According to the Global Education Monitoring Report, developing countries are home to some 200 million young people ages 15 to 24 who have not completed primary school and need alternative pathways to gain basic skills for employment and prosperity. Low levels of education leave one in eight living below the poverty line, creating a need for digital education in developing countries.
Developing countries often have less diversified economies that rely on agriculture or raw materials such as timber, coal and oil. A country’s level of development is not determined by one singular test, but does look at the total value of goods and services a country provides. Underdeveloped and developing countries have lower Gross National Income (GNI), lower life expectancy and higher unemployment.
Digital Education in Developing Countries
Education develops skills at both intellectual and social levels. It promotes progress in health, climate resilience, sustainability and gender equality. Without these skills, people are less able to avoid poverty and pursue ecological development.
In lower- and middle-income countries, more than half of all 10-year-olds are unable to read and understand text. In 2024, there were 251 million children out of school, limiting the skills needed for labor markets. By increasing funds and resources, digital education in developing countries can help promote learning and provide children with greater chances of acquiring the skills they need.
South Africa has seen similar trends, with children under age 17, who make up 43.1% of the country’s population, among the groups most affected by poverty. According to Statistics South Africa, children remained the most vulnerable group in the country, with nearly half still living below the poverty line in 2023. Children living in rural areas face even greater challenges, as they often lack internet access and other essential educational resources.
Education remains one of the strongest investments a country can make. Research shows that in developing countries, every dollar invested in education generates $10 to $15 in economic growth. Investing in education can drive a country’s growth, increasing earning potential and decreasing poverty. Protecting children’s right to education aids local communities, creating more opportunities to thrive while promoting an equal chance at success.
Digital education supports teaching and learning through online courses, virtual classrooms and applications. Not only does this provide basic education, but it also helps improve digital skills that have become necessary amid the world’s digitalization. Online learning platforms create flexibility, making education more accessible around the world.
Current Developing Countries’ Initiatives
In 2020, Malaysia introduced its Digital Educational Learning Initiative (DELIMa), an online platform students can use to access applications, communication tools and learning resources. Malaysia’s Ministry of Education created the initiative to make learning more accessible while supporting the country’s move toward a more technology-influenced society.
DELIMa provides two programs: Future Skills For All (FS4A) and Global Citizenship Education (GCED). FS4A promotes digital development and reduces education inequalities by engaging learners through social media. GCED strengthens and grows a 21st-century mindset, encouraging learners to engage with communities on a local and global level.
South Africa has also embraced online education, increasing enrollment by more than 50% from 2020 to 2022. One of the country’s leading online learning platforms, CambriLearn, is now an Independent Examinations Board (IEB)-registered online school whose accredited courses meet benchmarks accepted by other schools worldwide.
Koa Academy has also contributed to the rise in South African education enrollment. The Koa Foundation’s initiative aims to expand high-quality education for communities facing education inequality. The foundation works to close the gap in educational opportunity by providing personalized learning that supports each student’s individual needs, easing challenges in performance and future opportunities. Current programs have supported 932 learners in strengthening their skills in mathematics and science.
In the Philippines, education is widely seen as a foundation for improving socioeconomic status, with many families believing that finishing school widens future opportunities. However, challenges include rising tuition costs and declining performance. According to the Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD), more than a third of Filipino students fall into the bottom international quintile of the socioeconomic scale, the largest such share among the groups measured.
Online schooling in the Philippines has become one of the most convenient and accessible forms of education, tailoring learning to individual students. Another challenge facing education in the country is low student retention. There is a dramatic decrease from 56.7% of children ages 10 to 14 finishing primary school to only 42.5% reaching junior high school and just 31.5% completing senior high school.
The Rise of Education Enrollment
As digital education in developing countries becomes more widely embraced, population growth and demand for education have both increased. By improving accessibility and affordability, online education now plays a crucial role in students’ schooling. Countries such as India, Iran and Pakistan have seen 7 million students enroll in online learning programs.
India alone has approximately 35% of its population enrolled in Massive Open Online Courses (MOOCs), ranking behind only the United States in enrollment. E-schools provide greater opportunities for those seeking education and employment, expanding access and improving employment prospects for millions.
With 32% of the global population lacking internet connection, expanding digital access will allow more citizens to receive quality education. Regardless of country, online education can serve as a tool for giving students an equal chance at learning and success.
– Jacquelyn Orr
Jacquelyn is based in Philadelphia, PA, USA and focuses on Good News and Technology for The Borgen Project.
Photo: Flickr
Yemen’s Economic Recovery
More Than a Decade of War
Civil war has affected Yemen for more than a decade as conflict between the Houthis and the internationally recognized government continues to drive one of the world’s worst humanitarian and economic crises.
