Prime Minister Hun Manet of Cambodia at the United Nations (U.N.) General Assembly in September 2023 stated “My government is committed to taking transformative actions…The five key priorities are people, roads, water, electricity and technology – especially digital technology to address the fourth industrial revolution and digital transformation of Cambodia’s economy.” Furthermore, he highlighted the importance of Cambodia’s digital innovation and the 2030 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
History and Economic Situation
With a tumultuous history of civil war, political unrest and economic instability under the regime of the Khmer Rouge, the Kingdom of Cambodia has tackled the aftermath of genocide with years of widespread poverty and injustice. Within the last two decades, however, Cambodia has developed exponentially, sustaining an annual economic increase of approximately 8% between 1998 and 2019, making it one of the fastest-growing economies in the world.
While this indicates Cambodia’s desire to leave history in the past, radical socioeconomic transformation is being implemented through the government’s Pentagonal Strategy to achieve the U.N. SDGs by 2030 and high-income status by 2050.
Cambodia’s Pentagonal Strategy
For the first time in two decades, Cambodia’s economy contracted at the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020. In response, the nation has pledged to diversify its economy through the implementation of phase one of its Pentagonal Strategy. This plan focuses on growth, employment, equity, efficiency and sustainability. A cornerstone of Cambodia’s Pentagonal Strategy, in alignment with the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), is to roll out initiatives at the local level. These initiatives aim to encourage Cambodia’s digital innovation and entrepreneurship, modernizing the rural landscape and paving the way for a more resilient and diverse economic future.
Cambodia has made remarkable strides in reducing poverty, cutting the rate of those living in multidimensional poverty from 36.7% to 16.6% in recent years. Despite these achievements, a significant gap persists between rural and urban areas, positioning Cambodia at the brink of transitioning from least developed country (LDC) status. In the country’s poorest regions, many people still depend on subsistence farming for their livelihoods, with agriculture comprising 39% of total employment in 2021. This situation underscores the ongoing challenges and the critical need for targeted development strategies to bridge the urban-rural divide and foster sustainable economic growth across all communities.
This government incentive has created significant opportunities for technological development, positioning Cambodia’s startup and tech ecosystems as some of the fastest-growing markets. When startup enterprises and technological advancements receive adequate resources, they can profoundly impact rural communities. Here are two examples of initiatives that leverage digital technology to fuel Cambodia’s fourth industrial revolution, demonstrating the potential for innovation to drive sustainable development and economic growth in even the most remote areas.
Tap Effect
According to a report given by the World Bank in 2022, only 29% of Cambodia’s population has access to safely managed drinking water. Tap Effect is a Cambodian-based tech startup and social enterprise providing clean and affordable water to underserved rural and semi-rural communities. Tap Effect’s mission is to bridge systemic barriers often associated with clean water such as expensive set-up and maintenance costs by overseeing the entire value chain from installation to remote management. Their ethos views water supply as an ongoing process rather than a one-off installation, with their pioneering model combining technology, engineering and finance.
One water system can sustain up to 10,000 households while ‘Internet of Things’ technology allows for remote monitoring. Tap Effect’s first project, completed in 2020, covered the communes of Kouk Ballangk and Sambuor and provided clean and affordable water access to 19 villages and more than 14,000 people, including 12 schools and two health care facilities.
The BlocRice Project
The BlockChain project BlocRice was pioneered in Cambodia by Oxfam in partnership with Amru Rice, the largest producer and exporter of organic rice in Cambodia. The BlocRice project’s vision aims to bring greater representation to organic rice farmers in Preah Vihear Province who experience a living income gap of 31%. BlocRice introduces an app that enhances the connection between rural farmers and international exporters, offering a platform for farmers to access information about price fluctuations and the international value chain.
Historically, many farmers have lacked the knowledge and resources to negotiate effectively with middlemen, often resulting in underpayment and continued poverty. By implementing blockchain strategies, the BlocRice project aims to ensure transparency and traceability throughout the production chain. It provides digital access to contracts and payments, helping to prevent the exploitation of farmers in rural areas and promoting fair trade practices. This initiative represents a significant step toward empowering Cambodia’s agricultural sector in the global marketplace.
