Foreign aid leadership is becoming increasingly vital as traditional donors slash their development budgets. The United States, once a key player through USAID, has dramatically reduced its contributions, despite previous efforts that saved over a million lives annually. The U.S. is not alone. The U.K., France, Germany, and other major players have followed suit. According to the OECD, global official development assistance (ODA) fell by 7.1% in 2024, with the European Union cutting its aid budget by 8.6%. And the worst may be yet to come: 2025 could see the largest aid cut in modern history. The OECD estimates a $35 billion drop in 2025, on top of a $21 billion shortfall in 2024, leaving a $56 billion vacuum where funding for vaccine research, mosquito nets, and food programs once existed.
Amid this widespread retreat, a few countries have emerged as unexpected leaders. While Spain has gained attention for going against the grain, it is not alone. In 2024 and 2025, South Korea’s and Ireland’s foreign aid budgets have been expanded, standing out as outliers of solidarity in an increasingly fragmented global aid landscape
Ireland: A Rising Leader in Foreign Aid
Ireland’s foreign aid commitments have steadily increased in recent years. In 2023, the country’s ODA reached a historic €2.6 billion, amounting to 0.67% of Gross National Income (GNI). However, when excluding in-country refugee costs, the ODA-to-GNI ratio stands at 0.38%
For 2025, Irish Aid received a €35 million boost, bringing its total to €810 million—a 4.5% increase and a record allocation. Across all government departments, total ODA remains above €2 billion, reinforcing Ireland’s commitment to humanitarian response and long-term development. This funding prioritizes emergency responses in conflict zones like Gaza, Sudan and Ukraine.
Notably, Ireland is also investing in multilateral development. In 2025, it will contribute €141 million—a 33.5% increase—to the World Bank’s International Development Association (IDA) fund, which supports the world’s poorest countries. The IDA helps low-income nations cope with debt burdens, climate shocks, rising inflation and conflict.
By blending immediate humanitarian aid with long-term financing, Ireland is strengthening its global footprint and pursuing a values-driven foreign policy aligned with the U.N. Sustainable Development Goals.
South Korea: Scaling Aid and Shaping Donor Identity
In 2024, South Korea’s ODA surged by 24.8%, reaching $3.94 billion, or 0.21% of its GNI—the highest ratio since the country joined the OECD Development Assistance Committee (DAC). For 2025, the government approved an even larger ODA budget of 6.5 trillion won (≈US$4.5 billion), marking a 3.8% increase and achieving its mid-term aid target well ahead of schedule. South Korea’s aid strategy now prioritizes mutually beneficial cooperation, shifting toward fewer but larger projects that enhance impact and reduce fragmentation.
The OECD DAC’s 2024 peer review commended Korea’s ODA efforts, highlighting its rapid scale-up and growing leadership in the international development arena.
South Korea’s rising influence is especially visible in Africa. At the Korea–Africa Summit, it pledged an additional $10 billion in development aid over six years and signed nearly 50 bilateral agreements across sectors like mining, manufacturing, energy, and trade. Korean companies also expanded their footprint—Hyosung Corp secured a $30 million transformer supply contract with Mozambique, while strategic partnerships were signed with Madagascar and Tanzania to secure critical minerals. Korea also committed $14 billion in export financing to boost trade and investment in African markets.
With a growing focus on South–South cooperation, Korea is positioning itself not just as a financial donor, but as a development partner offering shared solutions—a model increasingly relevant in today’s evolving aid landscape.
Strategic Shifts and Emerging Models
Ireland and South Korea stand out not only for increasing their aid budgets, but for how they are deploying those resources. Ireland has prioritized a balanced mix of humanitarian aid and peace-building, while reinforcing its long-standing commitment to multilateralism. This integrated approach strengthens long-term resilience and global partnerships.
South Korea, meanwhile, is focusing on quality and strategic alignment. Rather than expanding broadly, it is sharpening its engagement, enhancing regional diplomacy and consolidating efforts into fewer, more impactful programs. This reflects a maturing donor model that values effectiveness over volume.
