Motivated by a desire for the island’s government to change regimes, U.S. President Donald Trump signed Executive Order 14380 on January 29th, 2026, authorizing the imposition of heavy tariffs upon oil provisions sent to Cuba and delivering a huge blow to the progress made toward SDG 1 in Cuba.
The island is one of Latin America’s poorest countries and had already been struggling with an energy crisis before Trump’s tariffs were put into place. With 12% experiencing unemployment and an astonishing 89% living in extreme poverty, Cuba’s citizens are suffering under the weight of food shortages and medicine shortages, blackouts and poor wages.
While the island has long endured social problems, as of 2026, the poverty rate has soared by 49% since 2025, with the island now suffering from blackouts, a lack of drinkable water and outbreaks of mosquito-borne and hygiene-related illnesses, creating a nation-wide poverty crisis that is driving 78% of people living on the island to make emigration plans. Here are three ways that the U.S. fuel blockage on Cuba is threatening the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 1: no poverty in Cuba:
1. Debilitated Healthcare System
Cuba’s hospitals are unable to function effectively due to frequent power outages, leading to thousands of patients awaiting surgeries that are unable to be performed without sufficient water and electricity. Despite relying on generators during the reoccurring blackouts, hospitals and other important institutions are grappling to optimize the few hours of electricity provided each day, with laboratories shortening their workdays from five to two hours every week in order to preserve fuel.
A spike in hygiene-related and mosquito-borne illnesses, which the heaps of rubbish now piling on the streets of Cuba have caused, is putting the healthcare system under further strain. The Cuban Government responded to the fuel shortage with rationed waste collection in an attempt to save fuel, resulting in garbage piles being burned as citizens desperately scramble to get rid of the piles of waste marinating in the streets.
Health officials report that the flux of stagnant water left inside discarded waste has led to an increase in reproduction of the Aedes aegypti species. With a large number of vectors swarming inside homes and public areas, the transmission of mosquito-borne illnesses has drastically increased, resulting in countless new cases of diseases like chikungunya, which causes significant pain and often debilitating symptoms in patients.
Rubbish piles further raise concern, as parents struggle to monitor their children in streets filled with waste that can cause serious health issues if consumed out of hunger or inhaled during a burning. With so few resources available, hospitals struggle to care for their rapidly increasing number of patients.
2. Grid Collapse
A preexisting energy crisis, which the fuel blockade has made worse, has left schools with no choice but to reduce the number of classes delivered to students each day, resulting in online classes and even cancellations, and businesses unable to operate, forcing them to shut down and leave workers unemployed.
A cessation of fuel deliveries to the Antonio Guiteras Thermoelectric Power Plant has led to frequent breakdowns and left the island powerless in the resulting outages. Without power for lights and technological devices, schools and businesses are unable to run as usual. However, it is speculated that, due to the crumbling public transport system, attendance would be low even if there was power. With a lack of fuel affecting the everyday commutes of students and workers alike, and a high prevalence of blackouts, the Cuban workforce is paralyzed, leaving countless unemployed and jeopardizing SDG 1 in Cuba.
The interruption to studies has even prompted students at the University of Havana to conduct a sit-down protest in March, angered by officials’ lack of action when the U.S. first began enforcing the blockade. A rare occurrence, the protest was responded with force, until Higher Education Vice Minister Modesto Ricardo Gomez called off university security, claiming their voices had a right to be heard and taken seriously.
3. Limited Access To Clean Water
A water shortage caused by frequent blackouts over the island has left Cubans panicked. Due to fuel shortages, the island is experiencing voltage fluctuations. This causes delays in pumping schedules and damages to machinery, thus affecting the regular delivery of clean water to citizens. With no reliable access to clean drinking water, citizens have resorted to collecting water from tanker trucks and relying on aid vessels for supplies.
The lack of clean water is leading to an increase in hospital patients, with people suffering from dehydration in the summer heat. Low water supply also means there is little to be spared for showers and cleanliness, leaving citizens vulnerable to illnesses due to poor hygiene and unsanitary food. There is very little water that can be boiled to wash dishes or cook food, therefore creating an environment where sickness can thrive.
Here is some information about aid being delivered to combat the poverty crisis in Cuba:
The Nuestra América Convoy
In 2015, the United Nations developed a 2030 vision, outlined by 17 SDGs, the first goal being no poverty. While the U.S. fuel blockade threatens to impede SDG 1 in Cuba, there are several organizations taking action to help citizens. The Nuestra América Convoy, for example, mobilized hundreds of volunteers from more than 30 countries to deliver aid to the island in the form of critical medical and food supplies.
Aiming to aid, and stand in solidarity with, the citizens of Cuba, the delegation of Cuban Americans partnered with the International Association of Democratic Lawyers, National Lawyers Guild and U.S. Peace Council to visit Hospital Hermanos Ameijeiras and Parque Maceo, which is one of the more affected parts of Cuba.
On March 21st, the group delivered around 20 tons of humanitarian aid to a drop point in Havana, providing significant humanitarian relief to the Cuban people. Now returned from their trip, having successfully helped hospital patients and residents of the area, volunteers plead for change and emphasize that the blockade will only make the situation in Cuba, as well as the island’s relationship with the U.S., worse.
