Following the lockdown, 59-nine-year-old Youssef Bitar lost his house, and 16-year-old Chadi dropped out of school. Nadine, a 40-year-old blind mother, can hardly manage to feed her three children, and Jamile resorts to taking loans from friends and neighbors to pay rent. Lastly, Nour’s grandmother can only provide for the family by collecting tins and selling them by weight. Featured in CARE Lebanon’s ten-minute documentary about dire humanitarian conditions in the country, these five individuals are among the 59% of Lebanese people living below the poverty line. Thankfully, they are not helpless, as organizations like ESSN and the World Bank, the World Food Programme, Lebanon’s Financing Facility and UN-Habitat intend to provide relief to the country’s poor.
The Basics
Due to the absence of household income and expenditure surveys, the available data on poverty in Lebanon is lacking. However, one thing is certain: it is a growing problem. In part imputed to the pandemic and Beirut port explosion in 2020, Lebanon has witnessed a sharp increase in poverty since 2019, with the proportion of the poor skyrocketing from between only 17.2% and 21.5% in 2016 to, at worst, 75.9% in 2022. Analysis reveals that under the most optimistic scenario, at least three out of five Lebanese people live in poverty.
According to the World Bank, Lebanon’s crisis is among the “most severe [crisis] episodes globally since the mid-nineteenth century.” The crisis is multifaceted and can be divided into at least four parts. Firstly, in June 2023, Lebanon’s parliament, for the twelfth time, failed to elect a president. This stalls any measures to alleviate the crisis. Secondly, the banking sector has stopped lending to customers and adopted strict capital control, which ceased to attract deposits. Thirdly, due to the economic crisis, the percentage of unemployed citizens soared from 11.4% in 2018–19 to 29.6% in 2022. Lastly, the port explosion worsened Lebanon’s structural vulnerabilities, including a dysfunctional electricity sector, poor waste management and water supply shortages.
The World Bank and ESSN
Fortunately, however, the crisis has inspired some organizations and partnerships to assist in poverty reduction in Lebanon. In May 2023, the World Bank’s board of executive directors approved sending $300 million to the Emergency Crisis and COVID-19 Response Social Safety Net Project (ESSN), which will assist vulnerable Lebanese households and help unify a social safety net delivery system in Lebanon. This is the second time the World Bank has agreed to aid the country. In 2021, it financed $246 million to help Lebanon fight the economic crisis and the impact of COVID on its poor. The second package intends to aid Lebanon in protecting its population from future crises and continue taking poverty reduction measures.
The financing will be especially handy because “on the sectoral level, Lebanon lacks a comprehensive and inclusive social protection system that provides its citizens equal access and opportunity.” The previous SSN program was inadequate. Approved in January 2021, the new ESSN program has effectively provided cash to 82,000 households, established an efficient call center and strengthened security. According to a survey, 99% of beneficiary households reported improved living conditions after the transfers. More households who meet the poverty criteria will receive assistance.
The World Bank’s financing will also provide cash for the education of a total of 92,000 students. Moreover, it will support access to quality social services. Jean-Christophe Carret, the Country Director of the World Bank Middle East, agrees that the financing will allow the government to respond to the growing needs of the vulnerable.
World Food Programme
An estimated 37% of the population in Lebanon faced acute food insecurity in 2022. The World Food Programme (WFP) reached 2 million Lebanese residents and Syrian refugees as part of Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 2, Zero Hunger.
Through partnerships, WFP increased the value of cash transfers in April 2022. Although the increase of people’s purchasing power could not offset price increases and currency depreciation, the program contributed to the improvement of schoolchildren’s nutrition. WFP also helped implement the ESSN. A WFP analysis reveals that due to the launch of the ESSN and the bolstering of the National Poverty Targeting Programme (NPTP), “the number of Lebanese households receiving assistance through national social safety nets, with WFP-implemented cash transfers, increased fourfold in 2022 compared to 2021.”
WFP’s plan from 2023 to 2025 is to strengthen Lebanon’s crisis response, provide safety nets, assist poverty reduction programs and extend school meals. The program also intends to work with the government to improve existing social protection services and strategy and achieve food security.
Lebanon’s Financing Facility
Established shortly after the explosion, the Lebanon Financing Facility (LFF) “provides an important means to pool grant resources and strengthen the coherence and coordination of financing.” Its goal is to bring about socioeconomic and business recovery and prepare for social sector reforms.
The trust fund, which was established by the World Bank, follows the Reform, Recovery and Reconstruction Framework (3RF), which addresses Lebanon’s immediate needs. The 3RF outlines actions that require priority to support recovery and reconstruction in Lebanon.
In 2023, the LFF plans to continue supporting 3RF priorities. It will offer both financial and technical assistance to facilitate the execution of priorities outlined by sector working groups and overseen by government representatives. Furthermore, discussions will continue, and state institutions will present their proposals and challenges to poverty reduction in Lebanon.