Looking Ahead: Complexities and Opportunities
This progress is not without challenges. In Ireland, growing refugee-related costs and climate obligations must be balanced without diluting its long-term development agenda. Sustaining momentum will require political will and public backing.
For South Korea, the key test is turning reforms into lasting impact. As it moves toward larger-scale projects, transparency and effective delivery will be crucial.
South Korea’s and Ireland’s foreign aid may not match top donors in scale, but their strategies offer something equally vital: a blueprint for high-impact, principled engagement. Through targeted investments, diplomacy, and values-driven action, both countries are showing that smaller donors can lead with purpose.
– Jacobo L. Esteban
Jacobo is based in Cali, Colombia and focuses on Technology and Politics for The Borgen Project.
Photo: Flickr
South Korea’s and Ireland’s Foreign Aid Leadership
Amid this widespread retreat, a few countries have emerged as unexpected leaders. While Spain has gained attention for going against the grain, it is not alone. In 2024 and 2025, South Korea’s and Ireland’s foreign aid budgets have been expanded, standing out as outliers of solidarity in an increasingly fragmented global aid landscape
Ireland: A Rising Leader in Foreign Aid
Ireland’s foreign aid commitments have steadily increased in recent years. In 2023, the country’s ODA reached a historic €2.6 billion, amounting to 0.67% of Gross National Income (GNI). However, when excluding in-country refugee costs, the ODA-to-GNI ratio stands at 0.38%
For 2025, Irish Aid received a €35 million boost, bringing its total to €810 million—a 4.5% increase and a record allocation. Across all government departments, total ODA remains above €2 billion, reinforcing Ireland’s commitment to humanitarian response and long-term development. This funding prioritizes emergency responses in conflict zones like Gaza, Sudan and Ukraine.
Notably, Ireland is also investing in multilateral development. In 2025, it will contribute €141 million—a 33.5% increase—to the World Bank’s International Development Association (IDA) fund, which supports the world’s poorest countries. The IDA helps low-income nations cope with debt burdens, climate shocks, rising inflation and conflict.
By blending immediate humanitarian aid with long-term financing, Ireland is strengthening its global footprint and pursuing a values-driven foreign policy aligned with the U.N. Sustainable Development Goals.
South Korea: Scaling Aid and Shaping Donor Identity
In 2024, South Korea’s ODA surged by 24.8%, reaching $3.94 billion, or 0.21% of its GNI—the highest ratio since the country joined the OECD Development Assistance Committee (DAC). For 2025, the government approved an even larger ODA budget of 6.5 trillion won (≈US$4.5 billion), marking a 3.8% increase and achieving its mid-term aid target well ahead of schedule. South Korea’s aid strategy now prioritizes mutually beneficial cooperation, shifting toward fewer but larger projects that enhance impact and reduce fragmentation.
The OECD DAC’s 2024 peer review commended Korea’s ODA efforts, highlighting its rapid scale-up and growing leadership in the international development arena.
South Korea’s rising influence is especially visible in Africa. At the Korea–Africa Summit, it pledged an additional $10 billion in development aid over six years and signed nearly 50 bilateral agreements across sectors like mining, manufacturing, energy, and trade. Korean companies also expanded their footprint—Hyosung Corp secured a $30 million transformer supply contract with Mozambique, while strategic partnerships were signed with Madagascar and Tanzania to secure critical minerals. Korea also committed $14 billion in export financing to boost trade and investment in African markets.
With a growing focus on South–South cooperation, Korea is positioning itself not just as a financial donor, but as a development partner offering shared solutions—a model increasingly relevant in today’s evolving aid landscape.
Strategic Shifts and Emerging Models
Ireland and South Korea stand out not only for increasing their aid budgets, but for how they are deploying those resources. Ireland has prioritized a balanced mix of humanitarian aid and peace-building, while reinforcing its long-standing commitment to multilateralism. This integrated approach strengthens long-term resilience and global partnerships.
South Korea, meanwhile, is focusing on quality and strategic alignment. Rather than expanding broadly, it is sharpening its engagement, enhancing regional diplomacy and consolidating efforts into fewer, more impactful programs. This reflects a maturing donor model that values effectiveness over volume.
