,

How Breastfeeding Helps Alleviate Poverty

Breastfeeding
The first week of August was World Breastfeeding Week, a week that, among other things, aims to inform the public something often overlooked: increasing the number of moms who breastfeed could significantly help decrease infant mortality and boost survival in extreme poverty. A healthy and low-cost practice, breastfeeding helps alleviate poverty.

Essential Health Benefits and Survival Booster

Breast milk has all the nutrition that a baby needs in its first six months of life and is a natural way of warding off diseases. Studies show that breastfeeding could decrease the risk of diabetes, allergies and other health hazards that may come in the baby’s later life. It is recommended that mothers feed their babies with breast milk exclusively for six months, and then breastfeed up to two years while introducing nutritional solid food.

Breastfeeding is not only beneficial but also necessary. A baby’s survival rate is boosted if it takes in breast milk within the first hour after birth. Failure to give a baby breast milk within a short period of time after birth could increase the possibility of infant death by as much as 80 percent.

The effects of breastfeeding on a global scale are striking. If all mothers across the world exclusively breastfeed their babies for six months and then feed their babies with breast milk along with other solid food for another year, 13 percent of global child deaths under five could be averted. Other recommended methods to increase child survival, such as hygienic delivery, Hib vaccine and tetanus toxoid, could each avert only up to 5 percent of child deaths under five.

“Breastfeeding is the best gift a mother, rich or poor, can give her child, as well as herself,” UNICEF’s Deputy Executive Director Shahida Azfar said on Mother’s Day.

Why Breastfeeding Helps Alleviate Poverty?

Breastfeeding is important everywhere in the world, and an essential way to help mothers in poverty or wealth. But poor regions with unclean water and insufficient hygiene should especially embrace breastfeeding because in these places this issue has a higher stake: artificial milk or infant formulas could become poisonous if contaminated, resulting in illnesses, or even death. Breast milk also provides sufficient water for babies in their first six months.

Breastfeeding is low-cost yet easily meets the nutritional needs of young babies. In other words, breastfeeding promises food security for babies and takes off some of the households’ financial burdens.

In a joint message released during the 2016 Breastfeeding Week, UNICEF and WHO stated: “breastfeeding is not only the cornerstone of a child’s healthy development; it is also the foundation of a country’s development. In fact, supporting breastfeeding is one of the smartest investments countries can make in the well-being of their citizens–and thus, in their own long-term strength.”

Why Aren’t More Mothers Breastfeeding?

It might be counter-intuitive that many mothers do not breastfeed their babies even though breastfeeding is ultimately the most cost-efficient practice. But breastfeeding may not be as easy as it appears: female workers often cannot afford sustained breastfeeding because their working environment or work routine do not provide them with the time and space for the practice.

UNICEF calls for support of national legislation and policies that provide women with paid maternity leave, breastfeeding breaks and other deserved benefits after birth.

UNICEF and WHO also launched the Baby-Friendly Hospital Initiative (BFHI) in 1991. This initiative essentially does not allow feeding bottles and cheap breast milk substitutes. The initiative proved highly successful. Cuba, for example, saw a three-fold increase in exclusive breastfeeding for four months in the stretch of only six years after making 49 of 56 hospitals or maternity facilities baby-friendly.

Countries also need more informed, supportive health-workers who encourage and assist with breastfeeding. Advocacy for breastfeeding like the World Breastfeeding Week also helps raise awareness.

“Now, as governments around the world develop budgets and action plans to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals, breastfeeding must be a policy, programming, and public spending priority,” WHO and UNICEF stated in 2016.

– Feng Ye
Photo: Flickr

Top 10 Facts about Hunger in Haiti

Top 10 Facts about Hunger in Haiti
After the 2010 earthquake in Haiti, countries around the world, including the U.S., sent a great deal of assistance to the devastated country. The U.S. has given about $13 billion to Haiti in foreign aid. Despite these efforts, the people of Haiti still face elevated poverty and hunger levels.

