In 2022, the Philippines exported more than 2.2 million metric tons of bananas, placing them as the third largest exporter of bananas globally in the Global Banana Export Ranking. Even as one of the country’s most valued export commodities, the banana trade has always been one of inequality, trouble and turmoil, where many banana farmers experience poverty in the Philippines.
The Island of Mindanao
Ironically referred to as the “Land of Promise,” Mindanao has always been known for flourishing agriculture, severe poverty and civil unrest. Approximately 84% of the Philippines’ bananas originate from the island of Mindanao, home to around 25% of the country’s population. Yet upon this flourishing island lives over 35% of the country’s poorest.
Mindanao’s rural and indigenous farming communities suffer from poverty, poor road infrastructure and a lack of access to basic services such as electricity and water. This is a dire contrast to the richness of natural resources and opportunities it holds.
The History of the Banana Industry in the Philippines
With a tragic and torn colonial history, Filipinos have suffered for generations under colonial rule. With greed for the natural richness and potential the Philippines has always offered, the country fell to the exploitation of U.S. and Spanish rule, and poverty in the Philippines increased significantly.
When global internationalization and major food corporations infiltrated the banana industry of the Philippines, farmers became landless and suffered hunger from feeding everyone but themselves. As they no longer owned the farms, these banana farmers also found themselves imprisoned by unfair wages and poverty.
It was not until just over 30 years ago that the farmers began to claim back this land through the Philippines’ Land Reform Law. Challenging the corporations that had held them enslaved for so long and forming the cooperative FARMCOOP to continue spreading autonomy among Filipino farmers in Mindanao.
The FARMCOOP Foundation has now spread throughout Mindanao and much of the Philippines as a grassroots NFP Organization working alongside rural and indigenous communities to support growth and opportunity. Since 1995, it has supported more than 6,000 farmers, empowering them to further the potential of their farms and yields sustainably and reduce poverty across the Philippines.
The Impact of Natural Disasters & Panama Disease
Natural disasters and various crop diseases now threaten bananas, among much of global food production. There has been a significant drop in Filipino banana production and export, which has knocked it to third on the Global Banana Export Ranking.
Specifically, severe weather changes, including increased periods of rainfall, flooding and droughts, have impacted farming in the Philippines. Multiple typhoons have severely cost the Philippines over the past decade and in July, devastating landslides ripped through the country.
Banana farming in the Philippines has also struggled due to the increase in resistant crop diseases, such as Panama Disease. The use of fertilizers & pesticides has dramatically increased crop yields. However, one can see the prevalence and potential of massive crop loss to disease with a drop in decrease year on year.
Hope for the Banana Growing Industry in the Philippines
As of May 26, the World Bank has invested in a $100 million project to support Mindanao Farmers, known as the Mindanao Inclusive Agriculture Development Project (MIADP).
MIADP is being implemented to allow farmers of Mindanao to sustainably increase yields and productivity while protecting the natural riches it boasts. In recognizing the severe poverty of the island, the intention is to encourage and provide resources that support and educate the farmers to create a more inclusive and fair food industry.
The program will likely educate and support Mindanao Farmers, encouraging sustainable farming techniques, utilizing Indigenous knowledge and helping improve climate resistance. In doing so, it is reducing poverty in the Philippines’ banana industry. The investment will also help improve local infrastructure, including education, ‘all-weather roads’ and health care access. The program should benefit 120,000 farmers and fisherfolk across Mindanao.
Banana Link
Another initiative, working with banana farmers in the Philippines and collaborating with FARMCOOP, is Banana Link. Banana Link is a global organization working with banana farmers worldwide, advocating for a fair and equal banana industry.
It has been working in the Philippines towards achieving its key objectives:
- Fair and ethical trade across the whole production chain.
- Dignity and rights for farmers and trade unions.
- Sustainable production of bananas.
Its program has furthered the support and the future of global banana farming. It ensures that the benefits are shared equally throughout, reducing poverty in the banana industry in the Philippines.
Given the dark history of the Banana Industry of the Philippines, projects like these and organizations like FARMCOOP and Banana Link will give banana farmers living in poverty in the Philippines an opportunity for a better life. Doing so will allow their futures to be as bright as their bananas.
– Lucy Blake
Photo: Wikipedia Commons
US Funding Initiative for Fighting Poverty in Puerto Rico
This substantial investment has a two-fold focus, with $85.7 million dedicated to broadband infrastructure and $64.7 million allocated to multi-purpose community technology centers. This initiative’s primary objectives include combating poverty and nurturing development within the territory by bridging the digital divide that plagues Puerto Rico.
Puerto Rico’s Lack of Connectivity
More than 61,000 homes and small businesses on the island currently lack access to broadband internet. This digital divide has far-reaching consequences, limiting access to critical services such as health care, educational opportunities and employment prospects.
Impacts Across Multiple Sectors
The investment of $85.7 million in broadband infrastructure represents a transformative opportunity for Puerto Rico. This significant funding will connect thousands of households while ushering in a wave of positive changes for the island’s residents.