Looking Ahead: Complexities and Opportunities
This progress is not without challenges. In Ireland, growing refugee-related costs and climate obligations must be balanced without diluting its long-term development agenda. Sustaining momentum will require political will and public backing.
For South Korea, the key test is turning reforms into lasting impact. As it moves toward larger-scale projects, transparency and effective delivery will be crucial.
South Korea’s and Ireland’s foreign aid may not match top donors in scale, but their strategies offer something equally vital: a blueprint for high-impact, principled engagement. Through targeted investments, diplomacy, and values-driven action, both countries are showing that smaller donors can lead with purpose.
– Jacobo L. Esteban
Photo: Flickr
Oxfam Vietnam: Assisting Rural Communities
Organizations recognize Vietnam’s discrepancy in the quality of life for rural versus urban communities. As such, many poverty alleviation initiatives focus on increasing rural welfare. Oxfam, the international non-governmental organization that works on combating poverty, has invested significantly in rural communities by securing better infrastructure, employment and social programming. As Oxfam’s mission is to create equitable societies across the globe, action taken not only addresses short term crises, but builds long term improvements.
Oxfam in Vietnam
The Secured Livelihoods and Resilient Communities Goal initiative seeks to provide greater income for minority and women’s groups, which often face discrimination. Additionally, Oxfam aims to provide infrastructure and enhance agricultural production. As agriculture is the core industry in rural communities, bolstering production capabilities not only improves economic output but also mitigates the potential effects of natural disasters.
Furthermore, to meet these goals, Oxfam acts as a bridge between the government, the private sector and rural communities. As an influential international organization, Oxfam looks out for the interests of rural communities by holding the government and the private sector accountable when developing policy and partnerships.
Oxfam proposed policies that benefit rural communities by focusing on inclusivity, accountability, and sustainability, all of which are currently lacking. These policies are implemented through plans such as the Nationally Determined Contributions, National Adaptation Plan and feminist perspectives. The policies facilitate economic growth and prevent labor from being taken advantage of. In addition, the introduction of feminist ideology as well as training women to take on leadership roles, bridges the gender gap.
Tran Nam Clean Tea Cooperative
So far, Oxfam Vietnam has delivered tangible results for the rural communities. With the help of Oxfam, the Tran Nam Clean Tea Cooperative transitioned from firewood and gas to utilizing green energy. Not only was production cleaner, but working conditions for laborers along with an increase in revenue.
On a smaller scale, Oxfam has also served as a launchpad for individuals in rural communities. Mai Thi Cam, who lived below the poverty line, faced significant challenges in caring for her family during the pandemic. Through Oxfam’s Resilience program in collaboration with New Zealand and the Red Cross, she started a livestock farm and learned to manage it through educational courses.
The Future
If poverty trends remain consistent, Vietnam’s living conditions could improve significantly, with greater financial security and more individuals moving up to the middle class. Organizations such as Oxfam play a critical role in ensuring development and welfare are accessible to all, especially rural communities. The continued service and investments from Oxfam and other NGOs need continued support from governments and organizations, foreign and domestic.
– Owen Wu
Photo: Flickr
Combating Poverty in Mexico
Policies and Governmental Strategies
Recent efforts to combat poverty in Mexico focus on inclusive and sustainable growth, according to the World Bank. Its analysis shows several areas for improvement in long-term poverty reduction. The first is female employment. Increasing the employment rate for women in the workforce contributes to economic development for the country.
Rural development is also a key factor in combating poverty. Improving rural infrastructure, education and health care services is essential to address regional disparities. Additionally, social protection is another element the government can tackle to help improve the situation. Strengthening benefits with worker protections can make economic growth more inclusive. As the World Bank notes, “social assistance reforms can redesign some programs to increase their progressivity and sufficiency,” enhancing effectiveness in combating poverty.
