“Everyone should strive for their dream and do everything possible to achieve it.”
Maksat Kydyrzhan uulu, an emerging entrepreneur in rural Kyrgyzstan, is living these words every day.
From watching production workshops to starting a small pop-up cafe with his wife, Maksat became inspired to start a business of his own. After attending training sessions and receiving a small grant supported by the World Bank’s International Development Association (IDA), his dreams became more achievable. These efforts eventually led to the creation of Min-Bulak village’s own small dumpling business.
Poverty in Rural Kyrgyzstan
Employment in rural Kyrgyzstan relies heavily on agriculture. According to World Bank data based on ILO estimates, agriculture accounted for 16% of total employment in 2024. Much of the country’s agricultural production comes from small household farms, and limited modernization has contributed to ongoing food insecurity, particularly in rural communities.
A large portion of the poorest households do not have access to enough food. This insufficiency can reduce people’s energy and ability to work. Additionally, Kyrgyzstan has relatively few major exports and has not fully developed resources such as coal and gold, limiting opportunities for economic growth.
Many people, particularly in rural communities, also have difficulty accessing bank loans, credit assessments and other financial services. These barriers make it much harder for entrepreneurs to start or expand businesses.
Although poverty has decreased in recent years, falling from 29.8% in 2023 to 25.7% in 2024, this economic growth has not benefited everyone equally. Lower-income households experienced less consumption growth than middle- and higher-income households.
Additionally, gender inequalities still persist in Kyrgyzstan. Boys and girls generally have similar access to services and developmental outcomes in early childhood, but gender norms become much more restrictive as children grow older.
About 12% of women aged 20-49 were married before age 18, with higher rates among marginalized communities. Social expectations also force women to take on more household responsibilities rather than encourage them to seek employment in other sectors.
Addressing the Challenges
Job creation is an important pathway out of poverty. The private sector is an important driver of job creation, particularly through small and medium-sized businesses. However, entrepreneurs in poorer countries often struggle to access the financing needed to start or expand businesses.
The World Bank’s International Development Association (IDA) supports efforts to reduce investment risks and broaden financing opportunities. An IDA-supported project in Kyrgyzstan has helped expand access to finance for more than 100,000 people and businesses.
These efforts are particularly important for small businesses, which can create jobs and income opportunities within their own communities and support rural employment in Kyrgyzstan.
Supporting entrepreneurs can also help women enter the workforce and become business owners, addressing many of the gender-related employment barriers.
Economic development can also benefit countries beyond Kyrgyzstan. As individuals earn more income and local economies grow, countries can become stronger trading partners and create new markets for goods and services.
Maksat’s Impact
Maksat’s small dumpling business created four local jobs, including three positions for women in Min-Bulak, giving them an opportunity to earn income while staying close to home and their families. His business is one example of how small-scale entrepreneurship can support rural employment in Kyrgyzstan.
By selling dumplings in Min-Bulak, nearby villages and Talas, Maksat not only provides a stable source of income for his family but also contributes to the local economy. He is also planning to expand his business beyond dumplings, introducing “meatballs, cutlets, and other semi-finished products,” which could create even more jobs.
Next Steps
Maksat’s story shows how a relatively small investment in one entrepreneur can create opportunities far beyond one person. His business has already created local jobs, provided women with employment and brought new economic activity to his community.
Continuing to support entrepreneurs like Maksat will be important for expanding these opportunities across rural Kyrgyzstan. The IDA Private Sector Window has global job-creation and lending targets, but these are not forecasts for Kyrgyzstan.
With continued access to financing, training, and resources, more entrepreneurs can turn small ideas into sustainable businesses. Maksat’s dumpling workshop is proof that when entrepreneurs are given the opportunity to dream, their success can help strengthen local economies and allow entire communities to grow.
– Diya Rajkumar
Diya is based in Redmond, Washington, USA and focuses on Good News and Global Health for The Borgen Project.
Photo: Wikimedia Commons
Innovations in Poverty Reduction in Latvia Show Progress
Latvia has made progress in reducing some forms of deprivation, but poverty continues to affect a significant portion of the population. In 2024, approximately 404,000 people, or 22% of Latvia’s population, were at risk of poverty. For a person living alone, this meant having a monthly disposable income below €699. Poverty also varies greatly depending on where people live. In the Latgale region, 35.8% of residents were at risk of poverty, compared with 15.6% in the Riga region.
Alongside innovations in poverty reduction in Latvia, material living conditions have improved. In 2024, 10.9% of the population experienced material and social deprivation, down 2.6 percentage points from 2023. Severe material and social deprivation also fell to 5.3%, the lowest level recorded by Latvia’s Central Statistical Bureau.
Current Status
Despite recent improvements in material deprivation, income inequality and poverty remain challenges in Latvia. In 2024, the average monthly disposable income per household member was €950. However, people in the poorest 20% of households had an average monthly disposable income of only €317 per household member, compared with €2,084 among the wealthiest 20%.
Certain regions and groups also experience poverty at different rates. Latgale, located in eastern Latvia, had the country’s highest regional at-risk-of-poverty rate at 35.8% in 2024. Meanwhile, Latvia’s national at-risk-of-poverty rate was 22%.
Children are another important group when examining poverty. According to Latvia’s Central Statistical Bureau, 17.9% of children ages 17 and younger were at risk of poverty or social exclusion in the 2024 survey, which refers to 2023 income. This was substantially lower than the 30.7% recorded in the 2015 survey, which refers to 2014 income, demonstrating measurable long-term progress while also showing that child poverty has not disappeared.
