The term “girls and young women” (GYW) has no single date of origin. However, it has gained popularity in the 21st century as a concept tied to intersectionality, activism and inclusion. It bridges the gap between the categories of girls and women, allowing programs to support both groups while recognizing their distinct needs. This approach is central to the She Leads project.
A partnership program that ran from 2021 to 2025, the She Leads program brings together Plan International Netherlands, Defence for Children – ECPAT Netherlands (DCI-ECPAT), the African Women’s Development and Communication Network (FEMNET) and Terre des Hommes Netherlands. These organizations reflect the importance of the GYW framework in their efforts to promote education, leadership and independence for GYW. Their work in Mali, which has amplified GYW voices there, highlights the project’s impact.
Why Does the She Leads Program Exist?
At its core, the She Leads program wanted to improve gender equality across East and West Africa and the Middle East. However, this is no small task, not only because of cultural beliefs but also because of a lack of data and support to change these circumstances. Set up and supported by six organizations, She Leads worked to increase sustained influence for GYW, opening pathways for decision-making and “the transformation of gender norms in formal and informal institutions.”
The consortium’s plan to achieve this goal was threefold. It aimed to address social attitudes and gender norms at multiple levels, from small-scale civil society to broader sociocultural perspectives and large institutions that can enable GYW participation in political spaces. The consortium also conducted an assessment to collect data on gender-based violence (GBV) and cyber abuse across seven sub-Saharan countries, including Mali. This effort strengthened data systems and broadened the initiative’s impact on GYW in developing countries.
Through this multifaceted plan and the coordinated efforts of six NGOs, the initiative has achieved notable success, particularly in Mali. Voices of GYW in Mali have historically been muted in a country where 54% of girls marry before 18, spending much of their lives outside the public sphere. Mali is also among the most impoverished countries globally; data from 2015 shows that 51% of women in the poorest households were married before 18.
As in many parts of sub-Saharan Africa, parents often marry off their daughters young, believing it will provide a better life while reducing their own economic burdens. This practice continues to promote the belief that girls are the property of their husbands. While this reflects a cultural tradition in Mali, the She Leads project worked to challenge it by collecting comprehensive data and engaging directly with GYW, enabling girls to articulate their needs and priorities.
What Is the Impact of the She Leads Project in Mali?
It is widely understood that poverty is multidimensional and linked to phenomena such as child marriage. One of She Leads movement’s major focuses was promoting education to amplify GYW voices in Mali. A UNICEF Multiple Indicator Cluster report from 2015 further illustrates the intersectionality of poverty in countries like Mali: 50% of women who only completed primary education were married before the age of 18, compared to 18% of those who completed secondary education.
In fact, fewer than 74% of girls enroll in primary education, compared to 86% of boys. For girls, this figure drops to 15% for secondary education. With one of the fastest-growing populations, this educational inequality only widens the gender equality gap, according to the United Nations Development Programme’s Gender Inequality Index.
As such, improving girls’ education and enrollment was central to She Leads’ plan to amplify GYW voices in Mali. Specifically, She Leads took the approach of handing over educational agency to its focus groups of girls and women. It explained that its approach for all focus groups was to use the information gathered from these girls to determine the topics. The project does not decide in advance what it will focus on; instead, it brings the girls in and lets them share their own opinions.
One example of She Leads’ investment in GYW voices in Mali is the story of Fatoumata, a 17-year-old girl from rural Mali. Despite the World Economic Forum’s estimate that it will take “131 years to reach gender equality,” Fatoumata intends to “beat the clock” and become a community leader in a place where women traditionally run the home, not the world. She shared, “For me, it’s important to be able to make things happen. Today, I have come to my old school to talk to the students about important issues that affect them,” and that her “ambition is to be an accountant and a leader in my community.”
She Leads designed its community engagements to be safe spaces for GYW. It uses peer education to teach other girls in their community about sexual and reproductive health and rights, intervene on issues that concern them and take an active role in community decision-making. Now, Fatoumata not only feels more comfortable using her voice with her family but also sees a path to using it in the community to drive change and female inclusion.
What Have Been the Results of the Project?
Fatoumata’s experience highlights the impact the She Leads project has had on many communities. The project not only invested in academic education for girls but also in practical education, offering training sessions on issues like child marriage, FGM and STDs, breaking down barriers around taboo subjects. This transparency allows GYW to protect themselves and navigate life with independent knowledge, rather than relying on a family member for these truths.
In addition, She Leads encouraged community action, which culminated in GYW investment through “allocating them a quota of arable land where they can grow market vegetables, earning themselves an income.” Even with an education, cultural norms can still prevent women from entering professional and public spheres. Therefore, having community support for independent participation in the economy illustrates a break in the cycle of inequality.
Furthermore, Fatoumata and her group advocated for the representation of young women at policy forums, pushing for gender equality beyond their town or village and onto a national scale. She Leads data show that since 2021, 16 groups have been established across Mali, reaching 320 girls. These numbers might seem small; however, change is never instant.
Meanwhile, information, the collection of which was a major part of She Leads’ work, is key to both initiating and sustaining it. Fatoumata’s experience is proof that there is room for hope for GYW voices not only in Mali but across the world and that cycles of inequality can be broken. Thanks to the She Leads project, Fatoumata can be one of many girls with agency in Mali.
