Poverty in Grenada greatly affects those with disabilities more than those without. However, as poverty as a whole in the country is decreasing, so too are the disproportionalities, improving lives of those experiencing disability and poverty in Grenada.
Poverty in Grenada
The citizens of Grenada, an island country in the Caribbean, have a high risk of facing poverty because of the country’s infrastructure, access to programs and aid, heavy reliance on food and oil imports and the climate they are in. Grenada is a developing country that has put more money into its industries to create more jobs and reduce its reliance on Grenada’s goods. But because they are in the hurricane belt, the destructive weather can affect these people and industries. In the early 2000s, Hurricane Ivan and Emily damaged agriculture in the rural areas.
In 2008, the poverty rate was at 37.7%, an increase from the 32% in 1998, most likely due to the hurricanes’ damage to land and businesses as people were without jobs. Meanwhile, in 2018, the rates of poverty decreased to 25%. The extreme poverty rate has been on a more significant decline, going from 12.9% in 1998, 2.4% in 2008, but unfortunately rising to 3.4% in 2018.
Tourism and Poverty
Besides agriculture, Grenada has boosted its tourism industry. Tourism contributed about 40% to the GDP. Grenada’s government improved this industry, adding in more jobs and enhancing the island’s economy. In 2014-2019, this helped decrease the rate of poverty and extreme poverty. However, in 2020, the tourism industry rapidly declined because of the COVID-19 pandemic. Many people were without jobs or income, and most likely fell into poverty.
The Living Conditions in Grenada Report comes directly from the World Bank Group and the Central Statistical Office of Grenada. These organizations created this report in 1998 to report poverty, equity and living conditions, as well as measure Grenada’s Consumer Price Index. The latest report is from 2018 and the next will be in 2028. Although not the most current information, it is being used for reporting, comparing and measuring Grenada’s need for aid.
Poverty and Citizens With Disabilities
Individuals with disabilities, as well as their families, have a higher susceptibility to poverty. This vulnerable group has a strained ability to uphold a job/income. In some cases, the individual’s disability prevents them from important actions like walking, which is a movement needed for agriculture and tourism. In 2021, 551 people could not walk, making their lives harder and decreasing the number of jobs they can work in.
Some children with disabilities, physical or psychological, struggle to stay in school. These issues make it harder for the student to participate and graduate. Only about 23% of children with disabilities graduate from secondary school. Lack of education leads to a lack of jobs and opportunities. The lack of income can further hurt the individual and family. There is a need to help people who live with disability and poverty in Grenada.
Care and medical treatment for certain disabilities can be expensive and could be detrimental to the household’s income. Some families cannot afford care. People with disabilities also experience exclusion. For example, Article 25 of Grenada’s Constitution from 1973 determined that a person cannot run to be a senator if they are unable to speak. Those who cannot verbally communicate cannot sit on the board, further propelling the disproportionalities.
Fighting Poverty in Grenada
The Grenadian government has signed the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) to ensure everyone is included while eradicating poverty globally and locally. The government has also enforced the Education Act in 2002, making educational programs that are specifically tailored to individuals with intellectual, communicative, behavioral and/or physical disabilities.
Along with the government, a few nonprofits have been aiding Grenada. Kingdom Workers is directly combating poverty and unemployment by hosting a few events geared towards making education more accessible, like Sensory Day. This event, hosted at the end of 2020, included crafts, toys and specific instructors teaching children with developmental disabilities on ways to communicate, boosting their motor skills.
Kingdom Workers has also provided programs that teach instructors and family members on how to take care of children with developmental disabilities. The understanding of how to treat, teach and communicate with these children further includes them in school. It provides a space where they feel comfortable while learning.
Looking Ahead
Grenada and its economy has improved from where it was in 1998 when The Living Conditions in Grenada Report first began. The overall rate of poverty and extreme poverty in Grenada has decreased. More citizens have jobs, there are more resources to improve the lives of persons with disabilities and to keep them out of poverty, and the economy is growing. Although Grenada is on its way up there is still more to be done to bring the rate down and to provide even more inclusivity, making lives better for persons experiencing disability and poverty in Grenada.