One of the most notable benefits will be the enhancement of telehealth services. With improved broadband access, residents will have easier and more reliable access to remote medical consultations. This is especially vital for individuals in rural or underserved areas who may struggle with physical access to health care facilities. The statistics suggest a substantial increase in telehealth consultations, ensuring that more Puerto Ricans can receive timely medical care, ultimately leading to better health outcomes.
The investment also opens the door to expanded online education. With faster and more reliable internet connections, students of all ages will have improved access to online courses and educational resources. This is crucial for remote or underserved communities, providing them with opportunities for skill development and academic advancement. The expected rise in online course enrollments is a testament to the potential educational impact.
This infusion of funds will also stimulate remote work opportunities. As Puerto Rico’s digital infrastructure improves, remote job prospects will increase significantly. This is a particularly welcome development, given the flexibility it offers to the workforce. The anticipated growth in remote job opportunities will enable residents to access a broader range of employment options without the need for relocation off-island.
In addition to the broadband infrastructure investment, the allocation of $64.7 million to multi-purpose community technology centers is a game changer. These centers will serve as more than just internet access points; they will become vital community hubs, providing educational resources, training and access to various services. These centers are poised to empower communities by offering essential skill-development programs, digital literacy training and a space for residents to access critical services such as job searches, government assistance programs and more.
The Commitment to Fighting Poverty Globally
This initiative underscores the Biden-Harris Administration’s unwavering commitment to equity and the long-term development of Puerto Rico. Reducing poverty and enhancing economic opportunities represents a significant stride toward creating a more prosperous and interconnected Puerto Rico. In the realm of Congressional politics, several bipartisan bills in the House aim to address global poverty and development. Dedicated representatives who recognize the importance of international cooperation champion these bills.
Multilateral Organizations and Their Role in Fighting Global Poverty
Beyond Congress, big multilateral organizations like the United Nations (UN), the International Monetary Fund (IMF) and the World Bank also play a pivotal role in combating global poverty. Their collaborative efforts with governments worldwide underscore the significance of international partnerships in tackling poverty on a global scale.
The U.S. Treasury’s $158 million initiative for Puerto Rico is a beacon of hope for the island’s residents. By reducing the digital divide, expanding access to vital services and fostering economic growth, it exemplifies the positive impact of strategic investments. Moreover, it aligns with a broader global effort involving both Congress and international organizations, to address poverty and foster development.
– Suhani Bhattad
Photo: Pixabay
Restoring Mobility: Mercer On Mission in Cambodia
Struggles Cambodian Amputees Face
Amputees in Cambodia grapple with significant economic challenges, as evidenced by the country’s poverty rate. According to Limbs International, the country has nearly 25,000 amputees. Studies indicate that amputees often face heightened unemployment rates, creating additional hurdles in securing sustainable employment opportunities. The economic hardships faced by many Cambodian amputees are worsened as many cannot afford the prosthetics and treatments, leaving them in an endless cycle of poverty and financial disparity.
Restoring Mobility Through Prosthetic Limbs
Many Cambodian amputees often struggle with ill-fitting or heavy prosthetics or have no access to them at all. But amid these challenges, Mercer On Mission shines as a beacon of hope, fitting patients with 549 legs and 62 hands while treating 800 orthopedic patients. This initiative provides not just prosthetic limbs but comprehensive solutions that empower individuals to regain their mobility and, in turn, transform their quality of life.
Prosthetic limbs are not just about mobility; they are about improving the overall quality of life. Mercer On Mission’s efforts in Cambodia are not just changing how people walk; they are transforming how they live.
Having a prosthetic limb means that an individual can actively participate in community life, engage in daily activities and lead a more fulfilling life. This not only enhances the well-being of the amputees but also positively impacts the communities they are part of.
Furthermore, by restoring mobility and employability, Mercer On Mission is effectively reducing economic hardship. The economic burden on amputees and their families is lightened as they become self-reliant and contribute to their households. This, in turn, alleviates the strain on health care resources and social services, allowing these resources to be directed toward essential needs.
Breaking Barriers and Expanding Opportunities
The program is not just about fitting prosthetic limbs; it goes much further. Mercer On Mission collaborates with local manufacturers and fitters, stimulating the Cambodian economy by creating jobs in the process. This not only aids the beneficiaries but also contributes to the economic development of the region, fostering self-sufficiency and growth.
By addressing mobility challenges, this initiative goes a long way in breaking down the barriers that amputees face in accessing education and job opportunities. It empowers them to lead independent and fulfilling lives. As a result, they become contributors to their communities and broader Cambodian society.
A Powerful Pathway Out of Poverty
In summary, Mercer On Mission’s prosthetic-fitting initiative in Cambodia is not just about providing limbs; it’s about providing hope, independence and a pathway out of poverty. By restoring mobility, expanding opportunities and enhancing well-being, this program is changing lives and entire communities. It is a reminder that every step forward is a step toward a brighter future.
