A World Summit report by the United Nations (U.N.) found agricultural imports into the Marshall Islands have grown rapidly over the past few decades, outpacing the sluggish growth of exports from the country. This spike in imports has not only posed a problem for the Marshallese and sustainable agriculture in the Marshall Islands, but also for the current climate crisis facing the global community.
Change in Diet
The Food and Agriculture Association of the United Nations (FAO) speculates that imports are causing the abandonment of the traditional diets once common on the island (i.e., seafood, leafy greens and coconuts), in favor of a greater reliance on costly processed grains and meat from abroad.
This poorer quality food has led to a noticeable uptick in obesity, with a National Institute of Health-funded study showing 62.5 percent of the country as either overweight or obese. The new diet has also eroded the national sovereignty of the islands, with the agricultural economy growing ever more dependent on the United States and other foreign assistance.
Environmental Impact of Imports
Importing processed food in favor of sustainable agriculture in the Marshall Islands has a heavy environmental cost as well. According to a study conducted by the University of California, Santa Barbra, the carbon expelled in the process of preserving, refrigerating, and shipping processed foods negatively impacts CO2 levels.
The Marshall Islands thus have good reason to invest in mitigating both obesity, as it impacts their economy and quality of life, and climate change, as the smaller islands will be hit the hardest by the rising ocean levels and more extreme weather patterns.
Climate change is also speculated to cripple the once prosperous coconut and seafood industries that are valuable to the Marshall Islands’ economy and diet. One of the primary plans to mitigate these effects has been a greater investment in local sustainable agriculture.
International Aid
Fortunately, the FAO, the World Health Organization (WHO), and leaders throughout the Pacific Islands have committed to improving sustainable and local agriculture to fight climate change and spur economic independence and growth. This plan was outlined by Graziano da Silva, Director-General of the FAO, at a high-profile meeting with Pacific Island leaders last November.
“You are suffering from things that you didn’t cause,” da Silva explained, “from things you are not responsible for – the impact of climate change.This is what FAO offers – support so that you can face climate change.”
According to da Silva, obesity also posed a major threat. “It is an epidemic that we need to address. Together with partners such as the WHO, we promote the uptake of healthy, fresh food – fruits, vegetable and fish instead of processed food.”
Those at the meeting went on to reaffirm a commitment to limit global temperature increases to 1.5 degrees Celsius, a lofty goal that will require much planning and development.
The United Nations
For the U.N., attaining this goal means working to develop sustainable agriculture in the Marshall Islands that incentivizes local redevelopment of the coconut industry, and working with local officials to establish Farmers Markets in cities to promote the distribution of seafood and leafy greens.
It also means utilizing social movements focused on changing diets to decrease reliance on processed foods high in addictive sugar and sodium. The World Summit Report by the U.N. also emphasizes the development of the Marshall Islands’ more rural areas.
“While the Capital has developed at a relatively fast speed, the developments in the Outer Islands have lagged behind,” the report noted, especially the kinds of improvements in infrastructure that would allow rural residents to produce local food and transport it throughout the Islands.
In addition, the U.N. argues that ensuring agricultural development on the rural islands is best achieved by improving the fiscal position and economic management of the central government and to encourage private-sector investment through new policies.
Though the impact may appear small, promoting sustainable local agriculture not only staves off the growing worldwide obesity epidemic by creating healthier diets, but it is also key to capping global temperatures. For these reasons, local agriculture is vital to the continued wellbeing of the Marshall Islands, and all Pacific communities.
At the meeting in Rome, Pacific Island leaders made the necessity clear, issuing a group statement that asked for all nations to “exceed previous commitments and pursue efforts to limit the temperature increase to 1.5 degrees Celsius pre-industrial levels, to reduce the adverse impacts on food security and nutrition, coastal habitats and the livelihoods of those depending on oceans.”
– Shane Summers
Photo: Flickr
The Growth of Sustainable Agriculture in Papua New Guinea
Just north of Australia in a region known as Melanesia is the island nation of Papua New Guinea, situated on the eastern side of New Guinea island. It’s one of the most culturally diverse nations on the world stage, but it’s also among the most rural with an economy that largely turns on agriculture.
Sustainable agriculture in Papua New Guinea is crucial to lifting more of its population from poverty. The Asian Development Bank reports that 39.9 percent of the country’s population lived below the national poverty line in 2009.
