From 2000 to 2019, Africa experienced a surge in population growth, adding a total of 505 million people to the landmass. Although the continent saw a decline in its poverty rate from 48% in 2000 to 34% in 2019, the massive growth in population ultimately beset this figure, making Africa home to the world’s most disadvantaged countries. In sub-Saharan Africa specifically, women continuously face a lack of access to technology, resources, services and opportunities, limiting economic growth for women in Africa.
While women control 80% of food production, they do not usually hold ownership tiles to land or assets. A lack of financial freedom, which includes the fact that men are typically the breadwinners, often means women must shoulder the burden of household responsibilities and have little to no say in important decisions. Since women are routinely disadvantaged, Bloomberg Philanthropies’ Women’s Economic Development Initiative seeks to rectify this inequity and bolster economic growth for women in Africa.
The Origins
Bloomberg Philanthropies seeks to increase female autonomy by creating direct opportunities for women to act on their own financial endeavors. Beginning in 2007 in Rwanda, the program worked to provide women with the skills to earn a sustainable income. As the program got its start, women enrolled in the initiative became participants in a series of classes relating to health, hygiene, nutrition, maternal health and financial savings. These classes, which taught essential life skills, only served as a preliminary step. The second round of classes, specialized and tailored to specific regions, focused on vocational practices, including culinary arts, agrotourism, hospitality and health care.
As more women received access to individual training, they also received personal lessons relating to their health and financial independence. With guaranteed training and further investment into the initiative, women in Rwanda, the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), Nigeria and Sudan began to organize and control their own businesses and become economically empowered and independent.
The program continued to grow in Rwanda, with more women able to access individualized training for the growth and processing of coffee. Although conflict in Sudan and Nigeria led to the elimination of the program in those countries, the success of Rwandan women in their coffee growing and export practices demonstrated the initiative’s continued investment in expanding economic growth for women in Africa.
Financial Success
The Women’s Economic Development Initiative has operated for the past 16 years, with more than 724,000 women receiving access to educational and vocational programs. The program received funding and support from Women for Women International and Sustainable Growers Rwanda — two organizations that raised awareness about Bloomberg Philanthropies’ project and attracted 360,000 women to the cause. A commitment to growing this initiative will continue to expand economic growth for women in Africa.
Johns Hopkins University School of Advanced International Studies (SAIS) evaluated the success of Bloomberg Philanthropies’ initiative from 2008-2018, noting the various improvements and developments rippling throughout the African continent. In general, the Women’s Economic Development Initiative provided women with essential skills, including how to earn an income and access financial networks. With this, women were also able to exact control in their households and have a say in financial decisions.
In fact, as more women participated in the program, their individual incomes greatly increased. Rwandan women earned a monthly income $4.17 greater than before. Similarly, in the DRC, women’s monthly income rose by $16.47.
As women came to earn their own money, without help from their husbands, some felt inspired to work on their own and invest. Some graduates ended up opening largely successful businesses, running for political leadership roles and advocating for female financial health.
A program graduate from the DRC noted that she “underestimated [herself]…but for the moment [she] is recognized as a member in the AFDC political party…involved in promoting the activities of the youth and faithful mothers of the party.”
Looking Ahead
Michael Bloomberg, founder of Bloomberg Philanthropies, reflected on the success of the program, noting that “As women’s income and assets increase, so does their decision-making power and their ability to invest in themselves and their families.” Echoing this sentiment, as the program continues to expand throughout the continent, there will be more opportunities available to increase economic growth for women in Africa and bolster women’s rights.
– Maddy Grieco
Photo: Flickr
Stanford’s New Powder Disinfects Contaminated Drinking Water
The Study
On May 18, 2023, Stanford University published results from their study about a powder that disinfects contaminated drinking water. The technology is unique because it reacts with the sun’s UV rays and “high-energy visible light.” It then creates chemicals that attack bacteria’s cell membranes to kill them. Scientists found that the powder is so effective it can disinfect drinking water in just 60 seconds.