The US’s Offer of Aid
While Cuba’s leader, Miguel Díaz-Canel, had previously rejected the offer, Cuba is now accepting the U.S. government’s $100 million in humanitarian aid. Secretary of State, Marco Rubio, has met with Pope Leo XIV to discuss the delivery of aid to Cuba, planning to distribute the provisions through the Catholic Church. The Cuban government claims it will accept assistance from the U.S., but explains that the island’s citizens may be confused by an offer of help by the same government that has made the poverty crisis significantly worse.
Achieving the United Nations’ SDG 1 in Cuba is critical to saving countless lives, as well as improving the living conditions of the island’s 10,899,951 residents. These three consequences of the U.S. fuel blockade, however, are not only delaying, but drastically reversing the progress made towards achieving this goal. The aid that volunteers are delivering to the island helps counteract these issues, but it is unclear whether it will be enough to combat the ever-growing poverty rate in Cuba.
– Ruby Fraser
Ruby is based in Cannes, France and focuses on Global Health and Politics for The Borgen Project.
Photo: Pixabay
How the Gender Wage Gap in Serbia is Closing
The wage gap that women in Serbia face reveals other challenges like occupational segregation and labor market barriers. Even so, the government is making efforts to tackle this disparity by implementing programs geared at ensuring equal economic opportunities for all citizens regardless of gender.
Women in Serbia Earn Less Than Men
Despite the progress made in gender equality in Serbia, women are still earning less than men. The World Bank statistics estimate that Serbia’s gender wage gap is around 8-11%, implying that women earn roughly 89-92 cents for each euro earned by men. The Statistical Office of the Republic of Serbia reports that women are overrepresented in occupations with low salaries and those involving part-time employment. The gender wage gap in Serbia remains smaller than in many countries but continues to affect long-term economic equality.
Some of the causes of these disparities in pay between men and women include the fact that women tend to engage in lower-paying job industries such as education, healthcare and social work, whereas men engage in occupations associated with greater pay in areas including engineering and construction. Researchers have pointed out that wage discrimination includes disparity both in earnings and employment opportunities.
Employment Segregation Drives Income Inequality
One major cause of Serbia’s wage gap is employment segregation. Women are disproportionately represented in fields like education, healthcare and social services, which have historically offered lower salaries than other jobs. Men, on the other hand, represent the majority in highly compensated fields like construction and engineering. The United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) asserts that occupational segregation, which places women in lower paid occupations than men, contributes to economic disparity. Occupation segregation restricts women’s opportunities for career development and further widens the wage gaps.
Women-dominated industries usually have lower pay and fewer prospects for advancement. Meanwhile, industries with the majority of males gain from more investment, improved pay plans and increased productivity recognition.
Both vertical – restricted promotion into leadership posts – and horizontal – working in various industries – segregation reinforce income disparity. Analysts report that addressing occupational segregation remains an important step in reducing the gender wage gap in Serbia.
Parenthood Significantly Impacts Women’s Earnings
Parenthood influences women’s salaries in Serbia. According to UN Women-supported research, mothers commonly experience breaks in their careers after giving birth such as slower wage growth and fewer promotions.
Mothers are also more likely to work flexible or part–time jobs to balance caregiving responsibilities. In contrast, men’s earnings typically remain stable or even increase after becoming fathers, creating what researchers describe as a “motherhood penalty.”
Despite Serbia’s maternity leave laws, women often have long-term financial repercussions when they return to the workforce. Slower salary growth versus males can be caused by fewer working hours, missed promotions and workplace prejudice against mothers.
Government Policies Addressing the Wage Gap
Serbian authorities have employed different policies for eliminating gender disparities within the workforce. The Serbian Gender Equality Law (2021) ensures equal remuneration, eliminates workplace discrimination and encourages monitoring the gender distribution ratio among organizations.
Furthermore, the Government of Serbia collaborates with the European Union through its accession initiatives to enhance labor standards, increase women’s employment rates and prevent discrimination.
The Gender Equality Law in Serbia provides guidelines for corporations to ensure equal opportunity policies, along with strengthening protection against workplace discrimination. With the goal of increasing women’s participation in well-paid sectors, there is government funding for women’s digital entrepreneurship and employment incentives.
Government policy reports and analyses from the European Union link gender equality policies to improved economic productivity and long-term development outcomes.
Organizations Working to Close the Gender Wage Gap in Serbia
Several organizations in Serbia are actively engaged in minimizing gender inequality and encouraging women’s participation in the economy. The Gender Equality Coordination Body of the Government of Serbia prepares national strategies for equality and monitors the implementation of laws on gender equality. International partners also contribute to this effort through their economic programs and policy development.
The European Bank for Reconstruction and Development funds initiatives aimed at enhancing women’s access to financial resources, training programs and economic opportunities. For example, UN Women collaborates with Serbian agencies to promote women’s empowerment in business financing, training programs and economic opportunities are supported by the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development.
The United Nations Development Programme also assists national partners in formulating gender-sensitive policies and promoting labor market inclusion. These partnerships aim to increase job opportunities, raise awareness of economic disparities and remove structural barriers limiting women from workforce participation.
Looking Ahead
International organizations and Serbian government agencies continue to bridge the gender wage gap. Having more women participate in the labor force increases productivity and helps the country grow economically, according to analysts at the World Bank. Closing the gender wage gap in Serbia remains essential for achieving long-term economic equality and sustainable development.