– Suhani Bhattad
Photo: Pikwizard
USAID and USCG Partnership: Humanitarian Response and Aid
USAID and USCG Partnership in Haiti
Even before its devastating earthquake in January 2010, Haiti’s nearly 10 million people ranked as the poorest in the Western Hemisphere. The earthquake further crippled the nation, killing an estimated 250,000 people, injuring 300,000, and destroying the homes and businesses of at least a million locals. In the wake of this tragedy, USAID and USCG partnered to assist those affected. This powerhouse developed a plan to provide emergency humanitarian assistance to millions, including search-and-rescue efforts, providing emergency food relief and safe drinking water to millions and providing basic shelter to more than a million displaced people.
Then in August 2021, Haiti suffered a 7.2 magnitude earthquake. The USAID and USCG partnership again coordinated efforts to provide critical humanitarian relief. This natural disaster further devastated Haiti, resulting in more than 1,400 deaths, 6,900 injuries and destroying or damaging more than 83,000 local homes.
The Impact of Humanitarian Support
The USAID and USCG partnership provided critical and life-saving support during this natural disaster. The U.S. Coast Guard deployed helicopters to assist with medical evacuations and transport and continued medical evaluations on-site. The USAID Disaster Assistance Response Teams (DART) were promptly transported to Haiti via USCS helicopters within 24 hours of the earthquake. DART members determined the area suffered from a lack of clean water and lacked the necessary medical resources and personnel needed to aid affected Haitian citizens.
USAID responded by funding $32 million in humanitarian assistance for Haiti. As in the 2010 earthquake recovery plan, these funds focused on delivering safe drinking water, health care services, emergency food and shelter for displaced peoples and protection services including gender-based violence prevention and response, child protection and psychosocial support services in the hard-hit areas of southwestern Haiti. Within the first few days following this natural disaster, more than 2,000 hygiene kits and jerry cans (fuel containers) were distributed, over 600 shelter repair kits were provided to locals and over 50,000 people were given shelter commodities that included blankets, kitchen kits, additional hygiene kits and shelter repair kits. More than 3,000 people received hot meals shortly after the earthquakes. They also benefitted from the distribution of food commodities, including rice, beans and vegetable oil.
USAID and USCG Partnership Strengthens Humanitarian Aid
The MOU signed on Wednesday, November 8, 2023, strengthens the partnership between USAID and the Coast Guard, signifying an important milestone between these two groups. It outlines support for disaster response and associated humanitarian assistance provided to nations suffering from global disasters.
“As a humanitarian organization, the Coast Guard is strengthening our partnership with USAID as we respond to wide-ranging disasters,” said Vice Adm. Peter Gautier, Coast Guard Deputy Commandant for Operations. “Throughout the world, we see USAID’s vital work in progress: saving lives, alleviating human suffering and reducing the impact of disasters by helping people become more resilient to humanitarian crises. The MOU makes sure that the Coast Guard is a strong partner in these efforts.”
– Ann-Jinette Hess
Photo: Flickr
Updates on SDG 15 in Rwanda
What Are the SDG 15 Activities Taking Place in Rwanda?
The United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP), the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO) and the United Nations Human Settlement Programme (UNHSP) have partnered with several on-the-ground partners like the Rwanda Ministry of Environment and Natural Resources, African Development Bank and Rwanda Environment Management Authority to implement initiatives that support SDG 15 across the country.
Several of these initiatives began in 2018 and ended this year, making it an ideal time to reflect on the updates on SDG 15 in Rwanda. These activities have supported scientific studies and enhanced natural resource sustainability and community resilience. They have also undertaken ecosystem restoration and reduced poverty.
The National Strategy for Transformation (NST) is a program that will run from 2017–2024, working toward the first targets in the country’s Vision 2050 plan. It focuses on poverty alleviation through economic and social transformation and transformation of governance. Activities like the multi-sectoral Green Growth and Climate Resilient Strategy (GGCRS) prioritize welfare by focusing on the environment. This translates to direct, tangible benefits. Rwanda’s GDP per capita has grown to $1,030 USD, a national GDP growth of 6.2%.
Rwanda’s government has pledged two million hectares of forest restoration by 2030. It has already reached its target of covering 30% of the country with forests. This is a key step for the welfare of Rwandan communities since forest resources are widely used. In fact, more than 94% of Rwandans rely on wood as a main source of energy. Many also generate income through the country’s forests. Freshwater ecosystems are being systematically managed, and nationwide campaigns encourage people to use and manage freshwater resources more sustainably.
The Protection of Natural Resources and All Life on Rwandan Land
Natural resource health is a defining factor of welfare across the world. The ability to generate income, access the mental health benefits of nature and directly benefit from resource use are all fundamental reasons to properly manage and care for the natural environment.
