Balochistan is Pakistan’s largest province. While it is nearly half of Pakistan’s territory, it is home to roughly 6% of the Pakistani population, 14.8 million. Poverty and a lack of economic development have exacerbated systemic issues of insecurity and nationalist tensions. Thanks to the international community and local government initiatives, there has been major progress in fighting poverty in Balochistan.
The World Bank has helped the Pakistani government to address the two main sources of poverty: water insecurity and a lack of education, both of which contribute to violence and the ongoing Baloch insurgency. These solutions help address much of the core issue and have integrated local communities in the implementation, which has been critical to sustainable success.
Poverty in Balochistan
Fighting poverty in Balochistan is a critical security issue in the region. Yunas Samad, professor at the University of Bradford and research fellow of Political Science at the Lahore University of Management Sciences, points out that Balochistan is neglected and instead is mostly treated as a place to extract resources, in particular minerals and natural gas. Despite its critical location for mining and the important Gwadar Port, the region remains impoverished.
The province has been subjected to resource extraction. Yet, locals and the provincial government receive minimal benefits or returns, even though mining and energy extraction are constitutionally designated as provincial and not federal subjects. The region has been earmarked as crucial to the new China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC). However, its Human Development Index (HDI) is 0.421 below the national average of 0.562.
This has resulted in a poverty rate of more than 71% in 2015, well above the national average of 38%. This is despite the region being home to the Suri Gas Field, one of Pakistan’s largest reserves. This systemic poverty and neglect have created the conditions for a new phase in the Balochistan conflict. Imtiaz Baloch, a journalist and researcher focusing on Balochistan, notes that the region’s marginalization has always been the fuel for the conflict.
The Baloch Insurgency
The Baloch insurgency began when the region joined Pakistan in 1948, with major outbreaks throughout the 20th century as the Islamabad government centralized control over provinces like Balochistan. Although major insurgent factions declared a ceasefire in 2018, significant attacks, including recent hijackings and suicide bombings in 2025, continue to occur.
After relative calm in the ’90s, the fifth phase of the conflict emerged from escalating tensions between weakened Baloch nationalist parties, unable to form a united political front and the Pakistani state over persistent social and economic inequalities. The Baloch people’s demands for greater political rights, resource control and increased autonomy intensified.
Ironically, increased economic investment from the Pakistani and Chinese governments has only deepened Balochistanis’ feelings that they are being exploited. This sense of isolation and disempowerment created a new insurgency movement, one that has spread beyond Pakistan to other Baloch regions in nearby Iran and Afghanistan.
Armed factions like the Baloch Liberation Army – Jeeyand (BLA-J) use this disempowerment to conduct suicide attacks on Gwadar Port facilities, the Pearl Continental Hotel in Gwadar and especially on foreign investment in Balochistan. Unlike previous phases, the new Baloch insurgency has focused on economic targets.
Despite its economic potential, CPEC has intensified the Baloch insurgency, exacerbating grievances over resource control, marginalization and cultural erosion. The growing sophistication and frequency of attacks on CPEC-related targets underscore the persistence of the insurgency. These threats endanger regional stability and the project’s success if left unaddressed through inclusive development and dialogue.
Fighting Poverty in Balochistan
The Baloch provincial government recently started a new initiative. It will focus on increased water security, energy infrastructures and agricultural development for the Baloch people to create new opportunities. A partnership from the World Bank has matched this effort. In 2025, the World Bank pledged $94 million to the Balochistan Water Security and Productivity Improvement Project. It aims to provide improved water access and irrigation to more than 500,000 additional people.
In addition to these efforts, the international organization also focuses on the future through increased access to education. The World Bank is providing an additional $100 million for the Getting Results: Access and Delivery of Quality Education Services in Balochistan (GRADES-Balochistan) program, which will educate 250,000 students and 5,000 teachers. Inga Afanasieva, Team Leader for the project, calls the program “a strategically important initiative that addresses critical gaps in access to and quality of pre-primary and primary education in the province.”
More importantly, this new progress is focusing on integrating local communities directly. The Pakistan Poverty Alleviation Fund is tackling the issue of providing more schools and enrolling nearly 8,000 students in Balochistan, through its Balochistan Education Initiative. These coordinated efforts are important, as only 40% of Baloch children and only 20% of Baloch women are educated. Dr Shahnawaz Khan, Chief Executive of the Balochistan Rural Support Program, highlights these new models as the ones that will be a “foundation for change.”
Conclusion
The Balochistan insurgency is a thorny issue that impacts the lives of millions of people in the wider region. Decades of central government neglect, ethnic tensions and economic marginalization have created a conflict that, without action, shows little signs of stopping. Yet a coalition of governmental and private organizations is finally creating change. Baloch society can finally move past the violence by fighting poverty in Balochistan and providing education and economic opportunities.
