Jordan’s economy is projected to grow within the next year. Despite regional instability in Africa and the Middle East, five development projects in Jordan work toward the common goal of improving socio-economic conditions for its citizens.
City-to-City Exchange
In 2015, the US Agency for International Development conducted a city-to-city exchange program between Pocatello, Idaho and Hooksett, New Hampshire and three cities in Jordan: Al-Shou’la, Muath bin Jabal and Tabaquet Fahel. The program began in March of 2015 with the objective to advise the local Jordanian government on economic development ideas and approaches.
US representatives acting as advisors collaborated on plans for a local farmers market in Al-Shou’la, municipal development in Muath bin Jabal and the development of a refrigeration system in Tabaquet Fahel. These projects were devised to stimulate the economy and benefit local farmers and producers. The city-to-city program hopes to help in areas of infrastructure, education and the deliverance of basic needs to Jordanians.
Al-Manar Project
The Al-Manar Project is a free national human resource development center that works to advance the career prospects of Jordanians. This is accomplished by offering human resource information that may support Jordanian advancement in the career field. Gender and social inclusiveness are the main concerns for the project.
Al-Manar provides career counseling, online career development, access to human resource information and guidance for university students and professionals alike. Career Development Coordinator Dr. Khaled AlQudah is currently working on improving support in schools. Distribution of information is accomplished via physical locations and updated online databases accessible by anyone.
The Rural Economic Growth and Employment Project
The Rural Economic Growth and Employment project was developed in 2015 to involve small-scale local farmers and reinforce the agricultural sector to benefit the country collectively. Designed to reduce unemployment among the youth, the six-year-long project includes loan extensions to farmers and the promotion of their produce. This may include ISO safety and quality certifications.
Renewable Energy
Steady economic growth is succeeding in Jordan, says a 2017 report from the International Institute for Applied Systems Analysis. Accordingly, the growth is positively correlated with the use of fossil fuel consumption. Fossil fuels currently act as Jordan’s main electrical supply.
The government has set out to replace at least 10 percent of nonrenewable resources with renewable energies by 2020. Nuclear energy, wind and solar energies are among those in contention to comprise the 10 percent goal. Governmentally sanctioned development projects in Jordan are in the planning and implementation phases of working toward this goal, the report says.
Jordan’s Vision 2025
Jordan’s vision for 2025 is a holistic approach that includes the development of nine economic pockets throughout the kingdom. These include support for local businesses and entrepreneurship. E-commerce and gaming were among some of the prospects tied up in this vision’s plan.
Under the same program, Jordan’s foreign trade policy is designed to supplement local businesses by improving market access to Jordanian exports like clothing, pharmaceuticals and produce. The side-effects of empowering local businesses such as Jordan’s Classic Fashion Apparel Industry Co. Ltd. include an emphasis on employee satisfaction and social responsibility.
According to the 2016 World Bank’s Economic Outlook Report for Jordan, these five development projects in Jordan are contributing to its improved future. With all the kingdom’s recent success, the pursuit of economic and social victories are sure to continue.
– Sloan Bousselaire
Photo: Flickr
Infrastructure in the Maldives: Connecting Locals and the World
The Maldives is a tourist destination that ranks highly in visitor satisfaction, but it is also home to 436,000 people. The government must balance its priorities of ensuring the longevity of its islands and people, while also bolstering tourism, the country’s main industry.
With tourism and finances in mind, the expansion of its international airport is a logical next step.
Adil Moosa, Managing Director of Maldives Airports Company Limited, said: “With the increasing flow of visitors to the Maldives, it was becoming a strain to maintain efficiency and deliver quality experiences due to numerous manual processes.”
These changes come after years of growth that anchored tourism as the Maldives’ main economic contributor. The airport serves close to 2.6 million passengers annually.
In order to ensure that the Maldivian people maintain their land above sea level, upholding the tourism industry is necessary for financial reasons.
The Maldives consists of 26 coral atolls and has a high point of less than eight feet above sea level. It has the lowest average elevation in the world. This puts the islands in serious danger of being submerged under rising seas.
To address this problem head-on, the country has invested in infrastructure in the Maldives, beginning with the construction of man-made islands. Hulhulmalé is one such island, situated near the capital city of Malé and the Velana Airport. Built by pumping sand from surrounding atolls, it is being fortified with walls 3 meters above sea level. The project is should be completed by 2023 and it will be able to accommodate about 130,000 people. Eight such islands have already been built and three more are planned.
Shiham Adam, Director of the Maldives Marine Research Center, believes reclaiming islands in this manner is the solution to the issue brought up by climate change. The people of the Maldives must have land to live on and jobs to work.
