The IMF’s April 2025 Regional Economic Outlook for Sub-Saharan Africa presents a clear warning: regional growth is slowing, debt pressures are mounting, and donor assistance is declining. Yet the report outlines critical opportunities particularly in domestic revenue mobilization, structural reform, and private sector activation that can shape a more resilient …
Rising inequality, biodiversity loss, the growing impact of climate change and unrelenting pressure on natural resources could lead to irreversible environmental damage in the Mediterranean basin, according to a new report by the UN Environment Programme (UNEP). The State of the Environment and Development in the Mediterranean finds that, unless …
In a new report published by the Global CCS Institute, CCS legal and regulatory expert Ian Havercroft looks at the relationship between carbon capture and storage and ESG assessments. Public interest surrounding environmental, social and corporate governance considerations taken by companies is on the rise. With that, corporations are paying …
With at least 6 million cases, India is currently among the world’s top three countries affected by COVID-19. The country’s forest-dwelling and Adivasi communities – already vulnerable and marginalized – have also suffered the pandemic’s economic ravages, facing extensive food insecurity and loss of livelihoods. These impacts have piled on …
This new WRI report estimates that legal and illegal mining in the Amazon now cover more than 20% of Indigenous lands – over 450,000 square kilometers. It also finds that Indigenous lands with mining experienced higher incidences of tree cover loss than on those without – at least three times …
Rapid urbanization in Africa south of the Sahara continues to highlight the importance of informal retailers as a source of both food and employment for the urban poor. The most recent Africa Agriculture Status Report emphasizes that, due to demographic and socioeconomic transformation in the region, the center of gravity …
An increasing number of governments around the world have developed a bioeconomy strategy. These strategies have important implications for the agricultural sector, technological innovation as well as sustainability and food security. The cross-cutting nature of the bioeconomy demands synergies and links between value chains to create innovations for optimal use …
The United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) has launched a practical guide for public organizations on how to conduct corruption risk assessments to identify, mitigate and prevent corruption vulnerabilities in their operations. The goal of a corruption risk assessment is to identify a realistic set of potential risks, …
Govt of India announced guidelines for ‘Unlock 4’ on 29 August, which will remain in force till September 30. Metro services will be allowed to operate with effect from Sept 7 in graded manner. The Ministry of Home Affairs said that there shall be no restriction on inter-State and intra-State …
As the COVID-19 pandemic forces lockdowns, most countries and municipalities are pursuing digital government strategies, many with innovative initiatives – but vast numbers of people still do not have access to online services, according to the 2020 edition of the United Nations E‑Government Survey, released today. The 2020 ranking of …
A Bill further to amend the Municipal Corporations Act, 1955 and the Andhra Pradesh Municipalities Act, 1965. This Act may be called the Andhra Pradesh Municipal Laws (Amendment) Act, 2020. It shall be deemed to have come into force on and from the 2nd March, 2020.
Increasing water scarcity is recognized as a key challenge to sustainable development and major cause of conflict, social unrest and changes to traditional migration routes and new migration patterns. At the same time water is increasingly considered as an instrument for international cooperation to support food production, livelihoods, ecosystems, climate …
The key factor that will determine the attainment of Africa’s development objectives is how the continent responds to its increasing need for access to adequate, secure and reliable energy services to industrialize, trade, provide better health and education services, reduce poverty and increase inclusion, boost economic growth and cater for …
This paper provides new insights to ensure that the long-term impact of non-traditional risks and opportunities can be better understood. Reflecting work done in collaboration with Mercer, the report leverages use cases to identify critical systemic risks that address an annual investment gap of $6.27 trillion. The report identifies six …
Economic distress and social discontent will rise over the next 18 months unless world leaders, businesses and policy-makers work together to manage the fallout of the pandemic. As economies restart, there is an opportunity to embed greater societal equality and sustainability into the recovery, which would unleash a new era …
Four years of Effective governance is no mean achievement. Fulfilled promises and futuristic projects are the hall mark of this Government. Near-perfect taming of a global threat like Covid-19 menace is something more than an achievement. More effective plans are there on the anvil… On May 25th, our government will …
The Government of India (GoI) is strongly committed to the 2030 Agenda, including the Sustainable Development Goals, as reinforced by the Prime Minister and other senior ministers at national and international meetings. India’s national development goals and its “Sab ka Saath, Sab ka Vikas” (development with all, and for all) …
Climate action is undertaken by multiple actors across multiple levels of governance and for this reason climate governance has been established as a multi-level governance (MLG) process. But to what extent is MLG delivering climate-resilient outputs? What are the challenges that MLG brings, and how can subnational governments deal with …
More than 300 human rights defenders working to protect the environment, free speech, LGBTQ+ rights and indigenous lands in 31 countries were killed in 2019, a new report reveals. Two-thirds of the total killings took place in Latin America where impunity from prosecution is the norm. Colombia, where targeted violence …
Escalating environmental degradation and the risk of climate change are attracting growing attention from both policy makers and the public. For Asian countries, decades of remarkable economic growth have had mixed results in terms of environmental implications. This book provides a comprehensive analysis of various aspects of the environment and …
Enabling Broadband connectivity across the country is essential to bridge the Digital divide between rural-urban and rich-poor. This will also promote e-governance, transparency, financial inclusion and ease of doing business. In the above context, the Department of Telecommunications is taking an important step by launching the National Broadband Mission with …