Addressing Minimum Wage
One of the innovations in poverty reduction in Latvia is changing how its minimum-income system works. Previously, minimum-income thresholds were set at fixed amounts and reviewed only once every three years. Under a reform introduced in 2023, Latvia established a minimum-income floor connected to the country’s median income and introduced annual indexation. This allows minimum-income support to be adjusted more regularly as incomes and economic conditions change. In 2025, the guaranteed minimum income threshold was increased from 20% to 22% of median income.
The Social Climate Plan
Another approach combines poverty reduction with improvements to housing and transportation. In July 2026, the European Commission endorsed Latvia’s €617 million Social Climate Plan. Running through 2032, the plan is designed to support low- and lower-middle-income households that are particularly affected by energy and transportation costs.
One major part of the plan focuses on energy poverty. Vulnerable households will be able to receive support of up to €15,000 for energy-efficiency improvements to apartments and up to €20,000 for houses. Municipalities will also be able to improve the energy efficiency of social housing. Latvia’s plan identifies approximately 351,000 households as vulnerable to or already experiencing energy poverty.
The program also takes an innovative approach to transportation poverty, particularly in rural areas where public transportation can be limited. Plans include transportation-on-demand services in rural and remote communities, five new battery-electric trains and free bicycle-sharing programs at 97 schools. By 2032, the plan aims to move nearly 10,000 vulnerable households out of energy poverty and close to 83,000 vulnerable transportation users out of transportation poverty.
European Social Fund Plus
Latvia is also using European Social Fund Plus (ESF+) funding to address poverty through employment, education and social services. The European Union is investing €721 million in ESF+ funding in Latvia. The funding supports affordable social services, health care, community-based long-term care, education and training. It also supports programs for job seekers and people at risk of unemployment.
The program specifically includes efforts to integrate people at risk of poverty and provide food and basic necessities to vulnerable populations. These investments are intended to contribute to Latvia’s goal of reducing the number of people at risk of poverty or social exclusion by nearly 95,000 by 2030.
Conclusion
Recent statistics show measurable improvements in some aspects of poverty in Latvia. Material and social deprivation fell to 10.9% in 2024, its lowest recorded level, while the share of children at risk of poverty or social exclusion declined from 30.7% in the 2015 survey to 17.9% in the 2024 survey. However, 22% of Latvia’s overall population remained at risk of poverty in 2024, and substantial regional differences remain.
Innovations in poverty reduction in Latvia address several dimensions of poverty rather than focusing exclusively on income. Annual adjustments to minimum-income support can make social assistance more responsive to economic conditions, while new investments target energy-efficient housing, transportation access, employment, education and social services. The €617 million Social Climate Plan and €721 million in ESF+ funding represent two large-scale efforts aimed at vulnerable households and communities. Their long-term results will depend on implementation, but their specific targets provide measurable benchmarks for tracking Latvia’s progress in reducing poverty.
– Smira Chowdhary
Photo: Unsplash
Against All Odds – Supporting Women’s Education in Afghanistan
Education for girls and women in Afghanistan has seen a dramatic reversal since the Taliban returned to power in 2021. During the previous two decades, access to education had expanded considerably. By 2021, almost one million girls were enrolled in secondary education. Since then, girls have been prevented from attending education beyond grade six, and women have been excluded from attending university since December 2022. Afghanistan is now the only country in the world where secondary and higher education is closed to girls and women.
This problem continues to grow in both scale and scope. UNICEF reported in August 2026 that more than 2.6 million girls had been denied secondary education since 2021. An April 2026 UNICEF analysis estimates that in 2024, 3.8 million girls aged 7–18 were out of school, including more than 2.6 million adolescent girls. Such restrictions illustrate the scale of the challenge facing aid organizations in providing women’s education in Afghanistan.
Efforts by UNICEF and UNESCO
UNICEF is one of the largest organizations supporting education in Afghanistan. For children unable to attend school, UNICEF supports community-based education, temporary learning spaces and other forms of alternative education. These programs allow children to continue learning outside formal school settings.
UNICEF also supports teachers, learning materials and education infrastructure. Its programs are particularly important for children living in rural or conflict-affected areas, where access to formal schools can already be difficult. In January 2026, UNICEF and UNESCO reported that approximately 2.2 million adolescent girls had been prevented from attending secondary school and emphasized the need to maintain access to primary education and alternative learning opportunities.
UNESCO has similarly developed community-based education, literacy, skills-development and vocational programs that can provide women’s education in Afghanistan. These are particularly important for women who have been excluded from universities and other formal education. UNESCO reported in 2026 that nearly 70,000 learners had benefited from its programs, with women representing approximately 73% of participants.
Local Initiatives and International Support
These initiatives provide an important educational lifeline, but they cannot completely substitute for formal secondary schools and universities. A girl studying through a community program does not necessarily receive the same qualifications or opportunities as someone attending a recognized secondary school.
Alongside large international organizations, Afghan-led groups have developed more discreet methods of keeping girls and women in education. Some operate virtual classrooms, while others provide small-scale community or underground education. These organizations can be difficult to identify publicly because revealing the identities of students, teachers or locations may expose participants to risks.
The Initiatives and Their Accomplishments
An Afghan activist and former teacher established Afghanistan Education Action (AEA) following the Taliban takeover. Its online school was established in 2021 and operates undercover due to restrictions on girls’ education. The school currently reports around 820 students attending daily lessons and more than 84 subjects. These include mathematics, science, computer science, English, Persian literature, art, philosophy, women’s health and calligraphy. Approximately 70% of its students are women and girls. Its international school also helps students work toward formal qualifications.
Other Afghan-led organizations use similar approaches. LEARN Afghan, for example, operates digital and community-based education programs, while Gahwara has developed virtual and in-person educational opportunities for girls and women. The discreet nature of some of these programs means that publicly available information about their scale is necessarily limited.