Stanford’s new powder is made from metallic “nano-sized flakes of copper, iron oxide, aluminum oxide and molybdenum sulfide” that are cost-effective and readily available. The product is sustainable because the metals are easy to make and reuse. A magnet collects the metallic “nanoflakes” from clean water, then places them in new contaminated water. The water is safe to drink immediately after decontamination due to the chemical byproducts breaking down into water and oxygen. In the study, one dose of recycled powder disinfected 30 water samples. Since water treatments are scarce, reusing the product allows people to have longer access to clean water.
This is great progress because current treatments add chemicals that leave behind toxic byproducts and utilize ultraviolet light, which requires electricity. And these constraints make it difficult to implement water treatments on a large scale.
Water Scarcity
In areas where water is scarce, there are few opportunities to find a source of safe drinking water. Consuming contaminated water exposes people to preventable diseases such as diarrhea, typhoid and cholera. Diarrhea causes an estimated 446,000 deaths per year among children younger than 5 years old, or 9% of all deaths for children in that age range. Adequate access to clean water allows for better hygiene and sanitation practices.
The scientists used E. coli in their study, which is a widespread contaminant that causes fecal-oral diseases. With 1.7 billion children younger than 5 years old suffering from diarrhea, this technology could provide relief from preventable waterborne illnesses.
Looking Toward the Future
Stanford University’s groundbreaking powder has the potential to revolutionize clean drinking water access for the approximately 2 billion individuals worldwide who lack it. Furthermore, the wide distribution of this powder could enable those already using water treatments to embrace improved hygiene and sanitation practices. Notably, gaining access to a consistent and safe water source significantly enhances individuals’ health and overall quality of life.
Tong Wu, the co-lead author of the project, expressed, “We believe that our novel technology will facilitate revolutionary changes in water disinfection and inspire more innovations.” This recyclable and nontoxic powder represents a pioneering development. The powder’s scalability and distribution potential render it a viable and practical solution for individuals facing restricted access to safe water sources.
– Diana Grant
Photo: Flickr
The Links Between Poverty and Diabetes in Fiji
In Fiji, diabetes is very common and the numbers continue to grow. Type 2 diabetes mellitus, which is common in Fiji, is a major mortality cause across the world. In 2022, the Fiji Bureau of Statistics reported the population number at 884,887 and according to the Fiji Ministry of Health and Medical Services (MoHMS), one in every three Fijians is diagnosed with diabetes, equating to 30% of the population. Moreover, the health care sector in Fiji suffers from underfunding—health care spending ranks lowest among all Pacific Island countries. In 2020, Fijian expenditure on health care goods and services dropped by 18.39% to $186, down from $228 in 2019. Underfunded health care contributes to the prevalence of diabetes in Fiji as a lack of access to quality health care services and professionals means the early signs of a person developing diabetes in the future are missed.
As of 2019, 24.1% of Fiji’s population lives on or below the national poverty line, as per the World Bank. Impoverished families often resort to purchasing inexpensive but unhealthy and non-nutritious foods. While the typical Fijian meal includes fresh fish, seaweed, shellfish and crustaceans, due to high prices, many Fijians can only afford processed foods. In June 2020, the International Diabetes Federation estimated that it costs the Fijian government up to $24.4 million a year to respond to diabetes. These high costs mean less funding for social programs to improve the lives of those living in poverty.
Diabetes Fiji
Diabetes Fiji, previously called the National Diabetes Foundation in Fiji, originated in 1981. It became Diabetes Fiji in July 2012. Its overall goal is to encourage policymakers to help create proactive environments for controlling diabetes, empowering people with diabetes with the knowledge to understand the risks of unmanaged diabetes and the resources to treat the condition. The organization also looks to strengthen the health care system so that health care centers can provide affordable and sustainable services to people diagnosed with diabetes.
Telemedicine Help Line
During the height of the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020, lockdowns, disruptions in the supply chain and redirection of resources and funding resulted in hindered access to medication, resources, services and other aids for managing conditions among people with diabetes. With support from other organizations, Diabetes Fiji established the Telemedicine Help Line to ensure uninterrupted care for individuals with chronic ailments, including diabetes. Alongside providing advice, guidance and referrals, the group of organizations responsible for initiating the helpline facilitated the delivery of essential medication to the residents of individuals who couldn’t travel due to lockdowns or isolation.
