Fragility in Nigeria is closely linked to persistent weaknesses in the rule of law, shaped by insecurity, institutional capacity gaps and challenges in legal enforcement. The justice and security sectors face structural constraints, including resource shortages, case backlogs, corruption and limited accountability mechanisms. These challenges are compounded by incidents in which state security actors themselves have been implicated in rights violations, further weakening institutional legitimacy. Fiscal pressures and governance bottlenecks have constrained the state’s ability to deliver consistent, equitable justice across regions.
In response, institutional reforms and active interventions are underway with a focus on police professionalization, human-rights-based policing and justice system capacity building. Complementary civil society initiatives work to expand access to justice, reduce pre-trial detention and improve legal awareness among vulnerable populations. Together, these efforts illustrate ongoing attempts to strengthen rule of law and reduce fragility in Nigeria. However, their long-term effectiveness will depend on sustained political commitment, adequate financing and coordinated implementation.
Fragility and Rule of Law in Nigeria
According to independent assessments, Nigeria’s rule of law remains weak by global standards. In the 2025 World Justice Project (WJP) Rule of Law Index, Nigeria ranked 120th out of 143 countries and 23rd out of 34 sub-Saharan African countries. This highlights systemic challenges in accountability, public security and the protection of rights.
The Index evaluates eight key dimensions: Constraints on Government Powers, Order and Security, Open Government, Absence of Corruption, Regulatory Enforcement, Civil Justice, Fundamental Rights and Criminal Justice. Nigeria’s particularly low performance in Order and Security reflects widespread insecurity and limited state control over violence.
These findings align with broader governance indicators. The Mo Ibrahim Index ranks Nigeria 33rd out of 53 African countries, with a score of 45.7. It notes a decline in security and rule-of-law indicators between 2014 and 2023.
Security Crises Undermining Rule of Law
Fragility in Nigeria is most visible in the security sector. Armed groups, including Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP) and Boko Haram, alongside criminal networks, continue to operate across regions such as the northwest and north-central. These groups contribute to killings, kidnappings and widespread instability.
In February 2026, an attack in Kwara State reportedly resulted in the deaths of more than 170 villagers during clashes involving militant groups attempting to impose extremist control. The actions of state actors have also raised concerns. In December 2025, Nigerian Army personnel opened fire on protesters in Adamawa State, killing nine women and prompting condemnation over excessive force and lack of accountability.
These incidents demonstrate how both nonstate violence and state impunity erode legal structures and public confidence in governance institutions.
Structural Challenges Within Governance and Justice
Multiple structural weaknesses continue to undermine Nigeria’s rule of law. Corruption and impunity remain significant barriers. The World Justice Project estimates that corruption has cost Nigeria more than $550 billion since independence, weakening both legal enforcement and economic development.
Institutional capacity gaps further complicate enforcement. Security agencies, courts and law enforcement bodies often lack adequate resources, training and accountability systems. The United Nations Development Program (UNDP) notes that high crime levels and limited capacity overburden Nigeria’s justice system.
Civil liberties concerns also persist. Restrictions on dissent and shrinking civic space have been identified as threats to democratic governance and the rule of law. Despite constitutional guarantees of equality before the law and fair hearing, judicial delays and weak enforcement mechanisms continue to undermine legal legitimacy.
Active Solutions and Institutional Reforms
Efforts are underway to strengthen Nigeria’s rule of law through institutional reforms and civil society engagement. The UNDP, through its Global Program for Strengthening the Rule of Law, Human Rights, Justice and Security (2022–2025), has partnered with Nigerian authorities to enhance institutional capacity, promote human-rights-based policing and support legal reforms.
In 2023, the UNDP collaborated with the Police Service Commission to implement a strategic plan (2024–2025). The plan included training approximately 1,200 police trainers in human rights, gender-sensitive policing and intelligence management. Nigeria has also drafted a National Action Plan on Business and Human Rights, integrating rights-based governance into national policy frameworks.
Civil society organizations are also contributing significantly:
- Citizens’ Gavel uses technology to improve court transparency and connect vulnerable individuals with pro bono legal services, helping reduce delays.
- Hope Behind Bars Africa provides legal aid to pretrial detainees, supporting prison decongestion and accelerating justice processes.