– Avery Hoadley
Photo: Unsplash
The International Affairs Budget: How It Saves Lives Worldwide
Global Health Programs and Humanitarian Aid
The International Affairs Budget supports programs through agencies such as the United States Agency for International Development (USAID). According to the U.S. government, the U.S. provided nearly $3.7 billion in humanitarian assistance to Sub-Saharan Africa during Fiscal Year 2024, supporting food assistance, emergency relief and humanitarian programs in regions affected by conflict and displacement. In 2024, USAID and the U.S. Department of Agriculture also deployed $1 billion in emergency food assistance to address the growing global hunger crisis.
Global health funding also remains one of the most important components of international affairs spending. U.S.-supported initiatives have helped combat diseases such as HIV/AIDS, malaria and tuberculosis in developing nations. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), malaria prevention efforts have saved millions of lives globally over the last two decades.
Specific Global Impact
In countries such as Zambia and Kenya, U.S.-supported HIV/AIDS programs through the President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR) have expanded access to antiretroviral treatment and reduced AIDS-related deaths. According to the U.S. Department of State, PEPFAR has saved more than 25 million lives globally since its creation in 2003.
Supporters of the International Affairs Budget argue that these programs improve health outcomes abroad while helping vulnerable communities recover from conflict, displacement and food insecurity.
Debates Over Foreign Assistance Spending
Foreign aid and development spending remain active topics in Congress. The House Foreign Affairs Committee and the Senate Foreign Relations Committee continue reviewing legislation and discussing policy related to diplomacy, humanitarian assistance and international development programs.
Advocates for protecting the International Affairs Budget point to the connection between poverty reduction and economic development. According to the Center for Global Development, investments in development assistance can help reduce instability, support economic growth and strengthen international partnerships.
International Cooperation and Poverty Reduction
International cooperation remains a major part of global poverty reduction efforts. Organizations such as the United Nations and the World Bank continue to partner with governments and humanitarian organizations to improve food security, education and access to medical services in low-income nations. According to the World Bank, nearly 700 million people worldwide still live in extreme poverty, surviving on less than $2.15 per day.
Outside the United States, countries such as the United Kingdom and Ireland continue to support international development programs. The Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office publishes updates on humanitarian relief and education programs worldwide. Irish Aid also supports programs that address hunger, improve access to health care and provide economic development in disadvantaged regions.
Moving Forward
Despite the International Affairs Budget’s relatively small size, proposed funding cuts have prompted concern from advocacy groups and humanitarian organizations. Certain critics argue that reducing foreign aid funding could weaken life-saving programs and limit America’s ability to respond effectively to global crises. Supporters claim that diplomacy and development funds remain important components of humanitarian response efforts worldwide.
As lawmakers continue to discuss FY27 spending priorities, deliberations on the International Affairs Budget mirror broader questions about America’s position in global development and humanitarian leadership. While the budget accounts for only a fraction of federal spending, its impact touches the lives of millions worldwide. For many advocates, protecting these investments is both a human rights responsibility and an important investment in a safer and more stable future.
– Gabriel Perez
Photo: Wikimedia Commons
Volunteer Nurses in Honduras
Particularly in the city of La Ceiba, poverty is at a severe high of almost 93%. Located on the northern coast of Honduras, La Ceiba has a population of about 285,000 people. If 93% of these people are living in poverty, then about 265,000 people are in poverty in just one city in Honduras. The city experiences common hurricanes and flooding, which exacerbates the poverty rate.
A Broader View
The nonprofit A Broader View sends volunteer nurses to La Ceiba to assist in public hospitals. The organization was founded in 2007 and runs volunteer programs in 32 countries around the world. Since its founding, A Broader View has raised and donated more than $4.5 million to partners in need and has had almost 70,000 volunteers.
The Premedical and Student Nurse program in La Ceiba sends volunteers over the age of 17 to work in public hospitals and clinics. These volunteer nurses in Honduras work alongside local doctors to help the largely understaffed facilities. Volunteers assist with basics such as charting patients, cleaning and bandaging wounds and taking vitals. No experience is required to participate in the program. Spanish immersion lessons are offered to those interested. Volunteers are asked to bring several pairs of scrubs, a stethoscope, a blood pressure cuff, masks, gloves and pens. La Ceiba has limited availability of supplies and cannot provide these basics to each volunteer. Volunteers are housed on-site and work eight-hour shifts Monday through Friday. Program lengths range from one week to 12 weeks.
Volunteer Nurses in Honduras
The Borgen Project interviewed Nancy Crane, a volunteer nurse who went to Honduras in 2017. In January of that year, La Ceiba experienced major flooding that affected thousands of people. September and October 2017 saw heavy rain and frequent flooding. Nancy went to La Ceiba in September 2017 as a volunteer nurse for 12 weeks with A Broader View. Her motivation for going was a desire to move into the nursing field. She had no prior experience, and A Broader View provided hands-on experience. Nancy was placed in Hospicentro Okens in the emergency room four days a week and at a small local clinic one day a week. She was placed in a homestay with a man who taught her Spanish in her free time.
