Since the 1990s Cambodia’s exports from the garment, footwear and travel (GFT) sector has grown significantly. Keeping labor costs low and the intensive nature of the industry have fueled the growth of this industry, as well as the signing of international trade agreements and presence of good investment conditions.
Cambodia’s GFT
In 2017, Cambodia became the world’s ninth largest producer of apparel and this accounted for 1.5% of worlds export value. In 2022, the GFT industry accounted for 56.1% of Cambodia’s total export of $22.48 billion, according to Textile Today.
Cambodia’s exported products had a 14.9% increase from 2021-2022 alone. The GFT (Garment, Footwear and Travel) sector was also crucial for Cambodia’s economy during the pandemic. “The sector accounted for 11% of the economy and contributed to half of Cambodia’s real GDP growth,” although the country was not operating at full capacity, the GFT sector was still functioning relatively well.
The garment worker industry consists of 1,188 factories and employs around 750,000 workers, most of whom are women. Around 76% of the female population work in the GFT sector which serves to stand as the backbone of the Cambodian economy.
Despite being one of the main drivers of the Cambodian economy, the GFT sector faces challenges when it comes to long-term sustainability, the sector is currently reliant on preferential market access granted by the U.S. and the EU which makes it susceptible to the withdrawal of the trade agreements.
New Plan
In September 2024, Cambodia increased the minimum wage in the GFT sector to $208 per month, an increase of $4. The plan has received both negative criticism and praise but ultimately lies in favor of the workers which is a step in the right direction. The decision follows discussions by the National Council for Minimum Wage, which initially proposed the wage be set at $206, however, Prime Minister Hun Manet, raised the figure an additional $2, in an ongoing effort to improve worker living standards.
In addition to the minimum wage increase, workers will also receive benefits like a $10 monthly bonus for regular work attendance and an extra $7 to aid with transport and rent. These benefits will help workers manage their daily living expenses alongside their base wages.
Cambodia, like many other countries, faces pressure to make sure that workers receive compensation without undermining the competitive nature of the GFT manufacturing sector. This approach by the government aims to ensure a balance between the workers’ needs and the industry’s sustainability.
Reception of the New Plan
Labor groups have acknowledged the rise in wages, however, have also addressed that the increase may not fully address the cost of living in many urban areas, where many workers reside. Industry leaders have also raised questions and concerns about the impact on production costs as the GFT sector remains competitive, both economically and production-wise, according to the Cambodia Investment Review.
Kim Chansamnang, a representative of the union stated that the workers are “satisfied with the increase”, however, he also urged the landlords not to raise rent prices and added that “the minimum wage has not risen significantly,” Khmer Times reports.
According to Prime Minister Manet, the government focuses on improving the living standards of the people, he also stated that he would “urge relevant ministries and authorities to monitor and implement measures to reduce worker costs”
Sin Sovan, of the Russey Keo district, said that she accepts the new figures but also appeals to markets and landlords to not increase prices of food. She also acknowledged that this was the government’s intervention and appeal to prevent raised rents and to keep food prices stable, according to Khmer Times.
The Future of Cambodia’s GFT
The recent minimum wage increase in Cambodia’s GFT sector marks another step in the right direction for the workers. It holds a significant place in the government’s plan to improve the livelihoods of workers in general, particularly those in the GFT (garment, footwear and travel) sectors. The raise provides relief to the workers, however, some concerns remain regarding the cost of living. Employers must now navigate survival in the competitive nature of the market alongside higher labor costs.
Cambodia continues to develop its economy and so a balance between worker satisfaction and business sustainability. The government, employers and workers must continue to work together and hold discussions to ensure that future wage policies are fair for all. Additional measures such as social protection and improved worker training could also complement the wage increase and contribute to long-term economic stability for the country.
– Ayat Aslam
Ayat is based in London, UK and focuses on Good News and Global Health for The Borgen Project.
Photo: Flickr
Cambodia’s GFT Sector Sees Wage Increase
Cambodia’s GFT
In 2017, Cambodia became the world’s ninth largest producer of apparel and this accounted for 1.5% of worlds export value. In 2022, the GFT industry accounted for 56.1% of Cambodia’s total export of $22.48 billion, according to Textile Today.