- The Policy and Legal Advocacy Center (PLAC) promotes legislative transparency and civic engagement.
- The Network Against Corruption and Trafficking (NACAT) focuses on anti-corruption and anti-trafficking advocacy.
These initiatives strengthen accountability and expand access to justice across Nigeria.
Policy Implications and Prospects for Stability
Strengthening judicial independence, improving rights-based policing and expanding civic participation are essential for reversing Nigeria’s fragility trends. However, progress will depend on sustained political will, consistent funding and effective coordination across institutions. Without these, structural challenges, particularly insecurity, fiscal constraints and governance inefficiencies, will continue to hinder the full realization of the rule of law.
– Felix Umeobi
Felix is based in Nigeria and focuses on Politics for The Borgen Project.
Photo: Unsplash
Improvements in Maternal Health Care in Timor-Leste
A lack of qualified specialists in maternal health care has partly explained how Timor-Leste has come to experience one of the highest mortality rates for new mothers in the Southeast Asian region. The rate stands at 195 per 100,000 births. However, a host of developments, both in national health planning and community organization efforts, have driven improvements in maternal health care outcomes.
Technology in Health Care: Liga Inan
Liga Inan, translated as “connecting mothers,” is a phone-based application first developed and implemented in the mid-2010s. The application facilitates communication between pregnant and postpartum mothers and their respective health care professionals specialized in maternal care. Its use was associated with increased staffing at birth and prompt postnatal care. Furthermore, this has led to its broader adoption within the public health network.
Upskilling: An Australian Training Program
In 2023, a dozen Timorese midwives and a nurse participated in a five-week training program in Queensland, Australia. The stated aim was to improve knowledge of maternal health care and, ultimately, reduce high maternal mortality rates. The participants were shown to possess improved knowledge and competence in several areas of maternal health care, including some emergency care, such as resuscitation.
One study showed that this type of upskilling could enhance knowledge in Timorese maternal health care if repeated. It sheds light on the impact of residential programs and provides a proven, effective framework.
Crisis Management: Mobile Maternity Clinics
The effects of humanitarian crises are felt acutely by the most vulnerable members of society, especially pregnant women. Following severe flash flooding in 2021, a collaboration between the Timorese Ministry of Health and the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) erected mobile maternity centers. These centers support displaced mothers and their children.
This targeted support represents a strong prioritization of maternal health care in crisis planning and response procedures.
Prioritization in National Health Planning
Beyond crisis management and individual programs and organizations, Timor-Leste has solidified its commitment to improving maternal health care by integrating it into its national health planning. The country’s National Strategic Development Plan 2011-2030 prioritized “maternal care” and set specific targets for maternal health care. As such, Timor-Leste can continue making progress in maternal health care beyond spontaneous efforts.
Conclusion
The case of maternal health care in Timor-Leste demonstrates that a country with a high relative poverty rate and structural barriers in its health care system can make significant progress. This can be achieved through targeted, informed state planning, effective mobilization of community partners and leveraging new medical technologies.
– Phoebe Lang-Clapp
Photo: Flickr
5 Facts About the Fight Against HIV/AIDS in Suriname
Poverty is often a driver that increases vulnerability to HIV/AIDS infection, simultaneously creating significant barriers to accessing treatment. Despite this, the fight against HIV/AIDS in Suriname continues, with the understanding that social stigma can be as much a hurdle as access to medical care.
1. Expansion of Treatment Coverage
A steady growth in antiretroviral therapy (ART) access turns the tide of the fight against HIV/AIDS in Suriname. According to UNAIDS, it allows the treatment coverage rate to reach 70% of people living with the condition in Suriname by 2026.
Data from the HIV/AIDS Industry Outlook indicates the treatment coverage by the nation achieves an average year on year increase of 1.6 points. Continuing on this path upwards, the Ministry of Health has reaffirmed the commitment to meet the UNAIDS global targets for HIV care through decentralized testing and community based clinics.
