capacity Building
Digital health is increasingly recognized as a crucial tool for improving access, quality, and efficiency in health systems. Technologies such as telemedicine and electronic health records are reshaping how health services are planned, delivered, and evaluated. However, this digital transformation requires strong competencies in governance, strategic planning, interoperability, data security, and stakeholder engagement to ensure… [Read More]
$12 Million Funding Boost for Prevention Research in NSW
The Minns Labor Government has announced the successful recipients of Round 7 of the Prevention Research Support Program (PRSP), awarding $12 million in funding to three research groups. This investment will establish new research streams focused on priority areas in preventive health, infectious disease preparedness, and early-life maternal and child health, enhancing NSW’s research capacity… [Read More]
Maloca Initiative Launched by COP30 Presidency Marks New Era in Climate Action
The Brazilian Presidency of COP30 has launched Maloca, an innovative digital platform designed to expand participation in climate action globally. Serving as a legacy of COP30, Maloca provides an inclusive, interactive space for dialogue, collaboration, and solution-sharing, with a particular focus on amplifying voices from the Global South. The platform aims to connect people from… [Read More]
UNDP and China Sign Statement of Intent for Global Sustainable Development Hub
The United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) and the Ministry of Commerce of the People’s Republic of China (MOFCOM) have signed a Statement of Intent (SOI) at UNDP Headquarters in New York to explore deepening their collaboration in supporting developing countries. This partnership includes plans to establish a UNDP Global Center for Sustainable Development in Shanghai,… [Read More]
First Global Dialogue on Digital Platform Work Convened by Singapore and ILO
More than 150 policymakers, statisticians, social partners, platform operators, and researchers from over 20 countries gathered in Singapore on 29 September for the Global Dialogue on Digital Platform Work. Hosted by Singapore’s Ministry of Manpower (MOM) and the International Labour Organization (ILO), the conference marked a key step in global knowledge exchange aimed at addressing… [Read More]
Mozambique Study Reveals How Aspirations and Gender Norms Shape Girls and Women
The research note A Girl Can Dream: Analyzing Aspirations, Gender Norms, and Influencers Among Girls and Women in Mozambique explores the hopes and ambitions of adolescent girls and young women in Mozambique. It examines the barriers they face in pursuing their dreams, including social norms and relationships that shape their life choices, and provides insights… [Read More]
WHO Sets Influenza Vaccine Guidelines for 2026 Southern Hemisphere Season
The World Health Organization (WHO) has announced its recommendations for the viral composition of influenza vaccines for the 2026 influenza season in the southern hemisphere. The announcement followed a four-day consultation involving experts reviewing surveillance data and other relevant information to guide vaccine formulation. Regular updates to influenza vaccine composition are essential due to the… [Read More]
Asian Development Bank Supports Batumi–Sarpi Highway Development in Georgia
The Asian Development Bank (ADB) has approved a $360 million loan to enhance Georgia’s road infrastructure and regional connectivity. The funding will support the upgrade of the final critical section of Georgia’s East–West Highway, providing a climate-resilient connection to the country’s border with Türkiye at Sarpi and strengthening Georgia’s capacity to manage its road infrastructure… [Read More]
UN Faces Crisis, Says Indian Senior Government Minister
In his address to the United Nations General Assembly, India’s Minister for External Affairs, Subrahmanyam Jaishankar, criticized the UN as “gridlocked” and underlined the urgent need for international cooperation and organizational reform. He questioned how the UN had lived up to expectations, highlighting ongoing conflicts in Ukraine, the Middle East, West Asia, and numerous other… [Read More]
Indonesia Set to Receive Dubois Collection from the Netherlands
The Netherlands has announced plans to return more than 28,000 fossils from the Dubois collection to Indonesia, following a formal request by Indonesian authorities. The collection, currently held at the Naturalis Biodiversity Center in Leiden, includes key fossils such as a skullcap, a molar, and a femur attributed to Homo erectus, an important species in… [Read More]
India and EU Launch Ideathon to Combat Marine Plastic Litter
The India-EU Ideathon on “Combating Marine Plastic Litter” was officially launched as a joint initiative by the Office of the Principal Scientific Adviser to the Government of India and the Delegation of the European Union to India, with support from the India-EU Trade and Technology Council Working Group on Green and Clean Energy Technologies. The… [Read More]
Breaking Barriers to Financing Digital Inclusion: Join the Global Conversation
Nearly one-third of the global population has never accessed the internet, with rural and marginalized urban communities, particularly in the Global South, being the most affected. Groups facing systemic barriers, including women, Indigenous peoples, and low-income populations, are disproportionately excluded, highlighting the urgent need for equitable digital access. Despite sufficient resources existing to close these… [Read More]
150th Anniversary: Carlsberg Foundation Pledges DKK 150 Million to Advance Research Centres
The Carlsberg Foundation is preparing to celebrate its 150th anniversary in 2026 by awarding DKK 150 million in funding for interdisciplinary research centres, reinforcing its long-standing commitment to advancing Danish basic research. Established by brewer J.C. Jacobsen on 25 September 1876, the foundation was created to channel part of the brewery’s resources into scientific progress… [Read More]
Youth Demand Action at UN: “Listen, Invest, Partner” for Global Impact
At an event commemorating the 30th anniversary of the World Programme of Action for Youth, General Assembly President Annalena Baerbock emphasized that youth participation must go beyond mere attendance at meetings. She highlighted the importance of integrating young people’s lived experiences and expertise to shape policies that affect their lives. The framework, which spans 15… [Read More]
Strengthening Health Systems in Africa: WHO and China Join Forces
In Addis Ababa on 23 September 2025, Professor Francis Kasolo, WHO Representative a.i. to Ethiopia and the African Union, met with H.E. Ambassador Jiang Feng, Head of Mission of the People’s Republic of China to the AU, to reaffirm the longstanding partnership between WHO and China in advancing public health across Africa and explore deeper… [Read More]
Inaugural Sierra Leone Workshop Strengthens Death Certification and ICD-11 Adoption
The Ministry of Health (MoH) and the National Civil Registration Authority (NCRA), in collaboration with the World Health Organization (WHO), concluded Sierra Leone’s inaugural two-day workshop of the death reporting sub-committee on 25 September 2025. This meeting brought together health professionals, civil registration experts, academia, and partners to initiate efforts aimed at institutionalizing the Medical… [Read More]
BFA and WHO Collaborate to Strengthen Health Systems in Angola
Banco de Fomento Angola (BFA) and the World Health Organization (WHO) have formalized a strategic partnership to support Angola’s national response to the ongoing cholera outbreak, which has affected thousands of families across the country. The agreement, signed in Luanda, includes BFA’s contribution of 30 million kwanzas to purchase essential medical supplies such as rehydration… [Read More]
Empowering Migrant Workers in Thailand’s Rubber Sector with Labour Rights and Social Protection
The International Labour Organization (ILO) is collaborating with Thailand’s rubber sector to strengthen social protection for migrant workers and promote responsible business practices across the industry. A workshop held in Rayong on 25 September 2025 brought together over 100 participants from plantations, processing plants, manufacturing facilities, and related sectors nationwide to enhance understanding of labour… [Read More]
African Development Bank and Michael Bloomberg Partner to Boost Private Investment in Africa
The African Development Bank Group and Michael R. Bloomberg, Founder of Bloomberg L.P. and Bloomberg Philanthropies and Chair of the Glasgow Financial Alliance for Net Zero (GFANZ), have announced a strategic partnership aimed at mobilizing private sector investment across Africa to boost job creation and sustainable development. The announcement was made on 24 September during… [Read More]