– Jaya Noonan
Jaya is based in London, UK and focuses on Good News and Global Health for The Borgen Project.
Photo: Unsplash
Protecting the Aka People From the Brink of Poverty
Living in the Forest: The Aka Culture and Knowledge
While CAR is home to many ethnic groups, the Ba’ka people have been especially left behind. They have lived in harmony with nature for centuries, possessing ecological knowledge that modern conservationists are only beginning to understand. Today, they face the same national challenges as others, often at a greater cost, experiencing deeper and more persistent exclusion.
The Ba’ka have built their culture around hunting and tracking. Aka hunters follow animals by interpreting subtle signs in the soil and on the forest floor. Women gather medicinal plants, edible roots and wild vegetables. This knowledge is carefully passed down through generations.
Trapped in Cycles of Exploitation
Modernization and land pressures are increasingly disrupting the Aka people’s way of life. Logging, conservation zoning and agricultural expansion reduce the land available for traditional practices. As forests shrink, Aka families often move closer to roadside settlements, where discrimination and economic exploitation are common.
Many Aka people in CAR report unequal labor arrangements with neighboring farming communities. In some cases, families work in fields or perform domestic labor in exchange for food, used clothing or small goods rather than fair wages. These informal arrangements trap families in intergenerational debt and create long-term dependency.
How the WWF Has Helped Aka Communities
The remote nature of many Aka communities leaves them largely invisible and without formal identity. However, international organizations like the World Wildlife Fund (WWF) and private NGOs have stepped in to help protect the Ba’ka from extreme poverty, providing employment opportunities and other essential resources. A particularly valuable resource for the Aka has been their deep ecological knowledge.
Their expertise in tracking wildlife and monitoring poaching is often relied upon by the WWF and other conservation groups. This knowledge has allowed the Aka to secure employment outside the traditional debt-trap cycle.
Hope for the Aka People
The lack of documentation makes Aka communities statistically invisible. When governments and international organizations allocate resources, unregistered individuals often fall outside official counts. To address this gap, many NGOs have launched mobile civil registration campaigns that travel directly to remote forest regions in CAR, helping families obtain legal citizenship and birth certificates.
UNICEF leads the most extensive mobile registration effort across the Congo Basin through the No Name Campaign, which aims to ensure every child can gain citizenship. In February 2026, UNICEF reported that it has distributed birth documents to more than 1,000 schoolchildren.
A young boy named Azor received his certificate during this drive. Previously, he could not sit for his primary school exams; thanks to UNICEF’s efforts, he can now dream of one day traveling internationally to watch football.
– Haydn Goodboy
Photo: Wikipedia Commons
3 Reasons for Elderly Poverty in Eswatini
Weak Social Protection and Limited Pensions
Eswatini spends about 1% of its GDP on its social protection programs. This is the lowest share of GDP to social protection expenditure in the region. Social protection programs include the Old Age Grant, which gives a monthly stipend of E500 to Eswatini people age 60 and over. This amount, which translates to roughly $26 or €24, must stretch across multigenerational households.
According to the International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD), more than 70% of the Eswatini population depends on small-scale agriculture for income and subsistence. This means that workers do not contribute to formal pensions. Because of this, many elderly Eswatini people rely solely on the Old Age Grant.
Rural, Low-Productivity Economic Structure
About 75% of the Eswatini population live in rural areas, where poverty is highly prevalent, and depend on subsistence farming. Agriculture in Eswatini is vulnerable to drought and adverse weather, and the country ranks 128 out of 187 countries on the ND-GAIN climate vulnerability index. For older adults, this rural economic structure means income is often tied to physically demanding, climate-sensitive work.
Beyond income limitations, access to services also plays a role in elderly poverty. Rural communities often face limited access to healthcare facilities, transportation and formal employment opportunities. For older adults, traveling long distances to clinics or markets can add additional financial strain.
At the same time, high unemployment rates among younger generations reduce the likelihood that elderly parents will receive consistent financial support from adult children. In a country where generations often share household resources, economic instability affects not only working-age adults but also older family members who depend on collective income.
Long-Term Economic Effects of HIV/AIDS
Though Eswatini’s reported HIV prevalence has declined as treatment coverage expands, the epidemic continues to affect the population. UNAIDS data show roughly 27% of adults between the ages of 15 and 49 are living with HIV.
Earlier waves of the epidemic led to high mortality among working-age adults. This reshaped household structures and shifted caregiving responsibilities to grandparents and older relatives.
A United Nations report on the impact of HIV/AIDS on generational roles found that older adults in heavily affected countries often assume primary caregiving roles for orphaned children. In Eswatini, where many elderly already rely on limited social grants, supporting younger dependents continues to strain household income and contribute to persistent poverty.
Although Eswatini has made progress in expanding HIV treatment coverage and increasing the reach of its Old Age Grant program, structural pressures continue to affect elderly poverty in Eswatini. In response, new community based initiatives have emerged. The Philani Maswati Old Age Home, established in 2017 and 2018 as the country’s first residential care facility for older persons, was created to provide housing and daily support for elderly individuals who face neglect or extreme poverty. The facility offers stable living environments for older adults who may not have reliable family support. This facility indicates recognition of the need for formal care services. While challenges persist, initiatives such as Philani Maswati signal gradual efforts to strengthen protections for older citizens and address elderly poverty in Eswatini.