2. Progress in Pediatric Health
In 2026, the HIV/AIDS prevalence rate for those aged 10-14 is expected to drop to 60 people, an 8% decrease compared to 2021 according to the Suriname HIV/AIDS Industry Outlook. Since 1995, the rate has had a staggering 13.1% year-on-year decline in pediatric prevalence. Health experts have attributed this success to the integration of prenatal HIV screening and improved preventions of mother to child transmissions (PMTCT) services.
3. Community-Led Support Systems
Poverty often acts as a barrier for those in rural Suriname. Treatment requires consistent clinical visits and access to pharmacies, and limited household income can make the cost of travel to centers prohibitive. The fight against HIV/AIDS in Suriname continues in community-led organizations like the Double Positive Foundation. The provision of psycho-social care and “peer buddy” support, and ensuring treatment reaches impoverished populations is led by advocates such as Ethel Pengel.
This acts as a beacon of light within socioeconomic barriers such as family rejection and social stigma. Walking beside young women and girls ensures that they remain in the healthcare system following a diagnosis.
4. State-Sponsored Medication Access
The Suriname Ministry of Health has provided HIV inhibitors at no cost to patients since February 2005. It sustains this through a financial partnership with the Global Fund, a worldwide partnership providing 26% of all international financing for HIV programs. In 2026, “person-centered care” is at the forefront of medical health; ensuring the treatment of other chronic conditions alongside HIV.
5. The 95-95-95 Path to Recovery
The recovery of Suriname relies on reaching the UNAIDS global targets: 95% of people living with HIV know their status, 95% of those diagnosed receive ART, and 95% of those on treatment achieve viral suppression.
Looking Ahead
While funding remains a challenge, Suriname is ensuring regional Caribbean partnerships to maintain a steady supply of biomedical interventions. By prioritizing long-acting preventions, HIV/AIDS no longer defines this nation’s future.
– Celine Dib
Photo: Wikimedia Commons
Top Facts About Gender Violence in Morocco
Contributing Factors
Call to Action
To address gender-based violence, Morocco has implemented policies regarding child and forced marriage laws following the Amina Filali case. Filali was a 16-year-old who killed herself after being forced to marry her rapist. The Moroccan government reformed its penal code to raise the legal age of marriage, criminalize forced marriages and increase protections for victims of sexual violence.
Beyond legislation, Morocco has also established shelters for survivors, hotlines for reporting abuse and awareness campaigns to educate the public about gender-based violence. Furthermore, nongovernmental organizations (NGOs) such as the Democratic Association of Moroccan Women provide legal aid, psychological support and vocational training to help survivors gain independence and escape abusive environments.
Conclusion
Violence against women in Morocco has prevailed for centuries. It dates back to historical social structures shaped by patriarchal family systems, tribal and kinship traditions and legal norms that gave men greater authority within households. For much of Morocco’s history, women’s economic dependence, limited access to education and social expectations around marriage and obedience reinforced unequal power dynamics.
Domestic matters were often treated as private family issues rather than legal concerns. However, recently, efforts have been made to change this, including the passing of Law 103-13 (Morocco) in 2018. The law criminalizes certain forms of violence against women and aims to improve protection and prevention efforts.
However, despite these legal reforms, historical social structures continue to influence attitudes toward domestic violence today.
– Veda Mungara
Photo: Flickr
Clinics on Wheels: Improving Health Care in Punjab
Urban slums pose a particular challenge to improving health care infrastructure in Punjab. The Punjab Urban Slum Survey, conducted by the Punjab Bureau of Statistics, notes that roughly 7.2 million people reside in urban slums across the district. These urban slum dwellers make up a significant portion of the 128 million people in Punjab.
According to the Punjab Demographic and Health Survey (PDHS) 2019-2020, this portion of the population may be characterized as having more limited access to preventive and curative health services. The PDHS also showed that only 57.2% of slum dwellers can access health facilities.
Improving Health Care Infrastructure in Punjab
The Clinics on Wheels program is improving the health care infrastructure in Punjab with free, quality health care provision. Launched in 2024 by the Punjab provincial government, the initiative sees mobile clinic vans serving underserved residents who have no access to basic health care in densely populated urban settlements.
The main aim of Clinics on Wheels is to reach those living in densely populated urban areas and remote regions where there are significant barriers to accessing health facilities. The mobile clinics aim to eliminate the barriers of distance, cost and availability, ensuring that timely medical services and a suitable health infrastructure are put into place in Punjab.
