Thoughts of Afghanistan generally focus on the Taliban, harsh restrictions and a war-torn country; but in actuality, the nation has dramatically changed in the last 15 years with a huge contributor of such change being the introduction of technology in the country.
From 2001, when even phone usage was limited, to 2016 when 73 percent of the government receives its pay electronically, Afghanistan’s technology is growing in a unique way that is creating more jobs, a higher standard of living and improved relations between Afghanistan and other nations.
Technological Life under the Taliban
The Taliban is an Islamic fundamentalist group that ruled Afghanistan from 1996 to 2001. The militant organization was outed by U.S. military for providing support and shelter for Al Queda after the 2001 terrorists attacks. Life under the Taliban has been highlighted for its injustices towards women, but it expands to a set of strict restrictions for all citizens that reaches so far as to ban the internet.
The Taliban took Shaira, an Arabic word for path (or the way to live life), and fed its interpretations through this mantra. Anything that was deemed “un-Islamic” was banned, which meant no music, movies or internet for anyone since these could act as means of spreading Western “propaganda.”
Major Technological Advances in Afghanistan
Afghanistan’s technology is growing largely through its payment sector. Innovation in banking through the introduction of mobile pay has improved the systems and lives of those using it. In 2009, mobile pay was suggested for use on a trial basis; and as of 2016, 97 percent of the police force were registered in the system.
It seems strange that it’s in Afghanistan — where only 5 percent of citizens use a bank account and over 70 percent are unable or read or write — that this technological advancement would find its footing.
Mobile banking — transferring funds to a mobile account, paying with that account, and then being able to lend, pay off loans — has cut costs in the police department by 10 percent which is a measure largely associated with avoiding corruption. Since payments can be traced and tracked more accurately, it makes it more difficult for a someone (i.e. a corrupt officer) to take a cut.
Afghanistan and E-Governance
Along with using technology to create mobile pay, Afghanistan’s technology is growing through E-governance. E-governance is implemented by creating a centralised system of ‘Presidential docs.’ This allows the cut down on paperwork and has reduced processing time from weeks, to a maximum of 48 hours.
This system also allows government officials to connect with each other through video conference calls which helps in decreasing the amount of time and money spent in travel. Again, such efforts serve as an example of how corruption has decreased, transparency has increased and money evades hands that would take it illegally.
Technology Connects Afghani Citizens to the World
Afghanistan’s technology is growing and connecting the country with its neighbors and Western countries like the U.S. The innovative boom also provides more opportunities for often overlooked demographics, such as women. For instance, with the online hemisphere hitting homes, technology has come to provide women, like Roya Mahboob, opportunities to educate themselves and even open new businesses.
Even with the Taliban gone, the predominantly conservative society still possesses obstacles for growing technology, but Mahboob is an example of how the technology available is working to create jobs, educate citizens and connect the world.
Mahboob now lives in New York with businesses in Afghanistan and hopeful expansions into Mexico. She is an amazing example of the positive impacts of technology, and Afghanistan’s government is ever-increasingly recognizing the benefits of technology and is working to more extensively incorporate it into Afghani society.
– Natasha Komen
Photo: Flickr
New Developments: Afghanistan’s Technology Is Growing
Thoughts of Afghanistan generally focus on the Taliban, harsh restrictions and a war-torn country; but in actuality, the nation has dramatically changed in the last 15 years with a huge contributor of such change being the introduction of technology in the country.
From 2001, when even phone usage was limited, to 2016 when 73 percent of the government receives its pay electronically, Afghanistan’s technology is growing in a unique way that is creating more jobs, a higher standard of living and improved relations between Afghanistan and other nations.
Technological Life under the Taliban
The Taliban is an Islamic fundamentalist group that ruled Afghanistan from 1996 to 2001. The militant organization was outed by U.S. military for providing support and shelter for Al Queda after the 2001 terrorists attacks. Life under the Taliban has been highlighted for its injustices towards women, but it expands to a set of strict restrictions for all citizens that reaches so far as to ban the internet.