A Digital Future
Cambodia’s march toward a digital future sheds light on its dynamic socioeconomic and political landscape. Concentrating on bridging the rural-urban divide, the successful implementation of the Pentagonal Strategy will bolster Cambodia’s economy through collaboration with stakeholders, private and public investors. Additionally, closing the technology gap empowers the most vulnerable—those living in poverty—by leveraging digital solutions to foster a more equitable and sustainable future. This approach not only strengthens the national economy but also ensures that technological advancements benefit all segments of society, paving the way for inclusive growth and development.
– Zoe Winterfeldt
Photo: Flickr
Tech Firms Take On Poverty
Alphabet (Google)
As the leading powerhouse in the search engine industry, according to Forbes, Google has established itself as the second-largest brand in the world while turning in $279 billion in revenue as of 2023. Google has been actively involved in philanthropic initiatives through Google.org, its charitable arm established in 2005. The organization has engaged in various poverty alleviation projects across the globe. Google.org has invested more than $250 million into closing educational gaps worldwide, especially in impoverished areas. This includes supplying technological resources to facilitate learning, a collaboration that extends to partnerships with entities like Khan Academy.
Furthermore, the organization has contributed to economic empowerment across countries in the Middle East, Asia and Africa by supporting those who suffer from systematic barriers as small to medium-sized business owners. One of Google’s more recent contributions is a $5 million grant provided to underserved businesses worldwide during the peak of the COVID-19 pandemic. Google.org is an example of how technology firms are alleviating poverty by supporting various communities. This support includes ensuring access to education and fostering financial stability, which helps to lift households out of poverty.
Meta
Recently rebranded from Facebook, Meta holds significant control over media consumption through platforms like Instagram, Facebook and WhatsApp. The multinational technology company has expanded its philanthropic efforts through the founders, Mark Zuckerberg and his wife, Priscilla Chan. Having pledged to donate more than 99% of their fortune throughout their lifetime, estimated to be around $45 billion, the couple established the Chan Zuckerberg Initiative (CZI) in 2015.
The initiative has become an important player in lobbying U.S. legislators, leveraging its substantial funding to address social issues on a global scale. Furthermore, it has given away more than $4.9 billion in grants to various nonprofit organizations globally, with a keen focus on medical research, which can positively contribute to impoverished communities across the globe by improving living standards.
CZI contributes significantly to the fight against poverty by making global venture investments in emerging companies. These investments aim to alleviate poverty through research and innovation, particularly in the discovery of new techniques to establish food security and ensure equal access to education on a global scale, leveraging the power of technology.
While it may be challenging to entirely separate the philanthropic motives of tech firms from their corporate social responsibility branding, potential tax breaks and other benefits, it is nonetheless encouraging to see these companies actively alleviating poverty through generous donations and efforts aimed at creating positive change.
– Matthew Fung
Photo: Wikimedia Commons
Women’s Rights and Gender Equality in Lithuania
Governmental Gender Equality Initiatives
The Ministry of Social Security and Labour is in charge of equality policy in Lithuania and ensuring that their strategies are effectively implemented. In 2021, this government group took on responsibility for ensuring gender equality as a core value in the work of the nation’s central government. The ministry also had an internal structure named the Equal Opportunities and Equality between Women and Men Group, which oversees government policy on anti-discrimination and gender equality. This group has eight employees, two of whom work strictly on gender-based issues.
Initiatives in the Workplace
In 2016, the Ministry of Social Security and Labour implemented the initiative “Municipal Success Code- Gender Equality.” This project aims to reduce gender disparities regarding both the right to work and rights at work by purposely targeting issues such as the wage gap between genders and public education on the impacts of this inequality. This project ran until December 2019.
