Like many countries across the world, Portugal was one of the nations in Europe significantly impacted by the financial crisis in the late 2000s. By 2009, the country began facing high levels of debt and a rising unemployment rate that, to this day, still weighs on the nation’s economy. While the Portuguese government attempts to understand how to help people in Portugal, much more needs to be done to address the country’s economic conditions.
Poverty and Unemployment
Since the beginning of the European debt crisis in 2009, Portugal has been affected by high levels of poverty, large instances of labor market segmentation and high unemployment rates.
In 2010, 18 percent of the population lived under the national poverty line, with certain groups affected more than others, such as women, children, ethnic minorities and the elderly. The incidence of poverty varies quite drastically between regions in Portugal. For instance, many areas in the northern region of the country have larger pockets of poverty due to the restructuring of the textile industry, while Lisbon may not see such a large impact, as its GDP nears the European average.
After joining the European Economic Community in 1986, Portugal experienced strong growth, decreasing interest rates and declining unemployment. However, with the economic problems faced in 2009, unemployment grew to over 10 percent by 2010, reaching a 24-year high.
By 2017, Portugal’s unemployment rate of 9.8 percent still lands the nation above the OECD average of 5.9 percent, yet the fall since 2010 has been quicker than the average across OECD countries. The main catalyst of the unemployment issues stretch beyond the recent debt crisis and are rooted in the country’s structural weaknesses.
Increasing the number of available jobs is one of the answers to how to help people in Portugal, as the country ranks in the bottom third of performers across OECD countries. The number of jobs has been decreasing in the nation since 2006 and is a major cause of the high levels of unemployment and poverty across the nation.
Portugal also needs to focus on improving the quality and inclusiveness of jobs. To improve the living conditions for Portuguese families, there must be a focus on improving earnings quality by increasing wages and reducing earning segmentation.
Certain groups are more likely to be employed on a temporary basis or through atypical contracts, which creates a barrier to inclusiveness in Portugal. This creates labor market segmentation and insecurity that also contributes to unemployment in the country.
Demographics
In addition to the effects on unemployment, the segmentation has also had a large impact on the country’s demographics and immigration of refugees. Portugal’s population is expected to shrink by 30 percent between 2015 and 2100 due to low fertility rates, higher life expectancy and migration outflows. With the old-age dependency ratio expecting to more than double over the same period, the economy will suffer from low future earnings.
The government believes they have a solution for how to help people in Portugal instead of simply allowing the statistic to unfold. The economic strategy focuses on increasing the number of asylum seekers and resettled refugees welcomed into the country. By attracting more people to settle in Portugal, the idea is that openness will boost economic activity while also counteracting an aging population and falling birthrate.
While the people of Portugal support immigration, the labor market conditions, lack of immigration historically and segmentation within society discourage refugees from resettling in Portugal. Therefore, to help those looking for refuge, integration and employment prospects must be considered in policy formation.
Fortunately, there is also support beyond the political sector. Abou Ras was himself a refugee who resettled in Portugal and has formed the association “Families of Refugees” with other asylum seekers to help migrants adjust to life in the country.
With Portugal taking a proactive approach to the inflow of refugees, the country could benefit from its efforts in the long run. However, emphasizing the importance of improving labor market conditions is one of the best ways to help people in Portugal. This will not only improve the current living conditions of the population, but also improve the prospects for all those to come.
– Tess Hinteregger
Photo: Flickr
Student Micro-Loans: Education Option for Poor Students
Recently, Kiva entered a new lending space: education. With its Student Micro-loans program, now anyone can lend as little as $25 to students. In 2010, Kiva launched in Paraguay, Bolivia and Ecuador by working closely with its field partners to find prospective students in the three countries and create a customized loan program that works within the countries’ educational systems. Kiva’s CEO Premal Shah stated that moving into short-term student loans was a natural transition for Kiva. Shah saw an opportunity for financing something that had a long-lasting effect, and education fit the bill because student micro-loans create an education option for students in poor nations.