Looking Ahead
Elderly poverty in Eswatini is shaped by limited pensions, a rural economy built around subsistence farming and the long-term effects of the HIV/AIDS epidemic. Programs like the Old Age Grant show that the country is beginning to address these challenges. Continued efforts to expand support for the elderly is important as Eswatini works to reduce poverty across generations.
– Kale Overton
Photo: Unsplash
She Leads Movement for GYW in Mali
A partnership program that ran from 2021 to 2025, the She Leads program brings together Plan International Netherlands, Defence for Children – ECPAT Netherlands (DCI-ECPAT), the African Women’s Development and Communication Network (FEMNET) and Terre des Hommes Netherlands. These organizations reflect the importance of the GYW framework in their efforts to promote education, leadership and independence for GYW. Their work in Mali, which has amplified GYW voices there, highlights the project’s impact.
Why Does the She Leads Program Exist?
At its core, the She Leads program wanted to improve gender equality across East and West Africa and the Middle East. However, this is no small task, not only because of cultural beliefs but also because of a lack of data and support to change these circumstances. Set up and supported by six organizations, She Leads worked to increase sustained influence for GYW, opening pathways for decision-making and “the transformation of gender norms in formal and informal institutions.”
The consortium’s plan to achieve this goal was threefold. It aimed to address social attitudes and gender norms at multiple levels, from small-scale civil society to broader sociocultural perspectives and large institutions that can enable GYW participation in political spaces. The consortium also conducted an assessment to collect data on gender-based violence (GBV) and cyber abuse across seven sub-Saharan countries, including Mali. This effort strengthened data systems and broadened the initiative’s impact on GYW in developing countries.
Through this multifaceted plan and the coordinated efforts of six NGOs, the initiative has achieved notable success, particularly in Mali. Voices of GYW in Mali have historically been muted in a country where 54% of girls marry before 18, spending much of their lives outside the public sphere. Mali is also among the most impoverished countries globally; data from 2015 shows that 51% of women in the poorest households were married before 18.
As in many parts of sub-Saharan Africa, parents often marry off their daughters young, believing it will provide a better life while reducing their own economic burdens. This practice continues to promote the belief that girls are the property of their husbands. While this reflects a cultural tradition in Mali, the She Leads project worked to challenge it by collecting comprehensive data and engaging directly with GYW, enabling girls to articulate their needs and priorities.
What Is the Impact of the She Leads Project in Mali?
It is widely understood that poverty is multidimensional and linked to phenomena such as child marriage. One of She Leads movement’s major focuses was promoting education to amplify GYW voices in Mali. A UNICEF Multiple Indicator Cluster report from 2015 further illustrates the intersectionality of poverty in countries like Mali: 50% of women who only completed primary education were married before the age of 18, compared to 18% of those who completed secondary education.
In fact, fewer than 74% of girls enroll in primary education, compared to 86% of boys. For girls, this figure drops to 15% for secondary education. With one of the fastest-growing populations, this educational inequality only widens the gender equality gap, according to the United Nations Development Programme’s Gender Inequality Index.
As such, improving girls’ education and enrollment was central to She Leads’ plan to amplify GYW voices in Mali. Specifically, She Leads took the approach of handing over educational agency to its focus groups of girls and women. It explained that its approach for all focus groups was to use the information gathered from these girls to determine the topics. The project does not decide in advance what it will focus on; instead, it brings the girls in and lets them share their own opinions.
One example of She Leads’ investment in GYW voices in Mali is the story of Fatoumata, a 17-year-old girl from rural Mali. Despite the World Economic Forum’s estimate that it will take “131 years to reach gender equality,” Fatoumata intends to “beat the clock” and become a community leader in a place where women traditionally run the home, not the world. She shared, “For me, it’s important to be able to make things happen. Today, I have come to my old school to talk to the students about important issues that affect them,” and that her “ambition is to be an accountant and a leader in my community.”
She Leads designed its community engagements to be safe spaces for GYW. It uses peer education to teach other girls in their community about sexual and reproductive health and rights, intervene on issues that concern them and take an active role in community decision-making. Now, Fatoumata not only feels more comfortable using her voice with her family but also sees a path to using it in the community to drive change and female inclusion.
What Have Been the Results of the Project?
Fatoumata’s experience highlights the impact the She Leads project has had on many communities. The project not only invested in academic education for girls but also in practical education, offering training sessions on issues like child marriage, FGM and STDs, breaking down barriers around taboo subjects. This transparency allows GYW to protect themselves and navigate life with independent knowledge, rather than relying on a family member for these truths.
In addition, She Leads encouraged community action, which culminated in GYW investment through “allocating them a quota of arable land where they can grow market vegetables, earning themselves an income.” Even with an education, cultural norms can still prevent women from entering professional and public spheres. Therefore, having community support for independent participation in the economy illustrates a break in the cycle of inequality.
Furthermore, Fatoumata and her group advocated for the representation of young women at policy forums, pushing for gender equality beyond their town or village and onto a national scale. She Leads data show that since 2021, 16 groups have been established across Mali, reaching 320 girls. These numbers might seem small; however, change is never instant.