Yemen’s economy has faced severe strain due to policy decisions on both sides, including the relocation of the Central Bank of Yemen from Sanaa to Aden and the printing of trillions of rials in new banknotes without sufficient foreign reserves. These actions have contributed to currency depreciation and rising inflation.
One of the country’s biggest challenges is the existence of two separate financial systems. In 2019, authorities in Sanaa stopped accepting government-issued banknotes, further dividing monetary policy between the two areas.
The collapse of oil exports and reduced foreign currency inflows further weakened government revenues, accelerating economic decline. Combined with disruptions to trade and infrastructure, these pressures deepened Yemen’s overall economic crisis.
The Human Cost of Conflict
Even before the war, Yemen had one of the highest malnutrition rates in the world and ranked among the most vulnerable countries in the Middle East. Nearly half of the population lived in poverty and lacked access to safe water.
Today, food insecurity affects 17 million people, while 18 million lack access to safe water and sanitation. Additionally, 80% of the population lives below the poverty line, while displacement remains widespread across the country. Women and children account for 80% of Yemen’s 4.5 million internally displaced people. Women and girls face heightened risks of gender-based violence, exploitation and early marriage as conflict and economic hardship place additional pressures on families.
Better Livelihoods and More Jobs Amid Fragility
In response to these challenges, the World Bank’s new framework aims to support Yemen’s long-term recovery through investments in health care, infrastructure, water access and economic development.
Under the theme “Better Livelihoods and More Jobs Amid Fragility,” the new Partnership Framework aims to improve nutrition, expand access to electricity and strengthen agriculture and fisheries businesses. The framework also seeks to increase women’s participation in the economy by expanding access to jobs, resources and economic opportunities.
To support these goals, the World Bank approved four projects focused on health care, water access, infrastructure and institutional development.
One of the largest investments targets health and water security. A $94 million health, nutrition and water and sanitation project will expand access to essential services for vulnerable populations, particularly women and children. The initiative will strengthen disease monitoring systems, improve health infrastructure and provide outpatient services to more than 6 million people.
Another $153.6 million project addresses Yemen’s ongoing water crisis by restoring irrigation systems, rehabilitating water infrastructure and introducing digital tools to manage water resources more efficiently. By 2030, the project aims to expand access to water, sanitation and hygiene services to 6.4 million people.
The framework also invests in urban infrastructure. A $21 million project will restore roads, electricity and water systems in selected cities, improving access to essential services for up to 1.75 million people.
In addition to rebuilding infrastructure, the World Bank plans to strengthen public institutions. A $20 million governance project will improve financial management and statistical systems, helping rebuild government capacity and support Yemen’s economic recovery.
Looking Ahead
While Yemen continues to face economic and humanitarian hardships, the new framework offers renewed support for a country working toward recovery. Stéphane Guimbert, World Bank Division Director for Egypt, Yemen and Djibouti, said Yemen’s future “has to be built now,” adding that the goal is to create real opportunities for Yemenis, especially women, while strengthening the institutions that will carry the country forward. Although recovery will take time, the framework aims to lay the foundation for a more stable future.
– Isabella Pedroza
Photo: Pexels
Social Contract Program and Poverty Reduction in Kyrgyzstan
To help vulnerable households achieve greater financial stability, the government initiated the Social Contract Program, which supports the creation of microbusinesses, small businesses that are usually operated by individuals or families and require relatively low startup costs. This article explores how the Social Contract Program is helping families launch microbusinesses, increase household incomes and support poverty reduction in Kyrgyzstan.
Social Contract Program
Established in 2022, the Ministry of Labor, Social Security and Migration launched Kyrgyzstan’s Social Contract Program. The program targets struggling households with viable business ideas. It provides benefits such as cash grants and a support package that includes agricultural training, financial literacy training, business plan development, social services and mentoring. Participants have used the grants to launch a variety of microbusinesses, including livestock breeding, dairy production, sewing services, beekeeping and greenhouse farming.
The Social Contract Program has significantly impacted the growth of microbusinesses. More than 35,226 families received a total of 3.5 billion KGS to start microbusinesses since its launch in 2022. The program’s continued expansion demonstrates its potential to create sustainable sources of income for vulnerable households across Kyrgyzstan.
Impact on Poverty Reduction
The Social Contract Program has expanded significantly since its launch, helping thousands of low-income households create sustainable sources of income. Before the program was implemented nationwide, the Ministry of Labor, Social Security and Migration piloted the initiative in two districts. The pilot supported 100 families, each receiving a grant of 100,000 KGS (approximately $1,200) to start a business (p. 6). By May 2022, 62 of the participating families had already begun generating income from their enterprises.
Following the success of the pilot program, the government expanded the initiative to 2,800 families in 2022 and 10,000 families in 2023 (p. 7-8). The program has continued to grow, reaching more than 35,226 families and distributing a total of 3.5 billion KGS to support the creation of microbusinesses.
