Since Russia’s invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, the World Bank has collaborated with international partners to provide fast, targeted, and predictable financial support to help the Ukrainian government sustain essential public services for nearly 16 million citizens. The Public Expenditures for Administrative Capacity Endurance (PEACE) Project funds salaries for civilian government employees, teachers, health… [Read More]
WHO
New Deals Announced to Make HIV Prevention Medicines Accessible, UNAIDS Says
UNAIDS has welcomed the announcement of two new agreements that dramatically reduce the cost of lenacapavir, a revolutionary long-acting HIV prevention medicine, from USD 28,000 to just USD 40 per person per year. Lenacapavir, produced by Gilead, is administered via injections twice a year and has been shown to be between 96% and 100% effective… [Read More]
Affordable HIV Prevention: Gates Foundation Collaborates with Indian Manufacturer to Boost Access
The Gates Foundation has partnered with Indian manufacturer Hetero Labs to expand access to a low-cost, generic version of lenacapavir, a groundbreaking twice-yearly injectable pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) for HIV. Supported by upfront funding and volume guarantees, Hetero will produce the treatment at roughly $40 per patient per year, making it more affordable for national health… [Read More]
Life is Easy in Digital’ Project Empowers Women Entrepreneurs with Grants for Digital Growth
The 2025 cycle of the “Life is Easy in Digital” Project, implemented by Türk Telekom, the Union of Chambers and Commodity Exchanges of Türkiye (TOBB), the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), and the Habitat Association, has opened applications for its mentorship and grant program. The initiative aims to equip women entrepreneurs with essential digital skills,… [Read More]
Revolutionizing NCD Care: How Primary Health Care Can Boost Prevention and Treatment – PAHO
At a high-level side event during the 80th United Nations General Assembly, the Pan American Health Organization (PAHO) joined health ministers, global financial institutions, and strategic partners to advocate for expanding primary health care (PHC) as the foundation for addressing noncommunicable diseases (NCDs), which remain the leading cause of death globally. Co-hosted by the Governments… [Read More]
Sex, Satisfaction, and Switching: Unanswered Questions in Contraceptive Research
This World Contraception Day, Sexual and Reproductive Health Matters, The Pleasure Project, and the UN’s Special Programme in Human Reproduction (HRP) launched a groundbreaking systematic review on sexual well-being and contraceptive use. Published in the Sexual and Reproductive Health Matters (SRHM) Journal, the study is the first of its kind to explore how sexual pleasure,… [Read More]
Scaling Up Respiratory Virus Monitoring in Guyana: A Public Health Milestone
In a major step to strengthen national health security, Guyana’s Ministry of Health, in partnership with the Pan American Health Organization (PAHO), has significantly expanded its sentinel surveillance system for respiratory viruses. Launched in April 2023, this initiative enhances the country’s capacity to detect, monitor, and respond to influenza and other respiratory threats, marking a… [Read More]
Sustainable Development in the Age of AI: Opportunities and Challenges
The UNDP Human Development Report 2025 poses a pressing question: Are we entering an AI-powered renaissance that advances human development, or are we headed toward a future of inequality and reduced freedoms? This dilemma reflects the growing influence of artificial intelligence, which is shifting rapidly from theoretical promise to a practical tool shaping global development…. [Read More]
UK Approves Direct Funding to Africa CDC After Successful Due Diligence Review
The Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC) has reached a historic milestone with the United Kingdom formally approving direct funding following nearly a year-long Due Diligence Assessment. This approval signals renewed confidence in Africa CDC’s strengthened fiduciary and governance systems and marks a new era of direct collaboration between the UK and… [Read More]
Cambodia Microfinance Practices Threaten Indigenous Communities, Report Finds
A recent Human Rights Watch report highlights that Cambodian microfinance institutions (MFIs), backed by international investors, have been aggressively lending to Indigenous communities, using the value of their land as collateral. These predatory lending practices have resulted in coerced land sales, over-indebtedness, debt-driven suicides, and severe violations of the economic, cultural, and social rights of… [Read More]
Brazil’s Catalytic Pledge Sparks WWF Call for Global Investments in TFFF
WWF has praised the Government of Brazil for its landmark US$1 billion investment in the Tropical Forest Forever Facility (TFFF), announced as a transformative step for nature and climate finance. Brazil’s commitment is notable for broadening the investor base to include governments that were historically aid recipients, alongside traditional donor countries and private investors. WWF… [Read More]
WHO and FAO Partner with Mauritius to Combat Obesity via 5-Year Action Plan
