Actress Millie Bobby Brown met with young adolescent girls in one of São Paulo’s most under-resourced districts, according to the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF), to address key issues in girls’ rights and education in Brazil.
From Screen Star to Global Advocate
Brown rose to international fame as the lead in Netflix’s “Stranger Things,” but off-screen, she has become an influential voice. According to UNICEF, she became UNICEF’s youngest-ever Goodwill Ambassador at age 14 in 2018. As a UNICEF Goodwill Ambassador, Brown has used her global platform to speak out on issues ranging from child poverty and online bullying to girls’ education and mental health.
According to UNICEF, Brown visited the Cidade Tiradentes district in March 2025 to listen to problems associated with girls’ rights and education in Brazil. Some of these include girls’ experiences with gender-based violence, school dropout, period poverty and limited access to job opportunities.
“We talked about the importance of supporting each other through our respective challenges and I wanted them to feel empowered to make decisions about their future,” Bobby said in an interview with UNICEF.
Her experiences with public scrutiny and online harassment have helped shape a more empathetic approach to her advocacy. According to UNICEF, Brown has previously spoken out about her bullying experiences in school.
Issues Facing Girls’ Rights and Education in Brazil
According to UNICEF, there are limitations when it comes to adolescent girls’ rights and education in Brazil. Period poverty, which is a lack of access to feminine supplies and information about menstrual cycles, decreases school participation and affects more than 10 million girls in Brazil.
Violence continues to be a major concern in Brazil, with a report of sexual violence occurring every eight minutes against a girl in 2028. Additionally, in 2020, 14% of all births in the country were to adolescent mothers. This frequently results in disruptions to their education and long-term economic challenges, per UNICEF reports.
Between January and September of 2024, approximately 3,060 girls lost their lives to violence in Brazil, according to Human Rights Watch (HRW). Only about one-third of these cases were officially classified by police as femicides. Brazilian law defines femicides as “killings on account of being persons of the female sex.”
Human Rights Watch reports that some groups have exploited the digital rights of girls. Between November 2023 and April 2024, more than 80 girls reported seeing their manipulated photos on social media. These photos were “sexually explicit deepfakes of them.”
Brown’s On-the-Ground Engagement
Brown visited a school, painted a mural with students and also played capoeira, a traditional Brazilian game, during a physical education class. Brown also met with staff to learn about UNICEF’s Active School Search project. This project can assist in locating children who are not attending school. It can also provide them with the proper resources and guidance needed to help re-enroll them to continue their education.
Among the girls Brown spoke to was 14-year-old Kizzy. Kizzy told UNICEF that school is very important for anyone living in a marginalized area. “Having the school as a source of support for students is essential and always putting the students first is very important,” Kizzy told UNICEF.
According to Microsoft Network (MSN), Brown also engaged in meaningful discussions with the teacher to stress the need for supporting children living in vulnerable conditions. She focused on encouraging a cooperative effort to tackle both educational and social issues affecting the Brazilian community.
Recognizing the perspective of the students, she reassured them that their desire for knowledge about their bodies deserves immediate attention. “We are the change that the school needs and the community needs,” Brown said.
UNICEF Brazil Representative Youssouf Abdel-Jelil described Brown as an “inspiration to girls in Brazil and around the world.” Brown’s work left a lasting impact on those she encountered, according to MSN, strengthening UNICEF’s commitment to advancing children’s rights and instilling a sense of hope and resilience in the next generation.
– Clarissa Dean
Clarissa is based in Bowling Green, KY, USA and focuses on Good News and Celebs for The Borgen Project.