Cambodia’s exported products had a 14.9% increase from 2021-2022 alone. The GFT (Garment, Footwear and Travel) sector was also crucial for Cambodia’s economy during the pandemic. “The sector accounted for 11% of the economy and contributed to half of Cambodia’s real GDP growth,” although the country was not operating at full capacity, the GFT sector was still functioning relatively well.
The garment worker industry consists of 1,188 factories and employs around 750,000 workers, most of whom are women. Around 76% of the female population work in the GFT sector which serves to stand as the backbone of the Cambodian economy.
Despite being one of the main drivers of the Cambodian economy, the GFT sector faces challenges when it comes to long-term sustainability, the sector is currently reliant on preferential market access granted by the U.S. and the EU which makes it susceptible to the withdrawal of the trade agreements.
New Plan
In September 2024, Cambodia increased the minimum wage in the GFT sector to $208 per month, an increase of $4. The plan has received both negative criticism and praise but ultimately lies in favor of the workers which is a step in the right direction. The decision follows discussions by the National Council for Minimum Wage, which initially proposed the wage be set at $206, however, Prime Minister Hun Manet, raised the figure an additional $2, in an ongoing effort to improve worker living standards.
In addition to the minimum wage increase, workers will also receive benefits like a $10 monthly bonus for regular work attendance and an extra $7 to aid with transport and rent. These benefits will help workers manage their daily living expenses alongside their base wages.
Cambodia, like many other countries, faces pressure to make sure that workers receive compensation without undermining the competitive nature of the GFT manufacturing sector. This approach by the government aims to ensure a balance between the workers’ needs and the industry’s sustainability.
Reception of the New Plan
Labor groups have acknowledged the rise in wages, however, have also addressed that the increase may not fully address the cost of living in many urban areas, where many workers reside. Industry leaders have also raised questions and concerns about the impact on production costs as the GFT sector remains competitive, both economically and production-wise, according to the Cambodia Investment Review.
Kim Chansamnang, a representative of the union stated that the workers are “satisfied with the increase”, however, he also urged the landlords not to raise rent prices and added that “the minimum wage has not risen significantly,” Khmer Times reports.
According to Prime Minister Manet, the government focuses on improving the living standards of the people, he also stated that he would “urge relevant ministries and authorities to monitor and implement measures to reduce worker costs”
Sin Sovan, of the Russey Keo district, said that she accepts the new figures but also appeals to markets and landlords to not increase prices of food. She also acknowledged that this was the government’s intervention and appeal to prevent raised rents and to keep food prices stable, according to Khmer Times.
The Future of Cambodia’s GFT
The recent minimum wage increase in Cambodia’s GFT sector marks another step in the right direction for the workers. It holds a significant place in the government’s plan to improve the livelihoods of workers in general, particularly those in the GFT (garment, footwear and travel) sectors. The raise provides relief to the workers, however, some concerns remain regarding the cost of living. Employers must now navigate survival in the competitive nature of the market alongside higher labor costs.
Cambodia continues to develop its economy and so a balance between worker satisfaction and business sustainability. The government, employers and workers must continue to work together and hold discussions to ensure that future wage policies are fair for all. Additional measures such as social protection and improved worker training could also complement the wage increase and contribute to long-term economic stability for the country.
– Ayat Aslam
Photo: Flickr
Foreign Aid to South Africa
Countries like the United States, the United Kingdom and European Union are core donors in helping South Africa tackle their problems. Below are some examples of foreign aid programs.
Foreign Aid From the US
Out of all the countries involved in foreign aid, the U.S. has been the largest donor of foreign aid to South Africa, giving more than $527 million in ODA. The United States has been a large donor for combating diseases in South Africa through its USAID programs, such as PEPFAR. PEPFAR has actively tackled the HIV/AIDS epidemic in the country, saving an estimated 7.7 million lives in South Africa and giving 5.9 million access to antiretroviral treatment. The U.S. has further approved more than $450 million into PEPFAR for South Africa and has seen more than $8 billion invested over two decades.
Additionally, ANOVA APACE, a USAID funding program that addresses health epidemics in South Africa, has received more than $36.5 million. While it works to address HIV/AIDS, it also works to combat tuberculosis outbreaks in South Africa as South Africa is one of the top eight countries still affected by the disease. In ANOVA’s first year, it treated 62% of people living with HIV and 54% were virally suppressed. As more than 13% of the population live with HIV/AIDS, this has been the cornerstone to tackling the epidemic.
