Portugal, located in southwestern Europe, borders Spain to the north and east and stretches along nearly 1,800 kilometers of Atlantic coastline to the west. The capital of Lisbon was once a symbol of prosperity and influence among European nations, but being poor in Portugal was not uncommon for children and other disadvantaged groups. Today, Portugal […]
In Tbilisi and beyond, citizens protest for freedoms as state fragility and decline in the rule of law in Georgia threaten democratic progress. The Georgian Dream party, in power since 2012, has drawn strong criticism for weakening democratic institutions and centralizing authority. Critics warn that these moves encourage authoritarianism and weaken public trust. The government […]
Growing up poor in Cambodia remains a complex reality for many children, even as the country achieved impressive economic growth over the last two decades and reached lower-middle-income status in 2015. The COVID-19 pandemic reversed years of progress, exposing vulnerabilities and pushing thousands of families back below the poverty line. Being poor in Cambodia continues […]
Moldova is a country in Eastern Europe and a former Soviet republic. In 1992, a year after the fall of the USSR, USAID started working with the country to facilitate the state’s transition, including ending extreme poverty, supporting democracy and advancing resilience and security. Since then, USAID programs in Moldova have amounted to $2.5 billion […]
Iran’s health system faces a complex mix of challenges. Chronic illnesses like heart disease, diabetes and high blood pressure are rising quickly, while infectious diseases such as tuberculosis, HIV and leishmaniasis still threaten vulnerable regions. These health issues are shaped not only by biology but also by environment, economy and access to care. Pollution, economic […]
To feel trapped in a country that is meant to be your home — a place of refuge, comfort and safety — is now the reality of more than 80% of households in Venezuela, with more than half living in extreme poverty. Being poor in Venezuela has become a familiar, looming presence under the rule […]
In the smallest nation on continental Africa, The Gambia, higher education is only a recent political priority. Only 7% of those aged 15-35 have some form of tertiary education, contributing to a youth unemployment rate of 45%. However, President Adama Barrow has made education a priority of his government. Recognizing the importance of education in […]
In 2021, Colombia’s Ministry of Energy unveiled an ambitious plan to transition to clean energy by 2050 by replacing fossil fuels with a low-emission hydrogen solution. As of 2025, not only has Colombia remained consistent in its efforts, it is on track to becoming a regional leader in energy sustainability. This article lists some updates […]
SDG 4 focuses on quality education, promoting inclusive, equitable and lifelong learning opportunities for all. Pakistan committed to the SDGs in 2015, and since then, it has made efforts to improve the quality of education for its people; however, it continues to face serious challenges due to inequality, the high number of out-of-school children and […]
In April 2025, news of a measles outbreak spread through Belize City and lines of anxious parents formed around pop-up clinics. Three months later, health officials announced the containment of the outbreak. This was a promising reminder that while diseases impacting Belize are still a serious threat, public health improvements are very real. Poverty and […]
