This year marks the 80th anniversary of the end of the Second World War, and the British High Commission in Malaysia held a Remembrance Day Service to honour service personnel and civilians who served in both World Wars and other armed conflicts. The event brought together ambassadors, high commissioners, defence attachés, representatives from the Malaysian… [Read More]
WHO
Cambodian Women’s Groups Advocate for Migrant Safety and Protection from Exploitation
In Cambodia, women migrant workers returning from abroad are emerging as role models and community leaders, sharing their experiences to raise awareness about safe and legal pathways for overseas employment. These women, many of whom endured dangerous journeys, unsafe border crossings, and exploitation, are now transforming into advocates who help others navigate labor migration safely…. [Read More]
Empowering PWDs: UNDP & Digicel Foundation Innovation Challenge
In a landmark initiative for disability inclusion in Trinidad and Tobago, the Digicel Foundation partnered with the United Nations Development Programme’s Global Environment Facility Small Grants Programme to award six entities through the first-of-its-kind ‘Innovation Challenge’ grant. The program provides each grantee with funding of up to TT$450,000 to advance their business ideas and transform… [Read More]
How Four Core Elements Are Shaping Adaptation Finance for a Changing Climate
As climate impacts intensify, the demand for stronger and smarter adaptation solutions is growing rapidly, raising a fundamental question: who will fund these efforts, and how? The cost of adapting to climate change in developing countries is projected to exceed US$310 billion per year by 2035—twelve times the current levels of international public adaptation finance…. [Read More]
Driving Local Development Through Effective Climate Action
This year marks the tenth anniversary of both the Paris Agreement and the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), two landmark international frameworks that are increasingly shaping the economies of the future. Today, local development is inseparable from climate resilience, decarbonization transitions, and environmental sustainability. Countries are now presenting their third generation of Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs),… [Read More]
EU Returns Thousands of Africans Home, Many Complain of Lack of Support
Oumar Bella Diallo, a 24-year-old from Guinea, returned home in July after nearly a year attempting to reach Europe, during which he faced police attacks, scams, and witnessed fellow migrants die in the desert. He is one of tens of thousands of Africans repatriated through a European Union-funded program run by the International Organization for… [Read More]
Promoting Ethical Fashion: Indonesia Business Forum 2025 Advances Responsible Garment Production
The Indonesia Business Forum (IBF) 2025, organized by Better Work Indonesia (BWI)—a joint programme of the International Labour Organization (ILO) and the International Finance Corporation (IFC)—brought together around 130 key stakeholders in Jakarta to promote Human Rights Due Diligence (HRDD) in the garment sector. Under the theme “The Power of Unified Efforts in Driving Sustainable… [Read More]
May the Forest Be With You: Protecting Nepal’s Forests for People and Nature
Nepal’s forests play a vital role in sustaining both ecosystems and rural livelihoods, and the country’s experience offers key lessons for sustainable forest management. Regularly updated, accurate subnational forest data is essential to help local governments make evidence-based decisions for effective planning and resource allocation. Such data also supports performance-based fiscal transfers in the forest… [Read More]
Asian Development Bank Initiates Wetland Conservation Project in the Philippines
The Asian Development Bank (ADB) has launched the Philippines Flyway Project, a new initiative aimed at conserving vital wetland ecosystems that serve as habitats for migratory birds and support local livelihoods. Announced in Cebu during the 12th Meeting of Partners of the East Asian–Australasian Flyway Partnership, the project is funded by a $3 million grant… [Read More]
African Development Bank’s SEFA Leads COP30 Discussion on Financing Renewable Energy and Energy Access in Africa
The African Development Bank Group and the Sustainable Energy Fund for Africa (SEFA) will host a high-level side event at COP30 in Belém, Brazil, on November 14, 2025. Titled “Mobilising Commercial Capital for Renewable Energy and Energy Access in Africa,” the session will take place at the Africa Pavilion and online, focusing on accelerating private… [Read More]
Climate and Gender Justice in Bangladesh: Strategies and Lessons Learned
Today, the world faces overlapping crises of ecology, inequality, and democracy, and few countries illustrate this convergence more clearly than Bangladesh. Situated on fertile deltas yet confronting fragile futures, millions of Bangladeshis face the slow violence of rising seas, saline soils, and displaced livelihoods each year. Their suffering, however, stems not only from climate change… [Read More]
What the World Can Learn from Gavi’s Zero-Dose Vaccination Approach
Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance, shared insights from the year two evaluation of its efforts to reach zero-dose (ZD) children—infants who have not received even the first dose of the diphtheria, tetanus, and pertussis-containing vaccine (DTP1) by the end of their first year. The evaluation highlighted both barriers and enablers in designing and delivering ZD programmes,… [Read More]