There are about 244 Clinics on Wheels operating across the district. Most of the vehicles, 202 of them, are mobilized for transporting medicines and staff to those in need. In addition, about 42 carry mobile ultrasound facilities. Initiatives offered include doctors, diagnostics and medicines delivered at the community level, as well as free medicines delivered to the doorsteps of underserved residents.
Tangible Results in Improving Health Care in Punjab
Dr. Ehsan Ghani, Chief Executive Officer of the District Health Authority Rawalpindi, said that the mobile clinics have resulted in timely diagnoses and provide an effective referral system that ensures complex cases reach major hospitals promptly. He added that each van is staffed with a vaccinator who administers missed or incomplete vaccines to children in the field, helping to bridge the gap between the growing population and immunization needs. According to Ghani, this has improved vaccination rates and supported progress in the fight against diseases such as polio.
Ghani has said that with expansion, Clinics on Wheels has the potential to bring health care services to even more people across Punjab. In January 2026, it was announced that the Punjab government would involve the private sector in the project to improve its performance.
Looking Ahead
The goal of equitable health care infrastructure is that no citizen has to go without medical provision and Clinics on Wheels offers a practical solution to make the transport of doctors and medicines accessible. The campaign has been promoted as care that reaches every doorstep, providing services regardless of income or location.
Improving health care infrastructure in Punjab through initiatives such as Clinics on Wheels may help reduce the health care burden and improve overall health outcomes for Punjab’s population. Clinics on Wheels sits alongside other health care initiatives, including the CM Insulin Program, which offers free insulin for children with Type 1 diabetes, and the Chief Minister’s Children Heart Surgery Program, which offers cardiac surgeries for children. Together, these programs reflect ongoing efforts to expand health care access across Punjab.
– Suneel Mehmi
Photo: Unsplash
How Humanitarian Aid in Cuba Is Keeping the Lights On
Cuba’s Power Grid Failures
Blackouts are not a new phenomenon for most Cubans; they have become accustomed to rolling power outages. The power grid infrastructure has been relied on far longer than intended. Many businesses have had to invest in solar panels to avoid losing power midday, rather than relying on the electrical grid. Over the last few years, this problem has been exacerbated, forcing citizens to adapt to living off-grid.
Day Zero
Despite these difficulties, life for Cubans has recently worsened. Earlier this year, Venezuela ceased sending oil to Cuba, causing massive shocks to the country’s power system. Nearly half of Cuba’s oil needs were previously supplied by Venezuela. This gap in power production has left Cuba effectively running out of fuel, creating the conditions for an island-wide blackout.
Unlike blackouts of the past, the entire island, aside from those with solar panels or generators, was without power for over a day. The Cuban national news network was even down for 1.5 hours, citing the blackout as the cause. Coupled with these problems is the loss of oil trade with Mexico, which has also halted shipments to Cuba.
Food Insecurity
The aging electrical grid and the massive oil shortage in Cuba have created a dire situation for many citizens. The United Nations (U.N.) warned that the country could be on the verge of a humanitarian collapse. Refrigerators have not been much help over the last two weeks, as they have remained shut off, leading to food spoilage.
Some Cubans have resorted to buying food daily to prevent spoilage. Government officials have encouraged citizens to conserve food, fuel, water and even phone batteries. Hospitals can operate for only two to five hours during this energy crisis.
In response to the bleak situation, Cubans have protested by gathering in the streets of central Havana, the country’s capital and banging pots and pans.
Flotilla Provides Necessary Humanitarian Aid in Cuba
Nonetheless, hope arrives at the ports in the form of aid-bearing flotillas providing humanitarian aid to Cuba. The Nuestra America Convoy to Cuba (NAAC), an “international coalition of individuals and organizations dedicated to delivering critical aid to the Cuban people,” launched on March 21, 2026. The NAAC brought food, medical supplies and solar panels to help Cubans cope without their electrical grid.
Individual countries have also sent aid, with Canada pledging $8 million in food aid to Cuba. Another North American contributor, Mexico, has already sent more than 1,000 tonnes of food aid in the last two weeks. Chile, China and Italy have also pledged support. These efforts to deliver humanitarian aid to Cuba play a major role in preventing the situation from becoming even more critical than it already is.