Nancy told The Borgen Project that her expectations for her time in La Ceiba were to do more observing, handle basic first aid and take vitals. She quickly learned that it would require a lot more patient care than she had prepared for, as well as tasks that do not take place in U.S. hospitals. Nancy was the only volunteer at Hospicentro Okens and was welcomed by everyone, even though her Spanish was not perfect.
“When they heard that I was from the U.S., they actually called me ‘Doctor,'” she said. She was surprised by this since she had no experience or training. Hospicentro Okens was very limited in resources. Nancy recalled some of the more basic tasks she had to complete to help with hospital functioning. “At the emergency room where I worked, they do not have computer systems to log people in, and so we actually would have to sit down in our free time and create lined paper so that we could have people sign in,” she said. She also had to cut and sterilize gauze to be used as needed.
Poverty in La Ceiba
When asked about poverty in La Ceiba, she described walking 10 minutes through flooded streets to reach the emergency room each day. The clinic she worked in was in the most impoverished part of La Ceiba. “When I would go there, there would be hundreds of people lined up to come in to the un-air-conditioned ER, and there are dogs running in and out,” she said. She described it as “organized chaos.” The only running water at the clinic came in through the kitchen window during rain and flowed into a barrel, serving as the only fresh water available.
When patients came in for care that required supplies the hospital or clinic did not have, they were sent to the medical store to buy the supplies themselves before returning for treatment. Nancy described all of the people seeking care as very patient and accepting of the quality care they were receiving. She recounted a man who arrived having a severe heart attack in an open-back jeep with no gurney — he had to walk himself to the entrance.
Nancy also recounted what happens when no surgeons are available. The osteopathic surgeon only comes in once a week, so if someone had a broken limb, doctors would clean it, remove all the bone pieces, clean them, put the clean bones back and stitch it up. The patient would then wait in that condition for one to six days until the surgeon returned.
Nancy also spoke about the severity of diabetes in Honduras. Most people do not have access to whole foods or blood pressure devices, which causes a large number of people to require amputations.
Nancy greatly valued her time as a volunteer nurse in Honduras and later went to school in the U.S. to become a nurse. She volunteered at a clinic in Guatemala in the fall of 2018 and hopes to return to Honduras in the future.
Healthcare in Honduras
Since 2017, several organizations have worked to improve health care in Honduras. The United Nations Office for Project Services (UNOPS) worked with the Honduran Ministry of Health to improve the quality of one of the main public hospitals in Tegucigalpa. In September 2024, UNOPS announced a plan to upgrade and construct six operating rooms not currently in use. As of December 2025, Hospital Escuela now has four stretcher elevators to better transport staff and patients. A Temporary Equipment and Sterilization Center was also handed over to the hospital to provide more space during construction and to ensure proper sterilization of medical supplies.
On March 13, 2026, the U.S. Embassy in Tegucigalpa announced a $46.5 million five-year bilateral health Memorandum of Understanding (MOU). The Department of State will provide $29.5 million over the next five years to help the Honduran health care system address HIV/AIDS and other noncommunicable diseases. The Honduran government commits to increasing its health spending in HIV and global health security by $16.8 million. The MOU gives Honduras greater national autonomy over its health care system and integrates U.S.-funded frontline health care and laboratory workers into the national health workforce.
Looking Ahead
Volunteer nurses in Honduras still play a critical role in supporting the health care system. Several organizations beyond A Broader View send volunteers to the country. With limited local staff available, volunteer nurses provide immediate, short-term care and relieve pressure on local nurses. Volunteer programs also bring critical supplies that Honduras lacks. In the years since Nancy Crane volunteered in La Ceiba, funding has increased and more volunteer nurses have helped support the health care system for those living in poverty.
– Kaitlyn Crane
Photo: Flickr
Fighting Back: Cholera Vaccine Shortages in Bangladesh
The Cholera Cycle
The prevalence of cholera in Bangladesh has been estimated to be around 100,000 cases per year.
This is due to a number of different factors, including Bangladesh’s rainfall season, where there is an increase in floods and droughts.
As cholera is transmitted by consuming contaminated food and water, the increase in rainfall in Bangladesh every year creates a cycle of increasing and decreasing cholera infections. Typically, this is addressed with vaccination protocols such as the mass oral cholera vaccination (OCV) campaign that was put in place for Rohingya refugees in Bangladesh.
However, with continuous cuts to funding across the globe, the availability of vaccinations has been on a steady decrease, making vaccination campaigns like the mass OCV campaign for the Rohingya people a challenge to replicate.
In response to most cholera outbreaks, there is a two-dose protocol in vaccination schemes. Due to funding cuts, the number of doses usually provided in these schemes has been reduced by international organizations that provide vaccinations. This reduction to only one dose has been an attempt to mitigate the impact of the limited global supply.
The Global Response to Low Vaccination Stocks
The vaccine shortages in Bangladesh, as with other countries, have been slowly receiving pushback from global actors such as the World Health Organization (WHO) and Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance. As of February 2026, the global supply of cholera vaccinations has increased to sufficient levels for vaccination programs to resume. Bangladesh is set to receive 10.3 million doses.
Furthermore, the cholera vaccination shortages in Bangladesh have only provided incentives to promote secondary countermeasures against cholera outbreaks. Campaigns such as Water, Sanitation and Hygiene (WASH), which aim to provide safe water and sanitation, have already been in existence for more than a decade.
