The UK government is intensifying its efforts to strengthen border security and tackle illegal migration through international diplomacy and enhanced cooperation with key partners. A central element of this strategy is the newly signed agreement with Iraq, aimed at facilitating the swift return of individuals with no legal right to remain in the UK while… [Read More]
Labor
Japan Pledges $550 Million to Gavi Vaccine Alliance Over Five Years
Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba has announced that Japan will contribute $550 million over five years to Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance, which supports immunization efforts in developing countries. The pledge was conveyed during a meeting with Microsoft co-founder Bill Gates, who leads the Gates Foundation, at the Prime Minister’s Office in Tokyo. Tetsuo Saito, leader of… [Read More]
NIH Awards $17 Million Grant to The Wistar Institute for Personalized HIV Cure Research
The Wistar Institute has announced that it has received a five-year, $17 million research award from the National Institutes of Health (NIH) to establish the iCure Consortium, a groundbreaking initiative dedicated to developing individualized cure regimens for HIV. The consortium’s mission is to advance personalized medicine strategies that move beyond treatment management toward a functional… [Read More]
IIM Calcutta Launches ₹50 Crore Fund to Support Cleantech and Sustainability Startups
The IIM-Calcutta Innovation Park (IIMCIP) has announced the launch of a dedicated INR 50 crore fund to support early-stage cleantech and sustainability ventures. The fund will be deployed over the next 12 to 18 months to back startups working in areas such as clean energy, climate resilience, sustainable agriculture, and waste-to-value solutions. According to IIMCIP… [Read More]
Ghana and Côte d’Ivoire Partner to Build Cross-Border Agricultural Value Chains and Agro-Park
Stakeholders from Côte d’Ivoire and Ghana convened in Abidjan on 15 August 2025 to review a draft assessment report on cross-border cocoa and rice value chains. The initiative, led by the United Nations Economic Commission for Africa (ECA) in partnership with the African Union Commission (AUC) and ECOWAS, seeks to enhance diversification, value addition, and… [Read More]
Resident Coordinators Driving Innovation and Impact with the Joint SDG Fund
At the Fourth Financing for the Development Dialogues (FFD4), discussions focused on how development financing can be reshaped to better respond to today’s complex global challenges. Among the key voices was Mohamed El Zarkani, the United Nations Resident Coordinator in Saudi Arabia, who emphasized the evolving role of the UN in high-income countries and highlighted… [Read More]
Mozambique Launches Industry-Focused Training to Empower Youth
The International Labour Organization (ILO), through its IFAD-funded Projecta Jovem Project, has partnered with the Government of Mozambique and the National Institute for Employment Promotion (INEP) to enhance youth employability and practical skills. The initiative provides professional and paid internships in collaboration with private sector companies, already benefiting 432 young people. Recently, ten Technical and… [Read More]
ILO Launches Environmental and Tourism Infrastructure Project in Jordan
In the Jordanian town of Mahis, west of Amman, a new community infrastructure project has been inaugurated to enhance environmental and tourism facilities while creating jobs for both Jordanians and Syrian refugees. The initiative is funded by Germany through the KfW Development Bank under the International Labour Organization’s (ILO) Employment Intensive Investment Programme (EIIP) and… [Read More]
EBRD Supports Green Energy Projects in Earthquake-Affected Türkiye
The European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) is providing a loan of US$150 million (€128 million) to Türkiye’s leading electricity distribution and energy solutions company, Enerjisa Enerji. The funding will be used to rebuild and modernise the electricity network in the earthquake-affected Toroslar region and to develop solar power plants, ensuring both recovery and… [Read More]
Waterford Secures €408,469 in Outdoor Recreation Funding to Boost Local Projects
On August 14th, Minister for Rural and Community Development and the Gaeltacht, Dara Calleary TD, announced €8.7 million in funding for 221 recreational projects across Ireland under the Outdoor Recreation Infrastructure Scheme (ORIS). The funding, allocated through Measure 1 and the Project Development Measure, reflects the government’s continued commitment to supporting walking trails, cycleways, water-based… [Read More]
Ghana Issues Africa’s First FLEGT Timber Licence, Pioneering Forest Governance
Ghana has officially launched the Forest Law Enforcement, Governance and Trade (FLEGT) licence, becoming the first African country and only the second in the world after Indonesia to issue this certification. The launch follows the go-live of Ghana’s FLEGT licensing system on August 15, 2025, paving the way for the export of verified legal timber…. [Read More]
Mayor Adams Celebrates NYC Nonprofit Week with Record Contract Registrations, Boosting Support for Local Nonprofits