Agriculture: The Stats
According to the World Bank, just 18 percent of Papua New Guineans live in urban areas, so farming would seem to make sense as an economic lifeline. However, the New Agriculturist notes that the nation is very mountainous, leaving just 25 percent of its land suitable for agriculture.
This presents a significant problem when it comes to developing sustainable agriculture projects in Papua New Guinea; but thankfully, new technologies stand to make a difference and boost agricultural output in the island nation.
Solar-Powered Milling Technology
According to the Papua New Guinea National Agriculture Research Institute (NARI), a solar-powered rice-milling technology is being pioneered in the Morobe province; this trial began in 2017 and should continue through 2019.
This technology’s potential lies in the fact that rice has become a staple food in Papua New Guinea since its introduction about a century ago. However, it has never become a staple crop because natural milling conditions are less than ideal.
Solar-powered mills aim to replace diesel-powered ones, which are more expensive to operate and repair. If solar power proves to be a more reliable and efficient technology, rice milling and other forms of farming will likely see an expansion and provide more support to rural communities.
Boosting Sustainable Agriculture in Papua New Guinea: More Successes
This test run joins a host of efforts to improve sustainable agriculture in Papua New Guinea, including the Productive Partnerships in Agriculture Project (PPAP), which tried to benefit smallholder cocoa and coffee producers when it started in 2014.
PPAP aims to boost industry coordination, build links between local farmers and agribusiness for improved access to markets/technologies and improve infrastructure for that access. The World Bank estimates that more than 20,000 local coffee and cocoa farmers had benefitted by 2015, and farms adopting improved farming practices continues to grow.
Future Benefits
Hopefully, sustainable agriculture projects in Papua New Guinea will make farming more economical and reduce poverty levels as more citizens are able to engage with the career. Future improvements also stand to benefit women especially, who often form the backbone of the Papua New Guinea agricultural industry.
– Chuck Hasenauer
Photo: Flickr
Investment in Infrastructure in Laos Bringing Profit
Laos is one of the fastest-growing economies in Southeast Asia, with natural resources accounting for a third of the growth. Power infrastructure in Laos is under development, according to the Department of Energy Business. Two-thirds of the population in Laos has access to electricity, and the power sector is working towards sustainability and energy efficiency. By promoting sustainable power, natural resources are preserved.
The Lao government plans to establish hydropower as a source of energy for the country and export electricity to neighboring countries who are in need of electric power. The government hopes that by 2020, hydropower as an infrastructure in Laos will provide profits to combat poverty within the country.
Telecommunications as an infrastructure in Laos is another necessity that needs to be addressed. The National Academic of Sciences and Engineering Medicine wrote of the importance of telecommunication as a foundation for social and economic development as well as a vital groundwork for national security.
Telecommunication as an infrastructure in Laos is slowly gaining momentum. Laos has seen countless reforms and progress of telecommunications as an infrastructure to draw the attention of foreign investors. However, internet services have been slow, a concern that many Laotians see as a deterrent to social and economic development. Fortunately, progress is expected to continue to 2022.
In 2017, infrastructure in Laos continued to improve. The Ministry of Finance and the World Bank signed a $25 million agreement to stabilize roads through maintenance. The Lao PDR Road Sector II Project is meant to improve road infrastructure for efficiency and safety. Once roads are stabilized around Laos, rural people will be able to find safety in regards to severe weather and will not have to travel on unsafe roads.
Infrastructure in Laos is slowly making progress and providing efficient and maintained infrastructure to improve its citizens’ quality of life. These efforts will have an enormous effect on alleviating poverty and growing prosperity in the country.
– Jennifer Serrato
Photo: Flickr
A Nation on the Rise: Sustainable Agriculture in Ecuador
Ecuador is looking to improve its standard of living by putting more of a focus on sustainable agriculture.
This effort begs the question though of: what exactly is sustainable agriculture? The answer is that sustainable agriculture is the production of plant or animal products using farming techniques that protect the environment and public health of a country; or in other words, an effort that has become incredibly important in Ecuador in recent years.
One example of these extremely important developments is a farm in Ecuador that invites tourists to experience the process of farming for themselves at Rio Muchacho, an organic farm and eco-lodge located on the western coast. Open for almost 30 years, the farm began as a way to produce healthy food.