– Emily Ruggiero
Emily is based in Orefield, PA, USA and focuses on Politics for The Borgen Project.
Photo: Wikimedia Commons
Polio in India: The Impacts of the 2025–2026 GPSAP
The last known case in India was in Howrah, West Bengal, in 2011. India was officially declared polio-free in 2014 by the World Health Organization (WHO). Polio has affected people in India in both the past and present, with many still living with lifelong complications from the disease, such as paralysis in children.
How It Became a National Issue
Polio in India became widespread due to poor hygiene, including the use of unclean water and limited sanitation infrastructure in rural communities. Contaminated water contributes to unhygienic conditions, often because people live in poverty and environments that harm their health.
Many cannot escape these conditions, surviving on less than $3.25 a day. Statistics show that between 1993 and 2004, India had an average poverty rate of 96.8%, with more than half the population lacking access to clean water and proper sanitation facilities.
How the GPSAP 2025-2026 Will Benefit India
Over the past decade, the country has taken many steps to prevent polio from re-emerging as a major issue. These efforts include making vaccines more accessible, reducing poverty rates and improving access to clean water. The Global Polio Surveillance Action Plan (GPSAP) 2025–2026 focuses on timely detection, allowing cases of polio in specific areas of India to be identified immediately. One strategy for eradicating polio involves stool testing. If a potential virus is detected, the goal is to prevent delays in identifying and responding to cases.
The second step of action involves researching gender differences, specifically, how men and women may experience different symptoms of polio and how these differences could affect them or their children. Participants would be divided by gender and age, with men and women separated and children younger and above the age of 15 for testing. Research suggests that men may be at risk of transmitting polio through sexual intercourse. At the same time, women face an increased risk during pregnancy, especially in areas with limited health care access.
If Polio Is Eradicated, Why Take These Measures?
Although polio has been eradicated in India, it has not been eliminated in all countries. Since a virus causes polio, it can spread across borders through contaminated water, saliva or other bodily fluids. The GPSAP 2025–2026 plan is important because it helps ensure that polio does not return to India. If a case does emerge, strict measures will be taken to prevent its reestablishment in the country.
– Erin Lee
Photo: Pixabay
Strides to Lower The Gender Wage Gap in Yemen
Gender Wage Gap in Yemen
The World Bank data for Yemen shows that only 4.9% of women are in the labor force. Only 54% of women are literate, which indicates that women are not receiving proper education. To go along with this, 41.9% of girls complete lower secondary school compared to 55.7% of boys. Even if women can participate in the workforce, more than half of them are in a vulnerable employment position. This means that they do not have protection against any economic shocks, making them more likely to fall into poverty. Because of this, only 4.5% of women hold senior and middle management positions, the lowest amount in all economies.
The UNDP’s Efforts to Promote Gender Equality in Yemen
Yemen has launched the Strengthening Institutions and Economic Resilience in Yemen (SIERY) project to not only promote gender inclusivity but also help educate women and teach them the necessary skills to enter the labor force. With economic resilience, they can create more jobs and provide a stable economy, leaving women less vulnerable to market crashes.
In its efforts to support women and youth, UNDP helped build schools along with maternity and children’s hospitals. The organization has also installed solar power systems so young women can receive a proper education, leading to more women being educated in a safe environment. To help women in the workforce, the UNDP has helped more than 80 women build businesses via grants and loans, allowing them to be self-sustaining for their families, leading to a better quality of life. The business these women have created for themselves: Sesame products.
Sesame Processing Changed Women’s Lives
Among the UNDP’s interventions was giving women the opportunity to learn how to process sesame and create products from it. The UNDP states that “The curriculum included modules on food processing, sesame oil extraction, soap and scrub making, sesame paste (tahini) production, branding, packaging, and foundational business skills,” giving them the tools to not only make a living, but to boost the economy as well.