UN-Habitat
Mandated by the U.N. General Assembly, the United Nations Human Settlements Programme (UN-Habitat) helps establish socially and environmentally sustainable towns and cities. The organization works with partners and operates in over 90 countries to enact positive changes in cities and human settlements.
Between 2019 and 2022, UN-Habitat greatly assisted Lebanon. The program upgraded 164 building facades’ connections to water and electricity and rehabilitated neighboring streets. It also restored five public community health care centers, repaired 125 individual housing units, rehabilitated 44 full residential buildings, provided 816 households with rent assistance and assessed 113 schools for damage. UN-Habitat will collaborate with other municipalities to continue improving the lives of people in Lebanon.
What Does the Future Hold?
Poverty reduction in Lebanon will not be easy. In the short-term, Lebanon “needs to adopt and implement a credible, comprehensive and coordinated macro-financial stability strategy within a medium-term, macro-fiscal framework.” This strategy should achieve debt sustainability, reconstruct the financial sector, introduce a new monetary framework that regains the people’s confidence in its stability, adjust fiscal policy, enhance reforms and improve social protection. In the long term, Lebanon must build better institutions, including governance and business sectors.
In the absence of a good banking system and foreign exchange reserves, international aid and assistance from organizations remain necessary.
– Mariam Jawhar
Photo: Wikimedia Commons
Hydroelectric Renewable Energy in Sierra Leone
The Divide
Due to the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, poverty progress in Sierra Leone has stagnated and even reversed in some areas of the nation. Sixty percent of Sierra Leoneans live below the poverty line, and geographic dispersion causes fluctuations between regional poverty rates. This results in a major disparity between the 23% in poverty in urban regions and 74% in poverty in rural regions of the nation.
In 2021, electricity access reflected this regional discrepancy: 17% relied on the grid, with 2-3% relying on mini-grids; rural areas only received close to 10% of what industrialized areas did; and the tropical seasonal shifts in Sierra Leone forced the country to depend on an inconsistent electricity supply. However, amidst these low statistics, the growing prospect of renewable energy in Sierra Leone is promising.
Leveling the Field
Two years later, and with several multi-million dollar grants heading Africa’s way to boost renewable energy on the continent, Sierra Leone is dedicated to increasing electricity access, hoping to reach 92% by 2030. This is an ambitious goal, and the nation is aware that, if this ideal is to become a reality, support from wealthier international countries will be necessary.
In 2023, through consistent support, there is clear growth in renewable energy in Sierra Leone. Whether it is the six hospitals, — in Freetown, Kambia, Masanga, Kabala and Bonthe — that solar will now power, or by the completion of 49 mini-grids, functional as of July, that are delivering reliable sustainable energy to the rural areas of Sierra Leone.
What About the Water?
While investments, that enhanced the rate of access to renewable energy in Sierra Leone, piled up, it was the nation’s hydropower that was at the forefront of its total energy generation.
The importance of hydroelectricity in Sierra Leone is reflective of a larger dependence on marine life in the region. Fish provides 80% of the protein in the Sierra Leonean diet, and, of the many coastal households, 98% are involved with fishing activities.
With marine fisheries contributing to 12% of the nation’s GDP, its close relative, hydropower, has been on the agenda of Sierra Leone since 2021. In that year, from the 244 Gwh produced by renewable energy sources in Sierra Leone, hydropower was responsible for 228. A year later, hydropower constituted 58% of the nation’s overall renewable capacity.
In 2023, the progression of hydroelectric energy production continues and again reflecting the fishery business in which women are at the forefront of selling the catch that men catch, the hydropower industry is operating at the intersection between advancing renewable energy in Sierra Leone and striving for gender equality. The Global Energy Alliance for People and Planet (GEAPP), has collaborated with Shortlist and Value for Women to create Women for Green Jobs, while Sustainable Energy for All (SEforALL) has introduced an apprenticeship that hopes to inspire young women in energy, by providing tailored training of 12 university graduates.
Hydropower: the Future
Since 2005, Sierra Leone’s firstever power plant, Bumbuna Dam, has produced more than half of the nation’s total electricity. In 2023, a partnership between Bitgreen, Sewa Energy Resources (SERL) and GEAPP, sees a step towards a more sustainable future for renewable energy in Sierra Leone, thanks to the Betmai Hydroelectric Facility.
This 27-megawatt hydropower river project not only aligns the nation with its government’s ambition to transform its energy sector — bringing cost-efficient, renewable electricity to 500,000 Sierra Leoneans — but has brought with it new job opportunities. Estimates have indicated that the facility will generate more than 300,000 jobs in the region while cutting emissions of CO2 by 675,000 tons.
Post-COVID-19, domestic and international intention seems set on developing sustainable energy practices in Africa. The progression of renewable energy in Sierra Leone reflects this. With consistent investment, this progress need not halt. Hydropower will carry Sierra Leone into a future of prosperity and self-reliance.