Rwanda is home to roughly 40% of all species of African mammals—more than a thousand species of birds, hundreds of reptiles and amphibians and nearly 6,000 species of plants. Some of these, like the charismatic mountain gorilla, are only found in two other countries: the DRC and Uganda. The survival of these plants and animals also depends on the welfare of Rwanda’s terrestrial habitats.
From chimpanzees to leopards and forests to savannahs, the updates on SDG 15 in Rwanda have protected many species and habitats against several compounding pressures that currently threaten their existence and health. In one case, the mountain gorilla has made a promising conservation come-back. The population has grown from only a few hundred individuals in 2010 to more than a thousand today. This has directly impacted the communities in Rwanda. Community-based tourism programs depend on the health of mountain gorilla populations and other captivating species. These programs further improve the welfare of local communities by funding development projects and supporting the development of sustainable incomes.
How SDG 15 Supports Rwandan Industry and Food Security
The industries that SDG 15 supports—namely agriculture, forestry and fisheries—account for 29% of Rwanda’s total GDP, which reached record profit levels in 2019. About 47% of Rwanda’s land is suitable for agriculture, and 66.5% of the population works in agriculture. This makes it a popular choice for income generation.
Roughly 3.9 million Rwandan farmers and their families depend on the health and proper management of land for their survival. These individuals and communities consistently confront issues addressed by SDG 15, including habitat degradation, land stakeholdership issues and soil erosion.
As of 2022, 82% of Rwanda’s population is recorded as living rurally. An enormous 80% of these individuals also participate in subsistence farming. These farmers and their families are wholly dependent on the health of the country’s land. By maintaining and protecting land, the government of Rwanda can address the needs of its farmers and agricultural sector. It can also support the food security of its subsistence communities and simultaneously improve individual poverty levels.
Looking Forward
Through the management of terrestrial and freshwater ecosystems, the Rwandan government ensures the survival of its major economies and the well-being of its citizens. The health and utility of Rwandan land are so integral to the future of the country that agriculture, linked to the generation of wealth, has been named a pillar in Rwanda’s national development strategy: Vision 2050.
Future work on the SDGs in Rwanda will likely have profound effects on both wildlife and community welfare. As a land-locked country, the well-being and management of terrestrial and freshwater ecosystems are imperative to ensuring the survival and resilience of all life.
– Mirali Shukla
Photo: Pixabay
Intellectual Property in Kenya
The Challenges of Intellectual Property Rights
As intellectual property systems adapt to the ever-changing global landscape, significant challenges and opportunities surface. The primary reason behind the limited patent protection among African residents is the exorbitant costs associated with processing patent applications. Registering a patent in Kenya, for instance, comes at a steeper price than in countries such as Canada, Japan or the United Kingdom (U.K.). The patent registration fees in Kenya are 13.3 times higher than their respective GDP per capita. The equivalent ratios for the United States (U.S.), Germany and Malaysia are merely 0.1, 0.3 and 0.4, respectively. These avoidable expenses pose a substantial barrier to patent registration and, consequently, hinder the progress of innovation.
Numerous patent offices in Africa suffer from inadequate resources, rendering them ill-equipped for their intended functions. The patent systems in many African nations lack essential quality control mechanisms required to guarantee that patent protection is granted only to inventions meeting the necessary criteria. According to a 2008 survey by the Kenya Institute for Public Policy Research and Analysis, 40% of patent applicants identified a significant challenge as their insufficient knowledge of intellectual property in Kenya. Furthermore, 66% of applicants cited another major hurdle as the shortage of intellectual property professionals.
The Importance of Enhancing Patenting in Kenya to Alleviate Poverty
Patents have traditionally served as a strategic tool to fuel economic growth and enhance competitiveness. In Kenya’s Vision 2030, the country aims to position itself as a global competitor and a knowledge-driven economy. The patent system is a crucial policy instrument with the potential to drive wealth creation, poverty reduction and job generation.
Kenya’s drive for global competitiveness can use patents to encourage innovation. This results in new technologies, products and processes that can create job opportunities in various industries. Patents also possess the capacity to stimulate markets, encourage competition, attract foreign direct investment and facilitate technology transfer. These can all contribute to poverty alleviation and economic advancement. Nevertheless, obstacles related to intellectual property in Kenya continue to impede this endeavor.
Securing intellectual property rights can contribute to the enhanced prosperity of small and medium enterprises. This increases income and employment growth by up to 20% when compared to counterparts lacking such protection. The overall unemployment rate in Kenya in 2021 stood at 5.74%. Safeguarding intellectual poverty can play a pivotal role in reducing the rate in the coming years.
Unregulated sales channels pose obstacles in creating and enforcing policies, which have devastating impacts on poverty. The prevalence of pirated and counterfeit goods in Kenya also constitutes a substantial barrier for U.S. businesses conducting operations in the nation. The illicit copying and distribution of a wide range of products in Kenya result in annual losses of more than $300 million for companies. In 2017, Frontier Economics, a private company, found that piracy and counterfeit goods put 5.4 million jobs at risk. This increases the rate of poverty worldwide and leads to harmful effects on the labor market. These annual losses are great contributors to poverty in the nation and emphasize the need for the enforcement of intellectual property laws.
