More than 54% of farmers in Pakistan live below the poverty line. According to the latest national census of agriculture in Pakistan, 97% of farmers own less than 12.5 acres and 26% own less than one acre. Meanwhile, the average farm size is now 5.1 acres. These figures suggest that farmers are not generating enough profit to save and are instead living from crop to crop.
Pakistan ranks among the world’s 10 most climate-vulnerable countries, with devastating monsoon rains, floods, droughts, landslides and earthquakes. These natural catastrophes destroy livelihoods, shove civilians into poverty and hit the agricultural industry the hardest. When the aftermath damages crop yields, farmers suffer.
There are more than 11 million farmers in Pakistan. When major climate shifts strike, the government cannot provide for such a large segment of the population. Thus, farmers have no economic security in the event of a natural disaster. On top of this, a recent sharp increase in the costs of fertilizers, diesel, pesticides, farming machinery and electricity in Pakistan makes it expensive for farmers to produce the few crops that survive amid unpredictable climate instability.
Crop costs have also fallen globally and this growing disparity leaves farmers at a loss. Fortunately, here are five organizations that uplift farmers and minimize poverty in Pakistan by providing rural farms with supportive resources.
Hidaya Trust
Hidaya Trust is a nongovernment organization that aims to help underprivileged persons in Pakistan “stand on their own feet”, including farmers. The organization runs various programs covering education, social welfare, health care, the environment and self-employment. Hidaya Trust supplies families in the farmer assistance program with fertilizers, seeds and equipment, as well as education on farming techniques.
For those in the animal farming program, the organization uses its donations to provide families with livestock to start a farm. For example, a $50 donation can buy five chickens and one rooster to start a poultry farm; it costs $70 for seven rabbits, $220 for a pair of goats and $500 for a cow.
Kissan Madadgar
Kissan Madadgar is a real-time farming advisory service that provides expert support and consultation through various channels to farmers at no cost. Farmers in Pakistan can access this service through its 24/7 helpline, mobile application or YouTube channel. Agricultural experts at Kissan Madadgar also visit farms in person to offer on-site support.
This involves teaching farmers more sustainable, productive and feasible solutions and techniques. The goal is to empower farmers, help them prosper and improve Pakistan’s agricultural ecosystem.
Chamber of Food and Agriculture
The Chamber of Food and Agriculture is an independent, nonprofit organization based in Pakistan, created by farmers, for farmers. Agricultural experts and rural development practitioners in Pakistan work with food producers and policymakers worldwide to empower farmers. Run by a people-first policy, the Chamber of Food and Agriculture directly provides training workshops and resources to rural farmers in Pakistan.
It also promotes climate-smart agriculture and technical agricultural innovation. Through this initiative, the organization aims to facilitate stable, accessible markets for farmers, support policy advocacy and increase women’s participation in the farming industry.
The World Bank Group
In 2022, the World Bank Group launched the Punjab Resilient and Inclusive Agriculture Transformation Project, with $200 million in funding. The ongoing project supplies small rural farms in Pakistan with climate-smart farming technology to increase agricultural productivity and farmers’ incomes. This includes training farmers in climate-smart techniques, facilitating efficient and equitable access to water and building resilience to extreme climate emergencies.
The World Bank Group’s project is expected to help 190,000 rural farmers and 1.4 million acres of land.
The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations
In 2020, the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) established a livestock farmer field school in the Umerkot district of Pakistan to expand farmers’ knowledge beyond local practices. The organization also distributed 315 kilograms of animal compound feed to each farmer among more than 1,400 of the most vulnerable households to support them throughout the agricultural crisis. Additionally, with support from the World Bank Group, FAO worked with local governments to construct water storage tanks with underwater solar-powered water pumps in 25 rural villages in the Tharparkar district of Pakistan.
FAO provided the villages with water troughs for livestock and drip irrigation systems for kitchen gardens. These resources supported farmers by reducing the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on their farms. The construction of the water systems also created temporary employment opportunities for those most affected in the region.
The Future for Farmers in Pakistan
In Pakistan, agriculture is the largest sector in the economy. Farming makes up 24% of the country’s total gross domestic product (GDP), employs half of the labor force and is the greatest source of international exports. Farmers also create food security in the country. However, the agricultural sector struggles with low productivity due to its vulnerability to climate change and volatile markets.
Farmers in Pakistan require support with modern technology that accounts for climate instability, as well as further education on proactive farming techniques to maximize crop yields and ultimately help farmers overcome poverty. Given their contribution to Pakistan’s economy, policymakers and government leaders must prioritize farms when allocating funding and resources.