Sara, a woman who was displaced because of conflict in Yemen, has become the breadwinner for her family. She said, “The course also gave me confidence to start my own small business to support my family and offer high-quality local products to the community.” This gave her the ability to support her family and community at the same time.
Fatima, a mother of three, stated: “…we are using locally grown sesame, rather than relying on imported raw materials. I have already started making soaps and creams at home, and the response has been very positive.” This shows how this program has created a long-term business for women to stay in the workforce.
Shaimaa shared, “My business is allowing me to earn an income, support my family and meet market demand for quality sesame products.” This supports the UNDP’s mission to create a more stable economy along with meeting supply and demand. The sesame is also local, ensuring that the women do not have to rely on imports. The UNDP’s SIFEY project has given countless women and children education, jobs, and safety, leading them to live better and more fulfilling lives.
Next Steps: A Conflicted Future
Humanitarian aid is still crucial in Yemen due to its civil war. The Human Rights Watch states how “only 21 of 88 wells linked with Taizz’s public water supply network are operational,” which has led citizens to pay enormous fees for clean water access, or try to harvest rain water that could be riddled with diseases.
The war has led women and men alike to be unemployed and displaced. However, women are continuing to receive education, which has helped reduce the gender wage gap in Yemen, giving them have a stable source of income for their families. For Yemeni women, the future is clouded, but having resources for education and employment can help them wade through rough waters.
– Alexis Thomas
Photo: Flickr
Addressing Disability and Poverty in Grenada
Poverty in Grenada
The citizens of Grenada, an island country in the Caribbean, have a high risk of facing poverty because of the country’s infrastructure, access to programs and aid, heavy reliance on food and oil imports and the climate they are in. Grenada is a developing country that has put more money into its industries to create more jobs and reduce its reliance on Grenada’s goods. But because they are in the hurricane belt, the destructive weather can affect these people and industries. In the early 2000s, Hurricane Ivan and Emily damaged agriculture in the rural areas.
In 2008, the poverty rate was at 37.7%, an increase from the 32% in 1998, most likely due to the hurricanes’ damage to land and businesses as people were without jobs. Meanwhile, in 2018, the rates of poverty decreased to 25%. The extreme poverty rate has been on a more significant decline, going from 12.9% in 1998, 2.4% in 2008, but unfortunately rising to 3.4% in 2018.
Tourism and Poverty
Besides agriculture, Grenada has boosted its tourism industry. Tourism contributed about 40% to the GDP. Grenada’s government improved this industry, adding in more jobs and enhancing the island’s economy. In 2014-2019, this helped decrease the rate of poverty and extreme poverty. However, in 2020, the tourism industry rapidly declined because of the COVID-19 pandemic. Many people were without jobs or income, and most likely fell into poverty.
The Living Conditions in Grenada Report comes directly from the World Bank Group and the Central Statistical Office of Grenada. These organizations created this report in 1998 to report poverty, equity and living conditions, as well as measure Grenada’s Consumer Price Index. The latest report is from 2018 and the next will be in 2028. Although not the most current information, it is being used for reporting, comparing and measuring Grenada’s need for aid.
Poverty and Citizens With Disabilities
Individuals with disabilities, as well as their families, have a higher susceptibility to poverty. This vulnerable group has a strained ability to uphold a job/income. In some cases, the individual’s disability prevents them from important actions like walking, which is a movement needed for agriculture and tourism. In 2021, 551 people could not walk, making their lives harder and decreasing the number of jobs they can work in.
Some children with disabilities, physical or psychological, struggle to stay in school. These issues make it harder for the student to participate and graduate. Only about 23% of children with disabilities graduate from secondary school. Lack of education leads to a lack of jobs and opportunities. The lack of income can further hurt the individual and family. There is a need to help people who live with disability and poverty in Grenada.