Photo: Flickr
Poverty Reduction and Renewable Energy in Tajikistan
Tajikistan’s Energy Sector
The country’s energy sector is under considerable strain, especially during the winter months when energy demand peaks. Although statistics show that rural populations technically have near-universal electricity access, putting it to 100% access, around 1 million people still endure frequent blackouts and voltage fluctuations. These inconsistent supplies force many families to rely on coal and firewood for heating and cooking, which not only increases their daily burden but also exposes them to significant health risks due to indoor air pollution. These conditions also hinder productivity, restrict educational opportunities and strain public services such as health clinics and schools. Without reliable electricity, development, renewable energy and poverty reduction remain stunted in many parts of the country.
International Initiatives
In response to these challenges, a number of national and international initiatives have begun to promote the use of renewable energy in Tajikistan. To reduce wastage via energy loss, the European Union (EU), for example, has funded through a €20 million investment grant a strategy to modernise Tajikistan’s electricity grid, which will help update the grid to prepare for future renewable energy investments and lead to a much cleaner, renewable Tajikistan. Projects such as this allow rural areas to gain more access to the grid and consistent electricity, allowing critical institutions like schools and medical centers to operate without interruption.
The United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) has supported community-led hydropower projects in areas such as the Rasht Valley, empowering local authorities to manage and distribute energy resources more effectively. By focusing on local people, especially the youth, it enables the project to be fully accepted and utilised by the locals, allowing them the skills to fix any issues, but also find good, high-quality employment that leads to further success in renewable energy and poverty reduction.
Positive Outcomes and Ongoing Challenges
These renewable energy initiatives carry far-reaching socioeconomic benefits. Access to reliable electricity enables small businesses, such as tailoring, carpentry and food processing in order to operate more efficiently and extend their hours, thereby boosting household incomes. Electrified schools can incorporate digital tools and access online educational resources, while clinics can refrigerate vaccines and power medical equipment, greatly improving the quality of health care. In addition, shifting away from traditional fuels such as coal and firewood reduces indoor air pollution, which is a leading contributor to respiratory illnesses, especially among women and children.
Despite the positive outcomes, several barriers continue to hinder the large-scale adoption of renewable energy in Tajikistan. High upfront costs and limited access to domestic financing make it difficult to scale solar and micro-hydro projects. Climate change poses an additional threat, as unpredictable water flows from glacial melt and droughts may jeopardize the long-term viability of hydropower. Furthermore, cumbersome regulatory processes could discourage private investment and slow the implementation of new technologies.
Potential Solutions
To address these issues and realize its clean energy potential, Tajikistan may need to prioritize a combination of financial innovation and policy reform. Encouraging public-private partnerships could unlock new funding streams for decentralized renewable systems, especially in underserved rural areas. Expanding regional energy trade may allow the country to monetize its surplus hydropower during peak production periods. Investing in energy storage technologies, such as batteries and pumped hydro storage, could also help manage seasonal variations in supply and increase grid reliability.
Looking Forward
In conclusion, Tajikistan’s abundant renewable energy resources present an opportunity for renewable energy and poverty reduction and support sustainable development. By improving energy access, especially in rural areas, the country can potentially enhance public services, grow local economies and promote environmental health. With continued international collaboration and a strong domestic policy framework, there’s hope that Tajikistan can transform its energy sector into a cornerstone of resilience, prosperity and social equity.
– Max Jenkins
Photo: Flickr
USAID Programs in Belarus: Civil Society and Economic Resilience
Supporting Civil Society Under Pressure
Belarus is one of the least hospitable places for independent organizations in Eastern Europe. Independent groups are under legal pressure, state surveillance and have little ability to raise funds. Despite the obstacles, USAID works with international organizations and nongovernmental organizations (NGOs) based in neighboring Lithuania and Poland to engage Belarusian activists, educators and community leaders.
Through these partnerships, USAID facilitates online legal livelihood education, digital safety training and capacity-building workshops for NGOs and independent media. Other programs concentrate on training Belarusian organizations to function safely, navigate legal risks or move their operation and work in exile. Other organizations offer training for journalists and youth leaders who focus on local development projects or social advocacy campaigns. These programs might be small in scale, but they are helping to maintain a store of civic knowledge that is under abundant pressure in the country, where independent institutions find themselves under increasing threat.