In October 2016, Haiti faced one of its worst hurricanes to date. Hurricane Matthew was a category four storm that caused severe damage and killed approximately 600 people. Many organizations continue to help repair the damage Matthew and earlier storms brought to Haiti. To understand the severity of the crisis, look below for the top 10 facts about hunger in Haiti:

Top 10 Facts About Hunger in Haiti

  1. In April 2017, Haiti had the lowest food availability in the world. The Dominican Republic was the second lowest with Chad following in third. In the U.S., food availability is measured to be about 3,750 calories per person each day. In Haiti, there are about 1,976 calories per person available each day. This does not mean that each person has the opportunity to consume these many calories. Some Haitians consume far above this number while many consume far below it.
  2. Roughly 50 percent of Haiti’s population is undernourished. Even before the 2010 earthquake, 40 percent of households were undernourished. The already high number has risen as a consequence of repeated natural disasters in the country, like Hurricane Matthew.
  3. One-in-five Haitian children are malnourished. One-in-10 Haitian children are acutely malnourished. One-in-14 will die before age five.
  4. Haiti is the poorest country in the Northern hemisphere. Two out of three Haitians live on less than $2 per day. In comparison, the average American spends around $140 per day.
  5. Haiti’s main staple food is rice, importing 80 percent of it, despite the fact that 50 percent of the jobs in the country are related to agriculture and 25 percent of the country’s GDP comes from agriculture.
  6. Only 10 percent of Haitian agricultural lands are irrigated, which leaves the country extremely dependent on rain. This makes the country especially vulnerable as droughts can have an amplified impact on the population’s health and well-being.
  7. Haiti is the third most affected country by extreme weather. The weather has a severe impact on food resources available to Haitians because it can destroy crops and land. Haiti’s hunger and poverty levels are repeatedly exacerbated by cases of drought and hurricanes. Though these events are extremely tragic, the relief efforts that have followed such disasters have allowed other countries to see exactly how bad the hunger and poverty crises are. This has sparked an increased effort to provide aid and growth initiatives to Haiti.
  8. Fifty-nine percent of Haitian people live in poverty and almost 25 percent live in extreme poverty. The poverty rate in the U.S. fluctuates between 10 and 15 percent.
  9. Fewer than 50 percent of households in Haiti have access to clean water. Only 25 percent of households in Haiti have access to adequate sanitation. A lack of access to clean water and adequate sanitation make the population more prone to diseases.
  10. A third of all women and children in Haiti suffer from anemia. Anemia is a condition that arises when a person does not have enough red blood cells. The disease often results when one faces deficiencies of particular nutrients – especially iron. It is particularly common in women because they lose blood at high rates through menstrual cycles. Anemia can cause severe organ damage if left untreated.

These top 10 facts about hunger in Haiti highlight the dire conditions in the country. Though the hunger crisis persists, there are organizations working tirelessly to help the country and its people. An example of this is an organization called Action Against Hunger. This organization seeks to provide families in Haiti with agricultural training. This gives them not just short-term food relief, but also a long-term source of food and economic growth.

Natural disasters are inevitable and one cannot be sure when Haiti will face another great set back. However, if more is done to amplify the country’s growth now, Haiti will be better prepared to face such disasters and avoid some of its devastating consequences.

– Julia Bloechl

Photo: Flickr

Top 10 Facts About Poverty in Cambodia

Top 10 Facts About Poverty in Cambodia
Cambodia has made phenomenal progress against poverty in the past few decades. The country surpassed the Millennium Development Goals and expanded their road system, irrigation and agriculture market. The following are the top 10 facts about poverty in Cambodia.

Top 10 Facts About Poverty in Cambodia

  1. Around 32 percent of children under 5 in Cambodia are stunted. Despite economic growth, Cambodia still struggles with healthcare and education. Decreasing nutritional deficiency in children is essential to mitigating child stunting.
  2. 12.3 million people, or around 70 percent of the population in Cambodia, do not have access to a piped water supply. Access to clean drinking water is crucial to alleviate disease in impoverished communities. Limiting the spread of disease is an important aspect of decreasing poverty in Cambodia.
  3. As of 2015, the life expectancy rate in Cambodia was reported at 68.4 years. This rate is significantly influenced by poverty. Lack of sanitation, education and healthcare are all symptoms of poverty that contribute to limited life expectancy.
  4. Approximately 90 percent of Cambodia’s impoverished population lives in rural areas. Much of them depend upon agriculture for their means of survival. This is good while crop prices are doing well, but these communities are also vulnerable to changes in weather and fluctuating crop yields.
  5. Two-thirds of the households in Cambodia experience seasonal food shortages every year. This is one example of a consequence of living in a rural area that depends on living off the land. Food supply can change with the seasons, leaving it as an unreliable source of sustenance.
  6. A history of political instability contributes to poverty in Cambodia. In the 1970’s, a Marxist leader named Pol Pot began the Khmer Rouge regime that ultimately led to the death of 2 million people in Cambodia. Pol Pot wanted Cambodia to be an agrarian country that did not depend on anything modern. As a result, Cambodia was surpassed by other countries in medical and technological advancements.
  7. There is limited access to quality healthcare, especially in rural areas. Cambodia is a mountainous region, and people living in rural communities are often isolated and have to travel a long way to get to a clinic. While the geography cannot be changed, expanding and opening more clinics would help to reach more people. Also, eliminating fees for services and supplies would help those who are not fortunate enough to afford them on their own, especially considering that healthcare in Cambodia is supposed to be free.
  8. The poverty rate has decreased from 47.8 percent in 2007 to 13.5 percent in 2014. This massive decrease was largely driven by growth in Cambodia’s rice market. Rising prices for rice and a better transportation system for the product has created a more prosperous economy for rural dwellers.
  9. Habitat for Humanity is working to rebuild slums in urban Cambodia. HFH is focusing on building durable homes with access to water and sanitation to replace the fragile shacks in which many impoverished Cambodians are living. They are also training families in HIV/AIDS prevention and financial literacy.
  10. The maternal mortality rate has decreased considerably in recent decades. In 2005, the ratio per 1,000 births was 472. In 2014, it had decreased to 170. Additionally, the under-five mortality rate declined from 83 per 1,000 in 2005 to 35 in 2014.

