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Community Initiatives in Malawi Are Fighting for Women’s Rights

Initiatives in MalawiMalawi is a landlocked country in southern Africa known for its beautiful highlands and expansive lakes. Occupying territory next to the East African Rift Valley, Malawi, a predominantly agricultural society, relies heavily on cash-crop agriculture, including tea and tobacco production. Despite the country’s great strides in development, gender inequality remains pervasive amongst the population. U.N. Women report that the average birth rate among girls aged 15 to 19 is 137.6 per 1,000 women since 2015. Additionally, 42.1% of women aged 20 to 24 were married before their 18th birthday and 16.6% of women older than 15 years old reported incidents of physical or sexual violence at the hands of their male partners in 2018. Overall, the prevalence of gender-based discrimination and violence has prompted several local community groups to lead initiatives in Malawi supporting women’s rights.

United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) Malawi

UNFPA Malawi is a U.N. agency initiated by the United Nations Development Assistance Framework, which is a planning process offering financial and technical assistance to support Malawi’s development. UNFPA Malawi’s Gender Equality and Women Empowerment program is currently supported in 13 districts, working alongside the Malawi Government and nongovernmental organizations to empower young girls and women. 

UNFPA’s Sexual and Reproductive Health and Rights program advocates for increased access to reproductive and health care services for women in Malawi. The program introduced Basic Emergency Obstetric and Newborn Care within multiple community health services, an initiative aimed at reducing maternal mortality rates among young women. 

Girls Not Brides Malawi

A recent roundtable discussion saw Amal Clooney, Melinda French Gates, Michelle Obama, representatives from Girls Not Brides Malawi and a high court judge from the Women’s Lawyers’ Association speak about forced child marriage in Malawi. Mrs. Clooney presented several advocacy routes with the help of Girls Not Brides Malawi to aid the country’s legislation in ending child marriages and allocate financial resources within the Government of Malawi’s national budget.

Following the roundtable, President Chakwera’s announced an increase in his efforts to end forced child marriage. President Chakwera plans to work with the Minister of Gender and the Minister of Justice to adjust laws not in accordance with the minimum marriage age. Furthermore, Mrs. Clooney met with President Chakwera to standardize domestic legislation in accordance with the standards upheld by the SADC Model Law on Eradicating Child Marriage and Protecting Children Already in Marriage. 

Mlirima Development Network

The Mlirima Development Network is a UNFPA-supported group that combats gender-based violence and child marriage across Malawi. The network trains community leaders on the importance of advocating for gender equality through UNFPA’s Safeguard Young People program. Currently, the program empowers survivors of child marriage and domestic violence while raising awareness of the dangers of brutality against women in each district. 

The network has rescued 30 girls from child marriage, using resources at their disposal to finance the girls’ education and enroll them in schools. Group Village Heads such as Group Village Head Fraiton Pintu in Chikwawa work alongside the network to dismantle harmful traditions hindering the future of young girls in their communities. Presently, Group Village Head Pintu is implementing bylaws to reform traditional initiation ceremonies by choosing progressive young women to teach the next generation of girls. 

Community Action Groups

Community Action Groups are cohorts created to counter domestic and sexual violence against women in Mangochi, a township in southern Malawi. The absence of efficient reporting systems prompted UNFPA and the Embassy of Iceland in Malawi to support 44 CAGs across three traditional villages in Mangochi: Chowe, Lulanga and Makanjira. Furthermore, the establishment of CAGs encourages more women to speak out against their abusers, with 208 cases of violence reported through the groups since 2022. 

A Look Ahead

Local communities continue to build on the initiatives in Malawi conducted by the UNFPA, advocating for the rights of women and girls across the country. On the other hand, the importance of this work is not lost upon the citizens of Malawi, many of whom recognize gender equality as a human right and strive to empower the next generation of young people willing to fight for women’s freedoms.

– Megha Gupta
Photo: Flickr

Poverty and Air Pollution in Tajikistan

 

Poverty and Air Pollution in TajikistanTajikistan, home to mountainous scenic views and miles of glaciers, sits west of China in Central Asia. Kyrgyzstan borders it to the north, Afghanistan to the south and Uzbekistan to the west. Although higher altitudes offer majestic scenery, air pollution plagues major cities. 

Air pollution hurts everyone, but those experiencing poverty are hit the hardest. Developing countries such as Tajikistan rank the highest for deaths linked to air pollution, likely due to weaker laws surrounding pollution control and vehicle emissions and the prevalence of coal power stations. Additionally, low-income groups are exposed to more pollutants through highway-adjacent housing and outdoor occupations. A green taxi project offers a solution to the problem of air pollution in Tajikistan by introducing electric vehicles as an alternative mode of transportation. 

The Adverse Effects of Air Pollution

The World Health Organization (WHO) estimates that air pollution causes 7 million premature deaths per year globally. With an air quality index of 111 PM2.5 at the time of writing, Tajikistan’s air pollution is 7.4 times higher than the recommended limit that the WHO has set. An air quality index above 100 is considered unhealthy. Among cities in Tajikistan, Kulob scores the highest on the index (232 PM2.5), followed by Khorugh (198), Isfara (195) and the capital, Dushanbe (193). 

