Last December, the Pandemic Fund's Governing Board has approved a substantial grant envelope of $500 million for its third round of funding. This initiative aims to bolster health systems in low- and middle-income countries, focusing on disease surveillance, diagnostics, laboratory systems, and health workforce development.

There is time until next February 14 to participate in two initiatives celebrating innovation and creativity inspired by the new European Bauhaus: the 2025 edition of the new European Bauhaus prizes and the new NEB Boost for Small Municipalities initiative.

The Clean Hydrogen Partnership has launched the 2025 call dedicated to innovative projects aimed at supporting the creation of cutting-edge technologies for clean hydrogen. A total of €184.5 million is available.

The NEPAD-Infrastructure Project Preparation Facility (NEPAD-IPPF), a multi-donor special fund hosted by the African Development Bank, recently convened its 39th Oversight Committee Meeting. The virtual gathering brought together over thirty institutions, including donors, partners, Regional Economic Communities (RECs), and implementing agencies.

The Asian Development Bank (ADB) has signed a $92.6 million financing agreement to support Indonesia's geothermal power expansion at Muara Laboh in West Sumatra, enhancing the country's green energy transition and contributing to its renewable energy goals.

Promoting and recognizing 'citizen science' in Europe. This is the goal of the IMPETUS project, the initiative funded by the Horizon Europe program to improve research and innovation performance. Here are the calls for citizens, professionals, and businesses.

In the year the LIFE Programme turns 33, there are many events on the calendar. From the next cycle of LIFE calls to awards for the most successful projects, this article offers an overview of some of the most interesting opportunities over the next 12 months. Horizon Europe: Call Biodiversa+ 2024

In a significant move to address the humanitarian crisis in Sudan, the World Bank has approved two pivotal projects with a combined funding of $182 million.

To achieve its climate goals, the EU must significantly increase green investments, potentially by an additional €558 billion per year. Without this, the Union will not succeed in pursuing a successful green transition within the set timeframe (by 2050). This is the warning from the ECB (European Central Bank) report "Investing in Europe’s green future".

A new initiative is underway within the Interregional Innovation Investments Instrument (I3), the European funding tool that supports interregional investments in innovation: through the new I3 Support Facility, less developed regions can rely on a dedicated hub to strengthen institutional capacities and promote innovative projects within their respective smart specialization areas.

The World Bank's Board of Executive Directors has recently discussed a new Country Partnership Framework (CPF) for Namibia, outlining the World Bank Group's strategy in the country for the fiscal years 2025 to 2029.

An in-depth analysis of the Eurobarometer survey results showing unprecedented support for the EU's Common Agricultural Policy (CAP).

The African Development Bank grants a loan of over €80 million to upgrade road infrastructure in Tunisia, enhancing connectivity and economic development.

The Asian Development Bank (ADB) is set to host the third Community Resilience Partnership Program (CRPP) Forum on February 25-26, 2025, in Bangkok, Thailand. This forum aims to amplify efforts in scaling up climate adaptation investments at the community level across Asia and the Pacific, particularly focusing on the intersection of climate change, poverty alleviation, and gender equality.

The World Bank has approved an additional $450 million in financing to bolster the Sindh Flood Emergency Housing Reconstruction Project, aimed at supporting resilient recovery following the catastrophic floods of 2022.

The Asian Development Bank and Hamkorbank have signed a significant loan agreement to boost financial access for rural MSMEs in Uzbekistan, focusing on women-led businesses and green technology investments.

Bangladesh receives $1.16 billion from the World Bank for inclusive and climate-resilient development, focusing on health, water, and sanitation services.

ADB and TBS partnership to enhance sustainable transportation in Indonesia through electric motorcycles and battery swapping technology.

The European Commission and European Investment Bank have announced a €2.7 billion disbursement from the Modernisation Fund to support clean energy projects in lower-income EU countries.

The World Bank has announced a significant investment of $187 million aimed at enhancing road connectivity and resilience in northwestern Honduras. This initiative is part of a broader strategy to improve the country's infrastructure and support economic growth through better transportation networks.