Care and medical treatment for certain disabilities can be expensive and could be detrimental to the household’s income. Some families cannot afford care. People with disabilities also experience exclusion. For example, Article 25 of Grenada’s Constitution from 1973 determined that a person cannot run to be a senator if they are unable to speak. Those who cannot verbally communicate cannot sit on the board, further propelling the disproportionalities.
Fighting Poverty in Grenada
The Grenadian government has signed the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) to ensure everyone is included while eradicating poverty globally and locally. The government has also enforced the Education Act in 2002, making educational programs that are specifically tailored to individuals with intellectual, communicative, behavioral and/or physical disabilities.
Along with the government, a few nonprofits have been aiding Grenada. Kingdom Workers is directly combating poverty and unemployment by hosting a few events geared towards making education more accessible, like Sensory Day. This event, hosted at the end of 2020, included crafts, toys and specific instructors teaching children with developmental disabilities on ways to communicate, boosting their motor skills.
Kingdom Workers has also provided programs that teach instructors and family members on how to take care of children with developmental disabilities. The understanding of how to treat, teach and communicate with these children further includes them in school. It provides a space where they feel comfortable while learning.
Looking Ahead
Grenada and its economy has improved from where it was in 1998 when The Living Conditions in Grenada Report first began. The overall rate of poverty and extreme poverty in Grenada has decreased. More citizens have jobs, there are more resources to improve the lives of persons with disabilities and to keep them out of poverty, and the economy is growing. Although Grenada is on its way up there is still more to be done to bring the rate down and to provide even more inclusivity, making lives better for persons experiencing disability and poverty in Grenada.
– Emily Ruggiero
Photo: Wikimedia Commons
Everything To Know About Hunger in Argentina
How Argentina Reached This Point
Hunger and poverty go hand in hand. Through the 20th century, the country that was once the jewel in Latin America’s economic crown faced an endless torrent of political instability in the form of coups, populist leaders and most devastatingly a military dictatorship. This instability left the country scarred and flailing. The financial crash of 2001 immediately dispelled any hopes that the start of the 21st century would be kinder to Argentina than the back-half of the 20th had been. The results of the crash still haunt the country today.
Inflation has been the primary bugbear of the Argentine economy. In April 2024, it surpassed a staggering 289% year-on-year. The economic libertarian Javier Milei took office in December 2023 with plans to reign in the country’s out-of-control economy. His strict austerity measures have helped pull back inflation to a five-year low, now under relative control (by Argentine standards), with prices going up just 1.5% in May. But as state spending tightened, poverty rose, as did hunger in Argentina.
In the first half of 2024, the number of Argentines living in poverty reached 52.9%, up from 41.7% in the back half of the previous year. Indec reported that the Basic Food Basket (BCA) rose by 18.6% in January 2024 and by 296.4% over the previous twelve months –– outpacing overall inflation, which stood at 254.2% over the same period. Meanwhile, the Neighborhood Price Index (IBP) from the Social, Economic and Citizen Policy Research Institute (ISEPCi) indicated that food prices surged by up to 69.7% from December 2023 to March 2024. As a result, 52% of households with children reported not purchasing essential foods due to financial hardship.
Solutions
As noted, Milei’s tight monetary controls and slashing of the state have to date been a double-edged sword. Cutting inflation was much-needed, but critics claim this approach has worsened life for Argentina’s already beleaguered lower-classes. Meanwhile, organizations like Food Banks Argentina (FBA) are working to counteract hunger in Argentina. FBA is a non-profit civil association that brings together food banks across the country. It operates in all major provinces and relies on a national network of 14,000+ volunteers to coordinate logistics, food rescue and delivery.
Through food recovery and efficient distribution, FBA provides nutritious meals to those who need them most. In 2024, it delivered more than 63 million plates of food, provided support to 4,449 social organizations and prevented the emission of more than 2 million kg of CO2 by rescuing fruits and vegetables, around 45% of which are usually wasted during production and distribution.