An overlooked aspect of why poverty is so complex in Mexico is the major climate events across the country. According to the World Bank, about 33% of poverty in Mexico is correlated with severe weather events. Hurricanes, droughts and floods affect those living in vulnerable conditions, further worsening their situations. Investing in more resilient infrastructure, such as durable housing and clean water systems, is a priority.
Organizations Addressing Poverty in Mexico
Several nongovernmental organizations (NGOs) are working to combat poverty in Mexico through multiple projects and initiatives. Esperanza Contigo focuses on children living in poverty, more specifically in rural areas. According to a report by the organization, more than 20 million children in Mexico live below the poverty line. This is due to reasons such as the minimum wage for a worker in Mexico being about $8.50 a day and rural schools being under-resourced, both of which fuel the cycle of poverty in the country.
Esperanza Contigo works to raise awareness, provide resources and advocate for change to improve the lives of children living in poverty. The organization has seen results in its work throughout Mexico, including helping abandoned children in the city of Tijuana. There, it provides foster care and offers shelter, education and health care programs. The organization states that “the best way to tackle child poverty is to be prepared.”
CHOICE Humanitarian carries out locally led projects that address poverty in Mexico, mainly in rural areas. Its work includes increasing livestock and promoting agricultural sustainability. The organization helps families build stable food sources and income through efforts such as constructing wells and water filters. By doing so, CHOICE Humanitarian teaches communities the skills needed to continue these practices on their own. The organization’s activities support economic development, with the goal of combating poverty in this way.
In its 2024 annual report, the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) outlined efforts to improve child nutrition, access to early childhood education and social inclusion. In cooperation with the Mexican government, UNICEF and the legislative branch are working to integrate child-centered initiatives into national planning. The organization has already reported progress in key areas such as nutrition, well-being and inclusion.
Looking Ahead
Combating poverty in Mexico remains a challenge. It is not just one aspect that must be addressed, but multiple dimensions of poverty at the same time. This complexity has drawn many organizations to take part in tackling the problem. With projects underway to support people in need and with cooperation from the national government, Mexico is laying the groundwork for progress in combating poverty.
– Pablo Roque
Photo: Flickr
Urban Vertical Farming in Nairobi: Fighting Poverty in Kenya
Growing Food in Tight Spaces
Traditional farming is impossible in the cramped alleyways and makeshift housing of Nairobi’s slums, but residents have found a creative solution: sack gardening. This method involves filling sacks with soil and organic waste, then growing leafy vegetables such as kale, spinach, and amaranth vertically on rooftops, balconies, and even along fences. These “vertical gardens” maximize limited space, requiring only a few square feet to feed a family.
Thanks to support from local NGOs and government programs, more than a thousand residents across Kibera’s villages have adopted sack farming. The approach is also resilient, relying on irrigation rather than rainfall, which makes year-round production possible despite inconsistent water access.
More Than Just Food
Vertical farming in the slums of Nairobi does more than reduce hunger. Surplus produce is sold at local markets, generating crucial income for families living on just a few dollars a day. For many young people, particularly in areas like Mathare, these farms offer an alternative to crime and gang involvement. Organizations such as Vision Bearerz, started by former gang members, have transformed abandoned spaces into hydroponic farms that supply fresh food and jobs while promoting peace.
Women play a leading role in this movement, often spearheading rooftop gardens and small-scale hydroponic projects. Their efforts empower households with better nutrition and financial stability, contributing to broader social change in these marginalized communities.
Building Resilience and Opportunity
Urban vertical farming also addresses critical environmental challenges. The techniques reduce dependence on unpredictable rainfall and make efficient use of scarce water through irrigation and wastewater recycling.
Moreover, the skills and entrepreneurship fostered by these farming projects could open doors to new economic opportunities. Youth gain knowledge in sustainable agriculture, business management, and community organizing—building a foundation for long-term poverty alleviation.
A Model for the Future
Vertical farming in Nairobi offers a hopeful blueprint for other rapidly urbanizing cities facing food insecurity and poverty. By transforming rooftops and small plots into productive farms, communities are reclaiming control over their nutrition and livelihoods. With continued support from local governments, NGOs, and social entrepreneurs, this grassroots agricultural revolution could scale across Kenya and beyond, nourishing not only bodies but also spirits.