The Social Contract Program has also expanded economic opportunities for women in Kyrgyzstan. In 2025, 10,902 of the program’s participants were women. Many of them have used grants to launch businesses in agriculture, manufacturing, trade and services, showing how the program helps women generate independent incomes and contribute to their households’ financial stability.
By providing vulnerable households with the resources needed to start businesses, the Social Contract Program is creating new opportunities for long-term economic growth and poverty reduction in Kyrgyzstan.
Looking Ahead
To fight economic instability, the Social Contract Program is helping vulnerable households across Kyrgyzstan build more stable futures through entrepreneurship. By providing grants, business training and mentorship, the program allows participants to establish microbusinesses and generate sustainable sources of income. Its rapid expansion and strong participation rates demonstrate its potential to improve livelihoods and create new economic opportunities. As the program continues to grow, it plays an increasingly important role in poverty reduction in Kyrgyzstan by helping families achieve greater financial independence and long-term stability.
– Michelle Kurniali
Photo: Flickr
Digital Education in Developing Countries
Developing countries often have less diversified economies that rely on agriculture or raw materials such as timber, coal and oil. A country’s level of development is not determined by one singular test, but does look at the total value of goods and services a country provides. Underdeveloped and developing countries have lower Gross National Income (GNI), lower life expectancy and higher unemployment.
Digital Education in Developing Countries
Education develops skills at both intellectual and social levels. It promotes progress in health, climate resilience, sustainability and gender equality. Without these skills, people are less able to avoid poverty and pursue ecological development.
In lower- and middle-income countries, more than half of all 10-year-olds are unable to read and understand text. In 2024, there were 251 million children out of school, limiting the skills needed for labor markets. By increasing funds and resources, digital education in developing countries can help promote learning and provide children with greater chances of acquiring the skills they need.
South Africa has seen similar trends, with children under age 17, who make up 43.1% of the country’s population, among the groups most affected by poverty. According to Statistics South Africa, children remained the most vulnerable group in the country, with nearly half still living below the poverty line in 2023. Children living in rural areas face even greater challenges, as they often lack internet access and other essential educational resources.
Education remains one of the strongest investments a country can make. Research shows that in developing countries, every dollar invested in education generates $10 to $15 in economic growth. Investing in education can drive a country’s growth, increasing earning potential and decreasing poverty. Protecting children’s right to education aids local communities, creating more opportunities to thrive while promoting an equal chance at success.
Digital education supports teaching and learning through online courses, virtual classrooms and applications. Not only does this provide basic education, but it also helps improve digital skills that have become necessary amid the world’s digitalization. Online learning platforms create flexibility, making education more accessible around the world.
Current Developing Countries’ Initiatives
In 2020, Malaysia introduced its Digital Educational Learning Initiative (DELIMa), an online platform students can use to access applications, communication tools and learning resources. Malaysia’s Ministry of Education created the initiative to make learning more accessible while supporting the country’s move toward a more technology-influenced society.
DELIMa provides two programs: Future Skills For All (FS4A) and Global Citizenship Education (GCED). FS4A promotes digital development and reduces education inequalities by engaging learners through social media. GCED strengthens and grows a 21st-century mindset, encouraging learners to engage with communities on a local and global level.
South Africa has also embraced online education, increasing enrollment by more than 50% from 2020 to 2022. One of the country’s leading online learning platforms, CambriLearn, is now an Independent Examinations Board (IEB)-registered online school whose accredited courses meet benchmarks accepted by other schools worldwide.
Koa Academy has also contributed to the rise in South African education enrollment. The Koa Foundation’s initiative aims to expand high-quality education for communities facing education inequality. The foundation works to close the gap in educational opportunity by providing personalized learning that supports each student’s individual needs, easing challenges in performance and future opportunities. Current programs have supported 932 learners in strengthening their skills in mathematics and science.
In the Philippines, education is widely seen as a foundation for improving socioeconomic status, with many families believing that finishing school widens future opportunities. However, challenges include rising tuition costs and declining performance. According to the Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD), more than a third of Filipino students fall into the bottom international quintile of the socioeconomic scale, the largest such share among the groups measured.
Online schooling in the Philippines has become one of the most convenient and accessible forms of education, tailoring learning to individual students. Another challenge facing education in the country is low student retention. There is a dramatic decrease from 56.7% of children ages 10 to 14 finishing primary school to only 42.5% reaching junior high school and just 31.5% completing senior high school.
The Rise of Education Enrollment
As digital education in developing countries becomes more widely embraced, population growth and demand for education have both increased. By improving accessibility and affordability, online education now plays a crucial role in students’ schooling. Countries such as India, Iran and Pakistan have seen 7 million students enroll in online learning programs.
India alone has approximately 35% of its population enrolled in Massive Open Online Courses (MOOCs), ranking behind only the United States in enrollment. E-schools provide greater opportunities for those seeking education and employment, expanding access and improving employment prospects for millions.