The Taliban took Shaira, an Arabic word for path (or the way to live life), and fed its interpretations through this mantra. Anything that was deemed “un-Islamic” was banned, which meant no music, movies or internet for anyone since these could act as means of spreading Western “propaganda.”
Major Technological Advances in Afghanistan
Afghanistan’s technology is growing largely through its payment sector. Innovation in banking through the introduction of mobile pay has improved the systems and lives of those using it. In 2009, mobile pay was suggested for use on a trial basis; and as of 2016, 97 percent of the police force were registered in the system.
It seems strange that it’s in Afghanistan — where only 5 percent of citizens use a bank account and over 70 percent are unable or read or write — that this technological advancement would find its footing.
Mobile banking — transferring funds to a mobile account, paying with that account, and then being able to lend, pay off loans — has cut costs in the police department by 10 percent which is a measure largely associated with avoiding corruption. Since payments can be traced and tracked more accurately, it makes it more difficult for a someone (i.e. a corrupt officer) to take a cut.
Afghanistan and E-Governance
Along with using technology to create mobile pay, Afghanistan’s technology is growing through E-governance. E-governance is implemented by creating a centralised system of ‘Presidential docs.’ This allows the cut down on paperwork and has reduced processing time from weeks, to a maximum of 48 hours.
This system also allows government officials to connect with each other through video conference calls which helps in decreasing the amount of time and money spent in travel. Again, such efforts serve as an example of how corruption has decreased, transparency has increased and money evades hands that would take it illegally.
Technology Connects Afghani Citizens to the World
Afghanistan’s technology is growing and connecting the country with its neighbors and Western countries like the U.S. The innovative boom also provides more opportunities for often overlooked demographics, such as women. For instance, with the online hemisphere hitting homes, technology has come to provide women, like Roya Mahboob, opportunities to educate themselves and even open new businesses.
Even with the Taliban gone, the predominantly conservative society still possesses obstacles for growing technology, but Mahboob is an example of how the technology available is working to create jobs, educate citizens and connect the world.
Mahboob now lives in New York with businesses in Afghanistan and hopeful expansions into Mexico. She is an amazing example of the positive impacts of technology, and Afghanistan’s government is ever-increasingly recognizing the benefits of technology and is working to more extensively incorporate it into Afghani society.
– Natasha Komen
Photo: Flickr
What is the Definition of a Third World Country?
What is the definition of a third world country? In many countries, when people hear the phrase “third world country”, visions of impoverished countries struggling to meet basic human needs are the first to pop up. This might be true in today’s society, but the original definition of a third world country referred to the nations that lacked an alliance with either the U.S. or the former Soviet Union during the Cold War.
In recent years, the term has come to define countries that have high poverty rates, economic instability and lack basic human necessities like access to water, shelter or food for its citizens. These countries are often underdeveloped, and in addition to widespread poverty, they also have high mortality rates.
Definition of a Third World Country Underlying Meaning
In terms of the “worlds” system, they are ranked from first world to third world. The first world refers to the countries that are more developed and industrialized societies; in other words, capitalist societies that aligned with the U.S. and NATO during the Cold War. This includes North America, Japan, Western Europe and Australia.
Second world countries refer to the countries that lean more toward a socialist society, and generally were allied with the Soviet Union during the Cold War. These countries include Russia, Poland, China and some Turk states.
Third world countries are all the other countries that did not pick a side. This includes most of Africa, Asia and Latin America. However, this definition includes countries that are economically stable, which does not fit the currently accepted definition of a third world country.
As a society, the term “third world country” refers to countries with high mortality rates, especially infant mortality rates. They also have an unstable and inconsistent economy. These are countries that contain massive amounts of poverty and in some cases have fewer natural resources than other nations throughout the world. These countries often have to rely on more industrialized countries to aid them and help stabilize their economy.
