Bangladesh has occurred as a main topic in the news lately because of the nation’s struggle to address the Rohingya crisis. Located in South Asia, Bangladesh is one of the poorest countries in the world; additionally, it is also one of the most densely populated nations with approximately 164.7 million people.
Bangladesh ranks one of the most vulnerable and least prepared countries to natural disasters, and as a result, the country heavily relies on foreign aid to fight chronic poverty that results from natural disasters. The aid Bangladesh receives usually goes towards food, commodities and development projects, thus benefitting significantly from foreign aid. However, there are numerous ways that the U.S. also benefits from foreign aid to Bangladesh.
Improved Projects and Institutions
The U.S. benefits from foreign aid to Bangladesh in a large part due to the funds that go towards projects and institutions that address gender-based violence, illiteracy, gender inequality, human trafficking and poverty within Bangladesh — all of which are issues the U.S. strives to combat on a global scale. Foreign assistance to Bangladesh also promotes democratic institutions and practices, which is crucial in the U.S. fight against terrorism.
Reduction of Terrorism
Studies have shown that lower levels of political rights and freedom are linked with higher levels of terrorism. The recent terror attack in the Dhaka city in Bangladesh proves that the country requires closer attention given towards this area. Foreign aid to Bangladesh — through agencies such as USAID — goes towards public institutions that “reduce corruption, increase transparency of government and increase accountability.”
For instance, in 2015, the USAID trained “nearly 500 local government institutions to improve their ability to provide basic services and created citizen forums” to increase citizen input on local government activities.
USAID also works to increase access to the formal justice system and educates citizens about available legal aid services. Overall, USAID focuses on improving Bangladeshi citizens’ ability to advocate for their rights.
Gains in Education
Another way the U.S. benefits from foreign aid to Bangladesh is that the aid helps to increase literacy rates in Bangladesh, which is crucial for a healthy society and a safer world. Education greatly impacts our sense of right and wrong, and in that way, serves to dictate many citizens’ actions.
In Bangladesh, almost 40 percent of all children who enroll in first grade “fail to complete primary school, and 2 percent of children achieve all prescribed competencies by the completion of fifth grade.”
Economic Growth
Additionally, foreign assistance invested in education also helps increase individual income and boosts a country’s economic growth. Nearly one in three people in Bangladesh live in poverty, and Bangladesh’s economy, in general, is a matter of U.S. interest because it could also benefit the U.S. economy. For instance, as countries like Bangladesh become more self-sufficient and better developed, countries also become potential markets for U.S. companies, thereby creating jobs here at home.
In fact, according to the United States Trade Representative, “U.S. goods exports to Bangladesh in 2016 were $895 million, down 5.0 percent ($47 million) from 2015 but up 169 percent from 2006.”
USAID
USAID works closely with the Bangladeshi government to improve literacy rates in the country. For instance, USAID provides extra-curricular activities to increase learning skills, and in 2015, improved reading skills of “more than 295,000 young boys and girls in primary schools.” It also trained more than “2400 teachers on how to assess students’ reading skills.”
The U.S. benefits from foreign aid to Bangladesh because the aid improves national security, healthcare, global access to education, gender equality and fights terrorism and crimes such as human trafficking. As one can clearly see, it is most definitely in the United States’ best interest to continue providing aid to Bangladesh.
– Mehruba Chowdhury
Photo: Flickr
Credit Access in Malaysia: Increasing Effectiveness and Efficiency
Malaysia is a rapidly growing economic country with only 0.6 percent of its population living below the poverty line. The country’s economy is largely dependent on Small to Medium Enterprises (SMEs), which comprise 36 percent of the gross domestic product (GDP) and also provide employment to 65 percent of the population.
Despite this success, however, financial institutions were reluctant in granting loans to SMEs, thereby making credit access in Malaysia difficult. The reasons behind these barriers include a lack of:
Small to Medium Enterprises
SMEs are important for Malaysia’s growth and development as these organizations represent almost 97 percent of the country’s business establishment; such enterprises therefore provide a vital source for job creations. Sometimes these small businesses start as an idea from a few people investing their own money or borrowing from friends and family.