With 32% of the global population lacking internet connection, expanding digital access will allow more citizens to receive quality education. Regardless of country, online education can serve as a tool for giving students an equal chance at learning and success.
– Jacquelyn Orr
Photo: Flickr
How Nepal’s Female Health Volunteers Save Lives
A Program Founded on Community Trust
The community each FCHV serves chooses her directly. Volunteers receive training in newborn care, family planning, nutrition, disease prevention and maternal health. The volunteers reside in the communities they serve and build trust with residents. They counsel pregnant women regarding safe deliveries, refer high-risk cases before they become life-threatening and regularly conduct household visits. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), the FCHV program is one of the largest and most influential community health worker programs in South Asia. Through the distribution of vitamin A supplements, iron and folic acid tablets at the village level, and oral rehydration salts, the program is closing the gap left by hospital systems in remote terrain.
With the expansion of the FCHV program, Nepal recorded numerous health improvements over the past three decades. According to UNICEF, Nepal’s under-5 mortality rate fell from 162 deaths per 1,000 live births in 1990 to 28 deaths per 1,000 live births in 2022, a decline of more than 80%. According to the World Bank, the maternal mortality rate dropped from 901 deaths per 100,000 live births in 1990 to 174 deaths per 100,000 live births in 2020. A central driver of this progress has been extensive community outreach, including the impactful work of the FCHV program.
Expanding Beyond Maternal Health
The role originally established by Nepal’s female community health volunteers has grown significantly beyond its initial focus on child and maternal health. A 2020 study published in BMC Health Services Research found that FCHVs played a significant role in spreading COVID-19 awareness and conducting contact tracing in rural Nepal, with the network adapting quickly to rising public health needs. UNICEF has also supported initiatives that train FCHVs in newer health management protocols for pneumonia and diarrhea, two leading causes of child death in low- and middle-income countries. Integrating FCHVs into national campaigns for adolescent health education and tuberculosis detection has transformed Nepal’s public health programs.
A Blueprint for Developing Nations
Nepal’s health volunteers have attracted the attention of global health organizations and governments seeking to create similar models. Countries including Ethiopia and Bangladesh have studied Nepal’s cost-effective approach to replicate community health systems that are sustainable and local without requiring extensive infrastructure. Nepal’s Ministry of Health and Population continues to invest in the program, providing cycles of training and incentive packages that sustain volunteer motivation over the long term. Plans to expand training modules to include mental health first aid and non-communicable disease screening signal that the program is continuing to grow in impact and scope.
The success of Nepal’s FCHV program demonstrates that investing in trained women within their own communities produces lasting and measurable results without the infrastructure costs of an established hospital system. The program offers a replicable model for reducing health inequality at scale, standing as one of the most documented community health initiatives in the developing world.
– Saakshi Bhat
Photo: Wikimedia Commons
Food Systems in Guyana: The World’s Most Self-Sufficient Country
Food systems encompass the whole process of producing, processing, transporting and consuming food. Successful and sustainable food systems can alleviate poverty through job creation and make communities more resilient in managing challenges such as disease outbreaks. Through the development of successful food systems, Guyana has no need for imports, producing all its needs in all seven necessary food groups.
However, Guyana, formerly a British colony, has not always been this self-sufficient. In the early 2000s, the nation was considered “one of the poorest” within the Western Hemisphere. It was the global pandemic in 2019 that finally served as a wake-up call for the Guyanese state. This medical emergency exposed the country’s overreliance on imports and lack of resilience to such shocks.
Regional Oil
A major factor that enabled food systems in Guyana to improve was an oil surge into the country. This influx began in 2019, after American corporation ExxonMobil discovered vast amounts of oil in the region in 2015. Currently, Guyana produces around 650,000 barrels of oil per day, with the country projected to pump the highest amount of oil per inhabitant.
The economic effects of this oil bonanza are evident in Guyana’s GDP growth, which has increased fivefold in the past five years. By 2030, government income from oil is expected to reach around $10 billion.
However, with over half of the approximately 840,000 population still living in poverty, the profits have not yet reached enough of the Guyanese people. Georgetown, Guyana’s capital, still lacks the infrastructure to reflect the country’s financial rise. Wooden houses, poor irrigation channels and regular power cuts are symptomatic of a system that has not yet invested enough in its people.
Guyana’s Food Systems Transformation
Present-day food security stems from the country’s long-term commitment to improving its agricultural sector. This commitment began in 2009, when exports of “other crops,” such as wheat, increased by 32.4% after the government launched a “grow more food” campaign. In 2011, the creation of the Food and Nutrition Security Strategy placed a focus on the nation’s people, particularly vulnerable groups facing food insecurity.