This program tackled the gender pay gap in municipalities by raising public awareness, identifying factors that determine equality and developing targeted solutions. Consequently, in 2017, a list of gender-based inequality indicators was compiled, encompassing nine key factors: “demography, knowledge, participation in the labor market, access to social services, economic power (resources), authorities and decision-making, health and health services, domestic violence and time.” This list of specifics meant that the correct targeted measures could be issued to the appropriate people and areas.
Lithuania’s movements towards women’s rights in the workplace have made an impact. The percentage of unemployed females (5.5%) stands slightly lower than the unemployment rate of men, which is currently at 7%. However, there is still progress to be made in this sector, as the proportion of females spending time on unpaid chores remains at 18.7%, which is notably higher than the male figure of 9%.
Women’s NGOs in Lithuania
“According to data from the Lithuania’s Women’s Information Centre, there were 63 women’s NGOs in existence on 1 January 1999.” Although there is no “umbrella term” involving all organizations for women in Lithuania, the Lithuanian Women’s Association embraces 12 member organizations. Additionally, 18 women’s organizations are involved in this association’s coordination council and the Women’s Information Centre was founded as a mediator for all the organizations in the nation. This has been monumental for women’s rights.
For instance, these initiatives sped up the implementation of the Law on Equal Opportunities, which benefits women’s rights in the opportunity to and ability to engage in public life. Additionally, it focuses on improving sectors such as transport and infrastructure. Another significant example was their cooperation to engage in protests against “quotas established for men during the entrance examinations at the Kaunas Institute of Technology in 1998.” These quotas were put in place by the university itself, demonstrating the severity of institutional gender bias. This powerful initiative meant that these quotas were soon abolished.
Initiatives Against Violence Against Women
Violence against women is a serious problem in Lithuania. The 2014 European Union Agency for Fundamental Rights survey data results demonstrated that, since the age of 15, 31% of women in Lithuania have experienced physical and/or sexual violence. The Network of Specialized Assistance Centres was set up by NGOs and has been in place since 2012. This initiative set up centers to support victims of violence, educate them on how and where they can receive this aid and help in restoring interpersonal relationships with family members.
Further, in 2012, the Lithuanian government initiated an Inter-Institutional action plan focused on crime prevention and the control of violence, with a particular emphasis on violence against women. In 2015, more than 8,000 women received assistance through these centers. Lithuania currently operates 17 specialized support centers to aid women who are victims of domestic violence.
Looking Ahead
Thanks to these efforts, Lithuania ranks ninth globally for gender equality, as reported by the World Economic Forum’s Global Gender Gap Report for 2023. Elements of gender equality can be seen in the social aspects of everyday life in Lithuania. For instance, the literacy rate of males and females aged 15 and above stands at 99.8%. With the ongoing support of the Lithuanian government, the fight for gender equality is certainly progressing in the right direction and can be expected to strengthen even further.
– Eva McMonigle
Photo: Flickr
The KIND Fund in Malawi
The KIND Fund
In a developing country like Malawi, children attend classes on the ground, similar to a pre-school. As the children grow older, this arrangement becomes less practical for an advanced learning environment. The children have to balance paper on their knees to write. Since soap is expensive in Malawi, kids skip school if they dislike being seen in dirty clothes after a week of sitting on the ground. This is particularly true for girls who prefer to miss several school days rather than spend all day on the dirty ground during their periods and having to jump up and down to answer questions.
The KIND Fund, short for Kids in Need of Desks, was created by MSNBC reporter Lawrence O’Donnell and the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) in 2010 to provide desks to all ages of schoolchildren in Malawi. Since 2010, the program has raised $38 million to help kids get desks and school supplies. The provision of desks not only yields tangible benefits such as improved penmanship but also enhances the overall attitude of children towards school.
Scholarships for Girls
Desks are not the only focus of the KIND Fund. KIND also provides secondary scholarships for girls to move forward in their education. A scholarship package from them will fund a girl’s tuition, boarding, transport and school supplies fees and include everything from socks to mentorship at school. The program has provided scholarships to more than 27000 girls across Malawi.