Advancing Intellectual Property in Kenya
Significant advancements have been achieved in elevating the importance of intellectual property within the political arena to alleviate poverty. With the adoption of Kenya’s 2010 Constitution, intellectual property now holds constitutional status. Kenya has enacted contemporary intellectual laws aligning with international standards, including the Agreement on Trade-Related Aspects of Intellectual Property (TRIPS). After the Constitution’s adoption, national poverty in Kenya fell to 36.1% in 2015.
The Kenya Industrial Property Institute (KIPI), founded in 2002 and established under the Industrial Property Act, currently operates under the Ministry of Industry, Investment and Trade. A primary focus of KIPI is to enhance public awareness and understanding of potential benefits from the effective utilization of IP rights among Kenyan citizens.
With the support of the Ministry of Industrialization and Enterprise Development and KIPI’s Board of Directors, funding has been secured to organize training programs, exhibitions, conferences and workshops on intellectual property in collaboration with key stakeholders in Kenya. For example, KIPI actively assists Kenyan secondary schools in hosting annual student congresses on science and technology. Additionally, KIPI administers events to promote recognition of Kenya’s most accomplished creators and innovators. According to a 2015 survey, there was a notable 13.1% increase in Kenyan citizens’ awareness of intellectual property.
The Intellectual Property Bill 2020 marks a significant step forward in advancing intellectual property (IP) in Kenya. The proposed legislation aims to merge three key IP agencies—the Kenya Copyright Board, the Anti-counterfeit Authority and the Kenya Industrial Property Institute. This consolidation aims to create a unified government entity, addressing the current lack of an accessible and comprehensive legal framework for intellectual property rights (IPR).
By combining these agencies, the bill seeks to simplify the legal landscape and enhance understanding of the various types of IPR protected under the Act. The expected outcome is a more straightforward and coherent system that will contribute to increased public awareness about intellectual property matters. This development aligns with efforts to streamline processes and promote the dissemination of information in the field of intellectual property.
Looking Ahead
In a world where innovation and knowledge matter most, strong intellectual property rights help Kenyan inventors, creators and entrepreneurs protect their ideas. This encourages innovation and entrepreneurship, attracts investments and leads to the growth of important industries. These growing industries create jobs, boost the economy and improve the living standards of Kenyan people.
– Susanna Andryan
Photo: Unsplash
Combating Poverty in Mozambique Through Nutrition
The Situation in Mozambique
A lack of information about proper nutrition is a major cause of poverty in Mozambique in addition to unequal access to nutritional foods for women and girls. They also suffer from high rates of teenage pregnancy, improper sanitation and poor hygiene which directly impacts the levels of nutrition for teenage girls.
Access to education is also unevenly distributed among citizens of Mozambique with limited resources to provide its people with information about how to incorporate accurate nutrition into their diets. This lack of training impacts the supply and demand and leads to low productivity, especially among women with less access to skill training.
Due to its long Indian Ocean coastline, Mozambique is extremely vulnerable to natural disasters. According to the 2021 Global Climate Risk Index, Mozambique is the fifth country most impacted by extreme weather. In 2019, Cyclone Idai barreled through the country leaving a path of poverty and destruction in its wake. Two years later, Cyclone Eloise hit the country due to changing weather patterns that triggered floods and cyclones in the area.
Disaster Response in Mozambique
The Mozambique government has taken steps to form a natural disaster response creating an early warning system and improvements in flood drainage that the World Bank funded and Mozambique’s Water and Sanitation Infrastructure (AIAS) implemented. The United Nations Development Program (UNDP) has also stepped in to create temporary income-generating activities including setting up fish farming collectives and promoting resilient construction to rebuild communities that natural disasters have affected.
Mozambique’s Partnership with IFAD
Mozambique’s government has also teamed up with the International Fund for Agriculture Development (IFAD) to provide $4.2 million USD for two grants that will assist rural citizens in better fortification against malnutrition and food insecurity and provide more income. Crops, livestock and fisheries provide 27.5% of Mozambique’s GDP and agriculture makes up 70% of employment so it is important to increase productivity in this sector.
Since 1983, IFAD has invested in 15 rural programs which have benefited more than 2 million households. It has also partnered with the Norwegian Agency for Development Cooperation (NORAD) to fund the aquaculture sector, which has provided training about producing freshwater fish and feed producers technical assistance. By growing this food market, this inclusion of fish provides more nutritional value to children’s diets, further battling malnutrition in Mozambique.
Citizens’ Efforts to Generate Income
Citizens of Mozambique have also started recycling aluminum to generate income. The metal can help make utensils, cups, plates and even pots and pans, which individuals can then sell to others in the community. They are in high demand as opposed to traditional clay pots and utensils because of their durability, longevity and affordability. These can last five to 10 years longer than traditional clay pots.