Improving access to education should be a top priority globally. Investing in higher education is a must if a country wants to encourage economic development. Education shapes the next generation of innovators, inventors and experts. Kiva CEO Shah mentioned that a one-year certificate in accounting can mean a 200-300 percent income increase in the countries Kiva is serving. It is a practical method to break generational poverty, which is why many impoverished nations treat education as a necessity. International focus on higher education was prominent during the 1990s, when student enrollment in public education doubled in developing countries.
Another startup, Vittana.org, launched a micro-lending marketplace for students and has since partnered with Kiva to help students get into the workforce and marketplace after matriculation. In 2014, Vittana and Kiva hoped to help 20,000 students access micro-loans for their educations. As a practical matter, the organizations are focusing on countries where jobs are abundant, but most require some level of higher education, like a certificate or degree. The purpose of aiding the borrowers in getting jobs afterwards is to secure Kiva’s interest in repayment. The loan is a loan, not a donation. Once repaid, the lenders have the option to re-invest in another borrower, or in this case, another student.
In short, student micro-loans create an education option for students of poor nations. By enabling education, students around the world have the chance to pursue knowledge and skills, and they are more competitive in the workforce and have the opportunity to break the cycle of generational poverty. When even one person steps away from poverty, it benefits them, their family and their community at large. Facilitators like Kiva and Vittana make it easy for anyone with $25 to get involved. In sum, their strategy is to pursue solutions to the lack of access to school with a simple, working concept that student micro-loans create an education option for students in poor nations.
– Taylor Elkins
Photo: Flickr
How to Help People in Portugal
Like many countries across the world, Portugal was one of the nations in Europe significantly impacted by the financial crisis in the late 2000s. By 2009, the country began facing high levels of debt and a rising unemployment rate that, to this day, still weighs on the nation’s economy. While the Portuguese government attempts to understand how to help people in Portugal, much more needs to be done to address the country’s economic conditions.
Poverty and Unemployment
Since the beginning of the European debt crisis in 2009, Portugal has been affected by high levels of poverty, large instances of labor market segmentation and high unemployment rates.
In 2010, 18 percent of the population lived under the national poverty line, with certain groups affected more than others, such as women, children, ethnic minorities and the elderly. The incidence of poverty varies quite drastically between regions in Portugal. For instance, many areas in the northern region of the country have larger pockets of poverty due to the restructuring of the textile industry, while Lisbon may not see such a large impact, as its GDP nears the European average.
After joining the European Economic Community in 1986, Portugal experienced strong growth, decreasing interest rates and declining unemployment. However, with the economic problems faced in 2009, unemployment grew to over 10 percent by 2010, reaching a 24-year high.
By 2017, Portugal’s unemployment rate of 9.8 percent still lands the nation above the OECD average of 5.9 percent, yet the fall since 2010 has been quicker than the average across OECD countries. The main catalyst of the unemployment issues stretch beyond the recent debt crisis and are rooted in the country’s structural weaknesses.
Increasing the number of available jobs is one of the answers to how to help people in Portugal, as the country ranks in the bottom third of performers across OECD countries. The number of jobs has been decreasing in the nation since 2006 and is a major cause of the high levels of unemployment and poverty across the nation.
Portugal also needs to focus on improving the quality and inclusiveness of jobs. To improve the living conditions for Portuguese families, there must be a focus on improving earnings quality by increasing wages and reducing earning segmentation.
Certain groups are more likely to be employed on a temporary basis or through atypical contracts, which creates a barrier to inclusiveness in Portugal. This creates labor market segmentation and insecurity that also contributes to unemployment in the country.
Demographics
In addition to the effects on unemployment, the segmentation has also had a large impact on the country’s demographics and immigration of refugees. Portugal’s population is expected to shrink by 30 percent between 2015 and 2100 due to low fertility rates, higher life expectancy and migration outflows. With the old-age dependency ratio expecting to more than double over the same period, the economy will suffer from low future earnings.
