Breastfeeding is recognized as one of the most effective ways to support a baby’s health, development, and survival, especially in the earliest stages of life. It serves as a natural immunity booster, protecting infants from life-threatening illnesses such as diarrhoea and pneumonia. Despite its benefits, global breastfeeding rates remain low. Only 48% of infants under… [Read More]
WHO
Global Plastic Treaty Negotiations Begin in Geneva to Tackle Pollution Crisis
Plastic waste is set to triple by 2060 unless the global community reaches a binding international agreement, according to the UN Environment Programme (UNEP). This stark warning underscores the urgency of the UNEP-led negotiations currently underway, following a 2022 decision by UN Member States to create a legally binding instrument aimed at ending the plastic… [Read More]
Ireland Allocates €2 Million for New Men’s Mental Health Counselling Supports
The Irish Minister for Mental Health, Mary Butler, has announced €2 million in funding to launch a new range of counselling and talk therapy services specifically aimed at men. The initiative is set to begin in September 2025 and will deliver more than 15,000 free counselling sessions annually. Designed to improve access to mental health… [Read More]
RightsCon 2026 Call for Proposals Now Open: Submit Your Session Idea
The Call for Proposals for RightsCon 2026, scheduled to take place in Lusaka, Zambia and online from May 5 to 8, 2026, is now open. Individuals and organizations are invited to submit session proposals by the deadline of September 12, 2025. RightsCon is known for its community-driven programming, offering a platform for activists, policymakers, technologists,… [Read More]
Ethiopia Unveils 2025 Health Emergency Investment Case to Strengthen Crisis Response
Ethiopia continues to face multiple, prolonged humanitarian emergencies driven by internal armed conflicts, food insecurity, malnutrition, disease outbreaks, and climate change. Since 2022, the number of people needing humanitarian aid has sharply increased, rising from 16.8 million to 21.4 million in 2024. However, due to extensive efforts by the government and its partners, that number… [Read More]
Cameroon Launches Major Reforms to Strengthen Emergency Medical Services
Cameroon is undertaking a major reform of its emergency medical services (EMS) system, representing a significant step forward in the country’s public health landscape. The initiative is being led by the Ministry of Public Health with the support of the World Health Organization (WHO) and the Korean International Cooperation Agency (KOICA). A comprehensive evaluation of… [Read More]
UK Deploys 300 More Officers to Combat Small Boat People Smuggling
The UK Home Office has announced it will fund an additional 300 National Crime Agency (NCA) officers to combat people-smuggling operations responsible for illegal small boat crossings in the English Channel. This expansion will be supported by a £100 million allocation from the department’s existing budget, which also includes investments in new technology and equipment…. [Read More]
Namibia Launches ELPAF Campaign to End Learning Poverty Across Africa
The African Union Commission (AUC), in collaboration with the Government of Namibia and UNICEF, officially launched the “End Learning Poverty for All in Africa (ELPAF)” campaign on July 31, 2025. The launch took place during the final day of a high-level continental conference aimed at accelerating foundational learning outcomes across Africa, and falls under the… [Read More]
UN Unveils Major Reform Agenda with Proposals to Streamline Global Operations
Since 1945, the number of UN mandates—formal requests or directives issued by its main bodies—has grown exponentially, now exceeding 40,000. These mandates are serviced by around 400 intergovernmental bodies and demand over 27,000 meetings annually, producing 2,300 pages of documentation each day. This massive workload comes with a significant financial burden, estimated at $360 million… [Read More]
c Alone Won’t Save Gaza: Hunger Lines Reflect Worsening Crisis
The humanitarian crisis in Gaza has reached dire levels, as thousands of displaced men, women, and children line up under the blistering sun at community kitchens, desperate for something as minimal as a bowl of lentil soup. These kitchens are among the few sources of food for families who have been displaced by conflict, and… [Read More]
Breastfeeding Rates Increase in Indonesia, But Mothers Still Lack Adequate Support
As Indonesia observes World Breastfeeding Week 2025, UNICEF and the World Health Organization (WHO) are emphasizing the need to strengthen support systems for breastfeeding mothers across the country. While the global event is marked from 1–7 August, Indonesia dedicates the entire month to raising awareness under the theme, “Prioritize Breastfeeding: Create Sustainable Support Systems.” The… [Read More]
Global Initiative Launched to Strengthen Water and Sanitation Regulatory Systems
More than 40 organizations have come together to launch the Global Call to Action on Strengthening Water and Sanitation Regulatory Systems, aiming to improve public health, promote equity, and enhance climate resilience by reinforcing regulatory frameworks worldwide. This initiative responds to urgent gaps highlighted in the latest UN-Water Global Analysis and Assessment of Sanitation and… [Read More]