The Alliance for Healthy Living
Diabetes Fiji, the Consumer Council of Fiji and the National Food and Nutrition Centre have collaborated to establish the Alliance for Healthy Living. This coalition aims to promote healthier beverage options through Sugar-Sweetened Beverages workshops, which the Core Group organizes. The alliance also takes measures to limit the accessibility of sugary and nutrient-deficient foods to children in sports and recreational facilities. By ceasing sponsorships and advertisements, the coalition seeks to challenge the prevailing corporate culture and diminish the consumption of sugar.
Since its establishment, Diabetes Fiji has participated in the production of a set of comprehensive Diabetes Management Guidelines for Fiji to help reduce the number of diabetes cases.
Continued Support
In the face of growing diabetes rates and health care challenges in Fiji, organizations like Diabetes Fiji are leading the way toward positive change. Efforts such as the Telemedicine Help Line have provided crucial care to individuals with chronic conditions, ensuring uninterrupted access to medication and support, even during the pandemic. Collaborative initiatives like the Alliance for Healthy Living are addressing the root causes of diabetes through workshops and advocacy, promoting healthier options and challenging prevailing norms. Despite the obstacles, these concerted efforts offer hope for a healthier future for the Fijian population.
– Abigail DiCarlo
Photo: Flickr
Closing the Barrier: Economic Growth for Women in Africa
While women control 80% of food production, they do not usually hold ownership tiles to land or assets. A lack of financial freedom, which includes the fact that men are typically the breadwinners, often means women must shoulder the burden of household responsibilities and have little to no say in important decisions. Since women are routinely disadvantaged, Bloomberg Philanthropies’ Women’s Economic Development Initiative seeks to rectify this inequity and bolster economic growth for women in Africa.
The Origins
Bloomberg Philanthropies seeks to increase female autonomy by creating direct opportunities for women to act on their own financial endeavors. Beginning in 2007 in Rwanda, the program worked to provide women with the skills to earn a sustainable income. As the program got its start, women enrolled in the initiative became participants in a series of classes relating to health, hygiene, nutrition, maternal health and financial savings. These classes, which taught essential life skills, only served as a preliminary step. The second round of classes, specialized and tailored to specific regions, focused on vocational practices, including culinary arts, agrotourism, hospitality and health care.
As more women received access to individual training, they also received personal lessons relating to their health and financial independence. With guaranteed training and further investment into the initiative, women in Rwanda, the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), Nigeria and Sudan began to organize and control their own businesses and become economically empowered and independent.
The program continued to grow in Rwanda, with more women able to access individualized training for the growth and processing of coffee. Although conflict in Sudan and Nigeria led to the elimination of the program in those countries, the success of Rwandan women in their coffee growing and export practices demonstrated the initiative’s continued investment in expanding economic growth for women in Africa.
Financial Success
The Women’s Economic Development Initiative has operated for the past 16 years, with more than 724,000 women receiving access to educational and vocational programs. The program received funding and support from Women for Women International and Sustainable Growers Rwanda — two organizations that raised awareness about Bloomberg Philanthropies’ project and attracted 360,000 women to the cause. A commitment to growing this initiative will continue to expand economic growth for women in Africa.
Johns Hopkins University School of Advanced International Studies (SAIS) evaluated the success of Bloomberg Philanthropies’ initiative from 2008-2018, noting the various improvements and developments rippling throughout the African continent. In general, the Women’s Economic Development Initiative provided women with essential skills, including how to earn an income and access financial networks. With this, women were also able to exact control in their households and have a say in financial decisions.
In fact, as more women participated in the program, their individual incomes greatly increased. Rwandan women earned a monthly income $4.17 greater than before. Similarly, in the DRC, women’s monthly income rose by $16.47.
As women came to earn their own money, without help from their husbands, some felt inspired to work on their own and invest. Some graduates ended up opening largely successful businesses, running for political leadership roles and advocating for female financial health.
A program graduate from the DRC noted that she “underestimated [herself]…but for the moment [she] is recognized as a member in the AFDC political party…involved in promoting the activities of the youth and faithful mothers of the party.”