Cambodia has made great strides since the start of the century in working to alleviate poverty and recover from the Khmer Rouge regime. Some of these top 10 facts about poverty in Cambodia still paint a more negative picture, but others provide hope for the future. If the good fortune that has befallen the agriculture industry continues and more awareness can be raised on the conditions that need improvement in Cambodia, one can expect to continue to see growth in the coming years.

– Amelia Merchant

Photo: Flickr

Top 10 Facts About Living Conditions in Ethiopia

A Look at the Top 10 Facts about Living Conditions in Ethiopia

Ethiopia, located in the Horn of Africa, is home to the second largest population in Africa. Ethiopia’s economy grows by 10 percent each year, one of the highest growth rates in its region. Despite this remarkable number, it remains one of the poorest nations in the world. These top 10 facts about living conditions in Ethiopia are characterized by the economic, social and political reality of a developing nation.

Top 10 Facts About Living Conditions in Ethiopia

  1. As one of the fastest growing economies and one of the poorest countries in the world, Ethiopia’s population may not see its growth reflected in current living conditions for years. For the last seven years, the country boasted a two-digit economic growth while a third of the population lived below the poverty line. Moreover, its GDP reached close to 10.9 percent in 2017. This has been attributed to a number of elements that are shifting the living conditions such as the expansion of agriculture, construction and services, as well as modest manufacturing growth.
  2. Ethiopia lacks access to clean water and sanitation, which lower living conditions. While the number of citizens with access to clean water has doubled in the last 20 years, 61 million people still do not have access to water and 65 million live without a proper sanitation system. This creates an adverse living condition as droughts result in famine,  food shortages and water-borne diseases that force people to rely heavily on contaminated or stagnant water sources.
  3. One of the biggest issues affecting the living condition, especially in Ethiopia’s capital, is the housing crisis which has forced 80 percent of the population in Addis Ababa to live in slums. In addition, it has subjected over 12,000 children to live on the streets. One of the biggest attributes is an increase in the rural exodus which has resulted in an urbanization rate of 8 percent per annum.
  4. According to WHO reports, the health status of Ethiopia is poor with an abundance of potentially preventable diseases such as HIV, malaria, tuberculosis, intestinal parasites, acute respiratory infections and diarrhoeal diseases. This issue, in addition to the health system being underdeveloped, is a result of the aforementioned issues including a lack of access to clean water and sanitation, poverty, migration, and droughts. These conditions make the population vulnerable to contracting an otherwise preventable disease. 
  5. The most prominent means of transportation in Ethiopia and the biggest part of the sector is road transport. Ninety percent of freight transportation, both in the import and export sectors, and 95 percent of the public transportation services are carried out by the road transport branch. While a majority of the urban population covers only short to medium range distances on foot, in rural areas people for the most part travel on foot except for the few instances that they use draught animals.
  6. High unemployment rates, especially for youth, hinder Ethiopia from growing even more. Despite the public sector’s efforts to reduce unemployment and create jobs, there is a need for the private sector’s contribution, since it is considered a longterm source of most jobs. The private sector can create new jobs in new areas such as IT, which can be a sustainable solution for the nation’s unemployment challenges.
  7. According to the IMF’s analysis of Ethiopia’s financial sector, the nation has a long way to go in filling the gap between financial support available and the pressing need for small business investments. This is particularly true in the rural areas where it has not given heed to the nation’s state-run economy, where little direct foreign investment has been placed. The Director of the Association of Ethiopian Microfinance Institutions, Wolday Amha, says that loans needed by micro-enterprises are sourced from people with low income who are the beneficiaries. The director notes the danger of an economic and political crisis if this enterprise gets hijacked by the private sector.
  8. Fifteen years ago, only 25 percent of boys and 20 percent of girls went to school, and Ethiopia now covers 90 percent of students. The main causes for this change include building more schools in rural areas, training more teachers and giving room for local communities to have a say on how their children get educated. Furthermore, the Ethiopian government has put a focus on primary education that has the advantage of increasing the number of students going to school.
  9. Similar to the approach nations take in its region, Ethiopia has reported issues with freedom of expression in a keen effort to curate a perception around its developmental achievement and not its drawbacks. Despite pressure from aid organizations, the government showed a prolonged hesitance to tell the international community that there was a serious drought issue three years ago.
  10. The state security system that was created and maintained for 25 years by the ruling party TPLF/EPRDF has contributed to the undisputed authority of the party as well as advancing state-led developmental efforts. Over the years, both peaceful and forceful attempts to challenge the ruling party have been successfully suppressed. The result of this system has been the difficulty to discern the government from the party which has morphed security organizations into executive agencies for the ruling party. 