PM2.5 stands for fine particulate matter and it is defined as particles measuring 2.5 micrometers or smaller in diameter. A significant portion of outdoor PM2.5 originates from emissions associated with the combustion of gasoline, diesel fuel, oil or wood. According to the WHO’s Global Burden of Disease Project, PM2.5 is linked to the greatest proportion of air pollution-related health complications worldwide. Its ability to penetrate deep into the lungs regularly results in premature mortality, heart and lung disease complications, bronchitis, asthma and other dangerous respiratory symptoms. 

The Poorest Suffer the Most

About 716 million people living on $1.90 per day are exposed to unsafe levels of PM2.5. It is a well-known fact that developing countries that are industrializing depend heavily on polluting industries. This dependence poses a serious risk to the health of low-income groups, who are more likely to work outdoors and live in poor communities near busy roads or industrial plants, which increases their exposure to PM2.5. Air pollution exacerbates health issues such as asthma and limited access to adequate health care increases mortality rates in poor communities. 

Beth Gardiner, an environmental journalist and author of “Choked: The Age of Air Pollution and the Fight For A Cleaner Future,” elucidates on the theme of poverty observed in her air pollution research. She notes, “While dirty air affects anyone who breathes it, communities of color and poorer people suffer more exposure and therefore more harm. Of course, those with less money to spend on housing very often end up living near busy roads or polluting ports, factories and power plants.” Tajikistan is no exception to this link between poverty and pollution. It is known as one of the poorest countries in Central Asia, with roughly 26.3% of its population living below the poverty line. Cement and coal power plants are widespread in Tajikistan, particularly in Dushanbe and represent the biggest contributors to air pollution in the country.

The Impact of the Dushanbe-2 Plant

Tajikistan relies mostly on hydropower for electricity but routinely suffers from energy shortages, especially in winter when water levels are low. This has made the country resort to burning fossil fuels to stabilize the electricity grid. The Dushanbe-2 plant began operating in 2016 and continues to burn 6,000 tons of coal daily, providing 60% of the electricity used in Dushanbe. As the largest thermal power plant in the country, Dushanbe-2 consumes approximately 45% of the coal mined in Tajikistan. Consequently, filtration systems have been installed at the plant to mitigate combustion emissions released into the atmosphere. However, the effectiveness of these quality filters has been a subject of intense debate. Locals have complained about the dust polluting the neighborhood and even a nearby amusement park. 

Green Taxis: A Step in the Right Direction

Vehicle emissions in Tajikistan have doubled in the past decade. Carbon dioxide (CO2) production from vehicles is now 340,000 to 540,000 tons per year. In response to the rising air pollution in Tajikistan, the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) has funded a project to reduce the environmental footprint of the popular Sayohon taxi company. The project allocates $45 million to the acquisition of 100 electric vehicles and 30 charging stations, with some funds going to the construction of necessary charging infrastructure. This aims to reduce CO2 emissions by 1,240 tons per year. By replacing dated internal combustion engines with electric ones, the project is also expected to reduce dangerous pollutants, such as nitrogen dioxide and sulfur dioxide emissions.

While those experiencing poverty face the worst consequences of air pollution in Tajikistan, conditions are changing. The introduction of electric taxis paves the way for the establishment of cleaner alternatives in many aspects of city life. As Gardiner puts it, “Even incremental improvements in air quality translate directly and almost immediately into lives saved and health spared.” 

– Isabella Rothe
Photo: Flickr

Women’s Health in South Africa

women's health in South AfricaBiological and gender-related discrepancies influence health significantly more in developing countries than in developed ones. For example, due to sociocultural factors, women’s health in South Africa is jeopardized. Some of the reasons for this include unequal relationships of power between women and men, social norms bolstering the decrease in girls’ education and job opportunities, as well as the encouragement of the importance of women’s reproductive role. 

Maternal Mortality

Compared with other African countries, South Africa has one of the lowest rates of maternal mortality. The sub-Saharan nation has seen a decline in such deaths from 150 per 100,000 births in 1998 to 113 per 100,000 in 2019. Nonetheless, the leading causes of maternal mortality in South Africa are major obstetric hemorrhage (MOH), hypertensive disorders of pregnancy and human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)/ acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS)-related infections. 

MOH – mostly occurring postpartum – is characterized by severe blood loss and provokes anemia, multi-organ failure and hysterectomy, disseminated intravascular coagulation and long-term trauma. Unskilled or understaffed birth attendance, delivery in poorly equipped facilities and lack of necessary obstetric care supplies (e.g., blood transfusion) are all factors that increase the likelihood of maternal death by MOH. 

Hypertension is the most common disorder that occurs during pregnancy, with four types: chronic, gestational, (pre)eclampsia and chronic hypertension with superimposed (pre)eclampsia. The American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG) defines it as “clinic maternal systolic blood pressure greater than or equal to 140 mm Hg and/or diastolic blood pressure greater than or equal to 90 mm Hg on two or more occasions at least four hours apart.”