Meanwhile, information, the collection of which was a major part of She Leads’ work, is key to both initiating and sustaining it. Fatoumata’s experience is proof that there is room for hope for GYW voices not only in Mali but across the world and that cycles of inequality can be broken. Thanks to the She Leads project, Fatoumata can be one of many girls with agency in Mali.
– Jaya Noonan
Photo: Unsplash
Positive Work To Address HIV/AIDS in Georgia
7 Key Facts About HIV/AIDS in Georgia
HIV/AIDS and Poverty in Georgia
HIV/AIDS and poverty are deeply and complexly intertwined. Those who deal with food insecurity, housing instability and/or are in poverty are significantly more vulnerable to getting an HIV infection. This is especially true if they rely on sex work to raise money for basic necessities, and where this power imbalance may not allow them to purchase and/or negotiate the use of condoms.
Similarly, those who live with HIV in their household are more at risk of falling into and remaining in poverty. Symptoms of HIV/AIDS can mean people are unable to work for long periods of time, or experience isolatio due to stigma, which can result in the loss of jobs, food security and housing, and in some places make them unable to pay for HIV/AIDS treatment and prevention healthcare.
This is a difficult cycle to break out of. Some treatments, such as ART drugs, must be taken every day with food, and therefore, a lack of adequate food resources and consistent medication places people further vulnerable to severe symptoms of HIV/AIDS. This means they are likely to be out of work for longer, making it even more difficult to raise funds for food and/or medication.
Although steadily declining, in 2024, 9.4% of the population of Georgia was below their national absolute poverty line. The proportion of the population living below the international poverty line at $3.00 a day, and therefore at a higher risk of contracting HIV/AIDS in Georgia was 4.2%.
Community Work
Organizations such as Tanadgoma and Equality Movement recognize this threat and have a commitment to their mission of reducing the number of new HIV/AIDS diagnoses as well as changing social attitudes to the infection.
Tanadgoma, a UNFPA partner, are working to increase the HIV testing service uptake by providing access to HIV information and services to young people to counter the issue of more than 50% of new HIV diagnoses occurring at a late stage. A key effort of this is to ensure that their environment is free of stigma and discrimination surrounding HIV/AIDS, and other contributing factors such as safe syringe procedures and sex work, despite the recent legislation. People such as Tamar Gakhokidze, a woman who is HIV positive after being infected during a dental procedure in jail, work with these organizations to break down misconceptions and stigma and hope to offer an example to others of someone living with HIV/AIDS in Georgia, but without fear or shame.
Equality Movement have developed a self-testing online platform to help popularize testing for HIV among at-risk groups such as MSM. These tests are free and individuals can complete them at home, allowing them to complete them anonymously with no need to visit community centers. They are also accessible to those in poverty. Also included in these self-test packages are condoms and lubricant that can help prevent the spread and new diagnoses of HIV/AIDS in Georgia; so far, Equality Movement have distributed more than 170,000 condoms and 45,000 lubricants through this project. As an organization, it has also provided Pre-Exposure Prophylaxis (PrEP), an effective daily pill to prevent contracting HIV, to more than 500 people for free.
Looking Ahead
In response to the continued work of organizations such as Tanadgoma and Equality Movement, the Georgian Anti-Corruption Bureau has been persecuting and pressuring civil society and non-governmental organizations to cease their activities. This has not swayed Equality Movement from its mission, and they state, “despite the unlawfully initiated monitoring, we continue our activities and legal efforts to stop the enforcement of repressive laws. We will use all available legal means to protect our rights and the rights of the citizens of Georgia.”
– Stephanie Gable
Photo: Flickr
Everything To Know About Hunger in Indonesia
The Current State of Hunger in Indonesia
Indonesia has made significant progress in reducing hunger over the past two decades. World Bank data shows that the prevalence of undernourishment dropped from around 18% in the early 2000s to about 6% by 2018. However, this improvement has slowed in recent years, and slight increases suggest that food insecurity continues to challenge the country.
Child nutrition has also improved, but serious concerns persist. UNICEF reports that the stunting rate among Indonesian children declined from 37.2% in 2013 to 21.5% in 2023. At the same time, the wasting rate has risen slightly, reaching 8.5% in 2023, highlighting the continued vulnerability of many children to malnutrition.
Food insecurity does not affect all regions equally. Official BPS statistics show that undernourishment rates are significantly higher in eastern provinces such as Papua Selatan compared to more developed areas like Java. This reflects the strong rural–urban divide in access to food and nutrition.
Despite overall progress, recent global and economic pressures have affected food security. Rising food prices and the economic impact of the COVID-19 pandemic have made healthy diets increasingly unaffordable for many households, particularly low-income families. These trends indicate that while Indonesia has advanced in the fight against hunger, sustained action remains essential.
What Is Causing Hunger in Indonesia?
A combination of economic and structural factors drive hunger in Indonesia. Although the country has experienced steady economic growth, poverty and inequality continue to limit access to nutritious food for many low-income households.
Rising food prices have also increased food insecurity. According to the FAO’s State of Food Security and Nutrition report, about 43.5% of Indonesians cannot afford a healthy diet, highlighting the economic barriers many families face in accessing nutritious food.