In the near future, the China-Maldives friendship bridge will connect Hulhulmalé, Hululé and the capital of Malé. The project budget is $300 million: $100 million has been provided in free-aid from China and a further $170 million was loaned by China with an interest rate of two percent. The Maldivian government is spending $30 million on the project.
The bridge will span from the eastern edge of Malé to the western corner of Hulhulé where the international airport is located.
A lack of bridges has been an issue in the development of infrastructure in the Maldives for years. Local residents have had to make do by traveling between islands via ferry.
– Sam Bramlett
Photo: Flickr
Women’s Empowerment in Guatemala
CNN reported in 2012 that gender-based violence is highly prevalent in Guatemala and the country ranked third in femicide worldwide. There are two women killed each day in the small country making women’s empowerment in Guatemala an important issue.
During Guatemala’s civil war there was a great deal of violence committed against women. This left a legacy of violence that still plagues the country today. The military and paramilitary personnel that committed these crimes with impunity were integrated back into society. Many of these men remain in positions of power and have not changed their thoughts about women, because of this women’s empowerment in Guatemala is an issue that must be discussed.
Just over 20 years after the end of the civil war violent crime is higher than it was during the conflict. Although the homicide rate is high, the UN estimates that only two percent of cases go to court. Women are especially prone to violence because of gender bias. Many women are brutally killed because of their gender. The methods used include rape, torture and mutilation which were also common during the civil war. This culture of gender-based violence makes women’s empowerment in Guatemala difficult to accomplish.
Drug cartels from Mexico and other criminal groups help contribute to the excessive violence that plagues Guatemala which leaves fewer recourses for authorities to investigate femicides. Many cases go unreported because women fear retaliation which further hampers women’s empowerment in Guatemala.
The Central American nation is deeply rooted in machismo culture which is one of the greatest obstacles for women’s empowerment in Guatemala. Around 80 percent of men believe that women need permission to leave their home and 70 percent of women believe the same. Ideas like this make life difficult for women in Guatemala.
Despite the problems women face in Guatemala, there are signs of progress. According to PCI Global, the Asociación para el Desarollo Sostenible de la Juventud (ADESJU) was created by a group of young Guatemalans in 2004. In 2014, ADESJU began to apply the Women Empowered Initiative (WE) with the help of PCI. This has helped around 2000 women become economically and politically empowered. ADESJU has organized 94 WE groups with 1839 participants. WE wants to encourage women to become economically independent and active members of their communities. Women’s empowerment in Guatemala faces many obstacles but organizations like these are doing what they can to advance it.
– Fernando Vazquez
Photo: Flickr
Infrastructure in Equatorial Guinea
Equatorial Guinea is one of the largest oil producers in Africa, producing 186,000 barrels of oil per day and ranking 37 out of 98 countries in crude oil production.
Equatorial Guinea’s economy significantly improved after it struck oil in the mid-1990s; its gross domestic product skyrocketed from .254 to 8.663 within eight years. Despite the country’s inherent wealth, over 70 percent of its population lives below the national poverty lines.
The majority of oil money is spent on infrastructure in Equatorial Guinea, leaving little to no funds for health and education. According to the World Bank, Equatorial Guinea spends $80 out of every $100 in its budget on infrastructure and two to three dollars on health and education.
Infrastructure in Equatorial Guinea appears to be a driving force in the country’s political corruption. Human Rights Watch documented the ruling elite’s misdirected spending in a June 2017 report. The elite primarily benefits from the country’s oil wealth by owning stakes in companies that are awarded grossly inflated public infrastructure contracts.
A Parisian court convicted President Teodoro Obiang Nguema Mbasogo’s son Teodoro Nguema Obiang Mangue, who is also Equatorial Guinea’s vice president, of embezzling millions of euros from his government and laundering it in France. The court seized his assets in France, valued at more than $100 million, in late 2017.
In 2012, the US Department of Justice calculated that Mangue— with an annual salary of less than $100,000 USD— spent $315 million USD between 2004 and 2011. Mangue purchased luxury goods, cars and properties with the $315 million USD— nearly a third more than the Equatoguinean government’s annual spending on health and education combined in 2011.
Mangue exemplifies Equatorial Guinea’s political corruption and its misdirected spending of oil money, but his conviction demonstrates the power of law and accountability. Although infrastructure in Equatorial Guinea remains corrupted, Mangue’s conviction may initiate further investigations into the country’s budget.
– Carolyn Gibson
Photo: Flickr
Improvements to Infrastructure in Chad Countering Extremism
Infrastructure encompasses many things, including roads, electricity and water systems. The infrastructure in Chad has been lacking, which affects its citizens’ daily lives. However, many groups are lending a helping hand to Chad so the lives of its citizens can improve.
