Accelerating Action is this year’s International Women’s Day theme, calling for urgent efforts to advance gender equality matters. The 2024 Global Gender Gap report shows that although significant progress has been made and several economies reached higher gender parity scores this year, others are far from ideal results.
Southern Asia ranks last in Economic Participation and Opportunity and shows low rates of women employed in the workforce, with Bangladesh declining by -3.3 points in the global ranking. Bangladesh (31.1%), Sudan (33.7%), Iran (34.3%), Pakistan (36%), India (39.8%) and Morocco (40.6%) are the economies with the lowest economic parity.
Gender parity in projected earned income is less than 30% in these economies. Furthermore, all the economies on the list have labor force participation rates below 50%.
Education as a Pathway to Economic Freedom
Global studies have long shown that education is one of the most effective ways to combat poverty and reach gender equality. According to the World Bank gender data, women with secondary education earn nearly 20% more than those without and those with tertiary education earn up to 323.4% more. Educated women are also less likely to marry before 18, reducing risks associated with early pregnancy and improving overall family health.
Bangladesh excels in educational attainment, with a 94% achievement rate that reflects gender parity in secondary enrolment, 93% in literacy and 84.1% in university enrolment. Generally, Southern Asia has also made the most remarkable progress since 2006, improving educational gender parity by +13.4 percentage points – more than twice the leap made by the Middle East, Northern Africa and sub-Saharan Africa regions during the same period.
The World Economic Forum’s 2024 Global Gender Gap Report also notes that 91.3% of girls and 74.8% of boys have completed lower secondary school in Bangladesh as of 2022. Hence, the female literacy rate rose to 84% in 2023.
The Work of JAAGO in Bangladesh
JAAGO is a leading foundation in Bangladesh dedicated to promoting gender equality and ensuring women have continued access to education. Its journey began in 2007 in a single room with only 17 children in the Rayer Bazar Slum of Dhaka. It aims to break the poverty cycle and ensure a bright future for children from underprivileged communities. JAAGO currently has 11 schools in 10 districts in Bangladesh, educating 5,000 children.
Through various programs, JAAGO has successfully implemented solutions to keep girls in school while fostering skill development. In many rural areas, schools are either too expensive or poor quality. To address this, JAAGO schools offer free education with highly qualified teachers. It provides online programs through the digital school initiative, ensuring access to quality education for all.
The Digital School Program of JAAGO in Bangladesh
JAAGO Foundation’s Digital School Program provides quality education to underprivileged children in remote areas of Bangladesh using online learning. It bridges educational gaps by offering interactive lessons, trained teachers and digital resources. The program focuses on accessibility, inclusivity and skill development, ensuring children receive a standardized education regardless of location. This initiative empowers students with knowledge and opportunities for a brighter future.
The program also focuses on delivering quality education and opportunities at every step, including counseling parents to encourage them to keep their daughters in school. Additionally, the programs provide medical and mental health sessions to ensure girls can continue their education without barriers.
ODOMMO
The ODOMMO project, launched by the JAAGO Foundation with the Malala Fund, promotes girls’ education in Bangladesh by tackling poverty, gender discrimination and societal barriers. It focuses on improving school enrollment, retention and learning environments. The initiative further includes teacher training, life-skills programs and school expansions, empowering girls to become future leaders and advocates for change.
The ODOMMO project has positively impacted 1,584 girls in Bangladesh’s flood-prone areas by reducing school dropout rates, increasing awareness about child marriage and encouraging greater participation in STEM. Additionally, the project conducted community-driven awareness initiatives, including courtyard meetings and discussions with school authorities, government officials and local leaders to advocate for girls’ education in the region.
Bandarban School Bus
Many impoverished families in Bangladesh struggle to afford schooling and recurrent flooding worsens job losses, making education even less accessible. In many cases, girls are sent to work or married off instead of continuing their studies, as families believe marriage offers them a more secure future.
Geographical challenges further limit access to education, especially in rural areas, where long and unsafe commutes discourage attendance. Without secure transportation or infrastructure, many girls cannot reach school safely.
The JAAGO Foundation launched the School Bus Initiative to tackle this issue, providing students with reliable transportation. This simple yet impactful solution has significantly increased attendance, ensuring more children, especially girls, stay in school. By removing safety concerns and commuting barriers, the initiative has helped reduce dropout rates, allowing students to focus on their education.
Volunteering and a Call to Action
Ensuring access to education requires a collective effort; governments, parents, corporations and communities all drive meaningful change. Raising awareness through social media campaigns, expert advocacy and corporate engagement can further mobilize resources and support.
Individuals and businesses can contribute by sponsoring a child’s education, covering school fees, meals, supplies, health check-ups and mentorship. Sponsors also receive monthly reports and can connect with the school or child via online calls or in-person visits.
Beyond financial support, volunteers play a key role in driving local change. During recent floods in Bangladesh, volunteers stepped up by raising funds, rescuing people, setting up medical camps and rebuilding homes, demonstrating how collective action can make a lasting impact.