HIV/AIDS Prevention and Access
In the health field, USAID has long concentrated on the prevention and care for those with HIV/AIDS. Belarus continues to be included among countries in regional health programs prepared by international organizations, such as UNAIDS and the World Health Organization (WHO). USAID supports these efforts by underwriting outreach, training of health workers and community-based testing and education.
These projects are at the forefront of spreading the best global practices of care and nondiscriminatory treatment to Belarusian clinics and health care workers. This is especially vital in rural and underserved areas where stigma, ignorance and funding challenges impede efforts to combat the disease. While health programming does have to operate within state-approved spaces, it is one of the few spaces where international cooperation actually remains possible.
Basic Economic and Digital Skills Training
Belarus has faced increasing economic pressure in recent years, with rising unemployment, low wages and brain drain among young professionals. USAID-funded training programs, delivered online or through regional hubs, help fill this gap by teaching financial literacy, digital skills and basic entrepreneurship.
Participants — often young adults or individuals from marginalized communities — gain practical tools to start small businesses, improve budgeting or enter new job markets. Some programs focus on the IT sector, while others support craft-based entrepreneurship, agriculture or logistics. While the reach of these programs is modest, they offer opportunities to build resilience and reduce economic dependency on unstable state systems.
USAID Programs in Belarus
Although Belarus is not a major recipient of U.S. foreign assistance, USAID’s indirect engagement continues to provide vital support where it is most impactful. These programs don’t aim to change political systems — they aim to improve access to knowledge, health and opportunity for everyday people navigating life in a restrictive environment.
For the U.S., maintaining these connections is a strategic one. Supporting civil society, health care and economic education — even at a small scale — helps create long-term conditions for stability, dignity and local leadership.
– Polina Makarova
Photo: Flickr
Operation Phakisa Improves Socio-economic Conditions
Investing in Underserved Communities
With the end of apartheid in the late 20th century and the ushering in of democracy, the South African government implemented new legislation and programs geared toward improving the lives and well-being of all citizens. The Neighbourhood Development Partnership Grant (NDPG) was one of these early programs. This grant led to the identification of South African townships as a priority for social and economic redevelopment.
Since 2006, this program has implemented targeted efforts and initiatives to increase the development of local areas. In 2011, the Urban Networks Strategy emerged to leverage various profitable outcomes. These included:
As a result of these grants and programs, the South African government has seen significant change in one of its townships, Bara Square, Soweto. Through the NDPG, Bara Square received R36 million for “infrastructure, a new public park and trading facilities for street vendors.” Through this public investment, commuters have access to a safer public environment geared toward developing around people and community needs.
Launching Operation Phakisa
In 2014, President Jacob Zuma, the former president of the RSA, implemented Operation Phakisa. This initiative established new programs designed to address critical development issues, cultivating an inclusive society for all South Africans. Operation Phaksia’s subdivisions include:
As a result of these objectives, South African communities have seen notable improvements in education. As of September 2016, the program had connected 2,430 schools out of a set target of 3,250, providing them with devices and online access.
Expanding Access to Digital Education
With the exception of one province, all district officials and thousands of teachers received training and integration support. In terms of educational content and resources, 120 digital titles have been produced for students of all ages across disciplines. Programs like the NDPG and Operation Phakisa illustrate how legislative efforts in environmental infrastructure and education can have significant impacts on the everyday lives and well-being of citizens. These initiatives offer a model for how targeted public investments could break the cycle of poverty and foster more equitable growth.
– McKenzie Rentie
Photo: Pixabay
The Road to Eradicating Poverty Beyond Growth
About the UN Special Rapporteur
U.N. Special Rapporteurs (or Special Procedures) are unpaid independent human rights specialists accountable to the United Nations Human Rights Council (UNHRC). Additionally, their role involves producing thematic and country-specific reports, visiting countries in an official capacity, communicating human rights violation appeals and presenting findings to the UNHRC and the assembly.
