Odisha has topped all Indian states in urban governance, according to an annual index prepared by a non-partisan body that called for greater reforms and empowerment of city governments. Nagaland ranked at the bottom. Maharashtra, Chhattisgarh, Kerala and Madhya Pradesh followed Odisha to round up the top five.

The COVID-19 pandemic is having an unprecedented impact on countries in the Asia- Pacific region. Not only have the health consequences led to over 170,000 deaths in the region, but the socio-economic costs have exceeded those of the Asian financial crisis in 1997.

This report proposes a new independent regulatory body for Indonesia’s electricity sector, in particular for investment planning, procurement, tariff setting, and electrification.A situational analysis and review of stakeholder opinions strongly indicates that the current decision-making structures in the electricity sector of Indonesia are inad

There is vast literature on groups as a useful mechanism for rural development, especially for women. However, for group participation to fulfil on potential benefits to women, gender-specific constraints must be addressed.

More than three billion people live in agricultural areas with high to very high levels of water shortages and scarcity, and almost half of them face severe constraints.

This new report from WHO and UNICEF is an urgent call to transform sanitation for better health, environments, economies and societies. Citing evidence on what works from successful countries and global guidelines, WHO and UNICEF call for strong government leadership and investment in resilient sanitation services.

UNESCO shows 40% of poorest countries failed to support learners at risk during COVID-19 crisis and urges inclusion in education. Fewer than 10% of countries have laws that help ensure full inclusion in education, according to UNESCO’s 2020 Global Education Monitoring Report: Inclusion and education – All means all.

This paper outlines food security’s impact across areas such as natural resources, trade, violent conflict and climate change, and its implications for achieving SDG 2: Zero Hunger. It also seeks to give geopolitics a more prominent place in the food security debate.

Society’s poorest, most marginalised and excluded people have little say on the triple crisis of climate change, nature’s degradation and poverty; yet they are most affected by it. Climate finance is a key resource to help them deal with the impacts of this crisis.

Rising inequality, biodiversity loss, the growing impact of climate change and unrelenting pressure on natural resources could lead to irreversible environmental damage in the Mediterranean basin, according to a new report by the UN Environment Programme (UNEP).