– Arianna Distefano
Arianna Distefano is based in London and focuses on Good News, Politics for The Borgen Project.
Photo: Flickr
The Connection Between Disability and Poverty in Micronesia
A Quick Look at the Numbers
In 1993, the Household Income and Expenditure Survey showed that 30% of Micronesian households fell below the poverty line, and in 2013, a survey that the World Bank did showed that 41.2% of the population fell under the poverty line.
This 11.2% increase in poverty rates over the span of only 20 years is not a random phenomenon. In 2003, the Micronesian federal government interviewed citizens from three of the country’s four states, Chuuk, Yap and Pohnpei, in a “Participatory Assessment of Hardship.” This assessment found that “landlessness, increasing drug and alcohol abuse, overcrowded households, and natural disasters” along with “the deterioration of customs and traditions… [and] restrictions brought by traditional beliefs” are the largest factors impacting poverty rates and hardship in the FSM.
What Does This Have to Do With Disability?
Disability and poverty in Micronesia are intrinsically tied. The largest markets in the FSM’s economy are farming and fishing, but because of the dispersed quality of the country’s geography and population, it is very difficult to make a profit selling produce and goods without commuting. Individuals who are unable to travel are often also unable to make an income. In a testimony taken by the Asian Development Bank, one woman explained: “I decided to start a small farm. The hardest part is finding transportation to bring the produce to sell in the capital. Sometimes I walk from my village to another village just to look for a boat. Sometimes I can’t find one and then my produce gets wasted and rotten.”
As sustenance farming has become less and less of a reliable way to make a living, those who reside in the rural outer islands have started to move to the country’s few urban hubs, leaving those unable to make the trip behind. Furthermore, Micronesia is in an area that is prone to natural disasters and is extremely vulnerable to the impacts of changing weather patterns and rising sea levels. In the case of a natural disaster, there is not infrastructure to ensure the safety of disabled peoples.
On June 11, 2009, the Micronesian government made the following statement regarding disability and poverty in Micronesia: “The FSM has approximately 10,000 people with some form of disability and the available programs and services for disabled persons are currently very limited. The number of disabled people in the FSM is increasing year after year and the limitation of available services suggests a moral and legal obligation to develop adequate programs to promote and protect their interest and wellbeing.”
Solutions
Although the situation with poverty and disability in Micronesia may seem bleak, there are many organizations and pieces of legislation that are continuing to help provide aid to this vulnerable demographic. One incredible organization to highlight is the Pohnpei Consumer Organization. With branches in all four Micronesian states, they work to support the disabled population and raise awareness about their struggles. One project that they took on was creating a “disaster tool-kit,” in order to provide villages with all of the resources necessary to support the disabled members of their community in the case of natural disaster. With hard work and support from foreign aid, it is more than possible to decrease the impacts of disability and poverty in Micronesia.
– Helena Birbrower
Photo: Flickr
How Development Workshop is making a difference in Angola
Development Workshop
Founded in 1981, Development Workshop was “the only NGO in the country’ for many years. On its website, the organization states: “We have continuously worked with our partners to build and empower local capacities and search for sustainable solutions throughout and post, the emergency environment.”
Development Workshop has significantly contributed to water sanitation in Angola. From 1995 to 1998, it provided advice on the country’s water system expansion project. This project was a part of the Luanda Infrastructure Program; it gathered insights into community water needs and their willingness to pay for these services. This data helped inform the expansion of the city’s main water supply network, benefiting over a million residents to this day.
Aside from this massive endeavor, Development Workshop also helped in the restoration of the Huambo Water supply system and its damaged infrastructure, providing even more access to safe drinking water. These improvements affected around 130,000 people.
Helping the Society
To provide a voice for the community, Development Workshop also founded the paper Ondaka. This is a local newspaper that states the ideas and opinions of groups in Angola.
Recently, the organization launched the “Espaco Muhler” project, focusing on providing training and resources to enhance women’s participation in the community. Through this program, women learn the skills to take on leadership roles within their communities. The project also offers workshops on entrepreneurship and small business management. Furthermore, women also learn about the rights they possess such as land ownership, inheritance and protection against gender-based violence, which is prevalent in Angola. According to UNICEF, “almost 34% of women have been survivors of violence throughout their lives.”
Digital Workshop also established KixiCredito, a microfinance agency that aims to provide small loans to entrepreneurs who could not get them from traditional banks. Since then, KixiCredito now operates in 17 Angolian provinces and serves more than 25,000 active clients.
Development Workshop has been extremely successful since its founding. It has partnered with numerous equally successful organizations such as the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, UNICEF, USAID and Homeless International. It has made a huge impact on the lives of Angolans and will hopefully continue to do so.
– Mustafa Tareen
Photo: Flickr
Diseases Impacting Peru
Some of the diseases listed are strongly rooted in poverty and lack of resources. This means that with proper help, information and resources could be minimized and stop being a threat to Peruvians and tourists. Here is information about the diseases impacting Peru.