Foreign Aid From the UK
The United Kingdom has been one of the largest donors of foreign aid to South Africa. It has provided £19 million ODA to South Africa, which goes towards vital infrastructure projects and job creation. Most notable is the Energy Transition Support program that is moving South Africa from fossil fuel energy to more renewable sources, with the aim of stimulating the economy and energy facilities. The U.K. has pledged £2.4 million to finance the sectors involved.
Additionally, the U.K. massively funds democratic initiatives. In the 2023 election period, the U.K. gave funding to ensure that South Africa held a democratic and fair election. The programs ensured that South Africa’s pre- and post-election voting and results were fair, as well as improved the political research going into the candidates and government statistics.
Foreign Aid From the EU
The European Union has established multiple programs in South Africa across a plethora of areas. The IIPSA has been crucial in building & creating new infrastructure to harbor economic growth. From building roads, schools or other institutions, the organization has grown both the job market and the livelihoods of everyday people. EU initiatives have created more than 1 million jobs since 2020 and a massive 62% are women employees.
Erasmus+ has helped improve the education system for South African universities. It allows foreign students from Europe to go and learn in South Africa, and vice versa, improving not only the flexibility of student exchange programs, but builds on improving higher education.
Moreover, the EU has helped South Africa in SME fundings. These investments reported more than 2,000 jobs created for South Africans, in much needed departments such as ICT, green economy and agriculture. More than 160,000 SMEs have benefitted from these foreign aid improvements.
Outcomes
The goals of these initiatives was to help improve the lives of South Africans and it has been a resounding success. Foreign aid to South Africa from these key donors has helped stimulate its economy, healthcare system and governmental programs and institutions.
Foreign aid has helped with job creation, improved job markets, better wages, less death from disease and economic improvement. These are the areas most affected by foreign aid to South Africa, and the continuing support from the U.K. and E.U. will only benefit the country further.
However, with the cutting of current USAID funding packages, South Africa will have to look elsewhere for massive chunks of its funding. As the U.S. propped up the majority of the health industry in South Africa, foreign aid must come from more international organizations to fulfil its needs, but there currently are no solutions to confront the current situation.
Furthermore, the foreign aid sent to South Africa does not always target poverty, and more funding and new strategies will be needed to more directly impact those facing poverty in South Africa. While there has been noticeable improvements to societal struggle, foreign aid to South Africa has not impacted the 40% that still live below the poverty line.
– Joel Raymer
Photo: Flickr
OAFLAD Elects New Leadership
While also being the 30th anniversary of the Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action (a policy outlining how to achieve gender equality and women’s rights) this assembly’s theme was, Building on Beijing: First Ladies Championing Women’s Leadership and Rights Through African Heritage.
New Leadership
Mrs. Fatima Maada Bio, the first Sierra Leonean first lady to lead OAFLAD, is widely known for her advocacy on gender-based violence and education shown through initiatives like her “Hands Off Our Girls” campaign which launched in 2018. She will be joined by Dr Ana Afonso Dias Lourenço, first lady of Angola, who was elected vice president, African Union reports.
Aside from the newly elected President and Vice President, there are also six first ladies that will be a part of the steering committee. These new leaders will be responsible for implementing OAFLAD’s Strategic Framework 2025-30, which builds off their 2019- 23 plan and focuses on four key areas listed below:
Implementation Strategy
OAFLAD plans to support these goals by creating more partnerships with international organizations, governments and civil society groups. One of its major partnerships is a three-year agreement with the Sabin Vaccine Institute which will allow them to support HPV prevention and cervical cancer elimination across Africa. The Sabin Vaccine Institute states, “In sub-Saharan Africa, cervical cancer remains the leading cause of cancer death among women… the region accounted for 23% of global cervical cancer mortality.” Partnering with groups like the Sabin Vaccine Institute is important for OAFLAD, however making sure these groups align with their goals is one of their main concerns.
When looking at partnerships, the organization focuses on providing support to ensure long-term sustainable results, implementing an evaluation system to track progress and ensure accountability, reducing any negative environmental impacts by OAFLAD and involving with programs based on evidence and successes.
One Major OAFLAD Campaign
An ongoing campaign that has had success is its continent-wide “Free To Shine” campaign. OAFLAD and the African Union co-lead launched this campaign in 2018, and are looking to make substantial changes by 2030. Their goal is to end new HIV infections in children and to keep mothers alive.