– Meagan Beaver
Photo: Flickr
Sustainable Farming in Bihar: Bridging the Poverty Gap
In March 2023, the foundation joined forces with PRADAN to empower women in Bihar with knowledge, tools and resources. The partnership focused on improving traditional farming methods through more sustainable, climate-resilient practices.
Agriculture in Bihar
Bihar, known for its fertile land and rich natural resources, relies heavily on agriculture, which employs about 76% of the state’s population. However, many farmers still rely on ineffective traditional farming practices that use harmful chemical fertilizers and pesticides to sustain their livelihoods.
The growing impact of climate instability, including unpredictable rainfall, droughts and extreme temperatures, has made it even harder for farming communities to earn a stable income and support their families.
Why Women Farmers Matter
This joint initiative focuses on women in rural areas, who often lack access to the necessary tools, agricultural training, support and financial resources. According to SAF founder Shailendra Patel, initial research showed that empowering women empowers communities.
“If you enable the female members of these households, there is empirical evidence that because of maternal instincts, they are going to use that transfer of knowledge, tools and resources to improve the circumstances of their family and children,” Patel said. “They are likely to do that with greater consideration than the male household members.”
Training for Sustainable Farming
The initiative addresses ineffective farming practices in several ways. It trains women farmers in sustainable techniques such as climate-resilient greenhouses and drip irrigation. These methods protect crops during erratic weather conditions. They also increase both harvest size and crop quality.
The hands-on training covers land preparation, seed selection, bio-fertilizer preparation, water conservation, crop diversification and greenhouse management. These skills create a strong foundation for more resilient and productive farming methods.
“Through the transfer of knowledge and sharing of tools, means and resources with these communities will help them to progress on their journey out of poverty,” Patel said.
Success Story
This shift from traditional practices to sustainable farming in Bihar has already shown positive results, including healthier soils, improved harvest and reduced vulnerability to extreme weather conditions. Among the program’s early success stories is Sheetal, a local participant who began cultivating saplings through the Climate-Resilient Farming Program.
With training and support, she established a small nursery business that supplies saplings to other farmers in her village. This has diversified her income sources and positioned her as an entrepreneur, while uplifting her village community.
Along with empowering women in leadership roles in their villages, this program has contributed to greater food security, reduced input costs and more stable incomes through sustainable farming in Bihar.
“Empowering women benefits the families, communities and households,” Patel stated. “We need to find ways to lift the women to some form of equitable status in their families, give them agency in their families and knowledge with which they can make decisions.”
– Sahana Shastry
Photo: Flickr
Mental Health in the Comoros
Lack of Mental Health Policy
The Comorian government has yet to adopt a mental health strategy, legislation or a specific budget for mental health care. This policy vacuum reflects decades of political instability and military coups since the country’s independence in 1975, compounded by pervasive poverty that besets the archipelago. Without a national plan, there is no framework to develop services, train providers or secure international funding for scalable solutions.
Poverty and Mental Health in the Comoros
Mental health care is too costly for most Comorian families. Without insurance systems or government-funded services, families often exhaust their savings on traditional healing or resort to physically restraining relatives with severe symptoms. The economic impact extends beyond individual families, as untreated mental illness reduces productivity, increases school dropout rates and reproduces poverty.
In 2018, the country’s Human Capital Index was only 0.40, suggesting that children born in 2018 will only achieve 40% of their productive potential, a figure partly influenced by preventable health issues, including mental disorders.
Cultural Beliefs and Stigma
Mental illness in Comoros is predominantly attributed to supernatural causes. As a result, many people first seek treatment from marabouts, who use Quranic verses, herbal remedies and amulets. These practices often delay medical treatment and can worsen psychiatric conditions. Women face particular obstacles, as cultural stigmatization often prevents them from seeking help or freely deciding about their treatment. Older people are also vulnerable, with no geriatric mental health support available.
