The Sustainable Development Goal 15 (SDG 15) – Life on Land– has taken center stage in Chile. Changing weather patterns have impacted Chile’s unique and rugged landscapes. Despite economic growth in Chile due to mining, agriculture and logging, the environmental impacts have become rapidly apparent. The retreat of the Great Andean Glaciers and the simultaneous destruction of the ancient Araucania region by forest fires and logging have forced the Chilean ecosystem to reach instability and increasing environmental pressure. The Chilean government is relying on a major joint indigenous and international cooperation to carry out national strategies to quell the escalating pressures on Chilean ecosystems and address SDG 15 in Chile.
The Crucial Nature of SDG 15 in Chile
The U.N.’s SDG 15 looks to tackle biodiversity loss and degraded ecosystems, and promote the sustainable use of ecosystems across the globe. Chile is home to more than 40% of the world’s temperate rainforests, Ancient Araucania regions, unique species of flora and fauna and one of the largest glacier networks across the Southern Hemisphere. For the nation and the wider network of interconnected peoples and systems, there is a hard-line policy change vital to promote a healthy change.
The National Strategy on Climate Change and Vegetation Resources (ENCCRV), a government initiative focused on restoring landscapes and promoting inclusive environmental governance, is the beating heart of Chile’s SDG 15 policies.
The Ancient Araucania Forest: The Indigenous Devotion
The legendary Araucania region represents the core of the battle taking place, to promote the SDG 15 strategy, spearheaded by the indigenous Mapuche and Huilliche communities. The indigenous people have been the one consistent organization advocating for change. Now, with a dedicated United Nations agenda, the indigenous, national organizations and international initiatives have joined forces to stabilize the region.
Through the ENCCRV and REDD+ (U.N. Framework), Chile has supported 861 community-led projects, which have helped restore more than 14,000 hectares of native forest since 2020. Due to the historic tensions between the indigenous and Chilean government, these reforestation projects vitally serve as a cultural revival, and a symbol of diplomacy regarding land rights.
On Huapi Island, Mapuche-Huilliche leaders are replanting native tree species like the Laurelia sempervirens on a massive scale to continue the stabilization of the ecosystem and reestablish the culturally significant landscapes that define the region. Much of the ecological knowledge that is required for the planting, cultivation, and maintenance of the native species is passed down via generations of Mapuche-Huilliche families. In 2016, the establishment of the ENCCRV, to support SDG 15 in Chile, incorporated indigenous ecological knowledge within the frameworks of national environmental policy, a signifier of the cultural shift taking place within Chile, regarding both the environment and indigenous relations.
According to the U.N., more than 2,000 indigenous people, including many women, have participated directly in ENCRVV-supported projects. These projects include the Recovery of the Native Forest on Huapi Island, Ecological Restoration across La Araucania and Los Andes, +Bosques Landscape-wide Implementation and the Villarrica National Park Co-governance agreement. These are all frameworks in which indigenous communities work in tandem with national organizations to tackle environmental instability across Chile.
Geoparks and Poverty Reduction
SDG-15 in Chile continues its permeance through Chilean culture with the establishment of a UNESCO Global Geopark in 2019. Inside Chile’s Araucania region, the Kutralkura Geopark spans more than 8,100 km², including vast forestry, rivers and volcanoes. Since earning this UNESCO status, Kutralkura has become a strong symbol of indigenous leadership, working in tandem with government and international organizations to cultivate environmental conservation. However, its impact does not end there. Since 2019, the region has supplied strength to local communities, becoming a beacon of poverty reduction and economic prosperity.
Sustainable agroforestry, tourism and artisan enterprises continue to support upwards of 55,000 local inhabitants. Geotourism services, supplied by locals who are uniquely engaged with the surrounding areas, offer guides and cultural tours to both international tourists and those of Chilean descent. The indigenous locals are incentivized to pass down and maintain knowledge of the vast environment, simultaneously raising awareness among Chilean populations about the key importance of the Geopark, and its link to the wider sustainability of both Chile’s intertwined ecosystems and economies.
In 2023, a project engaging Mapuche girls in volcanology education, led by female Chilean scientists, aimed to develop an educational volcanology guide with a gender focus. This initiative was designed to meld scientific knowledge with indigenous world views to boost disaster preparedness and safety, and bolster environmental awareness.
