In developed countries, checking the weather forecast is important when planning a weekend trip, but to rural farmers in poor regions, it can make the difference between putting food on the table and going hungry. The impact of weather forecasting on poverty is notably strong, and new tech solutions are being implemented across the globe to ensure food security for farmers and communities.
Estimates indicate that a surprising 70 percent of the world’s food supply is created by small, independently owned farms less than two acres in size. Yet this backbone of agriculture can be easily devastated by droughts.
For example, the eastern region of Africa known as the Horn, which is home to Ethiopia, Somalia and Kenya, has experienced at least one drought per year for over a decade, causing more than 25 percent of the population to suffer from hunger. This weather has drastic economic consequences as well since the Horn is heavily dependent on its major exports of coffee and bananas.
In an effort to reverse this trend, Satellite Technologies for Improved Drought Risk Assessment (SATIDA) was created by a partnership between Vienna University of Technology and four other organizations, including Doctors without Borders and the Austrian Central Institution for Meteorology and Geodynamics.
SATIDA shows how positive the impact of weather forecasting on poverty can be with its multifaceted research approach. The four major components of the study are a complex drought indicator, regular forecasts, a mobile application and a database linking all other elements together.
“The goal is to know whether a drought is going on,” Markus Enenkel, lead researcher of the International Research Institute for Climate and Society at Columbia University told CNN in February. “We can give a seasonal summary to help people prepare.”
SATIDA’s research team is actively working on two projects using satellite and smartphone technology. One marks official confirmation of droughts when they occur to enable insurance payments to farmers in the event that their crops fail. The second project enables farmers to prepare for droughts ahead of time by providing more precise forecasting with smaller intervals.
Though similar efforts have been made in the past, such as when the World Bank pledged $213 million for anti-poverty weather forecasting tech in Bangladesh in 2016, the distinction of SATIDA is its keen focus on community-based improvement.
Shailaja Fennell, Cambridge University’s coordinator of the Global Food Security Initiative, summarized the importance of the users and their families in the impact of weather forecasting on poverty:
“The world of IT is fantastic, but to truly deliver, the products must be owned and analyzed by the community.”
– Dan Krajewski
Photo: Flickr
Women’s Political Participation in Lebanon
Lebanon is known around the Middle East and the region of North Africa (MENA) as one of the leaders in progressive values. The country has prided itself on ensuring equal rights for women and men in its national constitution. Despite many accomplishments, women’s political participation in Lebanon remains one of the lowest percentages in the MENA region. What is happening in Lebanon that is keeping women out of politics?
Traditional Lack of Female Participation in Politics
In 1953, women in Lebanon were granted the right to vote and participate in politics. Since then, only 17 women have held positions in politics. As of December 2016, less than three percent of government seats have been held by women.
In 2005, women’s participation in politics reached its peak. Of the 128 seats in parliament, six women held parliamentary positions. This was the highest amount of women holding seats in parliament at the same time in the nation’s history. Today, only one woman holds a parliamentary position.
Changing Laws, Unchanging Culture
Under Article 7 of the Lebanese constitution, gender equality is guaranteed, but personal status laws are not. Instead, personal status laws are in the hands of religious, who are not under the jurisdiction of the government, and therefore, gender equality laws do not apply to them. This type of inequality flows into households, where under family codes and citizen laws, women are still owned by their husband and fathers. This type of second-class citizen culture affects women’s political participation in Lebanon. Many women are unable to take action due to their financial and marital status.
Women in Lebanon who vote do so for their families and not for their preferred candidates. Some women are not allowed to vote for candidates outside of their kinship. Still, women’s political participation in Lebanon is important. Women have the ability to sway votes in their constituencies, but often do not use the full extent of their power. The average amount of women who actually wield their vote is about 16 percent. Out of the 18 constituencies, only five of them see participation from women, between 16 to 50 percent.
Reform on the Horizon
The women’s quota within the Lebanese government has become key for women’s political participation in Lebanon. According to hivos.com, the women’s quota can be used, “either in the form of reserved seats in parliament, or (preferably) obliging party or electoral lists to contain a certain percentage of women candidates.”