Keeping girls in school, even until age 18, is a small win against child marriage, a serious problem in developing countries. About 47% of women are married before age 18 in Malawi. The KIND fund conducted interviews with girls, posing the question of what they would do without the scholarship. Fifteen-year-old Happiness Ndawu responded, “Here in Malawi, girls marry at early ages. So, at 15, maybe I would have been married by now.” Happiness aspires to become a journalist. Being in school has protected her from potential domestic violence, risky pregnancies and other challenges that child brides often encounter. It has also opened her eyes to the potential she possesses.
Conclusion
Education plays a crucial role in lifting a country out of poverty, serving as one of the most essential pathways for socioeconomic advancement. When people think about education, they often take things like furniture and supplies for granted, items that other countries lack. A well-made desk can last decades and serve dozens of children over generations.
– Varsha Pai
Photo: Flickr
Facts About Women Sanitation in Indonesia
Period Poverty
Period poverty can be defined as a lack of access to menstrual products, hygiene facilities, waste management and education, affecting many women globally and causing physical, mental and emotional challenges. Women in Indonesia also cannot afford proper menstrual sanitation products such as tampons and sanitary napkins. They only use one pad for one day. Most women depend on their husbands’ salary, which averages less than IDR 2,000,000 to IDR 3,000,000 (approximately $128 to $192).
Only 34% of Girls Receive Menstruation Education
More than 50% of girls in Indonesia do not receive menstruation education from their mothers. Menstruation is considered abnormal and abject, so girls are not able to talk about menstruation when they experience it. The negative stigma attached to menstruation makes menstruation taboo to talk about. About 25% of teenagers in Indonesia “never discussed menstruation before they had their first menstruation” and 17% of them do not know that “menstruation is a sign of puberty.”
Lack of proper education regarding menstrual and reproductive hygiene can lead to unwanted pregnancies and reproductive diseases. Schools often fail to provide education about menstruation and proper reproductive health for girls experiencing puberty, along with adequate facilities for those undergoing menstruation. A recorded 42% of girls do not change sanitary napkins at school due to the lack of cleanliness in school toilets.
Sanitation Has a Significant Impact on Stunting
Many women and girls cannot access proper sanitation at home. Poor maternal health and hygiene have a significant impact on stunting. Data shows that 1 in 3 children in Indonesia experience stunting. The World Health Organization (WHO) defines stunting as “the impaired growth and development that children experience from poor nutrition, repeated infection and inadequate psychosocial stimulation.” The impact of stunting does not occur instantly but will have an effect on children’s health and nutrition in the long term.
Poor Sanitation Kills More Women Than HIV and Aids
Poor sanitation is closely related to death. Not washing hands when handling deliveries and after giving birth causes mothers to contract infectious diseases. About 12% of mothers die during childbirth due to infection. Zainal I Nampira, the Head of the Water Health and Basic Sanitation Sub Division of the Directorate of Environment Health at the Ministry of Health, hopes that as access to basic sanitation improves, the maternal mortality rate can be reduced to 24 per 1,000 people.
Looking Ahead
To combat women’s sanitation-related issues in Indonesia, the World Bank, in collaboration with the Indonesian government and other organizations, implemented the National Rural Water Supply and Sanitation Project (PAMSIMAS) in 2008. The program successfully provided access to drinking water to 24.5 million people in 35,928 villages across 408 districts in Indonesia by the end of 2021.
– Afra Amirah
Photo: Flickr
Ripple Effect: The Organization Empowering Ugandans With Cows
Ripple Effect: The Original Mission
Initiatives like “The Ripple Effect” have been implemented in Uganda to aid farmers and improve their quality of life. These initiatives provide families with cattle, such as cows, offering benefits like milk, meat, hides, manure for fertilizer and the potential for profit through the sale of the animals, effectively utilizing animals as assets. In Uganda, there are approximately 14.2 million cattle, along with millions of other farming animals, thanks to the efforts of numerous organizations.