HIV is a sexually transmitted, lifelong condition that harms the body’s immune system. Many people experience flu-like symptoms, but others do not show any signs at all. The virus can be treated with effective medical care; nevertheless, if left untreated, it can develop into acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS) and ultimately lead to death. The virus indirectly causes maternal mortality, as it triggers increased susceptibility to infections (e.g., pneumonia, malaria and tuberculosis). Many pregnant women are dying in South Africa because they do not attend antenatal care services for fear of having their HIV status revealed. 

Former Secretary General of Amnesty International Salil Shetty, said: “It is unacceptable that pregnant women and girls are continuing to die in South Africa because they fear their HIV status will be revealed or because of a lack of transportation or basic health and sexuality education. This cannot continue”. “The South African government must ensure all departments work together to urgently address all the barriers that place the health of pregnant women and girls at risk,” said Shetty.

HIV Education and Testing

There is a lot of stigma surrounding HIV-related topics in many communities – which increases women’s fear of discriminatory treatment if they test positive for the virus. South Africa has the highest rate of HIV in the world, with approximately 7.5 million infected inhabitants in 2021 – 60% of whom were women. Young women aged 15-24 are at greater risk of contracting the virus; in fact, they are four times more vulnerable than men in that age range. HIV education in schools can not only enhance safer sexual intercourse, but it can also incite pregnant young girls to get tested for disease and if the result comes back positive, prevent mother-to-child transmission by taking medication. 

However, gender inequalities, as well as conflicting cultural and traditional beliefs, significantly affect the teaching of and discussion about sexuality in the classroom. For example, teachers must follow guidelines implemented by the school, which include language use. More specifically, they cannot use terminology that might be deemed vulgar to the audience. As such, sensitive topics, such as sexual health, are not openly discussed, thereby compromising women’s health in South Africa.  

In many health clinics, women and girls living with HIV are treated differently than those who are not. That is, they must stand in separate queues for their antiretroviral medication, schedule different days for medical appointments and have other colored antenatal files.

Shetty said: “While HIV testing is an important public health intervention, it must be done in a manner that respects the rights of women and girls and does not expose them to additional harm. It is deeply worrying that the privacy of pregnant women and girls is not respected in health facilities. The South African government must take urgent steps to correct this.”

It is vital that health care workers in South Africa receive additional training on providing quality care that is both free of judgment and stigma and that women and girls accessing sexual and reproductive health services can trust that their confidentiality will be respected,” said Shetty.

Accessing Healthcare Services in South Africa

Most South Africans live within a 7km radius of a health care facility, while others are based 2km away from one. Despite the proximity, transport to health services is a struggle for women due to the shortage of available public transport services. In the rural provinces, some roads are impassable, especially after rainfall and even when the ground is dry, most ambulances will not drive beyond a certain point on specific routes. “The South African government must build better road networks in these rural provinces to guarantee access to healthcare facilities. The government must also ensure that ambulances are always available to transport those who are in need,” said Shetty.

Looking Ahead To Improve Women’s Health in South Africa

The South African Society of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (SASOG) strives to achieve excellence and equity in the health of South African women. To achieve this, SASOG puts the promotion of the highest standards in clinical practice, training and research in Obstetrics and Gynaecology and the support of continuous professional development at the forefront. Overall, SASOG pledges to redress healthcare injustices by eradicating gender oppression and inequality to enhance women’s health in South Africa.  

– Abigail Roch
Photo: Pixabay

Penta Medical Recycling: Repurposing Prosthetics From the US

Repurposing Prosthetic Legs through Penta Medical RecyclingThere are 100 million amputees worldwide and up to 95% of them do not have access to prosthetics. The consequences of limb loss can be life-changing and debilitating, with individuals from less developed, lower-income countries often experiencing exacerbated challenges. Living without an artificial limb means amputees are unable to participate in society, go to school or work and are often entirely ostracized from their communities. Access to clean water and other means is also made extremely difficult, putting them at higher risk of water-borne diseases and malnutrition.

Penta Medical Recycling

Founded in 2016, Penta Medical Recycling provides affordable prosthetic care to amputees in low-income countries through repurposing what might otherwise be deemed medical waste in the United States. Penta works alongside governments and health care operators to provide prosthetics to 17 countries most affected by a lack of prosthetic support.

Penta recognizes the significant financial burden faced by all amputees, considering that prosthetics can range from $5,000 to more than $50,000. These costs do not even include the drastically increased health care costs for amputees due to regular check-ups, hospital appointments and operations.

The financial strain is particularly acute for individuals in lower-income countries. Therefore, it seems wasteful to throw away artificial limbs that could be beneficial to so many. In response, Penta has implemented a program to collect and recycle used, yet faultless, prosthetics. This initiative not only helps clinics by relieving them of unwanted artificial limbs but also provides amputees with the opportunity to walk, run, work and, most importantly, thrive.

Since its establishment, the nonprofit has helped more than 1,000 people. In 2022 alone, the organization donated more than 1,841 prosthetic components to partner countries and organizations. These components include feet, adapters, leg liners and artificial knees.

Interview With Pollyanna Hope

The Borgen Project spoke to Pollyanna Hope, an amputee and Global Mobility Ambassador for Penta from Hertfordshire, England. Hope had her right leg amputated below the knee as a result of a road collision when she was 2 years old. Now 18, she is a passionate dancer and one of the first amputees to receive an en-pointe prosthesis.