– Umaymah Suhail
Umaymah is based in Karachi, Pakistan and focuses on Good News and Global Health for The Borgen Project.
Photo: Pexels
Organizations Supporting Farmers in Pakistan
Pakistan ranks among the world’s 10 most climate-vulnerable countries, with devastating monsoon rains, floods, droughts, landslides and earthquakes. These natural catastrophes destroy livelihoods, shove civilians into poverty and hit the agricultural industry the hardest. When the aftermath damages crop yields, farmers suffer.
There are more than 11 million farmers in Pakistan. When major climate shifts strike, the government cannot provide for such a large segment of the population. Thus, farmers have no economic security in the event of a natural disaster. On top of this, a recent sharp increase in the costs of fertilizers, diesel, pesticides, farming machinery and electricity in Pakistan makes it expensive for farmers to produce the few crops that survive amid unpredictable climate instability.
Crop costs have also fallen globally and this growing disparity leaves farmers at a loss. Fortunately, here are five organizations that uplift farmers and minimize poverty in Pakistan by providing rural farms with supportive resources.
Hidaya Trust
Hidaya Trust is a nongovernment organization that aims to help underprivileged persons in Pakistan “stand on their own feet”, including farmers. The organization runs various programs covering education, social welfare, health care, the environment and self-employment. Hidaya Trust supplies families in the farmer assistance program with fertilizers, seeds and equipment, as well as education on farming techniques.
For those in the animal farming program, the organization uses its donations to provide families with livestock to start a farm. For example, a $50 donation can buy five chickens and one rooster to start a poultry farm; it costs $70 for seven rabbits, $220 for a pair of goats and $500 for a cow.
Kissan Madadgar
Kissan Madadgar is a real-time farming advisory service that provides expert support and consultation through various channels to farmers at no cost. Farmers in Pakistan can access this service through its 24/7 helpline, mobile application or YouTube channel. Agricultural experts at Kissan Madadgar also visit farms in person to offer on-site support.
This involves teaching farmers more sustainable, productive and feasible solutions and techniques. The goal is to empower farmers, help them prosper and improve Pakistan’s agricultural ecosystem.
Chamber of Food and Agriculture
The Chamber of Food and Agriculture is an independent, nonprofit organization based in Pakistan, created by farmers, for farmers. Agricultural experts and rural development practitioners in Pakistan work with food producers and policymakers worldwide to empower farmers. Run by a people-first policy, the Chamber of Food and Agriculture directly provides training workshops and resources to rural farmers in Pakistan.
It also promotes climate-smart agriculture and technical agricultural innovation. Through this initiative, the organization aims to facilitate stable, accessible markets for farmers, support policy advocacy and increase women’s participation in the farming industry.
The World Bank Group
In 2022, the World Bank Group launched the Punjab Resilient and Inclusive Agriculture Transformation Project, with $200 million in funding. The ongoing project supplies small rural farms in Pakistan with climate-smart farming technology to increase agricultural productivity and farmers’ incomes. This includes training farmers in climate-smart techniques, facilitating efficient and equitable access to water and building resilience to extreme climate emergencies.
The World Bank Group’s project is expected to help 190,000 rural farmers and 1.4 million acres of land.
The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations
In 2020, the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) established a livestock farmer field school in the Umerkot district of Pakistan to expand farmers’ knowledge beyond local practices. The organization also distributed 315 kilograms of animal compound feed to each farmer among more than 1,400 of the most vulnerable households to support them throughout the agricultural crisis. Additionally, with support from the World Bank Group, FAO worked with local governments to construct water storage tanks with underwater solar-powered water pumps in 25 rural villages in the Tharparkar district of Pakistan.
FAO provided the villages with water troughs for livestock and drip irrigation systems for kitchen gardens. These resources supported farmers by reducing the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on their farms. The construction of the water systems also created temporary employment opportunities for those most affected in the region.
The Future for Farmers in Pakistan
In Pakistan, agriculture is the largest sector in the economy. Farming makes up 24% of the country’s total gross domestic product (GDP), employs half of the labor force and is the greatest source of international exports. Farmers also create food security in the country. However, the agricultural sector struggles with low productivity due to its vulnerability to climate change and volatile markets.
Farmers in Pakistan require support with modern technology that accounts for climate instability, as well as further education on proactive farming techniques to maximize crop yields and ultimately help farmers overcome poverty. Given their contribution to Pakistan’s economy, policymakers and government leaders must prioritize farms when allocating funding and resources.
– Umaymah Suhail
Photo: Pexels
HIV/AIDS in Dominica
Considered an epidemic in the Latin American-Caribbean region since the beginning of the 1980s, HIV has had a widespread and lasting impact across many countries. Many Caribbean countries witness a prevalence rate of more than 1%, markedly above the international average of 0.7%.