Dengue
One of the most known diseases impacting Peru is dengue. According to the Pan-American Health Organization (PAHO), Peru is the Latin American country with the highest fatality rate. Before 2024, Peru had between 4,698 and 68,290 cases per year. However, in 2024, Peru experienced a sudden increase of dengue cases, rising to 273,847 people infected according to the Peruvian Ministry of Health. Dengue is a viral infection transmitted through mosquito bites. Not all mosquitos bring dengue, but it is impossible to identify when one does. Dengue is highly present in communities with fewer resources. The lack of clean water distributed through pipelines makes people store it in open containers, which according to the Peruvian government, is the environment where the Aedes Aegypti mosquito lays down its eggs. Towns with heavy rain are even more vulnerable to dengue outbreaks.
Malaria
Another mosquito-borne disease, malaria, while not as deadly as dengue, is still a problem the country is trying to tackle as fast as possible. The Peruvian Health Ministry declared malaria as an endemic disease impacting Peru, especially in certain areas of the jungle because of the presence of still water combined with biological materials. Peru has around 17,000 cases of malaria per year, closing 2023 with more than 22,000 reported cases.
According to the UNDP, malaria and poverty correlate; globally, malaria affects lower-income tropical towns and agricultural areas, especially if they do not have the proper resources to prevent the mosquitos from laying eggs, which requires the purchase of certain pesticides to prevent those mosquitos from growing up. Low-income households, especially farmers, do not have the budget for the right pesticides, insecticides or even the protective clothes necessary to prevent malaria. On the other hand, the United Nations Development Program explains how malaria not only is barely impossible to prevent for low-income households, but the treatment from the sickness drives families into poverty.
The Peruvian government already started implementing and funding programs to accomplish its objectives of reducing malaria by 90% by 2030. The “Eliminemos la malaria” plan started in 2022, and since then, the government allocated resources to take the following actions:
The Peruvian government reported a decrease in the number of cases of malaria in six regions of the Latin American country, all happening in just the first years of the program. Certain regions like Junín reported a decrease of 84%, while others like Amazonas decreased by 24%.
Typhoid
Typhoid is a type of infectious disease that people catch when ingesting contaminated foods or water. It is mostly present in places without access to clean water and proper sanitation when handling foods. The Peruvian government reported that more than 3 million Peruvians do not have access to drinkable water and more than 6 million to not have access to sewers.
Typhoid is a disease impacting Peru that is directly related to poverty and the Peruvian government is working to address it by providing proper information on how to handle foods. The Peruvian government does not prepare a report solely on typhoid, but it includes it in a report for intense diarrheic disease, in which it had reported approximately 2,345 cases per year.
Tuberculosis
A disease that according to the Peruvian newspaper Peru21, is considered “the sickness of the poor.” Tuberculosis is mainly spread when people spend a lot of time in an indoor space. In Peru, approximately 30,000 people get tuberculosis every year. Thankfully the Peruvian government is taking measures to increase the early detection and avoid it from spreading. Peru is doubling the number of molecular detection equipment nationwide, which will speed the process for labs. The executive director of the tuberculosis department announced at the same time that her department will be conducting regular checkups in vulnerable areas, focusing on markets, to detect early tuberculosis outbreaks in towns far from cities.
The Bright Side
Since several of these diseases impacting Peru are strongly related to poverty, fighting them also means improving the living conditions for vulnerable towns. Several nonprofits are already trying to improve sanitation and bring freshwater to towns. The nonprofit Prisma, which originated in 1986, dedicates its existence to fighting inequality in vulnerable towns. It has implemented several projects to fight diseases that mosquitos transmit.
Water for People is another big nonprofit that has been working to bring fresh water to rural towns since 2008. So far, it has worked with regional governments to bring almost 100% fresh running water to three districts: Cascas, Asunsión and Reque. Lastly, Water.org has been working hard in Peru since 2013, it focuses on lending money through partner institutions so that several communities can access toilets, sanitary installations and water tanks. So far, it has been able to improve sanitation for more than 5 million Peruvians in addition to providing clean water.
Government Investments
At the same time, the Peruvian government is working hard to prevent the spread of several diseases, such as malaria, tuberculosis, typhoid and dengue, by informing people on how to avoid them and with early detection tests. By investing in equipment that is being brought to different clinics around the country, the idea is to decentralize the testing process of detection, making results available at a faster rate for local governments to react. The Peruvian health ministry is launching several campaigns, bringing volunteers and medics to markets around the country for regular tests on vulnerable populations, hoping that the early detection and training of communities will reduce the spread of these diseases impacting Peru.
Helping improve the living conditions of towns will not only save lives but at the same time improve the security for tourists from everywhere and reduce the chances of these diseases impacting Peru to impact other countries that never faced them.