The Results
According to the latest national figures, Argentina’s poverty rate dropped to 38.1% in the back half of 2024. Milei has claimed this as evidence that his strict economic measures are having the desired effect. As of right now, it is too soon to say if he is right.
Regardless, Argentina’s extreme poverty –– and by proxy its extreme hunger –– is not going to disappear overnight as the result of any one measure or the work of any one organization. Any long-term solution to hunger in Argentina will require a multi-pronged approach that pairs sustained economic stability with robust social safety nets and stronger support for local initiatives fighting food insecurity on the ground. Organizations like FBA will play a pivotal part in that.
– Robert Darke
Photo: Unsplash
Stop TB Partnership Takes Action With RESPECT
Overview of Project RESPECT
The Stop TB Partnership, in collaboration with Unitaid, is leading the Reshaping People-Centric Empowered Community-led DR-TB Treatment (RESPECT). DR-TB refers to drug-resistant tuberculosis. The project focuses on mobilizing and strengthening the role of TB-affected communities and civil society to increase the demand for and uptake of DR-TB services and tools.
Community Engagement and Target Regions
RESPECT plans to use the Stop TB Partnership’s Challenge Facility for Civil Society (CFCS) to boost community engagement and demand for DR-TB services and tools in Cameroon, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, India, Moldova and Pakistan. The project also supports national networks in advocating for budgets and policies, promoting literacy and stigma reduction initiatives and conducting community-led monitoring to enhance accountability. Other consortium partners will join the Stop TB Partnership’s efforts to advance this work at the country level.
Funding and Treatment Shift
The Stop TB Partnership will implement RESPECT alongside other programs as part of a $15.3 million investment from Unitaid to strengthen DR-TB action in 16 countries. The initiative aims to empower those most affected and increase demand for, address barriers to and improve access to new World Health Organization (WHO) treatment regimens for DR-TB. These new regimens replace older treatments that could last up to two years and required painful injections.
Goals and Impact
Project RESPECT seeks to have a transformative impact on DR-TB care by identifying and removing barriers to life-saving diagnosis and treatment. According to Dr. Philippe Duneton, Executive Director of Unitaid, “Too often, the latest innovations in drug-resistant TB testing and treatment do not reach populations that need them. Community networks can help us to reach beyond the health care system and drive demand, reduce stigma and ensure equitable access to the latest tools.” The project also aims to raise awareness and build the capacity of communities through community-led monitoring, training, advocacy and communication tools. These resources will ensure the creation of literacy and communication materials tailored for affected communities and local governments.
Looking Ahead
TB has a reputation as a contagious but curable disease. The Stop TB Partnership is working to reinforce this globally through RESPECT and other initiatives. DR-TB poses a serious public health threat in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs) and recent developments in DR-TB treatments have led to World Health Organization (WHO)-recommended regimens that can cut treatment time and costs in half. However, adoption of these new treatment regimens has been slow in many LMICs. Through RESPECT, Unitaid will implement mechanisms that drive demand and create solutions tailored to community needs. The project will also develop and share tools and resources to strengthen community engagement and improve the overall response to DR-TB. This approach aims to improve health outcomes and reduce TB-related stigma and discrimination and will be complemented by the Stop TB Partnership’s work in other countries.
– Abirame Shanthakumar
Photo: Flickr
3 Opportunities Created By Renewable Energy in Seychelles
Seychelles’ Renewable Energy Goal
According to the World Bank, Seychelles has the highest Gross National Income (GNI) per capita in Africa. The small African nation boasts an impressive renewable energy goal of reaching 15% by 2030 and 50% by 2050. This change impacts far more than Seychelles’ carbon footprint. Without the means to produce their own energy, local communities are at the mercy of fluctuating import costs of energy and fuel, which support important vehicles, like cars and boats. For a country with an economy driven primarily by fishing and tourism, the shift towards renewable energy has the potential to decrease poverty through economic growth and increase job opportunities related to energy initiatives.