The Low-Carbon Development Strategy (LCDS), a further program introduced in 2009, aimed to ensure global climate action and biodiversity were balanced with the nation’s development. By 2030, the LCDS aims to build “climate resilience” in the agricultural sector through systems such as “climate-proof” sustainable farms.
However, 2021 was a major year in the journey to improving food systems in Guyana. A National High-Level Dialogue was held prior to the country’s appearance at the United Nations Food Systems Summit. There, obstacles to agricultural progress were identified, as well as the need to create a “food systems approach.” From the discussions, a clear objective was cited: “deliver healthy and nutritious diets to all Guyanese.”
United Nations Assistance
Since the 2021 United Nations (U.N.) Food Systems Summit, the U.N. has been essential in assisting with the strategic investment of food systems in Guyana. Today, examples of this investment can be found in the country’s remote regions, where innovations in farming techniques, such as greenhouse systems, have led to increased harvests and climate shock protection.
The benefits of these initiatives have also been reaped in an area outside of the agricultural sector. The collaborative Home-Grown School Feeding (HGSF) program, championed by the World Food Programme (WFP) and the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), uses ingredients sourced from local farms. This global framework feeds around 2,500 Guyanese schoolchildren across 14 to 16 primary schools. The impact of this improved nutrition is noticeable, with children more consistently attending school.
Through investment in “dedicated training and reliable buyers,” 75 smallholder farmers, including 28 women, are being enabled to create a consistent business income. The U.N., through both food and opportunity, is helping to facilitate the revival of some of Guyana’s most forgotten communities and promote a more inclusive future.
Framework for the Future
A mission that began in 2009 has today resulted in achieving full food self-sufficiency across all essential food groups. Through novel legislation such as crop production insurance and a clear goal of reducing the region’s food import bill by 25%, Guyana aspires to become the food-producing capital of the Caribbean.
An ongoing large share of internal poverty, combined with external tension with the neighboring Venezuelan government, means Guyana will still face obstacles. However, by following Guyana’s framework of farmer-focused policies and global organization assistance, many other forgotten nations could join Guyana in the global spotlight.
– William Snow
Photo: Flickr
GCC Humanitarian Aid: Gulf Nations Become Top 5 Global Donors
Member states have consistently ranked among the world’s top five donors for several years. Although regional giving was historically informal and discrete, the Gulf’s young generation of leaders now takes control of the countries’ philanthropic activities with a different approach. Rather than focusing on the symptoms of poverty, they prioritize systematic aid that addresses the root causes. The following initiatives highlight how this shift creates lasting advancements in developing nations.
Rebuilding Education in Yemen
The King Salman Humanitarian Aid and Relief Centre (KSrelief), based in Saudi Arabia, has delivered more than $13.3 billion in GCC humanitarian aid to 170 countries since 1996. One of its most impactful efforts focuses on schooling in Yemen through a long-standing partnership with the International Organization for Migration (IOM). Together, they rehabilitated 12 schools across the Aden, Lahj and Ta’iz governorates. This work is critical because the conflict in Yemen has destroyed nearly 2,800 schools, leaving 4.5 million children without access to education.
This project created a safe learning environment for more than 18,000 students and teachers across the three governorates. By prioritizing critical infrastructure, KSrelief and IOM provided the students with necessities such as clean water and hygiene services. Workers also installed solar energy systems to ensure uninterrupted learning in areas with electricity shortages. This focused aid builds on previous efforts that improved access for more than 17,500 students in the region.
Food Aid and Technology
In the UAE, the Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum Global Initiatives (MBRGI) serves as an umbrella organization for over 30 initiatives. Established in 2015, MBRGI concentrates its work in sectors including health care, food security and education. The organization recently contributed 43 million AED to the World Food Programme (WFP) to support direct food aid for more than one million people affected by the crisis in Gaza. Since 2021, MBRGI has contributed a total of 230 million AED in humanitarian aid through its partnership with WFP. Through these projects, the organization provides life-saving food assistance and supports sustainable projects that address global hunger.
The region also uses technology to modernize relief efforts. The UAE recently partnered with the WFP to accelerate a digital school initiative in Southern Africa. This program has already successfully enrolled 60,000 students across eight countries. Meanwhile, the UAE-based Kalimat Foundation’s Ara Initiative provides GCC humanitarian aid by making Arabic literary content accessible to children with visual impairments. The program helps publishers with the technology to create interactive features including built-in bookmarks and navigation tools.
Healing Trauma Through Drama Therapy
Kuwait has also taken a lead in specialized humanitarian efforts through the Intisar Foundation. Princess Intisar Al Sabah founded the organization in 2017 to support Arab women affected by war and trauma. By using drama therapy to alleviate trauma, the foundation aims to heal one million Arab women by 2050.