Early in its start, the farm focused on fixing the soil erosion by reforesting the hills around it; Rio Muchacho helped reforest again in Bahia about 15 years ago.
Biodiversity Encourages Sustainable Agriculture in Ecuador
Despite being a small country in South America, Ecuador is one of the top 10 most biodiverse places in the world. With over 20,000 species of plants and 1,500 species of birds, Ecuador’s forests are bursting with diverse lifeforms.
Unfortunately, Ecuador has the worst deforestation rate and environmental quality in all of South America, according to the nature website, Mongabay; in fact, logging on the western coast is to blame for the loss of so many trees.
A national forest program was created in 2002, and SocioBosque is the program Ecuador’s government introduced in 2008 and as of 2012. Since its conception, the program has protected 1.1 million hectares, or 2.7 million acres, of native ecosystems, including grasslands.
Unfortunately, though, the program has suffered in recent years due to a lack of funding. The Ministry of Environment is often unable to properly enforce the law when it comes to deforestation.
Conservation International and Farming in Ecuador
Conservation International works with SocioBosque to strengthen the land and communities; one of the ways the organization accomplishes this is by working with sustainable agriculture in Ecuador. Their way of “living green” helps over 1 million people and also prevents a large majority of citizens from experiencing poverty. Farmers rely on the land, and Conservation International works with the Ecuadorian government to protect 10 million acres of forests while also providing education on how to preserve land and become more efficient with it.
Farmers in Ecuador also work together to not only save their land but also the produce they grow. The price of food can increase dramatically in some cities by the time it reaches the end consumer. Also, local regulations can prevent farmers from selling their produce outside the Guayaquil Grocery Terminal, a place established in 2000 as a way to sell goods.
The Federation of Agriculture Centers and Peasant Organizations of Ecuador was founded in 2003 to promote a chemical-free and sustainable way of living off the land and protecting the agriculture. Through this group, farmers are able to protect their interests and the land, all while selling organic produce to schools and businesses.
The sustainable agricultural practices used by farmers include rotation of crops for healthy soil, planting trees and shrubs to protect smaller crops and reducing plowing. As a whole, sustainable agriculture in Ecuador promotes biodiversity and also minimizes pollution. Thankfully, the nation finds success in its agricultural sectors, and will most likely continue with this trend in the future.
– Nicole Moylan
Photo: Flickr
Closing the Gap: Improving Infrastructure in Myanmar
As stated in the 2013 World Economic Forum Global Competitiveness Report, Myanmar was ranked 146th out of 148 places for its overall quality of infrastructure. One of the most pressing issues regarding infrastructure in Myanmar is the citizens’ lack of access to electricity, transportation and communication; these are basic infrastructures and services in Myanmar that must be improved.
Infrastructure Improvement
Infrastructure in Myanmar needs to be improved because its poor quality stunts the country’s development as well as its appeal for foreign investment. The government of Myanmar developed various pieces of legislation, such as the Central Bank of Myanmar Law (2013), to address the country’s need for better infrastructure, but Myanmar does not have the capacity to improve these issues by itself. Thus, the country’s government has asked for assistance from other countries, proposing technical assistance and foreign financial investment.
Myanmar is located between China and India, two nations that are among the world’s most influential emerging markets. Due to this location, addressing the gap in infrastructure in Myanmar is essential.
A report came out around the end of last year — “Building Myanmar: Bridging the Infrastructure Gap” — that called attention to the country’s infrastructure issues. Despite infrastructure’s halting influence on Myanmar’s growing economy, the country has put forth the National Transport Master Plan (NTMP) in order to address the issues.
Current Efforts
This plan is overseen by the Ministry of Transport and Communications, which takes care of issues within the transport sector. A few of the departments that this ministry operates through are Myanmar Railways, Myanmar National Airlines (MNA), Inland Water Transport and the Road Transport Administration Department.
Additional departments used to oversee the country’s infrastructure include the Department of Civil Aviation (DCA) and the Myanmar Port Authority, and are meant to oversee administration and services for civil aviation and administration and regulation of the country’s coastal ports.
Despite the current infrastructure issues, the future looks bright for Myanmar in this sector. Private investment and foreign aid are in the works to improve infrastructure in Myanmar, and there exists new investment in rail and road networks, which aids the current work to reduce port congestion. With efforts like these, the future of infrastructure in Myanmar is extremely hopeful.