In September 2025, the people of Temuco City, Chile will host the 11th International Conference on UNESCO Global Geoparks, once again highlighting the SDG-15 in Chile and the proud impact it has had on the indigenous peoples, both directly and indirectly. This will not only improve environmental preservation, but also bolster indigenous involvement in local government policy, international recognition and economic prosperity for multiple indigenous communities.
Final Thoughts
Environmental sustainability in Chile is not only an ecological necessity but also a pathway out of poverty for many vulnerable communities. Deforestation, soil erosion and forest fires have historically threatened rural livelihoods, particularly for indigenous families who depend on agriculture, forestry and small-scale tourism for survival. By restoring native forests, promoting sustainable agroforestry and expanding ecotourism initiatives, Chile’s SDG 15 programs create stable sources of income that reduce reliance on extractive industries. These initiatives give families more secure access to food, jobs and education, while also protecting ecosystems that future generations will depend on. As Chile continues to align its environmental goals with poverty reduction strategies, it offers a model for how sustainable development can uplift communities while safeguarding the planet.
– Luis-Enrique J Lander
Luis-Enrique is based in Leeds, UK and focuses on Global Health and Politics for The Borgen Project.
Photo: Pixabay
Private Foundations Expanding Global Aid Amid USAID Cuts
Concerns Over USAID Cuts
The administration’s budget proposal includes an $8.3 billion cut to foreign assistance, effectively dismantling large portions of USAID. These cuts have raised concerns among international development experts. Humanitarian organizations warn that the withdrawal of U.S. support could destabilize fragile economies and undo decades of progress in global health, education and poverty reduction. In the wake of these reductions, experts have noted that the following foundations are expanding global aid amid USAID cuts.
Private Foundations Expanding Global Aid
Looking Ahead
These foundations expanding global aid continue to play a crucial role in supporting foreign assistance, especially during periods of uncertainty in public funding. Indeed, their growing influence highlights the increasing role of private foundations in driving global aid efforts. As current funding evaluations wrap up, the trajectory of foreign assistance remains unclear. In the meantime, global development initiatives look set to increasingly rely on the strength and commitment of the philanthropic sector.
– Dylan Fly
Photo: Flickr
Disability and Poverty in Sierra Leone
Disability Rights and Poverty
People with disabilities are often more susceptible to poverty. In developing countries, which often do not have robust disability support programs, disabled people especially struggle. People in impoverished areas are also more likely to have disabilities thanks to poor quality of life and increased violence.
One of the biggest issues is employment discrimination, where employers are less likely to hire disabled people because they believe they would not be able to fulfill the job requirements. Employers are even more hesitant to hire those that may need additional help, considering the limited job availability in developing nations.
Another major issue is lack of accessibility infrastructure. Government resources are spread thin in developing nations, and investing in accessibility often takes a backseat to more baseline government functions. These conditions make it so that countries that have a higher likelihood for their citizens to incur disabilities are also the most ill equipped to help their disabled citizens.
The Situation in Sierra Leone
Sierra Leone, like many developing nations, has to deal with the issues of disability and poverty. As a country still recovering from the effects of a devastating civil war, it has a lot of experience with both of these issues. According to the Repository on Disability Rights in Africa in 2015, about 2.4% of Sierra Leone’s population has a disability. The aforementioned civil war is a contributor to the country’s disabled population, where many citizens are still dealing with debilitating war wounds. Lack of health care infrastructure also leads to disabilities caused by infectious diseases such as polio.
The connection between disability and poverty in Sierra Leone has led to a large disability rights movement within the country. However, a lack of central organization is a big issue facing this movement. An analysis by Amelie van den Brink, Willem Elbers and Aisha Fofana Ibrahim from 2019 describes the nature of the movement as “fragmented,” citing lack of resources and diverging interests based on different types of impairments. Despite having unity under the Sierra Leone Union on Disability Issues (SLUDI), many member organizations actively compete for financial resources and government attention.