Cholera is spread by contaminated food and water. With a shift in focus to efforts that promote sanitation and clean water, alongside proper vaccination protocols, the battle against cholera in Bangladesh can continue.
Looking Ahead
The cholera endemic in Bangladesh has always been one of Bangladesh’s biggest health challenges, with around 3,000 deaths occurring annually. This is a problem that continues to persist, especially with the instability caused by vaccine shortages. Despite this, with vaccination campaigns in Bangladesh resuming, the fight against cholera outbreaks resumes with renewed momentum.
– Bernice Attawia
Photo: Flickr
How Smart Irrigation in Morocco is Changing Agriculture
The Irrigation Challenge
Agriculture accounts for 85% of Morocco’s water consumption, yet much of it still relies on traditional irrigation practices inadequate to today’s climate realities. In many regions, farmers continue to use flood irrigation or fixed watering schedules, applying water regardless of soil conditions or weather forecasts.
This leads to significant inefficiencies. Large quantities of water are lost through evaporation, runoff and over-irrigation, particularly during hot and dry periods. As climate change intensifies, rainfall patterns have become more erratic, making it harder for farmers to rely on seasonal cycles. The result is a growing mismatch between water supply and agricultural demand.
In a country already facing structural water scarcity, these inefficiencies are no longer sustainable. They threaten not only agricultural productivity but also long-term food security.
Smart Irrigation in Morocco
AI-powered irrigation systems offer a way to move beyond approximation by introducing precision and adaptability. These technologies rely on real-time data to determine when and how much water crops actually need.
One of the key tools is soil moisture sensing. Sensors placed in the ground continuously monitor moisture levels, allowing farmers to irrigate based on actual conditions rather than assumptions. This prevents both under-watering, which stresses crops, and over-watering, which wastes resources.
Another important feature is the integration of weather forecasts. AI systems can analyze upcoming rainfall and adjust irrigation schedules accordingly. If rain is expected, watering can be delayed, reducing unnecessary water use.
Automation further enhances efficiency. Smart systems can operate independently, delivering water at optimal times — typically early morning or late evening — when evaporation is lower. This ensures that more water reaches plant roots, maximizing its impact.
Benefits of AI-Powered Irrigation
The advantages of these systems are both immediate and long-term. One of the most significant is water conservation. By aligning irrigation with actual crop needs, farmers can reduce water consumption substantially, in some cases by up to 70%. In Morocco’s water-scarce context, such reductions are significant.
Improved irrigation precision also boosts agricultural performance. Crops receive consistent and adequate hydration, leading to higher yields and better-quality produce. This can enhance farmers’ competitiveness in both domestic and export markets.
Cost savings are another key benefit. Using less water reduces expenses linked to pumping, storage and distribution. Over time, these savings can offset the cost of adopting new technologies.
Beyond these measurable gains, digitalization is reshaping daily farm management. Tasks that were once time-consuming and labor-intensive can now be automated. In Sefrou province, a farmer growing vegetables and olives described how this shift has affected his routine: “Automating and remotely managing my irrigation system has freed up time. I now dedicate one day each week to another business activity that generates additional income.” For many farmers, this flexibility opens the door to new economic opportunities.
Where AI Has the Greatest Impact
The potential for smart irrigation in Morocco is particularly high in traditional farming systems. These account for around 85% of cultivated land and consume roughly 70% of irrigation water.
Because these systems are often the least efficient, they offer the greatest scope for improvement. Precision irrigation technologies could reduce water use in this area, representing a significant shift in resource management. By contrast, more controlled systems such as greenhouse or urban agriculture, are already relatively efficient, leaving less room for substantial gains.
Startups and Digital Innovation
A growing number of startups and initiatives are driving the adoption of smart irrigation in Morocco. Agrilink, originally founded in Europe, has developed Internet of Things (IoT)-based solutions that connect soil sensors, irrigation systems and mobile applications. This allows farmers to monitor and control water use remotely, in real time.
SOWIT is another key player, combining climate data and agronomic expertise to deliver tailored recommendations. The initiative aims to bridge the gap between technology and sustainable employment by enabling young people in rural areas to gather actionable agricultural data, enhance production efficiency and support better outcomes for farmers. It targets two key groups: 280 women engaged in agriculture who are being trained in the use of precision farming technologies, and 100 independent field agents providing advisory support and expanding client networks across eight regions.
These initiatives are contributing to the emergence of a digital agricultural ecosystem, creating new opportunities for both efficiency and employment.
Looking Ahead
The expansion of AI in agriculture is closely aligned with Morocco’s Green Generation 2020–2030 strategy, which aims to modernize the sector and improve its resilience. A central objective is to connect up to 2 million farmers to digital platforms by the end of the decade.
As adoption increases, AI-powered irrigation could play a key role in conserving water, stabilizing yields and strengthening food security. Challenges remain, particularly in ensuring that smallholder farmers can access and effectively use these technologies. Addressing these barriers will require continued investment in infrastructure, training and digital literacy.
– Riccardo Chiaraluce
Photo: Flickr
3 Ways the US Fuel Blockade Challenges SDG 1 in Cuba
The island is one of Latin America’s poorest countries and had already been struggling with an energy crisis before Trump’s tariffs were put into place. With 12% experiencing unemployment and an astonishing 89% living in extreme poverty, Cuba’s citizens are suffering under the weight of food shortages and medicine shortages, blackouts and poor wages.
