Most countries make progress towards universal health coverage
6/12/2025: The UHC Global Monitoring Report 2025 reveals that an estimated 4.6 billion people worldwide still lack access to essential health services and 2.1 billion people experience financial hardship to access health care. This annual report monitors the Sustainable Development Goal that everyone, everywhere can access the care they need without financial hardship by 2030. Despite positive direction, the global progress rate has slowed since 2015 and persistent gaps and inequalities are on the rise.
Source: World Health Organization
Kenya lands $1 billion debt-for-food swap
5/12/2025: Kenya and the US International Development Finance Corporation have agreed to an innovative $1 billion debt-for-food swap. This allows the country to reduce part of its external debt in exchange for redirecting the savings into food security projects.
Source: Devex
UN hails DR Congo-Rwanda peace deal
5/12/2025: The Washington Accords for Peace and Prosperity have been signed by Presidents Félix Tshisekedi of DR Congo and Paul Kagame of Rwanda, facilitated by US President Trump. The UN has welcomed the signing as a “critical step” toward restoring trust, while warning that active fighting near border areas has continued.
Source: UN News
Malaria progress under threat as drug resistance rises
4/12/2025: The World Health Organization's annual World Malaria Report reveals that, despite progress in the use of vaccines, there were an estimated 282 million malaria cases and 610 000 deaths in 2024 – roughly 9 million more cases than in 2023. An estimated 95% of these deaths were in the WHO African Region, with most occurring among children under 5.
Source: World Health Organization
Uganda stops granting refugee status for Eritreans, Somalis and Ethiopians
4/12/2025: Citing severe funding shortfalls, Uganda has announced that it will no longer grant refugee status to new arrivals from countries “not experiencing war”. This will impact on Uganda's progressive migration policies which have taken account of forced conscription, political and religious persecution.
Source: The Guardian
Where do the USAID legal battles stand?
3/12/2025: The radical disbandment of USAID has triggered a growing coalition of partners, employees, and grantees fighting back through a web of legal tests. Some have secured early wins, but most remain locked in procedural battles that may still take months to resolve.
Source: Devex
Better land, soil and water management key to feeding 10 billion people
1/12/2025: Feeding a projected 10 billion people by 2050 will require bold and smarter choices in how the world manages its land, soil and water, according to a UN flagship report. Over the past 60 years, global agricultural production tripled with only an 8 percent increase in agricultural land – but at high environmental and social costs.
Source: UN Food and Agriculture Organization
Landmines: action needed to reinforce ban
1/12/2025: A report by Human Rights Watch expresses concern that in 2025 five states parties have moved to withdraw from the 1997 Mine Ban Treaty. Russia has used antipersonnel landmines extensively in the war in Ukraine, causing thousands of casualties and contaminating vast tracts of land.
Source: Human Rights Watch
International Criminal Court: justice at risk
1/12/2025: Human Rights Watch is calling on member states of the International Criminal Court to fight back against its critics. The Annual Meeting of the Court is an opportunity to highlight that US sanctions on ICC prosecutors could severely set back the global fight against impunity.
Source: Human Rights Watch
Measles deaths down 88% since 2000, but cases surge
28/11/2025: Nearly 59 million lives have been saved by the measles vaccine since 2000. Despite fewer deaths, measles cases are surging worldwide, even in high-income countries that once eliminated it. There were an estimated 11 million infections in 2024, nearly 800 000 more than pre-pandemic levels in 2019.
Source: World Health Organization