Looking Ahead
Michael Bloomberg, founder of Bloomberg Philanthropies, reflected on the success of the program, noting that “As women’s income and assets increase, so does their decision-making power and their ability to invest in themselves and their families.” Echoing this sentiment, as the program continues to expand throughout the continent, there will be more opportunities available to increase economic growth for women in Africa and bolster women’s rights.
– Maddy Grieco
Photo: Flickr
What is Blue Carbon?
The world’s oceans and coastlines play a crucial role in regulating the planet’s climate. Yet, the ecosystems responsible for this vital function are vanishing at an alarming rate. Fortunately, efforts to conserve and rejuvenate coastal habitats are not only preserving the environment but also improving the well-being of local communities. In this context, understanding blue carbon and its potential benefits for coastline communities is essential.
What is Blue Carbon?
Since 1850, the world’s oceans and coastlines have absorbed approximately 40% of the carbon dioxide that humans have emitted. The term blue carbon refers to carbon that ocean and coastal ecosystems store and sequester. These ecosystems extract carbon dioxide out of the atmosphere and store it as plant matter, which eventually breaks down and becomes locked away in the mud and sediments below.
Although most carbon storage solutions and schemes have focused on terrestrial forests, coastal ecosystems actually have a greater carbon storage potential than terrestrial ones. Incredibly, coastal ecosystems can sequester up to five times more carbon than terrestrial forests per hectare. The majority of this blue carbon is in coastal mangroves, seagrass beds and salt marshes. These three habitats have also received the most scientific attention out of all ocean-cased carbon storage and many consider them proven carbon stocks and sinks.
The concept of blue carbon storage is still in its infancy compared to the well-developed terrestrial carbon storage programs and carbon credit schemes. This is because calculating the amount of carbon stored by coastal and marine ecosystems is extremely complex. Despite this, blue carbon is steadily emerging as a facet of global climate management and local community resilience.
How Can Blue Carbon Benefit Coastal Communities?
Developing countries already benefit from the financial mechanisms set up around terrestrial carbon storage. For example, the United Nations (U.N.) has created the Reducing Emissions from Deforestation and Forest Degradation (REDD+) program under which developing countries receive compensation for protecting the carbon sequestration functions of their forests.
No similar program yet exists for blue carbon. However, it is already a feature of voluntary carbon markets (VCMs), where private companies purchase carbon credits to offset their emissions. One carbon credit is the equivalent of the removal of one metric ton of greenhouse gases from the atmosphere. The carbon credits that they buy originate from large and small carbon storage initiatives, and this is where the benefit to local communities emerges.
Blue carbon protection and restoration initiatives offer the potential for small, locally managed and self-sustaining conservation projects in the coastal communities of developing countries. These projects hold a wealth of benefits for the communities not only in the funds received from selling carbon credits but in the many co-benefits to the community and the environment. Mangroves can act as carbon sinks and protection from tsunamis, natural water filtration systems and nursery habitats for fish species and other marine life.
The Mikoko Pamoja Project in Kenya
The Mikoko Pamoja Project, Swahili for ‘mangroves together’ was one of the first blue carbon projects in the world. The project originated in 2012 with the aim of reforesting mangroves in Gazi Bay, Kenya, to protect local villages from coastal erosion, fish population decline and the effects of changing weather patterns. As the first community-based blue carbon project to sell carbon credits from mangrove conservation and restoration, it was a huge success. More than 117 hectares of mangroves were reforested. The money earned from carbon credits went into the community of 5,400 residents in the form of education, health and water sanitation projects.
The Delta Blue Carbon Project in Pakistan
The Delta Blue Carbon Project, based in Sindh, Pakistan, is the world’s largest mangrove restoration project. The aim is to protect and restore 350,000 hectares of mangrove and intertidal areas, which should generate 128 million carbon credits over the project’s 60-year lifetime. These carbon credits could go toward benefitting more than 42,000 people in local communities, and the project has already created 21,000 jobs. A recent auction resulted in the sale of 250,000 of these high-quality, nature-based blue carbon credits, each sold at a price of $27.80 per tonne.
The Vida Manglar Mangrove Project in Colombia
A more recent blue carbon initiative has roots in the mangrove forests of Cispata, Colombia. The 110,000-hectare mangrove forest in Cispata is the first mangrove system to have had its carbon-sequestration power fully calculated. This includes measurements for its roots, trunks, leaves and the carbon stored in the sediment. Tech giant Apple partly funded the carbon sequestration calculations. All of Vida Manglar’s available carbon credits have been sold and 92% of these funds are going back into the conservation of the mangroves.