Themes of Special Rapporteurs include the rights to health, education, food, water and sanitation, while others address themes such as extreme poverty and human rights and cruel treatment. Indeed, candidates go through a multi-stage competitive process in which they are evaluated based on objectivity and expertise, among other qualifications. As of 2024, there are 46 thematic and 14 country mandates.
A Roadmap for Eradicating Poverty Beyond Growth
Building on the 2024 report “Eradicating poverty beyond growth,” the Special Rapporteur on Extreme Poverty and Human Rights has initiated an 18-month project to develop a roadmap addressing the problems with existing aid mechanisms. It calls for policy advising submissions in five key policy areas: access to social protection and services; labour policies and the care economy; economic systems transformation; climate, environment and resources; and trade, finance, debt and global solidarity.
The original report challenges GDP growth-based methods of battling poverty by presenting the concept of a Human Rights economy. Prioritizing human rights, this economic format suggests financing social protection programs rather than economic growth. The ongoing project has involved calls for policy input from governments, academia, and multinational organizations, among other involved actors.
Policy Submissions
The Basic Income Earth Network (BIEN), Tax Justice Network (TJN) and the Global Coalition for Protection Floors (GCSPF) are examples of organizations that have publicized their submissions for policy recommendations to the Roadmap for Eradicating Poverty Beyond Growth. They each outline five ideas for policy improvement, overlapping on issues such as financial transparency along with the importance of social program investment.
BIEN’s submission stands on the idea that extreme poverty is manmade and must be eradicated. ITs overall recommendation highlights the benefit of a basic, unconditional universal income distributed individually. Under the umbrella of a basic income, BIEN’s five policy areas of improvement include access to social protection and services, and economic systems transformation.
Access to social protection and services would increase social security by creating economic stability. Meanwhile, transforming economic systems via basic income would allow individuals and households to participate in the market economy and investment, as the financial requirements to acquire basic needs would be met.
TJN and GCSPF
The TJN suggest that a fair, transparent tax policy has the potential to enable governments to reduce inequality by funding essential services. Furthermore, its 5 areas of interest contribute to achieving a human rights-based, effective taxation system. These include “Revenue to Fund Public Services” and “Redistribution to Reverse Inequalities.” The first outlines how a transparent tax system would avoid losing tax revenue to external financial centres, increasing tax revenue without needing to increase GDP.
The second advocates for income tax distribution in a way in which the wealthy cannot take advantage of tax benefits while lower-income households lack access to public services. Their submission also identifies a positive correlation between a state’s reliance on tax revenue and the strength of its democracy.
The GCSPF submission “Achieving Global Social Justice” advocates for change in the organization of poverty-related policies. Their five policy recommendations include “Eradicating Poverty With People Living in Poverty” and “Ratification of Existing and Adoption of New International Instruments.” The first addresses the need for a policy that takes into account the multidimensionality of poverty and works with individuals living in such conditions. It calls for deliberate participation and increased dialogue between relevant actors, including governments and academia.
The second identifies the need for heightened monitoring by U.N. agencies to ensure that member states are adhering to legally binding treaties and protocols. Overall, recommendations aim to provide financing and mobilization of universal social protections.
Eradicating Poverty: Beyond Submissions
The Roadmap for Eradicating Poverty Beyond Growth is now closed to submissions, with all being eventually published in a Beyond Growth Roadmap online repository. Before implementation, a collaborative effort between the Rapporteur, consultants and contributors will involve workshops and events to ensure policies are practical and founded in lived experience. The U.N. will present the initial version of the report at the Second World Summit for Social Development in early November 2025, with its final draft presented to the U.N. Human Rights Council in summer 2026.
– Emily Galán
Photo: Flickr
Hakainde Hichilema’s Push for Digital Inclusion in Zambia
What is Digital Inclusion?