They are combating HIV by looking to put a halt to vertical transmission (the passing of HIV from mother to child). Through Interventions during pregnancy, labor, delivery and breastfeeding, the chances of vertical transmission can drop to as low as 5%. Within the first year of their campaign’s start 23 countries joined them in launching nationally.
Aside from this, there are many other objectives this campaign looks to further, which include raising awareness for HIV in children and why there is a need to prioritize children and mothers. The campaign also focuses on helping more people understand prevention strategies and highlighting and removing barriers that keep mothers from finding effective help when looking for HIV-related health services.
Since its founding in 2002, OAFLAD has played a major role in advancing women’s rights and development across Africa. With the new leadership in place for the 2025-2027 term, the organization aims to build on these past successes and push for long-term change by 2030.
– Joey Picolli
Photo: Flickr
Hunger in Samoa: Advancing Sustainable Nutrition
Approximately 75% of its population of just under 209,000 lives on just one of the islands, Upolu. Over 80% of the population is rural, but almost two-thirds of the country is forest and less than 3% of the land is arable.
Previously considered an upper-middle income country, the World Bank reclassified Samoa as lower-middle income in 2021 because of the recession suffered when the country was closed during the COVID-19 pandemic. The economy began to turn around in 2023, especially as its tourism industry revived.
The most recent (2013) World Bank international poverty line data for Samoa estimates poverty at just 1.2%. However, when considered against the rate for an upper middle-income country for that year, Samoa’s poverty rate was 43.3%.
Challenges of Climate
Experiencing a tsunami and an earthquake in 2009 and severe cyclones in 2012 and 2018, Samoa is vulnerable to climate change and natural disasters. This impacts its economy, as well as water and food security—in other words, its overall well-being.
Nutrition Assessments and Hunger in Samoa
There have been insufficient data available for Samoa to be ranked in the Global Hunger Index, but the country has been included in the 2022 Global Nutrition Report, whose indicators measure a country’s “burden of malnutrition.” There are 13 global nutrition targets, and, at that time, Samoa was reported as “on course” for only three: childhood overweight, childhood wasting and exclusive breastfeeding. The country had shown no progress or was worsening on childhood stunting and anemia among women aged 15 to 49 years. There were no data on low birth weight, and progress was “off course” on the remaining seven indicators, including obesity, diabetes and blood pressure.
Nutrition Concerns
The 2021 Samoa Food Systems Pathway 2030 shared data on the country’s nutrition concerns: 70% of the population is overweight, around 50% obese, and approximately 80% of deaths attributable to noncommunicable diseases that it was estimated will cost 8.5% of GDP by 2040; 24.2% of Samoans moderately food insecure, 5% undernourished, 6% living in food poverty. Furthermore, it was noted that undiversified diets were influenced by food imports and processed foods, with disparity between rich and poor households reflected in the healthfulness and diversity of foods consumed.
Samoan Pathway to Sustainable Development
Sustainable Development Goal 2 of the 2015 United Nations Agenda for Sustainable Development is Zero Hunger: creating new paths for nutrition, agriculture and food systems. And it is SDG 2 that underlies the Samoa Food Systems Pathway 2030, developed at a National Dialogue in April 2021 and discussed later that year by Samoa’s minister of agriculture and fisheries at the U.N. Food Systems Summit of 2021. The Pathway is defined as the means for “transforming food systems for a resilient and healthy Samoa where no one is left behind” and sustainable “food and nutritional security and affordable healthy diets” are achievable.”
The Pathway report notes that hunger is not an issue in Samoa, but identifies four food systems for improvement: (1) food production, (2) food processing, (3) food consumption and (4) food safety and food waste. Attention is paid to the concern with overfishing (and the extinction of native species) and the sustainable management of natural resources, as well as to postharvest loss and food waste (up to 20% of fresh fruits and vegetables). The goal is behavioral, to shift from consumption of processed imported foods to locally produced fresh products to achieve a balanced and nutritional diet.
The Pathway report outlines four pathway actions and five Action Tracks:
Thus, the same report that openly recognized the nutritional concerns of the Samoan people has responded with a long-term action plan to address those concerns over the next five years.
– Staff Reports
Photo: Wikimedia Commons
Impacts of the Deforestation Crisis in the Congo Basin
Impacts on Local Communities and Neighboring Countries
The deforestation of the Congo Basin significantly impacts local populations that rely on the forest for a living. Many of these local communities rely on the forest for food, water, medicine and income. As deforestation continues, the resources that these communities rely on steadily decrease, resulting in increased poverty and misery.