Solutions
Despite their limited economic power, Sierra Leone has made commitments to improving the lives of their disabled population. In 2011, its federal government passed The Persons with Disabilities Act. This act created the National Commission for Persons with Disability, a government committee dedicated to protecting people with disabilities and providing services like preventing discrimination, maintaining a database of people with disabilities and spreading awareness of the issues that disabled people in Sierra Leone face. It also officially codified a list of rights that persons with disability were guaranteed, including issues of employment and medical care.
The United Nations has also taken action to help the government develop a strategy for improving the quality of life for the disabled. In 2011, the United Nations Integrated Peace Building Office in Sierra Leone (UNIPSIL) released a charter concerning the rights of disabled people, based on previous legislation passed by the Sierra Leone government. Other NGOs have contributed financially to Sierra Leone’s disability and poverty relief efforts. Having outside support for these disability rights efforts is essential to countries like Sierra Leone in order to ensure that their government is equipped to handle these newer initiatives.
As stated earlier, Sierra Leone also has a robust disability rights movement. Despite the issues with the movement as observed by van den Brink et al, it has been essential in pushing for legislation and providing non-governmental resources to those in need. The SLUDI was one of the biggest advocates for the Persons with Disabilities Act, and is a great example of the power of advocacy in legislative politics.
Looking Ahead
Disability and poverty in Sierra Leone remains a major issue as the country struggles to meet the needs of its disabled population. However, thanks to a combination of legislation and popular support, the country has the tools it needs to improve on this issue well into the future. Sierra Leone is growing in many respects, and many of the measures that the government took are essential to ensuring that the disabled are not left behind.
– Thaddeus Konieczny
Photo: Pexels
Timor Leste’s Community Infrastructure For Resilience Project
Since gaining independence, Timor Leste’s community infrastructure has been a central focus on the country’s development, this includes roads, ports, airports, water and sanitation systems and government facilities. By focusing on building up the country’s infrastructure, the number of Timorese living below the national poverty line has declined each year.
Building Community Resilience
In 2023, the UNDP became the implementing agency of the Community Infrastructure for Resilience Project (CIREP), which focuses on rural communities in Timor-Leste by strengthening their resilience by improving infrastructure and “access to basic services for health, education, markets, irrigation, water and sanitation.”
The project period is from 2023 to 2027 and commits itself to the construction and rehabilitation of 46 community infrastructures in the areas of Bobonaro, Ermera, Liquica, and the Special Administrative Region Oe-Cusse Ambeno (RAEOA). This is paralleled with the Cash-For-Work program operating at the project sites, engaging with 4,000 community members, particularly youth, women, people with disabilities and LGPTIQ+.
The Cash-For-Work program provides community members with work at the sites that are improving Timor Leste’s Community Infrastructure. They are taught skills and given experience that is able to help them gain further employment. The UNDP estimates that by the end of the project a total of 16,000 households and 75,000 individuals will benefit from the project, according to UNDP.
Sustainable Development Goals
The CIREP targets the U.N.’s Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), including gender equality, clean water and sanitation and decent work and economic growth. Within Timor-Leste, investing in human capital has been a priority for sustainable development and economic growth. By focusing on infrastructure-centred projects ,the UNDP can tackle multiple SDGs at once, together with its efforts to improve access to clean water and sanitation.
SDG 5: Gender Equality
Gender Equality is a big focus of Timor-Leste’s Community Infrastructure Project, with the assurance that the Cash-For-Work program participants are 50% women, according to UNDP. The program initiatives aim to empower women in these rural areas by teaching them skills that will help employ them in the long term as well as improving their socioeconomic status in the short term through the Cash-For-Work program.
SDG 6: Clean Water and Sanitation
The second SDG that the CIREP focuses on is clean water and sanitation, which is a driver of malnutrition in Timor-Leste. By constructing and renovating water and sanitation sites in the country, it can drastically improve health and increase productivity, which in turn fuels other SDGs.
SDG 8: Decent Work and Economic Growth
The third SDG that the project focuses on is decent work and economic growth, which is the backbone of Timor-Leste’s Community Infrastructure project. By working with the Cash-For-Work program, the UNDP has identified and registered 1,254 community members who will be provided on-the-job training at the different project sites, according to UNDP. By training and paying workers from Timor-Leste the UNDP and the Cash-For-Work program can give decent work to the citizens while simultaneously improving economic conditions.