Although this mandate was enforced, women still rely on NGOs to voice their political stances within the government. In Lebanon, there are 18 political parties, but seven dominate. Practically all of these groups are led by males, and most parties led by females have turned into NGOs, which have a network of women working together in order to affect change.
Until women’s voices are allowed to be amplified and actually heard, women will continue fighting.
– Maria Rodriguez
Photo: Flickr
Water Quality in South Africa
Water quality in South Africa is considered a difficult issue, and the country has struggled to supply some rural and local municipalities. People in urban areas, usually provided with fresh drinkable tap water, are concerned with the water quality of this year’s supply.
The engineered part of the water system in South Africa is heavily dependent on the healthy functioning of the natural water cycle. Water quality is poor due to growing pollution caused by urbanization, mining, deforestation and other anthropogenic causes. South Africa’s annual rainfall is 492 millimeters, which is only half of the world’s average.
After a few months of drought, dam levels dramatically lowered, causing a fresh water deficiency. Multiple complaints arose all over the country. Water quality in South Africa has been affected by unusual smell and color properties. Numerous instances of belly sicknesses were reported, and some people were hospitalized.
Governmental officials have been working to ensure that the sicknesses were caused by the seasonal change and from the turnover of the water in the reservoirs, which is to blame for latest water’s aesthetic qualities. Concern about sedimentary levels in water reservoirs, which were raised by the drought, has increased, as high sedimentary levels are dangerous for human health.
Further water inspection unveiled tap water compliance with the South African National Standard (SANS) 241:2015. Analysts warn that the climate change could impact water quality in South Africa. High evaporation levels and temperature increase can cause volumetric water loss. The decrease in its quality, specifically due to higher salt concentration and aging infrastructure, is in response to climatic demands.
Multiple organizations, such as WWF and the Blue Drop Certification System, are taking effort in prioritizing water safety. Their efforts are increasing awareness of the current situation amongst the population. Understanding responsible use in the current environment, in addition to growing a sustainable economy, will improve the ecological situation for all South Africans.
– Yana Emets
Photo: Flickr
Education in Vanuatu
10 Facts About Poverty in Belgium
Although the poverty rate in Belgium is on a steady decline, many people remain at risk. Discussed below are ten facts about poverty in Belgium and its implications.
Leading Facts on Poverty in Belgium
While Belgium still has work to do, it is one of the most poverty-knowledgeable countries in Europe. It has several plans and programs in place that will help poverty in Belgium to continue to slowly decline over the years.
– Rilee Pickle
Photo: Flickr
Combating Poverty in Lebanon
Poverty in Lebanon is caused by various factors. Since the start of the Syrian crisis in 2011, Lebanon has seen an influx of refugees, resulting in an increase in poverty, something that has been an issue for quite some time. According to the Nations Encyclopedia, the income gap between social classes has increased over the last 10 years. Both the upper and middle class have seen an increase in their income since 1991, but the rest of the country is not earning much money at all as the income of many has dropped below the poverty line.
OXFAM International, a nonprofit that fights poverty, addresses how the issue of poverty is multidimensional. OXFAM International works to address both the cause and impact of poverty in Lebanon, as well as in over 90 other countries. According to its website, the number of people living under the poverty line in Lebanon has increased by 66 percent since 2011. The World Bank discusses goals for economic improvement in Lebanon, including the creation of new jobs and the installment of an improved education system in order to spark an interest in business related jobs in the country’s youth.
Despite Lebanon’s continued economic struggles and the governmental issues behind them, there is still hope for improving poverty in Lebanon. According to data from the World Bank, between 1992 and 2014 Lebanon’s GDP grew by an average of 4.4 percent, varying from year to year. The data also addressed the creation of new jobs between 2004 and 2009, when varying amounts of growth was seen, particularly in the trade, service and construction industry. According to the World Bank, 15 percent of the population emigrated from Lebanon in 2010, which is a factor in the economic improvement that the country has seen. This emigration increased employment opportunities and therefore sparked economic growth in the country as a whole.