UN Trust Fund Boosts Global Efforts to End Violence Against Women
The United Nations Trust Fund to End Violence against Women has launched its annual Call for Proposals, inviting applications for multi-year grants of up to USD 1 million. Applications can be submitted in English, French, or Spanish and must demonstrate the potential to create tangible, national-level impact in the fight against gender-based violence. The Fund… [Read More]
ILO Welcomes G20 Commitments to Youth Employment and Gender Equality Goals
At the G20 Labour and Employment Ministers’ Meeting (LEMM) held in George, South Africa, ILO Director-General Gilbert F. Houngbo urged global leaders to renew their ambition in tackling inequality and to prioritize the inclusion of young people and women in labour markets. Speaking under the overarching theme of Solidarity, Equality and Sustainability, Houngbo welcomed the… [Read More]
African Nations Shift Toward Healthcare Funding Autonomy Amid Aid Reductions
African countries are preparing to transition toward greater financial independence in healthcare development as international aid declines. This shift was highlighted by World Health Organization (WHO) Director-General Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus during the Sixth World Conference of Speakers of Parliament in Geneva. Ghebreyesus emphasized that the WHO is committed to supporting this transition, especially in… [Read More]
EU Renews Crucial Support for WFP’s Lifesaving Food Assistance in Algeria
The European Union has renewed its support for Sahrawi refugees in Algeria by continuing its annual funding of €5 million to the United Nations World Food Programme (WFP). This funding supports food assistance for over 133,000 vulnerable people living in long-term displacement in remote camps near Tindouf. The contribution enters its second year as part… [Read More]
Global Anti-Poverty Agenda: UN Task Force on Social and Solidarity Economy to Shape Roadmap
The UN Inter-Agency Task Force on the Social and Solidarity Economy (UNTFSSE) held its 53rd Regular Meeting on July 15, 2025, amid what the UN Secretary-General has described as a “global development emergency.” With only 35% of Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) targets currently on track, the meeting focused on aligning the Task Force’s work with… [Read More]
Ontario Invests $4 Million to Enhance Worker Safety in Thunder Bay
The Ontario government has announced a new investment of over $4 million through the Skills Development Fund (SDF) to support nearly 500 people in Thunder Bay and surrounding areas in accessing well-paying jobs across the construction, industrial, mining, and transportation sectors. This latest funding brings the province’s total investment in training initiatives in Thunder Bay… [Read More]
AfDB Approves $46 Million to Strengthen Healthcare System in Sokoto State, Nigeria
The African Development Bank Group has approved a $46 million loan to finance the Sokoto State Health Infrastructure Project, a major initiative aimed at improving access to and the quality of healthcare services in Sokoto State, Nigeria. This intervention comes in response to alarming health statistics in the region, where only one in twenty children… [Read More]
Breaking the Silence: Survivor Stories of Domestic Violence in Kazakhstan
Kazakhstan’s 2024 domestic violence reforms mark a significant shift in addressing intimate partner violence, resulting from years of advocacy by UN Women, civil society organizations, and the public. Survivors now have better access to emergency services, legal aid, and psychosocial support, following a strong legal framework designed to prioritize their protection. Previously, Kazakhstan’s legal system… [Read More]
How JRCT Is Supporting Social Justice Through Grassroots Funding
The Joseph Rowntree Charitable Trust (JRCT) supports initiatives that address the root causes of conflict and injustice. Recognizing the essential role of grassroots movements led by directly affected communities, JRCT launched a pilot Grassroots Movements Fund to back such efforts. Over the past three years, the pilot program awarded £1.5 million through 22 grants to… [Read More]
Immigration New Zealand Strengthens Efforts to Combat Human Trafficking
World Day Against Trafficking in Persons, observed on 30 July, serves as a global reminder to act against human trafficking. Immigration New Zealand (INZ) is actively engaged in preventing, detecting, and disrupting this serious crime. This year’s theme, “Trafficking in Persons is Organised Crime — End the Exploitation,” underscores the growing role of organised criminal… [Read More]
Uganda’s West Nile Refugees Thrive with Climate-Smart Agriculture
Rows of healthy tomato plants now flourish year-round in Uganda’s Bidibidi Refugee Settlement, despite harsh dry seasons that once left the community reliant on humanitarian aid. This transformation is the result of innovative, climate-smart agricultural practices supported by international partnerships. Refugees, like Mary from South Sudan who arrived in 2016, are now actively farming with… [Read More]
