The return and reintegration of displaced individuals into their communities in Iraq is a critical phase that impacts both returnees and host communities. Families coming back from displacement face a range of challenges, including limited job opportunities, high living costs, damaged homes, and the collapse of social and livelihood structures they once relied on. A… [Read More]
WHO
Indonesia Leads Dialogue on Effective Development Cooperation with Key Stakeholders
On 17 December 2025, the Government of Indonesia, through the Ministry of National Development Planning/BAPPENAS, hosted a high-level Multi-Stakeholder Dialogue on Development Effectiveness in Jakarta. Co-organized with UNDP, the event brought together over 85 representatives from government, development partners, civil society, private sector, philanthropy, academia, and trade unions to reflect on development cooperation, validate findings,… [Read More]
Why Trauma-Informed Care Matters: Key Lessons from De Regenboog Groep’s Pilot Project
De Regenboog Groep is an Amsterdam-based organisation working with people who use drugs, people experiencing homelessness, individuals with mental health challenges, and refugees. In 2025, the organisation launched a Trauma-Informed Care Project aimed at strengthening trauma sensitivity across its services. The initiative was designed to improve how the organisation understands and responds to trauma experienced… [Read More]
Conservation in Action: Highlights and Achievements from Our Year in Review
As 2025 comes to a close, IUCN Save Our Species and the Integrated Tiger Habitat Conservation Programme (ITHCP) reflect on a year marked by measurable impact, strategic partnerships, and community leadership. Together, these initiatives have supported nearly 400 conservation projects worldwide, protecting more than 500 threatened species, restoring habitats, strengthening local livelihoods, and empowering communities… [Read More]
Major Investment in Justice System Aims to Serve Thousands Nationwide
A multi-million pound grant will expand free legal support for people facing debt, house repossession, or custody battles, the Deputy Prime Minister announced on 23 December. The nearly £20 million funding, spread over the next three years, is part of the Government’s Plan for Change to improve access to justice. It aims to help individuals… [Read More]
Europe Boosts Preparedness and Response to Peste des Petits Ruminants Outbreaks
Since its emergence in Europe in 2018, peste des petits ruminants (PPR) has spread to countries including Albania, Bulgaria, Georgia, Greece, Hungary, Kosovo, and Romania, representing the first known incursions in several of these nations. As a notifiable disease listed by the World Organisation for Animal Health (WOAH), PPR carries high mortality rates and significant… [Read More]
WHO and ECSA-HC Sign Memorandum of Understanding to Strengthen Regional Health Cooperation
The World Health Organization’s Regional Office for Africa and the East, Central and Southern Africa Health Community have signed a Memorandum of Understanding to strengthen collaboration aimed at improving health outcomes and building resilient health systems across the East, Central and Southern African region. The agreement establishes a structured framework for cooperation aligned with WHO’s… [Read More]
Nigeria Refines Polio Eradication Strategy with WHO Support Ahead of 2026 Targets
Nigeria’s efforts to interrupt circulating variant type 2 poliovirus (cVPV2) by 2026 gained renewed momentum following the World Health Organization (WHO) Polio Eradication Programme’s annual strategic retreat held in Abuja. The two-day meeting brought together WHO zonal and state coordinators to review progress, identify operational gaps, and refine strategies to better support government-led eradication efforts…. [Read More]
WHO Global Summit Sets Bold Agenda for the Future of Traditional Medicine
The second WHO Global Summit on Traditional Medicine, co-organized with the Government of India, concluded in New Delhi as a significant moment for global health cooperation, attracting more than 16,000 online registrations and convening 800 delegates from over 100 countries, including ministers from more than 20 nations. With contributions from 160 speakers, the Summit highlighted… [Read More]
Sudan War Enters More Deadly Phase, UN Highlights Rising Violence in Kordofan
Senior UN political and humanitarian officials briefed the Security Council on 22 December 2025, highlighting a sharply deteriorating situation in Sudan marked by indiscriminate attacks, expanding territorial gains by the Rapid Support Forces (RSF), and escalating dangers for civilians, aid workers, and peacekeepers. The conflict, which began in April 2023 amid a power struggle between… [Read More]
Ireland Commits €330 Million+ to Address Global Humanitarian Crises in 2025
In 2025, Ireland provided over €330 million in direct humanitarian assistance to respond to crises worldwide, according to Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade Helen McEntee and Minister for International Development and Diaspora Neale Richmond. The funding, delivered through Irish Aid, supported the provision of shelter, food, and medicine to people affected by conflicts in… [Read More]
Preparedness of EU/EEA Public Health Laboratories for Respiratory Infectious Diseases: Lessons from the COVID-19 Pandemic
