The Borgen Project

A €1 billion theme park planned near Bucharest could create thousands of jobs and expand Romania’s tourism industry as the country continues to face high levels of people at risk of poverty or social exclusion. Here is more information about the Dracula Land project. Dracula Land Project Dragoș Dobrescu, founder of Dracula Land, describes the project as more than a real estate development, calling it a “project of national vision” and a potential landmark for Romania.

In Telangana, India, a new program is creating a path into the workforce for women through an industry where they have traditionally been underrepresented. The Telangana Police Women Safety Wing launched STHREE RIDE in June 2026 to connect women with employment as bike riders, auto-rickshaw drivers and cab drivers. The initiative is part of a broader push to expand women’s employment in India, a country that continues to face a significant gender gap in workforce participation.

Female genital mutilation (FGM) refers to procedures intended to cut, remove or alter female external genitalia, often associated with cultural practices and most common in parts of Africa, Asia and the Middle East. The practice has affected approximately 230 million women and girls globally and is an issue intertwined with global poverty: cross-national research that UNICEF has done demonstrates that FGM disproportionately affects women from the poorest quintiles.

Diego González Rivas is a doctor from Galicia, Spain, who has become globally recognized for his skills as a thoracic surgeon. With 15 years of experience, his surgical feats have garnered him attention. González Rivas is the first doctor in the world to successfully perform uniportal anatomical resections using VATS (video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery). He addresses lung cancer, tumors and other life-threatening health complications.

The country with the largest population in the world, India faces overcrowding and pressure on infrastructure and services in urban areas. However, the government launched the Smart Cities Mission in 2015, which has set up Integrated Control and Command Centers (ICCCs) in more than 100 cities, spearheading a data-driven approach to urban problems. This initiative has aided the urban population by remodeling urban spaces and increasing access to basic services.

Since October 2023, the French Ministry of Europe and Foreign Affairs has collaborated with 300 professionals to help foster the growth of creative industries in 33 African countries. This is part of their Création Africa program, which focuses on connecting young African entrepreneurs with funding opportunities to help their creative businesses grow.

Land ownership can provide an important source of income and economic security for women in rural Côte d’Ivoire, where agriculture supports many livelihoods. However, women have historically faced barriers to owning land independently, despite having equal legal rights to own and inherit property. Recent land registration programs are beginning to address this gap.

Launched in November 2020, PIX is Brazil’s instant payment system created and managed by the Central Bank of Brazil. It allows people and businesses to transfer money between accounts within seconds. The system was designed to increase competition, reduce payment costs and make digital transactions more accessible. PIX has become widely used across Brazil.

The common bean is an integral part of Sub-Saharan Africa’s financial and nutritional security. With the continent accounting for 25% of global output, the cash crop provides employment, income and a healthy diet to both urban and rural populations. Devastating viral diseases threatening the crop, however, are increasing in frequency, putting the livelihoods of smallholder farmers in peril. Here is how the TumainiBeans app is address common bean disease in Sub-Saharan Africa.

Following the melting glacier that caused floods and destruction across the Rasuwa, Nuwakot and Dhading regions in Nepal in late August, the country now faces the monumental task of recovery: managing a high death toll, continuing search-and-rescue efforts for those still missing, and tackling massive infrastructure damage, while supporting a population facing homelessness, hunger and urgent medical needs.