– Luis Felipe Rios
Photo: Unsplash
Navigating the Mental Health of Eswatini’s Youth
The Mental Health Challenges of Eswatini’s Youth
A lack of economic prospects, recreational facilities, support systems and violence are all major contributors to worsening mental health among young people. UNICEF reported that 35% of Eswatini’s youth are neither employed nor enrolled in education or training, increasing the likelihood of engaging in risky behavior, resulting in adverse mental health outcomes.
Violence detrimentally affects children’s development, cognitive ability and academic performance, leading to issues such as low self-esteem, emotional distress and depression. About 79% of children between the ages of 1 and 14 have experienced physical violence. Among adolescents, 32% of males between the ages of 13 to 24 reported experiencing physical violence in their lifetime. Meanwhile, 5.5% of females in the same age range reported experiencing violent incidents occurring before the age of 18.
How Violence Exacerbates HIV/AIDS in Eswatini
Furthermore, violence is a significant driver of HIV/AIDS, as it increases vulnerability to risky behaviors through trauma and its impact on emotion regulation. Among young people with a history of violence, the prevalence of HIV was 7.4% for females and 3.4% for males. In comparison, the HIV positivity rate for those without such experiences was 6.4% for females and 3.3% for males.
The country’s 27% HIV prevalence rate among individuals aged 15 to 49 further compounds the mental health challenges that Eswatini’s youth face, placing it among the highest globally. The dread of disclosure, which underscores the necessity of expanding disclosure programs for those who provide care with more comprehensive support for adherence and addressing mental health concerns, emotionally burdens Eswatini’s youth. The potential negative consequences of disclosing their HIV status to their spouse were a source of concern for 75.3% of HIV-positive men and 23.4% of HIV-positive women between the ages of 13 and 24.
Fortunately, some organizations like UNICEF and Education Plus are promoting change through institutional support and policy. Meanwhile, local organizations such as Young Heroes are focusing on vulnerable communities.
UNICEF’s Mental Health Support for Eswatini
UNICEF reached out to young people through social media and discussions to share information about mental health, sexual health, gender-based violence and violence against children in collaboration with non-governmental organizations (NGOs). These efforts allowed 1,782 young people to access mental health support.
Collaborating with Junior Achievement Eswatini (JAE), UNICEF implemented a Financial Literacy and Entrepreneurship Skills Program, helping 3,005 adolescents and providing opportunities through economic empowerment, allowing them to reduce engagement in risky behaviors, thereby lowering the likelihood of experiencing adverse mental health outcomes.
In partnership with the Ministry of Health, UNICEF supported teen clubs and mother-baby pairs clubs offering psychosocial support, counseling and health education. These initiatives have helped more than 13,350 young people access information on mental health, sexual and reproductive health and HIV prevention.
Education Plus
A partnership of UN organizations leads the Education Plus Initiative. The initiative is a high-level global advocacy effort aimed to improve access to education, health care and economic opportunities, promoting stigma-free health care services. These efforts enable young individuals with HIV to seek help in a more supportive environment, reducing the likelihood of adverse mental health outcomes due to fear of discrimination.
The initiative safeguards adolescents by addressing fundamental needs and providing mental health care. Since a lack of recreational resources often lead to risky behaviors that undermine mental health, Education Plus aims to provide free secondary education for both girls and boys by 2025 to address this issue.
Furthermore, the initiative equips young people with the tools to achieve financial independence and stability. This is achieved through social protection, school-to-work transitions and economic empowerment. By fostering hope for a better future, it increases the likelihood of reducing the percentage of young people at risk of self-harm.
Young Heroes
Young Heroes is a charitable organization that aims to empower vulnerable youth and their caregivers in Eswatini through local initiatives. The organization collaborates with leading international partners, offering psychological support, social safety and prevention of gender-based violence. Programs for youth emphasize the importance of education, counseling, HIV-related support and treatment.
Young Heroes’ Sabelo Sensha project aims to increase mental health and resilience among Eswatini’s vulnerable young people. To support this, the project provides HIV treatment adherence assistance, counseling, support for caregivers, group referrals, positive parenting training, educational subsidies and socioeconomic empowerment programs.
Young Heroes supports disadvantaged children in Eswatini through Stepping Stones Sessions, which provide educational initiatives. Sessions teach essential life skills and offer opportunities for personal development. Babazile Bhila, a 20-year-old who endured psychosocial struggles and poverty, said Young Heroes’ Stepping Stones changed her life. Indeed, Babazile is now funded by CANGO’s Halt Project for her education. She thanked Young Heroes for enabling her to reach her full potential.
In August 2024, Young Heroes and the Ministry of Justice and Constitutional Affairs formed a partnership through Legal Aid Eswatini. This partnership is a critical step in addressing the vulnerabilities that children and adolescents face. Through this partnership, organizations will collaborate to mitigate the social and legal obstacles that Eswatini’s youth are encountering. Furthermore, this will foster greater emotional security and mental well-being.