– Haley Rogers
Photo: Flickr
The Varying Success of Humanitarian Aid to Micronesia
Micronesia — also known as the Federated States of Micronesia — is a country in the Pacific Ocean made up of more than 600 islands. The country contains four island states named Pohnpei, Kosrae, Chuuk and Yap, and its capital, Palikir, is located on Pohnpei.
Micronesia is at risk of typhoons and super typhoons, which can cause widespread disaster through the islands. In 2008, the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) took over humanitarian aid to Micronesia. Previously, the U.S. Department of Homeland Security Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) provided humanitarian assistance to Micronesia.
Foreign Assistance
USAID, along with the International Organization for Mitigation (IOM), has introduced many programs to help bring humanitarian aid to Micronesia. In an effort to help the most people, the agency is focusing on disaster mitigation. Specifically, in regards to typhoons.
Shortly after taking over funding for humanitarian aid to Micronesia, the United States Agency for International Development funded the Hybrid Mitigation, Relief, and Reconstruction Program which ran through 2013. The International Organization for Mitigation (IOM) also managed and implemented various planning and pre-positioning efforts in Micronesia in areas that are most likely to be hit by natural disasters.
In 2012, the United States Agency for International Development and the Australian Agency for International Development (AusAID) funded the Climate Adaptation, Disaster Risk Management, and Education (CADRE) Program. The program was implemented by the International Organization for Mitigation and works with local government and communities to increase emergency response capacity; this program is still in effect today.
Efforts After Typhoon Maysak
Since Typhoon Maysak, which passed through Micronesia in the spring of 2015, more than $6 million has been spent on humanitarian aid to Micronesia. Most of this funding went towards the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization, which helps households affected by typhoons. Their efforts include shelter coordination, sanitation, clean water and hygiene interventions.
Also in 2015, in the wake of multiple typhoons and super typhoons from 2013-2015, the United States Agency for International Development, introduced the Disaster Preparedness for Effective Response (PREPARE) Program. Again, this program was implemented by the International Organization of Mitigation. This program pre-positions humanitarian relief supplies, reconstruction and housing infrastructure. The goal of the program is to quickly bring relief to those affected by typhoons in Micronesia and increase the resilience of the nation by mitigating the effects of natural disasters. Thankfully, this program is still in effect, as of 2017.
Through the past several years, the United States Agency for International Development partnered with the International Organization for Mitigation has had many successes in humanitarian aid to Micronesia. In addition to funding mitigation efforts, the United States Agency for International Development has also provided over $4 million to the International Organization for Mitigation, specifically for reconstruction efforts such as housing and utilities.
Most of these efforts are spread through the entirety of Micronesia, but Chuuk and Yap, the most western island states, receive more aid since they are more likely to suffer from a natural disaster. As these programs continue, Micronesia has a great chance of recovering faster and suffering far less damage from any future natural disasters.
– Courtney Wallace
Photo: Flickr
Sustainable Agriculture in the Marshall Islands Improves Health
A World Summit report by the United Nations (U.N.) found agricultural imports into the Marshall Islands have grown rapidly over the past few decades, outpacing the sluggish growth of exports from the country. This spike in imports has not only posed a problem for the Marshallese and sustainable agriculture in the Marshall Islands, but also for the current climate crisis facing the global community.
Change in Diet
The Food and Agriculture Association of the United Nations (FAO) speculates that imports are causing the abandonment of the traditional diets once common on the island (i.e., seafood, leafy greens and coconuts), in favor of a greater reliance on costly processed grains and meat from abroad.
This poorer quality food has led to a noticeable uptick in obesity, with a National Institute of Health-funded study showing 62.5 percent of the country as either overweight or obese. The new diet has also eroded the national sovereignty of the islands, with the agricultural economy growing ever more dependent on the United States and other foreign assistance.
Environmental Impact of Imports
Importing processed food in favor of sustainable agriculture in the Marshall Islands has a heavy environmental cost as well. According to a study conducted by the University of California, Santa Barbra, the carbon expelled in the process of preserving, refrigerating, and shipping processed foods negatively impacts CO2 levels.