With success, extension of businesses become inevitable and then require money to hire new people, develop new products and facilitate other business necessities. Due to this chain, the administration came up with ideas to ease the process of credit access in Malaysia.
Credit Guarantee Corporation
Credit Guarantee Corporation (CGC) of Malaysia with their 45 years of experience came with a wide variety of schemes for supporting SMEs. Some of them are Biz-Mula for Malaysian start-up companies, Biz-Wanita for women headed enterprises, Green Technology Financing Scheme (GTFS) for supporting sustainable energy and also other schemes for indigenous Malaysians.
The CGC schemes cover almost 50 to 90 percent of the risks of granting loans in exchange for a 2 to 3.5 percent fee; this coverage thus makes credit access in Malaysia accessible for many small to medium business organizations. The scheme is properly designed and verified so as to be accepted by the banks in Malaysia.
Benefits for Small and Medium Enterprises
Biz-Mula is a direct financing scheme for small businesses less than four years old. These schemes utilize Bank Negara Malaysia (BNM) for the funding of SMEs. With certain eligibility and restriction criteria, the financing amounts range from 30,000 to 300,000 Malaysian roubles (RM).
Biz-Wanita scheme is the same as Biz-Wala except it only funds women entrepreneurs; both Biz-Mula and Biz-Wanita work for all economic sectors, except primary agriculture and micro-enterprises.
The GTFS provides opportunity for green investments by offering a 60 percent guarantee on the financing amount and a 2 percent discount on the interest or profit rates. This scheme was accessible from both private and commercial financial institutions till December 2017; this support greatly helped in the expansion of the green technology sector.
Pembiayaan Mikro scheme provides financing for up to 50,000 RM without collateral to micro enterprises who oftentimes lack credit history. The scheme can also offer lower-rate finance through BNM’s Micro Enterprise Fund.
Benefits from Foreign Direct Investments
Foreign Direct Investments (FDI) in Malaysia ranged between $9 to $12 billion during the years of 2010 through 2017. According to the data gathered from the Malaysian Investment Development Authority (MIDA), the majority of these investments stem from China, Japan, the Netherlands and the U.S. Generally, the funds originate from the service, mining, manufacturing and construction fields, and come with a promise of almost 61,930 job opportunities through 2,294 projects.
Malaysia is a country where credit access has been strategically eased for business growth through the lowering of collateral requirements, longer-term loans and lower interest rates. These changes were possible by joint initiatives from both the administration and financial institutions and hopefully will continue to be effective and helpful to the people of Malaysia.
– Mahua Mitra
Photo: Flickr
Efforts to Improve Levels of Sustainable Agriculture in Djibouti
Sitting at a major waterway entrance to the gulf-states region, Djibouti is a critical gatekeeper in the international economy. However, despite this status, the country has an extremely low quality of life and agricultural opportunity. Sustainable agriculture in Djibouti is a long-term project, but thankfully one that is making major headway in the region.
There are several projects focused on sustainable agriculture in the area, including projects through the Djibouti Ministry of Agriculture, Water, Fisheries, Livestock and Marine Resources (MAWFLM), the World Bank Group and the African Development Bank Group. These projects are diverse and focus on everything from economic sustainability to increasing clean water supply, and will have both short-term capability and long-term effects on sustainable agriculture in Djibouti.
The Djibouti Ministry of Agriculture, Water, Fisheries, Livestock and Marine Resources
Sustainable agriculture in Djibouti is not a quick fix. According to a report from the MAWFLM, currently there is nearly no available land with access to clean water on which to farm. Since the landscape is so dry and barren, the MAWLFM has encouraged farmers to begin digging deeper wells so they can access clean underground reservoirs to irrigate their crops. The MAWFLM, in conjunction with the Japanese government, has been working to determine the most effective source of irrigation in the region.
During their research, MAWFLM discovered that shallow wells are likely going to be the most cost-effective form of irrigation, but that groundwater will be most useful for off-season irrigation. This research is imperative for increasing the number of agricultural products grown in Djibouti, and MAWFLM is continuing research in sustainable and economically efficient forms of water sustainability.