These countries usually lack economic stability because of the lack of a functioning class system. Usually, the country will have an upper class and a lower class. Without a middle class to fill the gap, there is almost no way for a person to escape poverty because there is no next step for them on the economic ladder. This also allows the wealthy to control all the money in the country. This is detrimental to the economy of the country, and both increases and helps to sustain the poverty running rampant throughout the country while allowing the upper class to keep their wealth to themselves.
These countries often accrue a copious amount of debt from foreign countries because of the constant aid they need from other countries to keep their economy afloat and provide some financial stability to the citizens of the country.
The definition of a third world country has evolved from the political meaning during the Cold War to the economic meaning of today. Today’s meaning refers to countries that are in financial trouble and need help from other countries to keep their economy sustainable, at least for a short time.
– Simone Williams
Photo: Wikipedia
Medical Humanitarian Aid Can End Epidemics Around the World
Medical humanitarian aid can help end epidemics in many impoverished countries. Most countries that receive foreign humanitarian aid are not properly equipped to deal with disease outbreaks, nor do they have the trained medical professionals needed. This is how a disease outbreak quickly turns into an epidemic.
Many international medical relief groups focus their efforts on controlling epidemics by providing adequate medical training, professionals and equipment. Listed below are some of the international medical relief groups that are working toward ending epidemics.
Medical Teams International
Medical Teams International is a Christian-based international relief group that has been using medical humanitarian aid to help end epidemics. The group works by delivering medical supplies and trained volunteers to areas in need. The mission of the group is to provide medical, dental, humanitarian and holistic relief to diverse areas without discrimination.
For over 25 years, Medical Teams International has been providing relief for refugees in impoverished and war-torn countries. For example, in 2017 the United Nations declared a famine in South Sudan as a result of the civil war that has been ongoing since 2013. Shortly after the declaration, Medical Teams International dispatched massive relief efforts to combat the Cholera and Malaria epidemics.
Currently, Medical Teams International has provided medical humanitarian aid to over 520 thousand Sudanese refugees, severely curving the disease epidemics in that area.
Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF)
Medecins Sans Frontieres, also known as Doctors Without Borders, is one of the most well known international medical-based relief groups in the world. For over 45 years, the group has dispersed trained medical professionals and medical humanitarian aid across the globe. Medecins Sans Frontieres is also on the cusp of many medical initiatives in impoverished countries.
Medecins Sans Frontieres is known for tackling large disease outbreaks and epidemics in poor and dangerous areas. In 2017, Medecins Sans Frontieres dispatched relief efforts to Uganda after the country was declared in a state of humanitarian emergency. The group focused its efforts on the recent Cholera outbreak spreading through Uganda, setting up multiple Cholera clinics to help treat and prevent the spread of Cholera to other refugees in Uganda.
Direct Relief
Direct Relief is another nonprofit humanitarian aid organization that primarily focuses on medical relief to devastated areas. The goal of the organization is to provide proper and comprehensive medical aid for impoverished areas and emergencies. In 2017, Forbes ranked Direct Relief among the top United States charities.
Over the past five years, Direct Relief has provided medical humanitarian aid to over 80 countries, many in Africa and South Asia. They have supplied over two thousand healthcare facilities and have sent billions of U.S. dollars worth of medical equipment and supplies.
These international organizations and many more have worked hard to make medical humanitarian aid more accessible to impoverished countries. Many epidemics that have started due to unsafe food, unsafe water and a generally poor environment have been contained and even eliminated by medical humanitarian aid. These organizations believe that with the right aid and volunteers, diseases around the world can be eradicated.
– Courtney Wallace
Photo: Flickr
Humanitarian Aid to Comoros Assists the Poor and Needy
One of the least developed countries in the world, the Republic of Comoros has one of the highest population density in Africa. The three-island archipelago is located between Madagascar and Mozambique in the Indian Ocean, with a population of about 800,000 people.