Problems with infrastructure in Chad can be attributed to the civil war and poor management by the central government. The decades-long civil war damaged many of the country’s roads, and the remaining roads are made of dirt and are often at risk of eroding. The distributors of power and water are often corrupt and demand an excessive amount of money for their services. Although water and electricity are available in the capital, they are expensive and not available to most of the population in rural Chad.
Due to its many problems, the quality of infrastructure in Chad is ranked 143rd out of 148 countries in the world.
One of the most important things that good infrastructure helps with is the maintenance of water. A strong water infrastructure means that people do not have to wonder whether or not their drinking water is contaminated. Unfortunately, Chadians must worry if their water is safe to drink. People in rural Chad have to rely on traditional water wells as their main water resource. Unfortunately, these wells are susceptible to surface contamination. Bacteria and disease can propagate in the wells.
Although Chad is having problems with its infrastructure, there are people who are willing to help. Spirit of America is a group of American troops who help people in impoverished nations improve their lives. These troops have gone to Chad and built water pumps in key towns and cities. Prior to the troops arriving, these towns and cities did not have any running water.
The immediate effect of building water pumps is a safe water source for the town. If a town has a clean and safe water source, its quality of life will improve and the occurrence of disease will decrease.
Another effect of building water pumps is that they function as a means of counterterrorism. Extremist groups often use the lack of water as a rallying call for people to join their cause. Once there is a proper water system available to people, the extremists have less backing for their cause and will not be able to recruit as many people.
Chad has had troubles with regard to infrastructure, but things are beginning to improve. With the assistance of groups such as Spirit of America, improvements in Chad’s infrastructure can have a positive impact on its citizens.
– Daniel Borjas
Photo: Flickr
Credit Access in Turkey
So, how does the current picture look regarding credit access in Turkey?
Turkey boasts the second-largest banking system in Emerging Europe, after Russia. The term “Emerging Europe” refers to poorer economies in central, eastern and southeastern Europe. Think Serbia and Albania, not Germany or France.
The Turkish system is highly liquid and well-capitalized, granting it great flexibility to lend financing to investors looking to develop the region. There are many viable options for those looking to get a loan in Turkey.
Turkey’s system supports three types of banks: standard deposit banks, development and investment banks and participation banks. Any of these may grant loans in the form of cash, non-cash or interest-free (i.e., participation) loans in local or foreign currency. Leasing and factoring companies are also an option and several international development banks also provide funding. The European Investment Bank (EIB) and the International Finance Corporation (IFC) are two such entities.
In 2016, the World Bank reported that Turkish bank account, debit card and credit card ownership were at an impressively high level, which tends to indicate access to finance. As of then, the country had also recently increased its rate of savings, which bodes well for future credit access. However, the data show that women continue to have less access to credit than men, despite progress being made.
Just this past September, Reuters reported that Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan called for banks to open credit access in Turkey for investors and to lower their interest rates. Erdogan strongly opposes high-interest rates and wants to pressure the banks—especially state banks—to makes this change.
According to Hürriyet Daily News, this comes after Deputy Prime Minister Mehmet Șimșek announced earlier this year the creation of a new Credit Guarantee Fund that allows crafts and tradespeople easier access to financing. Bloomberg reports that policymakers don’t intend to expand that fund despite the growth it has already sparked. Time will tell whether that is a good move.
Hopefully, the overall increase in lending power will spur even more investment and growth in Turkey and serve as an example to other nations struggling with high levels of poverty.
– Chuck Hasenauer
Photo: Flickr
Safer Childbirth in South Sudan
The number one cause of death for women in South Sudan is complications from pregnancy and childbirth. This is detrimental to the child’s health as they grow up without a mother, and the complications can cause problems for the child and their health as well. The country as a whole ranks fifth in the world for maternal mortality rates.
One common complication of childbirth in South Sudan is postpartum hemorrhaging. This is a dangerous amount of blood loss from persistent bleeding after giving birth. This can cause death for both the child and the mother. Most midwives and care providers in South Sudan do not have the training to treat complications like these. Currently, a well-trained healthcare worker delivers only about one in five births.
Maternal complications in South Sudan needed to be addressed, and UNICEF, along with its partners, has acted on the matter by providing the country’s medical facilities with maternal medical kits. The kit is said to help childbirth in South Sudan become safe for both mother and baby.