The African Development Bank (AfDB) has recently approved a significant loan of €139 million aimed at enhancing youth employment in Côte d'Ivoire. This initiative is part of the broader strategy to address the pressing issue of youth unemployment across Africa, which has been exacerbated by economic challenges and the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic.

The resources allocated for the new 2025 call of EP PerMed (European Partnership for Personalized Medicine), one of the partnerships funded by Horizon Europe in the life sciences field, amount to just over 36 million euros. This year's theme will be pharmacogenomic strategies for personalized medicine.

The first Energy Council of the new Von der Leyen Commission term addressed a strategic topic for the EU's energy transition: geothermal energy. During the meeting, representatives of the 27 Member States, after discussing the Commission's energy priorities, approved a document urging an acceleration in the development of this energy source.

The European Parliament plenary has approved RESTORE, the package of amendments to the European funds regulations presented in October by the Commission, which authorizes the use of part of the Cohesion Policy 2021-27 resources to respond to adverse climate events.

On December 13, 2024, the World Bank announced the approval of $500 million in concessional financing for the Rural Access Agricultural Marketing Project - Scale Up (RAAMP-SU) in Nigeria. This initiative is complemented by an additional $100 million from the Government of Nigeria, bringing the total project cost to $600 million.

The European Commission has adopted the 2025 work programme for the promotion of EU agri-food products. €132 million (compared to nearly €186 million in the 2024 work programme) will be allocated to funding promotional activities within the Union and in non-EU countries through calls starting in January.

The Asian Development Bank (ADB) has announced a series of strategic initiatives aimed at enhancing economic growth and resilience in the Lao People's Democratic Republic (Lao PDR). These initiatives focus on improving livestock health, water supply, sanitation, and reducing poverty, thereby fostering inclusive and sustainable development.

On December 11, 2024, the African Development Bank (AfDB) announced the approval of a $108 million loan aimed at enhancing economic governance in Zambia. This funding is pivotal for the country as it seeks to improve its fiscal management and overall economic stability.

The European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) has announced a significant partnership with Eurobank Bulgaria AD (operating as Postbank) to provide a total of €135 million in guarantees under the European Union’s InvestEU programme.

The European Commission has amended the regulation governing minor state aid for the agricultural sector. From increasing the cap for individual aid to extending the deadline to 2032, here is how the de minimis agriculture changes.

The future CAP must ensure stability for agricultural incomes, food security, reasonable prices for consumers, and incentives for the green transition. These are the priorities for the post-2027 Common Agricultural Policy indicated by the ministers of the Member States gathered in the Agriculture Council in anticipation of the European Commission's legislative proposals, expected next year.

The Asian Development Bank (ADB) has taken a significant step to bolster infrastructure development in Bangladesh by approving $100 million in additional financing for the Strengthening Bangladesh Infrastructure Finance Fund Limited (BIFFL) Project.

The European Commission has announced the first 130 projects awarded the Sovereignty Seal, as part of the Strategic Technologies for Europe Platform (STEP). This initiative aims to enhance visibility for promising projects in key technology sectors crucial for the EU's green and digital transitions and strategic sovereignty.

In line with the recommendations from the Strategic Dialogue on the Future of Agriculture, the European Commission has established the European Board on Agriculture and Food (EBAF), a council whose members will be selected through a call open until January 8, 2025.

In the same week the Council approved the 2025 flagship projects of the Global Gateway, at the Africa Investment Forum 2024, the European Investment Bank (EIB) announced new commitments to promote sustainable development and economic inclusion across the African continent.

The Asian Development Bank (ADB) has embarked on a significant ecological restoration project aimed at revitalizing Dongting Lake in Hunan Province, China. This initiative, supported by a $150 million loan, is part of ADB's broader Regional Flyway Initiative (RFI), which seeks to preserve critical wetland ecosystems across Asia and the Pacific.