Members of those in the rural community that do not have access to many resources including electricity, are tasked with recycling beer and soft drink cans and scrap metal from the garbage dumps to create domestic materials to keep the environment cleaner but also provide enough income for food and education purposes. It is also an opportunity for children to earn money by selling cans and scrap metal to cooperatives who repurpose them. They have created charcoal irons out of recycled aluminum as opposed to expensive electric ones to keep clothes clean for those living without electricity and to save energy.
Education About Nutrition
Women and girls are taking the initiative to break out of this cycle of poverty in Mozambique by educating themselves about proper nutrition. Half of the girls from ages 12–17 suffer from anemia in Mozambique due to poor nutrition and it is one of the leading causes of mortality among girls. Jogo das Heroínas (The Heroine Games) is a program created by NGOs in Mozambique and aided by USAID’s Transform Nutrition program to create social and behavioral change. During a 16-week period, women and girls set challenges and activities each day that promote healthy nutrition choices. Challenges might include eating fruit or green vegetables instead of a less nutritious option. They are try to choose iron-rich foods to combat anemia and provide a wider range of edible food options.
The Heroine Games are not only providing life-saving education to women suffering from unequal access to resources, but it is uniting them through their shared experiences and inspiring them to pass on their knowledge so that younger generations do not have to suffer the way they have. Education about what sorts of food to put into their bodies is the key step to longevity and breaking out of the cycle of poverty that has claimed their lives.
– Jennifer Arias
Photo: Flickr
The Way the Biden Administration is Assisting Ukraine
The Oval Office Address
On Oct. 19, 2023, President Biden, in a pivotal Oval Office address, reiterated unwavering U.S. support for Ukraine in its conflict with Russia. The Biden administration, echoing this commitment, implores Congress to fulfill its promise by approving supplementary funding to bolster Ukraine’s defense capabilities against Russia’s unwarranted aggression: “The Biden Administration calls on Congress to meet its commitment to the people of Ukraine by passing additional funding to ensure Ukraine continues to have what it needs to defend itself against Russia’s brutal war of choice,” reads the Pentagon’s press release.
The Department of Defense Package
Following President Biden’s address on Oct. 26, 2023, the Department of Defense announced the newest package for the Biden administration’s assistance to Ukraine, which includes critical security and defense capabilities necessary for Ukraine to continue to counter Russian aggression, essential to ensuring Ukraine maintains its independence. According to the U.S. Department of Defense, the package is valued at up to $150 million, including additional air defense capabilities, artillery ammunition, anti-tank weapons and other necessary equipment.
The Biden Administration’s Goals
In expanding the Biden administration’s assistance to Ukraine in its ongoing war against Russia, President Biden hopes to strengthen relationships with Ukraine and other allies abroad while reinforcing the United State’s role as a reliable global partner. President Biden said Thursday, Oct. 19, 2023 “American alliances are what keep us, America, safe. American values are what make us a partner that other nations want to work with.” Continuing to support Ukraine through military and humanitarian aid shows a U.S. commitment to investing in and protecting its allied nations.
President Biden stated that providing humanitarian assistance would be “a smart investment that’s going to pay dividends for American security for generations, help us keep American troops out of harm’s way, help us build a world that is safer, more peaceful and more prosperous for our children and grandchildren.” By characterizing this support as “a smart investment,” President Biden highlights the interconnectedness between humanitarian assistance and long-term national security. Aid to Ukraine not only addresses the immediate needs of the Ukrainian people but also fosters stability, contributing to a safer, more peaceful and more prosperous world.
Looking Ahead
The comprehensive assistance that the Biden administration provided to Ukraine, both in humanitarian and military support, underscores a strategic commitment to global security and democratic values. President Biden’s emphasis on alliances and the interconnectedness between aid, stability and long-term security showcases a diplomatic approach aimed at building a safer and more prosperous world. The substantial financial commitment reflects a shared vision between the U.S. and Ukraine, reinforcing the significance of international partnerships in the pursuit of peace and security.
– Marisa Kole
Photo: Flickr
How Botswana Has Avoided the Resource Curse
About the Resource Curse
“Private sector development and diversification is constrained by insecurity, political instability, weak institutions, inadequate infrastructure, widespread corruption and a difficult business environment,” said the World Bank in March 2021 when referring to countries with abundant natural resources and high poverty levels.
Kevin Morrison, an assistant professor of public policy and political science at the University of Pittsburgh, investigated the resource curse in his article “What Can We Learn about the “Resource Curse” from Foreign Aid?” published by The World Bank Research Observer in October 2010. Morrison observed that countries with competent, democratic governments effectively utilize their natural resources to avoid the resource curse entirely. Windfalls from a nation’s natural resources are shared with its citizens, supporting economic diversity and humanitarian stability.
Botswana Avoids the Resource Curse
Botswana is one of the few countries in sub-Saharan Africa that aspires to become a high-income country by 2036. According to the Organization for Economic Development and Cooperation, Botswana should graduate from developmental assistance by 2030.