Geography is another key factor shaping hunger in Indonesia. As a country spread across thousands of islands, access to food varies greatly from region to region. In many rural and eastern areas, limited infrastructure and long distances make it harder to obtain affordable staples such as rice and fresh fish, which are central to the Indonesian diet. When transportation is difficult and markets are far away, even basic foods become more expensive and less accessible, increasing the risk of food insecurity.
In addition, climate shocks also threaten food production. Floods, droughts and other extreme weather events regularly disrupt agriculture in Indonesia, affecting crop yields and food supply in vulnerable regions.
Local Realities Behind the Statistics
During a visit to Lombok Island, several women told The Borgen Project they earned their income by selling handmade bracelets to tourists. They explained that most of their earnings were used to buy food for their children. One woman shared that her goal was to purchase a small corn field to ensure her children would not go hungry and could continue their education.
Solutions
Indonesia has expanded social protection programs to address food insecurity. Program Keluarga Harapan (PKH), the country’s largest conditional cash transfer initiative, provides financial support to poor households with children and pregnant women. Over the past decade, the program has expanded significantly and now reaches approximately 10 million beneficiary families across Indonesia. These cash transfers help vulnerable households afford food, health care and education, contributing to improved nutrition and poverty reduction.
The World Food Programme (WFP) works with the Indonesian government to strengthen national food security and nutrition systems. Under the World Food Programme Indonesia Country Strategic Plan 2026–2030, WFP provides technical assistance and policy support for the government’s Free Nutritious Meals Programme. The initiative aims to reach more than 80 million people by 2029, helping expand access to nutritious meals while strengthening national food systems and disaster preparedness.
UNICEF also supports Indonesia’s National Nutrition Programme, which focuses on improving nutrition outcomes across the life course. The programme strengthens services for pregnant women, infants and young children while supporting national efforts to address stunting and other forms of malnutrition. A recent UNICEF review of Indonesia’s nutrition programmes highlights progress in improving nutrition systems, while also identifying remaining gaps in implementation and access to services in some regions.
The Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) also works with Indonesian partners to advance the global goal of Zero Hunger by 2030. Through initiatives such as the “Road to Zero Hunger” campaign launched in Bandung, FAO collaborates with government institutions, universities and civil society to raise awareness about food security and nutrition challenges. The campaign promotes stronger food systems, sustainable agricultural practices and greater public engagement in addressing hunger and malnutrition across the country.
Looking Ahead
Although hunger in Indonesia has declined over the past two decades, inequality, geographic barriers and rising food costs continue to limit access to nutritious food for millions. Expanding social protection programs, strengthening nutrition services and investing in resilient food systems remain essential to ensure progress reaches the most vulnerable communities. Sustained commitment to these efforts will be critical for improving public health and securing long-term food security across the country.
– Elif Oktar
Photo: Elif Oktar
Unconditional Cash Transfers: The Most Benefit for Women
Benefits included higher labor force participation, increased work productivity, lower debt levels and greater autonomy and decision-making power. The analysis found little evidence of so-called dependency effects, the concern that recipients reduce work effort after receiving benefits.
Conditional Cash Can Increase Women’s Burden of Work
The international research team, led by Amber Peterman at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, argued that unconditional cash transfers may be more effective because they increase women’s choices and freedom. The researchers wrote:
“Some studies point to potential adverse effects or unintended consequences of social security nets for women. A common example raised is the potential for cash transfers with conditions to increase women’s unpaid care burden, reinforcing their involvement in child care or domestic work. This might occur if programs designate women as responsible for attending mandatory training associated with the intervention or for monitoring children’s schooling or health due to co-responsibilities.”
The authors acknowledged several limitations with their analysis, including the short-term nature of many studies. They were also unable to include studies published in French or Spanish, thereby limiting the generalizability of the findings. However, they remained relatively confident that unconditional cash transfers yield the greatest benefit for women compared to other forms of aid.
Unconditional Welfare Payments
One of the largest programs, Brazil’s Bolsa Família, was launched in 2003. Research shows the transfers helped mothers enter the labor market by increasing children’s school enrolment, without weakening incentives to work. In the nonprofit sector, GiveDirectly has emerged as a leading advocate for unconditional cash payments.
The organization argues that direct transfers bypass much of the bureaucracy and the administrative costs associated with traditional aid models. These include food distribution, training programs and other service-based interventions. One of its flagship programs in Kenya delivered one-off payments of $1,000 to more than 10,000 households between 2014 and 2017.
Program researchers say the initiative reduced infant mortality by 48% and achieved other gains. Miriam Laker-Oketta, a Ugandan doctor and senior research adviser at GiveDirectly, told the Guardian last year: “The problem with big aid organizations is that their approach is based on training and advice. They tell people what to do and how to spend their money. But whether in Uganda, Yemen, India or the U.S., direct cash support has shown that when people living in poverty receive money, they know best what matters to them and they invest in that.”
Caution Regarding the Inflationary Effect
Still, some economists urge caution about direct cash payments. World Bank economist Eeshani Kandpal, who has studied cash transfer programs in the Philippines, points to research showing negative spillovers. Transfers can raise local prices for certain staple foods and increase stunting rates among children in households that did not receive payments.