U.K.-based charity Children on the Edge (COTE) has played an important supporting role in Afghanistan Education Action. Following the establishment of the online school, Children on the Edge helped AEA develop its organizational structure, fundraising and administration. It also supported AEA in becoming an independent U.K.-registered charity and helped establish additional educational programs.
Children on the Edge reports that AEA’s online school provides daily education to more than 800 students. AEA reports more than 84 subjects and a network of more than 400 volunteer teachers and administrative staff. This type of support is significant because it attempts to go beyond simply providing lessons. AEA’s programs aim to preserve a pathway toward formal qualifications, higher education and international scholarships.
Community-Based Learning and Future Prospects
Education Cannot Wait (ECW), the UN global fund for education in emergencies, has also supported education programs in Afghanistan. Its approach focuses heavily on community-based learning, enabling children excluded from education to continue studying. Programs supported through ECW have reached hundreds of thousands of children, with girls making up a substantial proportion of those helped.
Large organizations such as UNICEF and UNESCO provide community-based education and support for primary-age children, while organizations such as AEA, LEARN Afghan and Gahwara attempt to reach older girls and women who have been excluded from formal education. Children on the Edge demonstrates how smaller international charities can support Afghan-led initiatives with funding, administration and international connections.
Ultimately, organizations working to provide women’s education in Afghanistan face many challenges which demonstrate both the importance and limitations of international intervention. Organizations operating on the ground help provide education, qualifications, technology and hope to thousands of girls, but they do not provide the same scale or recognition as a functioning national education system could. The long-term solution therefore remains the restoration of girls’ access to secondary and higher education, while organizations such as UNICEF, UNESCO, Afghanistan Education Action and their partners continue to provide alternative routes to learning in the meantime. Therefore, continued funding of such programs is vital in order to bridge that gap while restrictions on formal education for Afghan women remain.
– Mark Hooley
Photo: Flickr
Everything You Need to Know About Poverty in Serbia
Despite improvements over the last decade, poverty in Serbia remains a persistent problem. Once a constituent republic of Socialist Yugoslavia, the country sits in Southeastern Europe and had a population of about 6.6 million in the 2022 census. Based on Serbia’s income and living conditions survey, the national at-risk-of-poverty rate decreased from 21.4% in 2021 to 19.7% in 2024. The most recent official release placed the rate at 19.6% in 2025. The at-risk-of-poverty rate is a relative measure based on household income below 60% of median equivalized disposable income. Although that figure remains worryingly high, it demonstrates strong progress in reducing poverty in Serbia. Economic growth, increased employment and international assistance may have driven these improvements.
Groups Most Affected by Poverty in Serbia
The number of Serbians who are either in or at risk of poverty varies significantly across demographics and regions. Poverty in Serbia is closely related to regional divides. In 2025, Belgrade’s at-risk-of-poverty rate was 8.4% compared to 27.7% in Southern and Eastern Serbia and 21% in Vojvodina.
The education figures below are not directly comparable to Serbia’s national at-risk-of-poverty rate. Although Serbia measures the at-risk-of-poverty rate based on household income below the national poverty threshold, the education statistics shown below use the World Bank’s international poverty line. This is set at $8.30 per person per day in 2021 purchasing-power-parity terms. Education also plays a major role in differing poverty rates. A World Bank brief using 2023 survey data found that poverty rates for people aged 16 and older without formal education are as high as 35.7%, compared with 9.1% for those who have completed secondary education.
Poverty rates also differ clearly by age. In 2025, people aged 65 and older were at the highest risk of poverty at 25.8%. This is much larger than the 14.9% for those aged 25-54.
Why Poverty Remains in Serbia
Poverty in Serbia persists for several reasons. Poverty rates in Serbia differ considerably between urban and rural communities. The World Bank acknowledges that lagging regions face several challenges, such as attracting and retaining young people, supporting local businesses and providing high-quality public services. These issues may limit economic opportunities and widen regional inequality. Young people may face constraints that further fuel poverty in Serbia. This is visible in rural areas, where poor mobility, geographical isolation and limited employment opportunities are often associated with limited access to education, jobs and vocational training. These factors may contribute to rural-urban disparities.
Efforts to Reduce Poverty in Serbia
Recent data demonstrate clear reductions in poverty in Serbia. International partners have provided key financial aid to Serbia, while the government has also made domestic changes regarding spending and legislation. Since 2014, the European Union has invested more than €91 million (about $102 million) to improve education, employment and social protection, particularly among marginalized groups. This is alongside Serbia’s participation in the EU Growth Plan for the Western Balkans, where the country could receive nearly €1.6 billion (about $1.8 billion). This is to support initiatives that tackle energy poverty, develop labor skills and increase economic opportunities. In 2024, Serbia experienced real GDP growth of around 3.9%, with unemployment reduced to 8.6%.
One of the European Union’s initiatives in Serbia is the EU Support for Social Housing and Active Inclusion (EU SHAI) program. This targets Serbians who are most vulnerable, including Roma families, domestic violence victims and those with disabilities. The program combines housing assistance with education, employment and social services. It has been implemented across 19 cities and municipalities in Serbia, with housing and inclusion support planned for 381 families. In the municipality of Raška, the program has helped more than 80 people receive permanent housing.
Domestically, the government has increased the minimum wage and pensions to provide improvements to Serbians’ living standards. Increased funding for employment initiatives, social protection and education has aimed to improve the standard of living for vulnerable groups and reduce poverty across Serbia.
