After days of intense negotiations that stretched into early Sunday november 20th 2022 morning in Sharm el-Sheikh, countries at the latest UN Climate Change Conference, COP27, reached agreement on an outcome that established a funding mechanism to compensate vulnerable nations for ‘loss and damage’ from climate-induced disasters. “This COP has taken an important step towards […]

COP27 is scheduled to wrap up in 24 hours but countries remain divided on several significant issues including ‘loss and damage’, the UN Secretary-General said on Thursday November 17th 2022, urging parties to rise to the urgency of the moment and agree on real solutions to solve the greatest challenge facing humanity. “There is clearly […]

The Day of 8 Billion, officially marked on Tuesday november 16th, 2022, is a milestone moment for human longevity, according to the UN Population Fund (UNFPA), “signalling major improvements in public health”, but it also comes with warnings of worsening economic inequality and environmental damage. While fewer risks and increased life expectancy are to be […]

Small-scale farmers from developing countries produce one-third of the world’s food, yet they only receive 1.7 per cent of climate finance even as they are forced to cope with droughts, floods, cyclones and other disasters. This sentiment echoed through dozens of pavilions and conference rooms in Sharm el-Sheikh on Saturday as COP27 turned its attention […]

On ‘Women and Water’ Day at COP27, the power of women as key drivers of climate solutions, and the crucial impact that the climate crisis is having on our water supply took centre stage in Sharm el-Sheikh. Meanwhile, the negotiations on the conference outcome continued, with UN officials calling for ‘building bridges’ to deliver on […]

Digitizing G2P payments is a cross cutting agenda. The G2Px Initiative brings together the knowledge and expertise across various World Bank Group’s global practices and units–covering social protection, payments systems, financial inclusion, digital development, governance and gender–to improve G2P payments at scale. In this piece they are being represented by three directors for Digital Development, Social Protection and Jobs, and Finance, […]

PUNTLAND, Somalia – “I felt powerless… I looked around but it was too dark to see who had done this to me. I ran back home very scared – my family was still fast asleep.” Khadijo*, 11, only ventured a few metres from her tent to go to the toilet, but alone in the dark […]

GARABITO, Costa Rica – Like mother, like son; Ana Francini González Avalos’ son Tairon is a restless, intelligent 7 year old who knows how to read and wants to learn much more. Fran, as she likes to be called, has always been a quick study. When she was younger, she always made the honour roll […]

MACHINGA, Malawi – “I had to go against some deeply-held traditions to persuade my people that girls need access to education, just like boys,” said village head Patete, watching as a group of girls walked to school in Malawi’s Machinga district. In the past this would have been a rare sight in the village, as […]

The 27th session of the Conference of Parties to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change—otherwise known as COP 27—opens Sunday, 6 November 2022. Hosted by the Government of Egypt in Sharm El-Sheikh, COP 27 is an opportunity for the international community to catalyse much-needed progress on climate action. It is also a chance […]