After gaining independence from English rule in 1966, Botswana was one of the poorest countries in the world. In 1985, about twenty years after gaining independence, more than 83% of Botswana’s citizens lived in poverty. Since then, it has become one of the fastest-growing economies in the world, primarily due to its vast mineral wealth, mostly diamonds.
The Way Botswana Has Avoided the Resource Curse
How did Botswana avoid the resource curse, given its immense mineral resources? Its politically stable democratic government adhered to prudent macroeconomic policies, creating robust economic institutions that have effectively managed the nation’s diamond wealth. Botswana’s government has improved the efficiency of its public spending, investing in its people to raise capital, create jobs and diversify the economy. On the other hand, much of Botswana’s progress today would not have been possible without foreign aid.
In 2002, Botswana “took advantage of national programs designed under the Africa Trade and Poverty Programme umbrella to promote a dialogue on trade and poverty issues among the public and private sectors as well as civil society.” The Botswana Trade and Poverty Programme (BTPP) began in 2003. This United Kingdom’s Department for International Development (DFID) sponsored program had specific objectives for Botswana:
Foreign Aid and Collaboration
Utilizing foreign aid programs and collaborating with other nations to implement effective policies allowed Botswana to set up robust economic institutions, allowing their stable, democratic government to invest in its people and climb the ranks to an upper-middle class country.
To date, more than 117,000 people have access to better water sources, and the local government is partnering with Namibia to develop a more sustainable livestock chain to improve food security. More than $186 million has been invested to public transportation systems that encourage further improvements to urban infrastructures and more than $250 million has been invested to the Programmatic Economic Resilience and Green Recovery Development Policy Loan I (DPO). The DPO program improves access to finances for small businesses and prioritizes low-carbon energy sources for Botswana citizens.
Botswana’s poverty rate today is down to 63%. While there is still room to improve, Botswana showcases how responsible, democratic governments can utilize their resources to improve their economy and their citizens’ lives and avoid the resource curse entirely.
– Ann-Jinette Hess
Photo: Unsplash
The Quest to Conquer Cancer Campaign
About the Princess Margaret Cancer Center in Canada
Forming part of the University Health Network, a network of public research, the Center contributes to scientific developments in cures and understanding diseases like cancer. This work is extremely important, especially for people in developing countries — in 2004, more than 70% of the 7.4 million deaths that cancer causes occurred in developing countries.
The Conquer Cancer Campaign
The campaign, created by the center alongside the developers of “Warframe,” Digital Extremes, incentivizes donations through a contribution aimed for the end of the month, with milestones that unlock various rewards in the game for their players. By donating to the campaign, players can unlock purchased rewards which are, with the profits going directly into the campaign.
It also encourages content creators of various games to participate, further raising awareness of the event. Through the use of in-game purchases and the support of content creators, the “Quest to Conquer Cancer” ties in communities from the entertainment industry, using their shared interests to contribute to the greater good. The campaign has a fundraising goal of $100,000 each year, with a total of $185,000 smashing that figure during the 2023 campaign.
Foreign Aid
This campaign, which has become a tradition for Digital Extremes, is only a facet of their humanitarian efforts. Following the outbreak of war in Ukraine in 2022, like many companies worldwide, Digital Extremes demonstrated their support for the citizens of the country by donating $100,000 in humanitarian aid.
It was not the only company from the video game industry to do so — this section of the entertainment industry raised a total contribution of more than $88 million. These contributions included direct donations from companies and their employees but also in-game campaigns and purchasable bundles that incentivized their respective communities directly within the game. Public statements made on their social media accounts also helped to spread awareness and support, skyrocketing the scope of the issue in a variety of communities. With more than 13 million Ukrainians displaced from the war and tens of thousands of confirmed civilian deaths, the support that these industries provided goes a long way to aiding those the war affects.
An Example to Follow
The amount that these companies raised demonstrates the capability of industries not traditionally connected to humanitarian campaigns to band together and provide significant foreign aid. The “Quest to Conquer Cancer” is one of many campaigns that shows this. Similarly, a variety of companies have employed many other campaigns to engage their player base in ideas of foreign aid and advocacy.
The video game industry represents an unconventional manner of introducing people to humanitarian aid, one that is likely to stick as it has in Digital Extremes with its yearly campaign. By tying important issues to passionate hobbies, a variety of people can more easily accept the call for aid.
Video Games Without Borders
The sense of community that these games have created has also been developed in other ways. The nonprofit organization Video Games Without Borders focuses on the use of the games themselves as forms of aid; one of its games “Antura and the Letters” focuses on giving refugees the education they might be lacking.
More than 2 million Syrian children were left out of an education due to ongoing conflict; however, through the colorful and bright game, a refuge for immersive learning has been developed for these children. In the game, children can customize the titular character, Antura, while developing their literacy in the Arabic language. This has recently expanded to aid refugees from Ukraine and Afghanistan but also to help them integrate with the inclusion of European languages like English.