– Joseph Laughon
Joseph is based in Sacramento, CA, USA and focuses on Good News amd Politics for The Borgen Project.
Photo: Wikimedia Commons
Indigenous Education in Brazil
This difference is bigger in countries such as Brazil, which have small, diverse, and scattered indigenous populations. As of 2010, 83% of indigenous children ages 6 to 11 attended school compared to 97% of non-indigenous children in that age range. For children between the ages of 12 to 18, 74% of indigenous children attended school compared to 84% of non-indigenous children, according to the World Bank. Indigenous children living in urban areas are more likely to be attending school than indigenous children living in rural areas. Further, indigenous women tend to have attended fewer years of school than indigenous men.
Indigenous Education in Brazil
Indigenous education in Brazil has gone through several phases. The first phase was pre-colonial. The second phase started in the 16th century when the Portuguese colonized the land and people. The goal of the phase was to assimilate indigenous people and impose on them Western values and Christianity. Phase three started in the late 18th century. Its main goal was to integrate indigenous people into society as laborers. Phase four started in the 1970s as indigenous people mobilized for their rights.
Brazil approved a new constitution in 1988 that recognized indigenous identities and the right they have to maintain them, and that the Brazilian State must protect the cultural manifestations of indigenous communities. It also gave indigenous people the right to intercultural, specific, differentiated, and bilingual school education.
Today, there are about 305 different Indigenous peoples living in Brazil, making up around 1.7 million people, or 0.8% of Brazil’s population. About half of them live outside of the Amazon rainforest. There are more than 150 languages in Brazil, and almost all Brazilians speak Portuguese. White people have completed two and a half years more of education than indigenous Brazilians. The language of instruction in primary public schools is usually Brazilian Portuguese, although schools in some regions also use indigenous languages. Although indigenous people have a constitutional right to use their own languages and learning methods in schools, only a few states and cities have incorporated native languages.
This is important not only because it is a right but also because in the region as a whole, the more years of education an indigenous person has, the less likely they are to speak their native language, the World Bank reports.
Indigenous Schools in Brazil
Indigenous schools are educational institutions located in indigenous villages and territories, run by indigenous people and guided by their customs and traditions. The Federal Ministry of Education offers indigenous school education, which differs as it is basic education that teaches both non-indigenous and indigenous knowledge. Indigenous schools have four main principles, according to a University of Florence article. They exclusively serve indigenous communities, teaching is in their native language, it is located on indigenous land, and they organize themselves and what they teach.
As of 2020, there are 3,359 indigenous schools in Brazil, with most students (166,546) being in the elementary level, according to a University of Florence article. Indigenous schools provide a type of education that mixes formal education standards with indigenous culture and knowledge, allowing indigenous children to both navigate Brazilian society and stay close to their history and community.
Affirmative Action in Brazil
In 2003, a university in Brazil implemented affirmative action for the first time. By 2011, 115 different public universities had enacted some kind of affirmative action policies. In 2012, the Supreme Court of Brazil ruled that affirmative action policies were constitutional. That same year, the Brazilian Congress passed a law requiring all federal higher education institutions in the country to implement affirmative action policies. The law requires public universities to reserve half of their places for students from public schools, ensuring an equal proportion for mixed-race, Black, and indigenous students. This had a large effect on indigenous education in Brazil.
Affirmative action has been crucial for indigenous students. It has helped increase the number of indigenous people going to university. Something especially important given that historically, universities in Brazil have underrepresented indigenous people. Students who enter university through affirmative action have educational results very similar to students who do not, according to Federal University of Rio de Janeiro (UFRJ) article. A case study of one university found that as of 2018, the dropout rate among students who entered through affirmative action was 38.1% compared to 31.8% of students who entered through general admission.
The Future of Indigenous Education in Brazil
Brazil made significant progress in indigenous education, but further improvements are still necessary. Many indigenous schools lack quality teaching equipment and underfunded infrastructure. There is also a lack of quality training for indigenous teachers. Especially for indigenous women, as they are disproportionately unrepresented among the number of indigenous teachers.
As for higher education, affirmative action has helped indigenous people get into university. Once universities admit indigenous students, they often underserve them. There is a need for specialized mental health services, more awareness about indigenous students among administrators, and a diversification of what is taught to include indigenous perspectives, according to a UFRJ article. There is also a need for more indigenous professors. Further, because many indigenous students come from lower-income families, there is a need for financial aid, especially given that lack of sufficient finances is one of the main reasons students drop out.