– Joseph Wray
Photo: Wikipedia Commons
How Remittances to Moldova are Helping the Rural Poor
What are Remittances?
Remittances are crucial to supporting the well-being of migrants’ families, communities and loved ones back home. They are typically transfers from an emigrant to their relatives or friends in their home country. By improving and enabling access to education, health and housing remittances have lifted millions of migrant families out of poverty across the world. According to the International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD), in 2022, remittance made up more than three times the annual flow of official development assistance.
Remittances to Moldova
Moldova is Europe’s most remittance-dependent country, and in 2022 remittances accounted for 14.3% of the GDP. Despite a population of only 2.6 million, 1 million people relied on remittance to Moldova in 2021; for some, it was half of their total income. In the last decade, these transfers were intrinsic to Moldova’s steady economic performance, which originated on remittance-induced consumption.
However, recent economic developments, such as a surge in energy prices, inflation, the war in Ukraine and an influx of refugees, caused a steep decline in remittances as well as a decline in poverty reduction.
This change most affects rural communities and farmers in the status of remittances. Poverty is predominantly rural and agricultural, with 80% of Moldova’s poor living in rural households and depending on agriculture as the main source of income. Chris Perkins, part of the British Embassy in Chisinau, said that 30% of those living in rural areas “would fall below the poverty line if they did not receive them [remittances].”
In 2015, remittance to Moldova made up 19.75% of the GDP; it has dropped more than 5% since then. This decrease threatens to increase poverty in villages, areas with an already low level of population welfare. Crucially, access to remittance transfers for rural people is also very limited as most of the formal access points are concentrated in the big cities. Those who live and work in the countryside, particularly agriculturalists, cannot afford the time it takes to reach these points.
IFAD’s Efforts
Improving access to loans and remittances for rural communities is vital to staving off a rise in poverty in these places. That is why IFAD has offered a solution by strengthening the country’s Saving and Credit Associations (SCAs). Now that these localized financial institutions have the tools to manage remittance transfers, trips to big cities are no longer required. These SCAs can also now use remittances as collateral so that farmers have the necessary guarantee to obtain a loan. Businesses and livelihoods can therefore be buoyed by new financial pathways.
The project began on June 16, 2020, in response to COVID-19 with a successful transfer to schoolteacher Vangheli Ludmila in a rural northern town of Ștefănești. She received money from her son Mihai, a truck driver in the United States.
In a country that is vulnerable to shocks from the climate, drought and war in Eastern Europe, these SCAs empower the poorest to be resilient to such shocks. The World Bank does hope that a new economic model will replace the existing one in Moldova that is less reliant on remittance-financed consumption. However, it is still possible to maximize the impact of remittances on development in Moldova and SCAs are one example of this.
This project is possible to scale up and hopes to include additional rural areas of Moldova, bringing more prosperity and security to the most vulnerable in one of Europe’s poorest countries.
– Sam Waterkeyn
Photo: Flickr
Reggaeton’s Global Impact Empowering Latin America
Economic Impact
The surge of reggaeton, Latin rap, Latin trap, or música urbana, has elevated Latin music to unparalleled financial heights. Latin music revenue in the U.S. soared to $1.1 billion in 2022, with a remarkable 24% annual increase, outpacing other markets. Major labels and artists are bridging language barriers to engage global audiences, reflecting the genre’s booming popularity. Streaming revenues, accounting for 97% of Latin music earnings, showcase the genre’s dominance, fueled significantly by Bad Bunny’s chart-topping albums. The importance of this revenue lies outside of the United States, where artists and fans in Latin America are fueling economic growth.
Reggaeton has generated a higher demand for popular live experiences in Latin America. Festivals like Estereo Picnic in Bogota and Lollapalooza in Argentina and Chile have seen surging attendance due to these popular artists and the genre’s appeal, turning Latin American countries into exporters of musical talent and generating substantial revenue within these economies.
Social Impact
Beyond economic effectiveness, reggaeton has emerged as a powerful social platform, shedding light on pressing issues. Bad Bunny’s music video for “El Apagón” didn’t merely entertain but served as a voice for Puerto Ricans amid crises like Hurricane Fiona. The video highlighted long-standing injustices, resonating deeply with audiences. Many even became aware of these issues in Puerto Rico thanks to Bad Bunny’s platform.
Notably, artists like Bad Bunny have used their influence to address socio-political matters. When Bad Bunny confronted hate speech from political figures, his stance echoed across continents, demonstrating reggaeton’s global impact. The capacity for stars to leverage their platforms to address millions regarding injustices across governments, within developing nations, or in their home countries, elevates these issues onto a global stage, holding immense significance in raising awareness, mobilizing action and potentially mitigating the effects.
