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According to Estelle Koussoube, a senior economist at the World Bank, and Kehinde Ajayi, a senior fellow at the Center for Global Development (CGD), investing in the economic success of adolescent girls in Africa can transform the continent. To learn more, listen to a new episode of the World Bank's podcast.

As global growth slows to 2.3% in 2025 amid rising trade tensions, UNCTAD urges stronger policy coordination and regional integration to support developing economies.

Tsendsuren Byambaa, born in Mongolia's Khovd Province in 1970, is a herder and mother of six. She moves her family’s camps seasonally, residing in winter on the slopes of Mt Khairkhan. In 2009, she joined the , which supports rural herders with income opportunities while promoting conservation. Trained in wool processing and handicrafts, she is now collaborating with the Snow Leopard Conservation Foundation to develop a local cheese production industry in her province and six surrounding communities.

At 4,000 metres above sea level and surrounded by mountains and vast meadows, the women of the Sumac Vicuñitas Artisans Association of Umpuco-Palca, are part of a long tradition that Andean communities have developed since pre-Inca times: the domestication and breeding of alpacas, a species of South American camelid mammal related to the llama. In this tradition, women have played a crucial role in preserving ancestral knowledge and promoting local economies through the production of alpaca wool fibres for yarns and weaving.Today, a sustainable value chain in the Peruvian department of Puno allows them to transform alpaca fibres into competitive products replete with added value, opening the way for Quechua women to have better opportunities from the sustainable use of agrobiodiversity.

Five years before the 2030 Agenda deadline, authorities and experts will review the progress and challenges faced by Latin America and the Caribbean at the . Hosted by , the annual event will take place from March 31 to April 4 at the UN headquarters in Santiago, Chile. The meeting includes dialogues and side events to analyze new joint efforts in accelerating the SDGs goals and will launch a report outlining regional challenges and alternatives in the region for creating a better world.

At the , UNCTAD called for urgent reforms to global debt management to prevent the current debt crisis from hindering long-term development and stability.

The International Economic Association’s Women in Leadership in Economics Initiative () connects women economists worldwide and helps showcase their important empirical research, especially in developing countries. IMF Podcasts has partnered with the IEA-WE to produce a special series featuring the economists behind the invaluable local research that informs policymakers in places often overlooked. Driving Change kicks off this limited-run series from Turkey, with economist , who makes a strong business case for investing in social care infrastructure.

Ekkehard Ernst, author of the International Labour Organization ) report: "", joins the to discuss how geopolitical tensions, climate change, artificial intelligence, and inequalities are affecting global labour markets.

Despite ongoing efforts, Asia and the Pacific's progress toward the 17 Sustainable Development Goals remains insufficient, according to the latest for the region. The document shows that while notable gains have been made in areas such as industry, innovation and infrastructure, and good health and well-being, the region faces alarming setbacks in climate action. The report emphasizes the importance of citizen data, which complements traditional statistics and helps communities address local challenges, ensuring that no one is left behind.

For many developing countries, including the least developed countries, small island developing states, countries in Africa and middle-income countries, tourism is a major source of income foreign currency earnings, tax revenue and employment. Sustainable tourism, including ecotourism, can contribute to sustainable development and the achievement of the . Global Tourism Resilience Day (17 February) aims to emphasize the need to foster resilient tourism development to deal with shocks, taking into account the vulnerability of the tourism sector to emergencies. 

The  on 5 February  is a key global and annual event bringing together governments, businesses, and civil society to tackle economic, social, and environmental challenges. This year’s focus includes health, gender equality, decent work and economic growth, ocean life, and partnerships. The Forum will spark new ideas and priorities to work on and will look to boost innovative collaborations that will drive action and commitment to the 2030 Agenda and emerging global challenges.

Dr. Tsebaot Meles, a young Ethiopian doctor, turned a distressing personal experience into a mission to transform lives. During a visit to Sekota, a small town in Ethiopia's Amhara region, Tsebaot faced an unsettling challenge when she tried to purchase sanitary pads. “I got my period and went to a local shop with my sister,” she recalls. “To our shock, the male shopkeeper refused to help, reprimanding us for daring to request such an item. He insisted they don’t sell such things there.” Desperate, Tsebaot resorted to cutting up a bathroom towel for use as a sanitary pad. The incident ignited a passion within her to address this critical issue. She began researching how to start a company that could make a difference and later founded Ngat Reusable Sanitary Solution, a social enterprise committed to empowering women and girls in underserved areas.

A lot happened in 2024, and not all of it was good. Wars continued, protracted conflicts sprung back to life, disasters struck and people took to the streets to protest for better governance, women’s rights and climate action. The United Nations Development Programme in has a lot of work to do to put the world on track for a future that works for all. This means valuing the interdependent needs of humans, animals and nature, and keeping all the options open – environmental, economic, social – for current and future generations to flourish. As we look back to 2024 and forward to the next year, we have some New Year’s resolutions to guide our path, building on the good work and successes we’ve seen across Eurasia.

Foreign direct investment (FDI) rose 11% globally in 2024, but excluding conduit economies, it fell 8%, signaling shifts in economic dynamics and persistent uncertainties.

Linda Ampah's journey from a small home workshop to leading a successful garment manufacturing business has empowered hundreds of women, improving productivity, safety, and social policies in the workplace.