Looking Forward
As the CIREP continues into March 2027, Timor-Leste’s community infrastructure continues to improve, strengthening the community’s resilience and furthering economic growth.
– Olivia Peters
Photo: Flickr
What a Netflix subscription could buy you around the world
To put this into perspective, the cost of a single month of Netflix surpasses what most people in many countries have to live on over three days. This is a stark reminder of the inequalities that still exist in the world today. What feels like a small subscription fee to many is three days of food, essential supplies and sanitation for others, meaning a large proportion of the world is priced out of access to what is increasingly treated as a basic part of modern digital life. To indicate this further, below is a list of what a Netflix subscription can buy around the world.
South Sudan
South Sudan is one of the poorest countries in Africa. More than 350,000 live below the global poverty line, according to the World Bank. Here, $8 is enough to feed a family of four for two or three days. With this amount of money, one could buy 1 kilogram of red beans, 1 kilogram of beef, tomatoes and onions, as well as 2 litres of diesel.
India
Over the past decade, poverty rates have fallen significantly in India. In 2011, 16.2% of the population was living in extreme poverty, but as of 2023, this figure had fallen to 2.3%. This is extraordinary; however, it still leaves around 30 million people surviving on less than $3 a day. For these people, and many others, a monthly Netflix subscription is unattainable as there is only enough money for necessities. $8 here could buy a week’s worth of groceries, 2 litres of milk, 2 kilograms of chicken, 1 kilogram of potatoes and rice and five bottles of water, a reminder that extra spending for many is never an option.
Madagascar
According to the World Bank, in 2023, Madagascar was one of the poorest countries in the world, with 75% of people living below the global poverty line. Here, $8 can buy you eight dozen eggs, six bottles of water and three beers. Almost the entire population have less money to spend every day than the cost of one monthly subscription.
Myanmar
Years of political instability and economic hardship have left much of Myanmar’s population living in poverty, with wages falling far below the global average. Here, $8 stretches far, equating to 30 hours of work, rather than just a single day in America. Individuals on minimum wage will have to work for three and a half days just to afford one month of Netflix.
Closing the gap
Price comparisons like these are not just meant to shock, but to highlight the severe global income and purchasing inequalities. $8 may mean little to many, but to some, it is a lifeline. While $8 a month may be manageable in wealthier countries, it can represent a significant portion of someone’s earnings in lower-income nations. In doing so, access to digital entertainment becomes yet another area where global inequality plays out, limiting participation based on geography and economic status.
However, as awareness of these disparities grows, a space opens for global companies to create pricing that reflects local realities. The value of technology and access must be understood to close this gap and lessen inequality.
– Niamh Trinder
Photo: Flickr
How Solar Energy is Transforming Rural Africa
How SolarAid Is Making a Difference
Founded in 2006, the U.K.-based nonprofit SolarAid is a leading organization working to bring solar lighting to underserved areas. Through its social enterprise, SunnyMoney, it has distributed more than 2.2 million solar lights across Malawi and Zambia. These lights are safe, affordable alternatives to kerosene lamps and candles, which are not only expensive but also harmful to health.
By 2024, SolarAid’s efforts had positively impacted more than 10 million people, helping children study at night and families save money on fuel. In total, its work has helped communities avoid more than $400 million in energy-related expenses.
“When the sun goes down solar light extends the day” said SolarAid CEO John Keane in a 2023 interview with The Guardian. “That means more study time for children, more productivity and less dependence on harmful kerosene.”
Improving Rural Health Care
Solar energy is transforming rural Africa by aiding health care in off-grid communities. Since 2014, Let There Be Light International (LTBLI) has brought solar lighting systems to clinics and homes in rural Uganda. As of 2023, the organization had provided more than 6,000 solar systems to underserved areas.
These solar-powered clinics can now safely carry out nighttime deliveries, store vaccines and provide emergency care. In one example from Kayunga District, maternal deaths decreased by 45% between 2018 and 2022 thanks to better lighting and solar refrigeration for medicine.
Fueling Local Economies
In Tanzania, solar company Mobisol has installed more than 150,000 solar home systems in rural areas. These systems provide power for lighting, mobile phone charging and small appliances, helping people start income-generating activities such as phone charging stations and barbershops. Mobisol’s work has improved the lives of 750,000 people while reducing carbon emissions by an estimated 150,000 tons.