Impacts on the Global Community
One of the main worries regarding deforestation in the Congo Basin is its serious environmental effects, impacting both the local ecosystem and the global climate. The Congo Basin, the second largest rainforest, is the largest carbon sink in the world, with the section of jungle in the Republic of the Congo alone absorbing 1.5% of the entire planet’s carbon emissions.
However, as deforestation occurs, the stored carbon escapes into the atmosphere, leading to global warming and climate instability. Furthermore, the loss of trees disrupts local water cycles, which results in altered rainfall patterns and recurrent floods and droughts. This greatly impacts the region’s biodiversity, putting species that rely on the forest at risk and diminishing the ecosystem’s overall resilience. These environmental consequences are far-reaching, affecting local communities and the world.
Final Remarks
Several initiatives and efforts are taking place to combat the deforestation crisis in the Congo Basin. For example, groups like the Congo Basin Forest Partnership are promoting more and more agroforestry, reforestation and ethical logging. Other programs, such as the African Forest Landscape Restoration Initiative, whose main aim is to restore degraded land, make sure to include residents in their initiatives to highlight the critical role that local communities play.
Although the international community, such as the United Nations and European Union, gives financial and technical aid, stronger policies need to be implemented to guarantee long-term forest preservation.
– Zainab Saad Hassan
Photo: Flickr
The Cost of the F-35 Program vs. the Cost of Ending World Hunger
The emphasis of performing these comparisons is not necessarily to highlight the fact that less should be spent on important things like national defense, but rather that if similar amounts were to be spent on dire issues like world hunger, the effect of that spending would be tremendous. To narrow things down, this article will examine the cost of the F-35, the U.S. Defense Department’s newest fighter jet. The article will compare the F-35s cost to the spending of the World Food Program (WFP), based on its 2023 annual performance report.
The Cost of The F-35
For almost two decades now, since its first test flight in 2006, the F-35 fighter jet has been the example of what the most modern technologies look like in an aircraft. It boasts impressive radar technologies that allow it to easily locate enemy aircraft before it can be located, giving pilots a tactical advantage. The F-35 is also a force multiplier, collecting large amounts of information at once, while translating it to other aircraft including those using other aircraft systems.
Among 16 other nations planning to use the F-35 fighter jet, the U.S. has already purchased just more than 600 F-35s and plans to purchase approximately 2,000 more in the future. In its entire lifecycle, the cost of the F-35 fighter jet has totaled $1.6 trillion due in large part to its sustainment costs which have increased 44% in the past five years. As costs continue to increase, the response to meet the Defense Department’s affordability target has been to decrease the amount of airtime spent, while also trying to make the aircraft less expensive to fly.
In efforts to reach affordability targets, several initiatives undertaken have been somewhat successful in reducing costs by $85 billion due to improved reliability of aircraft parts. Despite this, there is still a growing backlog of repairs that have reduced the jet’s availability. These repairs and increased concerns about spending are what led the U.S. Navy to reduce their projected flying hours by 45%, and the U.S. Air Force to reduce their projected flying hours by 19%, according to Diana Maurer. Improvements are still necessary in aircraft sustainability to ensure that the military has proper equipment while remaining affordable for U.S. citizens.
WFP Spending
According to the data from the annual performance report of 2023 for the WFP, the organization spent a total of $10 billion on providing aid – $8.3 billion of that $10 billion was aid received for that year, while the remaining approximately $2 billion came from unspent funds of the previous year. This aid mostly consists of meeting people’s urgent food and nutritional needs, with the remainder spent mostly on improving health and education in target countries.
At a time when critical aid was increasingly necessary due to conflict, natural disasters and the lingering effects of the Coronavirus outbreak, the WFP reached approximately 152 million people. It accomplished this despite not reaching its initial funding goal by more than 60%, the largest gap in the WFP’s history, according to the 2023 report. Since its funding was significantly less than the previous years and even more so than the estimates of a needs-based approach, this $10 billion funding went almost exclusively to reaching people in crisis areas. These are areas where the threats of starvation and malnutrition are imminent such as in the countries of Afghanistan, Yemen and Ethiopia.