The Road to Improved Living Conditions 

The government of Ethiopia has put in place its Growth and Transformation Plan, which has put forward a goal for development and economic projects that aim to make Ethiopia a middle-income country by 2025. 

This is an ambitious vision that sets out to radically change huge sectors such as health, education and finance, which is also where the nation faces its biggest challenges.

– Bilen Kassie 

 

Photo: Flickr

 

Top 10 Facts About Living Conditions in Ecuador

Top 10 Facts about Living Conditions in Ecuador
Ecuador has long welcomed backpackers and tourists from around the world who wish to indulge in its rich culture and diverse nature. For this reason, one will encounter many resources for westerners considering resettling in the country.

The following 10 facts about living conditions in Ecuador focus on its natives rather than on expats who often settle in Ecuador carrying wealth and resources with them.

Top 10 Facts About Living Conditions in Ecuador

  1. In 2015, the life expectancy of an Ecuadorian was 76 years. This number is higher than in previous years but still lower than most countries like the U.K. where life expectancy was 81 years in 2015.
  2. In 2016, 22.9 percent of the Ecuadorian population lived below the national poverty line. This is lower than the 64.4 percent living below the poverty line in 2000. However, it is slightly higher than its 2014 rate of 22.5 percent. Thus, this statistic should be monitored in coming years to ensure that the rate does not increase or stabilize.
  3. In 2017, the average monthly wage was $437.44. This number is a slight increase from 2016 when the average monthly wage was $426.92. However, it is still significantly lower than the average monthly wage of $4,893 in the U.S.
  4. In 2018, the unemployment rate was 5.2 percent. A year prior, the unemployment rate in Ecuador was 5.4 percent. This suggests that the country is making slow progress.
  5. The 2018 labor force participation rate was 63.2 percent. This is lower than the 2017 labor force participation rate of 66 percent. There are many possibilities for this trend, including changes in social security systems and increased labor costs.
  6. Seventy-seven percent of indigenous children in Ecuador live in poor homes with daily incomes of just $2 or less. Seven percent of Ecuadorians are indigenous, which means that this 77 percent of indigenous children comprise a significant part of the total population.
  7. In 2016, the literacy rate in Ecuador was 94.4 percent. The literacy rate among women was 93.3 percent and 95.4 percent among men. This is much better than Tanzania where the literacy rate among adults is 77.89 percent. However, it is lower than in Spain where the literacy rate is 98.25 percent.
  8. In 2014, the infant mortality rate in Ecuador was 8.4 deaths per every 1,000 live births. This is down from 15.4 deaths per 1,000 live births in 2000. However, this number is higher than that of the U.S., which faced just 5.82 deaths for every 1,000 live births in 2014.
  9. In 2017, there was an average of 2.19 children born to every woman in Ecuador. This placed Ecuador in 99th place out of 224 countries in terms of births per woman. Niger was in first with 6.49 births per woman, while Singapore came in last with just 0.83 births per woman.
  10. In 2013, the Ecuadorian government passed communication laws that limit free speech. These laws require the verification of all information that the media wishes to disseminate. This allows the government to protect certain ideas or pieces of information and prevents freedom of expression and participation in national or international affairs.