The Future for Serbia
Poverty in Serbia is still an ongoing issue, especially for rural communities in the east and south. Despite this, recent data demonstrate clear improvements, with fewer people in or at risk of poverty. Poverty in Serbia can further be reduced with sustained investment from international partners and domestic reforms. These could contribute to reducing regional inequalities, increasing social protection and enhancing educational opportunities. Continued support from various actors could further decrease poverty and develop opportunities for Serbians.
– Oliver Doole
Photo: Flickr
How Climate Insurance in Zambia Helps Protect Families
In Zambia, recent droughts as well as the threat of future natural disasters cause significant financial strain on 2 million smallholder farmers. This comes in a country where more than half of the population lives below the poverty line. As a country that mainly relies on rain-fed agriculture, the major loss of income and food that comes with crop failure can be detrimental. A possible solution to recent challenges is climate insurance in Zambia, which can aid farmers and countries who have experienced financial challenges from natural disasters.
Recent Natural Disasters
Recent natural disasters include droughts in 2023 and 2024, which were ruinous to food production and income. According to the German Agency for International Cooperation (GIZ), 11% of Zambia’s people are affected by droughts every year. GIZ projected that 25% could be affected by 2050.
Climate Insurance Response
One response to the financial effects of crop failure is climate insurance in Zambia, which protects farmers and countries against financial hardships resulting from natural disasters such as drought. The World Food Programme (WFP) is a provider of this type of insurance.
WFP supplies three different insurance levels of climate insurance in Zambia. The first, microinsurance, protects individuals and households. According to an email sent to The Borgen Project from Chileshe Chilambwe from the WFP, microinsurance protects households and productive assets.
There is also meso insurance, which strengthens agricultural value chains and financial service providers, according to Chilambwe. Meso insurance covers institutions and groups serving farmers.
The largest tier is macro insurance, which caters to countries and larger regions. Macro insurance enables governments and humanitarian actors to respond rapidly to major climate shocks, said Chilambwe.
According to Chilambwe, the most effective approach is a layered risk financing system that combines micro, meso and macro insurance mechanisms. By utilizing all three types of insurance, Zambia can build resilience against natural disasters and crop failures.
WFP works with the Government of Zambia to provide financial and humanitarian assistance. WFP provides technical assistance to the Government of Zambia to strengthen national climate risk insurance systems, including agricultural and livestock insurance schemes, wrote Chilambwe.
Past and Present Impact
This type of insurance was in practice before the 2023-24 droughts. In 2014, WFP partnered with insurance companies to create weather insurance for smallholder farmers in Zambia’s Southern Province. As a result, the government successfully scaled agricultural insurance coverage to more than 1 million farmers nationwide, according to Chilambwe.
This impact was felt again during the 2023-2024 droughts, in which 721,969 smallholder farmers received insurance payouts. Separately, through the African Risk Capacity (ARC) Replica programme, WFP received a payout of $3.3 million, while the Government of Zambia received $9.9 million under the sovereign drought insurance coverage, wrote Chilambwe. This kind of macroinsurance payment allows people suffering from climate-related food shortages to meet immediate needs and protect their livelihoods.
Collaborative Efforts
WFP is not the only organization creating access to climate insurance. Through a project running from 2020 to 2023, GIZ partnered with the Ministry of Agriculture to train insurance and government employees and give companies advice on how to use insurance to protect Zambia.
According to the GIZ website, the project recognized that women face greater disadvantages in agricultural and financial systems and are more severely affected by climate change. By acknowledging women’s disadvantages in agricultural and financial systems, climate insurance can become more effective.
Future Prospects
As for the future, Zambia is working on expanding climate insurance in order to improve resilience against future droughts and other natural disasters. By improving agricultural and livestock insurance as well as financing mechanisms, Zambia can become more resilient than ever.
WFP will be helping too, by expanding access to on-demand insurance products and scaling up complementary financial inclusion and integrated resilience-building initiatives, according to Chilambwe.
Through multiple organizations working together with the Government of Zambia, climate resilience can grow stronger, and more people can meet immediate needs following natural disasters.
– Julia Cholerton
Photo: Unsplash
Child Marriage in Serbia: Programs to Protect Roma Girls
Child marriage in Serbia affects Roma girls the most, and legal protections still have gaps. A November 2025 UNICEF report states that a complete legal ban has not been achieved. Serbia’s Family Law sets the minimum marriage age at 18. An exception allows a court to approve marriage for a minor aged 16 or 17 after examining the minor’s free will and physical and mental maturity. Most child marriages occur as informal unions. According to UNICEF’s November 2025 report, most child marriages occur in a “gray zone” as informal unions. In March 2026, authorities released a draft for public consultation that would remove the court exception and prohibit marriage before age 18. A July 2026 coalition newsletter still described the measure as a draft, rather than an enacted law.
Why Roma Girls Face Higher Risk
Poverty is a major driver of child marriage and can affect children’s future development. Nikola Maletić of the UNICEF Serbia Youth Board stressed the need for youth development opportunities, adaptive education and active participation in policymaking to create a more equal future for Serbia. The November 2025 UNICEF report states that 22.6% of women from the poorest households in the general population married before age 18, compared with 0.7% in the richest households. A July 2025 UNICEF country program document cites Serbia’s Statistical Office data showing that 19.5% of children were at risk of poverty in 2023. The same document, citing the MICS6 survey, states that 83% of households in Roma settlements reported three or more material deprivations, compared with 25% of households nationally.
Social Norms
UNICEF Serbia research found that the decision to arrange child marriage in Roma communities is influenced by poverty within a closed circle of social norms and a lack of education within communities. The same research found that young Roma who face obstacles in wider society often choose to follow their community’s models. Community leaders and UNICEF reject the idea that the practice is a tradition. In late 2025, UNICEF Serbia stated that child marriage is not a cultural issue but a violation of children’s rights. The agency described the Declaration on the Elimination of Child, Early and Forced Marriage, adopted by the Roma National Council, as a good example of leadership from within the community.