Digital inclusion encompasses more than just internet access. It integrates digital literacy training to navigate the internet, high-quality tech support and access to applications that maximize the utility of internet access. Digital inclusion also incorporates measures that combat poverty. For example, easier access to job opportunities that someone without internet access might not discover. President Hichilema has diligently worked to tackle poverty in Zambia by enhancing digital connectivity through a variety of measures.
Hakainde Hichilema and Key Government Initiatives
Hakainde Hichilema has been the leader of Zambia’s United Party for National Development since 2006. He grew up in a rural community in the Monze District of Zambia, a region that he is now helping gain widespread access to reliable internet. His presidency is committed to pioneering how Zambia’s government can fight poverty by improving digital connectivity.
While running for president, he focused on education, jobs and digital inclusion in Zambia. His plan to improve digital inclusion in Zambia includes tax incentives, improvements to digital infrastructure, partnerships with companies for access to satellites, foreign partnerships with wealthier nations and building a free wi-fi network that all Zambians, including the poor, can take advantage of.
The details of these initiatives are as follows:
Ending Poverty with the Use of Digital Tools
Improvements to internet infrastructure in Zambia carry the potential to fight poverty by improving digital connectivity and empowering more people to utilize the internet. Indeed, doctors in hospitals can leverage the internet to reach patients, extending health care access to those facing unreliable transportation or mobility issues. Teachers can engage students across all levels of education, from pre-K through college. Overall, these examples, among many others, highlight the potential to fight poverty through improved digital inclusion in Zambia.
– Jeff Mathwig
Photo: Flickr
Millie Bobby Brown Champions Girls’ Rights and Education in Brazil
From Screen Star to Global Advocate
Brown rose to international fame as the lead in Netflix’s “Stranger Things,” but off-screen, she has become an influential voice. According to UNICEF, she became UNICEF’s youngest-ever Goodwill Ambassador at age 14 in 2018. As a UNICEF Goodwill Ambassador, Brown has used her global platform to speak out on issues ranging from child poverty and online bullying to girls’ education and mental health.
According to UNICEF, Brown visited the Cidade Tiradentes district in March 2025 to listen to problems associated with girls’ rights and education in Brazil. Some of these include girls’ experiences with gender-based violence, school dropout, period poverty and limited access to job opportunities.
“We talked about the importance of supporting each other through our respective challenges and I wanted them to feel empowered to make decisions about their future,” Bobby said in an interview with UNICEF.
Her experiences with public scrutiny and online harassment have helped shape a more empathetic approach to her advocacy. According to UNICEF, Brown has previously spoken out about her bullying experiences in school.
Issues Facing Girls’ Rights and Education in Brazil
According to UNICEF, there are limitations when it comes to adolescent girls’ rights and education in Brazil. Period poverty, which is a lack of access to feminine supplies and information about menstrual cycles, decreases school participation and affects more than 10 million girls in Brazil.
Violence continues to be a major concern in Brazil, with a report of sexual violence occurring every eight minutes against a girl in 2028. Additionally, in 2020, 14% of all births in the country were to adolescent mothers. This frequently results in disruptions to their education and long-term economic challenges, per UNICEF reports.
Between January and September of 2024, approximately 3,060 girls lost their lives to violence in Brazil, according to Human Rights Watch (HRW). Only about one-third of these cases were officially classified by police as femicides. Brazilian law defines femicides as “killings on account of being persons of the female sex.”
Human Rights Watch reports that some groups have exploited the digital rights of girls. Between November 2023 and April 2024, more than 80 girls reported seeing their manipulated photos on social media. These photos were “sexually explicit deepfakes of them.”
Brown’s On-the-Ground Engagement
Brown visited a school, painted a mural with students and also played capoeira, a traditional Brazilian game, during a physical education class. Brown also met with staff to learn about UNICEF’s Active School Search project. This project can assist in locating children who are not attending school. It can also provide them with the proper resources and guidance needed to help re-enroll them to continue their education.