The mission of “The Ripple Effect” was originally to address malnutrition among children in Uganda, as in 2018, malnutrition was affecting 24 million children in East Africa. Beyond providing food and drink to the animals, the initiative ensures financial security for farmers by facilitating the buying and selling of the gifted cattle. More specifically, smaller animals play a role in helping women in Uganda manage their savings and invest, enabling them to actively participate in their local community and contribute to its overall health and prosperity.
Recycling Back Into the Community
Through organizations like Ripple Effect (previously Send a Cow), cows are provided to local farmers who, in turn, contribute to their community. The initiative enables individuals to raise and nurture cows as assets and through breeding, they can then pass on cows to other farmers. This method sustains the rural economy, extending its impact beyond a single farming family. For every family assisted by the charity, three additional families benefit. As of 2020, “The Ripple Effect” had helped more than two million people across the continent, not limited to Uganda, through their agricultural support.
The Challenges and Vision for the Future
While the future appears promising for Ugandan farmers, challenges persist, particularly due to limited assistance and the remoteness of many communities. These rural areas are challenging to reach and the necessary resources may not be readily available to help them achieve their goals. Moreover, recent issues such as the COVID-19 pandemic and conflicts within the nation have further affected efforts to reach individuals in rural communities.
Despite the difficulties, the Ripple Effect is committed to helping the communities in need. The “Send a Cow” mission has been noticed and replicated by other organizations, such as the Livestock Project, with a mission to help those in need. The cows have pulled people out of hunger, poverty and malnutrition, which is a rife issue across Africa and the missions see no sign of stopping.
– Lily Thornhill
Photo: Pexels
The Fourth Revolution – Cambodia’s Digital Innovation
History and Economic Situation
With a tumultuous history of civil war, political unrest and economic instability under the regime of the Khmer Rouge, the Kingdom of Cambodia has tackled the aftermath of genocide with years of widespread poverty and injustice. Within the last two decades, however, Cambodia has developed exponentially, sustaining an annual economic increase of approximately 8% between 1998 and 2019, making it one of the fastest-growing economies in the world.
While this indicates Cambodia’s desire to leave history in the past, radical socioeconomic transformation is being implemented through the government’s Pentagonal Strategy to achieve the U.N. SDGs by 2030 and high-income status by 2050.
Cambodia’s Pentagonal Strategy
For the first time in two decades, Cambodia’s economy contracted at the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020. In response, the nation has pledged to diversify its economy through the implementation of phase one of its Pentagonal Strategy. This plan focuses on growth, employment, equity, efficiency and sustainability. A cornerstone of Cambodia’s Pentagonal Strategy, in alignment with the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), is to roll out initiatives at the local level. These initiatives aim to encourage Cambodia’s digital innovation and entrepreneurship, modernizing the rural landscape and paving the way for a more resilient and diverse economic future.
Cambodia has made remarkable strides in reducing poverty, cutting the rate of those living in multidimensional poverty from 36.7% to 16.6% in recent years. Despite these achievements, a significant gap persists between rural and urban areas, positioning Cambodia at the brink of transitioning from least developed country (LDC) status. In the country’s poorest regions, many people still depend on subsistence farming for their livelihoods, with agriculture comprising 39% of total employment in 2021. This situation underscores the ongoing challenges and the critical need for targeted development strategies to bridge the urban-rural divide and foster sustainable economic growth across all communities.
This government incentive has created significant opportunities for technological development, positioning Cambodia’s startup and tech ecosystems as some of the fastest-growing markets. When startup enterprises and technological advancements receive adequate resources, they can profoundly impact rural communities. Here are two examples of initiatives that leverage digital technology to fuel Cambodia’s fourth industrial revolution, demonstrating the potential for innovation to drive sustainable development and economic growth in even the most remote areas.