Despite the fact that the greater region is still witnessing a ‘generalized epidemic’ of HIV, Dominica has made remarkable progress in tackling the disease and today accounts for some of the lowest rates of transmission and new infections in its locality, thanks to targeted testing efforts, expanded training and local education programs. Here is more information about HIV/AIDS in Dominica.
Improvement of Prevalence Rates
Dominica has succeeded in improving all of its incidence rate metrics in the fight against HIV and AIDS. In terms of new infections in the past year, Dominica saw a decisive downturn from a rate of 0.47 per 1,000 people in 1990 to 0.23 by 2024, demonstrating a fall by over half of new cases. This places it significantly below the regional average for the Caribbean, which is at approximately 0.58 per 1,000 people in 2024. Similarly, deaths stemming from HIV infections decreased by almost half from 14.46 per 100,000 people in 2000 to 7.64 by 2021.
In 2021, Dominica announced that it had eliminated mother-to-child transmission of HIV and the World Health Organization (WHO) duly awarded the country the official certification. The organization described this landmark achievement as indicative of the strength of government and civil society efforts and Dominica became the eighth country in the region to be awarded this certification.
Work on the Ground To Address HIV/AIDS in Dominica
Dominica’s success in tackling HIV has been accredited to tireless work on the ground and successful partnership between government bodies and civil society partners.
The National HIV and AIDS Response Programme (NHARP), headquartered in the nation’s capital Roseau, is a government initiative that the Health Ministry overseeds. The program has made significant inroads in minimizing stigma and has helped to dramatically reduce cases through its provision of education, training and support. Its efforts led to regional recognition in 2017, when Dominica received the Most Improved Award at the Caribbean HIV Testing Day ceremony.
Pan Caribbean Partnership Against HIV/AIDS (PANCAP) is another regional organization which supports Dominica in tackling HIV/AIDS. The umbrella organization of governments, local members of civil society, agencies and donors not only funds Regional Testing Day but also advocates for policy coordination in relation to HIV, has established a regional HIV directory search function and manages an accessible log of HIV data for its constituent countries. Such efforts have proven instrumental in the fight against HIV.
Looking Ahead
In conclusion, despite an ongoing struggle against HIV in the Caribbean, Dominica has successfully reduced rates of HIV/AIDS through successful testing and education programs and a directed campaign to support pregnant mothers, which has led to the eradication of mother-to-child transmission. Consequently, Dominica has become one of the most visible examples of successful communicable disease reduction in the region and trajectories suggest the country is moving in a promising direction towards continually reducing HIV rates.
– Phoebe Lang-Clapp
Photo: Flickr
Homelessness in Wallis and Futuna: A Hidden Problem
Housing and Poverty in a Remote Territory
Wallis and Futuna is a French overseas territory with a population of about 11,140 people spread across the islands of Wallis, Futuna and Alofi. As a French collectivity, it enjoys social protection, free public health care and links to France’s welfare system. Despite this, its geographic isolation and small market limit stable job opportunities.
Authorities conducted its latest population and housing census in Wallis and Futuna in 2023. However, the 2018 census most recently counted every household and community residence, including boarding schools and retirement homes. That census tracked the living conditions of residents and housing stock. While agencies/officials have not widely published detailed figures on homelessness in Wallis and Futuna, the census framework indicated that authorities focused on issues like overcrowding, shared homes and vulnerable residents rather than the percentage of people living on the streets.
When Homelessness Means Inadequate Housing
With about 21% of Wallis and Futuna’s residents living below the housing poverty in 2020, this phenomenon of “hidden” homelessness is characterized by residents living in overcrowded conditions, substandard homes and precarious tenure rather than people sleeping outside. Those from low-income backgrounds live in informal and semi-formal settlements that do not meet basic standards regarding safe water access, sanitation and structural quality.
These issues are not new to Wallis and Futuna. The territory has limited land, is vulnerable to tropical storms, and depends on a small, aid-dependent economy. Consequently, those without stable housing often live with extended families, move frequently between islands, or rely on church and community networks. These circumstances align with larger international definitions of housing insecurity and hidden homelessness.
Support Systems and French Policy Connections
French public systems play a significant role in preventing extreme homelessness in Wallis and Futuna. The French government funds a free public health system that residents can easily access. Doctors and officials can quickly evacuate those with serious cases to partner hospitals in Paris under an agreement with France’s national health insurance, ensuring that residents in Wallis and Futuna receive immediate enrollment in social security.