– Axtin Bullock
Photo: Flickr
Poverty Reduction in Serbia: Supporting Marginalized Groups
Despite a growing economy, shrinking unemployment and existing social initiatives, women and marginalized groups such as Roma are still more likely to experience poverty and face significant challenges to receiving social assistance and entering the labor force. To continue working towards economic growth and poverty reduction in Serbia, it must focus on uplifting these groups.
Economic Growth
In its attempts to expand the job market and fight unemployment, Serbia grew its economy 3.9% in 2024, bolstering its construction industry and services sector as the country takes on foreign projects, according to World Bank statistics. Growth is projected to continue throughout 2025, with expansion in the energy sector projected as well.
Thanks to this, the incidence of poverty fell to 7.7%, however, that number largely includes women and other vulnerable groups, and does not take into account the borderline at-risk-of-poverty rate, which was 19.7% for 2024, according to Serbia’s own survey statistics. These numbers highlight the need for more targeted social assistance to continue making economic gains and raising people out of poverty.
About the Gender Wage Gap in Serbia
In 2023, the employment disparity between men and women in Serbia was 13.3%, with even larger disparities for the Roma people as a whole, but especially Roma women, whose education and employment numbers lag far behind other demographics. These numbers represent untapped potential that could benefit industry enhancement, growth and poverty reduction in Serbia.
These groups are facing cultural barriers more than economic ones. Long-standing prejudices and traditionalist value systems are holding them back from accessing the Serbian labor market. When polled directly, 40% of women, both Roma and non-Roma, articulated their willingness to join the workforce and participate in training initiatives to improve their skills and gain experience.
Social Protection
For its impoverished population, Serbia’s social protection systems include social insurance, social assistance and social services. These cover entitlements like pension and disability insurance, health insurance and low-income household assistance. Of these systems, only two programs are specifically targeted towards its impoverished populations: A financial social assistance program and a child allowance program.
These programs do not adequately support the most at-risk and marginalized groups, however. Limited budgets and a lack of policy focus mean these entitlements do little in the way of poverty reduction in Serbia. A single mother with two children receives about 18,000 dinars (€153) a month, three times less than the cost of basic monthly necessities.
As of 2022, Serbia spends 19.5% of its GDP on social protection programs. While this is a relatively high number in line with the spending of new EU member nations, 71% of social protection spending is absorbed by social insurance (pensions, disability, healthcare), leaving little left over for targeted social assistance. In reality, Serbia spends only 5% of social protection expenditures on poverty-targeted programs, significantly less than EU countries.
Solutions
Recognizing the necessity for uplifting marginalized groups in the fight for poverty reduction in Serbia, the World Bank, in conjunction with the Serbian Institute of Ethnography and the Entrepreneurship Training Institute, launched a series of personal initiative training programs specifically aimed at supporting Roma women. These programs, begun in 2024, focus on resume/CV-writing, job interview roleplays and starting a business, with the overall aim of creating a more socially and economically equal society.
The programs are already yielding results. To date, nine participants in the PI trainings have become certified trainers themselves, mentoring more than 100 women in their local communities. Others have come through the program and used their knowledge to start their own businesses, like one woman who was able to open her own hair salon in Novi Sad.
The resultant economic independence these programs are facilitating will assist in overcoming the cultural biases that keep an untapped reserve of the population from contributing to the betterment of the country. The success of the PI trainings provides a roadmap to poverty reduction in Serbia targeting its most vulnerable and marginalized groups, and with that a more inclusive labor market and continued economic growth.
– Nikola Stojkovic
Photo: Flickr
Disability and Poverty in North Macedonia: “Getting a Life” Project
Breaking the Cycle of Institutionalization
For decades, individuals with intellectual disabilities lived in large-scale institutions in North Macedonia, isolated from their communities. In 2020, People in Need (PIN) launched “Getting a Life”, an EU‑funded project to shift residents into small, community‑based homes. PIN transformed institutions into nine independent living houses across Demir Kapija, Negotino and Skopje and relocated 45 residents from the Demir Kapija Special Institution to set up a better system to end disability and poverty in North Macedonia. Each house supports under five individuals and includes accessible living spaces designed to encourage autonomy.
Training for Quality Care
PIN trained more than 120 professionals, including social workers, physiotherapists and educators, in person‑centered care. Eighty of them now prepare individualized care plans focusing on skills such as employment, daily living and social integration People in Need. PIN also launched a daily activity center in Skopje offering cooking, art and computer workshops, helping individuals develop confidence, skills and friendships.
Raising Awareness Across Communities
Community acceptance plays a crucial role in inclusion. PIN organized 18 awareness‑raising events, such as open houses and film screenings, that involved local officials, self‑advocates and neighbors. They helped form self‑advocacy groups and hosted the first national conference in 2023. All of this effort, drew multiple participants to feature policy recommendations. to government officials. PIN has managed to create an inclusive space to normalize disabilities in North Macedonia and to normalize their presence in communities that are often marginalized by poverty.