The World Health Organization (WHO) and the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) are supporting the Government of Mauritius in implementing a five-year Obesity Action Acceleration Roadmap, running from 2025 to 2030. Launched recently, the roadmap aims to reduce obesity prevalence among Mauritians by 5% by 2030, aligning with the World Health Assembly’s extended 2030 global… [Read More]
WHO to Launch Traditional Medicine Global Library in 2025
The World Health Organization (WHO) is set to launch the Traditional Medicine Global Library (TMGL) in December 2025 at the WHO Global Summit on Traditional Medicine in New Delhi, India. This initiative will serve as the world’s most comprehensive digital repository for traditional, complementary, and integrative medicine, aiming to preserve and share diverse knowledge while… [Read More]
WHO/UNICEF Report: Billions Still Lack Basic Health Services Despite Global Efforts
The latest joint WHO/UNICEF global progress report, Essential Services for Quality Care: Water, Sanitation, Hygiene, Health Care Waste and Electricity Services in Health Care Facilities, reveals that over 100 countries have made unprecedented efforts to improve basic services in health care facilities. While significant progress has been made in establishing standards, conducting baseline assessments, and… [Read More]
WHO Statement Highlights Key Insights on Autism Spectrum Disorders
The World Health Organization (WHO) has stated that there is currently no conclusive scientific evidence linking the use of acetaminophen (paracetamol) during pregnancy with autism. Globally, nearly 62 million people, or approximately 1 in 127, are diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder (ASD), a complex group of neurodevelopmental conditions. While awareness and diagnosis have improved, the… [Read More]
Integrated Health Drive in South Sudan Shields 2.1 Million Children and 1.2 Million Adults
designed to address the evolving challenges of the polio endgame. It is specifically intended for use in responding to circulating vaccine-derived poliovirus type 2 (cVDPV2) outbreaks and is more genetically stable than the traditional monovalent OPV2. ChatGPT said: The Ministry of Health (MoH) of South Sudan, in partnership with the World Health Organization (WHO) and… [Read More]
Mars UK Signs Armed Forces Covenant to Strengthen Support for Veterans and Military Families
Mars UK has formally signed the Armed Forces Covenant (AFC), reaffirming its commitment to supporting members of the UK’s armed forces community, both past and present. The signing ceremony was attended by Lt Col Tom Spencer-Smith, Commanding Officer of the 1st Battalion Grenadier Guards, who acted as Defence’s co-signatory, alongside Mars UK representatives. Members of… [Read More]
Türkiye’s Energy-Efficient Buildings Boost Savings and Enhance Quality of Life
Türkiye is taking decisive steps to enhance energy efficiency in response to a growing economy and rising energy demand, aiming to reduce reliance on imports and cut harmful emissions. Energy-saving measures are being implemented across public hospitals, schools, and government offices, including improved insulation, efficient heating and cooling systems, LED lighting, and solar panels. Supported… [Read More]
Morocco Sees Rapid Rise in Preschool Enrollment as Education Reforms Take Effect
In 2018, Morocco set a national goal to achieve universal preschool access for children aged 4 to 5 by 2028, prioritizing rural and disadvantaged communities with limited access to early learning. Over the six years since the initiative began, preschool enrollment surged from 45% to 80% nationally and from 33% to 91% in rural areas,… [Read More]
Over 650,000 Zambians to Gain from World Bank Support for Sustainable Natural Resource Management
The World Bank is expanding its support for Zambia’s watershed management and forest conservation through the second phase of the Transforming Landscapes for Resilience and Development (TRALARD II) project. The initiative aims to sustainably manage over 680,000 hectares of land and enhance livelihood resilience for more than 650,000 people in vulnerable communities within Zambia’s Miombo… [Read More]
AI and Circular Economies: Transforming the Coconut Sector for a Sustainable Future
The International Labour Organization (ILO), through its Inclusive, Competitive, and Responsible Digital Philippines (Digital-PINAS) programme, presented a transformative vision for the coconut industry at the World Coconut Congress 2025 in Manila. During a session on Environmental and Social Challenges in the Coconut Supply Chain, the ILO highlighted how artificial intelligence (AI) and circular economy principles… [Read More]
Asian Development Bank Launches Housing Finance Program to Support Ethnic Armenian Refugees
The Asian Development Bank (ADB) has approved a $250 million results-based loan to support Armenia’s social housing policy, provide long-term housing for ethnic Armenian refugees, and improve the country’s social and economic conditions. The Transformative Housing Reforms for Improved Vitality and Empowerment (THRIVE) Program will address the sustainable housing needs of approximately 109,000 refugees who… [Read More]
Poverty in Kenya: Understanding Root Causes, Lasting Impacts, and Local Solutions
Poverty in Kenya remains a pressing issue in 2025, with millions of people still unable to meet their daily needs despite steady economic growth. Families across the country face hardships such as food insecurity, inadequate healthcare, and limited access to education. The challenge is especially acute in rural areas and marginalized regions, where poverty rates… [Read More]