A Country Hungry for Change
Between the 1997-2014 period, Comoros was the third country on the list of world’s hungriest countries. The Borgen Project reported in 2014 that Comoros was “one of nineteen nations still labeled as ‘alarming’ or ‘extremely alarming’ on the Global Hunger Index, leaving 870 million without food.”
According to the Index, countries with the lowest levels of food security (such as Comoros) are either engaged in or have recently emerged from war. Interestingly, Comoros ranked 159 (out of 188) on the United Nation’s Human Development Index in 2015.
Humanitarian Aid to Comoros
Aid organizations have aimed to provide health, relief and other humanitarian aid to Comoros. The Islamic Relief International Organization has assisted over 1 million people from 2006-2018, giving almost $3 million to uplift the poor and the needy. Almost $2 million has gone to establish health dispensaries and centers for men, women and especially malnourished children in the country.
Last year, Tadateru Konoé, the head of the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC), visited Comoros and emphasized the development of humanitarian assistance efforts to bolster Africa’s island nations prone to natural disasters.
“More efforts should be made to boost domestic resource mobilization, building community resilience, and country-level policy dialogue between governments and local actors such Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies,” he said.
Earthquake Aftermath
After a 4.8 magnitude earthquake struck the Anjouan island in March 2014, heavy rains and deep fissures caused heavy infrastructure damage and cordoned off supplies from tens of thousands of people. United States Agency for International Development (USAID) and the Office of U.S. Foreign Disaster Assistance (OFDA) partners delivered emergency hygiene, water and sanitation supplies that provided relief to those displaced by the disaster.
In its Country Strategy Paper for Comoros (2008-2013), the European Union (EU) provided €63 million in total to tackle three major priorities as part of the 10th European Development Fund: governance, transport and education. Cyclonic rehabilitation was also added to the entire agenda, which comported Comoros’ development strategy as defined in the Growth and Poverty Reduction Strategy Document.
Aid for Children
Humanitarian aid to Comoros is also needed to protect children against sexual violence from their teachers in religious schools. The United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) has supported legislation in the area of children rights, the fight against child labor and violence against women.
Grants from Global Partnership in Education and Education a Child have led to the rehabilitation of dozens of classrooms and construction of schools for children. UNICEF has also supported the government’s response to emergencies and ensured safe drinking water supplies, devising development plans that protected against possible outbreak of Ebola.
Reforming the Nation
The economy of Comoros is highly dependent on subsistence fishing and agricultural production. As the country lacks natural resources and a well-educated labor force, fiscal and structural reforms are necessary to promote the population’s long-term welfare.
The World Bank predicts that political stability in Comoros after the 2016 presidential elections will lead to increased economic growth and opportunities. As part of that effort, humanitarian aid to Comoros will be critical in both maintaining stability and prosperity in this burgeoning country, and benefitting the poor and the needy.
– Mohammed Khalid
Photo: Flickr
Nine Important Initiatives Working to End Lassa Fever in Nigeria
In January 2018, the Alliance for International Medication Action (ALIMA) commenced a rapid emergency response to Nigeria’s Lassa fever epidemic. ALIMA also supported the rehabilitation of a 38-bed treatment center for patients in Owo.
“The goal is to catch cases early, and improve the chances of survival for those who become infected,” said Guillaume Le Duc, ALIMA’s Lassa fever coordinator.
On Jan. 30, 2018, Nigeria’s Cross River state increased its sensitization and awareness campaign against Lassa fever, hoping to prevent further outbreaks of the disease. Dr. Inyang Asibong, Cross River’s commissioner for health, said the campaign was necessary since two cases of Lassa fever were recorded from migrants who entered Cross River. Asibong also gave nose masks, disposable gowns, gloves and other protective equipment to the state’s health workers.
On Jan. 31, 2018, Nigeria’s Gombe state earmarked ₦20 million for preventing the outbreak of Lassa fever to its people. Dr. Kennedy Ishaya, Gombe’s state commissioner for health, said the funds were part of the amount set aside for Gombe’s Rapid Response Committee (RRC). Gombe’s RRC will use the money to protect the state’s people from Lassa fever and other diseases.