Kandpal adds that smaller, short-term transfers targeted to fewer recipients within each village or market are less likely to trigger inflation. Despite ongoing debate over design and potential unintended consequences, there is growing evidence supporting direct money transfers. Unconditional cash transfers generate the greatest benefit for women compared to other forms of payment or aid.
– Lawrence Dunhill
Photo: Wikimedia Commons
Everything You Need To Know About Poverty in Burundi
Agricultural Dependency
Agriculture dominates Burundi’s economy, most of the country relies largely on subsistence agriculture, but Burundi has limited land that can support this sector. Almost 90% of the population depends on agriculture for their livelihood, which puts enormous pressure on the limited land and natural resources. As a result, food insecurity in Burundi stands at roughly double the average for Sub-Saharan Africa.
The overall agricultural production in Burundi is lower than the country’s population growth. This imbalance limits food supply and income opportunities for rural families. Consequently, poverty in Burundi affects a large share of the youth population, especially in rural communities.
Farmers often struggle to produce enough crops to feed their families or generate a stable income. When agricultural output fails to meet the demand, food shortages follow. These conditions in Burundi contribute to one of the highest malnutrition rates in the world, particularly among children under the age of 5.
Understanding this heavy reliance on agriculture forms a key part of everything you need to know about poverty in Burundi because the country’s economic stability depends heavily on the success of its agricultural sector.
Changing Weather Patterns
Environmental challenges also play a major role in deepening poverty in Burundi. Changing weather patterns have intensified natural disasters and disrupted farming conditions across Burundi. Frequent flooding, unpredictable rainfall and land degradation reduce crop yields and damage farmland. These environmental shocks weaken food production and limit economic progress. Because so many Burundians rely on agriculture for survival, climate related disruptions quickly translate into rising poverty levels.
Burundi also lacks sufficient financial resources, infrastructure and technology to adapt to environmental pressures effectively. Limited irrigation systems, poor storage facilities and weak transportation networks make it difficult for farmers to respond to changing climate conditions. As a result, changing weather continues to intensify poverty in Burundi and slow economic development.
Political Instability and Conflict
Political instability has also shaped Burundi’s economic challenges. After gaining independence in 1962, the country has experienced long periods of political instability, conflict and a civil war that lasted more than a decade.
These conflicts damaged infrastructure, disrupted economic activity and forced millions of people to leave their homes. Businesses closed, agricultural production declined and national development dramatically slowed, contributing to the effects of poverty in Burundi.
Today, the economy still struggles to recover fully from these disruptions. Many families live in extreme poverty as a result and humanitarian aid remains essential for meeting basic needs. Political insecurity has therefore increased the country’s reliance on international aid and development support.
Examining these historical and political factors provides further insight into everything you need to know about poverty in Burundi. Long term instability continues to shape the country’s development.
Potential for Change
Despite these challenges, Burundi has taken steps to improve its economy and reduce poverty. The government has prioritized job creation for the rapidly growing youth population and invested in infrastructure that supports agriculture and rural development.
International organizations also support these efforts. The International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD) has worked in Burundi for decades to strengthen rural livelihoods and boost agricultural productivity. They have implemented a number of social development strategies that have the potential to alleviate the effects of poverty in Burundi. For example, the IFAD has funded irrigation projects that help farmers manage unpredictable rainfall and increase crop yields. The organization has also supported farmer training programs that teach improved farming techniques, soil management and crop diversification.
Global development programs have also focused on improving storage facilities, building rural roads and expanding access to financial services. These projects make it easier for farmers to transport crops, reduce food waste and invest in their businesses.
According to the Global Hunger Index, Burundi still faces serious hunger challenges, but the country also holds significant agricultural potential. Continued investment in farming technology, infrastructure and rural communities could help Burundi unlock that potential and reduce poverty.
Looking Ahead
To understand poverty in Burundi, it is important to recognize that progress remains possible. With stronger agricultural systems, improved infrastructure and sustained international support, Burundi can reduce poverty and create better opportunities for its people in the years ahead.
– Leah Denning
Photo: Pixabay
Investment in Africa: How the UK Aims To Reduce Migration
The British foreign ministry stated that almost a third of people traversing the English Channel on “small boats over the past two years” had departed from the Horn of Africa, which Ethiopia is a part of.
UK Foreign Minister’s Visit to Ethiopia
During a visit to Ethiopia, the U.K. Foreign Secretary met with Safaricom, a company supported by British International Investment. Safaricom provides technological connectivity and mobile money services across East Africa and has helped improve health, employment and education in Kenya. One of its subsidiaries, focused on Ethiopia, supported the country’s “digital transformation” in 2022.
During the visit, the secretary signed a Joint Development Agreement with Gridworks to proceed with two projects, which will cost more than $400 million. The Foreign Secretary also pledged financial support toward aid efforts in Africa, totaling $23.91 million. The aim is to improve access to health care, clean water and food, as well as to tackle women’s and children’s malnutrition.
Gridworks, which is also a British International Investment-backed organization, aims to increase investment in Africa from companies and businesses by providing electrical access. In Africa, “around 600 million people have no access to electricity.” This is a major barrier to economic growth because businesses must use diesel generators to supplement the lack of electricity in the area.
Safaricom and Its Impacts
Safaricom provides technological connectivity in Kenya, providing “2G, 3G, 4G and 5G in aggregate covering [more than] 99% of Kenya’s population.” It currently enables 32 million people to access and use mobile banking. This has lowered financial exclusion in the area to 16% of the adult population.
