The tragedy in Sudan must end
24/4/2025: The human toll of Sudan’s civil war, now in its third year, has reached catastrophic proportions and yet the international community sits on its hands. Both sides are sustained by external backers. The United Arab Emirates backs the RSF, while Egypt supports the SAF, prolonging the conflict. The recent London conference may turn out to be nothing but another round of aimless speeches.
Source: Inter Press Service
Mission 300 tests what it takes to power Africa
24/4/2025: Dismantling USAID has led to the collapse of Power Africa, a once high-profile US initiative to deliver access to electricity. Attention now focuses on Mission 300, an ambitious plan to bring electricity to 300 million Africans by 2030.
Source: Devex
WHO to slash senior leadership and departments
23/4/2025: The World Health Organization has announced that its senior leadership team will be reduced from twelve to seven and the number of departments from 76 to 34. This is the consequence of the US, its biggest donor, withdrawing from the agency.
Source: Devex
Kenya embraces refugee integration, with support from citizens
21/4/2025: The Kenyan government has officially launched its Shirika Plan, an initiative to turn the country’s two refugee camps – Dadaab and Kakuma – into self-reliant integrated settlements. The Plan has been lauded as a major step forward in securing durable solutions for Kenya’s 800,000 refugees, the majority of whom are from neighbouring Somalia and South Sudan.
Source: The New Humanitarian
Mass convictions of opposition activists in Tunisia
19/4/2025: Amnesty International has condemned the sentencing in Tunisia of 40 individuals, including prominent political opposition figures, to harsh prison terms. Their trial has been riddled with procedural violations and was based on unsubstantiated charges.
Source: Amnesty International
Zimbabwe’s President signs law to curb civic space
17/4/2025: President Mnangagwa has signed a law on nongovernmental organizations that sharply curtails the rights to freedom of association and expression, according to Human Rights Watch. A debt relief programme currently under consideration by bilateral and multilateral creditors may be at risk.
Source: Human Rights Watch
As famine data dries up, can AI step in?
17/4/2025: Researchers are developing AI tools to predict famine more accurately and affordably. The dismantling of USAID has already shuttered FEWS NET, the gold standard for forecasting food crises.
Source: Devex
World Bank defends climate strategy ahead of Spring Meetings
17/4/2025: The World Bank has defended its commitment to devoting 45% of its annual lending to climate-related projects. And it has continued using phrases such as “climate change” and “climate finance” despite the Trump administration’s attempts to ban such terms by the organizations it funds. The US is the Bank’s largest shareholder.
Source: Devex
Libya’s fragile transition plagued by economic and political divides
17/4/2025: While the 2020 ceasefire continues to hold, the broader human rights situation remains deeply concerning – particularly regarding the treatment of refugees and humanitarian workers. There is a growing recognition that external actors must collaborate to support a comprehensive, Libyan-led solution to the country’s crisis.
Source: UN News
In 2024, global aid fell for the first time in five years
16/4/2025: Global official development assistance dropped 7.1% in 2024, as donor countries scaled back funding for Ukraine, humanitarian crises, and refugee costs. Member countries of the Development Assistance Committee contributed a combined $212.1 billion, representing 0.33% of their collective gross national income. The Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development will update these provisional figures in December.
Source: Devex