So far, 3,000 maternal medical kits have been sent to health facilities in the northern region of the country. The kits are provided by UNICEF Germany and have critical items to help midwives properly treat pregnant women, including folic acid, anti-malarial drugs and oxytocin. The expectant mothers also receive a kit that includes soap, baby clothes, blankets and a plastic sheet.
The kits are a crucial necessity for women in South Sudan, as a very small percentage of pregnant women in the nation have access to proper healthcare and labor and delivery services. Most of the midwives and neonatal care providers in the country lack the proper training for high-risk pregnancies and are not able to perform simple procedures that can save the mother’s life during delivery. There is also a shortage of essential medicines and supplies, which the kits are alleviating. By addressing these needs, the maternal mortality rate can be greatly reduced and ensure better outcomes for mothers and infants in South Sudan.
– Chloe Turner
Photo: Flickr
Five Development Projects in Jordan
City-to-City Exchange
In 2015, the US Agency for International Development conducted a city-to-city exchange program between Pocatello, Idaho and Hooksett, New Hampshire and three cities in Jordan: Al-Shou’la, Muath bin Jabal and Tabaquet Fahel. The program began in March of 2015 with the objective to advise the local Jordanian government on economic development ideas and approaches.
US representatives acting as advisors collaborated on plans for a local farmers market in Al-Shou’la, municipal development in Muath bin Jabal and the development of a refrigeration system in Tabaquet Fahel. These projects were devised to stimulate the economy and benefit local farmers and producers. The city-to-city program hopes to help in areas of infrastructure, education and the deliverance of basic needs to Jordanians.
Al-Manar Project
The Al-Manar Project is a free national human resource development center that works to advance the career prospects of Jordanians. This is accomplished by offering human resource information that may support Jordanian advancement in the career field. Gender and social inclusiveness are the main concerns for the project.
Al-Manar provides career counseling, online career development, access to human resource information and guidance for university students and professionals alike. Career Development Coordinator Dr. Khaled AlQudah is currently working on improving support in schools. Distribution of information is accomplished via physical locations and updated online databases accessible by anyone.
The Rural Economic Growth and Employment Project
The Rural Economic Growth and Employment project was developed in 2015 to involve small-scale local farmers and reinforce the agricultural sector to benefit the country collectively. Designed to reduce unemployment among the youth, the six-year-long project includes loan extensions to farmers and the promotion of their produce. This may include ISO safety and quality certifications.
Renewable Energy
Steady economic growth is succeeding in Jordan, says a 2017 report from the International Institute for Applied Systems Analysis. Accordingly, the growth is positively correlated with the use of fossil fuel consumption. Fossil fuels currently act as Jordan’s main electrical supply.
The government has set out to replace at least 10 percent of nonrenewable resources with renewable energies by 2020. Nuclear energy, wind and solar energies are among those in contention to comprise the 10 percent goal. Governmentally sanctioned development projects in Jordan are in the planning and implementation phases of working toward this goal, the report says.
Jordan’s Vision 2025
Jordan’s vision for 2025 is a holistic approach that includes the development of nine economic pockets throughout the kingdom. These include support for local businesses and entrepreneurship. E-commerce and gaming were among some of the prospects tied up in this vision’s plan.
Under the same program, Jordan’s foreign trade policy is designed to supplement local businesses by improving market access to Jordanian exports like clothing, pharmaceuticals and produce. The side-effects of empowering local businesses such as Jordan’s Classic Fashion Apparel Industry Co. Ltd. include an emphasis on employee satisfaction and social responsibility.
According to the 2016 World Bank’s Economic Outlook Report for Jordan, these five development projects in Jordan are contributing to its improved future. With all the kingdom’s recent success, the pursuit of economic and social victories are sure to continue.
– Sloan Bousselaire
Photo: Flickr
Solar Power a Key Piece in the Fight Against Poverty
So, what are the solutions to fight this burden? Investment, innovation, technology and education are all viable options. But more and more multinational companies, associations and even simple citizens are now engaged in the fight against poverty, using a very special tool: solar power. As a source of renewable energy that is good for the environment, solar power can also help people get out of poverty by giving them access to electricity.
Today, most inhabitants of developing countries rely more on kerosene than on electricity for their basic needs such as household lighting. This is not only because the cost of electricity is extremely high, as the poorest people in the world pay 40 times more for the same energy services, but also because, most of the time, the nearest outlets are located miles away from where poverty is striking.
Because of this poor resource distribution, 15 percent of the global population still lives without access to electricity, and it is this inequality that solar power is attempting to balance by giving people easier access to electricity, information and education. For example, in Bangalore in India, families using solar panels can save $100 a year, money they tend to invest in their children’s education.