The organization is also committed to gender equality and sustainable climate practices; it wishes to have “50:50 senior management gender parity by 2025” and achieve net-zero carbon emissions by 2050. Safaricom has two foundations: the M-PESA Foundation and the Safaricom Foundation.
The former is responsible for the Citizens of the Future project, which has contributed hugely to education in Kenya. The project has helped more than 2.5 million students and teachers across more than 2,500 schools. The Citizens of the Future project has also helped renovate schools, improve ICT and provide scholarships.
Furthermore, it involves local communities in its work so they can understand changes made within the school. One beneficiary of the Citizens of the Future project, Mrs. Rebecca Asiko, Acting Head of Institution at Ekwanda Primary School, told Safaricom, “The state-of-the-art ICT hub means we can now teach our learners digital skills and the modern kitchen will ensure that we provide clean meals to the children, who need good nutrition to grow and concentrate in class.”
The Safaricom Foundation invests in health, education and economic empowerment. Its health focus is on “Maternal, Newborn, Adolescent and Child Health (RMNCAH) services.” It helps provide screenings for cardiovascular diseases, cancers, respiratory diseases and diabetes to “enable early detection, treatment and management.”
Its educational goals are similar to those of the M-PESA Foundation: improving teacher capacity and vocational and technical education. Through “enterprise development,” it aims to improve livelihoods and empower Kenyans economically. Improving education is also likely to increase investment in Africa, as a more educated workforce attracts more businesses to the region.
It also opens up more opportunities for employment for the population, which further improves the local economy as residents begin to have disposable income that they can then spend at local businesses.
Gridworks and Its Impacts
The Joint Development Agreement will allow Gridworks to create two transmission projects. These projects aim to meet Ethiopia’s industrial energy demand and, if successful, would help fuel its economy by attracting more investment from businesses in Africa. It would also improve its relations with neighboring countries and promote interconnectedness.
Gridworks has also succeeded with projects like the Moyi Power initiative in the Democratic Republic of Congo, which brought renewable energy to three previously isolated cities. Within five years, the project is expected to provide electricity to 37,000 households and businesses.
Conclusion
While these projects aim to attract investment to Africa and strengthen local economies, foreign aid still matters. Foreign investment not only makes these projects possible but also supports humanitarian work across the region.
UNICEF, which has assisted Ethiopia for more than 70 years, has played a major role in shaping the country’s economy. Its work focuses on children’s survival, health, social policy, protection, education, development and nutrition.
The U.K. Foreign Secretary recognizes the need for continued aid and has pledged to keep supporting organizations such as UNICEF while also investing in economic-focused projects.
– Ryan Cowen
Photo: Flickr
The Gender Wage Gap in Paraguay and Efforts To Close It
Even as more women enter the labor market and pursue careers across a wide range of industries, many still earn less than men performing similar – often the same – work. From offices in Asunción to farms and factories across the countryside, the pattern repeats itself: women contributing equally to Paraguay’s growth whilst taking home less at the end of the month.
Understanding the Gender Wage Gap in Paraguay
Households across Paraguay experience the gender wage gap directly. As the number of women taking on careers once dominated by men grows, the paychecks rarely reflect this. Despite completing the same work as their male colleagues, women receive paychecks that are often 20-30% smaller depending on the sector and region.
Looking closer, the gender wage gap in Paraguay reflects more than just differences in wages. Women also encounter fewer opportunities during their careers, and many cannot move up the career ladder, influence workplace policies, or take on higher-paying roles. In fact, women occupy only around 20 % of managerial positions even though women make up nearly half of Paraguay’s labor force.
The gender wage gap in Paraguay is not only a matter of paychecks – it reveals a workplace environment where women are not equally valued or recognized.
Factors Behind the Wage Gap
Several factors contribute to Paraguay’s persistent gender wage gap. One of the issues is occupational segregation. Women are more likely to be employed in lower-paying sectors such as domestic service, retail or caregiving roles in Paraguay, resulting in a lack of access to roles that come with a higher salary.
Care responsibilities also play a major role, especially in rural Paraguay. As women often carry the majority of childcare and household duties, many are unable to work full time. Furthermore, women in rural areas face fewer work opportunities with limited access to external childcare. As a result, many women are unable to pursue higher-paying positions or grow their careers.
The lack of education and training opportunities available also influences the wage gap. Although Paraguay has made progress in expanding access to education, barriers still prevent many women from entering technical and specialized professions that require advanced training. Many high-paying industries like engineering, technology and construction are still male-dominated and offer women fewer opportunities to access some of the best-paid jobs.
Government and International Efforts
The Paraguayan government has started to address the gender wage gap, along with other inequalities that women face, in the workplace. Equal opportunity and workers’ rights policies are now part of national development strategies. Furthermore, government institutions have strengthened labor regulations, with the aim to improve workplace conditions for women. The Paraguayan Parliament approved Law No. 5777 on Comprehensive Protection for Women Against Violence in 2016 to improve legal protections against gender-based discrimination.
The government also established the IV National Plan for Equality between Women and Men, which spanned from 2018 to 2024. Increasing women’s economic participation, improving access to employment opportunities and promoting women’s leadership were all key aims of this initiative.