The Marshall Islands thus have good reason to invest in mitigating both obesity, as it impacts their economy and quality of life, and climate change, as the smaller islands will be hit the hardest by the rising ocean levels and more extreme weather patterns.
Climate change is also speculated to cripple the once prosperous coconut and seafood industries that are valuable to the Marshall Islands’ economy and diet. One of the primary plans to mitigate these effects has been a greater investment in local sustainable agriculture.
International Aid
Fortunately, the FAO, the World Health Organization (WHO), and leaders throughout the Pacific Islands have committed to improving sustainable and local agriculture to fight climate change and spur economic independence and growth. This plan was outlined by Graziano da Silva, Director-General of the FAO, at a high-profile meeting with Pacific Island leaders last November.
“You are suffering from things that you didn’t cause,” da Silva explained, “from things you are not responsible for – the impact of climate change.This is what FAO offers – support so that you can face climate change.”
According to da Silva, obesity also posed a major threat. “It is an epidemic that we need to address. Together with partners such as the WHO, we promote the uptake of healthy, fresh food – fruits, vegetable and fish instead of processed food.”
Those at the meeting went on to reaffirm a commitment to limit global temperature increases to 1.5 degrees Celsius, a lofty goal that will require much planning and development.
The United Nations
For the U.N., attaining this goal means working to develop sustainable agriculture in the Marshall Islands that incentivizes local redevelopment of the coconut industry, and working with local officials to establish Farmers Markets in cities to promote the distribution of seafood and leafy greens.
It also means utilizing social movements focused on changing diets to decrease reliance on processed foods high in addictive sugar and sodium. The World Summit Report by the U.N. also emphasizes the development of the Marshall Islands’ more rural areas.
“While the Capital has developed at a relatively fast speed, the developments in the Outer Islands have lagged behind,” the report noted, especially the kinds of improvements in infrastructure that would allow rural residents to produce local food and transport it throughout the Islands.
In addition, the U.N. argues that ensuring agricultural development on the rural islands is best achieved by improving the fiscal position and economic management of the central government and to encourage private-sector investment through new policies.
Though the impact may appear small, promoting sustainable local agriculture not only staves off the growing worldwide obesity epidemic by creating healthier diets, but it is also key to capping global temperatures. For these reasons, local agriculture is vital to the continued wellbeing of the Marshall Islands, and all Pacific communities.
At the meeting in Rome, Pacific Island leaders made the necessity clear, issuing a group statement that asked for all nations to “exceed previous commitments and pursue efforts to limit the temperature increase to 1.5 degrees Celsius pre-industrial levels, to reduce the adverse impacts on food security and nutrition, coastal habitats and the livelihoods of those depending on oceans.”
– Shane Summers
Photo: Flickr
Humanitarian Aid to Mauritius Brings Stability
Mauritius is one of the developing countries in sub-Saharan Africa that over the decades has become a middle-income country providing good health care and education systems, a stable governance, good communications and a functioning infrastructure.
Although poverty in Mauritius is not as severe as in other parts of African, minor poverty does exist in rural parts of the country. In 2006, about 8 percent of the country was under the poverty line and humanitarian aid to Mauritius isn’t much compared to other countries; despite this, there are consistent allies that have helped the country get to its current status.
From 1966 to 2015, the nation received a total of $76.6 million in humanitarian aid that has since been distributed to development projects and various improvements.
Mauritius became a member state of the International Fund of Agricultural Development (IFAD) in 1979. Since their admission into IFAD, $23.1 million has been put into projects and programs to improve the quality of life within Mauritius. IFAD currently works to address rural poverty with a collaborative approach with the government to reduce the frequency of poverty. This approach involves knowledge management and sharing, partnership-building and policy dialogue. Rodrigues Island, an island on Mauritius, receives special attention from IFAD on improving incomes and livelihoods for poor rural areas.
In 2014, Britain gave more than $24 million in humanitarian aid to Mauritius that helped towards the nation’s building of gated communities, shopping centers and an elite boarding school by Wellington College, based in the Berkshire.
Mauritius also received $500 million from India in 2017, an amount provided after the two countries decided to reinforce maritime security in the Indian Ocean region. Mauritius Prime Minister Pavind Kumar Jugnauth and India’s Narendra Modi both agreed that the successful management of any and all threats in the Indian Ocean was imperative to secure people of both countries and pursue economic opportunities.