Using the previously mentioned numbers, the WFP critically supported one person for every $66,000 spent. While that is not a small amount of money, it is also important to note that many of these aid recipients received aid continually through food assistance programs, which continue to have a lasting effect. For example, every day in 2023, WFP distributed 14.5 billion food rations which averaged $50 a year for every beneficiary, according to the 2023 report. Oftentimes these food rations are the only thing keeping families from starvation, making the distribution of such aid essential.
The Cost of Ending World Hunger
Now seeing the cost of the F-35 fighter jet and the expenditures of the WFP, it is easier to understand what a large impact spending on world hunger can have. If just as much of the $1.6 trillion spent on the F-35 were to be spent on one year of the WFP’s annual expenditures, the outreach would expand by approximately 160 times to what it was in 2023. This means that instead of reaching 152 million people, a total amount of people summing more than everyone on earth could receive the same number of benefits that year. That would include more than 2 trillion food rations distributed, with still billions of dollars left to spend on the health and educational programs that The WFP’s funding also goes towards.
While the WFP receiving $1.6 trillion is quite a difference from what their annual funding typically looks like, it highlights that humanity is not that far away from solving world hunger. Picturing the WFP receiving funding that matches the cost of the F-35 fighter jet reminds us of how impactful and effective aid organizations truly are.
– Hunter Gomersall
Photo: Flickr
Virunga Alliance: Rebuilding the DRC
National Action Plans for Stability and Growth
The first National Action Plan (NAP), implemented in 2010, focused on improving the rights of women and girls within local communities. The plan aimed to integrate women into the local economy and improve their societal standing. However, the government viewed this initial effort as a learning experience, identifying implementation weaknesses, according to PeaceWomen.org.
Applying these lessons, the government adopted the second NAP in 2018, with an implementation period from 2019 to 2022. This plan built upon the first by increasing women’s participation in local political organizations, allowing them to advocate for their rights and economic opportunities. Additionally, the second NAP aimed to curb the small arms trade in eastern DRC, where the majority of rebel groups operate. These armed groups control a large portion of the Congo River Basin, home to nearly 60 million people. Restricting the flow of small arms limits their firepower, but the root cause of these groups—economic instability—remains a significant challenge.
While the region is fertile, many people lack access to credit, preventing them from fully developing agricultural markets. Instead, most rural inhabitants rely on subsistence farming and fishing, with little opportunity for economic advancement. Economic instability has forced many individuals into illegal trades, including poaching for ivory, extortion and kidnapping. From 2017 to 2019, these activities resulted in more than 6,000 civilian deaths.
Virunga Alliance: A Model for Sustainable Growth
To address these ongoing issues, the Congolese government partnered with Virunga National Park to launch the Virunga Alliance—an initiative aimed at creating a sustainable economic model that expands the job market and aligns local economies with the natural landscape.
The Virunga Alliance focuses on three key sectors: tourism, energy and agriculture.
Looking Ahead
The implementation of these programs is expected to strengthen local economies and stabilize communities affected by decades of conflict. While challenges remain, initiatives like the National Action Plans and the Virunga Alliance demonstrate that sustainable economic development is possible. By investing in women’s empowerment, small business support and infrastructure projects, the Democratic Republic of the Congo is taking critical steps toward long-term economic recovery.
– Jonathan Joseph
Photo: Flickr
How big is the hole? Suspension of USAID in Ethiopia
Where the Suspension Has Hit Hardest?
The suspension of USAID funding has severely disrupted Ethiopia’s fight against diseases like malaria, HIV and tuberculosis. Around 5,000 health care workers lost their jobs, affecting vital services such as vaccinations, patient care and disease surveillance. The funding cut also threatens Ethiopia’s global “95-95-95” HIV treatment goals, with 503,000 people receiving care across 1,400 health facilities. Additionally, 10,000 data clerks responsible for managing HIV treatment have lost their jobs, further hindering the delivery and monitoring of care.
This could cripple efforts to combat HIV in the short to medium term, leaving many patients vulnerable. This has worsened the strain on the health care system, leaving it unable to provide basic services and hindering disease eradication efforts, deepening health poverty.
With USAID support, Ethiopia launched a five-year health sector plan (HSTP-II) from 2020-2025 to improve health care. The plan aims to ensure quality, accessible health care, strengthen governance and leverage technology for reliable health data. A key challenge is the severe shortage of health care workers, with less than 100,000 staff members, far below the 445,000 necessary for universal health coverage. The plan’s success is crucial to expanding services and addressing this workforce gap.