Measuring the Impact
In just three years, “Getting a Life” improved lives for 45 residents, built capacity for 120 professional caregivers and established community facilities. A final project evaluation found that 66% of trained caregivers found the training relevant, and 86.7% agreed that the principles of inclusion informed their approach. Residents now leave home slightly more regularly, 77.8% reported occasional outings, whereas institutional conditions previously limited these opportunities. These findings provide further evidence that projects like “Getting a Life” can help identify ways to address disability and poverty in North Macedonia.
The Road Ahead
Despite these milestones, more than 60 individuals still live in the Demir Kapija institution awaiting relocation. Expanding community-based living will require steady funding, strong political leadership and innovative partnerships between government agencies, NGOs and international donors. People in Need aims to use the lessons from “Getting a Life” to guide further deinstitutionalization efforts across the Western Balkans, adapting the approach to meet different local needs. Scaling this model would not only open the door to independence for those still in institutions but also create more inclusive neighborhoods, generate care-sector jobs and reduce the long-term costs of institutional care. Investing in disability inclusion safeguards human rights, lowers poverty rates and strengthens the social fabric for everyone.
– Nilay Ersoy
Photo: Unsplash
Solar Water Pumps in Nepal: A Lifeline for Farmers
Empowering Farmers with Sustainable Irrigation
Amongst remote Himalayan foothills and arid plains, solar-powered water pumps in Nepal are enabling farmers to irrigate fields efficiently without relying on costly diesel or unreliable electricity. For instance, in Shikharpur village, a solar pump installed by Renewable World delivers 40,000 liters of water daily to about 120 households and a school. This has allowed farmers like Daley Sarki to grow vegetables year-round, doubling her income through market sales and additional off-season crops like tomatoes and cauliflowers.
These pumps also promote efficient water use through training on techniques like growing produce under plastic sheets, fostering long-term sustainability. By reducing the time spent fetching water — previously up to three hours daily — women farmers can take on secondary jobs, enhancing household economic stability.
Boosting Incomes and Community Resilience
Solar-powered water pumps in Nepal are not only cutting costs but also creating new revenue streams for farmers. In Madhesh Province, Renu Devi Sah replaced her diesel pump with a 1.425-kilowatt solar system, slashing daily irrigation expenses from NPR 3,875 to just NPR 265. She now supplies water to eight neighboring farms at affordable rates, while expanding her own cultivation to include high-value vegetables like cauliflower and onions. Similarly, Jitendra Das in Janakpurdham uses his solar pump for a fish hatchery, saving 60% on water costs over five years and planning to supply fingerlings to local farmers.
These initiatives, supported by organizations like the Alternative Energy Promotion Centre (AEPC) and funded through the Sustainable Energy Challenge Fund (SECF), emphasize commercial viability and social impact. By integrating microfinance loans with technical assistance, they empower marginalized groups, particularly women, to achieve financial independence.
Addressing Climate Challenges with Eco-Friendly Solutions
Amid erratic rainfall and droughts exacerbated by climate change, solar-powered water pumps in Nepal are proving vital in regions like Bajhang and Bajura. Practical Action’s installations lift water from rivers to reservoirs, supplying multi-use systems for irrigation, drinking and livestock. Farmer Tek Bahadur Thapa reports sufficient water for year-round crops, enabling him to expand apple orchards and improve family nutrition.
These systems reduce drudgery, especially for women who once trekked hours for water and promote environmental sustainability by avoiding diesel emissions. Community-managed “Pay for Water” schemes ensure maintenance, while avoiding overextraction through efficient designs. The International Centre for Integrated Mountain Development (ICIMOD) highlights Nepal’s high solar potential — up to 2,100 MW for grid and off-grid use — making these pumps a scalable solution for poverty reduction.
Global Lessons and Expanding Impact
Drawing from successful models in countries like Yemen and Australia, solar-powered water pumps in Nepal demonstrate how renewable technology can replace burdensome diesel systems. In Yemen, farmers like Mufrih Saleh have adopted solar pumps to irrigate 405,000 acres, cutting fuel dependency amid shortages. Nepal’s efforts, backed by the World Bank, focus on groundwater governance to prevent overuse while promoting adoption in the Eastern Gangetic Plains.
The World Bank’s initiatives emphasize subsidies for small farmers and awareness of efficient water management, ensuring equitable access. With partnerships involving AEPC, Practical Action and international funders like the British government, these pumps are building drought resilience and fostering inclusive growth.