The Dangers of Fossil Fuels
Experts have linked air pollution due to the burning of fossil fuels, such as the use of diesel-fueled vehicles, to respiratory and cardiovascular diseases, lung cancer, diabetes, neurological disorders and adverse pregnancy outcomes. To address the effects of biodiversity loss and pollution, Seychelles entered a more than two-decade long partnership with the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP). This partnership has helped the country mitigate greenhouse gases and both land and marine pollution. According to Seychelles’ Minister of Agriculture, Climate Change and Environment, Flavien Joubert, “The programmes that UNEP has been operating over the past years have really contributed to the success of Seychelles that we see today.”
The Creation of Solar Farms
Due to Seychelles’ lack of natural oil reservoirs and limited space for development, the government announced the creation of floating solar farms on uninhabited islands. “The Seychelles import three times more oil than they need so that they can support internal activities as well as boats and airplanes that travel to and from the islands,” Forbes reports. In 2024, the country secured a $15 million loan from the World Bank to support key environmental challenges, including its progressive energy initiatives. Naadir Hassan, Minister of Finance, National Planning and Trade of Seychelles, explains, “This support will help Seychelles strengthen financial stability and the business environment, improve fiscal management, and address important environmental and social challenges.” As with other island nations, access to energy sources is crucial for survival, especially due to an increased risk of extreme weather events.
3 Opportunities That Renewable Energy in Seychelles Created
Looking Ahead
The precedent that Seychelles has set is an environmentally conscious feat that serves as an example to the world. Not only is the investment in renewable energy production in Seychelles beneficial to the health of our environment, it increases opportunities to better our communities.
– Jamaya Newton
Photo: Unsplash
How NGOs Are Saving Refugee Education in Lebanon
A Struggling System
Lebanon hosts one of the highest refugee per‐capita ratios in the world, with nearly 1.5 million Syrians and hundreds of thousands of Palestinians. Public schools remain overwhelmed and under-resourced. The “second shift” program designed for Syrian refugees has repeatedly suffered denial of access due to arbitrary closures, delayed enrollment and restrictive local policies. Host-country mandates like certifying prior education or having official residency documents block thousands from enrolling. In 2021, only about 40% of school-age Syrian refugees in Lebanon were in formal education, while nearly 200,000 had never attended school.
Grassroots Innovation: What NGOs Are Doing
By addressing the trauma and lived experiences of displaced children, NGOs are revolutionizing refugee education in Lebanon. Basmeh & Zeitooneh run community centers and offer nonformal education and psychological support for refugee children. Through holistic education, the organization combats child labour and early marriage. Save the Children reports that Lebanon hosts more than 660,000 school‑age Syrian refugees, with at least half out of school, launching a hybrid learning program by distributing tablets, running virtual classrooms and providing mental health resources.
INARA has provided rapid-response medical and mental health support to displaced children in Lebanon, and occasionally offers informal educational services as part of holistic care. These NGOs ensure that academic progress is never separated from emotional well-being — a critical consideration for trauma-exposed youth. They also highlight how grassroots innovation is reshaping refugee education in Lebanon, especially for those left out of formal systems. The impact of NGOs in Lebanon is far-reaching, demonstrating what inclusive, community-led education programs can look like worldwide.
Looking Ahead
According to the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), refugee children who access education are more likely to avoid child labor, forced marriage and recruitment by armed groups. Hence, when refugee children are denied education, cycles of poverty and instability become entrenched, putting future generations at risk. But when they are given the tools to learn — through organizations that understand their specific needs — they have a chance not just to survive, but to thrive. Sustaining the progress so far will require continued support for grassroots solutions, collaboration with the Lebanese government to strengthen education policies and a shared commitment to protecting refugee education in Lebanon.