The World Bank Group
An integral part of growing a sustainable agriculture market in Djibouti is acquiring the ability to power any machinery needed. For the World Bank Group, electrification of rural areas was a major investment for Djibouti. The group began researching the best way to electrify Djibouti for farmers in 2017, so as a fairly new project, it hasn’t seen many results as of yet.
However, the plan is to invest nearly $23.4 million total in building not only facilities to increase power connectivity but to also teach technicians and electricians how to work with the new technology.
While it is yet to be determined how the World Bank Group’s electrification project will work, it’s a huge step toward modernization in Djibouti.
The African Development Bank Group
The African Development Bank Group is one of many groups working to improve infrastructure, but they stand out among the rest because they are based and run out of African nations. The group works to not only improve the quality of infrastructure in African countries, but to also advocate for long-term relief in many different areas of sustainability.
The Bank Group has advocated for Djibouti’s sustainable agriculture progress since 2004, and are continuing to lead in legislative advocacy for climate change and agriculture growth.
There are plenty of groups working to improve sustainable agriculture in Djibouti, and there are also other international organizations working to help provide for the many who are still affected by agriculture infertility in the area. Sustainable agriculture in Djibouti is a long-term project, but it is one that is being thoroughly pursued.
– Molly Atchison
Photo: Flickr
How the US Benefits From Foreign Aid to Bangladesh
Bangladesh has occurred as a main topic in the news lately because of the nation’s struggle to address the Rohingya crisis. Located in South Asia, Bangladesh is one of the poorest countries in the world; additionally, it is also one of the most densely populated nations with approximately 164.7 million people.
Bangladesh ranks one of the most vulnerable and least prepared countries to natural disasters, and as a result, the country heavily relies on foreign aid to fight chronic poverty that results from natural disasters. The aid Bangladesh receives usually goes towards food, commodities and development projects, thus benefitting significantly from foreign aid. However, there are numerous ways that the U.S. also benefits from foreign aid to Bangladesh.
Improved Projects and Institutions
The U.S. benefits from foreign aid to Bangladesh in a large part due to the funds that go towards projects and institutions that address gender-based violence, illiteracy, gender inequality, human trafficking and poverty within Bangladesh — all of which are issues the U.S. strives to combat on a global scale. Foreign assistance to Bangladesh also promotes democratic institutions and practices, which is crucial in the U.S. fight against terrorism.
Reduction of Terrorism
Studies have shown that lower levels of political rights and freedom are linked with higher levels of terrorism. The recent terror attack in the Dhaka city in Bangladesh proves that the country requires closer attention given towards this area. Foreign aid to Bangladesh — through agencies such as USAID — goes towards public institutions that “reduce corruption, increase transparency of government and increase accountability.”
For instance, in 2015, the USAID trained “nearly 500 local government institutions to improve their ability to provide basic services and created citizen forums” to increase citizen input on local government activities.
USAID also works to increase access to the formal justice system and educates citizens about available legal aid services. Overall, USAID focuses on improving Bangladeshi citizens’ ability to advocate for their rights.
Gains in Education
Another way the U.S. benefits from foreign aid to Bangladesh is that the aid helps to increase literacy rates in Bangladesh, which is crucial for a healthy society and a safer world. Education greatly impacts our sense of right and wrong, and in that way, serves to dictate many citizens’ actions.
In Bangladesh, almost 40 percent of all children who enroll in first grade “fail to complete primary school, and 2 percent of children achieve all prescribed competencies by the completion of fifth grade.”
Economic Growth
Additionally, foreign assistance invested in education also helps increase individual income and boosts a country’s economic growth. Nearly one in three people in Bangladesh live in poverty, and Bangladesh’s economy, in general, is a matter of U.S. interest because it could also benefit the U.S. economy. For instance, as countries like Bangladesh become more self-sufficient and better developed, countries also become potential markets for U.S. companies, thereby creating jobs here at home.
In fact, according to the United States Trade Representative, “U.S. goods exports to Bangladesh in 2016 were $895 million, down 5.0 percent ($47 million) from 2015 but up 169 percent from 2006.”