The suspension of USAID funding has severely impacted Ethiopia’s HSTP-II, halting training programs and delaying the expansion of the health care workforce. Many NGOs have been hit hard by the suspension, including the Tesfa Social and Development Association (TSDA), which aids HIV patients with food, clothing and school supplies, according to The Guardian. The funding cut has crippled the organization, leaving those who depend on TSDA in even worse health and poverty. Staff layoffs and operational challenges have worsened the already dire situation for those relying on the organization’s support.
Solutions
The government has tried to enhance its support for local NGOs by trying to empower them by simplifying regulatory frameworks, in the hope this will enhance the operational efficiency and sustainability of NGO’s despite the budget constraints they are now facing. Following the advice of the Ethiopian Civil Society Organisation Authority, NGOs that did not rely on USAID funding are forming alliances with other local NGOs, enabling them to share resources, have joint fundraising efforts, and increase advocacy for policy changes to support the nonprofit sector during this challenging period.
NGOs such as the Mekedonia Humanitarian Association focus on supporting the critically disabled, elderly and mentally ill by providing housing, clothes and other vital amenities. Another organization is the Ethiopian Human Rights Council, which focuses on providing legal aid and investigating human rights abuses. These have turned out to be important practices for non-USAID-funded NGOs as it has provided support for these NGOs to allow them to continue their work during the period of the suspension.
Conclusion
The suspension of USAID has left Ethiopia’s health care system in an unprecedented crisis, affecting disease eradication efforts, health care workforce expansion and the operations of vital NGOs. The abrupt withdrawal of $1 billion in aid has crippled essential programs, forced widespread layoffs and disrupted Ethiopia’s ability to meet global health commitments. The impact on HSTP-II and organizations like the Tesfa Social and Development Association underscores how deeply intertwined USAID funding was with Ethiopia’s healthcare infrastructure.
Efforts to diversify funding streams, improve private sector involvement and empower local NGOs mark a shift towards long-term self-sufficiency, though the short-term outlook remains dire. Ultimately, while Ethiopia is making strides to mitigate the crisis, the loss of USAID has left an undeniable mark on its healthcare system. Whether the government’s measures will be enough to compensate for the loss of funding remains uncertain, but one thing is clear: The suspension has deepened Ethiopia’s health crisis, and the road to recovery will be long and arduous.
– Oliver Hedges
Photo: Flickr
Mutual Aid Networks in Sudan Combating Poverty and War
Sudan’s Crisis and the Rise of Mutual Aid
Sudan has endured one of the world’s most severe humanitarian crises for more than a year now. Currently, 25 million people are facing food insecurity and more than 600,000 individuals are experiencing extreme levels of hunger. The civil war is fuelling this issue by severely disrupting the distribution of international aid – SAF-controlled ports impose unpredictable delays, and even when aid enters the country, RSF and allied militias frequently hijack and loot shipments, preventing it from reaching those in need.
The emergence of decentralized, volunteer-led mutual aid networks in Sudan – Emergency Response Rooms (ERRs) – builds upon a long history of mutual aid in Sudan, including the Sudanese tradition of social solidarity or nafeer. This grassroots initiative unites citizens in addressing local needs and plays a critical role in offsetting limited international support and awareness. As of February 2024, ERRs have reached more than 4 million civilians and received a nomination for the 2024 Nobel Peace Prize by the Peace Research Institute Oslo.
Mutual Aid in Action: Emergency Response Rooms
Each ERR is unique in how it adapts to the specific needs of the communities it serves on the ground. Nevertheless, all ERRs deliver essential aid – distributing food and water through community kitchens, providing medical care and pharmaceutical supplies in neighbourhood clinics, coordinating evacuations, sheltering displaced families and maintaining electricity access by providing logistical support to workers.
Specialized response rooms play a crucial role in supporting vulnerable groups. Women’s Response Rooms (WRRs) offer essential supplies such as sanitary products and prenatal vitamins, alongside communal day-care services. They also provide first aid and psychological care, with trained mental health professionals assisting survivors of sexual violence – a widespread issue among armed groups, particularly the RSF.
In Sudan, 17 million children are out of school due to ongoing conflict. WRRs address this by creating child-friendly spaces for learning and play. These spaces support both formal education, with funded teachers delivering the national curriculum, and informal activities like art. Additionally, mental health programs help children process trauma and equip them with vital coping skills for healthy development.