These top 10 facts about living conditions in Ecuador evoke hope for the country’s potential for progress and a sense of urgent need for change. Among developing countries, Ecuador is doing relatively well. It is experiencing steady growth and its poverty rate has dramatically declined. However, it has a lot of growing to do before it reaches its full potential and becomes sufficiently developed.

– Julia Bloechl

Photo: Flickr

Top 10 Facts About Hunger in Sri Lanka

Sri Lanka
Compared to other states in its region, Sri Lanka is doing well economically as a middle-income country. It is lagging, however, in certain aspects that include hunger and chronic malnutrition. The following are the top 10 facts about hunger in Sri Lanka.

Top 10 Facts About Hunger in Sri Lanka

  1. Despite reducing maternal mortality rates and cutting poverty in half, Sri Lanka is still struggling with food insecurity. Undernutrition of its population remains a prevalent issue in Sri Lanka. While the country has been making big strides, food insecurity has the ability to get in the way of socio-economic development.
  2. Sri Lanka’s levels of chronic malnutrition, or stunting, is the lowest in the region at 13 percent. Compared to its peers (India has an alarming rate of 38 percent), this rate is not high. Stunting prevents proper brain and body development in children, leading to a less prosperous and healthy population.
  3. However, Sri Lanka has one of the highest rates of acute malnutrition and micronutrient deficiencies in the world. Just behind Djibouti and South Sudan, Sri Lanka ranks third with rates between 14 and 35 percent throughout the country’s districts, which is particularly concerning for the health of Sri Lanka’s population.
  4. Sri Lanka has a 19.6 percent prevalence of wasting. Wasting refers to a low body weight compared to height ratio, illustrating the considerable effect of undernutrition.
  5. Sri Lanka’s island status makes it vulnerable to unpredictable weather patterns. Since 2016, Sri Lanka has been suffering from a severe drought that is still affecting 1.2 million people across the country. This significantly contributes to food insecurity because it wipes out large amounts of crops and agricultural food sources.
  6. The government of Sri Lanka estimates that 480,000 food insecure people will need humanitarian aid because of the effects of the 2016 drought. This aid is necessary to prevent the hunger problem from getting worse.
  7. As of 2017, the Sri Lankan government announced its plan to prioritize ending hunger and malnutrition. Working with the World Food Programme, the government is focusing on achieving Sustainable Development Goal 2. This goal includes improving food security, ending hunger and advancing sustainable agriculture by 2030.
  8. Rice production has dropped severely since the drought hit Sri Lanka. A rice harvest in 2017 yielded 63 percent below normal. The population depends greatly on rice for sustenance and survival, and it is the main item affected by the drought.
  9. Among developing countries, Sri Lanka ranked 87th on the Global Hunger Index. This list was calculated by taking into account rates of stunting and wasting in children under 5, amount of population undernourished, and infant mortality rates. From “Low” to “Extremely Alarming,” this gave the country a status of “Serious” in 2016.
  10. The government of Sri Lanka and the World Food Programme have been working together for 50 years. The WFP focuses on supporting the population to gain access to a more steady supply of food. They address not only emergency situations like the 2016 drought but also long-term solutions to hunger.

Although Sri Lanka is improving in many ways, the country has a long way to come in regards to food insecurity. These top 10 facts about hunger in Sri Lanka provide clear insight into the humanitarian efforts that need to be made to mitigate this issue.

– Amelia Merchant
Photo: Flickr

Hidden Crisis: 10 Facts About Hunger in Australia

Top 10 Facts About Hunger in Australia
Australia, by definition, is a developed nation. Despite it’s commonly perceived status as a “first world nation,” though, Australia faces a sizeable food crisis that has only gained momentum over the past decade. Here are the top 10 facts about hunger in Australia.