On Feb. 5, 2018, UNICEF and the Imo state’s Rural Water Supply and Sanitation Agency (RUWASSA) sensitized Nigerians on how handwashing can prevent Lassa fever.
“Medical reports have it that the simple act of washing hands constantly with soap can reduce infections by 50 percent,” said Nkechi Okorocha, wife of the Imo State Governor Rochas Okorocha. Chika Edom, the RUWASSA program manager, said that hand washing is part of UNICEF’s initiative to keep Nigeria’s people alive and healthy.
On Feb. 8, 2018, the Nigerian Medical Association (NMA) asked the National Assembly to pass a bill that would financially help the Nigerian Centre for Disease Control (CDC) treat Lassa fever cases. Dr. Mike Ogirima, the NMA president, was displeased from poorly-equipped ambulances transferring Lassa fever patients to the Irrua Specialist Teaching Hospital in Edo. Though the bill went through first and second readings at the house level, it has yet to be passed into law.
On Feb. 20, 2018, the World Health Organization (WHO) announced it was working to end Lassa fever in Nigeria. The WHO deployed staff to support Nigeria’s government agencies. The WHO’s representatives are also helping rapid response teams contain Lassa fever in the Ondo, Ebonyi and Edo states.
On Feb. 20, 2018, Redeemer University revealed its capacity to contain and eliminate Lassa fever through research activities.
“We are behind the scene, providing solutions to Lassa fever in the country,” said Debo Adeyewa, the university’s vice-chancellor. Adeyewa also revealed that the Lassa fever outbreak was being managed at the Edo state’s Irrua Specialist Teaching Hospital.
On Feb. 22, 2018, Governor Godwin Obaseki said that no case of Lassa fever had been reported at the Irrua Specialist Teaching Hospital for the past two weeks. Governor Obaseki’s administration purchased and deployed equipment to the hospital and is working to end Lassa fever in Nigeria.
“That no death has been recorded since our intervention goes to show that we read the signs correctly, mobilized skilled manpower and tackled the challenge head-on,” said Crusoe Osagie, Obaseki’s special adviser on media and communication strategy.
On Feb. 27, 2018, the U.K. sent two epidemiologists, a logistician and other experts to help Nigeria contain its Lassa fever outbreak. The U.K.’s public health rapid support team will also provide Nigeria with research assistance.
“Viruses like Lassa Fever do not respect borders, and it is only right that we share our expertise with countries facing serious outbreaks around the world,” said Public Health Minister Steve Brine.
While many Nigerians continue to be infected with Lassa fever, efforts to treat and save patients’ lives will not stop. The World Health Organization, the U.K. and other entities are working to end Lassa fever in Nigeria and could inspire more parties to help. Supplying the country’s hospitals with necessary medical equipment to treat patients will also play a role in helping Nigeria control Lassa fever and other diseases.
– Rhondjé Singh Tanwar
Photo: Flickr
How the US Benefits from Foreign Aid to Turkey
Turkey is a nation with a long history of political disorder. Recent years have been no different, with the country seeing the expansion of federal power and the decline of democracy stemming from a controversial governmental reform in 2017, along with suffering the fallout of a brutal civil war that broke out in neighboring Syria. These events have caused many Americans to question why their nation is planning to spend $3.8 million in foreign aid for Turkey in 2018. While many believe that such aid is primarily for humanitarian aims, in fact, this financial assistance to Turkey is actually a key part of the military strategy that affects United States policy in Europe, the Middle East and Asia.
According to the U.S. State Department, nearly all of the foreign aid designated for Turkey is for military use. These resources have been helpful in allowing Turkey to bolster American aims in the Middle East, as the nation shares a border with both Iraq and Iran, countries that are of great significance to the United States. Iraq, a major economic interest due to its high supply of oil, is an unstable region in which the United States remains militarily involved following the Iraq War. Iran, a country with longstanding tensions with the United States, recently entered into a controversial nuclear deal with America in an attempt to manage Iranian development of nuclear technology. Providing aid to Turkey helps the United States ensure it has some influence over Turkish foreign policy, which Americans, of course, hope aligns with the best interest of the United States.