While the island has long endured social problems, as of 2026, the poverty rate has soared by 49% since 2025, with the island now suffering from blackouts, a lack of drinkable water and outbreaks of mosquito-borne and hygiene-related illnesses, creating a nation-wide poverty crisis that is driving 78% of people living on the island to make emigration plans. Here are three ways that the U.S. fuel blockage on Cuba is threatening the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 1: no poverty in Cuba:
1. Debilitated Healthcare System
Cuba’s hospitals are unable to function effectively due to frequent power outages, leading to thousands of patients awaiting surgeries that are unable to be performed without sufficient water and electricity. Despite relying on generators during the reoccurring blackouts, hospitals and other important institutions are grappling to optimize the few hours of electricity provided each day, with laboratories shortening their workdays from five to two hours every week in order to preserve fuel.
A spike in hygiene-related and mosquito-borne illnesses, which the heaps of rubbish now piling on the streets of Cuba have caused, is putting the healthcare system under further strain. The Cuban Government responded to the fuel shortage with rationed waste collection in an attempt to save fuel, resulting in garbage piles being burned as citizens desperately scramble to get rid of the piles of waste marinating in the streets.
Health officials report that the flux of stagnant water left inside discarded waste has led to an increase in reproduction of the Aedes aegypti species. With a large number of vectors swarming inside homes and public areas, the transmission of mosquito-borne illnesses has drastically increased, resulting in countless new cases of diseases like chikungunya, which causes significant pain and often debilitating symptoms in patients.
Rubbish piles further raise concern, as parents struggle to monitor their children in streets filled with waste that can cause serious health issues if consumed out of hunger or inhaled during a burning. With so few resources available, hospitals struggle to care for their rapidly increasing number of patients.
2. Grid Collapse
A preexisting energy crisis, which the fuel blockade has made worse, has left schools with no choice but to reduce the number of classes delivered to students each day, resulting in online classes and even cancellations, and businesses unable to operate, forcing them to shut down and leave workers unemployed.
A cessation of fuel deliveries to the Antonio Guiteras Thermoelectric Power Plant has led to frequent breakdowns and left the island powerless in the resulting outages. Without power for lights and technological devices, schools and businesses are unable to run as usual. However, it is speculated that, due to the crumbling public transport system, attendance would be low even if there was power. With a lack of fuel affecting the everyday commutes of students and workers alike, and a high prevalence of blackouts, the Cuban workforce is paralyzed, leaving countless unemployed and jeopardizing SDG 1 in Cuba.
The interruption to studies has even prompted students at the University of Havana to conduct a sit-down protest in March, angered by officials’ lack of action when the U.S. first began enforcing the blockade. A rare occurrence, the protest was responded with force, until Higher Education Vice Minister Modesto Ricardo Gomez called off university security, claiming their voices had a right to be heard and taken seriously.
3. Limited Access To Clean Water
A water shortage caused by frequent blackouts over the island has left Cubans panicked. Due to fuel shortages, the island is experiencing voltage fluctuations. This causes delays in pumping schedules and damages to machinery, thus affecting the regular delivery of clean water to citizens. With no reliable access to clean drinking water, citizens have resorted to collecting water from tanker trucks and relying on aid vessels for supplies.
The lack of clean water is leading to an increase in hospital patients, with people suffering from dehydration in the summer heat. Low water supply also means there is little to be spared for showers and cleanliness, leaving citizens vulnerable to illnesses due to poor hygiene and unsanitary food. There is very little water that can be boiled to wash dishes or cook food, therefore creating an environment where sickness can thrive.
Here is some information about aid being delivered to combat the poverty crisis in Cuba:
The Nuestra América Convoy
In 2015, the United Nations developed a 2030 vision, outlined by 17 SDGs, the first goal being no poverty. While the U.S. fuel blockade threatens to impede SDG 1 in Cuba, there are several organizations taking action to help citizens. The Nuestra América Convoy, for example, mobilized hundreds of volunteers from more than 30 countries to deliver aid to the island in the form of critical medical and food supplies.
Aiming to aid, and stand in solidarity with, the citizens of Cuba, the delegation of Cuban Americans partnered with the International Association of Democratic Lawyers, National Lawyers Guild and U.S. Peace Council to visit Hospital Hermanos Ameijeiras and Parque Maceo, which is one of the more affected parts of Cuba.
On March 21st, the group delivered around 20 tons of humanitarian aid to a drop point in Havana, providing significant humanitarian relief to the Cuban people. Now returned from their trip, having successfully helped hospital patients and residents of the area, volunteers plead for change and emphasize that the blockade will only make the situation in Cuba, as well as the island’s relationship with the U.S., worse.
The US’s Offer of Aid
While Cuba’s leader, Miguel Díaz-Canel, had previously rejected the offer, Cuba is now accepting the U.S. government’s $100 million in humanitarian aid. Secretary of State, Marco Rubio, has met with Pope Leo XIV to discuss the delivery of aid to Cuba, planning to distribute the provisions through the Catholic Church. The Cuban government claims it will accept assistance from the U.S., but explains that the island’s citizens may be confused by an offer of help by the same government that has made the poverty crisis significantly worse.