Top 10 Facts About Hunger in Australia

  1. High Costs of Living are Causing Food Insecurity: Over the past year, Australia’s economy has grown an impressive 3.1 percent. This bodes well for livelihoods within the nation but also comes with an assortment of costs. Chief among these is the rising cost of living within the nation. Rising costs of living, directly and indirectly, impact livelihoods in a variety of ways, but most importantly, they can drive people into a state of food insecurity. Food insecurity means that they cannot adequately feed themselves or their family.
  2. Child Hunger is a Key Component of the Crisis: As previously stated, food insecurity is a direct symptom of rising costs of living in Australia. Many of those experiencing food insecurity in Australia are children. A report published earlier this year by Foodbank Australia, entitled “Rumbling Tummies,” found that more than 1 in 5 Australian children were subjected to food insecurity over the past year, meaning they regularly missed meals due to financial reasons.
  3. Australia’s Hunger Crisis is a “Hidden” Crisis: Due to Australia’s global high-income status, people are often shocked to hear that many of its citizens, as many as 1 in 6, go hungry every day. This dichotomy creates a “hidden” crisis, as images of Australia as an established first world nation mask the millions of common Australian households facing food insecurity.
  4. More and More Families are Being Impacted: According to a report by the Foodbank Organization, there was a 10 percent increase in food-insecure families throughout Australia. These findings suggest that this crisis is only now mounting, and will require further attention down the road to be adequately addressed.
  5. A Broad Range of Australians Faces Food Insecurity: Food insecurity impacts a wide strata of different Australians groups. As many as 50 percent of food-insecure Australians are employed, which points to the deep impact that rising living costs have brought about in Australia. Food insecurity affects young, old, rural and metropolitan Australians; it’s not a crisis that falls on one group.
  6. Food Insecurity Promotes Feelings of Depression and Negativity: Food insecurity is a challenge that frequently gives rise to emotional complications, according to a group of surveyed Australians. Depression, the most commonly reported feeling associated with food insecurity, was accompanied by smaller rates of stress, embarrassment, shame, and sadness. Cleary, Australia’s food crisis is more nuanced than a simple lack of resources. This crisis is multi-faceted, and, in turn, its response should go beyond just providing at-risk communities access to food banks and food stamps. The emotional ramifications of the crisis should be considered as well.
  7. Poverty, and In Turn Food Insecurity, is a Hard Trend to Buck: According to a report published by the University of Melbourne, the idea that poverty is short-lived for most Australians is a dominant narrative within the nation. This idea is misguided though, as less than 15 percent of Australians below the poverty line escape poverty on a yearly basis. This suggests that poverty in Australia is a pervasive condition and that treating its root causes cannot be swept under the rug if rates of food insecurity are to be reduced in the nation.
  8. More Australians Than You Think Live Below the Poverty Line: While the Australian poverty line is an occasionally unreliable metric, it can be used to make general inferences about the number of Australian citizens that are struggling to make ends meet, and, in turn, put food on the table. The population of Australia is roughly 24 million people, and about three million of these people — after having their housing costs taken into account — are estimated to live below the poverty line. While this number may appear high, it is important to consider that its estimation relied on the inclusion of living costs, which are only continuing to rise in Australia.
  9. A Changing Climate Could Impact Australia’s Hunger Crisis: In 2008, a drought-plagued Murray-Darlin Basin — a watershed in Australia — and led to a seasonal food crisis in the surrounding area. This points to the threat of climate change to the maintenance of food-access stability in Australia.
  10. Cultural Barriers Can Lead to Food Insecurity: Recent immigrants and those not originally from Australia face higher rates of food insecurity due to a lack of cultural knowledge on local food customs. These groups are more susceptible to food insecurity for a variety of other reasons as well, and, like indigenous groups in Australia, typically face higher rates of food insecurity.

Complex and Multifaceted

Hunger in Australia operates at multiple levels and impacts groups differently across a vast range of the socio-political spectrum. Due to this pervasiveness and complexity, the treatment of the hunger crisis in this developed nation will require a broad, multilateral approach.

– Ian Greenwood
Photo: Flickr

Understanding SMEs and Credit Access in Tanzania

Credit Access in Tanzania
Tanzania is a highly populous East African country with a rapidly growing economy. The country’s average GDP growth of an estimated six percent has indicated significant economic growth and opportunity in the past decade, but credit access in Tanzania remains a challenge for many of the nation’s 56 million people.

Credit Access in Tanzania

In fact, Tanzania scored 13th out of 15 countries in Sub Saharan Africa for credit accessibility. Credit access in Tanzania is vital for the financial success of the country, which has both an annually growing population in the workforce and a high rate of poverty.

As an emerging market, many enterprises in Tanzania have struggled with restricted credit access, and 70 percent of all Tanzanian Small and Medium Enterprises, or SMEs, have no formal credit access at all. In fact, only 15 percent of the population has formal access to credit through banks. This lack of credit does not mean that Tanzanians are not borrowing money, as over half of those in the labor market have taken loans at some point.

Small and Medium Enterprises Loans

Rather than access credit formally, however, approximately 63 percent of Tanzanians use friends and family to access loans. Conversely, formal bank loans only accounted for three percent of all bank deposits in Tanzania.

Credit access in Tanzania is particularly important for Small and Medium Enterprises. According to a 2017 study conducted by the University of Dodoma in the Tanzanian capital, banks and microfinance corporations have enough liquidity to offer Small and Medium Enterprises loans.