USAID
USAID works closely with the Bangladeshi government to improve literacy rates in the country. For instance, USAID provides extra-curricular activities to increase learning skills, and in 2015, improved reading skills of “more than 295,000 young boys and girls in primary schools.” It also trained more than “2400 teachers on how to assess students’ reading skills.”
The U.S. benefits from foreign aid to Bangladesh because the aid improves national security, healthcare, global access to education, gender equality and fights terrorism and crimes such as human trafficking. As one can clearly see, it is most definitely in the United States’ best interest to continue providing aid to Bangladesh.
– Mehruba Chowdhury
Photo: Flickr
Crucial Developments in Sustainable Agriculture in Sierra Leone
Agriculture is the economic and cultural mainstay of Sierra Leone — rice and cassava, drought-tolerant crops, are staples in a typical Sierra Leonean diet. Although agriculture is crucial, sustainable agriculture in Sierra Leone is unfortunately inadequate.
USAID expresses agriculture as the “pillar of economic and cultural relevance” in Sierra Leone. About 60 percent of the labor force is based in subsistence farming, a system in which farmers grow enough food to feed their own families. Sustainable agriculture in Sierra Leone is behind due to lack of diversification, labor shortages and soil infertility. Fortunately, investing in sustainable agriculture can be accomplished through integrated agriculture systems.
Integrated Agricultural System
The integrated agricultural system, according to the Food and Agriculture Organization, adopts a mixture of diverse crucial crops (from pasture to fish), increases production and improves access to markets. Sustainable agriculture in Sierra Leone will benefit people as diversification of farming and fishing practices will stabilize food security and decrease malnutrition.
Diversification of Staple Foods
Rice is an important staple in Sierra Leone meals. To establish sustainable agriculture in Sierra Leone, people need to ease their dependency on rice and alternate it with other crops, such as yams, sweet potatoes and cassava. The reason for this diversification is to decrease food imports in hopes of promoting local and sustainable alternatives. The high consumption of rice is not produced fast enough to meet demand, hence the emphasis of other crops can help reduce malnutrition, boost food security and decrease dependency on neighboring countries for money.
Sustainable Agriculture Outcomes
By promoting sustainable agriculture in Sierra Leone, diversifying agriculture and improving infrastructure, food security in the nation will most likely improve. Improving infrastructure in Sierra Leone will also allow rural communities to access urban areas and food security.
The Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) seeks to establish sustainable agriculture in Sierra Leone through responsible development. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), Sierra Leone has very high potential in fostering agricultural production that can decrease malnutrition and promote food security. In order for Sierra Leone to achieve such aspirations, both the community and government need to strengthen ties and develop resources and responses to food demands.
Sustained Effort
WHO also suggests utilizing the terrain and planting new crops that will provide nutrients for the people, educating communities on practical agricultural knowledge and fostering skills to increase access to markets.
There is much-needed reform and plans to establish sustainable agriculture in Sierra Leone, and the development and implementation of these agendas can bolster the country against poverty and malnutrition. With several organizations, communities and government officials working towards sustainable agriculture, Sierra Leone will most likely witness beneficial (and substantial) progress.
– Jennifer Serrato
Photo: Flickr
The Growth of Credit Access in Ecuador
According to the U.S. Department of State, 10 tax laws were passed in Ecuador from 2006 to 2012, all working to help credit accessibility and the economy. An estimated 5,000 new jobs will be created in 2015 to 2019 from finance programs.
The Programs
The National Program for Finance, Entrepreneurship and Economic Solidarity (PNFPEES), established in 2009, works to help people in high-poverty areas gain credit access in Ecuador by providing loans. The Inter-American Development Bank (IDB) loaned $50 million to help employment opportunities grow and to expand microcredit, mainly for women with low income. IDB is also working to increase credit access in poverty-ridden areas of Ecuador by 60 percent.
World Council of Credit Unions, Inc. (WOCCU) works to help extend credit to those who are poor or low-income clients. WOCCU established three programs to help grow access to credit:
WOCCU and the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) built the three programs on past designs and determined the best way to further credit access in Ecuador.