Conclusion
With an aging power grid and the failure of multiple oil trade agreements, Cuba has suffered. Two island-wide blackouts have occurred in the last two weeks, along with daily power outages nationwide. These problems can be addressed through long-term investment in energy infrastructure and diplomatic trade discussions.
However, humanitarian aid to Cuba is helping citizens caught in the crisis. Envoys from around the world have descended on the country, bringing the supplies Cubans lack.
– Zaccheri Morra
Photo: Unsplash
Digital Poverty in Papua New Guinea
Despite technological advances, the country grapples with low internet adoption, underscoring how geography and economics perpetuate exclusion. Addressing digital poverty in PNG demands urgent, tailored strategies to unlock its potential.
Who Has Internet and Who Doesn’t?
Internet access first reached PNG in 1997. Yet after three decades, the nation trails far behind other Asia-Pacific neighbors in connectivity. At first, rates align closely with smartphone access and about 60% of adults report having used the internet at least once. Still, only 36% of people have a mobile connection. In comparison, true internet penetration is limited to 32%, equating to 3.3 million users.
PNG’s immense land area, mountainous terrain, limited road network and consequent high service costs create formidable obstacles. Rural regions, where 86% of the population resides, suffer the most, often lacking both power grids and networks. On the other hand, according to a 2020 World Bank analysis, cities like Port Moresby and Lae host just a fraction of the population, even though they account for 70% of all internet users.
Smartphone access tells a similar story: 62% of adults can use one, whether their own or shared. But disparities run deep across groups. Rural dwellers, seniors and lower-income households lag well behind national averages in device ownership. Internet habits mirror this, with added gender differences: only 32% of women aged 45–74 and 48% of rural women have gone online, compared with 50% of men in that age group and 54% of rural men.
The Government’s Path to Digitalization
In recent years, PNG’s government has pursued ambitious reforms to expand internet access. Key initiatives form a forward-looking regulatory backbone:
Despite these steps, the Information and Communication Technology (ICT) landscape remains constrained. State-owned enterprises dominate the market with little rivalry, controlling everything from infrastructure to delivery. This environment scares off private players and stalls innovations in speed and affordability.
The World Bank highlights how this monopoly enables tactics that block competitors, creating a “vertical squeeze.” Such dominance jeopardizes PNG’s target of connecting 70% of its citizens to electricity by 2030, which could increase internet access, as outlined in the PNG Development Strategic Plan 2010–2030. Without broader competition, digital poverty in Papua New Guinea persists, undermining national goals.
Public-Private Partnerships and Open-Source Innovations
Tackling these issues requires collaborative, cost-effective approaches. A Lowy Institute analysis suggests public-private partnerships (PPPs) in telecommunications, backed by robust competition rules and pricing oversight, could be a solution. These alliances could dismantle monopolies, drive down costs and extend coverage to remote areas, much like successful models in neighboring nations, such as Vanuatu.
PPPs are not the only tool, though. Open-source software (OSS) offers powerful and inclusive means. By providing free access to essential software, OSS democratizes digital tools across education, commerce and administration.
Mainstream OSS options include the Firefox browser for secure web surfing, Linux for flexible operating systems and LibreOffice for productivity. This software is openly licensed, allowing users to download, modify and deploy it without fees. In contrast, proprietary rivals like Microsoft Office charge subscription fees that can consume nearly 100 hours of minimum-wage earnings annually.
In PNG’s context, when backed by the development of a solid digital infrastructure, OSS can slash barriers for schools in highland villages and entrepreneurs in coastal regions, fostering self-reliance. Success depends on political will, training programs and affordable devices. By prioritizing equity, PNG can transform digital poverty into digital prosperity, fueling sustainable growth.
The PNG government is making great efforts to address these issues and bring the country closer to regional standards. However, this work will require greater flexibility and collaboration with third parties.