Looking Ahead
Addressing the mental health challenges that Eswatini’s youths experience requires a multifaceted approach that includes mental health support, economic empowerment and community-based activities. However, the initiatives of world-renowned organizations demonstrate that there is hope for a better future for Eswatini’s youth.
– Imge Tekniker
Photo: Wikipedia Commons
US Foreign Aid to Taiwan
History
From 1950 to 1965, Taiwan received a significant portion of U.S. economic aid. Over this period, Taiwan received around $100 million USD in monetary assistance each year, which accounted for almost 9% of Taiwan’s gross domestic product (GDP).
The focus of foreign aid to Taiwan evolved throughout the years as living conditions improved and U.S. foreign policy objectives shifted. After the Chinese Civil War, people had minimal access to necessities like food and clothing. Starting in the early 1950s, U.S. foreign aid to Taiwan prioritized economic aid and provided military materials due to the widespread poverty and economic and political instability. With this aid, Taiwan was able to stabilize the political situation, which prevented the government from directing all funds toward defense and raising taxes on a population that already struggled financially.
In the mid-1950s, the U.S, directed aid toward infrastructure projects and industrial development. About 37.3% of aid funds went toward infrastructure, 21.5% to agriculture, 25.9% to workforce development and 15.3% to industry. The final stage of U.S. aid programs emphasized shifting from import-based industries to export-oriented growth. However, after 1960, the United States concluded that Taiwan had “graduated” from the aid programs and moved to cut concessional assistance.
Current US Aid to Taiwan
The United States no longer provides the island with development assistance but continues to offer military financing loans and contribute to disaster preparedness. Before the suspension of the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID), the organization initiated emergency response and joint training programs that have increased Taiwan’s ability to withstand natural disasters and military pressure from the People’s Republic of China (PRC).
Although disaster preparedness is an objective of aid to Taiwan, military support has been the primary focus of U.S. assistance in recent years. The National Defense Authorization Act of Fiscal Year 2023 and the Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2023 allow for the U.S. to provide up to $10 billion in grant assistance over five years and up to $2 billion in loans.
The goal of current U.S. aid is to maintain peace and stability in the Indo-Pacific region, while 20th century aid was intended to promote economic and social development. The demand for poverty-reducing aid programs diminished as previous initiatives proved successful, which explains this shift in U.S. aid objectives.
The Outcome of Foreign Aid
Taiwan recognizes that it owes much of its progress to the foreign aid it received over the decades. Today, the World Bank considers Taiwan a high-income economy. It is one of the world’s largest producers of semiconductors and electronics and is a driving force behind innovations in artificial intelligence.
Foreign aid to Taiwan spurred economic development and substantially improved the well-being of Taiwan’s population. Taiwan’s GNP per capita was $1,132 USD by 1976 and $12,396 USD in 1995. With a higher GNP per capita, Taiwan’s population had more job opportunities, a more equitable income distribution and access to basic necessities like food, health care and education.
From 1953 to 1995, the mortality rates in children under 5 decreased from 21.1 per 1,000 to 1.9 per 1,000, while life expectancy increased by 3.2 years for men and 5.9 years for women as a result of lower income inequality. “By using this aid, we were able to build up our infrastructure… And we were also able to set up our import substitution industries…” remarked Ma Ying-jeou (馬英九), President of the Republic of China (Taiwan) from 2008-2016, in a speech. With U.S. assistance on infrastructure, industry and defense, Taiwan increased GNP per capita and established more income equality, improving life expectancy and the overall quality of life for its citizens.
These improvements in health and economic outcomes demonstrate that foreign aid to Taiwan has made a noteworthy impact. At a time when the United States is reassessing its foreign aid commitments, it must recognize the positive influence of foreign aid on Taiwan’s success and rapid reduction of poverty.
– Haley Parilla
Photo: Pixabay
Transitional Government Aims to Rebuild Syria After Civil War
A Free Market Economy
According to Al Jazeera, under the opposition group Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS), the transitional government wants to establish Syria as a free market economy. As a step towards this, the government reopened the Nasib border crossing with Jordan, one of Syria’s busiest trading routes.
The government will be trying to establish new economic protocols to stabilize the public sector. The focus right now is on necessities such as electricity. However, the country’s economy currently revolves around informal markets that don’t have official oversight, resulting in a hard-to-follow capital flow that will be a challenge to capitalize on.
Reforming Government Ministries
Mohammed Abazeed, finance minister, told Reuters that government ministries would be reformed to improve accountability and efficiency, leading to a 400% increase in public sector salaries by February. The government also plans to overhaul the tax system to benefit all taxpayers. These improvements in various sectors will help Syria.
However, the country still suffers from sanctions other nations imposed on it during Assad’s regime. The Assad regime received sanctions from many countries in the West, such as the U.S. and the U.K. These sanctions forced the regime to look to Iran and Russia for funding, but now that the old regime has been ousted, the new transitional government inherited those sanctions without a direct source of outside financing to counter them.