From solar-powered classrooms in Yemen to Arab women healing through drama therapy, GCC humanitarian aid is reaching people across the region in effective ways. The combined efforts of these nations show a clear commitment to peace through development. By adopting strategic and collaborative models, member states ensure that aid helps communities thrive long-term. As these nations continue to expand their global reach, their solution-driven approach positions them as a leading partner in the fight against poverty.
– Nikki Rasoulian
Photo: Unsplash
How DREAMS for Refugees Provides Long-term Solutions
Immediate versus Long-Term Aid
While refugee camps are excellent for providing immediate assistance for refugees suffering from extreme poverty, they do not provide lasting support. People rely on the camps for support and lack the ability to permanently lift themselves and their families out of poverty.
Refugee camps were designed to be temporary shelters, but the people who reside in them require something permanent.
The Solution
In their joint project entitled “DREAMS for Refugees,” DREAMS for Refugees Uganda offers sustainable solutions, empowering communities through innovative programs and reducing dependency on aid. are working to install permanent solutions in refugee communities. Beginning in the Ugandan Bidi Bidi Refugee Settlement, they are combining two well-researched tactics.
Village Enterprise employs a poverty graduation program. This approach uses provision, coaching and structural changes to benefit poor communities. Assets are provided, and teaching allows people to use those assets in productive ways.
This program is combined with Mercy Corps’ market system development program, which allows the refugee community to thrive financially. Together, these two strategies have the potential to create thriving communities.
Bidi Bidi Refugee Settlement and Beyond
The Bidi Bidi Refugee Settlement was created in Uganda in 2016. After the implementation of DREAMS, the first businesses opened in the fall of 2022.
In 2023, DREAMS for Refugees expanded to Ethiopia. It is estimated that it will reach 200,000 refugees.
The project received Fast Company’s 2023 World Changing Ideas Award and was the 2021 winner of the Larsen Lam ICONIQ Impact Award for Refugees.
Village Enterprise and Mercy Corps intended DREAMS to be an evidence-led approach to fighting poverty. To determine the effectiveness of the program, IDinsight is conducting a trial to assess its results.
Why the DREAMS Model Matters
The DREAMS program represents the shift from offering basic necessities to refugees to improving lives and setting people up for success. Not only does this program help the individual, but the evolution of small businesses will strengthen the economies of these settlements as a whole.
This long-term approach is especially helpful in a period of reduced foreign aid by wealthy countries, as it repurposes money to create lasting success as opposed to short-term survival.
Looking Ahead
As the number of refugees living in extreme poverty increases and the amount of foreign aid dwindles, investing in long-term solutions becomes more important than ever. The future of foreign aid is uncertain, so actions to change it must be taken now. Assisting with establishing independence rather than creating dependency on consistent aid is not only more financially viable, but it protects the dignity of refugees. If DREAMS continues to be successful, it could serve as a model for communities experiencing extreme poverty around the world.
– Julia Cholerton
Photo: Unsplash
How edX is Breaking Educational Inequality in India
PARAKH 2024 data exposes widening learning gaps between “Others” and Scheduled Tribe (ST) students. The language score gap grows from five points in Grade 3 to 13 points in Grade 9. ST students average just 47 in language compared to 60 and 32 in mathematics compared to 40. These gaps solidify early and compound over time.
How Inequality Becomes Earnings Inequality
The urban-rural divide is the primary driver, with a rural education Gini of 0.448 compared to urban 0.292. This split alone accounts for 30.1% of total educational inequality in India. Unequal resources sustain this gap: rural schools battle crumbling infrastructure and teacher absenteeism. Digital exposure can add 4.5 years of schooling but remains out of reach for many. Education quality scales tightly with household wealth, while large family sizes reduce attainment. This traps most workers in low-productivity agriculture or informal services, a cycle that perpetuates low earnings across generations.
The six states with the highest educational inequality are also India’s poorest. NITI Aayog’s National Multidimensional Poverty Index 2023 reveals that Bihar has more than 33% multidimensional poverty. Uttar Pradesh and Madhya Pradesh consistently rank near the bottom in per-capita income. In these regions, educational exclusion directly dictates economic survival. A rural child in these states faces cumulative disadvantage: poor foundational skills lead to low-skill labor. This locks families into subsistence-level incomes, passing poverty from one generation to the next. Early disadvantage compounds with caste and gender exclusions — college-level inequality remains frozen and Dalit business ownership remains negligible. Without intervention, education inequality transforms into entrenched poverty.