“Penta’s work is incredibly important because it creates a livelihood for people in developing countries to be included in their communities,” said Hope when The Borgen Project asked why she believes Penta’s work is important and unique. “I know from my own experience. My leg allows me to feel liberated. Prosthetics mean amputees feel more included in their communities and are able to live a more active and healthier lifestyle,” she added.

Hope emphasizes the significant quantity of usable prosthetic legs that are often discarded unnecessarily. She highlights that “artificial limbs typically need replacing every 3-5 years,” with a higher frequency for young individuals who are still growing. In her own experience, there were periods during her childhood when she “needed a new leg every six months.”

With more than 2.1 million amputees in the U.S. and more than 300,000 artificial limbs replaced annually, the inability to reuse or resell these limbs due to certain health regulations indeed raises concerns about wastefulness. Penta’s mission, therefore, becomes particularly vital in addressing this issue and contributing to a more sustainable and impactful approach to prosthetic care.

Conclusion

Even the most affordable and readily available prosthetic limbs can pose a substantial financial challenge and be deemed out of reach for many amputees and their families in lower-income countries. Penta does more than only provide these prosthetics. It gives vital physical mobility, facilitating the integration of amputees into their societies both economically and socially. The value and indispensability of Penta’s work cannot be understated.

– Sapphire Hope
Photo: Pexels

Extreme Poverty Fell to Pre-Covid Levels in 2023

Extreme Poverty FellAccording to a report by the World Bank, extreme poverty fell to pre-COVID levels in late 2023. This is a much quicker turnaround than many economists had originally thought, with some expecting this would take 10 years. While we can rejoice that this was not the case, the recommendations of those same economists  -  that donor countries must increase their aid budgets to recommended standards  –  still ring true.

COVID-19 in the Developing World

For many in the developed world, the detrimental impact of COVID was limited to restrictions on social gatherings, school and office closures and the cancellation of music and sports events. Of course, there were many tragic cases of lives lost too early, leaving a lasting impact on many. But thankfully for the majority of those in the West, society had the structural and digital frameworks to overcome the enormous shock that was the pandemic.

In contrast, COVID-19 in the developing world brought about different levels of devastation. It may have taken longer for the virus to seep into these countries, but when it did eventually hit, populations were more financially vulnerable and health systems were not ready.

It was apparent even amid the pandemic, that the least-developed countries were more vulnerable socioeconomically than the rest of the world. Where governments, businesses and individuals in developed countries may have had savings to fall back on allowing them to self-sustain and support one another, this was less often the case among the poorest countries in the world.

Moreover, certain disadvantaged groups such as women and less-educated workers were disproportionately affected by COVID-19, in middle and low-income countries in particular. As an aftereffect, millions more were plunged into extreme poverty during the year 2020.

COVID-19 and Extreme Poverty

The World Bank states that extreme poverty will mean people ‘are more likely to be malnourished, they have less access to services like education, electricity, sanitation and healthcare, and they are more vulnerable to conflict and climate change.’

Last year, the World Bank found that those in extreme poverty worldwide increased from around 700 million to more than 760 million in the year 2020. While this may not seem a seismic change, consider that this set us back to extreme poverty levels not seen since 2016. Only last year was it found that extreme poverty fell to pre-COVID levels. Although positive, the World Bank points out that considering these measures, we have lost three years in the fight against poverty worldwide.

Low-Income Countries Behind on the Road To Recovery

In many ways, to say that efforts to eradicate extreme poverty are back on track would be false. This is because all of the recovery has taken place in high- and middle-income countries. Many low-income countries are still experiencing increases in extreme poverty due to their incapability to roll out social welfare programs to counter the effects of COVID-19. This poses a huge problem for the aid sector as donor countries look to cut fiscal spending following the pandemic, but much of the developing world is now in need of aid more than ever. With the worst impacts of the climate crisis still to come, some have gone as far as suggesting that the aid system is running empty.

Aid Can Go a Long Way – How Extreme Poverty Fell

Back in 2020, researchers recommended that one way to reduce extreme poverty is to allocate more aid to low-income countries (LICs). This is because lower unit costs in those countries mean that development aid can go further and benefit more people. The Borgen Project has identified numerous examples of aid being extremely successful at delivering the desired results in LICs. Take the case of Legacy Manufacturers Limited covered in an article from April last year. A small grant of $50,000 from The Visa Foundation helped this business overcome import and manufacturing difficulties, allowing them to successfully deliver their soya, corn and maize products to the national market in Zambia. Without smart investments in local organizations such as Legacy, LICs have few opportunities to make these kinds of developmental steps which will help them overcome external shocks going forward.

The Role of Official Development Assistance

Foreign aid in the form of grants has been classed as Official Development Assistance (ODA) since the late 1960s. To be classified as ODA, donations must fulfill certain criteria. The U.N. recommends that donor countries commit 0.7% of their gross national income (GNI) to ODA.