Moreover, the territory benefits from French-supported programs like the “Housing First” plan. This initiative promotes quick access to stable housing for people living in poor conditions, and aims to reduce reliance on emergency shelters. While France designed this plan primarily for the mainland, its principles provide funding and technical support that can reach French overseas territories, including Wallis and Futuna, where social services are under French law. Between 2017 and 2022, France’s Housing First strategy moved about 440,000 people into (or kept them in) stable housing, showing measurable results behind the model.
Climate, Development Projects and Significant Future Risks
Environmental pressures and limited land accelerates housing insecurity in Wallis and Futuna. Rising sea levels, coastal erosion and intense storms destroy homes and traditional landholdings. This pushes individuals and families into temporary accommodations or the overcrowded homes of relatives when their own dwellings become unsuitable to live in.
The European Union, through cooperation with South Pacific territories, has tried to address these risks. Between 2018 and 2024, the PROTEGE program was implemented by the Pacific Community and the Secretariat of the Pacific Regional Environment Programme (SPREP) supported Wallis and Futuna in protecting drinking water resources, promoting agroecological practices and safeguarded biodiversity through concrete actions such as water-catchment protection, and invasive-species control. These measures help to improve rural livelihoods and lessens the risk of environmental shocks that lead to displacement. Since August 2020, the EU’s “Green Overseas” (GO program) led by Expertise France has helped the territory through the GO facility, which provides technical assistance and funding to develop eco-construction and energy-efficiency solutions.
Solutions and Community-Based Approaches
Pacific housing programs demonstrate that combining basic infrastructure, secure tenure and community involvement effectively addresses inadequate housing. By leveraging village networks, church communities and traditional systems, it can create resilient housing and eco-construction with French and EU support. This helps reduce hidden homelessness in Wallis and Futuna and protects its most vulnerable residents.
– Ashirah Newton
Photo: Flickr
Innovations in Poverty Eradication in Madagascar
Despite Madagascar’s unparalleled biodiversity, factors such as deforestation, changing weather patterns, natural disasters and poor economic conditions have ravaged the land. Around 71% of Madagascar’s population lives below the poverty line. However, through new projects and initiatives, there have been plenty of innovations in the journey to eradicate poverty in the country. Here are three recent innovations in poverty eradication in Madagascar.
A New Scientific Approach To Increasing Food Availability
Poverty in Madagascar is harming wildlife as much as the people, especially the coral reefs. Overfishing has immensely decreased the fish population, which has left algae unchecked. Without fish to control the algae, it has overgrown the reefs and corals. Without the coral reefs, the fish lose their habitat where they sleep, eat and find protection from predators.
But scientists now have a new, creative solution to tackle this issue. Emma Gibbons is the Executive Director of Reef Doctor, a U.K.-based nonprofit stationed in southwest Madagascar. Gibbons and Reef Doctor are leading a team that aims to increase the fish population by building coral reefs in the Bay of Ranobe. Here is how they do it:
First, the team drops large pieces of limestone into the water. Then, they plant stacks of flat stones called ARMS (autonomous reef monitoring structures) in real coral reefs to accumulate coral, sponges, algae and other reef life. Then, they move the ARMS to the constructed reefs, and the life begins to spread.
As of October 2025, Emma Gibbons’ team has successfully constructed two of these artificial reefs. Evaluations of these reefs detected hundreds of species thriving within them. The reefs have accumulated life, helping sea life repopulate and bringing more food to the people of Madagascar.
Reef Doctor’s work in Madagascar has created hope for those living on the coast, because for these people, fishing is life. Without as many fish to catch, more than 50,000 fishers are left with a shortage of food and income. This is disastrous for the economy, too; fishing on the coastline of Madagascar produces 5-7% of the national GDP. While this issue persists, Reef Doctor’s work is still an extremely positive development in the fight for poverty eradication in Madagascar.
Gfoundation Prepares To Dispatch Surgeons To Aid in Health Crisis
Gfoundation is a nonprofit organization founded in South Korea to partner up with churches and local organizations across the globe to take on global issues like poverty. Since 2019, they have worked in developing countries like Ethiopia, Mongolia, Namibia and Madagascar to distribute goods, offer education, and provide free health care to those who need it the most.
Gfoundation’s most notable work in Madagascar is its Doctors for Doctorless Program (D4D), which targets Madagascar’s health care crisis. Dr. Jae-Hoon Lee is a surgeon with an extensive resume of activism work in Madagascar, and he is the one responsible for the D4D program, a three-year initiative developed for the Madagascar Government.
