The agriculture sector is a cornerstone of Kenya’s economy, contributing about 20 percent of GDP and providing livelihoods for more than 40 percent of the population, including over 70 percent of rural households. Beyond Kenya, agriculture underpins food security, employment, and economic growth across Africa. However, agrifood systems are under increasing strain from climate change,… [Read More]
WHO
How Solar-Powered Boreholes Are Transforming Water Access in Drought-Affected Somalia
At least 23,000 people in Somalia have gained access to safe drinking water following the completion of two new solar-powered boreholes in Awrboogays in Sanag and Bacadwyen in Galkayo. Handed over to local communities, the boreholes mark the first phase of a broader initiative to improve water access in four drought-affected districts, with a long-term… [Read More]
WHO-Supported Training Enhances Indonesia’s National Diphtheria Laboratory Skills
From 27–30 October 2025, Jakarta, Indonesia, hosted a four-day laboratory training workshop aimed at strengthening the national capacity for the timely detection and confirmation of diphtheria cases. Eighteen laboratory professionals from across Indonesia participated in the program, which focused on enhancing skills necessary for rapid diagnosis to support outbreak prevention and public health response. Diphtheria… [Read More]
National PRET Exercise Strengthens Indonesia’s Pandemic Readiness
The Government of Indonesia, with support from the World Health Organization (WHO), conducted a national Preparedness and Resilience for Emerging Threats (PRET) table-top exercise (TTX) from 24–26 September 2025. The exercise brought together 44 institutions and 65 participants from national and subnational levels to test whole-of-government coordination across the five PRET pillars: emergency coordination, collaborative… [Read More]
Student Activists Remain in Custody as India’s Top Court Rejects Bail
India’s Supreme Court on January 5 denied bail to prominent student activists Umar Khalid and Sharjeel Imam, who have been held without trial for over five years. While the court granted bail to five others arrested in the same case, it held that Khalid and Imam were on a “qualitatively different footing,” justifying their continued… [Read More]
School Meals Transform Health, Learning, and Futures in Bhutan
In the remote highlands of Sakteng, Bhutan, the National School Feeding Programme is transforming schools into vital community hubs that nourish children and support local livelihoods. For families in eastern Bhutan, where nomadic Brokpa traditions and limited access to basic services make life challenging, schools are more than educational spaces—they provide nutrition, safety, and a… [Read More]
Maduro Seized and International Norms Challenged: UN Security Council Split on Venezuela
The UN Security Council is deeply divided over the recent US operation in Venezuela, which resulted in the seizure of President Nicolás Maduro. Council members debated whether Washington’s actions uphold accountability or undermine the principles of international law. Some delegations viewed the operation as an exceptional, justified measure, while others warned it risks normalizing unilateral… [Read More]
Social Justice Strategies for a Just Transition in Uzbekistan
Muynak, once a thriving port town on the southern shore of the Aral Sea, illustrates the profound human and ecological consequences of environmental collapse. In the mid-20th century, the town flourished as a fishing hub, with the Muynak Canned Fish Combine providing tens of thousands of jobs and supporting a vibrant maritime economy. By the… [Read More]
Understanding Federally Funded Contraceptive Programs in the U.S.
