On 6 August, we mark the International Day of Awareness of the Special Development Needs and Challenges of Landlocked Developing Countries. Home to over 600 million people, the 32 LLDCs often face high trade costs, limited diversification, and infrastructure shortfalls that impact growth. Through the Awaza Programme of Action (2024–2034), the UN seeks to ensure trade better facilitation, structural transformation, transport connectivity, technology, climate resilience, and support. Its goal is to align national-level actions, regional integration, and policy frameworks to put LLDCs on a resilient path to sustainable development.
Economic Development
In Burkina Faso, women in the Sabari Kadi cooperative are strengthening their livelihoods by producing soumbala, a traditional fermented seasoning made from African locust beans. Through UNFPA-supported training, they have improved harvesting practices, adopted natural pest control, strengthened hygiene standards and gained skills in financial management and online marketing. These changes have enhanced the quality of their products, expanded market opportunities and increased incomes, while promoting sustainable use of forest resources. By combining environmental stewardship with entrepreneurship, the training is creating new opportunities for women and building resilience against climate-related challenges.
The world faces overlapping crises, including climate shocks, geopolitical tensions, poverty, and economic uncertainty, making progress toward the 2030 Sustainable Development Goals increasingly urgent. The (HLPF) will bring the international community together from 7–15 July to assess progress and develop solutions to accelerate action.
Global is forecast at 3.0% in 2026 and 3.4% in 2027, while stalled disinflation and geopolitical risks continue to challenge policymakers.
Fighting for and believing in change is in Jorge Moreira da Silva’s blood. Now Executive Director of the United Nations Office for Project Services (UNOPS), the former Portuguese minister is helping to improve lives. From restoring roads and repairing power plants to running health centres and constructing renewable energy mini-grids, UNOPS implements projects in more than 130 countries – often in fragile and conflict-affected settings.
“It's about providing social basic human needs. We have found a way to provide livelihoods to 15 million people in Afghanistan...rehabilitating roads, streets, water canals, paying men and women to do the job.”
In this episode of Awake at Night, Jorge Moreira da Silva reflects on the practical and political challenges of delivering projects in complex environments – from funding gaps to lack of political will. He also shares how releasing an Iberian lynx and earning his pilot’s license have to do with keeping hope alive through dark times.
Since this interview was recorded, the UN Secretary-General has appointed Jorge Moreira da Silva to lead the UN task force for the Strait of Hormuz.
Rural communities are where food systems begin and resilience takes root. Home to many of the world’s poorest people, they face the harsh edge of food insecurity, climate disruption and migration pressures. Yet within these landscapes lies extraordinary promise. With sustained investment, stronger value chains, access to finance and closer links to markets, rural people can transform vulnerability into opportunity, strengthen food security and build more stable futures. To invest in rural areas is to invest in the first mile of a more secure and sustainable world.
Under the 2026 theme “Cooperatives for a peaceful world”, the International Day of Cooperatives highlights the role of cooperative enterprises in advancing social justice, inclusion and solidarity. Announced by the International Cooperative Alliance, the theme recognizes cooperatives as people-centered institutions that foster trust, social cohesion, decent work, poverty reduction and peacebuilding by bringing communities together through democratic ownership, open membership and collective responsibility.
Rising borrowing costs are squeezing developing countries’ budgets, leaving less funding for education, healthcare, infrastructure and climate action while highlighting the need for more affordable long-term finance.
Micro-, Small and Medium-sized Enterprises (MSMEs) are the backbone of economies worldwide, representing more than 90 per cent of businesses and contributing significantly to employment, livelihoods and economic growth. As the world confronts intersecting economic, social, environmental and technological challenges, empowering MSMEs is essential to building resilient economies. By expanding access to technology, digital infrastructure, affordable finance and market opportunities, governments and partners can help MSMEs drive inclusive growth and contribute to sustainable industrial development.
sent by more than 200 million migrants and diaspora members support around 800 million people worldwide and are a vital source of income for rural communities. Through its , the International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD) is helping maximize their impact by investing in digital infrastructure, financial inclusion and innovative partnerships. Programmes in Africa, Central Asia and beyond are making remittances safer, cheaper and more accessible while linking them to savings, credit, entrepreneurship and climate resilience. By strengthening financial services and leveraging diaspora investments, IFAD aims to transform remittance flows into a powerful driver of rural development, economic growth and long-term resilience.
A simple transfer of money can sow the seeds of opportunity, resilience and growth. The International Day of Family Remittances (18 June) highlights the theme “Remittances for Rural Resilience, Entrepreneurship and Employment.” Nearly US$700 billion is sent annually to low- and middle-income countries, with around one-third reaching rural communities. The 2026 campaign calls on governments, the private sector and civil society to harness remittances and diaspora investment to expand entrepreneurship, create decent jobs, strengthen food security, and build more resilient and inclusive rural economies.
UNCTAD warns could add $20 billion yearly to import bills, hitting vulnerable economies and worsening poverty globally.
Nutrition is a cornerstone of rural transformation, linking healthy populations, resilient food systems and stronger local economies. Malnutrition costs the global economy up to US$3.5 trillion each year, while every dollar invested in nutrition can generate about US$23 in returns. The International Fund for Agriculture and Development (IFAD) promotes nutrition-sensitive investments that address the causes of malnutrition and strengthen sustainable food systems. Home-grown school feeding programmes illustrate this approach by improving children’s diets while creating reliable markets for small-scale farmers. In Kenya, IFAD-supported cooperatives supply nutritious grains to schools, boosting food security and livelihoods. Through partnerships with governments, donors and international agencies, including Norway-funded initiatives in seven African countries, IFAD has improved nutrition and livelihoods for over 263,000 rural people.
±őąó´ˇ¶Ů’s public-private-producer partnerships connect companies with small farmers, increasing incomes, strengthening supply chains, and supporting sustainable rural development globally.
The is helping textile manufacturers in Albania improve productivity, workplace standards and wages, supporting business growth while creating better-quality jobs for local workers.