The government believes they have a solution for how to help people in Portugal instead of simply allowing the statistic to unfold. The economic strategy focuses on increasing the number of asylum seekers and resettled refugees welcomed into the country. By attracting more people to settle in Portugal, the idea is that openness will boost economic activity while also counteracting an aging population and falling birthrate.
While the people of Portugal support immigration, the labor market conditions, lack of immigration historically and segmentation within society discourage refugees from resettling in Portugal. Therefore, to help those looking for refuge, integration and employment prospects must be considered in policy formation.
Fortunately, there is also support beyond the political sector. Abou Ras was himself a refugee who resettled in Portugal and has formed the association “Families of Refugees” with other asylum seekers to help migrants adjust to life in the country.
With Portugal taking a proactive approach to the inflow of refugees, the country could benefit from its efforts in the long run. However, emphasizing the importance of improving labor market conditions is one of the best ways to help people in Portugal. This will not only improve the current living conditions of the population, but also improve the prospects for all those to come.
– Tess Hinteregger
Photo: Flickr
The Hidden Face of Poverty in Brunei
Brunei is an Islamic Sultanate Kingdom ruled by a monarch in whom rests the executive, legislative and judicial powers of the State. The reigning monarch, Hassanal Bolkiah, is the 29th ruler in an unbroken line of succession for the past six centuries. The country’s citizenry has allowed the monarchical rule to survive for this long because of two reasons: welfare benefits and the respect for social and political order enforced by the state.
Economic poverty in Brunei is not a big problem because it is a rich nation and the third largest exporter of oil and gas, which allows the subjects of the King to enjoy a high per capita income of nearly $24,000 annually. The human development index (HDI) ranks it 30, which falls in a very high human development category, over countries such as Malta, Qatar and Cyprus, which rank 33. Brunei also ranks well in the gender development index (GDI). According to the 2015 HDI report, the female HDI value for Brunei is 0.854 which is a GDI value of 0.986, placing it into Group 1 with countries such as Norway, Australia and Singapore.
However, poverty in Brunei exists in the sense that there are reported problems of smaller economic inequalities and the lack of freedom and opportunity. Development across some areas is uneven and opportunities for younger generations to participate actively in the State affairs through education, employment and promotions on merit are less than encouraging. Brunei has no representative institutions due to the total control of the King’s authoritarian regime. Analysts believe that the State has been able to maintain harmony due to the vast wealth at its disposal for welfare activities.
The less diversified nature of economy, dependency on the oil and gas industry and the spread of ideas due to the rise of Internet and globalization among the younger generation do seem to pose a challenge for the current socioeconomic and political model. Economic and political measures in Brunei must be taken to address the emergent issue of poverty of opportunity and freedom and, simultaneously, sustain growth and prosperity.
– Aslam Kakar
Photo: Flickr
How to Help People in Mauritania
The first and perhaps most urgent situation when understanding how to help people in Mauritania is that of Mauritania’s food security crisis. According to the World Food Programme (WFP), Mauritania depends on cereal imports to cover over 70 percent of its needs for the country’s 3.8 million people, and nearly 10 percent of the nation’s children under the age of five suffer from acute malnutrition. With 80 percent of the country’s landscape a desert, and less than 4 percent of it arable, this is a difficult issue to solve.
As for the economy, Mauritania’s main exports include fish, as well as raw minerals such as iron, copper and gold ore. While these resources are in constant demand across the world, their prices are very rarely, if ever, constant. Fluctuations in the global market leave the nation’s economy completely unprotected from unpredictable and uncontrollable economic factors that directly impact Mauritania itself.
The final factor in studying how to help people in Mauritania is that of a very difficult to solve socioeconomic issue found in many other developing nations, though rarely on the same scale: slavery. In fact, Mauritania did not fully abolish slavery until as late as 2007. In Mauritania today, over 1 percent of the population lives in modern slavery. While at first glance that figure may seem rather low, that equates to roughly 40,000 people experiencing life in slavery, a proportion that has granted Mauritania the alarmingly high rank of 7th out of 167 countries in slavery prevalence.