With vigilant eyes focused on the success of Mauritius, humanitarian aid will help in keeping the island safe, modern and prosperous.
– Tara Jackson
Photo: Flickr
Women’s Empowerment in Sao Tome and Principe
Sao Tome and Principe is a very small country comprised of two islands situated off the coast of Africa in the Gulf of Guinea. The nation is one of the poorest African countries with half its population living on less than two dollars a day.
The country acquired its independence from Portugal in 1975, enacted democratic reforms in 1980 and currently has no institutions for higher education; as a result of this environment, women’s empowerment in Sao Tome and Principe took a back seat.
Women in Sao Tome and Principe
Constitutionally, women in Sao Tome and Principe have equal rights in politics, education, business and government positions; but in reality, gender inequality is prominent throughout the nation. Domestic violence and abuse against women is widespread, but since the society is extremely traditional, women are not very vocal about the injustices committed against them.
In June 2003, Sao Tome and Principe gave formal consent to the convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women (CEDAW), and in February 2010, it also signed the Protocol to the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights on the Rights of Women in Africa (The Maputo Protocol). Despite these supposed moves in the right direction, the nation’s government has failed to comply with the details of the protocols.
However, organizations such as The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) have taken innovative steps in women’s empowerment in Sao Tome and Principe by engaging women effort in the preservation of bio-diversity. In addition, women have also taken a distinct position in the fish trade of the country.
Empowering Women through Biodiversity
In the district of Lobata, turtle egg collection, turtle meat consumption, turtle shell trading and cutting trees for firewood are all part of the illegal practices that negatively impact Sao Tome and Principe’s biodiversity.
In 2009, the Ministry of Education (under the supervision of Madam Helena Bonfim) engaged women in this region to help in turtle, bird and forest preservation. Three hundred women aged between 15 and 36 were divided in 12 different groups and organized to learn about turtle conservation and other environmental aspects.
UNESCO, along with non-profit government organizations, took the initiative of educating women in this region; in fact, the organization helped the women acquire skills in food processing and other fields like fashion, design and environmental protection.
Empowering Women through Fish Trading
Almost 17 percent of the total population of Sao Tome and Principe is involved in the fish business where women play a unique role — they are involved in many of the main acts of fishing such as:
Fish saleswomen are known as “palayes” in the local language; palayes make up an extremely powerful group of the population, and some of them are even important members of the fisherman association.
The members of the palayes association try to reduce cost of the enterprise by sharing fish-drying sheds and buying salts in bulk for fish processing. Some of the successful palayes even lend money to the fisherman for buying fishing accessories.
Other Business Prospects
The women of Sao Tome also generate income through:
Despite high levels of poverty, illiteracy and gender inequality, women’s empowerment in Sao Tome and Principe is taking progressive steps. The Ministry of Education and organizations like UNESCO are making every effort to support and motivate this extremely important cause of women’s empowerment in Sao Tome and Principe.
– Mahua Mitra
Photo: Flickr
13 Shocking and Important Facts About Poverty in Asia
Asia is the largest continent in the world, covering 17,139,445 square miles with a population of 4,406,273,633 people. Despite widespread economic success, Asia remains the worst continent for global hunger and contains more than half of the world’s poorest people. Below are 13 facts about poverty in Asia that everyone should know.
A reported 75 million people were living below the poverty line of $3.10 in 2017, placing them at high disaster risk. China, Indonesia and the Philippines make up most of East Asia’s urban poor.
About 519.6 million people do not have enough food to eat in Asia, and a prominent 70 percent of the world’s malnourished children live on the eastern continent. Due to lack of proper nutrients, 100 million children in Asia are stunted, 28 percent of the total youth population.
In 2017, Afghanistan had the lowest annual average income in the world at $1,100.
The second biggest cause of death among children under five years old in more than 60 percent of East Asia is diarrhoeal diseases. About two out of every five people in East Asia do not have proper sanitation facilities. Open defecation is still practiced by 130 million people throughout countries in the region.
Representing two-thirds of the poor due to discrimination in education and employment, women make up a significant amount of the people in poverty in Asia.
With the decline of rice sales in some economies, such as in Cambodia, Myanmar and Lao PDR, nations will have to shift their focus of economic growth in order to continuously reduce poverty in their countries.