Among the girls Brown spoke to was 14-year-old Kizzy. Kizzy told UNICEF that school is very important for anyone living in a marginalized area. “Having the school as a source of support for students is essential and always putting the students first is very important,” Kizzy told UNICEF.
According to Microsoft Network (MSN), Brown also engaged in meaningful discussions with the teacher to stress the need for supporting children living in vulnerable conditions. She focused on encouraging a cooperative effort to tackle both educational and social issues affecting the Brazilian community.
Recognizing the perspective of the students, she reassured them that their desire for knowledge about their bodies deserves immediate attention. “We are the change that the school needs and the community needs,” Brown said.
UNICEF Brazil Representative Youssouf Abdel-Jelil described Brown as an “inspiration to girls in Brazil and around the world.” Brown’s work left a lasting impact on those she encountered, according to MSN, strengthening UNICEF’s commitment to advancing children’s rights and instilling a sense of hope and resilience in the next generation.
– Clarissa Dean
Photo: Flickr
Vocational Education Centers in Myanmar
Vocational Education Centers in Myanmar
The Swiss nongovernmental organization (NGO), Helvetas, partners with organizations in Yangon, Myanmar, to provide medical and humanitarian aid to disadvantaged families. It works to improve family incomes and expand education opportunities. Helvetas shares deep connections with the United States (U.S.) to strengthen networking.
In 2024, 295 implemented projects granted 4.9 million citizens a sustainable life. These projects consisted of skills training, trade marketing, farming and fishing. Some vocational education centers were developed digitally to ensure education access, especially during the COVID-19 Pandemic.
Recent annual tracer studies show that 80% of graduates are employed or self-employed. Helvetas provided digital learning courses that consist of small animations and training videos to meet people’s needs. Women, more specifically, enroll in these courses as they offer more flexibility. These courses monitor people’s progress and make interactions more motivating.
Government Efforts Through DTVET
The Department of Technical and Vocational Education and Training (DTVET) has led impactful initiatives that have benefited the Myanmar population. It has provided socio-economic advancement opportunities to help workers develop their skills. It seeks to reform international TVET proficiency in methodology and government tech practices. The department aims to link vocational training in high schools and universities to prioritize operational and business needs. Its focus on formal education nurtures a child’s growth and knowledge. Its main objective is to expand education accessibility and support employment opportunities and capital income.
CVT’s Role in Advancing Leadership
The Center for Vocational Training (CVT) opened in 2002, providing access to high-quality education. This education has included various apprenticeships and collaborations with local institutions. Both Germany and Switzerland made efforts to foster the center. The CVT has galvanized approximately 1,502 graduates who earned their diplomas or dual apprenticeship diplomas within one to three years.
Additionally, around 1,164 individuals received short vocational training certificates and 1,068 postgraduates also earned their certificates. Many of these students went on to achieve leadership roles in industry. The CVT inspired the creation of nonprofit social enterprises that focus on advocacy, food security and empowerment. This, in turn, has influenced the Directorate of Investment and Company Administration to build a provincial expert team.
Looking Ahead
Myanmar is actively forging a brighter future, focusing on industrialization and instilling hope and optimism in its people. Through impactful initiatives like vocational centers, many students, including adults, are becoming capable leaders within the nation. With the support of digital vocational training from Helvetas and the integration of education classes in schools, Myanmar is laying a foundation for progress. Ultimately, these strategic goals could guide Myanmar toward a balanced and prosperous future.
– Janae Bayford
Photo: Flickr
Technologies to Prevent Food Insecurity in Morocco
The lack of rainfall and reservoirs affects not just the rural populations in the most barren parts of Morocco, but also urban centers such as Rabat, which came close to a total dry up in 2023. Despite the inevitable threat of a water shortage in the country, foreign investors have partnered with scientists from Mohammed VI Polytechnic University to utilize technology in reducing the economic and health consequences associated with droughts and food insecurity.