This program involves sending qualified doctors and surgeons to underprivileged communities to ensure citizens are no longer dying in preventable ways. These doctors will primarily focus on reducing deaths from appendicitis and C-sections. So far, Dr. Jae-Hoon has worked with the National Institute of Public and Community Health (INSPC) to turn this program from an idea to a reality.
Currently, 20 D4D doctors are trained and ready to help the people of Madagascar, but Gfoundation is still seeking donations so they can purchase ultrasound machines, so these doctors are yet to be dispatched.
New Collaborative Methodology Aims To Improve Infrastructure
In 2024, Madagascar, in collaboration with Bhutan, Chile and Tonga, started development of the Global Methodology for Infrastructure Resilience Review. This methodology is a five-step framework for creating infrastructure that can resist poverty and natural disasters. A detailed game plan to strengthen infrastructure is a game-changer for Madagascar, because natural disasters are a huge cause of the high poverty rate. Madagascar’s infrastructure is hit with roughly $100 million USD worth of damage every year, and right now, the government cannot keep up with damage repair.
The five-step plan is as follows:
This process was implemented in 2024 and rural developers in Madagascar have since use it to ensure that all new infrastructure is much more resilient to disasters.
Looking Ahead
Though conditions remain difficult for poverty-stricken communities across the globe, progress is occurring every day. These three examples are proof that poverty eradication in Madagascar is ever-progressing. Madagascar’s fascinating culture and diversity aren’t going anywhere as long as efforts stay diligent.
– Lucas Cain
Photo: Unsplash
The Gender Wage Gap in Andorra
History of Workforce and Gendered Pay
The 2021 Chamber of Commerce Economic Report revealed that the average wage increased 1.8%, and for the sixth year in a row, Andorra raised the minimum wage by 3.5%. The report shows that the average wage for women was lower than that for men. It notes that the gender wage gap in Andorra actually widened in 2021 to 28.5% despite the commitment to the recommendations of the European Committee of Social Rights in 2020. Specifically in the financial sector of jobs, men’s wages were 80% higher than women’s. The report suggests that the reasoning for the gender wage gap is that there are more women working part-time jobs in lower paying sectors than men. Therefore, women are at more of a disadvantage for poverty rates due to lower income and limited childcare options.
In the executive summary of the Andorra 2022 Human Rights Report, it states that on March 31 of 2022, “parliament approved the country’s first gender equality law.” In 2022, women made up 48.6% of the workforce and the law prohibits unequal pay for equal work. There were no cases filed in 2022 of gender discrimination in terms of pay but the ADA did report cases of gender discrimination in regards to unequal salaries. Women did not file complaints or official cases for fear of repercussions from their employers. “The new gender equality law approved in March requests companies with more than 50 workers to implement gender equality plans.”
European Committee of Social Rights
The European Committee of Social Rights is the governing body of the European Social Charter which identifies European countries’ conformity to seven situations relating to social and economic justice. The 2025 report that came out in January 2026 found that Andorra was in nonconformity with six of the seven situations. The categories in which Andorra did not conform were:
Article 4.3 is the crucial one regarding the gender wage gap in Andorra. With the law that companies with 50 or more workers must keep documentation of the gender pay gap in the workplace, reports have indicated that women earn 26% less than men. Considering the gender wage gap was 22.17% in 2018, Andorra has made no measurable progress to reduce the gender wage gap and is therefore in nonconformity with article 4.3 of the European Social Charter.
Current Efforts To Close the Wage Gap
Andorra’s compliance with Article 20 of the European Social Charter is in part because there has been measurable progress in promoting the participation of women in the labor market. Employers are offering equal opportunity for workplace advancement and the number of women in decision-making positions at companies is increasing. These three factors cause Andorra to be in conformity with article 20 because of the measurable progress it is making to close gender inequality in the workplace.
This translates over to the gender pay gap with the gender equality law that has now been enforced to better analyze the transparency of the gender wage gap in Andorra. In response to the backlash the Andorran government is receiving, it responded to say that it is taking the recommendations “as a constructive roadmap to continue advancing in the deployment of labor rights.” The gender equality law has been strengthened in the last year with regards to the registration of equality plans among individual companies. The 2025 European Social Charter report is a reminder that work to close the gender wage gap in Andorra cannot be stagnant. The government is taking this seriously and is already enacting new enforcers in parliament.
Looking Ahead
With the release of the 2025 European Social Treaty conclusions, Andorra must now address the stagnant issue of the gender wage gap. Its commitment to the European Social Committee in 2020 requires it to be accountable of actively solving problems of inequality. While it has made progress in the areas of women becoming more prominent in positions of power, the gender wage gap in Andorra still presents critical setbacks to women experiencing poverty. Without an equal playing field and equal pay, women are more put at higher risk for poverty than men. It is time to close the gender wage gap and help women rise up in success.