Tap Effect
According to a report given by the World Bank in 2022, only 29% of Cambodia’s population has access to safely managed drinking water. Tap Effect is a Cambodian-based tech startup and social enterprise providing clean and affordable water to underserved rural and semi-rural communities. Tap Effect’s mission is to bridge systemic barriers often associated with clean water such as expensive set-up and maintenance costs by overseeing the entire value chain from installation to remote management. Their ethos views water supply as an ongoing process rather than a one-off installation, with their pioneering model combining technology, engineering and finance.
One water system can sustain up to 10,000 households while ‘Internet of Things’ technology allows for remote monitoring. Tap Effect’s first project, completed in 2020, covered the communes of Kouk Ballangk and Sambuor and provided clean and affordable water access to 19 villages and more than 14,000 people, including 12 schools and two health care facilities.
The BlocRice Project
The BlockChain project BlocRice was pioneered in Cambodia by Oxfam in partnership with Amru Rice, the largest producer and exporter of organic rice in Cambodia. The BlocRice project’s vision aims to bring greater representation to organic rice farmers in Preah Vihear Province who experience a living income gap of 31%. BlocRice introduces an app that enhances the connection between rural farmers and international exporters, offering a platform for farmers to access information about price fluctuations and the international value chain.
Historically, many farmers have lacked the knowledge and resources to negotiate effectively with middlemen, often resulting in underpayment and continued poverty. By implementing blockchain strategies, the BlocRice project aims to ensure transparency and traceability throughout the production chain. It provides digital access to contracts and payments, helping to prevent the exploitation of farmers in rural areas and promoting fair trade practices. This initiative represents a significant step toward empowering Cambodia’s agricultural sector in the global marketplace.
A Digital Future
Cambodia’s march toward a digital future sheds light on its dynamic socioeconomic and political landscape. Concentrating on bridging the rural-urban divide, the successful implementation of the Pentagonal Strategy will bolster Cambodia’s economy through collaboration with stakeholders, private and public investors. Additionally, closing the technology gap empowers the most vulnerable—those living in poverty—by leveraging digital solutions to foster a more equitable and sustainable future. This approach not only strengthens the national economy but also ensures that technological advancements benefit all segments of society, paving the way for inclusive growth and development.
– Zoe Winterfeldt
Photo: Flickr
8 Key Ways to Strengthen Global Supply Chains
The United Nations International Children’s Emergency Fund (UNICEF) has committed greater resources to ensure the protection of these crucial supply chains. Hence, working with governments to ensure that all the crucial stages of product selection, strategic procurement and the contracting of logistics services meet as few hindrances as possible.
In addition, UNICEF outlines that post the COVID-19 pandemic, the value of equitable and resilient supply chains is more crucial than ever to ensure access to lifesaving supplies to countries most in need of humanitarian support.
UNICEF Tackle Insecure Supply Chains
In a recent report, UNICEF outlines two key objectives to address the issue:
As a result, UNICEF has compiled data based on the knowledge of key organizations and governments to address these two objectives. These include the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, the Global Alliance for Vaccines (GAVI), the United States Agency for International Development (USAID), the Global Fund, the African Centre for Disease Control, the World Health Organisation (WHO), United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) as well as the private sector.
Ways to Strengthen Global Supply Chains
Furthermore, after compiling the experiences and knowledge of its partners, UNICEF has outlined eight key ways to strengthen global supply chains. Also, these recommendations aim to enhance access to essential, high-quality and life-saving services and supplies in the future.
The following are the eight key ways to strengthen global supply chains:
Global Supply Chain Improvements
Therefore, UNICEF’s investment and collaboration with the mentioned partners and governments have resulted in the implementation of supply chains through projects such as:
These initiatives and projects have helped raise $7.2 billion in supplies and services, enhancing the provision for supply storage and the transportation of vaccines, medicines and other critical supplies. In addition, they have also resulted in increased procurement of Ready-to-use Therapeutic Food (RUTF), a crucial item for treating severe wasting in children. Through these efforts, UNICEF met two-thirds of the global demand for RUTF production.