In countries like Kenya, Nigeria and Ethiopia, d.light is helping families access solar energy through a pay-as-you-go model. Founded in 2007, the company lets users pay in small, mobile-money installments. By 2023, it had reached more than 150 million people globally, including 35 million in Africa.
“Our goal is to transform the lives of a billion people with sustainable products by 2030” said d.light co-founder Sam Goldman in a 2022 interview with Reuters.
Empowering Women and Young People
Solar power is also creating job opportunities, especially for women and youth. In Senegal, the Barefoot College Africa program has been training rural women, many of them grandmothers, as solar engineers since 2012. Known as “Solar Mamas” these women install and maintain solar systems in their villages. So far, more than 1,500 women across 93 villages have received training, bringing electricity to more than 200,000 people.
Meanwhile, in Nigeria, youth-led solar startups like Arnergy and Havenhill Synergy are training and employing technicians to install and maintain solar equipment. These growing companies are contributing to both energy access and youth employment in underserved regions.
Looking Ahead
Solar energy is transforming rural Africa by not only providing electricity but also delivering opportunities. From improving health care to supporting education and fueling local businesses, solar power is proving to be a practical, affordable and life-changing solution for communities living off the grid. With millions already benefiting from these programs and more projects underway, solar power continues to shine a path toward lasting development across the continent.
– Tonia Uzor
Photo: Unsplash
Fighting Gendered Poverty Through Clean Energy
Women in Energy Networks – Africa
Since it was founded in 2024, WEN-Africa has fought to boost female representation in the African energy sector. It promotes gender equality and clean energy (like geothermal energy).
In the year since its establishment, the organization has:
LaGeo’s Opportunities for Women
Geothermal energy is a vital resource in El Salvador, a volcanic “hot spot” that generates one-quarter of its electricity from this source. El Salvador’s LaGeo, an electricity generation company, operates two geothermal plants extracting energy from volcanoes. The company launched projects to employ local women in farming communities surrounding its geothermal plants.
These initiatives helped boost the economy in regions especially vulnerable to extreme poverty. Waste from geothermal plants, like condensates and steam, is utilized in these projects to water plants and dry fruits. This also fights the climate crisis by reducing the use of fossil fuels for the same purposes.
Fighting gendered poverty through clean energy, LaGeo provides women with opportunities to earn additional income by hiring them as park rangers to conserve local forests and plant cacao. Beyond income, these roles equip women with valuable job skills, from learning English to environmental stewardship.
Stories of Women Empowered
Women like Yenni Guadalupe Castillo Argueta directly benefit from LaGeo’s efforts. In just one year, she ascended the ranks of the Communications branch at LaGeo. Her career success inspired her to pursue higher education beyond her high school diploma, especially with the education reimbursement of up to 90% provided by the company.
Similarly, Rosa Escobar has been employed at LaGeo for 20 years. She is currently the Engineering Manager and part of the 45% of female management. Her designs lead sustainability efforts. Additionally, the company promises explicitly equal pay in deep contrast to the gender wage gap that exists in so many other workplaces.
On March 28, 2025, the World Bank sponsored a $150 million project to build a third geothermal plant. LaGeo plans to use the project to advance both its sustainability goals and efforts to empower women, furthering the fight against gendered poverty.
The Bottom Line
From Africa to Latin America, people are fighting gendered poverty through clean energy, training and providing opportunities to women in the energy sector. Simultaneously taking strides toward gender equality and reducing environmental pollution, the world can finally believe in a better tomorrow.
– Klara Jones
Photo: Rawpixel
India’s Forest Rights Act: A Tribal Village’s Success Story
Poverty in India
India, with a population of 1.4 billion, remains a nation of contrasts. About 66% of its people live in rural areas and despite economic growth, 13% still survive on less than $1.90 a day. However, progress is evident—80% of adults now have bank accounts and 92% of children complete primary school, reflecting improved access to financial services and education. Yet, gender disparities persist, with women making up only 20% of the formal workforce, highlighting the ongoing need for more inclusive economic participation.
