International Funding

Fortify Rights recommends that Bangladesh immediately close Bhasan Char, allow voluntary relocation to the mainland, grant all Rohingya freedom of movement and the right to work, and ratify the 1951 Refugee Convention. It also calls on the UN to prioritise human rights monitoring over access, and on the international community to support accountability for crimes in Myanmar.

Sri Lanka's “Policy for Digital Transformation of Education,” introduced in 2023, targets high-speed internet and devices in all schools by 2025. With international partnerships like UNESCO and Huawei, the nation aims for an inclusive digital economy, though balancing rapid change with safeguards remains key.

Sri Lanka is gearing up to apply for $25 million from the United Nations' Fund for Responding to Loss and Damage (FRLD). The application is intended to support recovery efforts.

Specifics on FDI limits in sectors like defence or manufacturing remain broad, with no immediate changes announced. Implementation timelines are unclear, but the government aims to roll out these reforms swiftly to capitalise on global shifts in investment patterns.

The financial turmoil is already rippling through UN agencies, with humanitarian work bearing the brunt. BBC investigations show that agencies rarely receive full funding for crises, but the past year has been exceptionally grim.

Afghanistan’s recurring natural disasters – from earthquakes to extreme winters – highlight the country’s vulnerability, amplified by political isolation, economic hardship, and restrictive governance.

The episode marks a critical moment for global health diplomacy. As pandemics and health crises increasingly transcend borders, the debate over the US withdrawal from the WHO highlights the fragile balance between national interests and collective security in an interconnected world.

If these working group meetings proceed as planned, they will be the first major technical talks under the Doha framework to take place on Afghan soil.