Global Revolution
Reggaeton’s rise signals a shift in global music dynamics. Artists like J Balvin have paved the way for Spanish-singing artists to resonate internationally without compromising their cultural identity. Balvin’s unprecedented success on streaming platforms showcases the growing acceptance and integration of Latin American music into mainstream culture, without having to adapt to English-speaking audiences.
This global recognition isn’t limited to music alone. Influential figures such as Colombian reggaeton artist J Balvin or Spain’s innovative flamenco fusion singer Rosalía serve as prime examples. Their impact goes beyond music; they’re influencing young people daily on social media, boasting millions of followers. For instance, the cover of the Rolling Stone magazine dedicated to Bad Bunny and J Balvin in June highlighted not just their musical prowess, but also their influence as cultural icons.
This global recognition isn’t limited to music alone. Investment in Latin American creators across various media, including television, has soared. “Money Heist,” a Spanish series, has become Netflix’s most-watched non-English show, captivating audiences across Argentina, Brazil,and Chile, signifying the expanding influence of Latin American narratives beyond music.
Again, supporting Latin American creators, and Spanish media, is stimulating investment in these markets, increasing the economy and exports.
Future Facing
Reggaeton’s global impact, beyond its contagious beats, represents a shift in global culture and commerce. From empowering Latin American economies to amplifying voices on social issues, the genre and its artists serve as catalysts for change. The journey from bagging groceries to topping global charts isn’t just Bad Bunny’s story; it’s a testament to the genre’s transformative power, paving the way for a more inclusive global cultural landscape.
In essence, the global embrace of reggaeton’s global impact isn’t just a musical phenomenon; it’s a revolution, shaping economies, fostering unity and amplifying voices for change in Latin America and beyond. This outlook emphasizes reggaeton’s global impact on cultural shifts and societal change.
– Kailey Schwinghammer
Photo: Flickr
How Health Care in Lesotho Has Been Revolutionized
Life in Lesotho
Lesotho is a small mountainous kingdom that its neighbor South Africa has entirely encapsulated. With an approximate population of a little more than 2 million people, it is one of the least populated African countries. While the country has many significant challenges including a high unemployment rate and a heavy disease burden, it is a lower-middle-income country. In 2006, Lesotho suffered from a severe HIV epidemic, and while it was able to overcome the epidemic at the time, the country continues to have the second-highest HIV prevalence with 25% of adults carrying the disease.
Alongside HIV, Lesotho has an equally high prevalence of tuberculosis. In addition to the burden of these diseases straining a health care system, the mountainous terrain of Lesotho means that for rural inhabitants, accessing health care is a challenge.
The 2014 National Health Reform
Following their successful partnership during the 2006 HIV epidemic, the Kingdom of Lesotho and Partners in Health launched a National Health Reform in 2014 to revolutionize health care in Lesotho. The overall aim of this reform was to provide universal health care services to every Lesotho citizen. The three initial goals which the reform was based upon included improving the supply of equipment and resources to public primary care clinics, decentralizing the management of the country’s health care system and instead dispersing the power to the district level and increasing the number of paid local health care workers. While there was an interest in improving every aspect of health care, there was a particular emphasis on maternal and child health.
The Achievements of the 2014 National Health Reform Achieve
Within the first few years after its introduction, the National Health Reform was able to achieve:
Other Initiatives
Overall, by the end of 2017, it was observed that access to essential health care was achievable for at least 90% of the country’s population.
While this singular reform has made impressive progress, Lesotho has invested in initiatives in the years since 2014, to allow for continuing progress for health care in Lesotho. One such initiative is the launch of an innovative health tracking system in conjunction with UNAIDS, to better identify the progress and downfalls of the country’s HIV and TB treatment program.
In a relatively short period of time Lesotho, with the assistance of Partner in Health, has been able to radically transform health care in Lesotho. With a focus on maternal and child health, the country has been able to ensure that health care is available to the majority of its citizens from the moment they are born. Furthermore, Lesotho has displayed to the world the simple but vital steps that are needed to create a universal health care system for its citizens.
– Holly Coop
Photo: Flickr
5 Charities Operating in Ecuador
1. The Awaken Foundation
The Awaken Foundation, founded in 2016, is the first of the five charities operating in Ecuador. It strives to create a culture of hope and awareness in Ecuadorian communities. The organization has a broad range of initiatives supporting the development of communities through education, mental and physical health and more. Its Mushuk Pakari Program works to support children from low-income and conflictive families and keep them out of child labor. About 7% of children in Ecuador are subject to child labor, and the number of children subjected to the worst forms of child labor, such as sexual trafficking and dangerous mining, is alarming.
The Mushuk Pakari Program aims to provide children with two warm meals a day and moments of recreation and fun, where they have a chance to be kids. This program has been very successful in its endeavors. Of the 35 children registered in the program, 98% have reentered the educational system of Ecuador, and 100% are out of illegal child labor. The foundation hopes this program will grow to support many more children.