Extreme Weather Threatens to Make Refugee Camps Unlivable by 2050
The United Nations Refugee Agency (UNHCR) has highlighted the increasing vulnerability of displaced communities as extreme weather events intensify globally. Floods in South Sudan and Brazil, record-breaking heat in Kenya and Pakistan, and severe water shortages in Chad and Ethiopia are pushing already fragile populations to the brink. Over the past decade, weather-related disasters have… [Read More]
$19.5 Million Open Society Investment to Drive Fair Economic Growth and Climate Action in Latin America
At COP30 in Rio de Janeiro, the Open Society Foundations announced a major $19.5 million commitment to strengthen environmental justice and support a fair, sustainable economy in Latin America. The initiative aims to protect environmental defenders, promote green economic opportunities, and ensure that environmental and economic transitions uphold human rights and community participation. Open Society… [Read More]
Supreme Court Backs Discriminatory Passport Policy in Landmark Ruling
The United States Supreme Court has permitted the implementation of a controversial Trump-era policy mandating that all new passports reflect an individual’s sex assigned at birth. This decision stems from an executive order issued by former President Donald Trump, directing federal agencies to recognize only two sexes—male and female—considered fixed at birth. As a result,… [Read More]
Controversy in Indonesia as President Honors Former Dictator Soeharto
Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto has declared ten individuals as “national heroes” on November 10, Heroes Day, including former President Soeharto, who ruled the country from 1965 to 1998. The decision has sparked widespread controversy and condemnation, with over 80 public figures, including historians, signing a letter protesting the move. Critics argue that honoring Soeharto undermines… [Read More]
Building Healthcare Capacity to Fast-Track Cervical Cancer Elimination in Eswatini
Eswatini, one of the countries with the highest cervical cancer burden globally, is making significant strides toward eliminating the disease through its Cervical Cancer Elimination Acceleration Plan (2024–2028). Supported by the World Health Organization (WHO) Country Office, the plan aligns with the WHO Global Strategy to Accelerate the Elimination of Cervical Cancer as a Public… [Read More]
Connect Fund Expands Support for Veterans and Grassroots Groups to Advance Economic Equality
Three Northern Ireland community projects have been awarded nearly £64,000 in the latest round of the UK Government’s Connect Fund, which aims to strengthen East-West collaboration and support local initiatives tackling social and economic challenges. The Fund, managed by the Northern Ireland Office (NIO), has so far distributed almost £400,000 to twelve projects across Northern… [Read More]
COP30 Brazil: IOM Champions People-Centered Climate Action and Resilience
As world leaders gather in Belém, Brazil, for the 30th United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP30), the International Organization for Migration (IOM) is urging global attention to the millions of people already facing the devastating consequences of climate change. From floods and droughts to other recurring disasters, IOM emphasizes that communities at the frontline deserve… [Read More]
UNESCO and Oxford Partner with Kenya to Train Civil Servants in AI and Digital Skills
Kenya has achieved a significant milestone in advancing public sector innovation with the launch of the UNESCO–Oxford Massive Open Online Course (MOOC) on Artificial Intelligence and Digital Transformation in Government. Developed by UNESCO and the University of Oxford, and delivered through the Kenya School of Government under the DigiKen – Digital Platforms Kenya programme funded… [Read More]
How ‘Mama Mobokoli’ is Shaping the Future of Young Women Entrepreneurs
Jocelyne Mpila, once identified as a vulnerable individual through the Single Social Registry (RSU), has transformed her life through the Social Protection and Productive Inclusion of Youth (PSIPJ) project. After receiving vocational training and earning a certificate of aptitude, she became a “Mamapreneur,” a term used to describe women entrepreneurs who manage community childcare centers…. [Read More]
Safeguarding Clean Water Access in a Changing Climate
Healthcare facilities are critical for vulnerable populations, yet inadequate water, sanitation, and hygiene (WASH) can turn expected care into inadvertent harm, according to Dr. Hans Kluge, WHO Regional Director for Europe. He stressed that strengthening healthcare systems is essential for resilience during crises. In response, a UN-led meeting in Budapest saw more than 40 countries… [Read More]
Malawi’s Youth Gain New Opportunities Through FAO–UNFPA Partnership
In Mchinji District, Malawi, 18-year-old Kherena Medson exemplifies how targeted opportunities can transform young lives. Once forced to leave school due to financial difficulties, Kherena now runs a thriving poultry enterprise, supports her family, and has resumed her education, thanks to the FAO–UNFPA joint project “Action for Teen Mothers and Adolescent Girls and Boys,” supported… [Read More]