– Riccardo Chiaraluce
Photo: Flickr
Fragility and Rule of Law in Nigeria
In response, institutional reforms and active interventions are underway with a focus on police professionalization, human-rights-based policing and justice system capacity building. Complementary civil society initiatives work to expand access to justice, reduce pre-trial detention and improve legal awareness among vulnerable populations. Together, these efforts illustrate ongoing attempts to strengthen rule of law and reduce fragility in Nigeria. However, their long-term effectiveness will depend on sustained political commitment, adequate financing and coordinated implementation.
Fragility and Rule of Law in Nigeria
According to independent assessments, Nigeria’s rule of law remains weak by global standards. In the 2025 World Justice Project (WJP) Rule of Law Index, Nigeria ranked 120th out of 143 countries and 23rd out of 34 sub-Saharan African countries. This highlights systemic challenges in accountability, public security and the protection of rights.
The Index evaluates eight key dimensions: Constraints on Government Powers, Order and Security, Open Government, Absence of Corruption, Regulatory Enforcement, Civil Justice, Fundamental Rights and Criminal Justice. Nigeria’s particularly low performance in Order and Security reflects widespread insecurity and limited state control over violence.
These findings align with broader governance indicators. The Mo Ibrahim Index ranks Nigeria 33rd out of 53 African countries, with a score of 45.7. It notes a decline in security and rule-of-law indicators between 2014 and 2023.
Security Crises Undermining Rule of Law
Fragility in Nigeria is most visible in the security sector. Armed groups, including Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP) and Boko Haram, alongside criminal networks, continue to operate across regions such as the northwest and north-central. These groups contribute to killings, kidnappings and widespread instability.
In February 2026, an attack in Kwara State reportedly resulted in the deaths of more than 170 villagers during clashes involving militant groups attempting to impose extremist control. The actions of state actors have also raised concerns. In December 2025, Nigerian Army personnel opened fire on protesters in Adamawa State, killing nine women and prompting condemnation over excessive force and lack of accountability.
These incidents demonstrate how both nonstate violence and state impunity erode legal structures and public confidence in governance institutions.
Structural Challenges Within Governance and Justice
Multiple structural weaknesses continue to undermine Nigeria’s rule of law. Corruption and impunity remain significant barriers. The World Justice Project estimates that corruption has cost Nigeria more than $550 billion since independence, weakening both legal enforcement and economic development.
Institutional capacity gaps further complicate enforcement. Security agencies, courts and law enforcement bodies often lack adequate resources, training and accountability systems. The United Nations Development Program (UNDP) notes that high crime levels and limited capacity overburden Nigeria’s justice system.
Civil liberties concerns also persist. Restrictions on dissent and shrinking civic space have been identified as threats to democratic governance and the rule of law. Despite constitutional guarantees of equality before the law and fair hearing, judicial delays and weak enforcement mechanisms continue to undermine legal legitimacy.
Active Solutions and Institutional Reforms
Efforts are underway to strengthen Nigeria’s rule of law through institutional reforms and civil society engagement. The UNDP, through its Global Program for Strengthening the Rule of Law, Human Rights, Justice and Security (2022–2025), has partnered with Nigerian authorities to enhance institutional capacity, promote human-rights-based policing and support legal reforms.
In 2023, the UNDP collaborated with the Police Service Commission to implement a strategic plan (2024–2025). The plan included training approximately 1,200 police trainers in human rights, gender-sensitive policing and intelligence management. Nigeria has also drafted a National Action Plan on Business and Human Rights, integrating rights-based governance into national policy frameworks.
Civil society organizations are also contributing significantly:
These initiatives strengthen accountability and expand access to justice across Nigeria.
Policy Implications and Prospects for Stability
Strengthening judicial independence, improving rights-based policing and expanding civic participation are essential for reversing Nigeria’s fragility trends. However, progress will depend on sustained political will, consistent funding and effective coordination across institutions. Without these, structural challenges, particularly insecurity, fiscal constraints and governance inefficiencies, will continue to hinder the full realization of the rule of law.
– Felix Umeobi
Photo: Unsplash
Amaranth and Food Insecurity in Nigeria
One of the crops used to combat food insecurity is frequently grown in Nigeria but rarely planted. Amaranth is common throughout the hot and humid regions of Nigeria and is often maintained rather than sown. It grows naturally throughout the countryside, and deliberately planted varieties are often found in gathering spaces where many people in the community can benefit from them.