India’s significant reduction in extreme poverty over the past decade reflects both effective policy interventions and sustained economic growth. The dramatic decline from 16.2% to 2.3% in the national poverty rate—particularly the strong improvements in rural areas—highlights the country’s success in lifting millions out of the harshest conditions. Moreover, the narrowing gap between rural and urban poverty rates suggests a more balanced development approach, helping bridge long-standing regional disparities. While challenges remain, the progress so far offers a strong foundation for further inclusive and equitable growth.
India’s Forest Rights Act
The Forest Rights Act, passed in 2006, is a landmark piece of legislation in India that recognizes the rights of indigenous communities to claim ownership of federally-owned forest land they have traditionally inhabited and depended on. It aims to correct historical injustices by granting legal land titles to forest dwellers who have lived in and protected these areas for generations.
The Residents of Pachgaon
One community that continues to benefit from the law is the residents of Pachgaon in the Indian state of Maharashtra. Pachgaon’s transformation from a struggling village to a thriving forest-based enterprise is an example of how India’s Forest Rights Act can be successfully implemented. After generations of dispossession under colonial and state control, the local Gond adivasi community used the law to reclaim ownership of 1,006 hectares of forest land in 2012. While many indigenous communities remained unaware of their rights or faced bureaucratic resistance, Pachgaon’s residents—supported by local activists like Vijay Dethe—persistently pursued their claim. Once they secured legal forest rights, the village launched a community-run bamboo business under a gram sabha model, rejecting hierarchy in favor of collective decision-making.
The Outcome
Pachgaon’s bamboo enterprise has become a cornerstone of the village’s economic revival, generating a profit of 34 million rupees (approximately $400,000) over the past decade—equivalent to around $41,000 per year. This community-run business, established after villagers secured legal rights to 2,500 acres of forest, not only provides steady employment but has also stemmed the tide of migration to urban centers like Gujarat and Karnataka.
Managed democratically by a gram sabha, the profits are reinvested into the community—supporting education, infrastructure and the purchase of additional land for expansion. Even during monsoon seasons, when bamboo harvesting halts, the funds serve to maintain employment through local development projects, ensuring the preservation of economic stability and cultural roots.
The profits have not only provided stable incomes and reduced migration but also funded local development projects, including infrastructure, education and land purchases for business expansion. Pachgaon’s success highlights the transformative power of legal recognition, local leadership and shared ownership in restoring both livelihoods and dignity to tribal communities.
Looking Ahead
While India still faces challenges in achieving equity and full participation for all, examples like Pachgaon demonstrate how legal empowerment and grassroots action can lead to sustainable, locally driven development. As the country continues to grow, scaling such successes could be key to ensuring that progress reaches even its most marginalized citizens.
– Phoebe Guildford
Photo: Flickr
SDG 15 in Chile: The Indigenous-led Restoration
The Crucial Nature of SDG 15 in Chile
The U.N.’s SDG 15 looks to tackle biodiversity loss and degraded ecosystems, and promote the sustainable use of ecosystems across the globe. Chile is home to more than 40% of the world’s temperate rainforests, Ancient Araucania regions, unique species of flora and fauna and one of the largest glacier networks across the Southern Hemisphere. For the nation and the wider network of interconnected peoples and systems, there is a hard-line policy change vital to promote a healthy change.
The National Strategy on Climate Change and Vegetation Resources (ENCCRV), a government initiative focused on restoring landscapes and promoting inclusive environmental governance, is the beating heart of Chile’s SDG 15 policies.
The Ancient Araucania Forest: The Indigenous Devotion
The legendary Araucania region represents the core of the battle taking place, to promote the SDG 15 strategy, spearheaded by the indigenous Mapuche and Huilliche communities. The indigenous people have been the one consistent organization advocating for change. Now, with a dedicated United Nations agenda, the indigenous, national organizations and international initiatives have joined forces to stabilize the region.
Through the ENCCRV and REDD+ (U.N. Framework), Chile has supported 861 community-led projects, which have helped restore more than 14,000 hectares of native forest since 2020. Due to the historic tensions between the indigenous and Chilean government, these reforestation projects vitally serve as a cultural revival, and a symbol of diplomacy regarding land rights.