Another one of the direct U.S. benefits from foreign aid to Turkey is related to the NATO alliance. Turkey is a key member of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization, the vital military alliance between the United States and most European countries that has been key to checking Russian aggression in Europe for decades. Turkey has a vested interest in working with the organization, as its location next to Syria, a perilous region with heavy Russian involvement, puts it at odds with President Putin’s regime, making it important that the United States remains directly involved in Turkish affairs.
The most significant recent use of American foreign aid has been helping Turkey deal with the Syrian refugee crisis. As a result of the devastating Syrian Civil War, Turkey has been among the countries dealing directly with the humanitarian crisis caused by a massive influx of refugees. American foreign aid has been vital in helping to manage this crisis, allowing Turkey to organize a response to the growing number of refugees and preventing further destabilization in the country that might open a door to exploitation by extremist terrorist groups or Russian influence. If extremists of any type were to gain control over the Turkish government and its resources, the implications for United States national security and foreign policy could be disastrous.
Overall, because Turkey sits in a key position between the Middle East, Europe and Asia, and because it is linked militarily to the NATO alliance, it will continue to be a strategically important focus of American foreign aid. Despite Turkey’s flaws, such as its fragile electoral system and troubling history of ignoring the freedom of its domestic press, it remains a highly useful ally of the United States and a means by which the longstanding political instabilities of the region can be managed. The current political climate in the area, along with the longstanding NATO alliance, means there are still many U.S. benefits from foreign aid to Turkey.
– Shane Summers
Photo: Wikimedia Commons
The Top Five Jobs in Global Health
However, many people do not realize that there is a multitude of global healthcare workers behind the scenes making sure that the proper aid reaches the people who need it the most. Many of these people spend time studying aspects of global health such as policy, law and financing. These global healthcare jobs are considered non-clinical careers. Below are the top five jobs in global health that focus on non-clinical work.
Global Health Policy Analyst
A global health policy analyst is usually a government-based job, which means that the analyst will be grounded in the country of the government or organization that is sending the aid. A worker in this field will gather data, assess healthcare initiatives, assess new developments and policies and consult with other global healthcare professionals.
Many times a global health policy analyst will deal with foreign aid and medical relief, both in receiving it and deciding how to distribute it. They will also analyze other countries’ global health policies and be an influencer in deciding when to distribute medical-based foreign aid to other countries.
Global Health Educator
Global health is an important issue around the world and to be able to help as much as possible, the public must be informed. A global health educator is a trained professional that manages and provides educational programs for maintaining a healthy lifestyle. These programs can be geared towards individuals, families or even entire communities.
An educator will collect data to identify a community’s health needs as well as the current policies and environment. Global health educators can also provide medical and financial resources to the community.
Community Health Worker
A community health worker works directly with the community they serve and are considered one of the frontline global healthcare professionals in any designated area. Many times a community health worker will serve as a link between the people of the community and health institutions, governments and aid agencies.
These global health workers also work to build strong relationships with the local community, becoming a trusted and informative person for those in need of medical assistance to lean on. Community health workers can be found in rural and urban areas and in some of the richest and poorest countries in the world.
Health Systems Planner
A health systems planner is an integral non-clinical worker in global health. Planners support the health system of individual countries through population-based planning, research and innovations. They also establish relationships with clinical and non-clinical workers, global governments and relief groups.
Though a health systems planner rarely works directly with the communities they are responsible for helping, all of the planning and research they do is in direct correlation with the community’s growth and needs.
Clinic Administrator
Administration is an important variable to the success of global health. A clinic administrator usually manages a health clinic for physicians and other medical personnel. They take care of the clinic’s financial and budgeting needs.