CREER has been one of the most effective programs for an increase in credit access in Ecuador. According to WOCCU, CREER uses five 16- to 24-week cycles of loans. The first loan starts at $200 and can then be increased in $100 increments up to $600 if they are paid off by the end of the cycles. Furthermore, this program is involved with four different credit unions, helping people to reach an all-time high of self-sufficiency at 168 percent.
How the Programs Help Women
According to WOCCU, 48 percent of the clients of these programs are women, with more than 200,000 registered accounts. The SCWE program works to help women who are capable of working with microenterprise but do not have the necessary assets to be successful.
In the villages, credit unions work with 20 to 25 members who want access to credit and loans. Part of the CREER program from WOCCU found that the women requested — and demonstrated the ability to pay off — higher loan amounts than the standard $60 to $300. The credit unions noticed the women’s potential and raised the loan amounts. Many of these women and other persons in low-income areas had an option to graduate from the credit unions, which allowed them access to loans of anywhere from $1,000 to $2,000.
The mix of these programs from USAID and other organizations have worked successfully to expand credit access in Ecuador for not only women but also people who live in low-income areas. All of these programs give people a chance to have credit and take out loans that they might not otherwise have access to.
– Amber Duffus
Photo: Flickr
Sustainable Agriculture in Myanmar Could Improve Economy
The potential for Myanmar’s agriculture to improve is strong. Though the country has one of the lowest yields in Southeast Asia, Myanmar also has some of the lowest labor costs. In order to capitalize on the opportunities provided by the current economic climate, Myanmar’s government has created a set of agricultural policies to “establish a peaceful, modern and developed country.” The 12 policies focus on furthering development, protecting and educating farmers and reducing poverty through the agriculture industry.
Sustainable agriculture in Myanmar is pioneered by a large population of small-scale rural farmers. Approximately 70 percent of the country’s population depends on agriculture for food and income, and the government is making an effort to support this population through The Law of Protection of the Farmer Rights and Enhancement of their Benefits. The law was enacted in 2013 and a Leading Body was appointed to assist Burmese farmers and enforce the regulations under the law. The Leading Body is in charge of giving loans, ensuring that farmers get reasonable payment for their products and importing technology, fertilizers, seeds, pesticides and other necessary provisions.
At this time, Myanmar’s biggest agricultural export is rice. According to the Ministry of Commerce, the demand for rice produced in Myanmar is the highest it has been in 50 years. However, other major rice exporters in Southeast Asia—such as Thailand and Cambodia—are taking advantage of the rising demand for high-quality rice. Myanmar has previously capitalized on exporting to low-quality markets and thus has a history of outputting low-quality products. Going forward, sustainable agriculture in Myanmar will only continue to improve if the quality of the industry’s products improves. As the industry evolves, new strains of higher-quality rice and other cereals are slowly being introduced to Burmese farms.
Many opportunities are arising to continue the development of sustainable agriculture in Myanmar. As working conditions improve and the industry grows, Myanmar’s residents are looking at an improvement of the country’s overall economic wellness.
– Anna Sheps
Photo: Flickr
Infrastructure in Montenegro Benefiting from Green Technology
The Balkan nation of Montenegro has undergone rapid economic development in recent years. While Montenegro has been largely successful in the 10 years since it declared independence from Serbia, infrastructure in Montenegro continues to face problems of inefficiency. Nowhere are these problems more apparent than in the highway system and the building stock. That being said, steps are being taken to address these problems and ensure that these issues do not hinder Montenegrin progress as time goes on.
The first major issue is the fact that Montenegro’s roads and highways are not all up to the task of connecting all the areas of the rapidly developing country. Existing roads are in disrepair and often take long or inefficient routes to connect two points. Additionally, there remain certain areas of the country that are not yet serviced by major road networks. This wastes fuel and makes travel to other parts of the country virtually impossible for some Montenegrins.
The European Bank for Reconstruction and Development aims to fix these issues by providing a total of €25 million to, directly and indirectly, support an overhaul of the country’s roads and highways. These improvements will make travel safer, easier and more accessible to more of the Montenegrin population.
