Nigerian investment management firm ARM is preparing to launch a new trade finance fund aimed at increasing access to trade finance for small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) across Africa. The fund will work by providing loans to banks on the continent, thereby strengthening their ability to extend financing to local businesses involved in trade. The… [Read More]
WHO
Somalia and Djibouti Strengthen Medicine Safety with New Regulatory Initiative
Over the past year, Somalia and Djibouti have made significant progress in public health by introducing national pharmacovigilance systems. These systems are essential tools for monitoring the safety of medicines, detecting adverse reactions, and addressing issues related to substandard or falsified products. This development marks a major step toward enhancing patient safety and public trust… [Read More]
New Pandemic Fund to Strengthen South Africa’s Health Security
A new global initiative to support pandemic preparedness in low- and middle-income countries will be officially launched later this week. The South African Department of Health, in partnership with the World Health Organization (WHO), the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), and UNICEF, will lead the launch of the Pandemic Fund. The initiative aims to enhance… [Read More]
New Aid Budget Prioritizes Transparency, Value for Money and Results
The UK government has released new figures outlining how its international aid budget for 2025–2026 will be spent, with a clear focus on delivering value for money to taxpayers and achieving the highest possible impact for vulnerable populations overseas. This strategic shift comes in light of a planned reduction in the aid budget to 0.3%… [Read More]
Government Unveils Scheme to Aid Long-Established Young Farmers
The scheme to support Long Established Young Farmers, also known as Forgotten Farmers, officially opened for online applications on 22 July 2025, following a survey conducted in May 2025. The application window will remain open until 5:30 PM on 13 August 2025. A total of €5 million was allocated for this support measure in Budget… [Read More]
UNGA Adopts Key Themes for 2026 UN Water Conference Agenda
The United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) has officially adopted six key themes for the upcoming UN 2026 Water Conference. This decision was made during the 84th plenary of the 79th UNGA session held on 9 July 2025, following broad consultations with Member States and stakeholders. The session was opened by UNGA President Philemon Yang, who… [Read More]
Open Society Rolls Out Major Initiatives to Drive Change Across Africa
The Open Society Foundations have launched three new multiyear initiatives in Africa aimed at strengthening civic engagement, boosting economic sovereignty, and advancing peacebuilding. These programs—Democratic Futures in Africa, Resources Futures in Africa, and Transformative Peace in Africa—continue the foundation’s long-standing support for human rights, equity, and justice on the continent. Each initiative is designed to… [Read More]
WHO Faces $1 Billion Budget Shortfall: Can Private Funding Fill the Gap?
The World Health Organization (WHO) is currently facing a significant budget shortfall of approximately $1.7 billion for its 2026 fiscal year. In response to this financial strain, which stems in part from the United States’ withdrawal during President Donald Trump’s administration, the organization has initiated a series of cost-cutting measures. These include reducing senior-level staff… [Read More]
$37M+ in Hurricane Helene Aid Distributed for Disaster Relief and Rebuilding
The Community Foundation of Western North Carolina (CFWNC) has awarded three new grants totaling $1.65 million to support Hurricane Helene recovery services across Western North Carolina. These latest disbursements bring the total aid distributed from CFWNC’s Emergency and Disaster Response Fund (EDRF) since October 7 to $37,278,515. The first grant of $50,000 was awarded to… [Read More]
Agriculture Budget Overhaul Demanded by Policy and Sector Stakeholders
A diverse coalition of stakeholders from Nigeria’s agriculture sector convened in Lagos for the National Stakeholders Consultative Meeting on the 2026 Agriculture Budget, emphasizing the urgent need for transformative reforms in agricultural financing and policy implementation. The three-day summit drew over 130 participants, including representatives from government bodies, civil society, academia, donor agencies, and farming… [Read More]
New ‘Train-to-Hire’ Initiative by IOM and UNHCR Aims to Increase Refugee Job Opportunities
The International Organization for Migration (IOM) and UNHCR, the UN Refugee Agency, have jointly launched a new “train-to-hire” programme targeting displaced individuals in the Asia-Pacific region. Funded by the Government of Australia for an initial 22-month period, the initiative aims to equip refugees with relevant skills and connect them to international employment opportunities. This programme… [Read More]
UN Leaders Debate AI’s Role in Modern Health Care and Traditional Medicine
