Australia is contributing AUD 4 million (approximately CHF 2.1 million) through the Standards and Trade Development Facility (STDF) to help developing countries and least-developed countries (LDCs) benefit from global agriculture markets. This funding supports the STDF’s 2025–2030 Strategy, “Facilitating Safe Trade to Meet the Global Goals,” which aims to strengthen sanitary and phytosanitary (SPS) capacities,… [Read More]
WHO
WHO Launches First Online Training for Urban Health Capacity Assessment Toolkit
The World Health Organization (WHO) recently conducted its first online training on the Urban Health Capacity Assessment and Response Resource Kit, engaging 58 practitioners and policymakers from 22 countries across all six WHO regions. Participants represented local and national governments, regional and global city networks, and civil society organizations, working together to strengthen cross-sectoral action… [Read More]
A Nordic Perspective on Workplace Compliance and the Power of Social Dialogue
A Turkish tripartite delegation visited Sweden from 25–29 August 2025 under the EU-funded project “Workplace Compliance through Labour Inspection Guidance and Social Dialogue (WPC),” jointly implemented by the ILO and Türkiye’s Directorate of Guidance and Inspection (DoGI). The delegation included senior labour inspectors, as well as representatives of workers’ and employers’ organizations, who engaged with… [Read More]
Zimbabwean Youth Explore Green Entrepreneurship at Look and Learn Event
Young green entrepreneurs in Marondera district in Zimbabwe, who were previously supported by FAO under the Green Jobs for Rural Youth Employment Project implemented in 2020–2024, funded by the Korea International Cooperation Agency (KOICA), are undertaking a look-and-learn event to showcase and share experiences. Youths are leading the organisation od the event with support from… [Read More]
UNHCR Deputy Chief Urges Global Support to End Syrian Displacement
UN Deputy High Commissioner for Refugees Kelly T. Clements concluded a five-day visit to Lebanon and Syria, emphasizing the urgent need for international support to bring peace and stability to Syria and to end the displacement and suffering of millions of Syrians. She also called for continued assistance to countries hosting Syrian refugees, particularly Lebanon,… [Read More]
Charting Inclusive Futures: Free to Be Me Economic Empowerment Forum Empowers Women
More than 100 business executives, civil society leaders, and diplomats gathered in Nairobi, Kenya, for the Free to Be Me Economic Empowerment Forum, addressing the growing social and economic exclusion faced by LGBTIQ+ communities. Hosted by Workplace Pride, Hivos, and the Netherlands Embassy, the three-day event provided a regional platform to design inclusive economic systems… [Read More]
EU Provides €9 Million for Biodiversity and Community Development Projects in Sierra Leone
The United Nations World Food Programme (WFP) has received a €9 million contribution from the European Union (EU) to launch a three-year project aimed at reducing biodiversity loss and enhancing the livelihoods of communities living in and around protected areas in Sierra Leone. The initiative, titled Nature Nourishes Territorial Approach for Local Development (NN-TALD), is… [Read More]
WFP Delivers Urgent Food Aid to Afghanistan’s Earthquake-Affected Communities
The World Food Programme (WFP) is urgently delivering food assistance to communities in eastern Afghanistan following a powerful 6.0-magnitude earthquake on Sunday, August 31, which killed hundreds and affected thousands more. Initial relief efforts include distributing High Energy Biscuits to quake-affected areas near the Pakistan border and dispatching mobile storage units to support broader emergency… [Read More]
Over One Billion People Live with Mental Health Conditions, Urgent Action Needed
More than one billion people worldwide are living with mental health conditions, according to new data from the World Health Organization (WHO), with disorders such as anxiety and depression causing profound human suffering and significant economic losses. While many countries have strengthened their mental health policies and programs, global investment and action remain insufficient to… [Read More]
UN Experts Raise Alarm Over Rising Human Rights Violations in Burundi Amid Elections
UN experts have expressed serious concern over a surge in human rights violations in Burundi, particularly in the context of the 2025 election period. Attacks against civil society, political opponents, and citizens have been reported, highlighting a climate of intimidation and impunity. Between January 2024 and May 2025, civil society organizations documented at least 200… [Read More]
Safeena Husain’s Educate Girls Wins 2025 Ramon Magsaysay Award — Historic First for Indian NGO
Educate Girls, an Indian non-profit founded in 2007 by Safeena Husain, has become the first Indian organisation to receive the prestigious 2025 Ramon Magsaysay Award. The NGO focuses on empowering out-of-school girls in remote villages by mobilizing communities and collaborating with government systems to enrol girls, ensure their retention in school, and challenge cultural stereotypes… [Read More]
Aid Efforts Underway After Devastating Earthquake Wipes Out Afghan Villages