Looking Ahead
As solar-powered water pumps in Nepal continue to expand, they offer a beacon of hope for millions, turning climate vulnerabilities into opportunities for prosperity. By harnessing the sun’s energy, farmers are not only securing their livelihoods but also paving the way for a more resilient, poverty-free future.
– Robert Darke
Photo: Pexels
Tackling Poverty and Disease in Chad: Driving Change
According to 2022 data, 44.8% of the total population of Chad is living below the national poverty line, whilst 36.5% of the population is surviving on less than $2.15 per day. This dual burden of disease and deprivation underscores the importance of integrated, evidence-based solutions; an area where international health organizations are increasingly stepping up with promising, collaborative interventions.
Cross-Border Collaboration and DNDi
Chad is not fighting alone. Local health ministries, supported by international organizations, are taking significant steps to break this cycle. In partnership with the Drugs for Neglected Diseases initiative (DNDi) and the African Union, Chad has joined a cross-border collaboration with countries like Ethiopia and Sudan to eliminate visceral leishmaniasis, a deadly NTD affecting some of its poorest regions.
DNDi is a nonprofit research and development organization that works to discover, develop and deliver new treatments for these neglected diseases that primarily impact people in lower-income countries. DNDi operates on a needs-driven model focusing on affordability, accessibility and partnerships with local health systems. In Chad, DNDi has played a central role in strengthening surveillance systems, supporting local capacity to diagnose and treat leishmaniasis, as well as ensuring that life-saving medicines reach remote communities.
Organizations Aiding Chad’s Development
Meanwhile, organizations like the END Fund are supporting large-scale treatment campaigns targeting soil-transmitted helminths and other parasitic diseases that affect school-age children. These programs also contribute to improved school attendance, nutrition and long-term development outcomes. Together, these collaborative efforts underpin a growing recognition that tackling NTDs in Chad requires both medical innovation and regional cooperation.
In addition to medical treatment, organizations such as the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) and WaterAid are investing in clean water and sanitation infrastructure, which are critical tools in the fight against waterborne diseases and hygiene-related poverty. Since the early 2000s, UNICEF has been actively working in Chad to combat poverty and disease by focusing on providing sanitary water, providing education for vulnerable children and allowing easier access to essential services, including nutrition, health and protection of vulnerable populations. Community health initiatives are also expanding, with trained health workers delivering care and education directly to families in rural areas, bridging the access gap.
Another organization who are helping to prevent the spread of the levels of poverty in Chad is the Sahel Adaptive Social Protection Programme (SASPP), World Bank. The SASPP aims to increase access to social safety nets for the poor and vulnerable population, including refugees. It focuses on building adaptive social protection systems, including cash transfers, productive inclusion and emergency support, all underpinned by digital targeting, payment and monitoring systems. The program in Chad is designed to benefit more than 780,000 people, including refugees and those in refugee-hosting communities, through various interventions like cash aid and productivity programs.
Looking Ahead
Coordinated efforts in Chad in combining disease treatment, health education, and basic services are not only saving lives but also creating a foundation for long-term economic resilience. With stronger investment and continued support, Chad has the potential to transform its health crisis into a model of community-driven recovery.
– Carise Wallbank
Photo: Flickr
Greening the Desert: Updates on SDG 2 in Egypt
Updates on SDG 2 in Egypt
One of the significant projects that aligns with the UN’s SDG 2 is the Egypt’s Future project, which promotes sustainable agriculture, which President Abd El-Fatah El-Sisi inaugurated on May 21, 2022. This project is a vital step towards achieving SDG 2 in Egypt. According to 2022 Global Hunger Index, Egypt ranks 57 out of 121 countries, which means it is at a moderate level. However, its dependence on global markets in more than half of its staples makes food affordability and quality very challenging.
Project Overview
Egypt’s Future project is the first phase of the New Delta Project, a mega project in the Western Desert of the Nile, which aims to achieve self-sufficiency. The project focuses on providing citizens with high-quality products at affordable prices, boosting exports and reducing imports. It costs 8 billion EGP and targets the reclamation of 1,050,000 feddans of the total 2.2 million feddans that the New Delta project covered.
The project land depends on treated wastewater and three groundwater reservoirs. The implementation process includes paving roads, digging wells, building two power stations and an internal electricity network. Additionally, the project provides lots of job opportunities and improves the economy. Here is a brief list of the project’s major accomplishments. The project:
The Impact of the Project on Citizens
According to the State Information System, the project provides nearly 10,000 direct job opportunities and 360,000 indirect ones. Despite the huge progress made in this project, the country is still encountering food insecurity issues. According to a study published in 2024, Egypt’s food insecurity level remains unaltered as the country encounters major threats, including severe changing weather patterns, poor quality agricultural land and rising global food prices. According to Trading Economics, in June 2025, food prices increased 6.90%, compared to the same month in the previous year.