Removing Economic Sanctions
The transitional government led by interim President Ahmed Al-Sharaa is in diplomatic talks with the U.S. and European Union (EU) countries to remove economic sanctions. The U.S. government did label HTS as a terrorist organization;
However, on December 20, 2024, the U.S. government removed a $10 million bounty for al-Sharaa. The U.S. is also leading talks with Gulf Arab states to remove sanctions so long as the new government cuts ties with Russia and Iran, according to Al Jazeera.
A Peaceful Resolution
Armed groups and militias still control much of Syria. Many of these groups fought the HTS or remained wary of their intentions. As a show of peace, the transitional government invited delegates from all over Syria to a national dialogue conference on February 25.
Al-Sharaa and his government are trying to reach a peaceful resolution with other armed groups by involving them in rebuilding and creating a unified army from these groups. However, the Syrian Democratic Forces have refused to disarm and give up their territory.
Conclusion
Many Syrians remain hopeful for the future. Diplomatic talks with nations such as Türkiye remain consistent for the transitional government, potentially allowing for foreign investment. Syria remains in a precarious position but is consolidating a plan to rebuild.
– Jonathan Joseph
Photo: Wikimedia Commons
Addressing Poverty in Greenland
The People of Greenland
The vast majority of Greenland’s population identify as Inuit and consider themselves to be ethnically Greenlandic, while the remaining are nearly entirely Danish. The impacts of Norse colonialism and rapid modernization throughout history have impacted the Inuit people’s livelihoods and ways of living have been threatened by the impact of Norse colonialism and rapid modernization throughout history, a threat which has not dispersed despite decades of being recognized as an autonomous territory.
Tourism Vs. Tradition
For many, traditional industries such as fishing and hunting were a means of survival as well as income, though the forced displacement of families and the Inuit people has meant that many have lost access or ease of access to the trades they once relied heavily upon. These industries have long been a staple within the communities, but are gradually being replaced with modern institutions, including mining and tourism.
From 1774 to 1908, the Royal Greenland Trading Department (KGH) were responsible for managing the Greenland government and trade, and throughout this period, they actively fought the urbanization of the native land. However, by the 1960s, the Danish government had introduced a modernization program. While the Danish government introduced it to help Greenlandic workers, particularly the fishermen, into work at modern fisheries, the program merely contributed to the collapse of existing fishers and thus the vital trades of many citizens, as well as prolonged unemployment. This was only one example of colonization contributing to a growing crisis of poverty in Greenland.
The Modernization Shortfall
Despite being the world’s largest island, the country is home to only 57,000 citizens, making for a sparse population along the coastline and masses of uninhabited land. As a result of this dispersion, there is a lack of key infrastructure that would enable various areas of the economy to grow, such as mining or tourism. As of 2025, there are still less than 100 miles of paved roads across the island, making transportation difficult for workers, and thus limiting job opportunities and access to key sectors and services. For those who rely upon fishing, hunting and gathering to survive non-existent or difficult roads can lead to both job and food insecurity.
These rural areas are where poverty thrives; according to Project World, many Greenlanders have inadequate access to sanitation, food and clean water within their own homes. This is particularly prevalent within predominantly Inuit villages, where a lack of a national grid means that people cannot easily access the services they rely on. Where Danish modernization programs and projects largely failed, many native Greenlanders fell behind and, as a result, beneath the poverty line.
Rising Temperatures
Like the majority of Arctic countries, rising temperatures is impacting Greenland. As the ice sheet began to retreat in 2023, the island became known for its untapped resources, the earth rich with minerals. However, the aforementioned lack of infrastructure makes it more difficult to access these resources and, therefore, create jobs within the sector.
While the discovery of these minerals has been widely deemed a good thing, the impact of the rescinding ice sheet is already disrupting the lives of many Greenlanders. Melting ice and global warming can make one of the island’s key exports – fishing – an even more unreliable source of income, as the changing weather conditions impact marine life. Climate-induced erosion is also hitting the already limited road structures, making journeys necessary for food, work or transportation more dangerous, more difficult and more insecure. This impacts poverty in Greenland.
The Future
While Greenland’s autonomy and ownership have become a recent political issue, there should be a greater focus on alleviating poverty in Greenland without the island and the people’s independence and autonomy being used as a price tag. In particular, the Salvation Army is recognized as one of the major charitable organizations in Greenland that is making a large everyday impact on the citizens, helping to end homelessness and improve the quality of life for those most vulnerable across the country. From 2012, the charity has been providing warm spaces, meals and drinks and support to those in need, including via the 2024 Self Denial Appeal, which aimed to improve lives across the country.
With eyes across the globe turned to the island, hopefully, there will be a greater focus on improving the lives of Greenlanders by fighting poverty.