Achieving the United Nations’ SDG 1 in Cuba is critical to saving countless lives, as well as improving the living conditions of the island’s 10,899,951 residents. These three consequences of the U.S. fuel blockade, however, are not only delaying, but drastically reversing the progress made towards achieving this goal. The aid that volunteers are delivering to the island helps counteract these issues, but it is unclear whether it will be enough to combat the ever-growing poverty rate in Cuba.
– Ruby Fraser
Photo: Pixabay
Migration to Peru: How Venezuelans Are Rebuilding Their Lives
Why Venezuelans Are Migrating to Peru
Venezuela’s economic collapse became one of the main reasons for migration to Peru. In 2017, Venezuela’s annual inflation rate was 438.1%, according to the International Monetary Fund (IMF), making goods and services harder to afford and wages less stable. Inflation, shortages of food, medicine and essential services pushed many Venezuelans to migrate in search of safety and economic stability. Peru became an attractive destination where they could work and have a chance at a new life.
Challenges After Arrival
Despite many Venezuelans arriving in Peru with strong educational backgrounds, many have found it difficult to find jobs that match their qualifications. The Joint Data Center on Forced Displacement reports that 30% of Venezuelans in Peru have a tertiary education, compared with 21% of Peruvians. However, many Venezuelans are working low-productivity jobs, with 40% working in elementary occupations and 26% working in sales and services. This information shows that many Venezuelans are overqualified for their jobs, yet they still cannot find positions that match their degree.
One reason for this mismatch is that many Venezuelans cannot validate their degrees or professional credentials in Peru. The Joint Data Center reports that only 8% of highly educated Venezuelan migrants had validated their educational degrees, with the main barrier being the cost of the process. As a result, skilled Venezuelans may end up in lower-paying or informal work. Some have turned to digital jobs, including food delivery, where Venezuelans make up an estimated 53% of delivery workers.
Discrimination can also make the integration process harder. The Joint Data Center reports that almost one-third of Venezuelans in Peru have experienced some form of discrimination, and the percentage is higher among those with higher levels of education. Public perception can influence access to employment, including false ideas that Venezuelans are taking jobs or increasing crime. These obstacles show that migration to Peru is not only about arrival but also about access to work, legal recognition and social acceptance.
Organizations Helping Migrants Integrate
Organizations such as the U.N. Refugee Agency and Education Cannot Wait have made efforts to support Venezuelans. The U.N. Refugee Agency helps Venezuelans by providing legal protection, documentation and access to basic services. Through protection spaces and partner organizations, UNHCR provides guidance on rights, refugee status, migration procedures and available services. It has also connected Venezuelans with health services, education and employment support. As of 2025, UNHCR had assisted 39,029 people, supported 557 families with case management and provided legal assistance to 2,885 people. These efforts have helped Venezuelans move from emergency survival toward long-term integration in Peru.
Education Cannot Wait has also helped Venezuelans in Peru by supporting children’s access to education. Since 2019, ECW has supported the Government of Peru and national partners through $1.8 million in emergency grants and a $7.4 million Multi-Year Resilience Programme. These programs helped refugee, migrant and host-community children access education, recover from COVID-19 learning loss and stay safe in schools. Its 2024–2027 Multi-Year Resilience Programme aims to reach 50,850 children and adolescents in Metropolitan Lima and La Libertad. The program supports learning recovery, school materials, teacher training, children with disabilities and violence-prevention efforts, helping Venezuelan children continue their education while making schools more inclusive for migrants and local communities.
Looking Ahead
Venezuelans have made Peru their second home, even while facing challenges such as low-productivity jobs, discrimination and difficulty validating their degrees. However, support from the Peruvian government, UNHCR, ECW and other organizations has helped expand access to documentation, education and safer communities. With continued support, migration to Peru can become not only a story of displacement, but also one of recovery, integration and rebuilding lives.
– Mateo Alcocer
Photo: Flickr
5 Things to Know About the Gender Wage Gap in Suriname
5 Facts About Gender Wage Gap in Suriname
Solutions
Despite these challenges, Suriname joined the World Bank Group’s International Development Association in late 2024 to achieve long-term social and economic goals and build “a more sustainable and prosperous future for all Surinamese.” Further, Suriname’s Ministry of Economic Affairs, Entrepreneurship and Innovation and several NGOs work to promote full economic equality between men and women in Suriname.
In early 2026, Suriname’s Director of Entrepreneurship, Ms. K. Mathoera, met with WINI UMU ABW movement leaders to discuss ways to promote their shared goals of supporting and expanding women’s entrepreneurship in the country. WINI UMA ABW focuses on promoting women’s economic empowerment through training, networking and strategic mentorships.
Further, the Nationale Vrouwen Beweging (NVB) is an active NGO that promotes women’s entrepreneurship and socio-economic equality in Suriname. The NVB successfully established Ilse Henar Hewitt Juridische Bijstand voor Vrouwen, a foundation which protects women’s rights, provides legal aid to Surinamese women who are victims of discrimination or violence and advocates in favor of non-discrimination policies. The NVB and the Ilse Henar Foundation have successfully advocated in favor or legislation to protect women from sexual harassment and intimidation in the workplace, thus lessening one factor inhibiting women’s participation in the workforce. The organization also works with the EU and the UNDP to support women farmers to develop innovative new ways to cultivate the land and raise livestock in the face of changing weather patterns.