Progress and Promise
Despite facing significant challenges, the strides made in improving child survival rates in developing countries offer a beacon of hope. UNICEF’s call to action for strengthening global supply chains highlights a path forward to addressing critical needs, from vaccine accessibility to combating severe wasting and enhancing sanitation in schools. Furthermore, with concerted efforts and continued focus, the gap in essential services can be bridged, promising a healthier, more secure future for millions of children around the world.
– Domenico Palermo
Photo: Flickr
Higher Education in Bhutan
Prioritizing Education
Bhutan recently established democracy, with the country becoming a constitutional monarchy in 2008, but for the past 100 years, Bhutan has prioritized education. While secular, it still effectively incorporates traditional values, its unique heritage and culture into it. Its constitution also reinforces this, with article 9 ensuring “spiritual and emotional development are equally as important as the promotion of material consumption and modern physical comforts…and that the ultimate purpose of the government is to promote the happiness of its people,” according to a 2016 article. It certainly is the happiest, with its king, his majesty Jigme Singye Wangchuk having coined the term Gross National Happiness (GNH). Bhutan strikes a balance between modernization and maintaining its identity.
While formal education may have originally started in the 1950s, before this the monasteries delivered education on a tiny scale, with only 2,500 children enrolled in primary school. There are now two universities, both providing the only college and post-college education within the country. In 2003, The Royal University of Bhutan (RUB) opened and was The first establishment. In 2008, a separate school split off into its separate institution, the Gedu College of Business Studies. This has meant that there are now more than 10000 students in various programs.
Environmental Education
Environmental education is also part of higher education in Bhutan. The Royal Thimphu College offers Environmental Management (BSc) and there is also the Russell E. Train Education for Nature (EFN) scholarship, provided by the World Wide Fund (WWF) Bhutan’s Youth and Education Program, to help support future conservationists. From 2016-2018, 18 students benefited from the scholarship.
The WWF also offers The Education for Sustained Development (ESD) project, which promotes knowledge and development of fundamental skills necessary for young people to help create a sustainable future, through environmental conservation. There is also the chance to become a Living Planet ambassador, for those who demonstrate a passion for environmental action, with the first one appointed in November 2020.
Foreign Aid and Governmental Funds
The Government of Bhutan funds both universities, which gets part of its funding from grants from the Government of India. Not only does India help fund Bhutan education, but Indian teachers also serve in remote Bhutanese villages, to bring education to even the most distant parts. In fact, in 2019 Jai Bir Rai, the education minister in India, organized a special ceremony to honor 80 teachers and celebrate diplomatic relations between Bhutan and India.
Foreign aid also contributes to this funding. The Asian Development Bank (ADB) has dedicated a total of $1.2 billion to Bhutan, as of 2024. The EU also allocated €31 million from 2021 until 2024, which renews this year and dedicates €9.3 million of this funding to strengthening local government and digitalization in education.
Bhutan spends a lot of its own money too. For example, from 2015 to 2020, Bhutan’s GDP increased by 33.4% whereas the public education budget increased by 58% within the same period, demonstrating that Bhutan reinvests profit from growth.
However, 12.4% of the population lived below the national poverty line in 2022, and with the U.N. stating that globally, 420 million could escape poverty by finishing secondary education, this level of investment can make a real difference.
Prioritizing Universal Values
Higher education in Bhutan does not mean that the state exclusively benefits from this investment in education, the world does as well. For example, through Erasmus+, “more than 600 student exchanges between Bhutan and the EU have taken place over five years(2015-19).” From humble beginnings, Bhutan has demonstrated that a country can prioritize universal values, knowledge, happiness and the world.
– Jack Timmins
Photo: Flickr
Somalian Children: Malnutrition Amidst Poverty and Conflict
Malnutrition and Disease in Somalia
Alongside malnutrition, children in Somalia are severely affected by life-threatening diseases, often succumbing to them due to a lack of resources. A common disease among children in the nation is cholera, with the number of cases rising in recent years. The spike in cases has been a result of the lack of clean water resources, especially in rural areas.