– Macy Hall
Photo: Pixabay
Fragility and Rule of Law in Colombia
In international relations, the rule of law is a principle of governance that holds all parties, including the government itself, accountable to the same rules. Colombia, however, has faced challenges in fairly upholding this principle, leading to political instability and violence. This article will focus on the fragility and rule of law in Colombia. While significant progress has occurred in recent years, major challenges remain. Overcoming these challenges and strengthening the rule of law will require continued legislative reforms, domestic activism and sustained international support. Although an uphill battle, there is hope for Colombia’s legal system.
Understanding the Roots of the Problem
Colombia has a simple legal structure, featuring a legislative, executive and judicial branch. The country elects a president every four years. A Supreme Court (Corte Suprema de Justicia) establishes legal precedent, and a Constitution serves as the foundation for addressing the fragility and rule of law in Colombia. In theory, everything should function smoothly. However, corruption, dysfunction and inequality plague the judicial system. Several factors have contributed to these conditions:
Impact on Citizens
The fragility and rule of law in Colombia has had a debilitating effect on its citizens, as one can see through citizens distrust of their government and the widespread poverty that runs rampant. Here is information about how fragility and rule of law in Colombia has increased distrust and poverty.
Progress Towards Equality
While the situation is challenging, the statistics above actually represent growth compared to previous years, particularly regarding perceptions of corruption. This indicates that, albeit slowly, Colombia is making strides toward stability.
Several factors have contributed to this progress, including legislative reforms and international efforts:
A Plan for the Future
To maintain this positive trajectory, Colombia will need to continue its anti-corruption campaign by continuing to reform the judicial system, implementing technology and expanding access to justice, particularly in rural and marginalized communities. Furthermore, the country needs to improve security measures, specifically by increasing police accountability and trustworthiness. In doing so, Colombia should be able to combat organized crime, one of the largest issues that the country faces.
Although domestic reform is critical, Colombia cannot act alone. It will need support from the international community. Currently, the United States, the World Bank and the European Union all provide financial aid, and it would be beneficial for more institutions to follow suit. If Colombia can capitalize on international support, reduce corruption and reform its judicial system, a brighter future is within reach. The fragility and rule of law in Colombia will no longer be a burden, but a testament to peace, democracy and equality.
– Josh Weinstein
Photo: Flickr
Impact of Trade on Poverty Reduction in Comoros
The Issue with Trade
The economy of Comoros is dependent on trade and investment. Failing trade practices are then detrimental to the overall functioning of the country. There have been routine trade deficits because “the level of goods exports is lower than that of services exports, while the level of goods imports is higher than that of services imports.” Supporting the overall economy could help poverty reduction in Comoros.
Comoros has a history of an unstable political situation and fluctuating institutions. As a result, “most trade support systems remain fragmented in practice with very limited exchange of information between regional directorates.” The Comorian government must be able to establish a stable system of trade to create cash inflows for the country. A successful economy is necessary to support and provide services to the citizens of Comoros.
The vast majority of Comoros’s exports consist of a few products, which is why “plantations engage a large proportion of the population in producing the islands’ major cash crops for export: vanilla, cloves, perfume essences and copra.” Being dependent on these products makes the country vulnerable to price fluctuations, putting people’s incomes at risk. Expanding their market and sources of income will contribute to poverty reduction in Comoros.
Effects on Poverty
Poverty reduction in Comoros depends on stabilizing prices for people in the country. Comoros’s lack of exports and reliance on imported foods makes recent inflation detrimental, as “ongoing inflation has mostly been driven by food item prices, affecting the poor disproportionally.” The country’s poor are further isolated as they struggle to afford food and are unable to keep up with rising prices. The dangers of ineffective trade practices are evident in the ways they push people further into poverty.
In addition to the struggles of citizens to meet their needs due to financial hardships, the country as a whole has difficulty funding supportive programs. This means that investment and aid are crucial to poverty reduction in Comoros. Water shortages are an issue plaguing the impoverished, but “in 2019, with the backing of the Green Climate Fund (GCF), Comoros launched a $60 million eight-year project to increase reliable and safe water supply.” Until Comoros’s economy can support its population, aid is beneficial to the country’s poor.
Poverty Reduction in Comoros
Organizations are working to combat poverty along with the government of Comoros, one of which is the Comoros Red Crescent. This organization has been working to promote health, risk management, education, and income-generating activities since 1982. One of their courses is focused on “training about water sanitation,” which, as mentioned previously, is an area of need in the country. Comoros Red Crescent is supporting the people of Comoros in ways that the government is currently unable to do.
Comoros ratified the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA), which hopes to “mobilize the private sector to take full advantage of new trading opportunities on the continent.” The AfCFTA is meant to spearhead the transformation of the Comorian economy and contribute to poverty reduction in Comoros.
The implementation of AfCFTA could lead to economic growth, as “by 2043, GDP per capita in Comoros could increase to $5,581 in the Free Trade scenario, compared to $5,015 in the Current Path forecast.” These steps towards economic growth are promising for the future of poverty reduction in Comoros. Continual efforts for growth, like the beginning of AfCFTA, will provide more assistance to the impoverished in Comoros.