Marginalization Limits Roma Girls’ Options
On April 15, 2026, experts on the U.N. Committee on the Elimination of Racial Discrimination raised concerns about structural discrimination against Roma in Serbia. Committee expert Bakari Sidiki Diaby, speaking on behalf of country rapporteur Ibrahima Guisse, said Roma communities reportedly faced structural discrimination and socioeconomic disadvantages, including low school attendance, high unemployment, poor housing and limited access to health services. Nearly one in five Roma households lacked regular access to safe drinking water. Experts also noted that child marriage disproportionately affects Roma communities.
The Effects of Child Marriage
Child marriage can have lasting consequences for girls and young women, affecting their mental well-being, education and future opportunities. Girls who marry early may experience mental health challenges, have less control over decisions about their futures and face barriers to education and economic opportunities. These disadvantages can increase their vulnerability to harm and perpetuate cycles of poverty.
Programs to Protect Roma Girls
Here are some programs that are working to protect Roma girls.
Roma Women Center Bibija
The Roma Women Center Bibija has worked for more than two decades to protect the rights of Roma girls. With support from the U.N. Trust Fund to End Violence against Women and Girls, the organization leads an initiative in 10 municipalities. On Oct. 10, 2025, a story published by the U.N. Trust Fund reported that the initiative had organized 320 workshops and 320 community discussions, reaching more than 590 adolescent girls and 700 Roma community members. In the initiative’s target areas, the share of Roma girls making informed education choices rose from 30% to 55% in one year. Three out of four girls demonstrated improved knowledge of their rights and the effects of child marriage, more than double the previous year’s figure. These results come from the target areas and do not show a national decline in child marriage.
National Coalition to End Child Marriage
UNICEF and the Coordination Body for Gender Equality launched the coalition in 2019, bringing together a wide range of actors around a shared goal. UNICEF Serbia, which hosted the coalition’s meeting on March 23, 2026, said the group has pushed for stronger legal protection for children. Initial proposals to amend the Criminal Code and the Law on the Prevention of Domestic Violence were submitted in 2021 and repeated in 2025. The agency also welcomed the Ministry for Family Care and Demography’s announcement that it will review the Family Law.
Progress Led From Within
These initiatives show how community-led programs and advocacy can support efforts to prevent child marriage. Reported improvements in girls’ knowledge and educational decision-making are encouraging, but they do not establish a nationwide decline in child marriage. Continued community engagement, access to education and stronger legal protections remain essential.
– Gabriella Jazzy Jason Junior
Photo: Serbia
Green Hydrogen to Green Harvest in Namibia
Facing persistent challenges of poverty and food insecurity, Namibia is implementing industrialization and agricultural expansion initiatives to foster economic development and improve food access for its population. Namibia has a population of approximately 3.1 million, with 46% of residents living outside urban areas. These less-dense areas often struggle with food production because of the harsh and unstable desert climate, infertile soil, limited access to agricultural supplies and severe economic inequality. These challenges have made food insecurity an ongoing struggle for many Namibians.
In 2024, the Integrated Food Security Phase Classification (IPC) reported that 1.15 million people faced severe acute food insecurity and required urgent action to reduce food gaps and protect livelihoods. Cropping conditions in Namibia are generally poor—marked by erratic rainfall, frequent floods and droughts. Namibia is also highly dependent on imports, leaving the country vulnerable to external price increases. The cost of imported goods, food, fuel and agricultural supplies has made it expensive for local farmers and businesses to obtain fertilizer and meet agricultural demands, increasing the need for domestic solutions.
Saving Agricultural Production
Over the past five years, Namibia has become a hub for green industrialization as businesses and organizations tap into the country’s solar, wind and biomass resources. The Dâures Green Hydrogen Village is an agricultural initiative spearheading greenhouse production and green hydrogen to support agriculture, food security and community livelihoods on a 15,000-hectare site in the Erongo Region. The Dâures Green Hydrogen Village was established in 2023, and its pilot phase commenced shortly thereafter, in 2025. Throughout this period, the initiative required substantial community collaboration, creating employment opportunities for 376 Namibians and 23 small and medium enterprises. Additionally, the project engaged research partners from the University of Namibia and the University of Stuttgart, who participated in on-site research activities with both Namibian and international students, focusing on sustainable energy through green hydrogen.
Green hydrogen in Namibia is produced using renewable energy, distinguishing it from conventional hydrogen production that relies on fossil fuels. Its versatility makes it a clean energy carrier with the potential to reduce carbon emissions within agriculture. By leveraging green hydrogen for fertilizer production, energy supply and resource management, the agricultural sector could reduce its environmental impact while strengthening domestic food production. The organization has already reported success in its agricultural endeavors. The facility has harvested cucumbers, tomatoes and peppers, with produce sold to local retailers in the Erongo Region.
Managing Food Insecurity
Namibia’s food security situation improved in 2025 compared with the previous year, largely because of better rainfall, crop production, rangeland conditions and coordinated assistance. IPC reported that from July to September 2025, approximately 456,000 people experienced high levels of acute food insecurity, a sharp decrease from 1.15 million during the same period in 2024. IPC credits this improvement to “above-average rainfall during the 2024/25 season, increased crop production, improved rangeland conditions, and coordinated interventions by the government and development partners.”
However, food insecurity remains a concern in the country, with many areas still facing a food crisis. The IPC projected a deterioration during the October 2025-March 2026 lean season. The country forecasts an increase in grocery prices while food production decreases. The decline is projected to affect 612,000 Namibians (20%) already experiencing a food crisis. This worsening is attributed to the government’s discontinuation of the countrywide drought relief in August 2025, reduced labor opportunities, high unemployment and poor livestock conditions in drought-prone areas.