Therefore, the best answer to the question of how to help people in Mauritania can be split into two categories: short-term and long-term solutions. In the short term, donations to NGOs should focus on the most pressing issues Mauritania faces, such as food and water security. Perhaps the most well-established and wide-reaching NGO in this area is the World Food Programme, which operates in 80 countries. Specifically, in Mauritania, the WFP focuses on food security, nutrition and school meal provisions, as well as adaptation to climate change.
In the long term, countries and large corporations must do more to provide foreign direct investment into practices more sustainable than mineral and oil extraction. In particular, foreign finance agencies would be wise to invest in providing solar panels across the country, as well as train locals in their setup, maintenance, and repair in order to provide valuable skills and a reliable income to local tradesmen. In fact, a 15-megawatt solar panel facility has been established in Nouakchott, providing over 10,000 homes with a clean source of electricity. Establishing similar plants across the country will ensure access to electricity without damaging the local environment.
With NGOs stabilizing the present, and foreign direct investment establishing a bright future, the question of how to help people in Mauritania largely comes down to two key aspects: solving the most immediate problems while setting up an environment to avoid such issues in the future. Mauritania may face dire problems today, but is in an excellent position to implement a brighter tomorrow.
– Brad Tait
Photo: Flickr
Why Is Kuwait Poor?
But this stereotype is not necessarily true. Kuwait is indeed small, but its oil reserves have made it one of the richer countries in the region. In terms of purchasing power, Kuwait’s GDP is ranked 55th in the world by the CIA World Factbook.
Due to Kuwait’s small population size, this success directly correlates to its people’s standard of living. As of 2016, Kuwait’s GDP per capita ranked 11th in the world at $71,900. This figure is much higher than many major economies such as the United States, which ranked 20th at $57,400.
Based on these figures alone, Kuwait appears not to be a poor country, but one of the most prosperous in the world. So, why is Kuwait poor? On the international stage, it is not. When one looks further, however, key figures may legitimize that question.
What is interesting about Kuwait is that the country’s poverty rate is extremely difficult to find. Neither the World Bank, the CIA World Factbook nor UNICEF have access to it, which raises a lot of questions. Why do these trusted international organizations not have this information? Is this information being withheld, and if so, for what reason?
Based on other metrics, it is hard to see Kuwait as a stereotypical poor country. The figures mentioned above related to GDP show that the nation as a whole is seeing economic success, and an unemployment rate of 3 percent suggests that its poverty rate must be low.
Still, the lack of specific data in this area is unsettling. If Kuwait is as prosperous as it seems to be, there should be no issue in providing data relevant to its poverty rate and income distribution. In order for the world to know for certain, the international community needs this data.
So, why is Kuwait poor? It technically is not poor, but that is not necessarily the right question to be asking. By asking questions regarding Kuwait’s poverty rate, its income distribution, and the general livelihoods of its people, we can better analyze the country’s successes, its shortcomings and its opportunities for growth long into the future.
– John Mirandette
Photo: Flickr
The Continued Struggle Against Poverty in Greenland
Famous for its Arctic landscapes in the north and sheep farms in the south, Greenland is often a tourist destination, with tourism having grown 20 percent in 2015 and 2016.
However, what countless people do not see when they travel to Greenland is the poverty and the helplessness of individuals around the country. The signs of poverty in Greenland are the same as everywhere else. The inability to afford food and inadequate living conditions are rampant. Furthermore, Project World reports that “many people in Greenland do not have water or sanitation capabilities in their homes, particularly in rural areas, because there is no national grid to supply these services”. Additionally, climate change is affecting the daily lives of indigenous people who live in the Arctic region, as global warming causes erosion, which destroys homes and heritage sites.
