The Irish Cabinet has approved a significant €4.55 billion capital allocation for the Department of Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science under the revised National Development Plan (NDP) for 2026–2030. This investment represents a major step forward in strengthening Ireland’s knowledge economy by supporting long-term initiatives in research, education, and innovation. The funding… [Read More]
Labor
EU Commission Approves €403 Million in State Aid for Major Healthcare Innovation Project
The European Commission has approved the second Important Project of Common European Interest (IPCEI) in the healthcare sector, known as “IPCEI Tech4Cure.” This project is designed to support innovation in medical devices, including the integration of advanced digital and artificial intelligence (AI) technologies. The initiative promotes collaborative research and development as well as the initial… [Read More]
Government of Canada Enhances Access to Healthcare for Francophone Minorities
The Government of Canada has announced over $78 million in funding over five years to support seven organizations, including five post-secondary institutions in Atlantic Canada. This funding is aimed at improving access to French-language health services for Francophone minority communities. The announcement was made by the Honourable Marjorie Michel, Minister of Health, alongside Member of… [Read More]
Canada Invests $14.4M to Support Youth Climate Action and Environmental Projects
The Government of Canada is strengthening youth engagement in environmental protection by investing over $14.4 million from the Environmental Damages Fund’s Climate Action and Awareness Fund. This funding will support 17 environmental literacy projects across the country, aimed at equipping young Canadians with the knowledge, tools, and skills needed to develop sustainable solutions and combat… [Read More]
U.S. Withdrawal from UNESCO: Official Statement by Director-General Audrey Azoulay
The United States has announced its decision to withdraw from UNESCO, a move set to take effect at the end of December 2026. This marks the second such withdrawal in recent years, following a similar decision in 2017 under President Donald Trump. The decision is seen as a setback to the principles of multilateralism and… [Read More]
Kenya’s Path to Sustainability: Forest and Landscape Restoration Efforts
Kenya is at a crucial stage in its environmental journey, with increasing urgency to restore degraded landscapes and enhance climate resilience. UK PACT (Partnering for Accelerated Climate Transitions) is actively supporting these efforts by facilitating collaboration among government agencies, research institutions, and conservation organizations. These partnerships aim to deliver sustainable, large-scale forest and landscape restoration… [Read More]
Canada Invests $300M in NWT: Our Land for the Future Indigenous-Led Conservation Project
NWT: Our Land for the Future is a landmark Indigenous-led conservation initiative in the Northwest Territories, bringing together 21 Indigenous governments and organizations, along with the Government of Canada, the Government of the Northwest Territories, and private donors. The initiative aims to protect land and water while promoting cultural revitalization and sustainable economic development across… [Read More]
Esha Maiwalle Foundation Promotes Menstrual Dignity for Girls in Northern Nigeria
In Misau, Bauchi State, the Esha Maiwalle Foundation has launched a transformative menstrual hygiene initiative, bringing essential sanitary pads to hundreds of schoolgirls and women in underserved communities. This effort addresses a critical gap in menstrual health access, restoring dignity and enabling girls to attend school during their periods—something many have long been deprived of… [Read More]
African Development Bank and Liberia Partner to Establish First Youth Investment Bank
On July 22, 2025, the African Development Bank Group, in collaboration with the Government of Liberia, will launch the first Youth Entrepreneurship Investment Bank (YEIB) in Liberia. This marks the beginning of a broader initiative to establish YEIBs across Africa, with Liberia being the first country to host this youth-focused financial institution. The launch will… [Read More]
Lowe’s Foundation Boosts Funding to $43 Million to Address Skilled Trades Workforce Gap
The Lowe’s Foundation has announced the third cohort of Gable Grants recipients, awarding funding to 12 community and technical colleges. These grants aim to expand and launch training programs that address the U.S.’s significant skilled trades labor shortage. This new cohort brings the total number of Gable Grant recipients to 60, with the Foundation’s investment… [Read More]
New UK Compute Roadmap Launched by Government and UKRI to Boost AI and Science
The UK Government, through the Department of Science, Innovation and Technology in collaboration with UK Research and Innovation (UKRI), has launched a new compute roadmap aimed at enhancing digital infrastructure. The initiative is expected to significantly increase publicly accessible compute capacity across the country and unlock advancements in areas such as healthcare diagnostics, energy systems,… [Read More]
Trusted Partnership Rebuilds Critical Lifeline in Western North Carolina
