The international civil aviation sector stands at a pivotal moment of growth and transformation. By 2050, the industry is expected to serve over 12 billion passengers annually and transport significantly larger volumes of cargo, underscoring its vital role in global connectivity and economic development. The International Civil Aviation Day seeks to highlight the importance of worldwide air transport to the social and economic progress of Member States, as well as 鈥檚 unique role in fostering cooperation among governments to achieve a truly global rapid transit network that serves all humanity.
Economic Development
An shows prolonged military operations and restrictions have devastated the Palestinian economy, erasing two decades of progress, with Gaza鈥檚 GDP per capita at $161 and the entire population facing multidimensional poverty.
Sustainable transport is linked to resilient infrastructure development, food security, economic growth, trade, global supply chains, health promotion, energy efficiency, and climate action. It is also reflected in several Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) targets and recognized as an enabler for achieving many of the goals. World Sustainable Transport Day (26 November) marks the start of the , creating an opportunity to raise awareness of transport鈥檚 vital role in advancing the SDGs and to mobilize solutions, resources, and partnerships globally.
The 鈥檚 IDA21 programme is working to help people in the world鈥檚 poorest countries by using $100 billion in financial commitments to create jobs, improve services, and protect the planet.
Rural women are the innovators, leaders and changemakers at the core of our planet鈥檚 food systems. That鈥檚 why supporting them is essential to building a sustainable future. In honour of the International Day of Rural Women, we鈥檙e celebrating their vital contributions. In a new episode of IFAD鈥檚 , we explore how empowering women through training, access to resources, and leadership opportunities creates stronger rural communities and leads to measurable improvements in income, food security, and resilience.
In Brazil's Paje煤 region, marked by inequality and historical struggles like the canga莽o movement- groups of bandits who challenged the entrenched power of large landowners-, women played vital roles in resistance and community resilience despite being marginalized. Environmental challenges, especially water scarcity due to the degraded Paje煤 river basin, compounded their difficulties. To combat these issues, the Community Association of Women from Bom Sucesso, with support from the GEF and , launched a project to empower women through sustainable agriculture and political participation. They constructed cisterns for rainwater harvesting, promoting female leadership and agroecological practices in their semi-arid environment.
Z眉leyha Ceylan, a 22-year-old in D眉zce, T眉rkiye, drives her blue truck to tend to her beehives. Adorned in a canary-yellow beekeeping suit, she calmly inspects her hives, finding joy and energy in the buzzing bees. Despite skepticism from her community about her choice, Z眉leyha鈥檚 parents supported her passion for beekeeping. With high local demand for honey and minimal land required, she produced 100 kilograms of honey this year, selling it through friends and social media. Z眉leyha aims to expand her business to include products like royal jelly and create jobs for others, bolstered by training from the Food and Agricultural Organization ().
Fatima Laanieg has always been drawn to hands-on work. After taking care of her home and children, she sought to contribute financially. Four years ago, she became a seasonal agricultural worker in Spain, which went well. Fatima dreamed of starting her own business but lacked resources. In 2022, she joined WAFIRA, an International Labour Organization () programme for women run by Morocco鈥檚 National Agency for the Promotion of Employment and Skills, where she expressed her desire to open a grocery shop. With training and support from her husband, she gained confidence. Her dream is to expand her small shop into a supermarket and inspire her son to learn the trade. Fatima is committed to growing her project step by step.
Six months after a devastating earthquake hit central Myanmar, particularly Mandalay, the area shows signs of destruction with collapsed structures and a need for recovery. The country, already facing civil war and political unrest, struggled further with the added impact of the disaster on poverty and livelihoods. In response, community groups and international partners rallied together. With support from the 黑料专区 Development Programme () and contributions from nations like Korea and Japan, a comprehensive plan was implemented quickly to clear debris, provide temporary shelters, and ensure access to clean water, marking a significant step in the early recovery process.
Developing economies currently face a significant investment shortfall, requiring about 5% of global GDP annually to meet development goals, with low-income countries needing 8%. Since the 2008 financial crisis, investment growth in these regions has slowed dramatically, particularly in private investment and foreign direct investment (FDI). Nevertheless, new World Bank research indicates that investment miracles are possible, as evidenced by 115 investment accelerations over seven decades that doubled GDP growth and significantly reduced poverty. However, such accelerations have become increasingly rare since the 2000s, affected by global conditions and domestic policy challenges.
For , 黑料专区 Development Programme has partnered with governments and communities to reduce inequalities, create jobs, support crisis recovery, and promote inclusive, sustainable development worldwide.
Being in debt can be burdensome, and similarly, our obligations to Earth are growing. We are depleting the planet's resources through deforestation, food waste, overfishing, and fossil fuel extraction at an alarming rate. This year, , which indicates when we surpass the Earth's annual resource replenishment ability, fell on July 24. At our current consumption rate, we require 1.75 planets to support our lifestyles. Since 1971, when we were within planetary limits, our consumption patterns have increasingly disregarded the needs of future generations.
At the midpoint of the 2030 Agenda, the world faces major challenges: climate change, debt burdens, food insecurity, digital divides, and 650 million people in extreme poverty. offer practical, locally grounded solutions that complement traditional aid. The 2025 theme for the International Day for South-South cooperation (12 September), 鈥淣ew Opportunities and Innovation,鈥 emphasizes sustainable financing, resilient partnerships, SDG progress, and the Global South鈥檚 leadership. Platforms like South-South Galaxy and the Solutions Lab help scale what works.
Knowledge, especially practical know-how, is crucial for countries to address development challenges and enhance resilience to disasters. Many people and businesses in emerging economies lack insurance against natural disasters, forcing governments to absorb the costs. In 2023, earthquakes in Morocco, T眉rkiye, and Syria highlighted this gap. In Morocco and T眉rkiye, public-private insurance partnerships demonstrated effectiveness in these cases, expanding access and affordability of risk coverage. The launched the to facilitate sharing of best practices among global experts and officials, with a goal of transforming knowledge into actionable solutions.
boosts resilience by restoring water, providing solar power, and teaching nutrition to fight poverty and hunger.