Since the onset of COVID-19, there has been an overall increase in ODA, largely due to the worldwide refugee crisis. In 2022, the figure hit a record high of $204 billion. However, there has not been a unanimous move towards the U.N.’s 0.7% target. U.S. ODA still languishes at 0.23% of GNI. The U.K.’s ODA/GNI% fell from 0.7% to 0.5% from 2020 to 2022, amounting to around $3 billion in aid lost. Moreover, the number of countries meeting the U.N. target of giving 0.7% of GNI in aid fell from six countries to four in the same period.

Improved ODA figures can go a long way in combating extreme poverty conditions globally.

– Alex Finch
Photo: Flickr

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6 Organizations Bringing Clean Water to Burundi

6 Organizations Bringing Clean Water to BurundiThe United Nations International Children’s Emergency Fund (UNICEF) budget analysis of Water, Sanitation and Hygiene in Burundi for 2022-2023 reports that access to clean drinking water in Burundi is improving, with a national average of 86% of Burundian households having access to an improved water source. In countries such as Burundi, where the average citizen lives on less than $1.90 a day, access to clean water has a noteworthy positive impact on mortality, equity, wellbeing and access to education. Here are six organizations bringing clean water to Burundi.

Water for Development 

Water for Development is a nonprofit led by Burundian youth, employing point-of-water chlorine dispensers to reduce the prevalence of diarrhea to less than 10% in operational areas. The dispenser design alleviates the need to build fires for water boiling, a responsibility that falls primarily on women and children. This task, along with water collection, can consume between 3-10 hours a day for populations located more than 30 minutes away from a water source. The nonprofit is based in the Cibitoke Province, where community-elected “promoters” refill the dispensers and teach others how to use them. This organization has been especially impactful for children in Burundi, a quarter of whom suffer from illnesses related to dirty water.

The Gazelle Foundation

The Gazelle Foundation is a nonprofit organization formed in response to the story of Gilbert Tuhbonye, a retired professional Burundi runner and a survivor of the Hutu/Tutsi civil upheaval in the ’80s and ’90s. The organization is dedicated to constructing clean water systems across Burundi using tanks and PVC pipelines. It also invests in the local economy by sourcing supplies locally and providing employment opportunities to residents in the communities where systems have been installed. Thanks to local Burundian programs and fundraising from “water runs” held in Austin, Texas – where the Foundation is headquartered – 125,000 more people in Burundi now have access to clean water.

Sanitation and Water for All

Sanitation and Water for All (SWA) is a multi-government-stakeholder partnership hosted by the United Nations (U.N.). It works with organizations from across the public and private sectors to garner political support for clean water and sanitation. Burundi joined the partnership in 2010 and with the support of SWA partners, the government developed National Water (PNEau) and National Sanitation Policies (NAP). These programs and policies led to a substantial increase in funding for water and sanitation in the country. Through this partnership, the Burundian Government established the objective of achieving universal access to safe drinking water by 2030.

Amazi Water

Amazi Water, founded by John Peake in 2015, is a Christ-centered organization headquartered in Burundi. The organization installs solar-powered, fully submersible pump systems with higher yields and lower labor costs when compared to hand-pump systems. The organization has installed more than 900 systems nationwide, providing clean drinking water to an estimated 2.5 million people. The organization also offers employment opportunities to locals and is one of the most impactful water projects in Burundi.

Beygood4burundi

BeyGood4Burundi is a collaborative program involving Beyoncé’s philanthropy arm, BeyGOOD and UNICEF. The organizations joined forces in 2017 to give women and girls in Burundi access to safe drinking water. Globally, women and girls spend 200 million hours daily collecting water, leading to them missing out on education. To address this, BeyGood4Burundi has aided in building and rehabilitating 80 water points, bringing water to 30,000 Burundians.

Join for Water

Join For Water is a nonprofit based in Belgium, operating in nine countries across Africa, Latin America and Europe. The organization has been active in Burundi since 1997, focusing mainly on the provinces of Bubanza and Isare. It collaborates with numerous local institutions to build more robust water systems, coordinating resources to provide support and training on how to manage existing systems. Join For Water also works to improve sanitation in Burundi, focusing on sanitation facilities in rural areas.

These are but a handful of the many organizations working to improve health and wellbeing outcomes in Burundi through buoyed access to clean drinking water. For a country with a large percentage of its population below the poverty line, organizations that provide clean water and employment opportunities can save lives. 

– Ava Johnson
Photo: Pexels

5 Charities Operating in Nepal

Charities Operating in NepalNepal is a landlocked country in South Asia with a population of around 30 million people. However, Nepal is one of Asia’s poorest countries, with 17.4% of its population living in poverty as of 2021. There are various factors contributing to Nepal’s high poverty levels and slow-growing economy such as high unemployment rates, a lack of accessible education, food shortages, civil war and government corruption. According to the Asian Development Bank (ADB), there are approximately 60,000 charities/ non-governmental organizations (NGOs) operating in Nepal. Here are five charities operating in Nepal that are making a difference in the lives of the country’s poorest.

The Small World

The Small World supports local development projects across Nepal, focusing on improving childhood education, enhancing women’s rights and empowerment and supporting health care facilities. For instance, The Small World has established female education centers in rural Nepal, where young girls who are born into poverty are often at risk of trafficking, child marriage, violence, poor health, and subsequent poverty.  In a country where more than 35% of women are illiterate, providing women with a formal education means they are more likely to acquire future employment and earn a living.