Looking Forward
Most blue carbon projects to date have been centered around mangrove ecosystems. This is because they are the easiest blue carbon ecosystem to access and create accurate carbon sequestration estimates for. However, ongoing work continues to create a scientific basis for using other types of ocean-based carbon storage such as seagrass and kelp to generate carbon credits. This expansion will enable the opportunities and benefits of various projects to reach countries beyond those with mangrove habitats. Additionally, considering the current higher demand for blue carbon credits compared to supply, more projects are expected to emerge. These initiatives, like the ones mentioned, offer a nature-based solution for promoting sustainable development in coastal and ocean communities.
– Amy McAlpine
Photo: Flickr
Poverty Reduction in Tonga
Current Poverty and Risks
The U.N.’s first SDG (Sustainable Development Goal) is to erase extreme poverty. In Tonga, one in 10 adults live in extreme poverty, meaning their household income is low, and they lack five or more socially perceived necessities. These include two meals daily, two pairs of shoes and transportation. However, almost a quarter of Tongans live above the extreme poverty threshold but remain poor according to the multidimensional measure — they cannot participate in Tongan society due to insufficient resources.
Agriculture takes up too many jobs. In 2021, 30% of Tonga’s employment was in agriculture. Still, most of the work only covers residents’ basic needs and does not help grow the economy. Though the country exports fish and produce to New Zealand, the U.S. and Japan, in 2021, these exports only accounted for 3% of the national GDP.
Tourism also provides many jobs. In 2020, Tonga made $47 million in tourism revenue which accounted for 9.9% of a $484 million GDP. However, many of these jobs ended due to COVID-19 and natural disasters. Since non-agricultural or tourism jobs are hard to find, Tongans lack job opportunities.
Jobs are easier to find elsewhere, so family members (especially husbands) commonly leave the island to be able to provide for their families. In 2021, this migration (e.g., remittance) accounted for 46% of Tonga’s GDP, an astronomical number. Since educated migrants come predominantly from wealthier families, there is a chance that remittance increases income inequality and causes GDP stagnation in Tonga.
Tonga is the third most at-risk country for natural disasters after Vanuatu and the Solomon Islands, two nearby disaster-prone Pacific island clusters. In the past three years, Tonga suffered over $200 million in damages from Cyclone Herald and the Hunga Ha’apai eruption.
Permanent Aid for Poverty and Quality of Life
In 2018, the U.N. created a Pacific Strategy Plan to reach the 17 SDGs laid out at the New York Summit, the first of which aims to fix extreme poverty in the Pacific Islands. The U.N. Pacific Strategy Fund has about $17.7 million in the budget, $16 million of which came from New Zealand. The Plan’s goals are poverty reduction in Tonga and building greater resilience to extreme natural events.
In support of these efforts, the U.N. has provided equipment worth $55,000 to Tonga’s National Emergency Management Office (NEMO). This equipment will enhance the ability to alert citizens about natural disasters and promptly direct aid during crises. Over the last 12 years, the U.N. has introduced 16 permanent agencies to Tonga, including The International Labor Association, Population Fund, International Organization for Migration, U.N. Development Program and Capital Development Fund.
The CDF draws particular attention due to its role as a local transformative finance mechanism. It supports small businesses and offers private loans to projects that foster sustainable economic growth. This approach leads to a long-lasting increase in individual wealth by establishing a consistent income source, as opposed to providing mere temporary relief.
The UNDP currently works to provide HIV vaccines, rapid test kits, contraception and text message preventative information to women in Tonga. There is heavy misinformation about HIV. More than half of the population would not let HIV-positive children go to school, even though the disease is not transferable just by touch or sharing drinks.
Aid for Government Stability and Security
In Tonga, foreign aid funds most government services. Around 49% of the GDP is central government debt. In 2020, the IMF labeled the debt distress of Tonga as high. For comparison, Moldova was ranked low in risk despite 34.7% of its GDP coming from government debt.