2. The COAGRO Foundation
Founded in 1998, the COAGRO Foundation is an organization dedicated to supporting the Andean communities of Northern Ecuador. In particular, they focus on women’s empowerment, recognizing their vital role in agriculture. Astonishingly, 61% of rural women in these communities work in the agricultural field; however, a staggering 86% of them do not receive pay. By working directly with the indigenous communities of the North, COAGRO can address these women’s unique needs and provide support.
The foundation collaborates with four different women’s associations, including ‘Sumak Sisa,’ a group of 23 women. COAGRO is actively enhancing the quality of their pastures, recognizing that growing new pastures and plants adapted to their cows will significantly improve milk production. This support not only empowers women but also enhances the financial prospects of the entire agricultural community.
3. Casa Búho
Casa Búho is a project that fosters reading initiatives and book-centered activities for children. Established in the fishing town of Machalilla in Manabí, Ecuador, its focus is on encouraging early literacy. It believes that children who have exposure to reading at an early age are more likely to develop into critical thinkers in adulthood. Casa Búho aims to ensure as many children as possible have access to books, empowering them through the transformative influence of literature.
Mi Tarde de Lectura (My Reading Afternoon) is the first program launched by Casa Búho. Collaborating with a cluster of schools in Machalilla, this initiative is tailored for elementary school children aged 6 to 12. The program has sessions that run after school and center around reading aloud to children.
4. Bee Farm Ecuador
Bee Farm Ecuador is an organization dedicated to conserving and protecting local bee populations. The bee farm is based in the Andes at the foot of El Corazon mountain. The farm is a place where families can gather and learn about the importance of beekeeping. Not only does the Bee Farm provide an eco-friendly area in which the bee population can thrive, but it also allows local communities to harvest honey without damaging hives. The farm also has educational projects for the well-being of indigenous women, which run all year round.
5. Ecuador Dice No Más
Ecuador Dice No Más (Ecuador Says No More) is an organization that is working in collaboration with UNICEF to combat sexual abuse against children. The campaign by the two organizations aims to encourage people to break their silence and unite communities to protect their children. They identified that the main problem when countering child abuse was that few speak out about their abuse. Of all the cases of sexual abuse, only 15% of them were declared.
The campaign has mobilized many Ecuadorian celebrities to speak about the cause and raise awareness. These include the singers Mirella Cesa and Karla Kanora. By mobilizing people in these ways, Ecuador Dice No Más hopes to significantly reduce the number of cases of sexual abuse against children.
Looking Ahead
These five charities operating in Ecuador are sparking meaningful change. From empowering women in Andean communities to promoting early literacy and combating child sexual abuse, these initiatives reflect diverse approaches to addressing crucial issues. As these charities carve paths for positive transformation, they underscore the collective effort needed for a better, more equal Ecuador.
– Haniya Rahman
Photo: Flickr
4 Organizations Assisting with Poverty Reduction in Lebanon
The Basics
Due to the absence of household income and expenditure surveys, the available data on poverty in Lebanon is lacking. However, one thing is certain: it is a growing problem. In part imputed to the pandemic and Beirut port explosion in 2020, Lebanon has witnessed a sharp increase in poverty since 2019, with the proportion of the poor skyrocketing from between only 17.2% and 21.5% in 2016 to, at worst, 75.9% in 2022. Analysis reveals that under the most optimistic scenario, at least three out of five Lebanese people live in poverty.
According to the World Bank, Lebanon’s crisis is among the “most severe [crisis] episodes globally since the mid-nineteenth century.” The crisis is multifaceted and can be divided into at least four parts. Firstly, in June 2023, Lebanon’s parliament, for the twelfth time, failed to elect a president. This stalls any measures to alleviate the crisis. Secondly, the banking sector has stopped lending to customers and adopted strict capital control, which ceased to attract deposits. Thirdly, due to the economic crisis, the percentage of unemployed citizens soared from 11.4% in 2018–19 to 29.6% in 2022. Lastly, the port explosion worsened Lebanon’s structural vulnerabilities, including a dysfunctional electricity sector, poor waste management and water supply shortages.
The World Bank and ESSN
Fortunately, however, the crisis has inspired some organizations and partnerships to assist in poverty reduction in Lebanon. In May 2023, the World Bank’s board of executive directors approved sending $300 million to the Emergency Crisis and COVID-19 Response Social Safety Net Project (ESSN), which will assist vulnerable Lebanese households and help unify a social safety net delivery system in Lebanon. This is the second time the World Bank has agreed to aid the country. In 2021, it financed $246 million to help Lebanon fight the economic crisis and the impact of COVID on its poor. The second package intends to aid Lebanon in protecting its population from future crises and continue taking poverty reduction measures.