During the COVID-19 pandemic, public health laboratories in EU/EEA countries came under severe strain as demand for testing and surveillance surged while capacity and resources were limited. Laboratories faced significant challenges in recruiting and retaining sufficiently trained staff, rapidly introducing new digital systems for genomic surveillance, and managing supply chain disruptions that caused shortages of… [Read More]
UN Establishes International Day of the Mediterranean Diet, FAO Welcomes Move
The United Nations General Assembly has designated 16 November as the annual International Day of the Mediterranean Diet, a move welcomed by the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations as a way to promote awareness of healthy diets, sustainability, and food traditions that support food security and improved nutrition. The initiative aligns closely… [Read More]
Fighting Fake Medicine: Ethiopia Unveils National Strategy for 2026–2030
The Ethiopian Food and Drug Authority (EFDA) officially launched the National Strategy for Combating Substandard and Falsified (SF) Medical Products (2026–2030) at a high-level event attended by senior government officials, regulatory bodies, and development partners. The launch featured remarks from EFDA Director General H.E. Ms. Heran Gerba and an opening address from Minister of Health… [Read More]
Improving Working Conditions for Agricultural Wage Workers in Mexico: New Initiatives
The Government of Mexico and the United Nations have launched the Steering Committee for the joint programme “Transformation of Agrifood Systems in Mexico: Towards Comprehensive Social Protection and Decent Rural Employment.” Supported by the Joint SDG Fund, the initiative aims to improve the working and living conditions of agricultural wage workers while strengthening their access… [Read More]
UK Imposes Sanctions on Perpetrators of Violence Against Civilians in Syria
The United Kingdom has imposed sanctions on individuals and organisations involved in violence against civilians in Syria, targeting both recent coastal violence and historic atrocities committed during the Syrian Civil War. Announced by Foreign Secretary Yvette Cooper, the measures form part of the UK’s ongoing commitment to hold perpetrators of human rights abuses accountable and… [Read More]
UK–Italy Young Leaders Programme: Leadership Opportunities for Emerging Leaders
The UK–Italy Young Leaders Programme brings together a diverse group of professionals who share a strong commitment to leadership and a passion for strengthening ties between the United Kingdom and Italy. Launched in 2023 by the British and Italian Prime Ministers, the programme is designed to deepen mutual understanding, encourage long-term collaboration, and foster high-level… [Read More]
Energy Project in Larimaat Spurs Social, Economic, and Environmental Transformation
In the remote community of Larimaat, Eastern Central Pentecost, women have emerged as central agents of resilience and empowerment, demonstrating how access to electricity can transform lives beyond infrastructure. After a failed pilot electrification project years ago, a new initiative—funded by the Government of Japan under UNDP’s Pacific Green Transformation Project and Vanuatu Green Transformation… [Read More]
Bridging Divides: Peace Initiatives in Yemen, Libya, and Sudan
Yemen, Libya, and Sudan are experiencing prolonged armed conflicts that have weakened state institutions and fragmented central authorities. International peace efforts over the past decade have largely failed to resolve these crises, highlighting the importance of local mediation mechanisms. These grassroots initiatives have shown potential in managing and resolving domestic conflicts where national and international… [Read More]
Organic Farming Insights: What the Plains Teach About Sustainable Agriculture
At the Transitioning to Organic Farming Conference held at the Eastern Nebraska Research, Extension, and Education Center in Ithaca, Nebraska, experienced farmers shared insights on the benefits and challenges of organic agriculture. Tom Schwarz, a fifth-generation farmer from southern Nebraska, emphasized how organic farming has allowed his family to reinvest in their own future rather… [Read More]
UNDP Brings Solar Energy to Buin, Empowering Nurses and Healthcare Services
The Buin District Health Centre, a level 3 medical facility serving around 200 patients monthly, has long been a crucial lifeline for residents of Southern Bougainville. Built in the 1960s, the centre provides essential health and ambulatory care but has faced persistent challenges, particularly frequent power outages that disrupt daily operations, water supply, cold storage… [Read More]
How Community Empowerment Drives Sustainable Poverty Reduction
In Villa Rosario, Talugtug, Nueva Ecija, residents once relied on hand pumps that provided rusty, mud-tasting water, causing widespread illness from diarrhea and vomiting. Community members, with financial and technical support from the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD), decided to prioritize and construct their own water supply system, ensuring safe and clean water… [Read More]
Hope in 2025: Positive Developments Despite a Difficult Year
Throughout 2025, the world faced record levels of conflict, climate crises, and humanitarian challenges, with millions at risk due to steep cuts in aid and rising digital violence against women and girls. Yet amid these crises, individuals and communities demonstrated resilience and courage, taking extraordinary actions to protect lives and promote well-being. From midwives delivering… [Read More]