The second challenge that Montenegro will face going forward is its aging building stock. Montenegrin cities are often full of Soviet-era “panelak” or panel-style buildings. These were almost all built prior to 1990 and were only built to last for about 30 years, and many of the buildings were already in varying states of disrepair by the time the regime collapsed.
These buildings are also incredibly inefficient to heat. While replacing them all at once is virtually impossible, alternative ways to retrofit them, prolong their lifespans and make them more energy-efficient are taking hold. Along with traditional improvements, adding green roofs to these buildings is becoming popular.
In addition to being nice amenities, studies have shown that green roofs are able to significantly reduce the amount of heat that radiates from a building via the roof. This helps to keep most of the heat in the residences, where it should be, and reduce overall energy usage. This promises to go a long way towards promoting green infrastructure in Montenegro as well.
Some infrastructure in Montenegro has a long way to go before it catches up with the rest of the country. That being said, improvements are underway. While still less than ideal, Montenegrin infrastructure can be expected to undergo major improvements as the economy continues to develop, making it more environmentally friendly while still improving everyday life and bringing greater convenience to many Montenegrins.
– Michaela Downey
Photo: Flickr
Sustainable Agriculture in Macedonia Boosted by Training Programs
Sustainable agriculture in Macedonia has generated major interest recently. The country’s varied and often rugged terrain means that farming can be rather unpredictable, but it also means that many farmers are eager to learn about new techniques and technologies that can make their lives easier and help to improve crop yields.
There are, of course, some obstacles to promoting sustainable agriculture in Macedonia, but they are comparatively few. The main issue is that pastureland is state-owned and tends to be in poor condition. The other major obstacle is that the vast majority of farms are relatively small, and so it is often difficult for farmers to attain economies of scale that can help them compete and save them money.
That being said, the United Nations Development Programme and other actors are taking many steps to promote sustainable agriculture in Macedonia. The high degree of international involvement has created what is essentially a multi-pronged approach.
The U.N. recently organized a series of training programs for farmers from Macedonia and other Eurasian countries to introduce them to more sustainable practices, such as selecting crops that are appropriate for the environment and relying less on wasteful irrigation practices. The training also included tips on how to save money and stay competitive in the global economy, even for very small farms.
Many of those present said that not only did they appreciate the advice they were being given, but also the chance to connect with farmers from other countries and share their experiences. Notably, some of the techniques that the farmers were trained in were actually developed by fellow attendees.
The farmers were also educated about grants and subsidies available to them if they are interested in implementing more sustainable practices. The availability of financial assistance will prove key to promoting sustainable agriculture in Macedonia, as the main obstacle for many of these farmers is the high cost of switching to some of these practices.
In addition to international actors, there are also many NGOs working to promote sustainable agriculture in Macedonia. Sustainable Agriculture for Sustainable Balkans is one such organization. Working together with the EU, it focuses primarily on collecting and distributing information that can help farmers make informed decisions about which techniques they might like to implement on their own farms.
CeProSARD is another key player promoting sustainable agriculture in Macedonia. Its mission is rural development, and in a country like Macedonia, that goes hand in hand with agriculture. In addition to funding research on best practices, CeProSARD also networks with farmers and other key stakeholders and advocates for meaningful change.
Macedonia is a good example of a country where external support can really help to promote change. The case of Macedonia demonstrates that key stakeholders are more often than not aware of an issue and want to rectify it, but may need guidance or support in order to do so. Supporting these actors is an easy way for the international community to bring about major improvements quickly and easily.
– Michaela Downey
Photo: Flickr
Power Up Gambia Brings Light to Healthcare in the Gambia
Healthcare remains an issue that requires constant attention around the globe. Many work to stop the spread of disease, provide vaccinations and treatments, monitor women’s health and accomplish many more vital tasks. One organization, however, uses a different approach to improving healthcare — Power Up Gambia works to provide solar power to improve healthcare facilities within the Gambia.