Approximately 88 percent of Greenland’s population is Greenlandic Inuit, an indigenous group of people. These people rely on traditional methods of obtaining food, which mainly include fishing, hunting and gathering. The Arctic Monitoring and Assessment Program reports that unpredictable shifts in the number of animals, “travel safety in changing ice and weather conditions present serious challenges to human health and food security”.
Many people wonder what contribution they can make to alleviate this suffering. The best way to eliminate poverty is by directly donating to organizations that support financially disadvantaged individuals. Global associations like UNICEF and the International Rescue Committee all work to eliminate human suffering in the world. While the latter focuses on refugees primarily, it also provides aid to people who live in disastrous conditions.
However, donations are not the only way to improve the lives of these people. Another method is fundraising. Many of these organizations support both large and small-scale projects that raise money for the association.
There is also the opportunity to educate. Many times, people do not realize that almost everywhere, there are people who cannot afford an appropriate living space, food, water and other essential resources. By attending city council meetings, starting a conversation with neighbors, or even visiting schools and universities to inform the community about the widespread poverty in the world, a huge difference can be made.
It is important to realize that such tragic circumstances can be prevented, as long as people come together to solve the underlying problem. These different methods of support all contribute to alleviating poverty in Greenland.
– Sheharbano Jafry
Photo: Flickr
Vanuatu Poverty Rate Dependent on Natural Disaster Response
Since 2006, the prevalence of food poverty across Vanuatu has been cut by over 50 percent. As little as 3.2 percent of people are now subject to food poverty. Increased intake of household produced food and high economic growth are responsible for this reduction. Only 3 percent of Vanuatu’s population is vulnerable to becoming poor. There have been slight increases in rural areas, but these numbers are not large enough to pose a threat. The severity of poverty in Vanuatu remains low as well. A 2.9 percent increase in household incomes for those living below standard lines would lift the remaining population out of poverty.
Who Are the Poor?
The Vanuatu Hardship & Poverty Report categorizes four common trends among Vanuatu’s poor:
Of all the threats to development in Vanuatu, natural disasters take the lead. According to the 2016 U.N. University World Risk Report, Vanuatu is the world’s most at-risk country for natural hazards. Located along the Ring of Fire, climate threats have become normal to the Vanuatu population. Volcanic eruptions, earthquakes, tsunamis and cyclones are among the many dangers. Vanuatu currently has a disaster risk reduction policy, but receives little funding for climate change and disaster risk reduction. With harsh weather patterns and natural disasters expected to increase, it is essential that Vanuatu demonstrates strong financial management to protect its most vulnerable people and keep the Vanuatu poverty rate low.
– Emilee Wessel
Photo: Flickr
“Chowberry” App Reduces Food Waste
Chowberry works through several steps. The first step involves local grocery stores. As the store’s food products near their expiration dates, the stores begins reducing the food prices each day. The app alerts Nigerians and food organizations about the lowered food prices. Project FoodAccess specifically matches the food with families they register need it the most. These include families with young mothers and female breadwinners.
Chowberry helps to alleviate the problem of hunger, which affects Africa as a whole and Nigeria in particular. According to the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization, 223 million people in sub-Saharan Africa were hungry or malnourished from 2014 to 2016. Nigeria itself has been declared unable to feed its entire population by the World Food Programme.
Ekponimo himself has a personal experience with hunger. After his father had a stroke and could not work, his family could not afford to feed themselves. Chowberry has given Ekponimo the opportunity to help others going through similar situations.
The app has had a significant impact within different areas in Nigeria. The three-month trial run has fed 200 families and 150 orphans. Many Nigerians have requested that the program expand to more communities.
Chowberry also has assisted the 20 participating grocery stores. Food that would have been thrown out before now gets sold to families in need at a profit to the store. The helpful software has gained international recognition as well, winning the Rolex Award of Enterprise in 2016.
Ekponimo hopes that he can expand Chowberry to feed the hungry in other African countries. With continued innovation from people like Ekponimo, technology like Chowberry could be used to help put an end to hunger in Africa and around the globe.
