East Africa: US$20m loan for small businesses

The OPEC Fund for International Development (the OPEC Fund) has signed a US$20 million loan in favor of East African Development Bank (EADB). EADB will use the loan to support small- and medium-size enterprises (SMEs) and infrastructure projects in East Africa. EADB is an important regional development institution for delivering key development objectives across the […]

Norway’s statement at the UN General Assembly

The United Nations was founded on hope – the hope for a better tomorrow in the aftermath of war. As we meet today, 75 years later, COVID-19 is putting us all to the test: Will we tackle the largest global challenge since the UN was established? Building on the lessons from other crises and infectious […]

Liberia: Family interventions hinder fight against rapes

A problem inhibiting the fight against rape in Liberia is the practice of reaching a compromise after a rape has taken place, a Liberian social worker has observed. Gayduo B. Bestman of the Coalition of Women Against Gender-based Violence in Liberia (COWAGIL) said most times when a rape occurs family members of the perpetrator promotes […]

Covid-19: Vulnerable small states need financial support

Representatives of Commonwealth member countries met in the margins of the United Nations General Assembly to discuss the urgent need for improved access to financial resources and debt relief to secure small states’ economic resilience. They also called to maintain progress on their sustainable development goals (SDGs) and Nationally Determined Commitments (NDC) for tackling climate […]

Voters’ roll update: Liberia opposition goes to court

Liberia’s main opposition group, the Collaborating Political Parties (CPP) says it will on Friday file a writ of “prohibition or cancellation” with the country’s supreme court against an ongoing Voters Roll Update (VRU) process. The CPP, together with another opposition block, the Rainbow Alliance, made this known in a press conference on Wednesday in Monrovia, […]

International tourism down 65% in first half of 2020

International tourist arrivals plunged 93% in June when compared to 2019, with the latest data from the World Tourism Organization (UNWTO) showing the severe impact COVID-19 has had on the sector. According to the new issue of the World Tourism Barometer from the United Nations specialized agency, international tourist arrivals dropped by 65% during the […]

Covid-19: Global focus on aid for unsafe children, youth

World leaders on Thursday committed to expand education in emergency aid for children and youth impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic. The beneficiaries are girls and boys already suffering the brunt of armed conflict, forced displacement, climate-change induced disasters and protracted crises – with a focus on the most marginalized, including girls, refugees and children with […]

Commonwealth supports tackling climate change

A virtual gathering has galvanised political backing amongst Commonwealth countries to tackle the key challenge of land degradation linked to climate change and biodiversity loss, which is impacting ecosystems across the globe and over half of the global population. Alongside the United Nations General Assembly meetings, ministers, high commissioners, officials and experts from across the […]

On rights, democracy in global fight against COVID-19

The COVID-19 pandemic threatens to accelerate the global trends of democratic backsliding and weakening respect for human rights. It is intensifying existing inequalities, hitting those who are already marginalised, subjected to discrimination and living in poverty the hardest. The Nordic governments advocate international cooperation, solidarity, human rights and democracy in fighting the pandemic. Disproportional response […]

Liberia: Women group holds anti-rape program

Women Empowerment Forum Liberia held an anti rape awareness fast and prayer program in Buchanan city, Grand Bassa County last Saturday, September 12. The activity was a part of the group’s efforts to combat rapes which have been declared a national emergency in the West African country. Rape is not only fought physically, it is […]