The United Nations World Food Programme (WFP) has intensified its emergency response in Sri Lanka following Cyclone Ditwah, supported by a AUD 1.5 million contribution from the Government of Australia. This funding allows WFP to provide life-saving fortified food and cash assistance to families most affected by the disaster. The first airlift of fortified biscuits… [Read More]
WHO
2025 Equator Prize: UNDP Recognizes 10 Indigenous and Community Climate Solutions
The 2025 Equator Prize Award Ceremony will honour ten exceptional nature-based solutions led by Indigenous Peoples and local communities worldwide. The event highlights the critical role these groups play in protecting ecosystems, advancing climate action, and supporting sustainable livelihoods. This year’s winners will receive between US$15,000 and $25,000 in recognition of their efforts to restore… [Read More]
Global Leaders Commit $1.9 Billion in Abu Dhabi to End Polio and Safeguard Children Worldwide
International leaders, philanthropists, and global health partners gathered in Abu Dhabi on December 8, 2025, to pledge a collective US$ 1.9 billion toward polio eradication. This includes approximately $1.2 billion in new commitments, reducing the remaining funding gap for the Global Polio Eradication Initiative’s (GPEI) 2022–2029 Strategy to $440 million. The funds aim to reach… [Read More]
Why Addressing South Africa’s Water Crisis Can Fix Energy and Food Challenges Too
South Africa is facing severe challenges across water, energy, and food sectors. Drought, overuse, and ageing infrastructure strain water supplies, while reliance on coal-fired electricity contributes to unsustainable energy production and high greenhouse gas emissions. Rising food prices have left tens of millions unable to afford sufficient nutrition, with around one in four families going… [Read More]
Zoonotic Influenza Preparedness: Implementing a Multisector Partnership Framework
A study conducted by the Infectious Hazard Management (IHM) Unit at WHO SEARO and the Institute of Development Studies (IDS), University of Sussex, presents a practical framework and reflection tool designed to help national programme managers operationalize multisector partnerships (MSPs) for zoonotic influenza preparedness and response. Published in Health Policy and Planning, the study addresses… [Read More]
$33 Billion 2026 Humanitarian Appeal Launched to Aid Millions in Crisis
The $33 billion Global Humanitarian Overview (GHO) 2026 was launched on Monday with the goal of reaching 135 million people across 50 countries. UN humanitarian chief Tom Fletcher emphasized that the appeal prioritizes saving lives, stating that the focus must be on providing aid “life by life.” The appeal comes after a challenging year marked… [Read More]
IOM 2026 Global Appeal: Supporting 41 Million People on the Move Worldwide
The International Organization for Migration (IOM) has launched its 2026 Global Appeal, seeking USD 4.7 billion to assist 41 million people on the move while strengthening systems to ensure migration is safe, orderly, and regular. The Appeal underscores the urgent reality that people migrate in search of protection, stability, and opportunity, requiring sustained humanitarian and… [Read More]
ILO Supports Kiribati’s Launch of Inaugural National Employment Policy
The Government of the Republic of Kiribati has launched its first-ever National Employment Policy (NEP) for 2025–2029, marking a historic step toward promoting decent work, inclusive growth, and sustainable livelihoods. Developed through extensive consultation with government authorities, tripartite partners, civil society, and development stakeholders, the policy provides a comprehensive framework to address pressing employment challenges,… [Read More]
Building Youth Engagement in Nature and Heritage: Lessons from the Next Generation Project
The Next Generation project built on the later stages of the Chalk, Cherries and Chairs (CCC) initiative, led by arts consultancy INSTAR, which explored how young people in and around High Wycombe felt about their local landscape and wanted to interact with it. The project aimed to test new approaches for engaging young people in… [Read More]
Bridging Gaps Through Fundraising: Reflections from the International Fundraising Congress
At this year’s International Fundraising Congress (IFC), the theme of “bridge” emerged repeatedly—not as a metaphor for money, but for connection. The conference highlighted that the gap between NGOs and donors remains wide, with interactions often limited to compliance reports and performance metrics. Experts emphasized that fundraising should move beyond transactions to foster trust, curiosity,… [Read More]
Government Prepares Heavy-Handed Measures as Tanzania Protests Loom
Tanzanian authorities have engaged in a series of wrongful arrests targeting alleged protest organizers and opposition supporters ahead of planned nationwide demonstrations on December 9, 2025. Human Rights Watch condemned the crackdown, urging the government to release all those arbitrarily detained and respect citizens’ rights to peaceful expression. The protests, encouraged by activists, are intended… [Read More]
Learning from Korea: The Impact of a 6-Hour Transformative Lesson