In addition, they are usually in charge of hiring new staff. This is particularly important in health clinics, as they need to be equipped with a whole host of doctors to deal with a variety of problems.
These are the top five jobs in global health. Every global healthcare worker is an integral part of the fight for global health, whether they are doctors or administrators. These jobs in global health outline how important each aspect of the various and complex global healthcare systems are.
– Courtney Wallace
Photo: Flickr
US Working to Reduce Poverty in Mozambique
One of the main causes of Mozambique’s extreme poverty rates is that following its independence in 1975, the country endured a civil war from 1977 to 1992. This war drained the country of its national resources. Shortly after the resolution of the civil war, the United States stepped in, providing much-needed aid to the hurting country. The United States is still Mozambique’s largest bilateral donor, giving an annual $400 million towards relief measures.
The United States and Mozambique both share a commitment to improving health, education and food security for the Mozambican people, which can be seen through the success of U.S.-funded programs.
For example, in 2000, after severe floods occurred in Mozambique, the United States provided assistance to 115,000 families to rebuild their homes. In addition, the PEPFAR program, supported by the United States, also works with the Mozambican government, saving hundreds of thousands of lives from the HIV/AIDS epidemic. The United States also provides for the future of the country through the Feed the Future program, educating farmers on how to develop their land to increase food production and therefore provide for their people, drastically reducing the hunger percentage.
All of these programs demonstrate the positive effects of the U.S. working to reduce poverty in Mozambique; however, there is still much that needs to be done, as the majority of the population still lives in extreme poverty. For every percentage point of economic growth between 1996 and 2009, Mozambique’s poverty rate only decreased by 0.26 percentage points. This is half of what other African countries have achieved in terms of poverty reduction rates.
The reason for this difference in numbers is because there is not an even distribution of funds among the Mozambican people. If Mozambique’s growth had been more equally shared between groups of people living throughout the country, an estimated two million additional people could have been lifted out of poverty.
Rural areas contain a much larger percentage of people living in poverty because of the difficulty in accessing relief methods provided to those in more urban settings. However, even with the uneven distribution of funds and other methods of aid, with the U.S. working to reduce poverty in Mozambique, things are looking up for the country.
Despite all of the struggles Mozambique has had to endure, its future is looking bright. Although it is ranked as having one of the world’s worst healthcare systems, the country has made significant progress in reducing mortality rates. Its economic success has also started to pick up the pace as seen in 2017, when the GDP growth rate increased 2.9 percent from the preceding quarter.
With numbers like these, it can be seen that Mozambique is slowly reducing the number of people living in poverty. However, it still relies on foreign assistance such as that from the United States, and it is vitally important to continue these relief methods.
– Adrienne Tauscheck
Photo: Pixabay
Combating Poverty with the Ghana Social Opportunities Project
The project is focused on supporting the creation of social protection policy and increasing participation in the Labor Intensive Public Works and the Livelihood Empowerment Against Poverty programs, among other social protection initiatives.
Labor Intensive Public Works Programs
Labor Intensive Public Works programs, a major component of the Ghana Social Opportunities Project, is a social protection tool often used by governments in developing countries to reduce unemployment and alleviate overall poverty.
The programs seek to employ people for physical infrastructure projects using local labor and raw materials. By using local labor instead of machinery for infrastructure projects, more jobs are created and thus more people are employed and earning money to provide for their family.
The successes in Ghanaian communities where Labor Intensive Public Works Programs are at work are evident, as the percentage of people living in poverty has decreased significantly.
Livelihood Empowerment Against Poverty Programs
Livelihood Empowerment Against Poverty programs, better known as LEAP programs, are another major component of the Ghana Social Opportunities Project.
First launched in 2008, LEAP programs were adopted by Ghana’s government with the help of the World Bank. The programs aim to alleviate short-term poverty while encouraging long-term human capital development. LEAP programs provide cash and health insurance to poor households across the country. Currently, there are 90,785 households that are being paid through LEAP programs.