The AI for Good Global Summit featured a dedicated session on the role of artificial intelligence (AI) in both modern health care and traditional medicine, with keynote addresses from leading international organizations such as the World Health Organization (WHO), the International Telecommunication Union (ITU), and the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO). As the United Nations’… [Read More]
Solomon Islands Launches Life-Saving HPV Vaccination Program for Young Girls
The Solomon Islands Ministry of Health and Medical Services (MHMS), in collaboration with development partners and donors, officially launched the HPV Vaccination Big Catch-up campaign on 16 July 2025. The campaign aims to protect girls aged 9 to 14 from cervical cancer, the most prevalent cancer among women in the country. The event was held… [Read More]
Gray Foundation Awards $1 Million Grant to SBU for Student Scholarships
Stony Brook University has received a $1 million grant from the Gray Foundation to support undergraduate scholarships for New York City public school students. The funding will enable 10 students admitted through SUNY’s Top 10% Promise program to live on campus and graduate debt-free. These students, who come from low-income backgrounds and are among the… [Read More]
Belize Expands Mental Health Services with Support from PAHO/WHO
The Pan American Health Organization/World Health Organization (PAHO/WHO), in partnership with Belize’s Ministry of Health and Wellness (MoHW) and with financial backing from the EU-Funded Health Sector Support Programme, has launched a four-day Training of Trainers Workshop on the WHO’s Mental Health Gap Action Programme Intervention Guide (mhGAP-IG) 2.0. This training, held from 15–18 July… [Read More]
EU Launches EDMO Hub to Counter Disinformation in Ukraine and Moldova
A new regional hub of the European Digital Media Observatory (EDMO), named FACT, has been launched to support Ukraine and Moldova in combating disinformation. This initiative aims to strengthen efforts to detect and analyze manipulation campaigns, with a particular focus on Russian disinformation. FACT will also monitor the electoral period in Moldova, contributing to safeguarding… [Read More]
SNSF Swiss Postdoctoral Fellowships 2024: 72 Projects Receive Funding Approval
The Swiss National Science Foundation (SNSF) has allocated a total of 17.8 million Swiss francs for the 2024 SNSF Swiss Postdoctoral Fellowships, a transitional measure supporting early-career researchers in Switzerland. Out of 738 applications received, 72 have been selected for funding, resulting in a competitive success rate of 9.8%. The high number of applications, combined… [Read More]
Over €20M in EU Funding to Translate Frontier Science into Practical Innovation
On 14 July 2025, the European Research Council (ERC) announced the first round of recipients for its 2025 Proof of Concept Grants. A total of 150 projects were awarded €22.5 million, with each receiving €150,000 in funding. These grants aim to bridge the gap between frontier research results and their early commercialization or societal implementation…. [Read More]
New Project Launched to Promote Economic Independence for Specially Abled Persons
The “Enabling Economic Independence for the Specially Abled Person” project has officially launched in Sierra Leone, representing a collaborative initiative between the Government of Sierra Leone, the Government of India, and the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP). This project focuses on promoting the rights, dignity, and economic empowerment of persons with disabilities (PWDs) through practical… [Read More]
AfDB Approves $62 Million Emergency Grant to Restore Vital Services in War-Torn Sudan
The African Development Bank Group’s Board of Directors has approved an emergency grant of $62.13 million for the Sudan Integrated Social Sector Infrastructure Rehabilitation Project (SISSIRP). The grant is aimed at restoring essential public services—specifically in health, education, and water—in areas severely impacted by Sudan’s ongoing civil conflict, which began in 2023. This funding represents… [Read More]
Starting a Nonprofit? Essential Insights Before You Begin
Starting a nonprofit organization is a meaningful pursuit but requires more than just passion. It involves careful planning, structural development, and strategic execution. Before launching, it’s essential to determine whether the initiative fulfills a clearly identified need in the community. This requires thorough research, community engagement, and validation through both data and direct conversations with… [Read More]
WHO Webinar Explores Governance for Health Equity in New SDHE World Report
The World Health Organization (WHO), through its Global Knowledge Network for Health Equity (GKNHE) and the WHO Collaborating Centre on Health in All Policies and the Social Determinants of Health, is organizing a webinar focused on governance for health equity. The session will examine how effective governance can address the social determinants of health and… [Read More]
Mama Cash Launches Call for Feminist Activists in the Netherlands and ABCSSS Islands
Mama Cash has launched the 2025 round of its Spark Fund grant, open for applications from 1 to 31 August 2025. The grant supports feminist activism in the Netherlands and the ABCSSS islands (Aruba, Bonaire, Curaçao, Saba, Sint Eustatius, and Sint Maarten), offering €5,000 to €7,000 per project to groups of women, girls, trans, and… [Read More]