– Kaitlyn Crane
Photo: Flickr
Disability and Poverty in the Seychelles: Progress and Challenges
Policies and Existing Legislation
In 1994, the government passed the National Council for Disabled Persons Act, committing the Seychelles to the safeguarding of disabled persons. In this context, the Seychelles ratified the United Nation’s Convention on the Rights of People with Disabilities (CRPD) in 2009. Undoubtedly, a step in the right direction for disability rights, the government has not automatically assimilated the Convention into domestic law which limits its direct enforceability across the country.
The 2022 census classifies approximately 4.24% of the population as “persons with disability.” Although forming a minority, it is clear that disability in the Seychelles should remain a priority for policy and legislation.
Indeed, the Seychelles has prioritized its social protection spending more than many other African island states. In 2020, the government allocated just under 7% of GDP to social protection, which directly benefits citizens living with disabilities and those at risk of poverty.
The Reality of Poverty in the Seychelles
Although it is true that the Seychelles has committed significant attention to the well-being of persons with disabilities, the reality of poverty in the Seychelles disproportionately affects disabled individuals and their lived experience.
According to the World Bank Poverty and Equity Brief, as of October 2025, the Seychelles has almost entirely eliminated extreme poverty, defined as living on less than $2.15 per day. Nonetheless, inequality across the islands persists. Poverty in the Seychelles is expected to remain at approximately 7%, measured against the $8.30 per day threshold. Those on the lowest incomes remain especially vulnerable, with persons with disabilities bearing the heaviest burden.
The Impact of Geography
The same geographic characteristics that give the Seychelles its idyllic charm present further challenges for accessibility. The topography of the islands means that many essential services are located at the top of steep inclines or in valleys. As a result, accessing these services can be extremely difficult for people with disabilities, particularly those with physical impairments. These geographic barriers compound existing social and economic inequalities, deepening the link between disability and poverty in the Seychelles.
Progress and Future Developments
While acknowledging the ongoing challenges the Seychelles faces in terms of disability advocacy and protection, particularly in the context of economic inequality, the country has made notable progress in strengthening social protection measures. The government has taken proactive steps to improve disability awareness through education initiatives.
Meanwhile, the National Council for Disabled Persons (NCFD), established in 1994, continues to represent the interests of those with disabilities. The council aims to promote inclusion and fair access to opportunities, by coordinating services and organizations that aid employment and rehabilitation for those with disabilities. It also works with the Minister of Health and Social Development to improve legal and administrative frameworks.
Efforts to improve accessibility have also increased following the signing of the CRPD, with infrastructure projects, such as the Baie Ste Anne Primary school, actively incorporating ramps and lifts in their designs. The Seychelles continues to prioritize social spending, placing disability and poverty at the center of its legislative and policy framework.
Looking Ahead
Every citizen, regardless of their economic position or abilities, deserves a world that can and does accommodate their needs. Continuing to address the intersection of disability and poverty in the Seychelles is vital to ensure that all individuals can participate fully in society. For the Seychelles, sustained commitment to inclusive social and economic policies is essential in advancing equality.
– Polly Laws
Photo: Flickr
Renewable Energy in Kyrgyzstan
Kyrgyzstan has made noticeable agreements with multiple leaders of the energy transition such as the UAE, China and Japan largely due to the expansive amount of minerals found in the country. While these countries get cheap access to important materials needed for renewable energy technology, Kyrgyzstan gets direct access to that technology. This is crucial to Kyrgyzstan’s economic development as the country currently suffers from unequal resource distribution and labor inequality. It is important to note the possible benefits Kyrgyzstan can gain through its current traction in clean energy because these issues are found in multiple corners of the world, not just to Kyrgyzstan.
Larger Access to Electricity
The current infrastructure for energy in Kyrgyzstan proves to be in poor shape; however, the increased investments in renewable energy in Kyrgyzstan will channel that energy to larger audiences with improved infrastructure. There is already evidence of this transition in the country: more than 50% of the urban population has a primary reliance on clean energy and fuels. This dependence indicates lower energy vulnerability which is a strong sign ending energy poverty.
Increased Jobs and Export Opportunities
New initiatives to increase private investment from the government offers the chance of more opportunities to employ local populations to work on renewable energy systems. This would have immense impacts on the Kyrgyz economy. While many initiatives are still in talks, Kyrgyzstan has already showcased the future through its current plans like the newly implemented the Partnership for Action on Green Economy. This plan directly assesses gaps and finds opportunities for local participation, with a particular dimension of gender-specific participation.