The UN Secretary-General expressed full solidarity with the people of Afghanistan following a devastating earthquake that struck the country, offering condolences to the victims’ families and wishing a swift recovery for the injured. The UN team in Afghanistan is actively mobilized to assist those affected in the impacted regions. Several UN agencies reported widespread destruction… [Read More]
Human Security Approach Boosts Community Resilience in Sierra Leone’s Kono District
The workshop in Sierra Leone’s Kono District brought together Paramount Chiefs, Village Development Committees, Peace Mothers, local leaders, development officers, and representatives from UNDP and FAO to assess the impact of a human security-focused project. Participants also discussed how this approach could be integrated into the country’s decentralization efforts through the Wan Fambul Framework (WFF)…. [Read More]
Gates Foundation and WHO Collaborate to Support 465,000 Flood-Affected People in Pakistan
The Gates Foundation has pledged a donation of US$1 million to support the World Health Organization’s (WHO) partnership with Pakistan, aimed at strengthening preparedness and response efforts in 33 high-risk and flood-affected districts across Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Sindh, Punjab, and Balochistan. This initiative seeks to meet the urgent health needs of approximately 465,000 of the most… [Read More]
Childhood Cancer Awareness Month 2025: Supporting Young Warriors and Their Families
Globally, approximately 400,000 children are diagnosed with cancer each year, equating to three children every four minutes. The vast majority of these cases—90%—occur in low- and middle-income countries, where survival rates are alarmingly low, with only about 20% of diagnosed children surviving. In contrast, children in high-income countries have a survival rate exceeding 80%. This… [Read More]
South Africa Marks African Traditional Medicine Day with National Celebration
On 29 August 2025, South Africa held a vibrant national commemoration of African Traditional Medicine Day in Moruleng, Moses Kotane Local Municipality. The event reaffirmed the country’s dedication to integrating traditional medicine into its national health system. It was attended by Deputy Minister of Health Dr. Joe Phaahla, the Chairperson of the Interim Traditional Medicine… [Read More]
Nigeria Scales Up Mpox Prevention with Targeted Vaccination in High-Burden States
Nigeria has launched a targeted vaccination campaign across 12 high-burden states to curb the spread of mpox, focusing on protecting vulnerable populations and strengthening outbreak response mechanisms. This ten-day campaign, coordinated by the Federal Government through the National Primary Healthcare Development Agency (NPHCDA) and supported by State Ministries of Health, WHO, and UNICEF, is utilizing… [Read More]
Deadly Earthquake in Afghanistan: Rescue Efforts Underway as Children Among Thousands Affected
Rescue teams are urgently heading to Kunar province in eastern Afghanistan following a devastating earthquake that has killed at least 600 people and injured more than 3,000, many of whom are children. The death toll is expected to rise as rescue operations continue amid difficult conditions, according to Save the Children. The earthquake struck during… [Read More]
Humanitarian Aid in Crisis: Budget Cuts Threaten Millions Worldwide
Severe budget cuts in international aid are leaving the world’s most vulnerable populations without essential support. Across Europe and the United States, governments are slashing foreign aid budgets, redirecting funds toward domestic priorities or military spending. France has reduced its development assistance by hundreds of millions, while the United Kingdom, Germany, the Netherlands, and Belgium… [Read More]
Concern Worldwide Provides Lifesaving Support to Displaced Communities in DR Congo
Concern Worldwide is providing urgent humanitarian support to nearly 29,000 people displaced by conflict in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC). Operating in Masisi territory and North Kivu province, Concern’s team has partnered with a consortium of NGOs, funded by the EU, to address immediate needs including health, nutrition, water, sanitation, and protection for displaced… [Read More]
Over USD 300,000 from WHO Drives Significant Decline in Mpox Cases in Sierra Leone
A WHO-supported nationwide house-to-house campaign in Sierra Leone, costing USD 300,000, has halved Mpox cases in just one month. Named the “Enhanced Integrated Mpox Response (EIMR),” the campaign ran from July 9 to August 3, 2025, under the leadership of the Ministry of Health, the National Public Health Agency, and District Health Management Teams. WHO… [Read More]
UK Pledges New Support for Women and Girls in Gaza
The United Kingdom has announced vital new funding to support pregnant women, new mothers, and girls in Gaza, providing midwives, emergency medical supplies, and menstrual hygiene kits. This aid, which could reach thousands, is contingent on Israel allowing a substantial increase in humanitarian access amid a catastrophic crisis, with the Famine Review Committee confirming famine… [Read More]
Russia Bans International Baccalaureate Program, Citing ‘Russophobia’
Russia’s Prosecutor General has declared the Swiss-based International Baccalaureate (IB) an “undesirable organisation,” accusing it of promoting Russophobia and “non-traditional values.” The decision, announced on August 25, just days before the new academic year, effectively bans the IB from operating in Russia and prevents students from obtaining international diplomas that previously offered access to top… [Read More]