The Comeback
The Dâures Green Hydrogen Village aims to combat food insecurity through green production. Its goal is to produce 18 tonnes of green hydrogen in Namibia and 100 tonnes of green ammonia over the course of the project. Green ammonia will be used to produce fertilizer locally, reducing reliance on imported agricultural products. The project aims to reduce dependence on imported fertilizer and support lower-emission agricultural production. As of June 2026, the United Nations reported that the facility was producing approximately 40,000 cucumbers each month, demonstrating the potential for food production even in one of the world’s most challenging agricultural environments.
As the initiative continues to expand in phases, its ultimate goal is to develop Africa’s first green hydrogen village on a semi-industrial scale, thereby establishing a model for a ‘green circular economy’ and green industrialization. If successful, Dâures’ progress could represent a transformative step for Namibia’s agricultural sector, providing evidence that integrating green hydrogen technology can substantially reduce carbon emissions, enhance local fertilizer production and lessen dependence on imports. This approach may not only improve Namibia’s food self-sufficiency and resilience to climate variability but also serve as a replicable blueprint for other regions across Africa facing similar environmental and economic challenges.
– Ashley Woody
Photo: Wikimedia Commons
How Higher Education in the Maldives is Changing
Education Across an Island Nation
The Maldives’ geography sets its education apart from many other countries. The challenge arises because communities are spread across more than 180 inhabited islands while many educational opportunities are concentrated in larger population centers. This affects students long before they even enter university. UNICEF reports that disparities in access to services, including education, remain between Malé and remote islands. It also reports that the country’s monetary poverty rate is about 8% and that 33% of children experience multidimensional poverty. For families with limited incomes, the additional costs of traveling or relocating for education can make geographic barriers more difficult to overcome.
Geography is not the only challenge. UNICEF identifies limited upper-secondary opportunities in remote islands and teacher shortages as additional barriers facing students in smaller communities. In some remote areas, students must leave their home islands simply to complete upper-secondary education.
For certain students, moving off their home islands before commencing university might be necessary for them to pursue further education. These geographical disparities are among the reasons why the establishment of regional campuses has been a key feature of the education system in the country. This is not an isolated case of such a development. Maldives National University (MNU) has announced agreements to develop additional campuses, including one in Naifaru in Lhaviyani Atoll. These agreements represent planned developments rather than campuses that are already operating. MNU said both projects will expand access to tertiary education for students living in the atolls.
When Online Classrooms Bridge Gaps
While building more campuses offers one way to reduce distance, technology can offer another. Taking advantage of this opportunity, UNICEF and the Maldivian government have expanded digital and hybrid learning initiatives that allow students to attend classes online. UNICEF identifies online learning as a method of reaching students in rural areas. The TechPath program, which the Ministry of Education developed in partnership with UNICEF and Google for Education, focuses on students’ digital skills and expanding remote learning. In 2024, UNICEF reported that TechPath was being piloted with more than 1,600 students in 15 schools across the Maldives.
The program also supports the Maldives’ satellite school model, which connects students in rural and remote communities with educational opportunities that may not exist locally. UNICEF said the initiative aims to strengthen the satellite school model and expand remote-learning options to grades 11 and 12. This remains a school-level initiative rather than a university program, but greater access to upper-secondary education can help students prepare for higher education.
For students in rural communities, these school-level programs can help create a pathway toward higher education before a student reaches a university campus. Access to upper-secondary courses can determine whether students are able to meet the requirements for further study.
Beyond the Islands
For other students, pursuing higher education may require leaving the Maldives entirely. The Ministry of Higher Education, Labour and Skills Development announces international scholarship opportunities that allow Maldivian students to pursue higher education abroad. These have included opportunities connected with countries such as India, Hungary, Indonesia, China and Australia. For example, in April 2026, the ministry announced an Indian Council for Cultural Relations scholarship (ICCR) through the Aid to Maldives Scheme. The scholarship gives Maldivian applicants opportunities to study at participating universities in India. ICCR’s 2026-2027 scholarship guidelines provide financial support that can include tuition and compulsory fees, monthly stipends, housing allowances and annual contingency allowances depending on the student’s level of study and program rules.
International scholarships can therefore reduce some of the financial barriers associated with studying abroad while giving Maldivian students another route into higher education. Combined with planned regional campuses, school-level digital learning programs and international scholarships, these developments show that higher education in the Maldives increasingly extends beyond a single type of location or institution.
Systems Moving Outward
The planned campus in Eydhafushi highlights how higher education in the Maldives is changing. Once completed, the project is expected to allow students in Baa Atoll to pursue higher education closer to home while reducing some of the costs associated with studying elsewhere. Other planned regional campuses, including Naifaru, show that Maldives National University is also working to expand higher education beyond the country’s main population centers. Digital-learning initiatives and international scholarships provide additional pathways for students whose location or financial circumstances may otherwise limit their educational options. In a country where home and school can be separated by miles of ocean, the location of education matters. Although several of the new campuses are still in development, their expansion, along with digital programs and scholarships, shows how the map of educational opportunity in the Maldives is beginning to change.
– Inika Chemuru
Photo: Unsplash
Child Soldiers in Liberia: Rebuilding Lives Through Reintegration
Liberia experienced two civil wars between 1989 and 2003. During the conflict, armed groups recruited thousands of children through abduction, social pressure and promises of protection. UNICEF explains that child soldiers in Liberia served roles such as armed fighters, messengers, laborers and cooks. Girls associated with the armed groups also faced sexual violence and exploitation. The UNICEF evaluation describes the large number of children associated with fighting forces during Liberia’s wars, while disarmament participation figures refer to a different population.
