Global Initiative Bi-weekly Newsletter
September 26th to October 10th, 2025
UNHCR
“As things stand, we project that we will end 2025 with $3.9 billion in funds available – a decrease of $1.3 billion compared to 2024 – or roughly 25 per cent less,” Grandi told Member States and other stakeholders in his opening speech to UNHCR’s Executive Committee plenary session in Geneva – the last of his 10-year tenure. “The last time we had less than $4 billion was in 2015, when the number of forcibly displaced people was half of what it is today,” the High Commissioner added, referencing the current figure of 122 million forcibly displaced people worldwide. The humanitarian funding crisis has already resulted in nearly 5,000 UNHCR staff losing their jobs this year and the downscaling or modification of 185 offices globally.
Lebanon
The new government in Lebanon, formed this February under Prime Minister Nawaf Salam, has emphasized the importance of quality education for students in Lebanon and committed to providing all children in Lebanon, regardless of their background, with access to their right to education.
The new minister of education and higher education, Rima Karami, vowed to rehabilitate the Lebanese public school system and quality of education. In September, Prime Minster Salam said that “the children of Lebanon, regardless of origin or circumstance, must never be deprived of their right to learn.” Both have emphasized that education is a national priority needed to revitalize the country. But in a disappointing move, on September 30, the government restricted access to education for many refugees. It continued last year’s mandate requiring that non-Lebanese students show valid residency permits or a valid ID issued by the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) in order to register for “second shift” classes in Lebanon’s public schools for the 2025-2026 school year.
Lebanon on Thursday organized a new convoy to repatriate Syrian refugees, with 166 families departing from the northern city of Tripoli as part of the government’s plan to coordinate voluntary returns with Damascus and international agencies.
In this fourth-phase operation, supervised by the General Directorate of General Security, the refugees were transported with their belongings to the Arida border crossing. Officials said all participants were exempted from exit fees and provided with essential services to “ensure a safe and orderly return.” Lebanon, which hosts about 1.5 million Syrian refugees, continues to face growing pressure from its prolonged economic crisis and overstretched infrastructure. Officials have consistently rejected the prospect of permanent resettlement, arguing that the country can no longer bear the financial and social burden.
Rwanda
President Ursula von der Leyen met with the President of the Republic of Rwanda Paul Kagame during the Global Gateway Forum.The meeting reaffirmed the commitment of the European Union to engage with Rwanda as a key player in the Great Lakes region and the wider African continent and to maintain a cooperative and forward-looking partnership.
This reinforced partnership through Global Gateway investments will be further strengthened with new investments worth €105 million from Team Europe (the European Commission and the European Investment Bank. Through this investment package, the EU is advancing the ambition of Rwanda to become a regional hub for vaccine manufacturing and strengthening economic inclusion for refugees.Team Europe is supporting the ambition of Rwanda to position itself as a regional hub for vaccine manufacturing and medical innovation.The European Commission and the European Investment Bank, under the Human Development Accelerator (HDX), have awarded to BioNTech, through a blended finance operation of €95 million, a €35 million milestone-based grant and up to €60 million credit facility that can we be withdrawn from the European Investment Bank.
The Smart Education Project is a flagship initiative designed to accelerate the integration of technology in Rwanda’s education system. Under Phase I, 1,500 schools across the country have been connected to high-speed internet, and two state-of-the-art data centers have been established. These investments lay the foundation for a dedicated national education network that will enable digital teaching, learning, and data-driven management across all schools. Speaking at the event, Minister of Education, Joseph Nsengimana, reaffirmed Rwanda’s commitment to building a digitally empowered education system that supports equitable access to technology for learners and teachers nationwide.
South Africa
Schools around the world are facing growing challenges to student health and well-being, including anxiety, violence, trauma, exclusion, unintended pregnancy and digital risks. Many young people enter higher education with limited knowledge about health and relationships.
This is reflected in concerning statistics: 27% of new global HIV cases in 2022 occurring among youth aged 15-24, and for example 63% of pregnancies among students in Zimbabwe and Malawi being unintended. These gaps highlight the urgent need for comprehensive sexuality education (CSE) and accessible, youth-friendly health services. Healthy, inclusive learning environments help students stay in school and thrive. Universities are strategically positioned to support student well-being through education, research, and community outreach. In line with UNESCO’s Strategy on Education for Health and Well-being (2022–2030), they are increasingly recognized as key actors in promoting a whole-system, multisectoral approach to health and
Vietnam
Circular 16 of the Ministry of Education and Training on joint organization of foreign language proficiency exams will officially take effect from October 12. This education policy has stricter regulations on the value and legality of foreign language certificates.
The Circular applies to examination organizations in Vietnam, foreign language proficiency assessment organizations, and organizations and individuals involved in joint activities of organizing foreign language proficiency certification exams in Vietnam. Compared to the old circular issued in 2022, the circular stipulates that the Vietnamese party (affiliated unit) must take primary responsibility for organizing the exam. Specifically, it must be responsible for organizing the exam and supervising and inspecting the exam organization process at approved exam locations to ensure safety, quality, seriousness and objectivity.
Over the past five years, the general education system has shifted from knowledge-based education to developing learners' competencies, according to the Minister of Education and Training, Nguyen Kim Son.
The Secretary of the Ministry’s Party Committee made the statement on October 9, discussing the remarkable achievements in education and training at a press conference on preparations for the first Congress of the Government’s Party Organisation for the 2025-2030 tenure. He said that education and training are oriented as a strategic breakthrough and a top national policy for the country’s development, with the important task of developing human resources, training skilled personnel, and fostering talents to serve the cause of industrialisation, modernisation, and national development.
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