Additionally, LEAP is set to launch a new initiative this month called LEAP 1000. This initiative targets extremely poor households and is concentrated in Ghana’s northern and upper east regions.
LEAP programs are one way the government is working with international aid organizations to solve issues of poverty on a localized, household level. Because of the cash benefits LEAP communities receive, many communities are experiencing a turnaround and poverty reduction in rural areas is catching up to the rest of the country.
Continued Growth
The distribution of wealth, particularly between rural and urban areas, is the main focus for many developing countries. Much of Ghana’s economic growth has come from the migration of people to Ghana’s cities. Opportunities exist in urban areas that usually do not exist in rural areas; this is one reason for the unequal distribution of wealth among Ghana’s population.
Because Ghana has recently benefited from prolonged growth for a long period of time, the country’s challenge is distributing this growth among its entire population. This can be achieved through infrastructure transformation, the emergence of a more specialized and skilled labor force and an increase in Ghana’s geographically mobility. By continuing to focus on these areas, Ghana can ensure that this development will keep expanding and benefit all of its citizens.
– Sonja Flancher
Photo: Wikimedia Commons
Addressing Work That Supports Education in the Philippines
On July 1, 2016, the Lear Philippine Engineering and Technology Center (PETC) reported its work to support the Philippines’ “Brigade Eskwela” (Brigade for Education). Seventy engineers and associates painted a wall and classroom at Maguikay Elementary school. The volunteers also repaired some of the classroom’s amenities. The PETC put up a donation box at the school and received books, four sets of wall fans and $150 in contributions for incoming students’ school supplies.
In August 2016, the Philippines’ long-running K-12 education reform efforts helped 1.5 million students attend eleventh grade for the first time. The Philippines’ new K-12 law adds two years of senior high school, eleventh and twelfth grade, to the country’s required education system.
Contrary to the number of students who completed the tenth grade in 2015, almost 50,000 more enrolled in the new eleventh grade for 2016. The change was especially significant since the Philippines was originally one of a few countries with a 10-year basic education system.
In September 2016, UNESCO met with the Philippines’ Department of Education and thanked it for its continued cooperation in various activities. Dr. Leonor Magtolis, the department’s secretary, thanked UNESCO for its work that supports education in the Philippines. Magtolis also thanked UNESCO for its initiative to start an alternative learning system (ALS) for the Philippines. Magtolis believed that an ALS would be especially helpful for Filipino school children in rehabilitation centers.
In December 2016, the Ernst and Young (EY) firm revealed its support for the Philippines’ Zero Dropout Education Scheme (ZeDrES). From 2011 to 2016, ZeDrES ensured that 250,000 Filipino children from low-income families could enroll in and complete primary education, providing them with microloans to afford their expenses. EY’s team audits ZeDrES’s financial statements and assesses its delivery and impact.
In September 2013, USAID awarded RTI International a cooperative agreement called Science, Technology, Research and Innovation for Development (STRIDE) that would enhance the Philippines’ economic and educational sector. In April 2017, STRIDE awarded $5 million in technology, collaborative science and research grants to more than 20 million Philippine universities. In addition to awarding 46 scholarships to help Filipinos study in U.S. universities, STRIDE is creating technology offices in 36 Philippine universities.
In August 2017, President Rodrigo Duerte signed a bill that grants free tuition for 100 colleges and state universities in the Philippines. Though President Duerte knew that the new law would have heavy short-term costs, he was more focused on its long-term benefits to Philippine students. A senior official said that the new law will benefit the Philippines’ local tertiary schools as well. “Now I can finish my college education. It means hard work,” said Angela Rebato, a student from Quezon City.
Volunteer work, funding and free tuition can continue to help Philippine students break educational barriers. PETC, UNESCO, USAID and other entities continue to inspire more work that supports education in the Philippines as well.
– Rhondjé Singh Tanwar
Photo: Flickr