Other projects include a health care facility providing free services to 32,000 people living in rural Nepal and the Friends of Arhaus Children’s Home which acts as a safe home to orphaned children in the Everest region, who would otherwise be subject to a life in poverty.  Since its establishment, The Small World has built homes, classrooms and sanitation facilities, providing more than 300 families with clean water and educating more than 150 children.

Nepal Water For Health Foundation

In Nepal, “3.5 million people do not have access to basic water services” with a further 10.8 million people lacking access to adequate sanitation facilities. With more than 70% of all water facilities being contaminated with bacteria, water-related illness is a leading cause of death in Nepal.

The Nepal Water for Health Foundation (NEWAH) aims to provide WASH facilities to Nepal’s poorest communities, “irrespective of gender, caste, class, and belief.”

Since its establishment in 1992, NEWAH has provided WASH services to over 2.1 million people in Nepal through various projects such as community-led sanitation, improved menstrual hygiene and even helping communities adapt to natural disasters. As well as implementing clean water facilities in communities, NEWAH also educates Nepali citizens on proper hygiene and sanitation and researches developing new, innovative WASH technology to ensure sustainable water supplies in the future.

The Nepal Red Cross Society

As the largest humanitarian organization in Nepal, the Nepal Red Cross Society (NRCS) began its journey in 1963 and is an independent charity providing immediate relief to those who require it. The NRCS provides a wide range of short-term and long-term services such as emergency health care and immediate natural disaster relief, as well as supporting community development projects and fighting gender discrimination, poverty and inadequate health care services.

In 2023, Nepal suffered major natural disasters in the form of earthquakes which caused a significant amount of damage. The NRCS helped ensure communities have sufficient emergency preparedness to minimize human suffering in the event of future disasters. For example, following the 2023 earthquake, the NRCS implemented the Earthquake Response Operation which efficiently deployed emergency services to most affected areas.

Rural Women’s Network Nepal

Established in 2007, Rural Women’s Network Nepal (RUWON) is a non-profit organization focussing on improving the lives of women in Nepal’s rural and poorest regions. According to RUWON Nepal, Nepalese society is “deeply patriarchal” and women are significantly more likely to be poor as well as face other human rights issues, suffer discrimination and have poor education.

RUWON Nepal aims to reduce the size of such gender disparities and improve the status and rights of rural women across the country. RUWON Nepal has implemented means of providing rural women with education, such as funding and supporting the education of more than 300 girls in the Sindhuli district in Kathmandu. The organization is also providing financing for women to set up their self-sufficient businesses, allowing women to both make a living and be empowered through independence. Other projects include providing free English lessons, the provision of sanitary products and sewing lessons to rural women, allowing women to have the opportunity to develop skills, gain an education and earn a living.

Prayas Nepal

Established in 2003, Prayas Nepal aims to improve the lives of those living in poverty in Nepal, particularly focusing on the welfare of children, with the charity’s initial project being a home for disadvantaged or orphaned children. Since then, Prayas Nepal has extended the focus of its work to support underprivileged children, women and the elderly.

Since 2003, Prayas Nepal has provided education scholarships to more than 2,000 people as well as implemented a vast number of community development projects across the country. Such projects include a Women’s Empowerment Project, COVID-19 relief projects, free health care centers, childhood education and elderly education programs. Due to the threat of natural disasters, Prayas Nepal has also developed almost 1,400 disaster management projects that provide emergency relief and rehabilitation to regions most impacted.

Making a Change

Although Nepal still stands as a “Least Developed Country” the work of local, national and international charities operating in Nepal, such as the five discussed here, has meant that poverty is steadily declining, with many people being lifted out of poverty between 2014 and 2019.

Nepal now aims to graduate from this status by 2026, according to the World Bank. However, economic, social and environmental issues are ever-prevalent in Nepal making the possibility for poverty alleviation challenging.

– Lucy Jacks
Photo: Flickr

The Organization Advancing the Rights of Tamils in Sri Lanka

tamils in sri lankaTamil refers to both a language and two minority ethnic groups in Sri Lanka. The “Sri Lankan Tamils,” who migrated from South India as far back as the fifth century Before Common Era (BCE) and the “Indian Tamils,” who are descendants of laborers brought to the island by the British during colonial times. Both groups have formed communities primarily in the northern and eastern parts of the island.

At the fall of the British Empire, many Tamils found themselves stateless under the Citizenship Acts of 1948-49 and promises made by the Indian government to confer citizenship upon 600,000 Tamils were not fulfilled. Minority Rights Group, an NGO working with indigenous people around the world, states that, by the year 2000, about 300,000 Tamils were still stateless.

This situation and a desperation to be treated equally, both socially and politically, has resulted in severe conflict since the fall of the British Empire. The Sri Lankan Civil War was fought from 1983-2009 in which the political group Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam or the Tamil Tigers, fought to create an independent Tamil state but were defeated after thousands of deaths on both sides. The result has been the continued oppression and marginalization of Tamils in Sri Lanka.