– Helen Barker
Photo: Flickr
10 Facts About Hunger in Guinea
Guinea, officially the Republic of Guinea, is a country located on the West coast of Africa. The country is home to around 10.5 million people. Natural disasters, such as the Ebola epidemic and recurring floods, have left much of the population with food insecurity. Here are 10 facts about hunger in Guniea.
10 Facts About Hunger in Guinea
While food insecurity remains high, the rise in average life expectancy as well as the presence of assistance programs in the country show promise in reducing the rampant hunger in Guinea.
– Alexi Worley
Photo: Flickr
World Bank Funds $375 Million for Modern Waterway in India
For years, rivers have operated as efficient and effective waterways for transporting large and bulky cargo around the world. These waterways are a more convenient and reliable mode of transportation, serving as a cheaper and less polluting method than road or rail.
However, India has yet to develop this cheaper and greener mode of transportation, as goods still travel by road and rail networks. These methods continually slow the movement of cargo and increase trade costs so much so that India’s logistics costs are projected to account for as much as 18 percent of the country’s GDP.
In response to these obstacles, The World Bank approved $375 million to support the construction of the first modern waterway in India, which will be implemented on a 1,360 km stretch of the Ganga river. This project will bring thousands of jobs in cargo logistics and necessary transportation to one of the country’s most populated regions.
The loan will help support the Inland Waterways Authority of India as they develop the infrastructure and navigation services necessary in building the waterway, known as National Waterway 1. The capacity augmentation of National Waterway 1 will preserve more than 150,000 tons of CO2 equivalent in greenhouse gas emissions per year.
In generating about 370 million tons of freight annually, the region only utilizes a tiny fraction — about five million tons — toward water transportation. Once operational, the waterway in India will implement an additional transport network along the river, partnering with the Eastern Dedicated Rail Freight Corridor, as well as with other existing networks of highways. These various transportation methods will help the region’s industries and manufacturing units pick and choose between different modes of transportation as they send their goods to markets in India and abroad.
With the assistance of the substantial loan from the World Bank, India will soon construct an innovative waterway that will not only be a cheaper and greener mode of transportation but will bring jobs and necessary transportation to the region, potentially growing their economic, social and political structures.
– Brandon Johnson
Photo: Flickr
The Issue of Water Quality in Uganda
Uganda is a country in Africa that has undergone tremendous growth in its economic sector as a result of a large amount of the population moving to urban centers in the country. However, despite this growth, the country is struggling to provide clean water to its citizens.
Although it is common for issues regarding water quality to be limited to rural areas, the country as a whole is lacking in basic necessities.
In fact, Water.org estimates that 21 percent of Ugandans lack access to safe water, and nearly 87 percent do not have sufficient sanitation facilities. A possible reason for this could be the high population growth in the country, which has stressed the water quality making it abysmal.
In Kampala City, researchers have found the presence of pathogenic bacteria in the springs, which provide a major source of water for the population. The contamination could be due to poor waste management and badly-designed pit latrines. In addition to the contaminated spring water used for domestic purposes, the drinking water quality in Uganda may be in trouble due to the presence of nitrates.
According to the National Center for Biotechnology Information, children between the ages of 12 to 14 who have come into contact with nitrate-contaminated water are reported to exhibit delayed reactions to light and sound stimuli. Clearly, the state of water in Uganda is far below adequate and is wreaking havoc on the population.
Pollution and water contamination kill millions every year and the stress put on the economic sectors by urbanization and population growth has only increased the trouble in Uganda.
In order to improve the water quality in Uganda, the country must work with organizations to provide safe water and sanitation to its citizens. For those who live in rural areas, health and hygiene education is going to be key in identifying unsafe water for domestic use and consumption.
Once the country puts these programs in place, it can focus on developing a better system to deal with its rapid economic and population growth so as to ensure everyone has access to clean water.
– Jacqueline Artz
Photo: Flickr
The Impact of Weather Forecasting on Poverty
In developed countries, checking the weather forecast is important when planning a weekend trip, but to rural farmers in poor regions, it can make the difference between putting food on the table and going hungry. The impact of weather forecasting on poverty is notably strong, and new tech solutions are being implemented across the globe to ensure food security for farmers and communities.