On Huapi Island, Mapuche-Huilliche leaders are replanting native tree species like the Laurelia sempervirens on a massive scale to continue the stabilization of the ecosystem and reestablish the culturally significant landscapes that define the region. Much of the ecological knowledge that is required for the planting, cultivation, and maintenance of the native species is passed down via generations of Mapuche-Huilliche families. In 2016, the establishment of the ENCCRV, to support SDG 15 in Chile, incorporated indigenous ecological knowledge within the frameworks of national environmental policy, a signifier of the cultural shift taking place within Chile, regarding both the environment and indigenous relations.
According to the U.N., more than 2,000 indigenous people, including many women, have participated directly in ENCRVV-supported projects. These projects include the Recovery of the Native Forest on Huapi Island, Ecological Restoration across La Araucania and Los Andes, +Bosques Landscape-wide Implementation and the Villarrica National Park Co-governance agreement. These are all frameworks in which indigenous communities work in tandem with national organizations to tackle environmental instability across Chile.
Geoparks and Poverty Reduction
SDG-15 in Chile continues its permeance through Chilean culture with the establishment of a UNESCO Global Geopark in 2019. Inside Chile’s Araucania region, the Kutralkura Geopark spans more than 8,100 km², including vast forestry, rivers and volcanoes. Since earning this UNESCO status, Kutralkura has become a strong symbol of indigenous leadership, working in tandem with government and international organizations to cultivate environmental conservation. However, its impact does not end there. Since 2019, the region has supplied strength to local communities, becoming a beacon of poverty reduction and economic prosperity.
Sustainable agroforestry, tourism and artisan enterprises continue to support upwards of 55,000 local inhabitants. Geotourism services, supplied by locals who are uniquely engaged with the surrounding areas, offer guides and cultural tours to both international tourists and those of Chilean descent. The indigenous locals are incentivized to pass down and maintain knowledge of the vast environment, simultaneously raising awareness among Chilean populations about the key importance of the Geopark, and its link to the wider sustainability of both Chile’s intertwined ecosystems and economies.
In 2023, a project engaging Mapuche girls in volcanology education, led by female Chilean scientists, aimed to develop an educational volcanology guide with a gender focus. This initiative was designed to meld scientific knowledge with indigenous world views to boost disaster preparedness and safety, and bolster environmental awareness.
In September 2025, the people of Temuco City, Chile will host the 11th International Conference on UNESCO Global Geoparks, once again highlighting the SDG-15 in Chile and the proud impact it has had on the indigenous peoples, both directly and indirectly. This will not only improve environmental preservation, but also bolster indigenous involvement in local government policy, international recognition and economic prosperity for multiple indigenous communities.
Final Thoughts
Environmental sustainability in Chile is not only an ecological necessity but also a pathway out of poverty for many vulnerable communities. Deforestation, soil erosion and forest fires have historically threatened rural livelihoods, particularly for indigenous families who depend on agriculture, forestry and small-scale tourism for survival. By restoring native forests, promoting sustainable agroforestry and expanding ecotourism initiatives, Chile’s SDG 15 programs create stable sources of income that reduce reliance on extractive industries. These initiatives give families more secure access to food, jobs and education, while also protecting ecosystems that future generations will depend on. As Chile continues to align its environmental goals with poverty reduction strategies, it offers a model for how sustainable development can uplift communities while safeguarding the planet.
– Luis-Enrique J Lander
Photo: Pixabay
Action Emploi Réfugiés Addressing Immigrant Poverty
In France’s lively capital, Paris, the immigrant population is especially dense, as one out of every seven inhabitants is an immigrant. However, life in the city of light is not as glamorous as it may first appear, especially for immigrants. As they attempt to integrate themselves into French society, they are often victims of discrimination based on their racial background, religion and stereotypes.
This treatment can lead to numerous financial problems as immigrants struggle in the professional setting and housing market as a result of these discriminatory behaviors. Furthermore, they can be left exposed, forced to accept exploitative, off-the-books work or live in unsanitary living situations as pests and water leaks dominate low-income housing areas.
Many organizations and initiatives have been created to target immigrant poverty in response to these issues. Among these, two prominent organizations in immigrant advocacy are the French Refugee Council (FRC) and the Action Emploi Réfugiés. These organizations are focused on helping refugees, a highly vulnerable immigrant population, find a foothold in French society through stable employment opportunities.