An example of the work NGOs can and continue to do for the less fortunate, Video Games Without Borders originates from and is registered in Spain, but the organization prides itself on its international members and its desire to further expand its membership and scope of projects to the global scale, as one can see with the developments made to “Antura and the Letters.”
Constant Development
The unique nature of constant innovation and development that is so key to success in the entertainment industry has affected companies’ philosophies outside of catching and retaining the attention of their consumers. The gargantuan support shown to Ukraine by various video game companies showed a level of developer responsibility that has hitherto been nonexistent. This sense of duty shown by them encourages their communities to share the humanitarian values that can and continue to contribute to some of the biggest wins against poverty and strife in the world.
– Chinua Ebereonwu
Photo: Flickr
Poverty in the Banana Industry in the Philippines
In 2022, the Philippines exported more than 2.2 million metric tons of bananas, placing them as the third largest exporter of bananas globally in the Global Banana Export Ranking. Even as one of the country’s most valued export commodities, the banana trade has always been one of inequality, trouble and turmoil, where many banana farmers experience poverty in the Philippines.
The Island of Mindanao
Ironically referred to as the “Land of Promise,” Mindanao has always been known for flourishing agriculture, severe poverty and civil unrest. Approximately 84% of the Philippines’ bananas originate from the island of Mindanao, home to around 25% of the country’s population. Yet upon this flourishing island lives over 35% of the country’s poorest.
Mindanao’s rural and indigenous farming communities suffer from poverty, poor road infrastructure and a lack of access to basic services such as electricity and water. This is a dire contrast to the richness of natural resources and opportunities it holds.
The History of the Banana Industry in the Philippines
With a tragic and torn colonial history, Filipinos have suffered for generations under colonial rule. With greed for the natural richness and potential the Philippines has always offered, the country fell to the exploitation of U.S. and Spanish rule, and poverty in the Philippines increased significantly.
When global internationalization and major food corporations infiltrated the banana industry of the Philippines, farmers became landless and suffered hunger from feeding everyone but themselves. As they no longer owned the farms, these banana farmers also found themselves imprisoned by unfair wages and poverty.
It was not until just over 30 years ago that the farmers began to claim back this land through the Philippines’ Land Reform Law. Challenging the corporations that had held them enslaved for so long and forming the cooperative FARMCOOP to continue spreading autonomy among Filipino farmers in Mindanao.
The FARMCOOP Foundation has now spread throughout Mindanao and much of the Philippines as a grassroots NFP Organization working alongside rural and indigenous communities to support growth and opportunity. Since 1995, it has supported more than 6,000 farmers, empowering them to further the potential of their farms and yields sustainably and reduce poverty across the Philippines.
The Impact of Natural Disasters & Panama Disease
Natural disasters and various crop diseases now threaten bananas, among much of global food production. There has been a significant drop in Filipino banana production and export, which has knocked it to third on the Global Banana Export Ranking.
Specifically, severe weather changes, including increased periods of rainfall, flooding and droughts, have impacted farming in the Philippines. Multiple typhoons have severely cost the Philippines over the past decade and in July, devastating landslides ripped through the country.
Banana farming in the Philippines has also struggled due to the increase in resistant crop diseases, such as Panama Disease. The use of fertilizers & pesticides has dramatically increased crop yields. However, one can see the prevalence and potential of massive crop loss to disease with a drop in decrease year on year.
Hope for the Banana Growing Industry in the Philippines
As of May 26, the World Bank has invested in a $100 million project to support Mindanao Farmers, known as the Mindanao Inclusive Agriculture Development Project (MIADP).
MIADP is being implemented to allow farmers of Mindanao to sustainably increase yields and productivity while protecting the natural riches it boasts. In recognizing the severe poverty of the island, the intention is to encourage and provide resources that support and educate the farmers to create a more inclusive and fair food industry.
The program will likely educate and support Mindanao Farmers, encouraging sustainable farming techniques, utilizing Indigenous knowledge and helping improve climate resistance. In doing so, it is reducing poverty in the Philippines’ banana industry. The investment will also help improve local infrastructure, including education, ‘all-weather roads’ and health care access. The program should benefit 120,000 farmers and fisherfolk across Mindanao.
Banana Link
Another initiative, working with banana farmers in the Philippines and collaborating with FARMCOOP, is Banana Link. Banana Link is a global organization working with banana farmers worldwide, advocating for a fair and equal banana industry.
It has been working in the Philippines towards achieving its key objectives:
Its program has furthered the support and the future of global banana farming. It ensures that the benefits are shared equally throughout, reducing poverty in the banana industry in the Philippines.
Given the dark history of the Banana Industry of the Philippines, projects like these and organizations like FARMCOOP and Banana Link will give banana farmers living in poverty in the Philippines an opportunity for a better life. Doing so will allow their futures to be as bright as their bananas.
– Lucy Blake
Photo: Wikipedia Commons