The Benefits of Amaranth
When the rainy season begins, amaranth flourishes and grows quickly. After about three to five weeks, the leaves can be harvested and eaten or sold. It is a stable yield crop, meaning that while yields may not be large, it will almost always provide some yield, regardless of drought or pests.
According to Laurajean Lewis, the global director of genetic resources at the International Maize and Wheat Improvement Center (CIMMYT) in Mexico, amaranth is one of the few plants that grows almost everywhere in the world. Lewis explained that because farmers harvest the leaves rather than the seeds, the plant reseeds itself, and seeds can also be collected and replanted in new areas.
Amaranth is a resilient plant and is important for nutrition in Nigeria. In some places, it accounts for up to 25% of Nigerians’ daily protein intake. Sometimes referred to as a nutritional powerhouse by scientists, it also contains high levels of folic acid and calcium, which are important for pregnant or lactating women.
Barriers to Cultivation
The general outlook on amaranth is negative. It is seen as a poverty staple, and in some places it is considered acceptable only for feeding livestock. One variety is called pigweed because of the belief that it is only suitable for pigs. Despite this perception, it is widely eaten and sometimes intercropped with high-yielding crops such as corn. Its leaves are often boiled and eaten like spinach, with a mild flavor said to resemble artichoke. It also produces edible seeds, making the plant dual-purpose for many. The seeds can be ground into a flour that is well-suited for baby food and is important for childhood development.
Improving Food Insecurity in Nigeria
Amaranth is seen as a poverty food in West Africa, and especially in Nigeria, but it plays an important role in supporting rural communities and providing essential vitamins and minerals to many. It also offers nutritional support for vulnerable groups, such as children, pregnant women and older adults. As food insecurity continues to affect millions of Nigerians, amaranth remains a practical and culturally significant tool in the fight against hunger and rural poverty.
– Eddie Hofmann
Photo: Flickr
Fighting Stigma: Poverty and Leprosy in Bangladesh
The bacteria Mycobacterium leprae cause leprosy, a chronic infectious disease. The disease mainly affects skin cells and can cause permanent disabilities when people do not receive timely treatment or detection. Bangladesh ranks fifth highest in the world for the number of leprosy cases, so eradicating the disease in the country is a priority, especially since people can be completely cured of it.
Leprosy is a disease that creates stigmatization against those affected, making employment difficult. Combined with medical costs, this creates a high correlation between leprosy and poverty. Areas with poor living conditions and food insecurity also tend to have an increased risk of contracting leprosy, highlighting the relationship between leprosy and poverty.
The eradication of leprosy will improve the livelihood of millions, not just in Bangladesh but also in the other 120 countries still affected by the curable disease. Tropical diseases tend to be neglected from the global health agenda and usually cause stigma. This article will discuss the impact of fighting stigma and how leprosy and poverty can be reduced together.
The Leprosy Mission in Bangladesh
The Leprosy Mission in Bangladesh (TLMIB) is a nonprofit organization focused on the eradication of leprosy in North Bangladesh. With a focus derived from six key values — compassion, justice, integrity, inclusion, humility and collaboration — its work has supported the livelihood of those with leprosy and helped them regain their dignity.
Since 2007, TLMIB has set up 700 Self-Help Groups (SHGs) in North Bangladesh, a step toward long-term, sustainable change. Leprosy and poverty were seen by the organization to go hand in hand, and these SHGs allowed those impacted to access food and find community with others who share similar experiences, especially as leprosy is widely discriminated against.
SHGs have group deposits, which encourage positive financial habits and help members rebuild their lives together. Since 2007, SHGs across the region have grown, with members integrating back into society with less stigma and fewer financial problems. This is significant when considering leprosy and poverty, as it shows that if leprosy is prioritized, many people’s livelihoods can change, enabling them to move to a life above the poverty line.
U.N. Initiatives and Government Aims
The Prime Minister of Bangladesh has committed to eradicating the disease through the Zero Leprosy Initiative by 2030. The initiative aims to eradicate the disease, prevent disability and remove stigma.