Owners of SMEs, however, perceive these formal loans to be high risk due to the high-interest rates, strict loan conditions and numerous collaterals placed on these loans. This study determined that the Tanzanian government should intervene in the nation’s market “to regulate the conditions and requirements for loans” financing SMEs. This could be done by establishing credit bureaus in large cities to increase credit access in Tanzania for SMEs.

Tanzania’s New Credit Plan

Due to the difficulty for many Tanzanians to formally obtain a loan, as well as the mistrust of the population in formal bank loans, the federal government has proposed a new solution for credit access in Tanzania. As of April 2018, the Tanzanian government has enacted a new credit plan to improve private lending and reduce the frequency of bad loans.

This regulation of interest rates in banks, however, is not intended to be a direct rate cap, and should not hinder banking sector growth. This plan had been presented before in 2011, but was rejected by the government for fears of restricting the free market. While this move may be beneficial for SMEs in Tanzania, some banks with capital ratio issues may be hurt by the policy, further negatively affecting the economy.

High-Interest, Low Loans

Limited credit access in Tanzania, much like other developing countries, constricts the country’s economy and scope of financial operations. While Tanzanians often seek loans from sources other than banks, SMEs and other aspects of the country’s private sector have suffered the negative consequences of high-interest rates and low loan offers from banks.

Although capital ratio issue in some banks complicates the possible credit solution, the government of Tanzania seeks to resolve these problems through its new credit plan in order to continue to augment the nation’s economic growth.

– Matthew Cline

Photo: Flickr

10 YSEALI Grants Impacting Youth in Southeast Asia

Top 10 YSEALI Grants Impacting Youth in Southeast Asia
Established in 1967, the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) aims to accelerate progress and peace in the region and increase international cooperation.

What is YSEALI?

As part of the U.S. Mission to ASEAN, the U.S. established the Young Southeast Asian Leaders Initiative (YSEALI) in 2013 to help strengthen leadership development in Southeast Asia by targeting 18 to 35-year-olds. According to the initiative, “Approximately 65 percent of people in the ASEAN region are under the age of 35.”

YSEALI runs a Seeds for the Future program that provides small grants to youth in Southeast Asia through annual competitions. The program awards funding to projects within four issue areas: sustainable development, economic growth, civic engagement and education. These grants create better futures for youth in Southeast Asia.

Top 10 2018 YSEALI Grants

  1. Back2Communities is a convention in Brunei that facilitates discussions about the issues people with disabilities face in day-to-day life. The organization emphasizes teamwork and hosts brainstorming sessions at its conventions. YSEALI’s grant helps fund Back2Communities’ conventions and search for practical solutions.
  2. FIBERS hosts workshops to educate young fashion entrepreneurs and help them prosper in the fashion industry. This year, FIBERS is targeting Malaysia, Thailand and the Philippines and pushing initiatives in sustainable unisex clothing and empowering underprivileged youth in Southeast Asia. The organization is also creating an online marketplace where young designers can sell their products.
  3. Kid+ is based in Hanoi, Vietnam and works with kids with disabilities and kids from low-income families. According to the organization, disadvantaged children are four times more likely to be victims of emotional, physical and sexual abuse. Kid+ already has programs in three schools reaching over 400 students and teaching them about child rights, gender education and child sexual abuse prevention. YSEALI funds will help Kid+ expand to more schools in Hanoi.
  4. The Lao Film Academy (LFA) trains young filmmakers ages 18 to 22 to make films related to environmental protection. Young students receive direct contact with established filmmakers and gain important insights into the industry. LFA also does important work raising awareness for environmental issues and educating audiences about environmental protection.
  5. PREDIKT, which stands for Preparedness for Disaster Toolkit, works in the natural disaster-prone ASEAN region distributing toolkits that educate families about natural disasters. The toolkits also help families design disaster plans and include disaster supplies such as emergency torches, whistles and first-aid kits. PREDIKT has already distributed over 600 toolkits and YSEALI funds are helping the organization translate materials into more languages for wider distribution.
  6. The School of Coastal Environment (Schoove) is a fishery and marine incubator that educates students from coastal villages in coastal management, fishery-based social entrepreneurship and coastal housewife empowerment. Schoove has already reached more than 100 young leaders and women in Indonesia. The program gets young leaders more involved in the environment and coastal development.
  7. SHero was founded by a domestic violence survivor to encourage other survivors to share their stories. The founder is also a lawyer and SHero also encourages young lawyers to work with victims. Originally just in Thailand, SHero has expanded to Vietnam and the Philippines with YSEALI’s grant. SHero also plans to expand its platform to include sexual assault and other gender-based violence.
  8. Teach for ASEAN (T4A) was founded by three young leaders in Myanmar, and now T4A works in the entire Southeast Asian region. The project educates and empowers youth in Southeast Asia through training programs and community events. Many young people in the region lack job preparedness which leads to a large number of unemployed youth. Large rates of unemployment strain communities and increase poverty rates. An amazing 70 percent of T4A’s Workplace Skills Program’s first class is now employed or in vocational training.
  9. Tonkar Learning is an online learning program for Lao students that provides an opportunity for them to learn outside of the classroom. The program offers courses in math, physics and chemistry as well as test prep for Lao university entrance exams. YSEALI’s grant has been instrumental in the program’s development and also helps sponsor educational events for students.
  10. Viet Children’s Picture (VCP) works in public school districts outside of Ho Chi Minh City. These school districts only spend 45 minutes per week on art but VCP has established after-school classes in drawing, photography, crafting and dancing. Thanks to YSEALI funds, VCP has already reached over 450 students.