Using this same U.N. Pacific Strategy Fund, The U.N. liaises with the 14 governments in the Pacific and with regional bodies to promote organic, container and home farming to bolster food security, assist policy development for the economic development of outer islands, increase disaster preparedness and support decent work strategies. The organization sits in on government decisions and helps oversee the $17.7 million Pacific Strategy Plan.
Though Tonga is at constant risk of natural disasters and has a mainly agricultural economy, consistent foreign aid promises to bring long-term growth and economic stability. Overall, there is much hope for poverty reduction in Tonga.
– Claire Duvillier
Photo: Flickr
5 Charities Operating in Vietnam
5 Charities Operating in Vietnam
All of these charities operating in Vietnam continue to work selflessly for vulnerable groups in society. They are actively driving Vietnam towards a brighter future and lowering the rate of poverty.
– Sharvi Rana
Photo: Unsplash
3 Organizations Making a Difference in the DRC
Brief History of Conflict in the DRC
The conflict in the DRC has its roots in the Rwandan Genocide of 1994, which led to nearly 2 million Hutu refugees seeking refuge in Congo. In fear of retribution, Hutu extremists formed militias, while Tutsi militias emerged to counter their actions. The Tutsi-led government of Rwanda, after defeating the genocidal Rwandan government, became involved in what was then called the Republic of Zaire, later renamed the DRC. Rwandan troops and Tutsi militias based in the Congo invaded Zaire, sparking the first Congolese War in 1996. The conflict resulted in the victory of Rwandan troops and the Zairean opposition, with Laurent Kabila, the opposition leader, assuming the presidency of the newly renamed Democratic Republic of Congo.
Tensions between Rwanda and the DRC escalated, leading to the second Congolese War in 1998. Kaila aimed to reduce Rwandan control over his government by removing Tutsis from his administration and weakening Rwandan military influence in the eastern DRC. Although the war officially concluded in 2002, the conflict persisted until 2004. Since 1996, the eastern DRC has witnessed more than 6 million deaths to casualties from wars, clashes between ethnic and militant groups and activities of local armed factions. In light of these conditions, there are a number of organizations working to make a difference in the DRC.
3 Organizations Making a Difference in the DRC
Looking Ahead
Despite the ongoing conflicts, these organizations making a difference in the DRC are actively assisting a country grappling with the aftermath of war, political instability and economic decline. As millions of individuals struggle to meet their basic needs, are forcibly displaced and endure the hardships due to the ongoing conflict, these partnerships and the critical ongoing work by Concern Worldwide, CARE and the IRC serve to alleviate the impacts of war and poverty and improve the lives of the people in the DRC.
– Clara Swart
Photo: Flickr
Human Trafficking in Djibouti: A Call to Action
Human Trafficking in Djibouti
Djibouti serves as a transit point for various illegal activities, including human trafficking. The country’s central location on the Horn of Africa and its porous maritime, mountain and desert borders make it susceptible to being used as a hub for this illicit trade. According to the U.S. Department of State’s Trafficking in Persons Report 2023, Djibouti is a source, transit point and destination country for men, women and children subjected to forced labor and sex trafficking. The report estimates that there are several hundred people trafficked through Djibouti each year. The most vulnerable groups include migrants and refugees from neighboring countries, particularly Ethiopia and Somalia. These individuals, seeking better opportunities, often fall prey to traffickers who lure them with false promises of work or a better life.
Types of Work and Victims
Victims of human trafficking in Djibouti end up in various forms of exploitation. Many are subject to forced labor in domestic work, construction, agriculture and the informal sector. Women and girls are vulnerable to sex trafficking, with some being forced into prostitution within the country or trafficked to other nations.
Not all victims are from Djibouti itself; many come from neighboring countries seeking better economic prospects or escaping conflict. Djibouti’s strategic location as a transit point also means that victims move through the country and then are trafficked to other destinations outside its borders.
The Link Between Human Trafficking and Poverty
Human trafficking in Djibouti is intricately linked to poverty and economic vulnerability. The lack of economic opportunities and resources in the country, coupled with high levels of unemployment and underemployment, make individuals more susceptible to the false promises of traffickers. Poverty drives many to seek better prospects elsewhere, making them easy targets for exploitation.