Looking Ahead
As more women receive access to education, legal assistance and other aid from NGOs and governmental organizations promoting gender equality, Suriname is making promising progress toward political, social and economic equality for women.
– Melody Hubbard
Photo: Unsplash
How South Korea’s Rice Donation Is Supporting Families in Syria
WFP officials said the donation will strengthen ongoing food assistance operations in Syria, where many households remain dependent on humanitarian aid for daily meals. The partnership also reflects growing international cooperation aimed at addressing hunger in conflict-affected regions.
Why Food Insecurity Remains a Crisis in Syria
Syria continues to face one of the world’s most severe humanitarian emergencies. More than a decade of conflict has damaged infrastructure, disrupted agricultural production and weakened the country’s economy. These challenges have made it harder for families to access affordable food, stable employment and essential public services.
The United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) reports that more than 15 million Syrians still require humanitarian assistance, including food aid, health care and shelter support. Economic instability and inflation have further increased pressure on households already dealing with displacement and poverty.
WFP has also warned that food insecurity remains widespread across Syria, with many families reducing meal sizes or skipping meals entirely due to high food costs. Humanitarian agencies say vulnerable households are often forced to make difficult financial choices between food, medicine and other necessities. Despite these ongoing challenges, international food assistance programs continue providing support to communities facing the greatest need.
How the Rice Donation Will Support Families
South Korea’s rice donation will be distributed through the WFP-established humanitarian network inside Syria. WFP operates large-scale food assistance programs designed to reach communities affected by poverty, displacement and supply shortages. Using existing distribution systems enables aid organizations to deliver support to vulnerable populations more efficiently.
Humanitarian experts say staple foods such as rice are especially valuable during emergencies because they provide reliable nutrition and can support families when local markets become unstable or unaffordable. Food assistance programs also help reduce immediate pressure on households struggling to secure regular meals. For many Syrian families, receiving food aid can also create financial breathing room.
When households spend less on food, they may be able to redirect their limited income toward school expenses, transportation, medical costs or housing costs. Relief organizations say this type of support can help families maintain stability during prolonged crises. Humanitarian assistance programs are also important for protecting children and vulnerable populations from worsening malnutrition and poverty.
Supporting Long-Term Recovery Efforts
The Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) has reported that Syria’s agricultural sector continues to face major setbacks, including damaged irrigation systems, shortages of farming supplies and reduced crop production. These conditions have slowed local recovery efforts and increased dependence on international humanitarian assistance. Food aid alone cannot fully resolve Syria’s economic and humanitarian challenges, but it can help stabilize communities while recovery efforts continue.
Humanitarian organizations say emergency food support works best when combined with programs focused on rebuilding agriculture, restoring livelihoods and improving local food production.
Global Cooperation Remains Essential
South Korea’s rice donation to Syria reflects the broader role international partnerships play in addressing global hunger. Organizations such as WFP rely heavily on support from governments and humanitarian donors to maintain food assistance operations in crisis-affected regions. As humanitarian needs persist across Syria, global cooperation remains essential to help relief agencies deliver consistent support to vulnerable communities.
Aid officials say donations like this provide practical, immediate assistance while helping families navigate difficult economic conditions and ongoing uncertainty.
They also emphasize that continued international support can help prevent worsening food insecurity in already fragile communities. Reliable food assistance programs provide families with regular meals while enabling humanitarian organizations to respond more quickly during emergencies.
In Syria, where many households continue rebuilding after years of instability, international aid remains an important source of relief and support for millions of people facing daily economic challenges.
– Angela “Phoenix” Garrett
Photo: Picryl
The Monsoon’s Aftermath: Structural Reforms in Bangladesh
Transitional Power
Even before the Monsoon Revolution, Bangladesh was experiencing momentum in economic growth. Implementing trade reforms and export diversification helped to sustain growth as inflationary pressure eased and external conditions improved.
However, that was off the back of 15 years of consolidated power, weakening civilian institutions and using force to suppress critics and opposition members of the government.
Now that the regime had been ousted and the new interim government put in its place, it was immediately faced with the structural pressures a less-than-peaceful transition of power brings about.
The new prime minister laid out a roadmap centered on reform of the financial sector and economic stabilization. Policies such as restoring the independence of the Bangladesh Bank, deregulating the financial market and accelerating reforms to improve revenue mobilization were implemented. These reforms are intended to ensure a gradual ease in doing business in the country and macroeconomic stabilization.
The new ruling Bangladesh Nationalist Party has also made other reforms part of its platform, including combating corruption with a stated zero-tolerance policy. The party has addressed the disparity between the rich and poor, looking to create an Economic Reform Commission to address the gap through the “equitable distribution of growth benefits, upholding equality, human dignity, and social justice.” The party also plans to bring fair wages for the working class and reform labor laws to create better working environments.
Looking Ahead
Since the July Uprising, Bangladesh has been in a state of transition across its economy, politics and standard of living. With structural reforms being passed and plans laid out to address the systemic issues in Bangladesh, the effectiveness of the new government’s approach will become clearer over time.
– Alexander Petrov
Photo: Flickr