Federal financing for contraceptives plays a crucial role in improving access to family-planning services, which in turn enhances health and economic outcomes. Reductions in core federal programs, however, threaten these gains, underscoring the need to analyze public funding policies and their effects on equity, access, and choice. Research on this topic draws from expert interviews,… [Read More]
Strengthening National Evidence-Informed Policymaking Ecosystems: Bridging Research and Policy
This report synthesises the outcomes of a joint initiative by the European Commission’s Joint Research Centre and the OECD to strengthen evidence-informed policymaking across seven European countries. Although the project was initiated in response to governance challenges revealed during the COVID-19 pandemic, it demonstrates that the need for robust use of evidence in policymaking has… [Read More]
USF Team Leverages Senegal Health Care Project Insights to Improve Global Health Work
Researchers at the University of South Florida’s College of Public Health (USF COPH) have applied lessons from their collaborative project in Senegal, known as Bajenu Gox, which aims to improve maternal and child health through community-led initiatives. The program leverages “neighborhood godmothers,” or Bajenu Gox volunteers, who provide essential health education, facilitate access to reproductive… [Read More]
Global: Amnesty International Warns of Human Rights Risks After US Military Action in Venezuela
Amnesty International has raised serious concerns over the human rights implications of the US Trump Administration’s military action in Venezuela, which led to the capture of Nicolás Maduro and Cilia Flores. The organization warned that the operation most likely violates international law, including the UN Charter, and expressed alarm at statements suggesting US control over… [Read More]
Israel Urged by UN Human Rights Chief to Scrap Death Penalty Plans for Palestinians
UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Volker Türk expressed serious concerns over a series of draft proposals before Israel’s Knesset, warning that they could lead to discrimination, violations of due process, and breaches of international human rights and humanitarian law. He emphasized that the United Nations opposes the death penalty under all circumstances, noting that… [Read More]
Cervical Cancer Claims a Woman’s Life Every Two Minutes, Says UN
Jeanette, a woman who shared her story with the World Health Organization (WHO), described feeling “betrayed by my body” after being diagnosed with cervical cancer, a disease that claimed her life within a year. Cervical cancer is the fourth most common cancer among women and develops in the cervix, potentially spreading to other parts of… [Read More]
Liberia Advances Implementation of Amended International Health Regulations
The Government of Liberia has taken a major step toward implementing the 2024 amendments to the International Health Regulations (2005) following the signing of a national declaration of commitment. This milestone came after a three-day national technical workshop held in Monrovia from 15–17 December 2025, supported by the World Health Organization (WHO). The workshop brought… [Read More]
Enhanced Childhood Vaccination Access to Benefit Families Nationwide
The government has launched a new pilot program to bring vaccinations directly to the doorsteps of families who face barriers accessing healthcare. The initiative targets households encountering challenges such as travel costs, language difficulties, childcare responsibilities, or vaccine hesitancy, aiming to close gaps in healthcare inequalities through a £2 million investment. Health visiting teams will… [Read More]
$69,000 Granted to Chelan Valley Nonprofits by Legacy Fund in 2025
The Community Foundation of North Central Washington awarded $69,000 to local nonprofits in 2025 through the Chelan Valley Legacy Fund Grant Program, continuing its community-led approach to philanthropy focused on addressing local needs. Since its launch in 2024, the fund has distributed a total of $115,158 in grants, supporting organizations across Chelan Valley, including Chelan… [Read More]
Winners Announced: RICH Innovation Small Grants Call Selection Outcome
The RICH Innovation Small Grants Call received an overwhelming response, with over 630 proposals submitted from across the globe. After a rigorous and competitive review process, five proposals were selected and are expected to begin implementation in 2026. While only a few proposals could be funded due to limited resources, the organizers expressed deep appreciation… [Read More]
2025 Energy Trends and 2026 Forecasts: Key Lessons for the Sector
As 2026 begins, the energy sector reflects on a turbulent 2025 marked by record production, technological advances, and geopolitical shifts. The year reinforced a fundamental lesson: reliable energy systems require adherence to physical limits and fiscal discipline. Ignoring these principles results in inefficiencies, blackouts, and soaring prices, underscoring the need for a pragmatic approach to… [Read More]
How to Boost Fundraising Success: Four Insights from the WEE Africa Deal Accelerator
Securing investment is often a complex process, and women founders in Africa face additional challenges when raising capital. To address this, the WEE (Women’s Economic Empowerment) Africa Deal Accelerator hosted a Founder Masterclass on fundraising, providing practical guidance on how to prepare, plan, and pitch effectively to investors. A key takeaway from the session is… [Read More]
Federal Child Care Funds in Minnesota Frozen Following Fraud Claims Under Trump Administration
The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services has frozen federal child care funding intended to support low-income families nationwide. The decision came shortly after a viral video from a conservative influencer accused, without evidence, several Minneapolis day care centers run by Somali residents of committing up to $100 million in fraud. The move has… [Read More]
Doctors Without Borders Banned in Gaza, Leaving Clinics to Deliver Life-Saving Care
United Nations agencies and humanitarian partners in ten countries, including the United Kingdom, France and Canada, have urged Israel to reverse its decision to ban several well-established international aid organizations from operating in Gaza. Among those affected is Doctors Without Borders (Médecins Sans Frontières, MSF), a medical humanitarian group that has provided life-saving care in… [Read More]
FAO Regional Office for Europe and Central Asia Strengthens Food Security and Agriculture
World Food Day 2025 brought together people and communities across Europe and Central Asia to promote a sustainable, safe and climate-resilient future where everyone has access to nutritious food. Marked annually on 16 October, the celebration coincided this year with a major milestone: the eightieth anniversary of the founding of the Food and Agriculture Organization… [Read More]