Additionally, the government has decided to increase the number of disability centers in the country and integrate them into the existing health care system. Policymakers have also suggested earlier diagnosis and skills training for people affected by leprosy, both to remove stigma and directly address the link between leprosy and poverty. The Persons with Disabilities’ Rights and Protection Act, implemented in 2013, drives this focus on leprosy in the country.
The United Nations (U.N.) has worked with Beatriz Miranda-Galarza to raise awareness of leprosy. Miranda-Galarza has coordinated the BRIDGES and SARSHE projects in Indonesia and Brazil, strengthening the dialogue around leprosy in the disability movement. This work supports efforts against stigma and helps build better lives after the disease, again highlighting the link between leprosy and poverty.
Looking Ahead
Nonprofits such as TLMIB and the work by the government of Bangladesh demonstrate that leprosy and poverty can be reduced together by removing stigma and prioritizing long-term, sustainable change. These efforts make independence accessible to people with disabilities, allowing them to learn positive financial habits and build stable lives.
Although Bangladesh still needs to reduce leprosy cases, the progress so far points to measurable change across the country. Chile recently became the first country in the Americas to completely eradicate leprosy, showing that the goal is achievable for other countries committed to the cause.
– Caitlin Cooper
Photo: Flickr
How Childcare in the Republic of the Congo Fights Poverty
Why the Childcare Gap Harms Families
Regarding parents from low-income backgrounds, especially market workers and small-scale entrepreneurs, this gap decreases the earnings they can receive. For instance, a World Bank blog published in 2025 on the Republic of the Congo states that the average parent has more than four children, while conventional childcare options are limited and private daycare can cost more than $100 a month. This arrangement is far beyond what the majority of parents can afford to support, especially while living under an economy whose recent growth has not resulted in significant poverty reduction or diversified job creation.
These burdens faced by most parents help explain why childcare in the Republic of the Congo is important when it comes to poverty reduction. When parents lack reliable care for their children, they end up losing working hours, are forced to reject business opportunities or have to keep their older children home to look after their younger siblings. The World Bank’s childcare research says that greater access to quality care results in women getting more employment opportunities, personal productivity, child outcomes, family welfare, business performance and the economy overall.
A Pilot Built Around Mamapreneurs
A recent pilot created under the Social Protection and Productive Inclusion of Youth (PISPJ) project is testing this idea in the Republic of the Congo. Implemented through the Ministry of Social Affairs, Solidarity and Humanitarian Action and MEDRAC Africa, and inspired by the Kidogo Initiative in Kenya, the program trains women as “mamapreneurs” who can assist with operating community crèches, or daycares, in predominantly working-class market neighborhoods. The program combines early childhood development with entrepreneurship, first aid, safety and child protection.
According to a November 2025 World Bank feature, the first cohort participated in training 16 women. Two community nurseries opened in market areas: one located at the Soukissa market in July 2025 and another at the Total market in Bacongo, which opened three months later in October. These centers provide affordable care options for low-income parents, and demand exceeded expectations quickly, with enrollment increasing beyond planned capacity at both sites within only two weeks.
A Solution With Staying Power
What makes childcare in the Republic of the Congo stand out is that this pilot is trying to resolve multiple problems all at one time. The crèches provide vendors and other workers with a safer place to leave their children during the daytime. They also create jobs for trained women and have aided in developing the school readiness of children through structured and play-based care. World Bank staff have described this model as a “triple bottom line” investment because it has the power to support entrepreneurs, children and parents’ productivity altogether.
The pilot is also focusing on the system behind the provided service through partners developing real-life quality standards for new daycare centers, organizing coaching visits and adding safety measures like first-aid and fire safety training. The World Bank’s most current implementation report shows that the broader PISPJ project is still active and is scheduled to run through June 2027, giving the childcare model additional time to flourish if results remain strong.
Looking Ahead
Childcare in the Republic of the Congo may not be enough to end poverty in the nation by itself. However, the Brazzaville pilot demonstrates how one service can make life easier for lower-income parents while also opening up new economic space for women. If both the government and its partners continue to increase the amount of affordable crèches in markets and other low-income neighborhoods, childcare could become one of the nation’s realistic tools for supporting work, making sure children are safe and helping families have more stability within their lives.
– Ashirah Newton
Photo: Flickr