Enhancing Collaboration and Future Recommendations
International collaboration is crucial to strengthening the impact and longevity of the project. In 2022, Egypt built the MisrSat -2 satellite, using China’s $92 million grant. This satellite supports Egypt’s objective for sustainable development by employing space technology in different areas, including agriculture, searching for mineral resources and exploring of surface water sources.
In 2023, with cooperation with the World Bank, the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) conducted a study that shows several climate-smart policy actions at COP28. Similar partnerships could enhance the agricultural land quality under Egypt’s Future project.
– Eiman Elsawy
Photo: Flickr
Climate-Resilient Farming in Vietnam
This situation underscores the urgent need for this simple, native and accessible innovation: natural cultivation of coastal mangroves acting as natural barriers against storms and saltwater, protecting valuable clay-rich soils.
Battling Climate Threats in the Mekong Delta
In the low-lying Mekong Delta of Vietnam, climate-resilient farming initiatives use nature-based solutions (NbS) to stabilize and enrich farmland. These include restoring coastal mangroves and planting legume-rich forest strips. Coastal mangroves form a natural barrier against storms and saltwater, preventing the loss of the clay-rich soils that rice plants require.
Inland, reforestation with legumes replenishes nitrogen in the soil and slows desertification, ensuring farmland stays fertile over time. Together, these measures create a more stable agricultural environment without reliance on expensive chemical inputs.
Harnessing the Power of Mangroves and Agroforestry
Climate-resilient farming in Vietnam tackles two linked problems. On farmland, agroforestry and legume plantings improve soil structure and nitrogen availability, helping rehabilitate degraded plots and reverse early stages of desertification. These practices keep soils fertile without relying solely on expensive chemical fertilizers.
A meta-analysis found that flower strips increase natural pest control services by about 16% on average in adjacent cropped fields. Compared with other integrated measures, broader agroecological approaches reduce disease and pest incidence. These effects are typically more substantial where habitat patches are larger and better connected.
Rodents cause significant pre-harvest losses in Southeast Asian rice; conservative estimates put regional losses at around 5% or roughly 16 million tonnes. Studies show that complex landscapes with more non-crop habitats like hedgerows, wetlands and forests support natural predators, boosting pest control in rice fields.
Coastal mangroves and wetlands create habitats that support native predators, like waterbirds, snakes and carnivores, which help control rodent populations. Studies show that preserving or restoring these habitats reduces rodent outbreaks compared to simplified landscapes. In addition, the high-energy biomass of the mangrove forests is often seen as native animal feed. This is a perfect symbiosis, since more than 50% of the farmers, in addition to rice cultivation, also conduct livestock farming.
Real-Life Success Stories From Coastal Communities
In southern Vietnam, mangrove restoration has been used to alleviate poverty and diversify income sources. Approximately 8,000 households received land leases and improved access to infrastructure such as schools, roads and health care services. The restoration led to a 209–789% increase in yields of mussels and oysters per hectare. The direct economic benefit for selected communities ranged between approximately $344,000 and $6.7 million.
Furthermore, mangrove restoration reduced dike damage from similar typhoons by approximately $80,000 to $295,000, demonstrating mangroves’ important role in protecting rural areas. While exact studies on poverty reduction are still lacking, the proven effectiveness of this technology is clear. Mangrove restoration offers accessible, practical benefits that directly support vulnerable communities facing extreme poverty and climate risks. This freely available solution holds great promise to improve lives where needed most.
Scaling Up NbS for a Resilient Future
Between 1999 and 2013, nearly 9,000 hectares of mangroves were planted and protected across almost 100 Vietnam coastal communities. This effort directly benefited 350,000 people, with indirect benefits reaching another 2 million along Vietnam’s coast.
From 1978 to 1998, Vietnam restored about 1,500 km² (150,000 ha) of mangrove forests in the Mekong Delta. Also, between 2015 and 2020, approximately 27,322 hectares (around 34.1%) of mangroves were successfully restored through state- and NGO-funded projects. This restoration increased the total mangrove area from 79,593 hectares to 90,777 hectares.
Despite challenges like funding and climate pressures, mangrove restoration offers tremendous opportunities for ecological and community benefits. With growing awareness and collaborative efforts, more sustainable and resilient projects are emerging. These initiatives showcase the powerful potential of NbS to protect both people and the environment for the long term. This project is now serving as a model for similar programs across Southeast Asia.
– Alexander Broermann
Photo: Pixabay
Addressing Disability and Poverty in Mauritius
The Struggles of Living With a Disability in Mauritius
The stigma associated with disability marginalizes this group and the inaccessibility of the physical and social environment further isolates them from full participation in society. A World Bank study revealed that in Mauritius, people with disabilities are more likely to have lower educational attainment and employment levels than their non-disabled peers, reinforcing the link between disability and poverty. The World Bank also highlights the lack of accessible environments and limited access to assistive technologies, which compound existing barriers.