However, organizations like Grand Challenges Canada (GCC) have supported mental health innovation in the Union of Comoros by training community health workers and facilitating psychiatric consultations via mobile phones. To reinforce monitoring and public awareness, the program also deploys tablets for weekly reporting and mobile apps to inform local communities about mental health issues.
Furthermore, youth-led initiatives like the Al Shara Youth Comoros “Moroni hub” based in Moroni, provide safe places for the youth to discuss mental health, challenge misconceptions and empower those affected by mental health issues.
Innoventive Mental Health Alternatives
Several other promising initiatives have emerged in recent years. In 2020, a telepsychiatry project was launched, with three key objectives. First, it helps raise awareness about mental health in Comoros, working to reduce misconceptions and stigma surrounding mental health disorders. Moreover, it also trains health care practitioners to manage conditions, such as depression, schizophrenia and bipolar disorder.
Finally, the project facilitates tele-consultations through Skype/Teams, connecting people and health care providers in remote areas with the country’s only psychiatrist and consultants from Madagascar and France. These tele-consultations provide diagnostic guidance and treatment recommendations, helping to mitigate the scarcity of psychiatric specialists.
E-education platforms are also slowly expanding, providing ongoing psychiatric and psychological training for health care workers. Targeted economic investment, especially from the U.S., could help develop these pivotal initiatives and bring mental health care to thousands of Comorians who currently suffer in silence. Addressing mental health care in Comoros requires sustained efforts, cultural sensitivity and international support to build more resilient communities.
– Juliette Delbarre
Photo: Flickr
Major Facts About Poverty in Okinawa
Single-Parent Household Ratios Are High
Contributing to poverty in Okinawa are single-parent or single-mother households. According to Professor Yanfei Zhou of Japan Women’s University from the documentary “The Ones Left Behind: The Plight of Single Mothers in Japan,” despite single-parent households having a high employment percentage of 85%, 48.3% of the households are in poverty.
In Okinawa, single-mother households are the majority, resulting in a 30% child poverty rate that is almost double the national average. Many of these single-mother households have to work two jobs, with their second being a hostess at nightclubs.
US Military Facilities Dominate Okinawa
Many of Okinawa’s poverty-related issues stem from Japan’s relationship with the U.S. military. After World War II and the devastating 1945 Battle of Okinawa, Japan allowed the U.S. to establish military facilities on the island, bases that remain in place today.
Due to the 1945 battle devastating Okinawa’s existing infrastructure and major agricultural fields being demolished for military facilities, the prefecture experienced major economic infrastructure development delays.
About half of all U.S. forces in Japan remain in Okinawa today, an island that makes up less than 0.6% of the country’s territory. The weak infrastructure on the island continues to contribute to the low employment rates and poverty in Okinawa.
Unemployment Rates Are High
According to e-Stat, Okinawa’s unemployment rate was 8.1% in 2023, the highest percentage among Japan’s prefectures. Many factors contribute to this, including limited infrastructure due to the U.S. military presence, dependence on a tourism industry with low wages and unstable work and low university enrollment among young people. The island’s geographic isolation from mainland Japan also worsens unemployment and poverty in Okinawa.
Okinawa Lacks Support From the Japanese Government
Although the Japanese government provides Okinawa with more than $2 billion in annual financial support, the relationship between Okinawan residents and the state remains complicated. Many oppose current plans to relocate the U.S. Marine Corps Air Station from Futenma to the coast of Henoko, reflecting longstanding resentment over the U.S. military presence.
Japan’s colonization of the former Ryukyu Kingdom and deep cultural differences between Okinawa and the mainland have also fueled tension. As a result, Okinawa is often viewed as neglected compared to other Japanese prefectures.
Organizations Providing Aid
While poverty in Okinawa stems from many factors, nonprofit organizations and local leaders continue to fight for change. HelpOki, a volunteer-based nonprofit founded in 2011, works to combat poverty by providing vital resources and support to those in need. To address food insecurity, the group established Okinawa’s first food bank and continues to supply essentials to homeless shelters, foster homes and other community organizations.