Some analysts note that Kyrgyzstan’s energy production will lead to a surplus generation which can then be exported to foreign entities interested in both renewable energy resources and technology and the actual energy itself. This would turn Kyrgyzstan into an export economy which would help with economic development as a whole.
Climate Resilience
There is a common perception that consumption of fossil fuels is necessary for economic and national development. However, the impacts of Kyrgyzstan’s investments in clean energy show otherwise. The nation is directly contributing to climate resilience and the energy transition while still being able to develop its population, providing an alternative path to other nations in similar positions. Furthermore, this investment helps to address a key problem in local energy poverty rates. Central Asia, as a whole, generates 75% of its electricity through fossil fuel consumption making the region susceptible to global disruptions. By investing into clean energy, like Kyrgyzstan, nations in the region can combat this vulnerability as they would rely on their local energy sources for electricity generation thereby reducing this chokepoint.
Looking Ahead
Kyrgyzstan’s current patterns and position towards clean energy development have not been solely towards the interests of foreign entities or even the global energy transition. Kyrgyzstan stands as an example of how clean energy is very much the future and what it can do to improve the livelihoods of future populations. The country’s investments in renewable energy in Kyrgyzstan are not only enhancing the day-to-day lives of its population through larger access to electricity and increased jobs for citizens but also changing the perception of the country as a whole as they invite foreign investments and development alongside exporting current capital. These initiatives are essentially reshaping Kyrgyzstan’s role in the global economy into both a provider and teacher for other nations.
– Saanvi Mudpa
Photo: Unsplash
Seeds of Sustainability: Reducing Food Insecurity in Bolivia
One of the biggest factors affecting food insecurity in Bolivia is extreme weather conditions. The country faces recurring droughts and floods that heavily impact its agricultural sector. One organization, Fundación Patiño, demonstrates that reducing food insecurity across the country can be addressed through practical solutions.
Fundación Patiño
Fundación Patiño, established in 1931, aims to make a lasting impact by providing young Bolivians with the tools to build stronger and safer communities. In addition to providing direct care for more than 2,000 malnourished children each year, it also carries out projects and initiatives in education, agroecology, pediatric health and culture to address challenges that hinder progress.
Agroecology is a discipline that combines science and society to implement farming techniques that are sustainable and resilient. Fundación Patiño has undertaken multiple projects to promote and apply these techniques, including the Cochuna Project, its haciendas and the agroecology farm and seed center in Pairumani.
Education and the Cochuna Project
In the mountains of the Yungas region, a remote location, Fundación Patiño built and maintains a boarding school. Now accessible to small, isolated communities, teenagers in the region can continue their general education while deepening their farming and agricultural knowledge to develop sustainable practices for the future. The school currently hosts and educates 120 teenagers.
The Haciendas
The two haciendas located in Pairumani and Santa Cruz consist of large agricultural estates that serve as open-air laboratories combining science, society and pedagogy. Their focus is to promote economic independence by training farmers and researchers in sustainable techniques through hands-on practice and experimentation.
Each year, they organize “Field Days,” where community members are invited to learn about agricultural developments taking place. The foundation estimates that seeds improved through experimentation at the haciendas have benefited more than 10,000 farmers.
Food Sovereignty and the Seed Center
Fundación Patiño also runs an initiative that preserves and nurtures local seed varieties in its seed center located in Pairumani. This directly addresses food insecurity in Bolivia, as these local seeds are suited to Andean ecosystems. As a result, they are more resilient to weather conditions such as droughts and floods that affect Bolivia’s agricultural sector.
By prioritizing local and indigenous seed varieties over imported or hybrid ones, the seed center supports food sovereignty in Bolivia. Communities rely less on expensive imported foods when they can grow, sustain and sell their own produce.
In addition to strengthening food autonomy, training farmers to grow crops using techniques that reduce vulnerability to climate shocks supports local economic activity. Surplus food can be sold in markets and potentially exported.
Fundación Patiño’s model is designed to be replicable. Its initiatives have benefited more than 50,000 individuals, contributing to efforts to reduce food insecurity in Bolivia by promoting food sovereignty through education and community engagement.
– Brittany Buscio
Photo: Flickr
Clean Cooking Solutions in India Reduce Health Risks
The World Health Organization (WHO) reports that household air pollution from solid fuels leads to approximately three million deaths globally each year. Many of these deaths occur in developing countries, including India. This level of preventable illness and death demonstrates the urgent need for cleaner cooking solutions.