Government and NGO Initiatives
The Djibouti government has taken steps to combat human trafficking and improve its response to the issue. There are ongoing efforts to strengthen the anti-corruption framework, with the establishment of the National Commission for Anti-Corruption and the implementation of a new asset declaration system. However, challenges persist in terms of transparency and accountability, especially concerning politically motivated prosecutions and due process rights violations.
In terms of international cooperation, Djibouti takes part in various significant agreements related to organized crime, including the U.N. Convention Against Transnational Organized Crime (UNTOC) and the U.N. Convention Against Corruption (UNCAC). However, there is room for improvement, as the country has yet to ratify the Arms Trade Treaty, despite being viewed as an arms-trafficking hub. In a 2022 report, the U.N. Refugee Agency has also advocated for better protection services available to vulnerable populations susceptible to trafficking. The report highlights providing access to shelter and justice. These protection services also include providing better responses for unaccompanied children, to gender-based violence and trafficking.
Djibouti collaborates with regional and international initiatives and organizations to combat human trafficking. Partnerships with Arab-speaking countries, France, Turkey, Brazil, Senegal, the Netherlands, Morocco and others focus on capacity-building for law enforcement agencies. Additionally, Djibouti engages with organizations like the East Africa Police Chiefs Cooperation Organisation, INTERPOL, MENAFATF and the Horn of Africa Wildlife Enforcement Network.
Final Thoughts
To enhance law enforcement capacities, Djibouti must address training standards, equipment, communication and forensic services. Corruption remains a persistent constraint on the efficacy of law enforcement efforts, requiring further attention and reform.
Djibouti confronts a complex web of challenges in its fight against human trafficking and smuggling. Despite fragility, corruption and resource limitations, the government has shown dedication to addressing these issues. In addition, international cooperation and regional partnerships play a crucial role in combating human trafficking in Djibouti. By fostering transparency, enhancing law enforcement capacities and addressing the root causes of these crimes, lasting change there is hope the country can achieve lasting change that favors the vulnerable within its borders.
– Mari Caitlin Riggles
Photo: Flickr
Everything You Need to Know About Hunger in North Korea
The North Korean regime cleared away vegetation from mountains and hillsides to create more farmland, deforesting much of the countryside and leaving it more vulnerable to floods, erosion and drought. It made vital parts of its food infrastructure (chemical fertilizer factories, tractors, irrigation pumps and trucks for distributing grain) dependent on the importation of cheap, subsidized fuel from the Soviet Union. In 1957 it outlawed the trade of grain and devoted itself to outsized military spending and its founding communist ideology of self-sufficiency (Juche).
These elements came to a fatal head five decades later at a time when the country was possibly producing less than 60% of its food needs. Soviet petroleum subsidies ceased in 1989 and left the North Korean agricultural infrastructure without enough fuel to operate. Monsoons came in late June 1995 and flooded the now largely unobstructed countryside, drowned a quarter of North Korea’s rice paddies and covered some parts of the country in twenty-three inches of rain. Famine killed between 600,000 and two million North Koreans between 1995 and 1999 — 3-5% of the total population.
Attempts at Reform and Modern Hunger
Internal efforts to reform from 1996 to 2016 strained toward self-sufficiency without achieving it. Kim Jong Il’s 1996 reforms underestimated the country’s dependence on chemical fertilizer and the hegemony’s unwillingness to actively support reform. In 2012, Kim Jong Un instituted the Field Responsibility System (FRS), allowing farmers to keep any grain they produced in excess of their quota. His five-year plan, released in 2016, targeted an annual grain and fertilizer output of 8 million and 2.3 million tons respectively.
This growth required a 30% increase in grain output from 2014, but figures from the Food and Agricultural Organization suggest the target of 8 million tons was not reached. Farmers from the North who had come to South Korea were unaware that FRS reforms had even occurred, and despite efforts to increase domestic fertilizer production, over 250,000 tons had to be imported until 2018. In the meantime, the regime urged farmers to rely more on organic fertilizer. Chemical fertilizer production peaked in 1979 at 2.91 million tons. The output of cereals also peaked at just over 65 million tons in 1979. In the 44 years since, North Korea has never produced more.
