International development

The UNHCR Guidelines on localization provide a common framework and structured approach to help UNHCR implement its commitments to localization, rooted in the principle of “as local as possible, as international as necessary.” They outline key principles, practical steps, and promising practices to strengthen equitable and meaningful collaboration and partnerships with local and national actors.

Building on the progress made, the Oxfam Action Guide is designed to help COs turn Oxfam’s Gender in Emergencies (GiE) Strategy and Standards into practical, context specific actions that make a real impact in crisis affected communities. Clear, concise, and easy to translate, the guide provides step-by-step instructions, practical tips, and key resources to support […]

The long read: When Donald Trump set about dismantling USAID, many around the world were shocked. But on the ground in Sierra Leone, the latest betrayal was not unexpected

This paper explores how the three megatrends will affect the people of MENA and how, through emerging Human Development (HD) policies, the region can shape these trends .

The state of social justice 2025: A work in progress (ILO)
Report in English, Executive Summary in English, French & Spanish: https://www.ilo.org/research-and-publications/state-social-justice-2025

India’s 75-year journey of development has intertwined nation-building, democracy, and economic transformation in ways that challenge conventional theories of growth – highlighting both the achievements and enduring tensions between inclusion, governance, and inequality that continue to shape the country's future.

By Amitabha Sarkar / part of our “Share your Decolonising Story” project I grew up in a family shaped by the complexities of colonial misadventure in Calcutta, a refugee past marked by economic hardship and structural violence. For my mother, merit was the only way out.

This edition spotlights the latest evidence on gender equality. In just over a decade, the Sustainable Development Goals have generated significant changes for women and girls. They have spurred new laws upholding women’s rights and led to measurable increases in women’s education and well-being. Yet progress remains far short of ambition. With five years left to reach the Goals, this report outlines bold investments and actions to accelerate progress.

This guide offers practical advice on how to make International Organization for Migration’s Comprehensive Information and Orientation Programmes more gender-responsive. It supports practitioners in designing and delivering orientation sessions that meet the specific needs of women migrant workers at every stage of the labour migration cycle—ensuring they have the information needed to make informed decisions, exercise their rights, and access services.

The global energy transition stands at a pivotal moment: it can either dismantle the inequalities driving the climate crisis or deepen them. Today, the transition risks reproducing patterns of extractivism and exploitation, with the most marginalized paying the highest price while elites profit. From transition mineral mining to debt burdens and unequal energy access, the […]

Between 2000 and 2024, the global population increased from 6.2 billion to 8.2 billion. Over this period, a quarter of the world’s population (2.2 billion) gained access to safely managed drinking water, and a third (2.8 billion) gained safely managed sanitation. But while billions have gained access to WASH services, progress has been uneven and the total number of people still lacking access has decreased more slowly.