Healthcare in the Dark
The Gambia is one of the smallest and poorest countries in Africa. Healthcare is delivered by only five hospitals, and most citizens receive their healthcare from rural health clinics throughout the country. Power Up Gambia was founded when Kathryn Hall, a medical student, visited the Gambia in 2002.
Power Up Gambia board member, Dee Bertino, spoke to The Borgen Project, and described Hall’s reaction to this trip as being “overcome at how the hospitals and medical clinics struggled to meet their patient’s most basic needs without reliable electricity.”
She went on to describe some of what she witnessed during this trip including, “Caesareans and other surgeries were often performed by candlelight, premature infants died without access to an incubator, life-saving vaccines were destroyed without adequate refrigeration.” When Hall returned to the United States, she began fundraising to provide electricity to these Gambian healthcare facilities.
Solar-Powered Solution
Power Up Gambia took on the problem of healthcare in the Gambia and decided on the clean and efficient solution of solar power. The organization has been able to provide electricity to hospitals and serve a total of over 1.6 million patients. These actions not only provide light but also life-saving water, heat and refrigeration for medication.
So far, Power Up Gambia has brought electricity to 23 hospitals and clinics. The Gambia has over 60 health clinics in rural communities that bring healthcare to farmers, but most still do not have access to electricity. They have partnered with We Care Solar and, as of 2017, were able to bring portable solar power kits to every one of these locations. This assistance has been crucial during nighttime health emergencies. and the organization also keeps spare parts for these kits on hand and trains Gambian technicians to be able to complete any potential repairs.
These technicians are trained at the Gambia Technical Training Institute where Power Up Gambia has implemented a curriculum on solar energy and solar technology to ensure the sustainability of health centers.
Future for Gambian Healthcare
Power Up Gambia has been able to do significant work in The Gambia, but its work is far from finished. The organization is currently working to upgrade its systems to meet increasing needs as well as installing a new “green” battery that will provide more power with less of an environmental impact. Bertino says, “At Power Up Gambia, we believe that healthcare should not just be limited to the wealthy.” With continued support, Power Up Gambia will continue to improve the Gambian healthcare system and provide a healthier future for all citizens.
– Megan Burtis
Photo: Pixabay
Addressing the Success of Humanitarian Aid to Equatorial Guinea
However, this massive wealth is distributed unevenly, and while it may be one of the region’s most powerful oil producers, very few benefit from the oil riches. Its authoritarian government has a streak of terrible human rights abuses, such as human trafficking. Furthermore, because less than half of the population has access to clean drinking water, it often appears as if no significant changes are coming about from humanitarian aid to Equatorial Guinea.
However, this does not mean that there are no groups undertaking vast projects with hopes of improving the country. For example, in 2016 the African Development Bank Group approved a grant of $3.04 million to strengthen the economic connections of Central African countries. This project allowed the creation of a bridge over the Ntem river which will link Cameroon and Equatorial Guinea. By reducing transport costs and times, it positively improves the economic ability and is a successful example of humanitarian aid to Equatorial Guinea.
Economic projects are a significant form of success in humanitarian aid to Equatorial Guinea. For example, in 2009 the African Development Bank Group signed a loan and grant agreement in the country worth up to $70 million. $40 million was used to finance a program to train young workers in middle and senior management in different regions.
With another $15 million, Equatorial Guinea supported the development of healthcare, which particularly benefited pregnant women and children under five years of age. By increasing productivity in all sectors, Equatorial Guinea hopes to improve economic growth which will hopefully improve human development and stability.
In 2006, another program, the Social Needs Fund, focused on addressing infrastructure for the poor. While resources may exist to alleviate poverty, there were few mechanisms to implement these resources. Funded by USAID, it assisted the government to improve social planning and investments, specifically for programs in the Ministry of Health, Education and Women’s Affairs. By focusing on different ministries, USAID was able to examine expenditures and monitor budgets to create more effective programs in each sector.
With continued efforts and foreign support, Equatorial Guinea continues to improve gradually. Development projects have helped push economic growth and have created a more stable and equal society in which the poor can navigate with greater ability.
– Nick McGuire
Photo: Flickr