Hunger in North Korea continues unabated. Citing Chinese customs data, a CNN report from March 3, 2023, shows the country exporting roughly 56 million kilograms of wheat and flour, along with 53,280 kilograms of cereals to North Korea in 2022. Seoul’s Rural Development Agency estimates that from 2021 to 2022 crop yields dropped by 4%. A clandestine source quoted in the South Korean paper Daily NK on Nov. 21, 2022, opens an urgent window on the subjective experience of hunger in North Korea today. “People with nothing to eat and nowhere to sleep are roaming around trains stations, markets and the streets, but neither the city party committee nor the people’s committee are taking measures to deal with it.”
Reasons for Hope
Despite all this, Peter Ward, writing for the Georgetown Journal of International Affairs in January 2023, begins to outline reasons for hope. North Koreans are resilient and resourceful. Surveys of refugees suggest they are getting much of their food by cultivating the sloping land in regions normally considered inhospitable to crops. This resourcefulness, combined with allowing farmers greater freedom to choose what they plant and tillage rights to their land might generate an increased productivity that could not only spur similar productivity in related industries (chemical fertilizer production) but give rural households a greater ability to purchase imported goods.
Furthermore, the World Food Program’s 2021 brief shows a substantial number of North Koreans directly benefiting from its efforts. From January to March of 2021, it distributed 891.5 metric tons of fortified food (food with added vitamins and nutrients) and 4,970 metric tons of raw food commodities to 566,886 people. This accounts for less than 3% of the country’s total population, but it is an impressive figure considering it was achieved in the teeth of a countrywide COVID-19 response that locked down North Korea’s borders with deadly force, closed many public and child institutions and eventually left no U.N. international staff in the country since March 2021.
Internal movements towards reform, continued international assistance and trade as the COVID-19 pandemic abates, and the resilience of the nation’s people are the hands inside and out that must continue to untangle hunger in North Korea, a problem that only seems unsolvable when the initial despair it inspires is not pushed through.
– John Merino
Photo: Flickr
Food Insecurity in East Timor
Current State of Food Insecurity in East Timor
East Timor’s history is marred by conflict and political instability, which has had profound implications for its food systems. According to the Global Hunger Index (GHI) 2022, East Timor ranks 110th out of 121 countries, indicating a serious level of hunger. The GHI measures hunger on a scale from 0 to 100, with higher scores indicating more severe hunger. East Timor’s score of 30.6 places it in the category of “serious” hunger levels.
The challenges faced by East Timor in achieving food security are multifaceted. One crucial factor is the limited access to arable land. The country’s mountainous terrain and limited fertile areas make agricultural cultivation challenging. According to the U.N. Human Rights Office, only about 11% of East Timor’s total land area is suitable for agriculture, severely constraining the potential for increased food production.
Furthermore, extreme weather events pose a significant threat to food security in East Timor. The country is prone to cyclones such as El Niño, floods and droughts, which can lead to the destruction of crops and livestock, undermining farmers’ livelihoods and exacerbating hunger. Recently, the International Monetary Fund (IMF) estimates that the 2021 Cyclone Seroja in East Timor alone caused an economic loss of approximately 20 to 50% of the country’s GDP with total recovery costs of $422 million (25% of non-oil GDP).
Actions Addressing the Challenges
To address these challenges, the East Timorese government, with support from international organizations and NGOs, has implemented several initiatives. For instance, The World Bank’s Timor-Leste Agriculture Rehabilitation Project, launched in 2001, aims to improve the productivity and resilience of smallholder farmers by providing training, access to agricultural inputs and market linkages for the country post-independence.
Additionally, the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) has been supporting the establishment of agricultural cooperatives in East Timor. These cooperatives enable small farmers to pool their resources, access credit and receive training in modern farming techniques, thus enhancing their productivity and income.
Infrastructure development is also crucial for improving food security. The Asian Development Bank (ADB) has been supporting East Timor in developing rural road networks and irrigation systems, totaling their investment of up to $210.83 million in irrigation and agricultural infrastructure. These investments are vital for facilitating the transportation of goods from rural areas to markets, reducing post-harvest losses and improving farmers’ access to inputs and services.
– Kent Anderson
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