Millions of children in Somalia do not consume enough food, leaving their bodies weakened and susceptible to disease. Additionally, the mothers of children are often undernourished themselves, having illnesses such as anemia and vitamin deficiencies. As a result of these diseases, almost half of all Somalian children do not attend school.
Natural Disasters Affecting Children
The geographical location of Somalia makes it prone to drought and flooding, depending on the time of the year. As Somalia borders the Indian Ocean, it is vulnerable to the natural elements, with several of its largest cities situated along the coastline.
Flooding is a recurring issue in the country, accounting for 45% of all natural occurrences since 1980. This has led to the outbreak of waterborne diseases, such as cholera and malaria, due to the ideal breeding grounds flooding produces. Furthermore, droughts have been a major point of concern as in 2019, affecting upwards of 2.3 million Somalians, furthering the issue of the nation’s malnourishment.
Displacement Due to Conflict
Conflict in the nation has been ongoing for many years, with civil disputes resulting in high levels of displacement across the country. Many Somalians have been forced to leave their homes to find refuge in other areas, often neighboring countries.
Due to this conflict, 2.6 million Somalians have been displaced internally, with 30% of those displaced being under the age of 11. With countless children orphaned, abandoned or separated from their families, it has left them vulnerable to disease.
Necessary Aid
It is estimated that 5.1 million children in Somalia need urgent humanitarian aid. There is a necessity for nationwide food banks and health centers for children in Somalia. They are not only faced with disease and malnutrition but also risks due to conflict and natural disasters, all contributing to the poverty rates.
How Help Is Reaching the Children of Somalia
Many organizations are working with the Government of Somalia to increase funding and support the population, especially children. In 2020, Somalia received $2 billion in official development assistance to help those in need. Through global financial assistance, Somalian children are receiving help in the form of access to food, water and health resources.
– Lily Thornhill
Photo: Unsplash
Kilimo Salama: Microfinance To Lift Kenyan Farmers Out of Poverty
Insurance for Crop Loss Due To Extreme Weather
The soil in several African countries requires sustainable farming practices to prevent degradation. However, human activities, primarily mining, have resulted in significant nutrient depletion in African soils. This depletion, intensifying over the past decade, has further decreased the already low harvest output. Another key characteristic of smallholder farming in Africa is its heavy reliance on rainfed agriculture.
The combination of soil nutrient depletion and the unreliable weather patterns countries like Kenya have been experiencing in the past decades, ranging from drought to extreme rain, makes harvests unpredictable. This puts smallholder farmers at risk of falling into extreme poverty and not being able to afford to harvest next season.
Kilimo Salama
Kilimo Salama, which means safe farming in Swahili, was created based on the learning of a pilot in Kenya’s Laikipia district. The Laikipia district’s largest economic sector is agriculture at an estimated 35.5 billion Kenyan Shillings or $217.791.410. The region experiences dry and wet seasons, causing challenges such as droughts and excessive rainfall for small-scale farmers. In the first pilot in Kenya, hundreds of maize farmers were insured against drought in 2009. Following the drought that season, the initiative compensated all farmers between a 30% to 80% payout, depending on the extent of the drought.
Kilimo Salama holds significant importance for smallholder farmers, recognizing that the effects of a bad harvest season do not end in that season, affecting subsequent seasons. By providing insurance coverage, Kilimo Salama enables smallholder farmers to continue earning money, actively engage in the local and global economy and pursue cultivation in the following seasons despite setbacks caused by drought or excessive rain. This pivotal support prevents smallholder farmers in the eight countries where the program operates from plunging further into poverty. Instead, it empowers them to generate income that can be invested in adopting more efficient farming techniques or acquiring higher-yielding seeds.
Conclusion
Programs like Kilimo Salama can help tackle rural poverty. These microfinance insurance programs are highly tailored to the needs of the communities they serve, are more accessible and are designed to be affordable and easily understood.
– Sara del Carmen Navarro Galvan
Photo: Pexels