In South Korea, the lessons of the 1980 Gwangju Democratic Uprising remain deeply ingrained in the national consciousness. During the uprising, soldiers killed at least 166 civilians, mostly students, with no immediate accountability. Over the decades, South Korea undertook a painful but important process of reckoning, including trials of former presidents, truth commissions, and public… [Read More]
$160 Million AfDB Grant to Improve Connectivity for Ngandajika Agro-Industrial Park in DR Congo
The African Development Bank Group has approved a $159.5 million loan to the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) to enhance connectivity to the Ngandajika Agro-Industrial Park, a strategic initiative aimed at opening up the country’s central region. The total cost of the project is $177.16 million, with additional co-financing from the Congolese government. This investment… [Read More]
GFF Launches TRANSFORM 2030 Strategy to Drive Global Health 2026–2030
Global health and finance leaders gathered in Tokyo for the 2025 Universal Health Coverage High-Level Forum as the GFF launched its new five-year strategy, TRANSFORM 2030: Transforming Health Systems, Saving Lives, which was unanimously endorsed by its two governing bodies—the Investors Group and Trust Fund Committee—during their annual meetings in Dakar, Senegal, from November 11–13…. [Read More]
Gates Foundation Sounds Alarm on Child Death Surge, Pushes Targeted Life-Saving Investments
The Gates Foundation’s 2025 Goalkeepers Report warns that global child mortality is set to rise for the first time this century, reversing decades of progress. New projections from the Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation show that deaths of children under five are expected to increase from 4.6 million in 2024 to 4.8 million in… [Read More]
DRC Ends Ebola Outbreak as IFRC Pushes for Community-Led Disease Surveillance
The declaration of the end of the 16th Ebola outbreak in the Democratic Republic of the Congo marks an important milestone, but the IFRC stresses that the post-outbreak phase remains highly vulnerable. The organization warns that communities already dealing with cholera, mpox, and weak health systems face an elevated risk of renewed flare-ups. To prevent… [Read More]
Digital Violence Against Women Journalists Surges—A Growing Threat to Press Freedom in Africa
Women journalists across the world face relentless digital abuse that aims to intimidate and silence them. UNESCO’s global study shows that 73 per cent of women journalists have experienced online violence, while one in four has received threats of physical harm, including death threats. In East and Southern Africa, these attacks are part of everyday… [Read More]
Humanitarian Response Under Pressure: Challenges and Consequences
In 2025, humanitarian funding experienced its sharpest decline in a decade, dropping below 2016 levels due to significant cuts from major donors, including the United States, France, Germany, Switzerland, and the United Kingdom. This dramatic reduction forced humanitarian organizations to make difficult decisions, prioritizing assistance for people with the most life-threatening needs and leaving millions… [Read More]
Ethiopia Strengthens Fight Against Antimicrobial Resistance with New NAP at WAAW 2025
Ethiopia marked World Antimicrobial Resistance Awareness Week (WAAW) 2025 with a high-level national event at the Africa CDC Headquarters in Addis Ababa, officially launching the Fourth National Action Plan for the Prevention and Containment of Antimicrobial Resistance (AMR) 2026–2030. The event, held under the global theme “Act Now: Protect Our Present, Secure Our Future,” brought… [Read More]
Senegal Battles Rift Valley Fever: Strategies to Safeguard Communities
Since September 2025, Senegal has been facing an outbreak of Rift Valley Fever (RVF), a viral disease transmitted by mosquitoes or contact with infected animals, affecting both humans and livestock, particularly in pastoral and transhumance zones. By late November, health authorities had confirmed 500 human cases, including 31 deaths, and 425 animal cases with over… [Read More]
Nepalese Girls at Risk: How Reduced Funding Jeopardizes Education and Delays
In Nepal, millions of girls face the threat of early marriage, with 1.3 million married before age 15. Education for girls in underserved communities, such as the Musahar, Dalit, and religious minorities in Madhesh and Lumbini provinces, is not only a path to learning but a critical safeguard against child marriage. Programs like UDAAN, CARE’s… [Read More]
Accelerating Global Health: WHO Pathogen Access and Benefit-Sharing Talks to Resume Sooner
WHO Member States concluded their latest round of negotiations on the world’s first Pathogen Access and Benefit-Sharing (PABS) system, agreeing to reconvene in January 2026 to accelerate progress. The decision to resume deliberations reflects the shared urgency among countries to enhance global preparedness and ensure safer, more equitable responses to future pandemics. The fourth meeting… [Read More]
Journey of a UN Volunteer: Contributing to the Joint SDG Fund
When I began my UN Volunteer assignment with the UN Joint SDG Fund in January 2025, I stepped into a role filled with purpose and potential. Joining a team dedicated to driving systemic change and accelerating SDG progress, I quickly realized how much the experience would expand my skills and deepen my understanding of development… [Read More]