Organizations outside Okinawa are also working to fight poverty in the prefecture. Second Harvest Japan, the country’s first incorporated food bank, aims to build a nationwide food safety net. In 2020, in collaboration with Barclays, it launched the Usagamisore Project. The initiative provided food to 30,000 households in Okinawa during the COVID-19 pandemic and continues to serve the community while expanding its reach to the greater Tokyo area.
Local leaders have also made slow but steady plans to make Okinawa more self-reliant. They aim to reduce poverty and unemployment rates while still addressing residents’ concerns with U.S. forces and their presence in Okinawa.
– Skylar Paxton
Photo: Wikimedia Commons
Improving Women’s Health Care in Africa
COWHA’s Mission in Africa
There are organizations globally committed to improving women’s health care. One of these is the Coalition for Women’s Health in Africa (COWHA). COWHA is invested in providing girls and women with equitable access to health care and increasing their well-being. This vision is driven by an approach rooted in knowledge, advocacy and action. This three-pronged approach thrives on a collaboration with organizations in the private sector and holding governance responsible for reimagining and supporting women’s health care.
In its 2025 Webinar Report, the Coalition for Women’s Health in Africa insists on the necessity of domestic investments, calling African governments to expand access to quality health services for girls and women, ensure financial risk protection and reduce out-of-pocket expenditures for patients and advance equity by making the health care of the most vulnerable and underserved populations a priority.
By adopting and funding these strategic priorities, COWHA can better maximize its impact in countries such as Ghana, Kenya and South Africa. In these regions, special attention goes to providing services and treatment for girls and women experiencing breast and cervical cancer, other noncommunicable diseases and needs related to sexual and reproductive health, as well as maternal and newborn care.
Statistics in Women’s Health Care
Coalition for Women’s Health in Africa reports the rates at which women and girls across the African continent experience health complications. Indeed, according to the report, around 66% of all global maternal deaths occur in Sub-Saharan Africa, 26% of women in Sub-Saharan Africa experience unplanned pregnancies and 65% of all cancer cases in Africa occur in women.
However, the organization’s framework is actively improving women’s health care in Africa and reducing oppressive conditions. Investing in knowledge and research enables COWHA to disseminate integral data on women’s health across Africa. This identifies gaps in care as well as offering life-saving interventions to enhance health outcomes. COWHA engages in conversation with policymakers, amplifying the most pressing health challenges, barriers to access and ensuring that women’s health is a priority.
Looking Ahead
The Coalition for Women’s Health in Africa’s cross-sector collaboration with governments, health care institutions and NGOs enables the implementation of targeted interventions. As a result, COWHA champions improvements in women’s health care that can have long-lasting impacts on the social and living conditions of girls and women across Africa.
– McKenzie Rentie
Photo: Flickr
How Urban Farming in Lebanon is Combating Food Insecurity
Changing the System
Launched by U.N.-Habitat and funded by the Government of Japan, the Al-Marjeh project integrates food production, renewable energy and clean water access to strengthen community resilience and combat Lebanon’s food insecurity.
The program has trained 100 women and 50 youth in planting, harvesting, composting, packaging and marketing. Participants gain both technical knowledge and business skills, enabling them to produce and sell fresh produce locally.
To support this shift, the project has installed renewable energy systems and water filtration units in two public schools and a health dispensary, benefiting the residents. These improvements enhance hygiene facilities, reduce the risk of waterborne diseases like cholera and ensure sustainable access to clean water – an essential component of urban agriculture.
Reducing Poverty and Building Livelihoods
The Al-Marjeh project’s benefits extend beyond the harvest. Many graduates have received agricultural toolkits to continue production at home, reducing household food costs while generating income from surplus sales. Others have joined cash-for-work initiatives, expanding cultivation on larger plots and strengthening local food supply chains.
For residents, the training has been transformative. By learning to grow their own crops, citizens have reduced reliance on expensive imported vegetables and built more stable income streams. Examples like Omar, a young participant, who now applies his training to community gardens and helps neighbours adopt sustainable cultivation techniques, highlight the transformative impact.
