South-South cooperation: Success for one, is success for all

“One’s success is everyone’s success” is not just a phrase – it is the core principle behind the India-UN Development Partnership Fund, which is transforming the development landscape for countries in the Global South. Established in 2017 with an initial pledge of $150 million, the Fund is driven by the Government of India in collaboration … Read more

Coffee, tea and cocoa costs see global food import bill soaring past $2 trillion

The biannual report, which focuses on developments affecting global food and animal feed markets, highlights that higher costs for cocoa, coffee, and tea are driving the increase, while disparities in import bills persist across income levels. Cocoa prices have soared nearly four times their ten-year average earlier this year, coffee prices have almost doubled, and tea … Read more

COP29: Energy transition must not trigger a ‘stampede of greed’ that crushes the poor

“We are here to respond to a key challenge: turning the energy transition towards justice,” said UN Secretary-General António Guterres, asking the participants at a roundtable discussion to weigh in on the work of his Panel on Critical Energy Transition Minerals. The panel launched last year at COP28 in the United Arab Emirates with the … Read more

World’s largest urban development forum concludes with Cairo Call to Action

Ahead of the closing ceremony, UN-Habitat Executive Director, Anaclaudia Rossbach, emphasised the Forum’s timely emphasis on local action. “Over half of the world’s population now resides in urban areas,” she said, as she highlighted the pivotal role of local governments in shaping cities and human settlements. WUF12 was “a turning point in the journey of … Read more

Looming famine in Rakhine signals wider crisis in Myanmar

In a report released on Thursday, the UN Development Programme (UNDP) described the situation in the poverty-struck province as an “unprecedented disaster”. “A perfect storm is brewing,” it said, citing a combination of interlinked issues – restrictions on domestic and international flow of goods, hyperinflation, loss of livelihoods, dwindling agricultural production and lack of essential … Read more