What Children Experienced During the War
Many child soldiers in Liberia came from communities struggling with poverty, damaged schools and limited employment opportunities. The UNICEF evaluation connects these conditions to child recruitment. Some children joined fighting forces to find food, protection, belonging or revenge, while others believed armed groups could protect them and their families. Poverty did not determine every child’s experience, but economic insecurity and the collapse of family and community support increased children’s vulnerability to recruitment.
UNICEF explains that children connected to armed groups may be forced to participate in harrowing training, undergo hazardous labor and risk facing death, disability or chronic injury. They may also witness torture, killing and other forms of violence.
At a time of crucial development in a child’s life, child soldiers in Liberia were training in combat and risking their lives. Even children who were not recruited to fight experienced psychological trauma by witnessing the death of relatives, friends or neighbors. Violence also caused families to leave their homes and relocate, interrupting their children’s access to education.
Once the war ended, child soldiers did not simply return to their communities unaffected. Many former child soldiers missed years of school and time spent with their families. Some community members even viewed them with fear or suspicion. A small interview-based study published in Social Development Issues examined the experiences of 34 adults who had served in Liberia’s fighting forces as children. The study does not represent every former child soldier in Liberia. Instead, it provides a limited account of the challenges some former child soldiers faced during reintegration. The researchers identified three major barriers: poor administration of reintegration programs, constrained opportunities for education and employment, and social marginalization. The study shows why former child soldiers may need long-term support after returning to civilian life.
Reintegration Helps Former Child Soldiers Rebuild Their Lives
In an effort to ease reintegration, Liberia created programs that help children leave armed groups and return to their communities. Disarmament removes weapons from children while demobilization formally separates children from armed groups. The UNICEF evaluation explains that Liberia began its disarmament and demobilization process in December 2003 after the United Nations established the United Nations Mission in Liberia in October 2003. The program aimed to help former child soldiers address trauma, reconnect with their families and develop skills for employment. The program offered three months of skills training and three years of formal education. The report also estimated that up to 4,000 children associated with fighting forces never entered the disarmament and demobilization process. These figures show why Liberia needed long-term programs to help former child soldiers return to their families, communities and civilian life.
How the Reintegration Program Worked
In a statement delivered at a United Nations workshop on June 6, 2018, Liberia’s Permanent Representative to the United Nations, Ambassador Lewis Garseedah Brown, described the country’s historical reintegration program for former child soldiers. He explained how UNICEF coordinated with the Liberian government, nongovernmental organizations, religious groups and private businesses to connect children to education and enroll them in vocational training. Another top priority was to provide assistance in psychological support and family reunification. These resources addressed trauma and developed the skills needed for employment and independent living.
Thousands of children participated in disarmament and demobilization initiatives, although these programs faced significant limitations. Brown explained that the process struggled with limited funding, short training periods and lack of long-term follow-up. The program also faced criticism for a short duration, only offering three months for skilled training and three years for formal education, regardless of what grade the child was entering from. These challenges show why postwar reintegration required continued support after children leave formal programs.
The Importance of Community Support
Community support remains an important part of the reintegration process. Family, schools and local organizations can help former child soldiers return to civilian life by providing educational opportunities to develop livelihoods. In a paper published by the World Bank in 2001, case studies from Angola and El Salvador provide lessons about preventing and demobilizing child soldiers. They note that successful reintegration programs require not only political support and adequate funding, but also a strong commitment from families and communities. Education and employment opportunities can reduce vulnerability to re-recruitment and support greater independence.
Liberia’s experience shows that reintegration requires more than just removing children from armed groups. Although reintegration programs cannot erase the harm and trauma caused by the war, they can offer opportunities that will help a child move forward in their future. By prioritizing education, teaching skills needed for future employment and community support, child soldiers in Liberia can build safer and more independent futures.
– Allyson Young
Photo: Wikimedia Commons
Cambodia’s National Health Data System Explained
On May 15, 2026, Cambodia’s Ministry of Health launched a new electronic Health Management Information System (HMIS) intended for rollout across all 25 provinces, aiming to address gaps in health care data and coverage. The ministry developed this initiative in partnership with the World Health Organization, UNICEF, the Clinton Health Access Initiative and the Vaccine Alliance, representing a shift toward more consistent, data-driven health care services in Cambodia.
What is HMIS?
The Health Management Information System (HMIS) is Cambodia’s national framework for collecting and using health service data. DHIS2 is the software platform on which Cambodia’s national health data system HMIS is built. Based at the University of Oslo, it allows health workers to enter data remotely.
Built on DHIS2, the national system enables data reporting from health centers to decision-makers, increasing both continuity of care and the speed at which it can be administered. The system aims to unify reporting, increasing visibility and allowing health care providers to evaluate who needs care and identify unaccounted individuals.
What Problem is This System Working to Solve?
Cambodia faces struggles with health care coverage due to lack of infrastructure, high out-of-pocket costs, low public funding, understaffing and geographical challenges. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), the kingdom faces challenges primarily in maternal mortality with a ratio of 154 maternal deaths per 100,000 live births and child nutrition with 22% of children under five stunted from malnutrition.
Tuberculosis remains a priority for Cambodia, as the World Health Organization reports that the disease impacts around one in 183 people. Prevention and treatment rely on accessible health care and the distribution of vaccinations.
According to the Cambodia National Immunization Strategy Report, underused health facilities, irregular outreach initiatives and high rates of patient dropout between vaccination doses mean that Cambodia’s immunization system struggles to reach all citizens, particularly zero-dose children. Gavi reports that children remain under-immunized, underscoring the importance of more reliable service data.