The Impact of the U.S. Aid Freeze
On 20 January 2025, the Trump administration paused all foreign aid for 90 days to conduct a program-by-program review, assessing which initiatives should continue to receive funding. This halt in U.S. humanitarian assistance is having devastating consequences for mutual aid networks in Sudan. ERRs in the country rely on financial support from the Sudanese diaspora and international aid organizations, according to The New Humanitarian. However, they are particularly dependent on U.S. governmental aid, which accounted for 43.7% of the $1.8 billion in humanitarian funding to Sudan in 2024. As a result of these cuts, ERRs are now facing an 80% reduction in resources.
Hind Al Tayef, representing an ERR in Khartoum’s East Nile District, reports that nearly all 300 community kitchens in the area have shut down due to a shortage of funds necessary to operate water pumps. Similarly, Hannen, a volunteer in southern Khartoum, states that 111 kitchens have closed down in the neighbourhood due to a lack of food supplies, worsening the spread of famine, The New Humanitarian reports. In response, volunteers are launching online crowdfunding campaigns, seeking new institutional donors and exploring sustainable solutions such as agricultural projects to reduce dependence on donor-funded community kitchens.
The Future
The resilience of mutual aid networks in Sudan amidst the escalating humanitarian crisis should not be seen as a replacement for the fundamental responsibility of the Sudanese government, international actors and aid organizations to protect civilians affected by armed conflict. However, it challenges traditional aid models by demonstrating the powerful potential of community-led solutions, local knowledge and personal relationships to drive meaningful change.
– Charlotte Codd
Photo: Flickr
How Muay Thai Is Fighting Poverty in Thailand
Poverty in Thailand
Thailand is one of the economically wealthiest nations in Southeast Asia because of its vast manufacturing, agricultural and tourism sectors. However, wealth and income inequality in Thailand remains among the highest in the world. However, over the past few decades, Thailand has made considerable positive developments in poverty reduction.
Yet, in recent times, this progression has stalled, as poverty rates in Thailand are now recorded at 5.4% in urban areas and as high as 8.4% in rural areas. Additionally, the multidimensional poverty rates remain at 0.5% higher than monetary poverty, meaning that although the financial earnings of many people in Thailand may lift them above the poverty line, their access to education, health care and overall proper living standards remains limited.
Muay Thai
Muay Thai is known as the “Art of Eight Limbs,” as it incorporates the use of the hands, elbows, knees and feet. It is incredibly physically demanding and often ferocious. The central techniques of it consist of the Teep kick, clinch and striking with both elbows and knees. Muay Thai is distinctly unique through its incorporation of spiritual and traditional elements. Before each fight, fighters wear a headband called the Mongkhon and engage in a ritual dance known as the Wai Kru Ram Muay.
As part of this traditional performance, the fighters circle the ring in an anti-clockwise direction, kneeling and bowing three times before performing an elaborate dance. The ritual is performed in traditional Thai music and conveys respect to the opponent, trainers and sport. The practice of Muay Thai embodies and demonstrates many fundamental characteristics such as perseverance, bravery and honor, all of which are highly valued and important to Thai culture and society. The reflection of the societal and cultural values in Muay Thai underpins the enduring popularity and stature of the martial art in Thailand.
How Muay Thai Helps Combat Poverty in Thailand
Muay Thai is a profound sanctuary and economic opportunity provider to many people in Thailand. In many rural communities, subsistence agricultural work is governed by seasonal changes; thus, competing in Muay Thai events provides a significant income supplementation. Even competing at a modest local level provides fighters with an income considerably higher than the average village worker. Furthermore, as many fighters live in the gyms, their earnings after gym expenses can be directly pocketed.
The global interest in Muay Thai has also created an increased demand for training camps, as people from all over the world travel to Thailand to sample the intense training required to compete in martial arts and learn from native experts. Moreover, areas renowned for their events, such as Bangkok and Pattaya, have seen considerable uptake in their hospitality and services sectors, creating jobs for several people.
Conclusion
Muay Thai is helping to contribute to the reduction of poverty and empower communities across Thailand. Through its wide-ranging and invaluable transformative powers, it provides an alternative route out of poverty by supporting income generation and facilitating social mobility. It also creates tangible aspirations of escaping poverty by mastering a highly valued and respected art for millions of impoverished children.
– Ollie Roberts
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