What Is the Current Situation?

In September 2023, nine different human rights groups, including Amnesty International and Human Rights Watch, published an open letter criticizing the Sri Lankan government’s proposed National Unity and Reconciliation Commission. They wrote that the commission was unlikely to achieve any meaningful change for minority groups, asking instead for the government to recognize the widespread discrimination and inequalities Tamils still face.

Human rights groups in recent years have deeply criticized the 1979 Prevention of Terrorism Act (PTA), with the Guardian calling it “a stain on Sri Lanka’s human rights record” as it enables the arrest, forced confessions and torture of anyone suspected of terrorism. In 2020, the Human Rights Commission of Sri Lanka reported widespread torture and excessive use of force by the police. Additionally, more than 130 Tamil politicians and activists were documented to be in detention despite government denials. The government argued that these individuals were imprisoned for violent crimes. In 2022, Amnesty International reported that Muslims and Tamils are disproportionately affected by the PTA in Sri Lanka. This situation highlights ongoing concerns regarding human rights issues, particularly about Tamils in Sri Lanka.

What Progress Is Being Made Today?

Despite this, various groups throughout Sri Lanka and the world have been fighting for Tamil rights and the Tamil Rights Group (TRG) is taking steps to hold the Sri Lankan government accountable for their actions against Tamil people. In December 2023, TRG engaged in in-person discussions with the International Criminal Court (ICC) in the Netherlands. The discussions centered on crimes against humanity, particularly the persecution of Tamils and the role of the military, exploring potential legal actions.

A follow-up submission is currently being prepared to continue addressing these critical issues. In a statement about the meeting, TRG emphasizes its commitment to “pursuing all available legal avenues to hold the Sri Lankan state and individual perpetrators accountable.” This holds the promise of legal change for Tamils, shedding light on their plight and potentially advancing justice for the affected communities.

Final Remark

The end of 2023 saw a rise in global awareness and recognition of the crimes committed against Tamils. This will likely lead to tangible changes that may address the plight of those most affected.

– Alice Brayford 
Photo: Flickr

SDG 9 in Lebanon: Industry, Innovation and Infrastructure 

Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)The United Nations adopted 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) in 2015, which replaced the previous Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) that started an effort to tackle poverty in 2000. The SDGs have targets catered to ending poverty, hunger, AIDS and discrimination against women and girls. The ninth target tackles industry, innovation and infrastructure and Lebanon has updates on its SDG 9.

SDG 9 And Agricultural Infrastructure

The first update on SDG 9 in Lebanon is part of phase four of Lebanon’s Employment Intensive Infrastructure Programme (EIIP), which ran from January 2021 till December 2023, where the International Labor Organization (ILO) joined forces with the Ministry of Agriculture/Green Plan to enhance farm infrastructure through a collaborative effort. Lebanese Reforestation Initiative (LRI) agreed to provide support in identifying, designing and supervising farm infrastructure projects.

As of October 2023, the program resulted in the employment of 800 farmers, specifically displaced Syrian refugees and financially vulnerable Lebanese citizens, and tackled farms all over the country. According to ILO, the only region with 100% accomplishment is the Akkar one, but there are plans to accomplish the remaining areas by December 2025, which will constitute phase five of EIIP. Those areas are Baalbak-El Hermel, Bekaa, El Nabatieh, Mount Lebanon, North and South, according to the U.N.

Post-Explosion Reconstruction

Following the 2020 explosion in the port of Beirut, Lebanon’s capital, the country suffered the death of more than 200 people, the wounding of more than 6,000 and damage or destruction of approximately 70,000 apartments and 40,000 residential spaces, all within a 10 km distance from the scene of the bomb. Karantina, a neighborhood in Beirut, suffered the most in terms of physical destruction and human losses, with more than 700 households where migrant workers, refugees and impoverished Lebanese people lived. Subsequently, as of January 2023, the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) launched a two-phased response strategy in Karantina as part of its “Leave No One Behind” report

Another update on SDG 9 in Lebanon is that an urgent six-month plan is underway to address the immediate aftermath of the explosion in Beirut, focusing on rehabilitating shelters, providing legal assistance, supporting small businesses and implementing energy-efficient solutions. Concurrently, a 12-month sustained response is formulated to meet ongoing needs, including economic empowerment and neighborhood enhancement. The UNDP’s infrastructure recovery plan for Karantina has set a completion date of March 2025.

SDG 9 And Energy Infrastructure

Since the end of 2019, Lebanon has struggled with the depreciation of its currency, the Lebanese Lira Pound (LLP). While before then, $1 had a value of 1,500 LLP, the exchange rate in 2023 is fixed at 15,000 LLP but continues to be traded at 100,000 LLP to the dollar. This economic downfall came with shortages in utilities like energy and water where people are currently relying on privately-owned generators for electricity, and paying anywhere between $50 and $70 every month for electricity.

Starting in 2020, the United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO), Ministry of Industry (MOI) and Ministry of Environment, in collaboration with the Association of Lebanese Industrialists (ALI) and the Association of North Metn Industrialists (ANMI) developed SwitchMed III MED TEST III, which sought resource-efficient and cleaner production (RECP) for electricity companies by 2023. MED TEST III has three goals. The project plans to help 10 companies in important industries by giving technical support in RECP, studying how to use whey effectively in the dairy sector and providing international expertise through training and analyzing gaps and creating a plan to make industrial areas more environmentally friendly.