Educational Inequality in India
Traditional education fails due to stark rural-urban disparities: only 18.47% of rural schools have internet compared to 47.29% urban. Just 44.9% have computers compared to 68.7% urban. Only 38% of rural households have a secondary school within one kilometer. Consequently, 60% of undergraduates now choose online education based on affordability, but traditional institutions struggle to adapt. The system relies on rote memorization — 75% of what students learn is through repetition — failing to build critical thinking. ASER 2024 found 75% of Class 3 students cannot read Grade 2 text. One-size-fits-all pacing ignores individual differences, leaving about 40% of students disengaged or behind. Overcrowded classrooms (30:1 ratios) make interactive learning impossible. The half-life of skills has dropped from 26 years to just two to five years today, but semester-based systems cannot pivot. Though 98% of universities offer online classes, most use outdated pedagogy. The adaptive learning market is projected at $5.3 billion by 2025, signaling a deep misalignment with how people learn and work today.
edX: World-Class Education, Anywhere, for Less
Founded in 2012 by Harvard and MIT professors, edX offers individual courses, professional certificates and accredited degrees from more than 50 partner institutions. It remains governed by Harvard and MIT. Learners can audit courses at no cost to explore new areas risk-free, or pay for the verified track (starting at about $50) to earn official certificates recognized by employers worldwide. edX is not replacing schools but bypassing structural bottlenecks. It offers structured, university-level content that is affordable, globally relevant in technology and business and accessible via smartphones.
edX reaches 73 million learners globally, with more than 730,000 in India (11% of the total). Participation is growing rapidly in non-metro cities like Bareilly and Vijayawada. Through Emeritus partnerships with top Indian universities and Access Partnerships offering free and low-cost tech skills to marginalized communities — including women and rural youth — the platform directly tackles poverty. Career services are tied to labor market analytics, ensuring skills align with actual hiring demands. The financial impact is tangible: globally, 43% of certificate earners achieve new jobs, pay raises or promotions. Success stories — like Moses launching a cybersecurity career through free tuition and Colleen landing a full-time role post-graduation — demonstrate the model’s effectiveness.
In India, strategic partnerships scale this impact dramatically. With the Andhra Pradesh State Council of Higher Education (APSCHE), more than 590,000 students in Andhra Pradesh — one of the six high-inequality states — completed more than 318,000 credit-bearing courses in artificial intelligence (AI) and data science. For graduates, these credentials directly translate into entry-level IT roles offering salaries three to four times higher than agricultural wages. This pulls entire households out of poverty. With the National Institute of Information Technology (NIIT), programs from MIT and Berkeley meet the National Association of Software and Service Companies’ (NASSCOM) reskilling needs. Through the National Skill Development Corporation (NSDC), vocational training reaches more than 10 million learners across the country.
Looking Ahead
The economics are striking: a subsidized course costing about ₹2,000 can yield a ₹25,000 monthly salary increment. A learner in Bareilly can now access the same MIT curriculum as a student in Mumbai, effectively flattening the geographic playing field. With 68,000 boot camp graduates, more than 40,000 employment referrals and 2.4 million career touchpoints, edX is systematically working to dismantle the barriers that convert education gaps into generational poverty. By transforming education into distributed, market-aligned infrastructure, edX ensures that where a child is born need not dictate their economic destiny.
– Malak Kamel
Photo: Flickr
Updates on SDG 5 in Haiti
In Haiti, the achievement of SDG 5 and other development goals has been hindered by decades of political instability, social unrest and natural disasters. Some of the main barriers to women’s equality in Haiti include widespread sexual violence and limited access to economic opportunities.
SDG 5 Indicators in Haiti
Despite progress in some areas, the Sustainable Development Report asserts that major challenges remain for Haiti’s achievement of SDG 5. This assessment is based largely on the following indicators:
Seven male members made up the Transitional Presidential Council, which originated in 2024 to reestablish democracy amidst the ongoing power vacuum and rise of armed gangs.
Haiti’s Current State: Displacement and Sexual Violence
Since the 2021 assassination of Haitian President Jovenel Moïse, armed gangs have gained control more than 90% of the capital, Port-au-Prince and major roads throughout the country. As of October 2025, gang violence had forcibly displaced 1.4 million people.
In this climate of violence and instability, women and girls are especially vulnerable. In makeshift camps, a lack of security puts women at risk of sexual violence. Armed gangs often use rape as a tactic of fear or coercion. Of the 5,857 reported cases of sexual assault in 2024, 64% were attributed to armed gangs and 61% of victims were internally displaced persons.
Survivors of sexual violence lack support and legal recourse, as systems for addressing sexual abuse in the camps are lacking or nonexistent. U.N. programs currently in place aim to train police officers to prevent sexual violence.
Moving Forward: UN Efforts and Haitian-Led Organizations
The United Nations currently has a number of programs in place to make progress towards SDG 5 in Haiti. Current UN Programmatic Interventions aim to address sexual and gender-based violence in Haiti, protect and empower displaced women, and enable women’s political participation.
Several Haitian-based organizations, many of them women-led, are working to address these issues on the ground.