Additionally, a number of international bodies have been supporting initiatives aimed at bridging the gender pay gap. One of these bodies is UN Women, which work in conjunction with different bodies in Paraguay aimed at enhancing gender equality in different workplaces. In Paraguay, UN Women has supported programs that promote women’s economic empowerment, entrepreneurship and leadership training. These initiatives include partnerships with government agencies and civil society groups to provide skills training, mentoring and policy support designed to increase women’s participation in employment and decision-making positions.
Global institutions such as the World Bank and the Inter-American Development Bank have helped in the formulation of such programs. The focus of these institutions in Paraguay is to improve access to education, improve the quality of job training and improve women’s participation in the workforce.
Community and NGO Initiatives
In addition to government programs, nonprofit organizations are working to empower women economically. Many of these initiatives focus on entrepreneurship and financial inclusion.
Several organizations actively promote gender equality in Paraguay’s workplaces. Some of these programs offer women business training and mentoring, enabling them to start their own businesses. Other programs focus on enhancing women’s access to financial services, such as micro-loans.
Nonprofit education programs also contribute to the promotion of gender equality. Fundación Paraguaya provides entrepreneurship programs, financial programs and assistance to women across the country who want to start their own businesses. Similarly, Pro Mujer runs programs in Latin American countries, including Paraguay, to offer women access to business programs, mentoring and financial programs to enable them to establish sustainable businesses.
Signs of Progress
Despite ongoing challenges that women in Paraguay are facing, there are signs of improvement. The number of women in Paraguay’s labor force has grown. More women are becoming entrepreneurs and business owners, contributing to economic growth at both local and national levels as a result.
As the public’s awareness of wage inequality grows, efforts to establish fair pay and equal opportunities for women are gaining traction across Paraguay. The gender wage gap shapes more than salaries; it shapes lives.
– Celine Heath
Photo: Unsplash
Innovations in Poverty Eradication in Timor-Leste
In recent years, the government of Timor-Leste launched an ambitious and comprehensive poverty eradication program to improve living standards and promote inclusive economic growth. These efforts present some of the most important innovations in poverty eradication in Timor-Leste. A central pillar of this effort is the Doha Programme of Action (DPoA). Government officials and International partners support this framework through a range of interconnected initiatives spanning social protection, education, economic diversification and overall institutional strengthening. Together, these complementary measures create a coordinated program aimed at alleviating poverty in Timor-Leste.
Putting the People First
In 2025, the United Nations published a report on poverty in Timor-Leste that outlining several key strategies the country uses to address its persistent development challenges. The first approach prioritizes strengthening the resilience and well-being of Timorese communities. One of the flagship initiatives is the Bolsa da Mãe Kondisional programme, which provides “[…] conditional cash transfers to low-income families.”
Under this initiative, eligible households receive regular financial assistance. These conditions often include ensuring children attend school consistently, participate in routine health check-ups, receive essential vaccinations, and are provided with weekly food supplies. In 2025, the program boasted an intense turnout, reaching more than 74,648 households, with particular focus on vulnerable mothers and children.
Beyond direct income support, DPoA efforts also target the structural causes of poverty, particularly through education reform and investment. The World Bank Group, through the International Development Association (IDA), partnered with the Timorese government to rehabilitate 2,780 classrooms across 535 schools and construct 102 new educational facilities. As a result, primary school completion rates increased from 56% in 2015 to approximately 62% in 2020. In more recent years, primary and secondary school enrolment rates have also improved drastically, with dropout rates falling by 50%. Higher levels of educational attainment now strengthens the foundation for future employment opportunities, helping more young people access the skills they need to participate in the workforce. Hence, these education-driven initiatives represent key innovations in poverty eradication in Timor-Leste, by fundamentally addressing long-term inequality by investing in human capital.
“Better” Lifestyles Through Innovation
Beyond traditional, on-the-ground development initiatives, rapid technological advancement now plays an increasingly important role in transforming Timor-Leste into a more digitally connected society. This digital expansion helps reduce poverty by widening people’s access to information, services and economic opportunities, representing yet another example of key innovations in poverty eradication in Timor-Leste.
The period between 2024 and 2025 marks a pivotal phase in the country’s digital infrastructure development. The government and its partners installed a fibre-optic underwater cable linking Timor-Leste to Australia, enabling the country to transition from a costly and unreliable satellite to faster and more affordable broadband connectivity. In addition, the launch of a Starlink license for Timor-Leste in late 2024 has “[…] provided immediate connectivity to remote rural areas that were previously excluded from the digital economy.”
This growing technological infrastructure now allows more people to access online education, digital financial services, remote employment opportunities and government platforms has become increasingly more apparent with the help of this growing technocratic sphere in Timor. By the end of 2025, internet penetration reached 40.4%, with more than 575,000 active users nationwide.
Conclusion
Timor-Leste illustrates a rich context in which poverty reduction is gradually taking shape. The country strategically combines targeted social protection programmes, such as the Bolsa da Mãe “Kondisional,” with technological advancements and frameworks like the Doha Programme of Action, to steadily transform poverty management strategies. These efforts are not only alleviating immediate hardships but also lay the foundation for long-term, sustainable development.
– Sophia Lupo
Photo: Flickr