With education unaffordable and families trapped in the vicious cycle of poverty, child labor is prominent in Asia. Children experience excessively long hours and are placed in harm’s way doing hazardous work.
Natural disasters such as floods, earthquakes, extreme temperatures, storms, wildfires and droughts affect agriculture in Asia. According to World Vision, Asia Pacific is the most disaster-prone region in the world.
In 2015, over 60 percent of Asian Pacific countries scored below 50 on Transparency International’s Corruption Perceptions Index. This indicates a serious corruption problem. Poverty, corruption and development are interrelated issues.
Offering a means of generating more income, organic farming presents opportunity, but for those who can afford it. For small farmers, certification is costly and is not in the name or control of the farmer who is paying for the form. This diminishes potential commitment or interest in organic farming.
In many regions across Asia, up to 90 percent of poor people live in rural areas. Poor rural households usually have larger families who are underemployed and are less educated. Access to credit and technology is limited.
In Vietnam, ethnic groups make up around 12 million of the 90 million population but account for over two-fifths of the country’s poverty. These inequalities fuel poverty in Asia.
Many students attending primary school in South Asia are taught on rote bases. This leads to many weakened skills such as problem solving, writing grammatically correct sentences and measuring. In 2014, studies showed that “one quarter to one third of those who graduate from primary school lack basic numeracy and literacy skills that would enable them to further their education.”
Through these important facts about poverty in Asia, it becomes clear that, within the continent of Asia, every country is experiencing its own levels of poverty. With hope, the strides achieved through economic achievement will start to create a positive impact on residents, reducing poverty in Asia until it is nonexistent.
– Tara Jackson
Photo: Flickr
Locals and Returnees Rebuilding Somalia After Years of War
Beginning in the late 1980s with resistance to the military government, armed conflict and social disorganization have marked the lives of nearly two generations of Somalis. Because of the ongoing conflict, thousands of Somalis left their homeland due to the fighting and settled in expatriate communities around the globe. In recent years, however, a fragile stability has returned that sees locals and returnees rebuilding Somalia together.
While this remains good news, the return of Somali nationals who were raised or spent upwards of two decades abroad has generated new conflicts. Local Somalis often have a perception that they are entitled to more rights in their native land than those who have spent their lives abroad. Returning nationals often feel that their education and experience position them better to contribute to future peace and stability for Somalia. These preconceptions fuel disagreements regarding prime positions in government and other employment conflicts.
There is a significant culture gap between returnees and local Somalis, but efforts have begun recently to bridge this gap in the name of improving their war-torn country. A symposium was held in June 2017 to bring these groups together and foster an ongoing dialogue about incorporating all Somalis in the nation’s future. These new efforts hope to see locals and returnees rebuilding Somalia together.
One local participant explained, “It was an important workshop in that it brought together diaspora returnees and the locals. The engagements were amicable as the diaspora returnees and their local counterparts held discussions so as to get to understand each other.”
Returnees are a big part of rebuilding Somalia. One United Nations program in recent years has arranged for dozens of short-term positions in Somalia for expatriates with expert qualifications. Some returnees are keenly conscious of the problems incurred by bringing in outsiders. One American returnee who hosted a legal summit with Somali experts and politicians in 2015 was proud to have completed the project with a minimum of international interference.
Vocational and education programs that support returnees are opening opportunities for Somalis no matter their personal history. The U.N. High Commission for Refugees reported in December 2017 on a program in Mogadishu that is providing training through the country’s Returnee Support Center. Their training programs are increasing the quality of life in the Somali capital for both returning nationals and those who stayed through the wars.
Regional organizations are supporting efforts to integrate the diverse Somali population as well. AMISOM, the African Union Mission in Somalia, is participating in the talks to unite local and returning populations, and has endorsed their continuing work.
“One of the reasons AMISOM is supporting this great initiative is because cooperation and partnership between Somali Diaspora Returnees and Homeland community is critical for the stability and long-term development of Somalia,” said Dr. Walters Samah, AMISOM Political Officer to ReliefWeb.
Despite the fragility of the current situation, Somalia’s prospects have been improving for years. With luck and dedication, this trajectory will continue with locals and returnees rebuilding Somalia together for a better future.
– Paul Robertson
Photo: Flickr