According to Simon Bransfield-Garth, Azuri’s CEO, a leading company in solar power in emerging markets in Africa, “a child spends an extra [two] hours per day doing homework if he has electricity.” But giving people access to electricity, and thus to information and education, is only one advantage this form of energy has to offer developing countries.
First, using solar power requires only one natural resource: the sun. This free, nonpolluting and unlimited
generator makes solar power one of the most environmentally friendly energies in the world. Furthermore, green energy is reliable and cheaper in the long run than kerosene or generators. It is also safer and easier to preserve in case of natural disasters, as solar panels are detachable and can be put indoors.
Helping in both the fight against poverty and climate change, solar power seems to be the perfect solution for those who still don’t have access to electricity. But there is much more at stake here: every year, more than four million people are killed by indoor air pollution, more than AIDS and malaria combined. Developing clean energy is, now, a matter of life or death.
As concluded Justin Guay, associate director of Sierra Club’s International Climate Program, “Just providing a few hours of solar lighting alone improves the human condition.”
– Léa Gorius
Photo: Flickr
Humanitarian Aid to Ukraine Will Help Millions of Citizens
The suffering is due to the separatist movement in Ukraine’s south and east regions after a reversal in government that has led to protests, violence and over 6,500 lives lost. Millions of citizens have been forced from their homes, creating a food crisis. However, efforts to increase humanitarian aid to Ukraine have been implemented over the past few years. The U.S. government has provided more than $27 million in assistance to meet the health, food, shelter, water, sanitation, hygiene and protection needs in the conflict-affected areas of the Ukraine during 2017 alone.
In response to Ukraine’s political transition and its effects, USAID’s Ukraine Confidence Building Initiative program was formed in 2014. The Confidence Building Initiative (UCBI) complements ongoing USAID efforts to create a prosperous and stable Ukraine. UCBI assistance will come in the form of small in-kind grants, such as goods, services and technical support, to a range of partners, including national and local civilian government entities, civil society organizations and community leaders.
By providing quick, short-term assistance to Ukrainian partners who are in support of a peaceful democratic transition, UCBI seeks to reduce social tensions and increase available information on the conflict and its impact. According to ReliefWeb, USAID has implemented 70 activities in Ukraine and provided approximately 100,000 IDPs with economic opportunities and other important resettlement services.
By rebuilding confidence and stability in vulnerable communities in the eastern European nation, the goal of humanitarian aid to Ukraine is to create an integrated, educated and unified nation.
– Kailey Brennan
Photo: Flickr
How Argentina Lowered its Poverty Rate in 2017
From the second half of 2016 to the first half of 2017, Argentina lowered its poverty rate by 1.7 percent. Though that number may seem small, it represents a significant step forward for a country who has over 30 percent of its citizens living in destitution. What steps did the nation take to reverse years of trends? How can other struggling parts of the globe learn from Argentina?
Market-Friendly Policies
One of Argentinian President Mauricio Macri’s goals was to attract foreign financing. From 2003 to 2016, Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) in Argentina averaged at $575 million. But in the second quarter of 2016, the FDI increased to $788 million. This amount represents the highest investment in the country since July 2014.
Steep Currency Devaluation
To combat record inflation, Macri took an unpopular measure. Currency devaluation in 2015 resulted in surging prices and a temporary increase in the country’s poor. Money was now worth less, though this was little comfort to those with little money to start.
All Macri’s program needed was time. Private sector investment and job creation rose in the past year, which led to more consumer spending. Not only has the poverty rate recovered from its drop, but the country now has a solid base of businesses and investments to continue its trends. A healthy economy tends to create lower poverty… though that truism doesn’t always hold.
Not Depending On Businesses Alone
Despite the advances made under Macri’s leadership, his government is riddled with issues. His critics claim that Macri’s attempts to court businesses only led to a widening gap between the rich and the poor. Reducing subsidies for electricity and gas led to a 40 percent rise in inflation in 2016.
But in a non-business sense, Macri’s initiatives represent a step forward. In 2013, former President Cristina Kirchner claimed that Argentina lowered its poverty rate to five percent, and refused to back that claim with evidence. The current state of Argentina challenges that dubious claim. More so than any business, the best move Argentina made for its impoverished was to admit it had a problem. For each positive gain spearheaded by Macri, government humility made them all possible.
Erasmo Mema, a political analyst from FTI Consulting, predicted that Argentina’s 2017 economic successes would make or break Macri’s legacy. As of November 2017, the Macri administration appears secure. But Mema warns Argentina that “…any foreign direct investment will have to be buttressed by the government’s commitment to transparency, [and] a sound economic policy…”
– Nick Edinger
Photo: Flickr