YSEALI’s Other Projects and Impacts

Outside of its Seeds for the Future program, YSEALI also sponsors professional and academic fellowships to the U.S. and hosts regional workshops for youth in Southeast Asia. Even after young leaders move on from YSEALI, many of them continue to make positive changes in their communities.

YSEALI has also inspired other young leaders in Brunei to establish Youth Against Slavery (YASBrunei) — Brunei’s first civil society to focus on people trafficking. Both through its small grants and its example, YSEALI is making huge impacts on youth in Southeast Asia.

– Kathryn Quelle

Photo: Flickr

History of Ebola in Mali

History of Ebola in Mali
History of Ebola in Mali began in October 2014 when Aminata Gueye Tamboura tried to protect her (non-biological) granddaughters from the Ebola outbreak in Guinea. They traveled back to her home in Mali by taxis, buses and public transportation, while one of the girls, Fanta Condé, had symptoms of fever and nosebleeds. The two-year-old was brought to the Fousseyni Daou Hospital and was diagnosed with Ebola on October 23. One day later, she passed away.

The Spread of Ebola in Mali

Condé’s diagnosis was especially alarming because of the amount of people she could have made contact with throughout their journey to Mali. Once notified, WHO tracked down and quarantined 108 people who may have been exposed to Condé. Notably, no one in that group showed symptoms throughout the 21-day quarantine and were released in November.

On October 27, a few days following Condé’s death, another Ebola victim passed away. The imam had travelled to Mali from Guinea in search of a treatment for kidney failure he had for about one month. While doctors did not diagnose him, kidney failure is associated with late-stage Ebola. Soon after his visit to the Pasteur Clinic in Bamako, a nurse became sick and died, raising concerns about Ebola. On November 11, the nurse’s diagnosis of Ebola was confirmed. The hospital and areas that the imam and nurse had visited were quarantined, allowing health authorities to learn that a doctor at the clinic had Ebola as well.

Preventing the Spread of Ebola in Mali

In response to these outbreaks, emergency teams made from organizations such as WHO, Medecins Sans Frontieres, the United Nations and others were deployed in Mali. Certain groups already had a presence in Mali due to its shared borders with countries with Ebola outbreaks, allowing them to immediately take action. The history of Ebola in Mali was dramatically shorter than in neighboring African countries, largely because of the efforts of these organizations.

WHO, for example, was able to test blood samples in hours, hastening the process of diagnosis. They trained over 900 health workers to appropriately handle the outbreak. Preventative measures were taken as well; WHO provided hand washing facilities and temperature checks at hospital entry points.

In accordance with the tradition of diatiguiya, Mali did choose to keep its borders open. It continued to practice hospitality with its neighbors, despite the challenging circumstances at the time. Health checks were put in place, however, as preventative measures.

By January 6, 2015, the CDC had removed travel warnings in Mali, deeming it safe. On January 8, Mali was officially declared Ebola-free. The last Ebola patient tested negative on December 6, 2014, and no cases of ebola have come about since. The history of Ebola in Mali lasted a short few months because Mali effectively contained the virus wherever it appeared. In other West African countries, people were reluctant to believe in the Ebola virus and did not adhere to the recommended precautions, but Malians were more cooperative. The joint effort of citizens and aid groups ultimately lead to the successful containment of the Ebola virus in Mali.

– Massarath Fatima

Photo: Flickr