In 2015, the U.N. Committee on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities warned that entrenched gender and disability stereotypes continued to exacerbate marginalization in Mauritius. These factors, combined with the lack of legal enforcement, limited public awareness and exclusion from decision-making, create a web of disadvantage. People with disabilities in Mauritius are often denied basic human rights, including access to education, employment, housing and health care.
In its 2024 review, the U.N. Committee noted, “The Committee was concerned that persons with disabilities were not meaningfully involved in the processes aimed at improving their lives.” It also “noted the need to harmonize the different definitions of disability in various documents.” Inconsistent definitions across official documents and the lack of representation hinder policy implementation. When people with disabilities are not included in planning and reform, their needs are often overlooked.
Still, change is underway. Civil society organizations and disability rights activists continue to push for accountability. At the same time, government documents acknowledge that earlier approaches were inadequate and commit to restructuring the disability sector.
The Government’s Efforts
Mauritius has launched several policies and programs to reduce the burden of poverty for people with disabilities. These include:
Local Advocacy Groups
Conclusion
Even though challenges remain, these initiatives show Mauritius’ commitment to strengthening disability-inclusive policies. They aim to address the systemic links between disability and poverty. The ultimate goal is to “build a society where every citizen enjoys his or her rights fully while respecting those of others.”
– Riddhi Sharma
Photo: Wikimedia Commons
Progress in Fighting Poverty in Balochistan
The World Bank has helped the Pakistani government to address the two main sources of poverty: water insecurity and a lack of education, both of which contribute to violence and the ongoing Baloch insurgency. These solutions help address much of the core issue and have integrated local communities in the implementation, which has been critical to sustainable success.
Poverty in Balochistan
Fighting poverty in Balochistan is a critical security issue in the region. Yunas Samad, professor at the University of Bradford and research fellow of Political Science at the Lahore University of Management Sciences, points out that Balochistan is neglected and instead is mostly treated as a place to extract resources, in particular minerals and natural gas. Despite its critical location for mining and the important Gwadar Port, the region remains impoverished.
The province has been subjected to resource extraction. Yet, locals and the provincial government receive minimal benefits or returns, even though mining and energy extraction are constitutionally designated as provincial and not federal subjects. The region has been earmarked as crucial to the new China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC). However, its Human Development Index (HDI) is 0.421 below the national average of 0.562.
This has resulted in a poverty rate of more than 71% in 2015, well above the national average of 38%. This is despite the region being home to the Suri Gas Field, one of Pakistan’s largest reserves. This systemic poverty and neglect have created the conditions for a new phase in the Balochistan conflict. Imtiaz Baloch, a journalist and researcher focusing on Balochistan, notes that the region’s marginalization has always been the fuel for the conflict.
The Baloch Insurgency
The Baloch insurgency began when the region joined Pakistan in 1948, with major outbreaks throughout the 20th century as the Islamabad government centralized control over provinces like Balochistan. Although major insurgent factions declared a ceasefire in 2018, significant attacks, including recent hijackings and suicide bombings in 2025, continue to occur.
After relative calm in the ’90s, the fifth phase of the conflict emerged from escalating tensions between weakened Baloch nationalist parties, unable to form a united political front and the Pakistani state over persistent social and economic inequalities. The Baloch people’s demands for greater political rights, resource control and increased autonomy intensified.
Ironically, increased economic investment from the Pakistani and Chinese governments has only deepened Balochistanis’ feelings that they are being exploited. This sense of isolation and disempowerment created a new insurgency movement, one that has spread beyond Pakistan to other Baloch regions in nearby Iran and Afghanistan.
Armed factions like the Baloch Liberation Army – Jeeyand (BLA-J) use this disempowerment to conduct suicide attacks on Gwadar Port facilities, the Pearl Continental Hotel in Gwadar and especially on foreign investment in Balochistan. Unlike previous phases, the new Baloch insurgency has focused on economic targets.
Despite its economic potential, CPEC has intensified the Baloch insurgency, exacerbating grievances over resource control, marginalization and cultural erosion. The growing sophistication and frequency of attacks on CPEC-related targets underscore the persistence of the insurgency. These threats endanger regional stability and the project’s success if left unaddressed through inclusive development and dialogue.
Fighting Poverty in Balochistan
The Baloch provincial government recently started a new initiative. It will focus on increased water security, energy infrastructures and agricultural development for the Baloch people to create new opportunities. A partnership from the World Bank has matched this effort. In 2025, the World Bank pledged $94 million to the Balochistan Water Security and Productivity Improvement Project. It aims to provide improved water access and irrigation to more than 500,000 additional people.