In the wake of Hurricane Helene’s destruction across western North Carolina, the North Carolina Community Foundation (NCCF) and The Community Foundation of Western North Carolina (CFWNC) forged a significant partnership to support disaster recovery. Their combined efforts were directed toward restoring MANNA FoodBank, the region’s sole food bank and a crucial source of support for… [Read More]
$1 Million Muslim Charity Gift Boosts IOM Islamic Fund to Fight Human Trafficking
The International Organization for Migration (IOM) and Muslim Charity have signed a Memorandum of Understanding, with Muslim Charity committing USD 1 million to support global efforts against human trafficking and modern slavery. This marks the first formal partnership under IOM’s Islamic Philanthropy Fund, which was launched earlier in 2025. The initiative comes at a time… [Read More]
New ‘Train-to-Hire’ Initiative by IOM and UNHCR Aims to Increase Refugee Job Opportunities
The International Organization for Migration (IOM) and UNHCR, the UN Refugee Agency, have jointly launched a new “train-to-hire” programme targeting displaced individuals in the Asia-Pacific region. Funded by the Government of Australia for an initial 22-month period, the initiative aims to equip refugees with relevant skills and connect them to international employment opportunities. This programme… [Read More]
Canada Invests in Wildfire Preparedness with New National Centre of Excellence
The Government of Canada has announced a significant step in its efforts to address wildfires by investing in prevention, mitigation, and resilience measures. With wildfires increasingly affecting communities across the country, the federal government has committed to safeguarding citizens and enhancing their preparedness through targeted actions and investments. An investment of $11.7 million over four… [Read More]
Empowering Afghan Women: Building Livelihoods and Resilience in Crisis
Despite ongoing restrictions and socio-political challenges, Afghan women are continuing to build livelihoods and strengthen resilience, with support from organizations such as UN Women. In eastern Afghanistan’s Parwan province, a young woman affected by the ban on higher education for females turned to knitting to sustain herself. After struggling for years with minimal income, her… [Read More]
Insights Forum 2025 Unites Stakeholders to Drive Local Funding in Digital Health
The 2025 edition of the Insights Learning Forum (ILF) is set to convene stakeholders from across the digital and public health sectors. This annual flagship event brings together experts, policymakers, and innovators to examine how digital technologies can strengthen healthcare systems across Africa. ILF serves as a collaborative platform for exchanging knowledge, sharing best practices,… [Read More]
African Development Bank Unveils Country Diagnostics to Drive Gender-Inclusive Clean Energy Transitions
The African Development Bank (AfDB), in partnership with the Climate Investment Funds (CIF), has launched the Gender and Renewable Energy Country Diagnostics to strengthen gender-inclusive energy transitions in Africa. This new initiative explores the intersection of gender equity and energy access in six countries: Ghana, Liberia, Mali, Lesotho, Madagascar, and Malawi. Developed under CIF’s Scaling… [Read More]
World Bank Procurement Reform Targets Job Growth and Skills Development in Projects
The World Bank is updating its procurement requirements to address the pressing challenge of job creation in developing countries. Beginning September 1, 2025, companies bidding on international civil works contracts—such as those involving transportation and energy infrastructure—under World Bank-funded projects will be required to allocate at least 30% of labor costs to local labor. This… [Read More]
New Labour Governance Strengthening Programme Launched in Papua New Guinea
A new programme titled Improving Labour Governance in Papua New Guinea has been launched as a joint effort by the International Labour Organization (ILO), the Government of Papua New Guinea, and the Australian Government. This three-year initiative is funded by Australia and supported technically by the ILO. It aims to enhance labour protections, promote social… [Read More]
Empowering Communities with the West Africa Clean Cooking Fund
The West Africa Clean Cooking Fund aims to revolutionize cooking practices in a region where over 267 million people still rely on traditional biomass fuels. This reliance contributes to serious health problems, particularly for women, and leads to environmental degradation, including deforestation and rising greenhouse gas emissions. The fund will be accelerated through an initial… [Read More]
UNDP’s timbuktoo Initiative Reshapes Development Finance at FFD4
On the sidelines of the Fourth International Conference on Financing for Development (FFD4) in Seville, the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) hosted a high-level event titled “Building the Future of Engagement with the Private Sector.” The event focused on mobilizing private capital and reforming the international financial architecture, highlighting UNDP’s timbuktoo initiative as a prime… [Read More]
Rising Above Displacement: Youth-Led Education Reform in Somalia’s Marginalized Regions
The Rajo Kaaba Program is a World Bank–funded initiative aimed at empowering Somali girls from vulnerable and displaced communities by providing access to diploma-level education in nursing, midwifery, and education. A total of 2,278 girls have received scholarships under this initiative. Implemented in collaboration with Somalia’s Ministry of Education, Culture, and Higher Education, the program… [Read More]