– Riddhi Sharma
Photo: Flickr
Elderly Poverty in Kyrgyzstan: Challenges and Solutions
About Elderly Poverty in Kyrgyzstan
One can trace the roots of elderly poverty in Kyrgyzstan back to the collapse of the Soviet Union, which disrupted pensions, healthcare systems and social services across the region. Many seniors today contributed to the workforce for decades but now receive pensions that fail to keep pace with inflation. The country’s fragile economy — which is reliant on agriculture, gold exports and remittances — leaves little room for robust social spending.
Meet Vera Geykina, a 76‑year‑old widow in Bishkek who joined a theater project to raise awareness about elder abuse. Despite being active in her community, her pension barely covers her medication and heating bills. Vera’s story reflects the daily struggles many seniors face in Kyrgyzstan, where public health care access is strained, and personal savings are often depleted within years of retirement.
In rural regions, elderly people often depend on remittances sent by family members working abroad. Migration shifts and economic downturns make these payments unreliable. The World Bank reports that remittances once accounted for more than 30% of Kyrgyzstan’s GDP — underscoring just how dependent households are on this income. However, families often migrate out of necessity, leaving elderly parents behind without consistent physical or emotional support.
Health care poses another severe challenge. According to the UNFPA, elderly Kyrgyz citizens — especially women — face higher rates of chronic diseases like hypertension, diabetes and arthritis. However, many cannot afford medications or procedures. Rural clinics are often underfunded, lacking specialists or necessary equipment, while private health care remains out of reach for most pensioners.
Solutions
Despite these hardships, there are promising solutions underway. HelpAge International operates community programs offering financial aid, food deliveries, health care access and legal support for older adults. The Kyrgyz government has also introduced pension adjustments, with the latest raising the average pension to 10,547 soms. Additionally, the Babushka Adoption Foundation connects elderly people without families to international sponsors, providing $10 or more per month — nearly doubling some seniors’ minimum pensions.
– Meral Ciplak
Photo: Pixabay
Disability and Poverty in Saudi Arabia
In 2021, 13.6% of the population in Saudi Arabia lived in poverty. Meanwhile, back in 2010, the poverty rate among the population was 18.2%. In this drop, about 483,000 people came out of poverty in Saudi Arabia.
Disability and Poverty in Saudi Arabia
About 7.1% of the Saudi population have some form of disability. However, according to the Saudi General Authority for Statistics, about 10% of the Saudi population reported some form of disability in 2017. In addition, a study showed that about 48.6% of men with disabilities are unemployed compared to 11.5% of men who do not have disabilities. Meanwhile, the unemployment rate for women with disabilities is 75.3%, while the unemployment rate for women with disabilities is 32.8%. These statistics highlight the importance of understanding how disability intersects with wider economic and social problems, such as poverty.
People with disabilities face a higher risk of falling into poverty in Saudi Arabia. In most countries around the world, disabled people often rely on the support of their family. In Saudi Arabia, another factor that can cause a person to fall into poverty is a denial of certain opportunities and/or employment opportunities. For example, someone by the name of Mariam Al-Sulami had cerebral palsy, which affected her to the point that it prevented her from attending school everyday. But due to the high motivation and her high GPA and grades, she hoped to get into medicine and dreamed of becoming a doctor. Authorities rejected her medical school application, due to deeming her “medically unfit,” so that is when she decided to take up the path of studying business administration.
Promoting Inclusivity
Saudi Arabia’s ambition toward inclusivity for people with disabilities. The first ever legislation for people with disabilities in KSA passed in 1987. According to an article by Maher S. Al-Jadid, “The LD contains important provisions that assurance persons with disabilities rights equal to those of other people in society.” Additionally, the Tawafuq program is an employment program that ensures that people with disabilities get the employment they need. The Saudi Human Resources Development Fund launched the program in 2014, which is tasked with ensuring that people are able to receive employment opportunities and the support they need. Meanwhile, the Moowaama program aims to expand the number of companies capable of employing people with disabilities. The Mowaama program encourages private companies to help people with disabilities, and to consider it their duty to the country while making their workplaces more inclusive.