The financing will be especially handy because “on the sectoral level, Lebanon lacks a comprehensive and inclusive social protection system that provides its citizens equal access and opportunity.” The previous SSN program was inadequate. Approved in January 2021, the new ESSN program has effectively provided cash to 82,000 households, established an efficient call center and strengthened security. According to a survey, 99% of beneficiary households reported improved living conditions after the transfers. More households who meet the poverty criteria will receive assistance.
The World Bank’s financing will also provide cash for the education of a total of 92,000 students. Moreover, it will support access to quality social services. Jean-Christophe Carret, the Country Director of the World Bank Middle East, agrees that the financing will allow the government to respond to the growing needs of the vulnerable.
World Food Programme
An estimated 37% of the population in Lebanon faced acute food insecurity in 2022. The World Food Programme (WFP) reached 2 million Lebanese residents and Syrian refugees as part of Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 2, Zero Hunger.
Through partnerships, WFP increased the value of cash transfers in April 2022. Although the increase of people’s purchasing power could not offset price increases and currency depreciation, the program contributed to the improvement of schoolchildren’s nutrition. WFP also helped implement the ESSN. A WFP analysis reveals that due to the launch of the ESSN and the bolstering of the National Poverty Targeting Programme (NPTP), “the number of Lebanese households receiving assistance through national social safety nets, with WFP-implemented cash transfers, increased fourfold in 2022 compared to 2021.”
WFP’s plan from 2023 to 2025 is to strengthen Lebanon’s crisis response, provide safety nets, assist poverty reduction programs and extend school meals. The program also intends to work with the government to improve existing social protection services and strategy and achieve food security.
Lebanon’s Financing Facility
Established shortly after the explosion, the Lebanon Financing Facility (LFF) “provides an important means to pool grant resources and strengthen the coherence and coordination of financing.” Its goal is to bring about socioeconomic and business recovery and prepare for social sector reforms.
The trust fund, which was established by the World Bank, follows the Reform, Recovery and Reconstruction Framework (3RF), which addresses Lebanon’s immediate needs. The 3RF outlines actions that require priority to support recovery and reconstruction in Lebanon.
In 2023, the LFF plans to continue supporting 3RF priorities. It will offer both financial and technical assistance to facilitate the execution of priorities outlined by sector working groups and overseen by government representatives. Furthermore, discussions will continue, and state institutions will present their proposals and challenges to poverty reduction in Lebanon.
UN-Habitat
Mandated by the U.N. General Assembly, the United Nations Human Settlements Programme (UN-Habitat) helps establish socially and environmentally sustainable towns and cities. The organization works with partners and operates in over 90 countries to enact positive changes in cities and human settlements.
Between 2019 and 2022, UN-Habitat greatly assisted Lebanon. The program upgraded 164 building facades’ connections to water and electricity and rehabilitated neighboring streets. It also restored five public community health care centers, repaired 125 individual housing units, rehabilitated 44 full residential buildings, provided 816 households with rent assistance and assessed 113 schools for damage. UN-Habitat will collaborate with other municipalities to continue improving the lives of people in Lebanon.
What Does the Future Hold?
Poverty reduction in Lebanon will not be easy. In the short-term, Lebanon “needs to adopt and implement a credible, comprehensive and coordinated macro-financial stability strategy within a medium-term, macro-fiscal framework.” This strategy should achieve debt sustainability, reconstruct the financial sector, introduce a new monetary framework that regains the people’s confidence in its stability, adjust fiscal policy, enhance reforms and improve social protection. In the long term, Lebanon must build better institutions, including governance and business sectors.
In the absence of a good banking system and foreign exchange reserves, international aid and assistance from organizations remain necessary.
– Mariam Jawhar
Photo: Wikimedia Commons
Organizations Improving Women’s Rights in Morocco
The High Atlas Foundation
The High Atlas Foundation is an organization that the Peace Corps founded to support the Moroccan community. The organization emphasizes helping women’s rights in Morocco. This organization has a Family Literacy program that the EU supports. It aims to promote lifelong learning by addressing literacy problems. This program has three branches: teaching young women basic literacy, enhancing access to pre-primary education and empowering women socioeconomically. This initiative is beginning to allow women to be more involved in education, which benefits them career-wise.
This program extends beyond just education and gives women the opportunity to build financial independence and contribute to the economy. The High Atlas Foundation has worked to cultivate a strong network of individuals who lead four-day self-discovery IMAGINE workshops. In this program, Moroccan women learn about their legal and human rights. Currently, more than 380 women have attended one of these workshops in Marrakech, Al Haouz, Essaouira, Mohammedia, Oujda and Boujdour.
Education for All
Another organization that is benefitting Moroccan Women is Education for All. Few Moroccan women have access to education. This is due to parents not being able to afford lodging or transportation for school, or parents who would rather their daughters stay home. Education for All is taking a stand against this as half of the country is not literate, and in rural areas, up to 83% of women are illiterate. It is taking a stand by building and running high-quality boarding houses for girls 12-18. Everything from beds to meals to access to technology will be free. Since September 2009, it has built five homes. As of 2017, it had a total of 185 girls in its program.