New York City Mayor Eric Adams and the Mayor’s Office of Nonprofit Services (MONS) launched “NYC Nonprofit Week” to highlight the city’s support for nonprofit organizations that provide essential services to vulnerable New Yorkers. As part of the celebration, the administration announced a major contracting milestone: 812 human service contracts were submitted for registration on… [Read More]
New Mexico Courts Announce Funding to Strengthen Regional Behavioral Health Services
The Administrative Office of the Courts (AOC) in New Mexico has announced that local, tribal, or quasi-government organizations are eligible to receive up to $45,000 in each of the state’s 13 behavioral health regions. The funding aims to support regional planning efforts required under the newly enacted Behavioral Health Reform and Investment Act, a law… [Read More]
Ken Dodd Happiness Centre Project Shelved Due to Funding Shortfall
A multi-million-pound project to create a “happiness centre” in honour of Liverpool comedy legend Sir Ken Dodd has been cancelled after failing to secure funding. The £15 million centre, planned for construction next to the Royal Court Theatre, was approved by Liverpool Council last year. It was envisioned as a cultural landmark, showcasing Sir Ken’s… [Read More]
Mpox in Malawi: How Community Action Successfully Beat the Outbreak
Mpox, declared a Public Health Emergency of International Concern in August 2024, has continued to pose challenges in several African countries, including Malawi. The country reported its first case on 16 April 2025, followed by an outbreak declaration a day later. By mid-July, 59 confirmed cases had been recorded, mostly in Lilongwe and Mangochi districts…. [Read More]
Marubeni Expands Pharmaceutical Business in Africa to Strengthen Strategic Platform
Marubeni Corporation has expanded its pharmaceutical business in Africa by completing an investment in Phillips Healthcare Corporation (Phillips Pharma) on August 4, 2025, making it a Marubeni equity-method affiliate. This investment builds on Marubeni’s prior healthcare initiatives, such as its contribution to a new antimalarial drug development program in Africa and participation in the AAIC… [Read More]
WHO Confirms Rubella Eliminated as a Public Health Problem in Nepal
Rubella, also known as German measles, is a highly contagious viral infection that poses serious risks for pregnant women, including miscarriage, stillbirth, or birth defects. However, it is preventable through safe and cost-effective vaccines. Nepal has now eliminated rubella as a public health problem, marking a major milestone in protecting maternal and child health. The… [Read More]
ILO Welcomes Malaysia’s First National Action Plan on Business and Human Rights to Advance Decent Work
Malaysia has adopted its first National Action Plan on Business and Human Rights (NAPBHR), reinforcing its commitment to eliminating forced labour, promoting fair recruitment, and protecting labour rights in business practices. The International Labour Organization (ILO) welcomed this milestone, highlighting that the inclusion of a labour pillar demonstrates Malaysia’s strong dedication to international labour standards… [Read More]
500 Global and UNDP Launch Innovation Programs to Strengthen Africa’s Startup Ecosystem
On August 18, 2025, in Nairobi, Kenya, 500 Global, one of the world’s leading venture capital firms, and the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) announced the launch of three joint founder programs to strengthen Africa’s innovation ecosystem. The initiative, hosted in Nairobi, is designed to support startups at various stages of growth, offering tailored acceleration… [Read More]
World Water Week 2025: Global Conference on Water, Climate, and Sustainability
World Water Week 2025 will be held from August 24 to 28 in Stockholm, Sweden, with the option for global participants to join online. This year’s theme, “Water for Climate Action,” emphasizes the crucial role of water in addressing climate change and building sustainable futures. The event is organized annually by the Stockholm International Water… [Read More]
Africa-Japan Higher Education Partnership Matchmaking Seminar to Strengthen Academic Collaboration
Since 2018, the World Bank has supported Africa-Japan higher education partnerships through initiatives such as the Africa Centers of Excellence (ACE) program and the Partnership for Skills in Applied Sciences, Engineering, and Technology (PASET) Regional Scholarship and Innovation Fund. These programs focus on improving the quality of scientific research and innovation in Sub-Saharan Africa while… [Read More]
IFC and OTP Leasing Launch €50M Facility to Drive Ukraine’s Private Sector Growth and Green Energy Projects
IFC and OTP Leasing have launched a €50 million risk-sharing facility (RSF) in Ukraine to expand financing for small and medium enterprises (SMEs) and midcap companies. The initiative targets sectors including agriculture, manufacturing, trade, energy, and logistics, with a strong focus on sustainable energy solutions to enhance the country’s energy resilience. The program also aims… [Read More]
IFC and Japan Launch Tokyo Business Hub to Drive Global Development
IFC and the Government of Japan have signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) to establish the Tokyo Business Development Hub (Tokyo Hub), aimed at strengthening partnerships with Japanese businesses and mobilizing private capital for global development. The Hub will focus on creating a pipeline of potential projects with Japanese partners, targeting key sectors such as… [Read More]