The Tawafuq program has registered more than 648,000 people with disabilities with 62,728 people with disabilities being placed into employment, among many other figures that displayed increasing employment for people with disabilities. On the other hand, the Moowaama program has no public number of hires disclosed but one can see its impact by the 150 companies earning Moowaama certifications, reaffirming its efforts into creating a workspace that is disability-inclusive.
Looking Ahead
Although there are still struggles and obstacles in the way of people experiencing disability and poverty in Saudi Arabia, the Saudi government has introduced programs to ensure people with disabilities can access the tools and opportunities to thrive.
– Majida Mohamed
Photo: Pixabay
Everything To Know About Poverty in Barbados
Where Poverty Lies
Poverty in Barbados, in contrast with the average poverty rate of 29% for Latin American and Caribbean countries, is at roughly one-third of the average, with 11.1% of Barbadians living below the international upper middle-income country poverty line of $6.85 as of 2016. Some of these causes lie within economic dependency, race, income and gender inequalities and limited access to the justice system. This has been detrimental to people who have been in poverty for many years, with some instances stemming from before Barbados was a free nation.
One such way things have improved is in regards to people in Barbados seeing poverty as less of an issue today, with an estimated 9.2% of Barbadians living below the poverty line, even as COVID-19 rolled through globally. Barbados’s Gini index, or the measure of income inequality for a nation, is at 34.1%. This number is one of the lowest figures for Latin American and Caribbean countries, and is well below the threshold for high inequality of 40%. One issue lies within this figure, however.
There are some differences in population groups, with poverty being more prevalent among women and girls, and even more so in regards to female-led households. The level of multidimensional poverty, or poverty that takes in monetary state, education and basic infrastructure is also critically low, only coming in at 0.3%. Still, 4.1% of the population lacked access to basic sanitation, and 3% lacked access to electricity. Life in poverty means not having access to basic necessities. There have been instances of people needing to move to homeless shelters out of rundown houses due to a lack of income. These people end up needing clothes, food and even counselling in some cases.
Solutions
There has been significant improvement regarding poverty in Barbados. As of 2025, out of 184 countries, Barbados is 36th in regards to economic freedom, putting them at a moderately free status, and putting them above the world average. Despite the poverty that Barbados is facing, it is quite well off as a whole, boasting one of the Caribbean’s highest incomes per capita.
The United Nations Development Program (UNDP) took a vested interest in helping Barbados with the issues they face regarding poverty, and under this umbrella, the UN’s Multi-Country Office got to work in regards to poverty, establishing the Poverty and Governance cluster in 2020. This cluster works with the intent to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) that each country sets out to achieve, implementing programs intended to help countries and keeping track of support that countries may need. Poverty reduction is a key point for this cluster.
There are a few projects that are at the forefront for Barbados. One such example of this is the PACE Justice project, which is the improvement of the justice system as a whole, elevating the system itself from being devoid of resources to process criminal proceedings to being able to increase the efficiency of the justice system as a whole. Another project that Barbados is taking part in is the Universal Adaptive Social Protection – SDG Fund Joint Program. This program began in 2020, and aims to protect the society of Barbados by improving institutional capacities, developing financial strategies for sustainability, and mitigating risk alongside utilizing social protection for vulnerable populations in need. As recent as the end of 2021, the implementation of these goals was at 84%.
Looking Ahead
Barbados, despite still struggling with some poverty issues, is in a very good spot as a result of the United Nations and the programs that it participates in. These programs aim to lessen the blow of poverty, and help the development of the country in the long term. Barbados is also in a good spot due to the economic freedom that they have developed over time. This all combines into a country that is not without its issues in facing poverty, but is well off in the long run with how they handle poverty.
– Amari Jennings
Photo: Flickr