Agritech and the Green Generation Strategy
A particular project that has worked effortlessly to solve food insecurity in Morocco is Agritech. The Green Generation Strategy (2020-2030), set out by King Mohammed VI, aims to modernise the Moroccan agricultural sector of the economy, not only to boost exports, but also to support the 73% of people living in rural Morocco who work in agriculture.
As a product of this 10-year strategy, Agritech aims to provide precise and timely information to farmers through a mixture of satellite-based imagery, drones and artificial intelligence in order to help the sector better prepare for droughts.
Al Moutmir: Irrigation and Job Creation
Agriculture in Morocco accounts for 14% of GDP, meaning slight shifts in the climate during growing seasons can have catastrophic consequences for locals. Among the frequent effects of climate shifts is a reduction in the rural labor force. However, through technological innovation, projects such as Al Moutmir have overcome some of these challenges.
Through its gravity-fed irrigation systems, some farmers have been able to reduce their field water losses from 40% to just 15%. In addition, the umbrella strategy that Al Moutmir forms a part of – Le Plan Maroc Vert –has created an additional 342,000 jobs since its inception in 2008.
Sand to Green and Terraa
While organizations and partnerships in Morocco have taken direct action on combating food insecurity and water shortages, a hybrid of both physical and virtual uses of technology has benefited farmers. For example, Sand to Green uses technology to insert green spaces into previously arid lands or solar-powered desalination methods to increase the flow of appropriate water for agriculture.
Terraa, on the other hand, is a digital network that farmers use to distribute their products efficiently and cost-effectively so as to avoid waste in times of surplus. Through the combination of the two, farmers can work toward a more stable harvest, all the while selling their produce for a price that is fair for their work. As such, the Moroccan agricultural sector reinforces itself in the long term and expands its GDP.
Looking Ahead
Although droughts are an inevitable reality in Morocco, state-of-the-art technology allows small and large-scale farmers to prepare for the worst. Although Morocco may seem like a distant country, 34% of Moroccan exports to the U.K. are fruits and vegetables, meaning a stable agricultural industry in Morocco leads to a consistent supply for British consumption.
– Alfie Williams-Hughes
Photo: Flickr
Elderly Poverty in The Gambia
Health Care Access Challenges
One of the most critical problems for the elderly in The Gambia is limited access to health care. The country has about 0.1 physicians per 1,000 people according to World Bank health statistics. This is among the lowest rates globally, reflecting a severe shortage of medical professionals. Elders with chronic health conditions—such as hypertension and diabetes—often go without proper diagnosis or treatment, especially those living in rural areas far from medical centers.
Many elderly people in The Gambia live in the aforementioned rural areas where access to health care facilities is limited. Geographic barriers and lack of affordable transportation make it difficult for seniors to reach medical centers. These challenges often result in delayed treatment or no treatment at all. Financial constraints further worsen health care access. Many elderly Gambians lack health insurance or steady income and rely on out-of-pocket payments to cover medical expenses which can be prohibitively expensive.
Social Protection Initiatives
The Gambian government, with support from international partners, continues to strengthen social protection systems to support vulnerable populations, including the elderly. The World Bank’s Integrated Social and Economic Resilience Project (GISERP, Project ID: P1672600) and the Social Safety Net Project focus on improving social safety nets through targeted cash transfer programs that provide financial assistance to those living in poverty, including older adults. One key component of these efforts is the NAFA Program, which delivers unconditional cash transfers to vulnerable households, including many elderly and disabled beneficiaries. These programs aim to reduce elderly poverty in The Gambia and improve the quality of life by offering reliable income support.
The Gambia partnered with the World Bank in 2019 to launch these efforts, which provide cash transfers and food assistance to more than 90,000 vulnerable households, many including elderly members. Official World Bank documents describe the project as a major step toward reducing poverty and food insecurity among vulnerable populations. Although comprehensive impact evaluations are pending, early reports suggest the program improves financial stability and nutrition for recipients. The initiative also strengthens data systems and targets support more effectively to those most vulnerable.