There are still no results for this test since MED TEST III is ongoing till March 2024. However, there is a foreseeable success with this test as the previous MED TEST II, from 2013 to 2018, had successful results in water, CO2, solid waste and energy savings.

Innovations in Education

Another SDG 9 update in Lebanon is IDEAS, an organization that works on pushing innovation in Lebanon, which launched the Summer of Innovation (SOI) initiative, alongside Lebanon’s Presidency of the Council of Ministers, Office of Prime Minister Saad Hariri. It had four main goals for Lebanon’s youth: innovation, technology, entrepreneurship and creativity. This initiative launched startups and groups across Lebanon to promote their four goals. In 2018, its success was evident when the events under SOI expanded to the greater population, beyond just youth, which proved effective as 4,000 people participated in SOI events that year. Also in 2018, SOI spearheaded three more programs promoting innovation: IDEAS, Bawabat al Ibtikar and Startup Scouts. While Lebanon is four years into an economic deficit situation as of 2023 with a 12.8% GDP deficit, Summer of Innovation contributed to Lebanon’s 2018 economic growth of 0.2%.

Making Progress

Lebanon has made strides in its Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) ranking 95th out of 166 countries in overall SDG performance, with the updates on SDG 9 maintaining achievement. As of 2021, Lebanon’s most successful aspects of SDG 9 are increasing the population using the internet to 86.6%, a population of 77.8 per 100 people on mobile broadband subscriptions and 0.8 per 1,000 population of articles published in academic journals. Overall, Lebanon is steadfast in completing its SDG 9 goals by 2030, with most of the initiatives as mentioned earlier and programs to be completed in 2025, according to the U.N.

– Lucciana Choueiry
Photo: Flickr

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Child Poverty in Benin  

Child Poverty in BeninLocated in West Africa, the Republic of Benin is one of the most economically challenged nations worldwide. With up to 45% of its population consisting of children under the age of 15, child poverty in Benin is a major concern.

Economic Factors

According to the World Food Program USA, Benin’s economy is primarily agrarian. Up to 70% of the population relies on agriculture as a core source of income. Vulnerable to weather fluctuations and changing weather patterns, the sector of rain-fed agriculture has been challenged by the success of consistent food crop production. In addition, the country is often exposed to droughts and floods that threaten the economic conditions of Benin’s population. This frequently leaves families in uncertain economic situations. As poverty rates among families increase, child poverty in Benin worsens due to insufficient resources to fulfill their essential needs.

Threatened Food Security

In addition to contributing to a lack of financial stability, the unstable nature of agribusiness in the nation has also led to an increase in food prices. As reported by the United States Agency for International Development (USAID), children in Benin are severely affected by malnutrition. Up to 50% of children up to 5 years of age have developmental issues as a result of nutritional deficiency. The World Food Program USA shows that up to 32% of Beninese children suffer from recurrent malnutrition.

Health Concerns

While improper nutrition has emerged as a significant health concern for children in Benin, the absence of proper health care has also affected the nation’s children. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), malaria is the leading cause of death for children under 5 years old in Benin. USAID states that the COVID-19 pandemic posed a risk to ongoing efforts made to reduce the transmission of the disease. The U.S. President’s Malaria Initiative, created in 2005, has been working toward the reduction and treatment of the disease in African countries, including Benin.

Despite the pandemic’s impact on developmental progress, the initiative’s 2024 strategy outlines the introduction of the malaria vaccine in Benin within the initial quarter of the year.

Child Labor

A direct repercussion of child poverty in Benin is the educational deficit due to child labor. As Beninese families go through financial hardships, children quit their education and engage in varying work practices. Some of these include domestic work, working on cotton plantations and forced begging. Children exposed to child labor practices become vulnerable to abuse and exploitation. Work conditions can be hazardous, and children are at risk of becoming victims of human trafficking. Data published by UNICEF shows up to 25% of children in Benin are victims of child labor.

Aid Initiatives

Tackling child poverty in Benin requires a wide range approach, integrating economic development, health care, food security and education. Recent years have shown multiple attempts to improve Beninese children’s livelihoods. A report published by the U.S. Department of Labor states that social services inspections freed up to 400 children from child labor in 2021.

In 2022, the government maintained the Integrated National School Feeding Program, providing meals to up to 75% of Benin’s schools. That same year, UNICEF expanded its presence in the north of the nation. UNICEF also collaborated with the religious congregation known as the Salesians of Don Bosco to build a temporary residence for children living on the streets. The congregation runs the charity Foyer Don Bosco, with the mission to fulfill all basic human needs of children living in poverty in Benin. It heavily focuses on helping victims of child labor and human trafficking, striving to ensure that children receive quality education so they can have a better future.

Efforts by organizations like UNICEF and the Salesians of Don Bosco reflect a collective commitment to combat child poverty in Benin and serve as a source of optimism in the ongoing fight against it. 

– Paula Gibson
Photo: Flickr