Nègès Mawon, a female-founded organization, has been working since 2015 to provide support to survivors of sexual violence, including medical care, legal support, economic assistance and psychological services. The organization’s safe houses provide a refuge for women escaping domestic and gang violence. In reference to the ongoing state of violence and instability in Haiti, co-founder Pascale Solages stated, “Women and girls are the first victims of this crisis.” In 2024, Nègès Mawon provided support to 1,800 women and girls.
Another Haitian-based feminist organization is Marijàn, which originated in 2020 to promote gender equality and defend the rights of women and girls in Haiti. The organization’s program on gender-based violence provides psychological, legal and medical support to survivors. Marijàn uses education programs, community mobilization and political advocacy to further its mission of justice and dignity for women and girls in Haiti.
Although many challenges remain and Haiti is not on track to achieve SDG 5 by 2030, the efforts of United Nations agencies and Haitian-based NGOs have the potential to address the current humanitarian crisis in Haiti and its disproportionate effects on women.
– India Kaz
Photo: Unsplash
Multidimensional Disability and Poverty in Tonga
Poverty in Tonga
In Tonga, 75% of the population lives in Tongatapu, but the four other island groups, Vava’u, Ha’apai, Eua and Ongo Niua, face much higher levels of multidimensional poverty. Multidimensional poverty evaluates poverty along the lines of monetary poverty, education and basic infrastructure services. A 2018 report showed that, among adult poverty, there is a 25% difference between Tongatapu urban and the other islands. In children, there is a 19% difference.
Children in Tonga are also more likely to be in poverty. As of 2026, about a quarter of children in Tonga live in multidimensional poverty. Most of these children are in rural communities. More specifically, about 25.3% of children in Tonga don’t have sufficient access to nutrition, healthcare, education, clean water and adequate housing.
‘Eua has the highest childhood poverty with 48.9%, followed by Ha’Apai with 40.8% and Ongo Niea with 35%. Due to the size of the islands, reduced coastlines and violent storms impact them even more, causing their resources to be depleted and therefore their economy to suffer.
Disability in Tonga
Disability and multidimensional poverty in Tonga have very close ties. Based on a survey that the Tonga Statistics Department did in 2018, 2.8% of the population have disabilities in Tonga. The U.N. and WHO estimate the percentage to be much higher at about 10%. This is likely because the 2018 survey did not account for “mild impairments.” The results were also likely unreliable due to the social stigma against disabilities in Tonga, meaning several people likely did not take the survey. The most prevalent recorded cause for disability was illness, with about 30% of survey takers, in both urban and rural areas, reporting disability from illness.
People with disabilities often face additional challenges when preparing for emergencies and disasters. While about 81% of people with disabilities understand the need to evacuate, there are still issues for people with disability-inclusive disaster preparation, evacuation support and accessible shelters. Additionally, assistive devices that many people with disabilities rely on have to be abandoned during evacuation.
Progress Being Made
Government agencies and nonprofit organizations are working to reduce multidimensional poverty and support people with disabilities and Tonga. Within the Tonga government, The National Multiple Overlapping Deprivation Analysis (N-MODA), first conducted in 2019 and available on the UNICEF website, is a report that the Ministry of Internal Affairs and UNICEF Pacific made possible, as well as preparation support from the Social Policy Research Institute. The goal of this report is to provide a benchmark for evaluating progress along Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) guidelines. The country has dedicated itself to addressing multidimensional poverty, specifically among children.
Additionally, the Pacific Disability Forum, intended to advocate for equity and inclusion for people with disabilities, has made moves to place importance on people with disabilities, calling on stakeholders to work closely with organizations of persons with disabilities such as the Tonga National Visual Impairment Association (TNVIA), the Tongan National Disability Council (TNDC), Lavame’a Ta’e’iloa Disabled People’s Association (LATA) and Naunau ‘o e ‘Alamaite Tonga Association (NATA).
Outside of this forum, there are several nonprofits working to help multidimensional poverty and disability in Tonga. One of these groups is CARE International which has been in Tonga since 2019 in order to help communities to prepare for natural disasters. CARE has several programs around the world and encourages its involved members to focus on two main takeaways, being involved in short-term in activities and being involved in the long-term shift in people’s lives. In 2025, it reached 12,762 people struggling in Tonga. With organizations like CARE International, the damaging effects of multidimensional poverty and inequalities for people with disability are reducing.
Looking Ahead
Poverty informs disability in many ways. Access to appropriate care may not be possible due to multidimensional poverty factors. Accessible infrastructure makes living with disabilities much more difficult. Multidimensional poverty in Tonga, especially among children and in rural areas, persists due to the dependency on agriculture for the majority of the population. Severe storms and reduced coastlines due to the changing climate make an agricultural-based economy fragile and, therefore, more difficult to rise out of poverty. Recognition of the problem is the first step in improving the living conditions of impoverished people and people with disabilities.
– Arden Schultz
Photo: Wikimedia Commons