Challenges
While praising the NAFA Program as a “transformative initiative,” elderly beneficiary Loli Joum urged the World Bank to increase the amount of support provided. “We definitely appreciate what is being given to us, and I do not devalue the amount,” Joum told The Point. “But due to my age and health condition—as you can see, I am physically challenged and cannot do anything physically.”
UNICEF’s work in The Gambia complements these efforts by focusing on enhancing social protection mechanisms that cover health care, education and income support for vulnerable groups. While much of UNICEF’s programming targets children and women, the agency also recognizes the growing need to address the challenges faced by the elderly population, especially as traditional care structures decline and the number of older adults rises. UNICEF has noted the importance of incorporating aging populations into broader protection frameworks to ensure that no one is left behind.
Conclusion
Elderly poverty in The Gambia is a growing concern as traditional support systems weaken and formal care remains limited. Many seniors face critical challenges related to health care, income security and social isolation—especially in rural areas where access to services is scarce. While initiatives like the World Bank’s Integrated Social and Economic Resilience Project and the Social Safety Net Project are important steps forward, gaps still remain in fully meeting the needs of the aging population. Continued investment in health care infrastructure, targeted financial support and inclusive policy planning will be essential to ensure that elderly Gambians can live with dignity, health and security in the years to come.
– Mamie Hirsh
Photo: Flickr
Disease Prevention in Sierra Leone
Infection Prevention and Control
During the Ebola outbreak from 2013 to 2015, 8,706 citizens of Sierra Leone were infected with Ebola. At the time, limited awareness of hygiene and infection control was an issue among Sierra Leone’s healthcare providers. To combat this, Sierra Leone’s Ministry of Health and Sanitation created a National Infection Prevention and Control Unit, or NIPCU, to provide oversight in all Health care processes. With the new implementation of policies and standardized training, the NIPCU serves to bring a united front for disease prevention in Sierra Leone.
As of 2016, the NIPCU established 28 isolation units across Sierra Leone, providing a total bed capacity of 190, and trained a total of 8,221 health workers. The Infection Prevention and Control policies provided a much-needed form of organized education and training within Sierra Leone. However, caring for the ill requires a group effort.
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
Going hand in hand with IPC, the Centers for Disease Control began helping Sierra Leone during the Ebola epidemic by training healthcare workers. The CDC also supported Sierra Leone during the COVID-19 pandemic, which saw a total of 7,674 confirmed cases. To combat COVID-19, the CDC introduced an IPC Certification Course, whose graduates continue assisting people infected with COVID-19.
As of March 2021, 43 graduates of Sierra Leone’s Advanced IPC Certification Course serve as mentors and supervisors, providing continued oversight of the practices established by the IPC and CDC. The success of the CDC continues to guide Sierra Leone towards other disease treatments. According to the CDC, Sierra Leone’s National HIV Response is looking at epidemic control by 2030.
International Federation of Red Cross
Supporting the Sierra Leone Red Cross, the International Federation of Red Cross has helped prepare communities to stop the spread of diseases, such as measles, Acute watery diarrhea, and viral hemorrhagic fever. The IPC and the CDC focus on preparing communities for outbreaks and disease prevention in Sierra Leone. However, the IFRC emphasizes community engagement, resilience building, education, and transportation in addition to their volunteer and training efforts. Activities include:
The IFRC and Sierra Leone Red Cross have trained over 200 government partners and volunteers in disease preparedness and community surveillance.
The organizations and policies working in Sierra Leone have made strides in creating a standardized system for monitoring, preparation, and prevention in Sierra Leone. While there is still work to be done in improving health in the country, the progress made in education and training in Sierra Leone is essential in the journey ahead.
– Matthew Perduk
Photo: Flickr