This impact reflects a broader trend: urban farming fosters self-reliance, reduces dependency on volatile markets and creates spaces for community cooperation that works together to reverse Lebanon’s food insecurity. By linking food production directly to urban residents, the initiative could shorten supply chains, reduces transportation costs and improve access to fresh produce in neighbourhoods that have long relied on limited and costly imports.
Long-Term Development Impact
Urban farming in Lebanon is also a climate resilience strategy. With arable land scarce and extreme weather patterns intensifying environmental pressures, localized farming offers a way to meet food needs sustainably. The Al-Marjeh project promotes water-efficient irrigation and composting practices, reducing environmental strain while maintaining productivity.
U.N.-Habitat highlights that these projects strengthen social cohesion by involving diverse community members in collective goals. The combination of environmental sustainability, economic opportunity and improved nutrition provides a blueprint for scaling similar initiatives in other urban centres facing similar issues as Lebanon’s food insecurity.
Looking Ahead
As Lebanon continues to navigate overlapping economic and political crises, urban farming offers a practical and empowering response. By equipping residents with the skills, resources and infrastructure to produce their own food, projects like Al-Marjeh reduce vulnerability to external shocks and lay the foundation for inclusive, sustainable growth. In Tripoli’s Shalfeh neighbourhood, a simple idea—growing food locally—is helping build a more resilient future.
– Thomas Finighan
Photo: Flickr
Education Reform in India
Successful Implementations
As of 2025, the NEP has successfully implemented its 5+3+3+4 structure. Before the NEP, India’s education system followed a 10+2 system, in which students completed 10 years of schooling and then two years of higher secondary education.
The current format requires students to complete five years of foundational school, three years of preparatory school, three years of middle school and four years of secondary school. Not only does this system focus on Early Childhood Care and Education, officially including the teaching of 3-6 year olds in the system, but the shift also emphasizes core literacy and numerical skills (FLN). From the implementation of the new system in 2020 to 2023, the percentage of students with core FLN skills increased from 58% to 70%.
Drastic Improvements
The NEP has made drastic improvements to the topic of curriculum. Of India’s 28 states and eight territories, 23 have adopted the NEP’s framework for education, according to India times. Overall, the new curriculum eliminates separations between arts and sciences, curricular and extracurricular activities and others to eliminate the formation of hierarchies.
Additionally, the NEP curriculum emphasizes a multidisciplinary approach and true understanding rather than rote memorization to create unity and integrity of knowledge; on particularly notable addition to the multidisciplinary angle is the introduction of bilingual teaching, which allows students to enhance their understanding of concepts with increased exposure to languages like English or Hindi.
Further, the NEP promised an influx of high-quality resources to its Digital Infrastructure for Knowledge Sharing (DIKSHA) and has achieved its goal; as of 2024, the platform had more than 3.5 billion views, with more than 50 million users, according to India Times. Digital resources like DIKSHA equal the playing field for students in deprived urban areas in India.
Ongoing Reforms
Looking forward, the Indian government still has much progress to make on education reform in India. Though resources like DIKSHA can be a useful tool, the digital divide makes it difficult for them to create real impact. With irregular internet access and a lack of devices, the government must work to fill this gap. One way the Indian government has worked to lessen the divide is through BharatNet, a rural telecom project which provides access to connectivity to service providers and has made more than 74,000 Service Ready GPs for 36 of India’s states.
Additionally, the NEP’s new curriculum has required the adoption of new teaching methods. Because of inexperience and lack of resources, it is hard for educators to undergo the necessary training. As a result, the government and the Department of School Education and Literacy have launched the National Initiative for School Heads’ and Teachers’ Holistic Advancement (NISHTHA).
This program is divided into three training programs specific to the elementary level, the secondary level and the National Initiative for Proficiency in Reading with Understanding in Numeracy (a program created by the Ministry of Education in India). As a result of NISHTHA, many smaller states have achieved 100% of their training goals and/or trained more educators than expected.
Although the NEP has thus far made good, measurable progress, it has much room for improvements. With current education reforms in India, however, the country gets closer and closer to its education goals every day.
– Ariana Wang
Photo: Flickr