Amal
Amal is a nonprofit training center dedicated to serving the female Moroccan population. It is striving to make changes in the community like closing the unemployment gap and teaching new job skills. As Amal operates as a restaurant, the main set of skills these women pick up is kitchen-based. This includes practical cutting, cooking and cleaning skills. Additionally, students attend classes for education in hygiene, security, service and language skills. These skills allow women to find jobs outside of the program and begin to support themselves.
Looking Ahead
The state of women’s rights in Morocco is a complex and challenging issue, with women facing significant barriers in areas such as education, career opportunities and personal autonomy. However, amid these challenges, there is a glimmer of hope as several organizations are actively working to address and improve the situation. The High Atlas Foundation has taken a proactive approach by implementing a Family Literacy program that focuses on enhancing women’s access to education. Education for All is another impactful organization dedicated to breaking down barriers to education for girls in Morocco. Amal, a nonprofit training center, stands out by addressing the unemployment gap among women in Morocco.
These organizations collectively exemplify the positive impact that targeted interventions can have on improving women’s rights in Morocco. While challenges persist, the efforts of these organizations provide a beacon of hope for a future where women in Morocco can enjoy greater autonomy, education and economic independence.
– Sara Agosto
Photo: Flickr
5 Organizations Helping the Deaf Community in India
1. The Noida Deaf Society
The Noida Deaf Society is an organization helping the deaf community in 12 states within India. With the overall goal of creating a society where deaf Indians are able to live entirely self-sufficiently, the Noida Deaf Society focuses on education, employment and working with organizations, teachers and other members of society to increase awareness of the challenges facing deaf Indians.
The Noida Deaf Society has helped deaf people in India find employment in sectors such as hospitality, retail, data entry, education and manufacturing. The organization also runs multiple schools, including short-term training programs, primary education, remedial education, vocational training and sign language education for hearing parents of deaf children. Through these schools, the Noida Deaf Society also helps train interpreters — a very necessary effort, as India had only 250 certified sign language interpreters as of 2017.
2. Sense International India
Sense International India is an organization helping the deaf community in 23 states within India. Working with individuals who are both deaf and blind, its goal is to ensure deafblind Indians and their families have equal access to support and opportunities. Sense International India puts enormous effort into promoting inclusion and intervention in the educational system, screening for and identifying deafblindness early in life so intervention is possible and providing vocational training to deafblind adults so they can be financially independent.
Sense International India is currently working on providing sustainable services to deafblind Indians in five southern states, four northern states and six eastern states. The organization is also working on setting up infrastructure to provide sustainable services to deafblind individuals in Ujjain, India.
3. All India Federation of the Deaf
Based in New Delhi and affiliated with the World Federation of the Deaf, the All India Federation of the Deaf has been helping the deaf community across India for more than 60 years. The foundation’s goals include empowering the deaf community, helping deaf Indians develop life skills, enabling deaf Indians to actively engage in society and making sure human rights apply equally to deaf Indians.
To meet this goal, the All India Federation of the Deaf focuses on ensuring the communication needs of deaf Indians are met and providing activities for deaf youth. It maintains a training center for deaf Indians aged 14 to 30 and a hostel for the training center’s students. Specific chapters within the organization focus on aiding deaf women and youth.
4. VAANI Deaf Children’s Foundation
VAANI Deaf Children’s Foundation currently helps the deaf community in three states within India. With the goal of ensuring every deaf child in India gets to live a fulfilling and dignified life, VAANI Deaf Children’s Foundation focuses on early detection and intervention, provides language and communication services to deaf children and their families, engages parents and professionals in the lives of deaf children and influences public policy to protect the rights of deaf Indians.
VAANI Deaf Children’s Foundation provides hearing screenings to newborns, early intervention services, training modules for educators on teaching deaf children, training for community workers and companies, a resource center for deaf children and their parents to learn Indian Sign Language, and life skills workshops for deaf children and their parents. The organization also assists in disaster management and provides general education to deaf children.
5. Deaf EnAbled Foundation
The Deaf EnAbled Foundation helps the deaf community in seven states and one union territory of India. Its goal is to create a world where deaf Indians have full and equal access to every part of society. The organization’s targets include adult literacy, promoting Indian Sign Language among both deaf and non-deaf Indians, providing education and employment training to deaf Indians and raising awareness for deaf rights.
The Deaf EnAbled Foundation started its work in 2009. To date, it has provided training to more than 6,300 deaf students, helped more than 4,400 deaf Indians get jobs, enabled more than 3,200 deaf children to participate in competitions, enabled more than 3,500 deaf youth to take part in community activities and taught Indian Sign Language to more than 500 people.