– Sydney Morrow
Photo: Flickr
Women’s Education and the Work of JAAGO in Bangladesh
Southern Asia ranks last in Economic Participation and Opportunity and shows low rates of women employed in the workforce, with Bangladesh declining by -3.3 points in the global ranking. Bangladesh (31.1%), Sudan (33.7%), Iran (34.3%), Pakistan (36%), India (39.8%) and Morocco (40.6%) are the economies with the lowest economic parity.
Gender parity in projected earned income is less than 30% in these economies. Furthermore, all the economies on the list have labor force participation rates below 50%.
Education as a Pathway to Economic Freedom
Global studies have long shown that education is one of the most effective ways to combat poverty and reach gender equality. According to the World Bank gender data, women with secondary education earn nearly 20% more than those without and those with tertiary education earn up to 323.4% more. Educated women are also less likely to marry before 18, reducing risks associated with early pregnancy and improving overall family health.
Bangladesh excels in educational attainment, with a 94% achievement rate that reflects gender parity in secondary enrolment, 93% in literacy and 84.1% in university enrolment. Generally, Southern Asia has also made the most remarkable progress since 2006, improving educational gender parity by +13.4 percentage points – more than twice the leap made by the Middle East, Northern Africa and sub-Saharan Africa regions during the same period.
The World Economic Forum’s 2024 Global Gender Gap Report also notes that 91.3% of girls and 74.8% of boys have completed lower secondary school in Bangladesh as of 2022. Hence, the female literacy rate rose to 84% in 2023.
The Work of JAAGO in Bangladesh
JAAGO is a leading foundation in Bangladesh dedicated to promoting gender equality and ensuring women have continued access to education. Its journey began in 2007 in a single room with only 17 children in the Rayer Bazar Slum of Dhaka. It aims to break the poverty cycle and ensure a bright future for children from underprivileged communities. JAAGO currently has 11 schools in 10 districts in Bangladesh, educating 5,000 children.
Through various programs, JAAGO has successfully implemented solutions to keep girls in school while fostering skill development. In many rural areas, schools are either too expensive or poor quality. To address this, JAAGO schools offer free education with highly qualified teachers. It provides online programs through the digital school initiative, ensuring access to quality education for all.
The Digital School Program of JAAGO in Bangladesh
JAAGO Foundation’s Digital School Program provides quality education to underprivileged children in remote areas of Bangladesh using online learning. It bridges educational gaps by offering interactive lessons, trained teachers and digital resources. The program focuses on accessibility, inclusivity and skill development, ensuring children receive a standardized education regardless of location. This initiative empowers students with knowledge and opportunities for a brighter future.
The program also focuses on delivering quality education and opportunities at every step, including counseling parents to encourage them to keep their daughters in school. Additionally, the programs provide medical and mental health sessions to ensure girls can continue their education without barriers.
ODOMMO
The ODOMMO project, launched by the JAAGO Foundation with the Malala Fund, promotes girls’ education in Bangladesh by tackling poverty, gender discrimination and societal barriers. It focuses on improving school enrollment, retention and learning environments. The initiative further includes teacher training, life-skills programs and school expansions, empowering girls to become future leaders and advocates for change.
The ODOMMO project has positively impacted 1,584 girls in Bangladesh’s flood-prone areas by reducing school dropout rates, increasing awareness about child marriage and encouraging greater participation in STEM. Additionally, the project conducted community-driven awareness initiatives, including courtyard meetings and discussions with school authorities, government officials and local leaders to advocate for girls’ education in the region.
Bandarban School Bus
Many impoverished families in Bangladesh struggle to afford schooling and recurrent flooding worsens job losses, making education even less accessible. In many cases, girls are sent to work or married off instead of continuing their studies, as families believe marriage offers them a more secure future.
Geographical challenges further limit access to education, especially in rural areas, where long and unsafe commutes discourage attendance. Without secure transportation or infrastructure, many girls cannot reach school safely.
The JAAGO Foundation launched the School Bus Initiative to tackle this issue, providing students with reliable transportation. This simple yet impactful solution has significantly increased attendance, ensuring more children, especially girls, stay in school. By removing safety concerns and commuting barriers, the initiative has helped reduce dropout rates, allowing students to focus on their education.
Volunteering and a Call to Action
Ensuring access to education requires a collective effort; governments, parents, corporations and communities all drive meaningful change. Raising awareness through social media campaigns, expert advocacy and corporate engagement can further mobilize resources and support.
Individuals and businesses can contribute by sponsoring a child’s education, covering school fees, meals, supplies, health check-ups and mentorship. Sponsors also receive monthly reports and can connect with the school or child via online calls or in-person visits.
Beyond financial support, volunteers play a key role in driving local change. During recent floods in Bangladesh, volunteers stepped up by raising funds, rescuing people, setting up medical camps and rebuilding homes, demonstrating how collective action can make a lasting impact.
– Arianna Distefano
Photo: Flickr