– Cortney Rowe
Photo: Flickr
Nonprofit Organizations Support and Educate Refugees
Refugee crises happening today often leave a lasting impact on the children involved. Children of refugees experience a great deal of trauma and sometimes torture. These children are exposed to war and violence, separation from their caregivers and malnutrition. Many of these factors lead to lasting negative effects on the children such as anxiety, insomnia, introversion, depression, behavioral issues, anorexia and many more.
The International Rescue Committee is a nonprofit organization which aims to help those who have been affected by war, conflict and natural disasters. The organization works in countries in which people lack the support they need in order to overcome a crisis; they do this by helping restore health, safety, education and economics. The International Rescue Committee also welcomes those refugees moving into the U.S. and helps them to resettle and thrive in their new home. This committee has responded to the world’s humanitarian crises for 83 years.
Sesame Workshop is the nonprofit organization that is behind Sesame Street, the popular children’s television show. This organization works to help children who have lost parents and caregivers, help families who are unemployed and provide education to children throughout the world. For 40 years, Sesame Workshop has reached millions of children in over 150 countries.
Together, International Rescue Committee and Sesame Workshop give support and provide education to refugees who are in desperate need for help and guidance through the rough environment they are living in.
“Our Partnership with Sesame Street will help transform children’s lives by making sure that their social-emotional needs are met so they are able to receive and education, contribute to their community and succeed as adults,” said David Miliband, President and CEO of the International Rescue Committee, on the committee’s webpage. With the efforts of these two organizations, hopefully there will be progress made in improving refugees’ lives, especially for children.
– Chloe Turner
Photo: Flickr
Combating Malaria Threat Important for Poverty Alleviation
Malaria is a disease caused by the Plasmodium parasite that is secreted by the bite of the female Anopheles mosquito. Anopheles mosquitos often lay their eggs in stagnant water, after which these eggs become adult mosquitos. The disease is prevalent in areas with poor sanitation and hygiene facilities, making it especially common and potentially dangerous in refugee camps.
The WHO estimated in 2015 that nearly half the world’s population is vulnerable to malaria, with a significant proportion concentrated mainly in sub-Saharan African countries. In 2015 alone, there were more than 222 million cases of malaria recorded, with a death toll of nearly 492,000. It was discovered that there is a link between climate change and the threat of malaria and other diseases. Global warming is resulting in an increase in global temperatures, which creates a more favorable environment for Anopheles mosquitos.
The Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, a renowned organization spearheading development funding and global health initiatives, has spoken about the U.S. budget cuts to foreign aid and healthcare. Achieving further progress in countering the malaria threat will be hindered by these cuts. Their analysis estimated that this decrease would lead to an additional 5 million deaths by 2030.
Fortunately, UNICEF noted that between 2000 and 2005, the malaria mortality rate has actually fallen by around 37 percent globally. Artemisinin-based therapies have been quite successful in reducing the harmful impacts of Plasmodium falciparum, one of the most deadly forms of malaria.
Many of the countries most affected by malaria are stepping up their efforts to combat the disease. Rwanda is treating the malaria threat with insecticide-treated nets, indoor residual spraying and the use of artemisinin-based drugs.
Nigeria alone accounts for nearly 25 percent of the malaria cases in Africa, which is one of the leading causes of premature death in the country. The Global Fund is working in Nigeria to treat the record levels of malaria cases and control the spread of the disease. WHO is also scaling up its operations in addressing the malaria threat in the country.
The recent malaria prevention drive in South Africa reaffirmed its support for alleviating the malaria threat in the country. The initiative is a collaborative agreement between South Africa, Swaziland and Mozambique. The high incidence of diseases like HIV in South Africa often exacerbates the impact of malaria, making it particularly important to be addressed.
Working on preventive and mitigation efforts for malaria will go a long way towards addressing the rampant spread of the disease. The progress currently being made in reducing the malaria threat will yield successful results in the future.
– Shivani Ekkanath
Photo: Flickr