India continues to experience high levels of indoor air pollution because a large portion of its population depends on biomass fuels. Exposure to smoke from cooking fires increases the risk of respiratory infections, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), cardiovascular disease and lung cancer. The health effects extend beyond individual suffering.
Families often face rising medical costs, reduced productivity and lost income when adults become ill. Children exposed to smoke are more likely to miss school due to sickness, which can limit long-term educational outcomes and future opportunities. These combined impacts place additional strain on households already living with limited financial resources.
Government Programs Supporting Clean Cooking
One of the most important government efforts to address indoor air pollution in India is the Pradhan Mantri Ujjwala Yojana (PMUY). This program provides subsidized liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) connections to low-income households to encourage families to move away from traditional biomass fuels. LPG burns much more cleanly than wood or dung, producing far less smoke inside the home.
As a result, households that adopt LPG experience improved indoor air quality and reduced exposure to harmful pollutants. The International Energy Agency reports that households using LPG instead of traditional fuels experience lower rates of respiratory illness and spend less time collecting firewood.
For many women, this change is particularly significant. In households that rely on wood or dung, women often spend hours each day gathering fuel and cooking in smoky conditions. Switching to LPG saves time and reduces daily exposure to harmful smoke, improving both health and overall quality of life.
In addition to LPG, government-supported programs have encouraged improved kitchen ventilation and safer stove designs in areas where LPG access remains limited. While these measures do not eliminate smoke, they help reduce the concentration of harmful particles inside homes and provide a transition pathway toward cleaner fuels.
The Role of Nonprofits and Community-Based Solutions
Nonprofit organizations have played a key role in expanding access to safer cooking options. The Clean Cooking Alliance works with local partners in India to promote improved cookstove technologies that burn fuel more efficiently and release fewer pollutants than traditional open fires. These stoves often include enclosed combustion chambers and chimneys that direct smoke outside the home, helping reduce indoor air pollution levels.
In rural communities, biogas initiatives have also contributed to cleaner cooking options. Biogas systems convert organic waste, such as animal dung, into cooking fuel, reducing dependence on wood and improving household sanitation. The Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) highlights that biogas programs in India support cleaner energy access while reducing environmental damage linked to deforestation and unmanaged waste.
These projects often involve community-level participation, which helps ensure long-term use and maintenance of the systems.
Long-Term Benefits for Health and Communities
Clean cooking solutions in India offer benefits that extend beyond reducing indoor air pollution. Healthier families spend less money on medical care and experience fewer missed workdays, improving household economic stability. Children who live in smoke-free environments are more likely to attend school regularly and perform better academically.
In addition, reduced demand for firewood eases pressure on local forests, helping protect natural ecosystems. The World Bank notes that access to clean cooking supports economic development while improving health and environmental sustainability. Continued investment in LPG programs, improved distribution of cookstoves and community biogas initiatives will be essential to expanding access to clean cooking across India.
By improving how meals are prepared in everyday households, clean cooking solutions reduce health risks and create safer living environments for millions of families. These efforts demonstrate how practical, targeted interventions can lead to long-term improvements in health, education and economic stability.
– Dylan Chandran
Photo: Flickr
Education Innovation in Cuba Expands Cultural Learning
UNESCO Launches “African Diaspora” Game
UNESCO introduced the “African Diaspora” game through its Regional Office in Havana as a new educational tool for learning about Africa and its descendants in the Caribbean. The resource uses illustrated cards, game boards and creative activities that promote collaboration and help participants place episodes, characters and Afro-descendant traditions in context.
Supporting the General History of Africa Project
UNESCO launched the General History of Africa project in 1964 to address gaps in how Africa’s history is documented and taught from an African perspective. The United Nations (U.N.) describes the project as an effort to remedy widespread ignorance of Africa’s history and to promote a fuller understanding through education.
The “African Diaspora” educational game draws inspiration from this broader initiative by focusing on Africa’s connections to the Caribbean region.
Education Innovation in Cuba and Inclusive Learning
Education innovation in Cuba reflects efforts to modernize teaching approaches while supporting student engagement through interactive classroom tools. According to World Bank data, Cuba reports near-universal adult literacy.
The “African Diaspora” tool aims to help students examine cultural traditions and historical narratives linked to Africa and Afro-descendant communities in the Caribbean.
Regional Collaboration and Broader Impact
Prensa Latina reported that the resource highlights Afro-descendant traditions from Cuba, the Dominican Republic and Venezuela, supporting a regional approach to learning.
UNESCO continues to promote and expand the General History of Africa project as a long-standing effort to strengthen educational materials on Africa and its diasporas, showing how interactive classroom tools can support cultural awareness while strengthening student engagement.
– Isil Ertas Senturk
Photo: Flickr