The French Refugee Council
Founded in 2013, the FRC is an independent, nonprofit organization specializing in providing tangible support to asylum-seekers across France. Indeed, with 480 total volunteers across mainland France, the FRC works to ensure that refugees live fulfilling, dignified lives. The organization empowers these vulnerable groups by fostering solidarity and mutual respect between refugees and natives in their communities.
The FRC works to ease the difficult process of integration while giving refugees a stronger and more influential voice in their communities by operating through five key pillars:
As the FRC provides this vital support, asylum-seekers can rebuild their lives and integrate into French society without falling into poverty.
Action Emploi Réfugiés
Founded in 2015 by Diane Binder and Kavita Brahmbhatt in response to the lack of aid given to refugees across Europe, the Action Emploi Réfugiés has many of the same values as the FRC. It works to end immigrant poverty by helping refugees integrate and rebuild their lives with dignity. However, the Action Emploi Réfugiés focuses solely on the employment frontier.
The organization primarily operates through two accompaniment programs, SOCLE and AVEC, which provide refugees with personalized support throughout the job search process. Assistance is tailored to each individual’s qualifications and language skills. These initiatives aim to provide refugees with the skills required to be successful professionally. The organization supports between 350 and 450 people each year and coordinates more than 700 jobs yearly.
Conclusion
Although immigrant poverty remains prevalent in France, especially for refugees, the FRS and the Action Emploi Réfugiés are at the forefront of social change as they provide dignified aid for refugees hoping to live the French life.
– Jack Schuchard
Photo: Wikimedia Commons
SuaCode and NaijaCoder: Tech Education Breaking Barriers
By providing tech education through smartphones, these initiatives help young people, specifically those in low-income and rural areas, gain the skills they require to escape poverty and build a better future. Coding on your phone can reduce barriers such as cost, electricity and location.
Accessibility Through Mobile-First Learning
Learning coding has proved to be challenging as it often requires laptops, stable internet and electricity, all of which are expensive. Students in impoverished communities do not have access to these costly resources. SuaCode and NaijaCoder have successfully changed by offering programming lessons through smartphones, which are devices that are far more accessible across the Global South.
SuaCode in Ghana teaches Python programming through an Android app that is accessible on smartphones. The lessons can also be accessed offline. Similarly, NaijaCoder in Nigeria offers hands-on training through phones and remote workshops. These models make coding more inclusive and realistic for students who might otherwise be left behind.
Tech Skills Reduce Poverty and Boost Job Access
Learning to code opens up a range of economic opportunities for students all over the world. Students gain skills that make them eligible for various employment opportunities such as freelancing, remote work and launching a startup. As of 2023, Ghana’s youth unemployment rate among those aged 15 to 24 stood at 23.7%. This demonstrated roughly 754,00 youths actively seeking work but unable to find it. While in Nigeria, the youth unemployment rate for the age bracket reached 8.6% in 2023. Therefore, for many in Ghana and Nigeria, gaining digital literacy can mean the difference between being stuck in a cycle of poverty or breaking free from it.
Initiatives like SuaCode and NaijaCode help bridge the digital divide by providing accessible programs for individuals regardless of their financial situation. The skills gained from these training directly boost employability in the expanding global tech market, enabling more young people to earn higher incomes, support their families, and reinvest in their communities.
Empowering Girls and Rural Youth
Poverty disproportionately affects girls and rural communities. In low-income countries, around 90% of teenage girls and young women are offline. Moreover, girls are 35% less likely than boys to possess basic digital skills such as emailing or file management. These statistics highlight how limited school resources, long travel distances, and social barriers keep many girls out of classrooms or tech spaces.
SuaCode and NaijaCoder change this by offering flexible, remote learning opportunities that break geographical barriers. Thus, by equipping girls and rural students with digital skills through coding on their phones, these programs help improve gender equity and help families build financial resilience. When one child gains the ability to work in tech, it can uplift an entire household out of poverty.
Conclusion
Coding via phone with SuaCode and NaijaCoder proves that with innovation and commitment, poverty can be tackled through tech education. As the world becomes increasingly reliant on technology, expanding access to tech education in underserved communities is both innovative and essential for building a more equal and empowered future.
– Anagha Rajithkumar
Photo: Unsplash