HMIS covers routine immunization, primary care and disease surveillance. According to the World Health Organization, Cambodia’s national health data system now allows health care workers to enter and access service and disease data as it becomes available with dashboard monitors to track trends and performance.
What Impact is it Having?
While the implementation of the system is still in early development, it is expected to have positive impacts on Cambodia’s health care system. In September 2026, DHIS2 hosted technical training for Cambodia, including server management training in Ho Chi Minh City. According to its report, this initiative trained participants on installation, security, maintenance and system integration.
According to Cambodia’s National Immunization Strategy 2021-2025, Village Health Support Groups can be unstandardized and often have little or no formal budget, but the new DHIS2-based HMIS gives managers real-time data and dashboards to track service use and trends. This can allow for better targeting of outreach to underserved communities.
What Impact May Occur in the Future?
According to the World Health Organization and Gavi, Gavi is investing more than $2 million to build and adapt the system, train health workers and support nationwide rollout. This initiative marks the commitment of Cambodia’s government to focus on health care and collaboration. The investment aims to strengthen Cambodia’s national health data system, though outcomes will depend on implementation.
UNICEF’s partnership builds a national DHIS2 core team, ongoing training and user manuals so the ministry can manage and expand the system independently to increase long-term national ownership and sustainability. The strategy calls for quarterly tracking of missed children from commune to district to province, and for e-registries with SMS reminders to caregivers.
Cambodia’s health care challenges remain significant, however the launch of the HMIS system with the use of DHIS2 software represents an important update. Cambodia’s national health data system can offer a potential way to reduce unreliable immunization coverage figures and help health managers direct resources toward underserved communities.
– Anna Kubiak
Photo: Flickr
How a Dumpling Business is Supporting Rural Employment in Kyrgyzstan
“Everyone should strive for their dream and do everything possible to achieve it.”
Maksat Kydyrzhan uulu, an emerging entrepreneur in rural Kyrgyzstan, is living these words every day.
From watching production workshops to starting a small pop-up cafe with his wife, Maksat became inspired to start a business of his own. After attending training sessions and receiving a small grant supported by the World Bank’s International Development Association (IDA), his dreams became more achievable. These efforts eventually led to the creation of Min-Bulak village’s own small dumpling business.
Poverty in Rural Kyrgyzstan
Employment in rural Kyrgyzstan relies heavily on agriculture. According to World Bank data based on ILO estimates, agriculture accounted for 16% of total employment in 2024. Much of the country’s agricultural production comes from small household farms, and limited modernization has contributed to ongoing food insecurity, particularly in rural communities.
A large portion of the poorest households do not have access to enough food. This insufficiency can reduce people’s energy and ability to work. Additionally, Kyrgyzstan has relatively few major exports and has not fully developed resources such as coal and gold, limiting opportunities for economic growth.
Many people, particularly in rural communities, also have difficulty accessing bank loans, credit assessments and other financial services. These barriers make it much harder for entrepreneurs to start or expand businesses.
Although poverty has decreased in recent years, falling from 29.8% in 2023 to 25.7% in 2024, this economic growth has not benefited everyone equally. Lower-income households experienced less consumption growth than middle- and higher-income households.
Additionally, gender inequalities still persist in Kyrgyzstan. Boys and girls generally have similar access to services and developmental outcomes in early childhood, but gender norms become much more restrictive as children grow older.
About 12% of women aged 20-49 were married before age 18, with higher rates among marginalized communities. Social expectations also force women to take on more household responsibilities rather than encourage them to seek employment in other sectors.
Addressing the Challenges
Job creation is an important pathway out of poverty. The private sector is an important driver of job creation, particularly through small and medium-sized businesses. However, entrepreneurs in poorer countries often struggle to access the financing needed to start or expand businesses.
The World Bank’s International Development Association (IDA) supports efforts to reduce investment risks and broaden financing opportunities. An IDA-supported project in Kyrgyzstan has helped expand access to finance for more than 100,000 people and businesses.
These efforts are particularly important for small businesses, which can create jobs and income opportunities within their own communities and support rural employment in Kyrgyzstan.
Supporting entrepreneurs can also help women enter the workforce and become business owners, addressing many of the gender-related employment barriers.
Economic development can also benefit countries beyond Kyrgyzstan. As individuals earn more income and local economies grow, countries can become stronger trading partners and create new markets for goods and services.
Maksat’s Impact
Maksat’s small dumpling business created four local jobs, including three positions for women in Min-Bulak, giving them an opportunity to earn income while staying close to home and their families. His business is one example of how small-scale entrepreneurship can support rural employment in Kyrgyzstan.
By selling dumplings in Min-Bulak, nearby villages and Talas, Maksat not only provides a stable source of income for his family but also contributes to the local economy. He is also planning to expand his business beyond dumplings, introducing “meatballs, cutlets, and other semi-finished products,” which could create even more jobs.
Next Steps
Maksat’s story shows how a relatively small investment in one entrepreneur can create opportunities far beyond one person. His business has already created local jobs, provided women with employment and brought new economic activity to his community.
Continuing to support entrepreneurs like Maksat will be important for expanding these opportunities across rural Kyrgyzstan. The IDA Private Sector Window has global job-creation and lending targets, but these are not forecasts for Kyrgyzstan.
With continued access to financing, training, and resources, more entrepreneurs can turn small ideas into sustainable businesses. Maksat’s dumpling workshop is proof that when entrepreneurs are given the opportunity to dream, their success can help strengthen local economies and allow entire communities to grow.
– Diya Rajkumar
Photo: Wikimedia Commons