In addition to these efforts, the international organization also focuses on the future through increased access to education. The World Bank is providing an additional $100 million for the Getting Results: Access and Delivery of Quality Education Services in Balochistan (GRADES-Balochistan) program, which will educate 250,000 students and 5,000 teachers. Inga Afanasieva, Team Leader for the project, calls the program “a strategically important initiative that addresses critical gaps in access to and quality of pre-primary and primary education in the province.”
More importantly, this new progress is focusing on integrating local communities directly. The Pakistan Poverty Alleviation Fund is tackling the issue of providing more schools and enrolling nearly 8,000 students in Balochistan, through its Balochistan Education Initiative. These coordinated efforts are important, as only 40% of Baloch children and only 20% of Baloch women are educated. Dr Shahnawaz Khan, Chief Executive of the Balochistan Rural Support Program, highlights these new models as the ones that will be a “foundation for change.”
Conclusion
The Balochistan insurgency is a thorny issue that impacts the lives of millions of people in the wider region. Decades of central government neglect, ethnic tensions and economic marginalization have created a conflict that, without action, shows little signs of stopping. Yet a coalition of governmental and private organizations is finally creating change. Baloch society can finally move past the violence by fighting poverty in Balochistan and providing education and economic opportunities.
– Joseph Laughon
Photo: Wikimedia Commons
Globalization’s Effect on Vocational Education Centers in Cuba
Cuba has one of the world’s most complex geographical and political dynamics. It is located just 90 miles from the U.S. coast and stands on the opposite end of the political spectrum. For much of its modern history, Cuba has remained in a time capsule, with citizens restricted from accessing much of the world’s technology and trade. While the country has attempted to engage with globalization, progress has been slow.
In 2011, Raúl Castro announced a series of economic reforms targeting agriculture, small businesses and foreign investment. Fidel Castro called such globalization reforms “concessions to the enemy,” but his brother Raul was more receptive. However, the 2011 reforms have been unsuccessful due to state-imposed restrictions. This paradox of attempted modernization and government scrutiny has created a series of issues for vocational education training centers in Cuba. Without the implementation of a progressive vision, vocational education training centers in Cuba will remain stagnant.
Cuba is a highly educated but struggling nation. Cuba’s literacy rates are “more comparable to developed countries,” yet according to The Cuban Observatory for Human Rights, 88% of people still live in extreme poverty. This can be attributed partially to the U.S. embargo, but mostly to a repressive regime that prioritizes creating model citizens for the regime instead of creating an adept workforce. Something within the Cuban system needs to change, but it is unlikely to be within formal education.
The State of Vocational Education Training Centers in Cuba
Vocational education is one of the most effective tools in combating poverty. Unlike traditional education, it provides the skill sets necessary for a singular career. When someone is fighting for life-saving resources, the time needed for advanced education is not always an option. Vocational education provides a clear path to upward mobility. According to the World Bank, each additional year of schooling increases a student’s future hourly income by 10%.
Currently, vocational education training centers in Cuba still follow Soviet-era ideology. In upper secondary education, the equivalent of high school in the U.S., students are placed on either a university or vocational track. After schooling, they complete internships at state-run companies and earn certification within four years. Recent trends show that more students are directed toward vocational training. In 2001/2002, two-thirds of students pursued this path.
Generally, private corporations have limited influence on vocational education and training centers in Cuba, with private employment often stemming from either the informal labor market or family connections. The lack of involvement from private corporations poses several issues. Students’ autonomy is limited, resulting in an adversarial relationship with their work. Additionally, with the state still exerting significant control, the populace remains unprepared for the global economy.
SFUVET and the PROFET Program
The Swiss Federal University for Vocational Education and Training (SFUVET) is dedicated to enhancing vocational education for international partners. Its mission is to create harmony between the education system and the labor market. It currently has programs in Cuba and more than five countries.
In October of 2022, the organization launched the PROFET program in Cuba. Its initial aim was to educate 10,000 students across 29 universities in agriculture, construction and hospitality. Initially supposed to run through 2023, the project has been renewed for a second phase that will last till the end of 2025.
PROFET focuses on improving employment access and modernizing Cuba’s education system to prepare students for the global economy. Funded by the Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation and the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), the program aims to train vocational educators within four years.
Conclusion
Despite Cuba’s challenges, its commitment to vocational education remains clear. Organizations like SFUVET provide funding and instruction vital to the success of young people in Cuba. While the PROFET project comes to a close soon, the knowledge it offered to students will be invaluable to vocational education training centers in Cuba.
– Patrick Feeney
Photo: Flickr