December 5 marks the opening of a new round of calls to support the audiovisual sector in Europe comprehensively, promoting film distribution and festival organization in the sector. This enriches the list of 2025 calls under the Creative Europe 2021-2027 programme. 2025 Creative Europe Work Programme: over 338 million for culture and audiovisual

The African Development Bank (AfDB) has taken a significant step in supporting Senegal's agricultural sector by approving a loan of €55.33 million. This funding is earmarked for the second phase of the Water Valorisation for Value Chains Development Project, a transformative initiative aimed at boosting agricultural production, employment, and incomes across nine regions in Senegal.

The European Commission and the European Investment Bank (EIB) have launched a new partnership to promote investments in the battery production sector within the EU. Supported by the Innovation Fund, through a €200 million loan guarantee under the InvestEU Program, the partnership will enable the financing of innovative projects along the entire European battery production value chain. Innovation Fund 2024: New Calls for Net Zero Technologies and Electric Vehicle Battery Cells

The World Bank has announced its commitment to support the Government of Maharashtra in a significant initiative aimed at enhancing economic growth across various districts in the state. This initiative is part of a broader strategy to foster sustainable development and improve the living standards of the population through targeted investments and policy reforms.

The Asian Development Bank (ADB) has announced the approval of two significant projects totalling $173 million in loans and grants aimed at accelerating climate-adaptive water resources management in Cambodia.

A new round of European calls to support the sports sector will open next week, with a total budget exceeding €64 million. Here is an overview of the 2025 Erasmus+ program calls dedicated to the sports world in all its facets. Erasmus+ Work Programme 2025: Funding for Education, Youth and Sport

Today, December 3rd, two new calls from the Innovation Fund open: one dedicated to net zero technologies, encompassing 5 topics, and another aimed at supporting the production of battery cells for electric vehicles. The budget is €3.4 billion, with an additional €1.2 billion from the second EU hydrogen auction also opening today.

As the European Union initiates formal negotiations for Japan's association with the Horizon Europe program, a new call is already available to strengthen cooperation in research and innovation in quantum computing between Europe and the Land of the Rising Sun. Here are the rules for accessing the new opportunity promoted under the EuroHPC Joint Undertaking.

There is time until mid-December to participate in the Deep Tech Venture Builder Programme Call 2025, the first edition of the call promoted by EIT Health to transform academic research projects in deep-tech into businesses. The call aims to support up to 20 projects in the first phase and up to 10 in the second, offering a support ecosystem that includes mentoring, a health innovation network, and structured funding.

A new call for nearly €3 million opens today, November 28, launched by Brussels to support the creation of Renewable Energy Communities (REC) by groups of SMEs in the agrifood and retail sectors, aiming to reduce their exposure to energy costs. The resources of the call are specifically intended for consortia that will later publish tenders directly aimed at businesses.

The World Bank's Board of Directors has officially approved a substantial financing package of $250 million aimed at enhancing Morocco's municipal solid waste management system. This initiative is part of the broader efforts to improve urban liveability and environmental sustainability in Moroccan cities, which are home to over 60% of the country's population.

Less than a month after the launch of the EIC 2025 work program, the European Innovation Council (EIC) has opened applications for the EIC STEP Scale Up: a new incentive scheme focused on the STEP Platform and aimed at deep-tech companies operating at the forefront of innovation and seeking significant funding rounds.

Among the challenges that the second European Commission led by Ursula von der Leyen will face, transforming its regulatory ambition into global technological leadership is crucial. The goal is twofold: to implement the vast digital legislative framework adopted in recent years and to build digital infrastructures that allow Brussels to compete with other global powers, as explained in the Draghi Report. From AI to semiconductors, the role of digitalization in the Draghi Report

The African Development Bank (AfDB) recently highlighted the critical need for robust infrastructure development to harness the potential of artificial intelligence (AI) across the continent. As AI technologies continue to advance globally, Africa stands at a pivotal juncture where strategic investments in digital infrastructure could catalyze significant economic growth and innovation.