Estimates indicate that a surprising 70 percent of the world’s food supply is created by small, independently owned farms less than two acres in size. Yet this backbone of agriculture can be easily devastated by droughts.
For example, the eastern region of Africa known as the Horn, which is home to Ethiopia, Somalia and Kenya, has experienced at least one drought per year for over a decade, causing more than 25 percent of the population to suffer from hunger. This weather has drastic economic consequences as well since the Horn is heavily dependent on its major exports of coffee and bananas.
In an effort to reverse this trend, Satellite Technologies for Improved Drought Risk Assessment (SATIDA) was created by a partnership between Vienna University of Technology and four other organizations, including Doctors without Borders and the Austrian Central Institution for Meteorology and Geodynamics.
SATIDA shows how positive the impact of weather forecasting on poverty can be with its multifaceted research approach. The four major components of the study are a complex drought indicator, regular forecasts, a mobile application and a database linking all other elements together.
“The goal is to know whether a drought is going on,” Markus Enenkel, lead researcher of the International Research Institute for Climate and Society at Columbia University told CNN in February. “We can give a seasonal summary to help people prepare.”
SATIDA’s research team is actively working on two projects using satellite and smartphone technology. One marks official confirmation of droughts when they occur to enable insurance payments to farmers in the event that their crops fail. The second project enables farmers to prepare for droughts ahead of time by providing more precise forecasting with smaller intervals.
Though similar efforts have been made in the past, such as when the World Bank pledged $213 million for anti-poverty weather forecasting tech in Bangladesh in 2016, the distinction of SATIDA is its keen focus on community-based improvement.
Shailaja Fennell, Cambridge University’s coordinator of the Global Food Security Initiative, summarized the importance of the users and their families in the impact of weather forecasting on poverty:
“The world of IT is fantastic, but to truly deliver, the products must be owned and analyzed by the community.”
– Dan Krajewski
Photo: Flickr
Hunger in Senegal
Since gaining independence from France in 1960, Senegal has had a successful run as a country. For example, it is considered one of the most stable democracies in West Africa. Nevertheless, nearly 50 percent of the population experiences malnutrition or hunger in Senegal.
The economy relies mainly on the agricultural sector, with most of the citizens being employed in the industry. Even with the success of farmers, however, not nearly enough nourishment is provided to the 13 million people who call Senegal home.
Food insecurity is mainly caused by the fluctuating food prices and unpredictable harvests that happen every year. The truth is that these unpredictable factors cause hundreds of thousands to experience hunger in Senegal.
Some unfortunate results of the fluctuating factors are that more than one million children under five are at risk of food shortages, threatening their growth and their lives.
In fact, the rate of hunger and malnutrition has become such a problem that the World Health Organization estimates that the country is on the threshold of an emergency. Half of the population is living on less than $1.25 a day, providing little room for families to ensure their loved ones are well-fed.
To alleviate hunger in Senegal, organizations like the World Food Programme (WFP) and Freedom from Hunger are supporting those who are suffering. For example, WFP collaborates with the government to provide nutritional support to families with young children. Freedom from Hunger also provides financial and educational services to women and families in rural areas of the country.
Furthermore, volunteers from organizations that seek to improve the state of hunger in Senegal encourage pregnant and lactating women to participate in nutrition awareness sessions. Rural areas of the country are also targeted by these helpful volunteers, for they typically house the most vulnerable in the country.
The government has begun to take part in helping its country, as well. Recently, the government employed a voucher system, under which each household receives a voucher to use for their family’s monthly food needs. In 2017, the UN reiterated their desire for Africa to reach its Zero Hunger Goal by 2030 under new Secretary-General Antonio Guterres. In order for this to happen, Senegal has to keep up the work being done to help families in need, as well as go further in making sure the citizens have proper information concerning nutrition.
Senegal is a nation with low incomes and severe food deficit. The country is on the mend, though, with the help of nonprofit organizations and programs designed to teach families how to receive nutrition in the smartest and most economical way. If governments and organizations keep up the good work, they can lift the burden of hunger in Senegal.
– Jacqueline Artz
Photo: Flickr