Looking Ahead
While there is still a long road ahead to achieve full equality for deaf Indians, these organizations have done great work and are making real, lasting change. Thanks to the efforts of these groups, deaf Indians are able to access education, employment opportunities and more, enabling the community to begin lifting themselves out of poverty.
– Natalie Coyne
Photo: Unsplash
Migration in Mongolia: Movement to Urban Slums
About Migration in Mongolia
An article by Bloomberg vividly portrays a persistent issue within Mongolia. Mass mobilization towards urban centers has resulted in a housing crisis as people search for a better life.
The movement towards cities such as Ulaanbaatar has resulted in ger districts, which are communities of tents. Ger literally means “tent,” and is an older, more traditional style of a yurt. Collections of them form informal settlements around Ulaanbaatar and, of the 380,000 residents of the city, around 170,000 live within ger districts in the hills surrounding the urban center. Of the entire Mongolian population, a staggering one-third live in ger districts. This further demonstrates the importance of addressing the housing crisis due to migration in Mongolia.
The Situation
During the coldest months, residents must endure temperatures that can drop to as low as -20 degrees Celsius. The population is at risk from high pollution levels as fires are lit, and materials like rubber are burned to keep warm.
There is also the practical issue of the disconnect between city and suburb. The lack of access to public transport bars access to employment within the city as the task of commuting becomes nearly impossible for those without private transportation.
Threat to civilian health is imminent, and those living below the poverty line are at the greatest risk. With more people settling in the ger regions, increased exposure to pollution has caused a rise in respiratory problems.
However, people living within these districts continually demonstrate self-determination to make a living and provide for themselves. In recent years, local communities have been providing ‘micro-enterprises,’ such as taxi services and sole trading, to provide jobs outside of the city center.
Familial networks have been vital in bridging the gap between ger districts and Ulaanbaatar as families produce and grow crops that are then transported to relatives in the city who are responsible for selling to larger businesses at a profit.
This cooperation between the urban and rural is transformative and suggestive of a positive future in de-isolating ger districts. Improved roads and accessibility are indicative of the value of the initiative of farmers living within communities and improved job prospects and living conditions.
GerHub
Projects like GerHub are paving the way for solutions to provide ger communities with a more comfortable way of life. For example, the Dulaan Ger initiative is an incredible project that combats poor living conditions. Migration in Mongolia and movement towards cities do not eradicate harsh living conditions such as freezing temperatures. However, this project, which literally translates to “a warm Ger,” is a transformative undertaking that educates community members such as handymen and seamstresses on ger insulation. This not only improves living conditions for communities but also provides additional income.
Other Initiatives
Organizations such as the UNICEF Mongolia Country Office and the UNICEF Office of Innovation have been vital in identifying the risk of pollution to people’s health within these communities. Working with brands such as The North Face and Arcteryx, prototype technology is being developed to prevent harmful gasses from entering through the door, floor and toono (crown) of the ger. These projects demonstrate the potential to alleviate poverty within ger communities through new technology and job opportunities.
– Sophie Butts
Photo: Flickr
College Students Fight Poverty in India
About Poverty in India
There are many reasons for India’s poverty problem. India’s population is constantly increasing, with at least 17 million people born each year. Combined with employment issues, these factors conspire together to keep people in poverty.
Poverty is also defined as the lack of basic resources such as health care, sanitation and electricity. The lack of these basic necessities can negatively impact life expectancy. The reduction of poverty in many places around the world, including India, will improve health for the overall population of the world. Many of the diseases that people get come from those living in poverty so it is best to decrease that amount by helping people in poverty.
Graduate Students’ Efforts
In an attempt to take care of poverty related issues, more than 50 graduate students at Kristu Jayanti College went on a mission to make changes at the grassroots level. Wanting to carry out the understanding, initiating and advocating important conversations on demanding economic issues, these students challenged themselves to address the internal migrant problem in India. The International Organization for Migration states that ‘migrant’ is a blanket term that is not defined under international law, reflecting the common understanding of a person who moves away from their place of residence. This term has a multitude of categories of people such as migrant workers.
“Labor migration is one of the defining features of the contemporary world of work and is integral to the process of India’s social and economic development,” states the Decent Work Country Programme for India 2023-2027. Not only in terms of numbers but economic relevance, internal migration is an important issue in this country. The students were able to combine advocacy, dialogue and research.
The Results of the Study
“In our study, we examined, for example, the potability of drinking water, and the findings were quite concerning as in our initial tests, most water samples were contaminated,” claimed a microbiology student. In the next phase carried out by the college, students created awareness campaigns based on their own research. Through in-person demonstrations the students explained the use of each element and how they purify the water. Without these elements, many people do not have access to clean water. The journey that these students took shows how effective teamwork and vision can make a difference.
– Hailey Spencer
Photo: Flickr